Ambies, Belden Awards, and Crises: 2026 Shaping Up

Wyatt Cenac will host the 6th annual Ambies Podcast Awards in Brooklyn later this month, while nominations are now open for the 2026 Joseph C. Belden Innovation Award, which will focus on technological advancements in connected industries. The Ambies, also known as the Awards for Excellence in Audio, will be presented on Monday, February 23, as part of On Air Fest at the Arlo Williamsburg hotel in Brooklyn, according to Variety.

The Belden Award, which seeks to recognize impactful technological advancements globally, is accepting nominations for 2026. This year's focus is on ITOT convergence, reflecting the growing importance of integrating information technology and operational systems across sectors like manufacturing and healthcare, as reported by TechCrunch. The award offers significant visibility and networking opportunities for innovative companies, particularly those with recent product launches and customer deployments.

In other news, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker was named the strongest Democratic option for the 2028 presidential race by political commentator James Carville, according to Fox News. Pritzker himself acknowledged his billionaire status as a potential obstacle, referencing the challenges he faced during his successful gubernatorial campaigns.

Also, several Democratic Governors boycotted a White House dinner due to reported exclusions, with the DGA framing the move as a show of unity, as reported by Time. Other news outlets reported on the fan reaction to Elisabeth Hasselbeck's return as a guest host on "The View," with co-host Joy Behar and producer Brian Teta discussing the strong, sometimes negative, response.