Federal funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) halted by President Trump's decree.
Host LEILA FADEL here:
Last night, President Trump dropped a bomb on NPR and PBS, issuing an executive order attempting to yank their federal funding. He accused the organizations of bias and claimed they peddle unreliable and partisan news.
MICHEL MARTIN hostin' too:
This is just the latest in a series of attacks on public media by the Trump administration and their conservative cronies in Congress. The order bars direct federal funding for these public broadcasters and forbids local radio and television stations from using taxpayer dollars to support them. NPR follows strict guidelines, ensuring that no executive has a hand in shaping its news reporting on itself.
Now let's bring in our pal, NPR's Ryland Barton, to break it all down:
Hey, Ryland! Fill us in on Trump's scheming to squash NPR and PBS's funding.
RYLAND BARTON Dishing it out:
Well, Trump's plan is to order the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to stop dishing out cash to NPR and PBS, calling federal funding a no-go for biased news coverage. Both NPR and PBS have repeatedly defended their reporting as fair and balanced. The CPB, an independent nonprofit founded by Congress in '67 to help fund public broadcasters, currently provides NPR with about 1% of its funding, and PBS with around 15%. Trump's move also eyes the indirect methods NPR and PBS gather federal dollars, namely through local stations, which are now prohibited from using CPB funds to latch on to NPR or PBS content under the order.
Now, Listen up, CPB is currently fighting tooth and nail against Trump on another matter, trying to keep the president's hands off their board members. They're suing, claiming they're not a federal agency, and that board members aren't hired by the president.
So, Ryland, what's NPR and PBS's take on this executive order?
RYLAND BARTON Setting the record straight:
NPR's cool, but they haven't said much yet. In a statement, they pointed out the Constitution grants Congress the power to decide funding matters, not the president. They also lamented the order would be catastrophic for local communities that rely on public radio for accurate and vital news, lifesafety info, and emergency alerts.
FADEL: Well, this isn't the first time newspapers have heard how-dare-you's from the White House.
RYLAND BARTON Skinning the details:
You might remember when back in March, NPR and PBS bigwigs testified at a House hearing dubbed Anti-American Airwaves - Holding the Heads of NPR and PBS Accountable. It was hosted by GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who slammed NPR CEO Katherine Maher for labeling President Trump a deranged, racist sociopath. Maher later admitted regretting her comment and that she wouldn't make it today. They both rejected claims of bias in their reporting.
FADEL: Now, let's chat about local stations: how would they take a hit if this order goes through?
RYLAND BARTON Spilling the beans:
Many local stations, like Louisville Public Media, where I'm currently parked, nab 8% to 10% of their dough from CPB. But for smaller, rural stations, the reliance on CPB funding can skyrocket - sometimes they depend on it for over half their funding. Stations are already ringing the alarm bells about potential funding cuts, warning it could spell doom for their operations and communities. They dish out loads of national NPR and PBS programming, providing crucial independent news and context that national reporters can't always crank out. And sometimes, they're the only game in town, helping out with lifesaving updates on critical conditions like severe weather.
- Government's latest move targeting public media includes an executive order aimed at cutting funding for NPR and PBS, accusing them of bias and unreliable news.
- This latest attack on public media by the Trump administration is part of a series of attempts to undermine public broadcasters and their ability to provide fair and objective news.
- NPR follows strict guidelines to ensure that the news reporting is free from any executive influence or partisanship.
- The Trump administration's plan to defund NPR and PBS has sparked outrage within the public media community, with local stations relying heavily on CPB funding to deliver critical newscasts, emergency alerts, and lifesaving information.
- The CPB is currently locked in a legal battle with the Trump administration over control of board members, claiming their independence as a nonprofit.
- NPR has remained largely silent on the issue, but in a statement, they cited the Constitution's granting of power to Congress to decide on funding matters, and argued that the order could have devastating consequences for the communities that rely on public radio for vital information and emergency updates.
