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Legal tussle imminent concerning Trump's decree to withdraw federal funding for public broadcasting

Trump's executive order seeks to cut off financing to NPR and PBS; however, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting asserts that the process might not be immediate.

,   and  ASMedia
4 min read

Plundering Public Media: Trump's Daring Tactics

In a bold late-night move, President Trump issued an executive order to end the government's financial backing for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). This entity supports stations like PBS, NPR, and others, which Trump branded as "left-wing propaganda." However, this ambitious endeavor has already encountered fierce opposition.

Trump's attack on public media institutions follows his pattern of challenging entities he deems opponents, such as law firms, universities, and media giants like CBS, currently embroiled in a $20 billion lawsuit over a 2024 campaign interview on "60 Minutes" with Vice President Kamala Harris.

The CPB swiftly countered with a statement alleging that the president lacks the power to cut off its funding, as only Congress possesses this authority. As the White House reportedly plans to approach Congress with a formal funding revocation request, Trump's executive order may face an uphill battle, especially if the issue escalates to court.

CPB representatives remained tight-lipped on potential legal action, but PBS President Paula Kerger was firm, stating that the executive order is "blatantly unlawful" and an "attack on our ability to serve the American public."

Historical Precedent

The CPB saw a surge in popularity during the Watergate scandal in 1973 due to its continuous coverage of the hearings, which also led to the creation of the "PBS NewsHour." Nixon vehemently opposed PBS, yet his scandals served as a significant boost for the network.

Upon learning about the executive order, NPR Chief Executive Katherine Maher echoed a defiant attitude, promising to challenge it using every available legal means. She argued that Trump's order infringed upon the First Amendment rights of NPR and local stations nationwide.

Political Maneuvers

In March, the CPB and its executives faced intense scrutiny from Republican legislators during a Capitol hearing. The hearing featured a provocative display of a photo of Lil Miss Hot Mess, a drag queen, on a PBS kids show.

Media scholars like Jeffrey McCall argue that the government's funding of public radio and TV outlets should be re-examined in light of the modern media landscape. However, McCall criticized the Trump administration for politicizing the issue, stating their approach could result in a frivolous court battle with potentially damaging consequences for their case.

The CPB was established in the late 1960s to avoid federal interference in programming content. Trump's executive order, labeled "President Trump Finally Ends the Madness of NPR, PBS," was accompanied by a list of dubious news stories, including an NPR piece on the longstanding practice of eating human placentas and a 2017 PBS documentary about a transgender teen.

If the funding dispute is submitted to Congress, public media may hold the upper hand due to their vital role as the primary source of journalism in many communities. According to PBS, 58% of all TV homes tune into one of its member stations each year, with a significant focus on rural areas. Despite the internet's prevalence, PBS programming remains accessible in 87% of non-internet homes and 56% of low-income households.

Locally-owned stations in conservative regions, such as Fox News-scarce states, appreciate the opportunity to connect with constituents. In the past, this has contributed to the preservation of public media funding. However, California stations may face steeper challenges, particularly Los Angeles outlets like LAist KPCC-FM (89.3), which could lose nearly $2 million, a substantial chunk of their overall budget. KCRW-FM (89.9), on the other hand, faces a slightly smaller hit of $1.3 million, which represents 5% of their budget.

The contest over public media funding continues to unfold. Keep a close eye on the evolving situation as both sides brace for a potential legal showdown.

  1. The government's financial backing for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which supports stations like PBS, NPR, and others, has been targeted by President Trump, who views it as "left-wing propaganda."
  2. Trump's move to end the CPB's funding has faced fierce opposition, with the CPB itself arguing that only Congress has the authority to revoke its funding.
  3. CPB representatives have remained tight-lipped on potential legal action, but PBS President Paula Kerger characterized the executive order as "blatantly unlawful."
  4. In 1973, during the Watergate scandal, the CPB saw a surge in popularity due to its continuous coverage of the hearings.
  5. NPR Chief Executive Katherine Maher has promised to challenge the executive order using every available legal means, arguing that it infringes upon the First Amendment rights of NPR and local stations nationwide.
  6. Media scholars like Jeffrey McCall argue that the government's funding of public radio and TV outlets should be re-examined in light of the modern media landscape.
  7. During a Capitol hearing in March, the CPB and its executives faced intense scrutiny from Republican legislators, including a display of a photo of Lil Miss Hot Mess, a drag queen, on a PBS kids show.
  8. If the funding dispute is submitted to Congress, public media may hold the upper hand due to their vital role as the primary source of journalism in many communities.
  9. Locally-owned stations in conservative regions, such as Los Angeles outlets like LAist KPBC-FM (89.3), could lose nearly $2 million, a substantial chunk of their overall budget.
  10. The contest over public media funding continues to unfold, with both sides bracing for a potential legal showdown.
  11. Keep a close eye on the evolving situation, as the debate surrounding public media funding intertwines with politics, general news, crime and justice, sports, entertainment, pop-culture, policy and legislation, war and conflicts, and social-media.
  12. The unfolding battle over public media funding is just one example of the complex ways in which government, politics, business, and entertainment intersect, potentially intimidating and affronting various entities in the process.
Trump's executive order aims to cut off funding for NPR and PBS, but the Corporation for Public Broadcasting asserts that the process might not be so swift.

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