Donald Trump Again Wants To Eliminate Funding For Public Media

[Silkie]

There is still an increase in funding, just not as much of an increase in funding, which equates to an increase, not a cut, so the saying applies to believe nothing you hear and only half of what you see.

 

[TheBigA]

There is still an increase in funding, just not as much of an increase in funding, which equates to an increase, not a cut, so the saying applies to believe nothing you hear and only half of what you see.

Where are you seeing this? The article in the OP says:

"The White House’s proposed Fiscal Year 2021 budget would scale back discretionary funding across the board while increasing military spending. The amount allocated for public media would be reduced to just $30 million."

 

[Silkie]

I read the article. I know what it says.

 

[FreddyE1977]

If you guys want to understand Trump, go read Art of the Deal.

This is a straw man point for negotiation. Funding for public broadcasting will be traded in
exchange for more money to build his wall or something. At the end of the day all of you
PBS/NPR fans can relax.

I disagree with it philosophically, but that is what I expect will happen.

 

[TheBigA]

This is a straw man point for negotiation. Funding for public broadcasting will be traded in
exchange for more money to build his wall or something. At the end of the day all of you
PBS/NPR fans can relax.

It's a bit more complicated, since the WH cuts are in more areas than just CPB. What has happened the last three years is Congress does a continuing resolution, and funding for all agencies remains unchanged. Two years ago, Trump said he wouldn't sign a CR, but he has the last two times.

 

[Kelly A]

It's a bit more complicated, since the WH cuts are in more areas than just CPB. What has happened the last three years is Congress does a continuing resolution, and funding for all agencies remains unchanged. Two years ago, Trump said he wouldn't sign a CR, but he has the last two times.

True, this happens every budget year. The budget the White House send to The Hill is more of a recommendation. It's ultimately up to Congress to prepare the budget and the White House signs-off, or not. Things like CPB funding are a rounding error as compared with the total budget. Unless Trump wants to hold up the budget and potentially taking heat again for shutting down the govt. (again) over a squabble with one form of news media, he'll approve what Congress sends him.

 

[FreddyE1977]

I suspect there is zero chance he shuts down the government in an election year.
Certainly not over this.

Now 2021 may be a different story.

 

[staggmovie]

What else is new with Donald Trump.

Removed purely partisan political comments.
Frank Berry

 

[FreddyE1977]

There is still an increase in funding, just not as much of an increase in funding, which equates to an increase, not a cut, so the saying applies to believe nothing you hear and only half of what you see.

That is what is known as Baseline Budgeting.
It pretty much explains why spending in Washington, DC is totally out of control.

If Agency X proposes a 10% increase in funding over the last fiscal year, and Congress only grants a
7% increase, it is reported as a 3% cut.

If you ran your household finances like that you'd end up living in a cardboard box pretty soon.

 

[TheBigA]

If Agency X proposes a 10% increase in funding over the last fiscal year, and Congress only grants a
7% increase, it is reported as a 3% cut.

However that's not what is proposed here. The agency has asked for about $445 million, and the WH budget proposes $30 million for one year, towards eliminating funding completely in two years. That is not an increase in funding under any definition. The goal is clearly stated in the proposal. The Congressional appropriation has remained exactly the same for the past 7 years.

 

[staggmovie]

What else is new with Donald Trump.

Removed purely partisan political comments.
Frank Berry

Why not delete my whole post until of keep a few words

 

[Mediafrog+]

Getting back on topic, the White House has also proposed some big cuts to the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) which includes Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, Radio Marti, Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty, plus various Middle Eastern targeted broadcasts. Particularly singled out is "legacy media" which I assume means shortwave and other linear radio, in favor of digital platforms. Perhaps this is taking a cue from Russia, which dumped what little remained of its international shortwave services in 2014, and now concentrates on the RT television channel, as well as internet and local broadcast distribution of Radio Sputnik.

Of course Congress has the final say, and such cuts have been proposed in the past, but not implemented.

 

[Kelly A]

Getting back on topic, the White House has also proposed some big cuts to the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) which includes Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, Radio Marti, Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty, plus various Middle Eastern targeted broadcasts. Particularly singled out is "legacy media" which I assume means shortwave and other linear radio, in favor of digital platforms. Perhaps this is taking a cue from Russia, which dumped what little remained of its international shortwave services in 2014, and now concentrates on the RT television channel, as well as internet and local broadcast distribution of Radio Sputnik.

Of course Congress has the final say, and such cuts have been proposed in the past, but not implemented.

Again, pretty typical budget from the WH. USAGM (U-Sag-M) formerly the BBG, has had SW and MW broadcasts on the potential chopping block for years. Typically the Senator from North Carolina will get involved to block any cuts that include the Greenville Transmission facility which is both SW and MW. If SW were to actually be cut, Radio Marti (Federal) and Radio Free Asia (501C3) will probably be eventually shut down, because SW and MW is still their primary content delivery methods. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (501C3), made the mistake of pulling out of Russia and shutting down some of their SW/MW facilities. They have regretted doing so since.

 

[Mediafrog+]

Again, pretty typical budget from the WH. USAGM (U-Sag-M) formerly the BBG, has had SW and MW broadcasts on the potential chopping block for years. Typically the Senator from North Carolina will get involved to block any cuts that include the Greenville Transmission facility which is both SW and MW.

There is no medium wave from Greenville, just shortwave. You are probably thinking of the Marathon, Florida transmitter on 1180 for Radio Marti.

Greenville is mostly used for Radio Marti on shortwave. If Marti gets shut down, so does what's left of the Greenville facility. The North Carolina senator is clueless about shortwave as well as overall media use in the 21st century.