WTOP Expands Top News Podcast With Hourly Updates

RADIO ONLINE | Monday, August 10, 2026 | 11:03am CT

WTOP News

WTOP News in Washington, DC is planning a major expansion of its "Top News Podcast," transforming the program into an on-demand extension of the station's daily news coverage.

Under the new format, WTOP will produce 12 to 14 episodes each weekday, offering 20-minute news updates refreshed hourly from 6am to 7pm. A video version of the podcast will also be produced for digital platforms.

WTOP says the expanded format is designed to reflect changing news consumption habits by providing listeners with frequent, concise updates available on demand.

To support the expansion, WTOP plans to hire two full-time podcast host-producers who will oversee daily production and serve as the program's editorial voices.

"This new podcast represents a natural evolution of the WTOP brand," said WTOP Head of News and Programming Julie Ziegler. "It meets news consumers where they are - on more platforms than ever before - allowing us to grow our audience and develop new revenue streams."

The "Top News Podcast" has been part of WTOP's content lineup for more than six years. It initially launched as an automated feed containing the first 30 minutes of the station's hourly newscasts. In 2024, WTOP shifted to a manually produced format with content producers creating two episodes each day.

The latest overhaul will combine elements of both approaches, drawing on WTOP's newsroom and hourly newscasts while adding dedicated hosts, production and original context and analysis.

Development and support for the project will be provided in collaboration with Gamut Podcast Network, the podcast division of Hubbard Media That Connects launched in 2025. Gamut's lineup includes "American Nightmares" and "Behind the Song."

The revamped "Top News Podcast" is expected to launch later this year.