Chris Core

Chris Core (born 1949) is an American radio and television personality formerly on Washington DC's 630 WMAL and host of The Chris Core Show from 9:00 AM to 11:45 AM EST. Marc Fisher of The Washington Post calls Core "a rare talker who gets the complexities of this region." The program was one of the highest rated shows in the competitive drive time slot prior to being moved, mostly unchanged, to its morning slot. The show covered a wide variety of topics ranging from politics, the war on terror, local and current affairs, show business, and others, until its cancellation on February 29, 2008.

It was a "call-in" type show where listeners were encouraged to call the show with their opinions. Core has maintained that he is neither a Democrat nor a Republican. The show often featured prominent local and national politicians who frequently called the show unsolicited. Core treated callers with respect regardless of their political stance. His show allowed people on both sides of an issue to express their opinions, and allowed listeners to form their own opinions. Core also from time to time kept a caller on the line to discuss the topic at hand with other callers.

In 1971, Core graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison with a degree in political science and theater and minor in Spanish. Three years later, he began his career at WMAL doing news and sports on the weekends. The show that would eventually become The Chris Core Show began in 1976 as the Trumbull and Core show, teaming Chris Core with veteran news talker Bill Trumbull. Brooke Stevens filled in as co-host following Bill Trumbull's retirement in 1996, prior to leaving the station in 2000.

On February 29, 2008, Core was dismissed from WMAL after working for the station for over 33 years, as part of a broad shake-up at the station's parent company, Citadel Broadcasting. Core was dismissed following that day's show, leaving him without the opportunity to say goodbye to his audience. Core expressed hope to one day return to the air on a different station. WMAL host Chris Plante replaced Core in WMAL's morning lineup.

In 2008, Core was hired as a feature commentator on Washington, DC's news radio station WTOP. His commentary, "Core Values", can be heard three times daily. His commentaries can also be downloaded from the radio station's website. He also serves as a guest host on XM Radio (Channel 130), "POTUS '08".

Starting August 30, 2008, DC50 (WDCW-TV) began broadcasting Weekend News With Chris Core each Saturday at 6:30 pm and Sunday at 4 pm.

Chris Core now writes a weekly column, "Core Values" that appears in the Washington Examiner.