Federal Budget is public. Many programs that should be cut were the result of an act of congress, and can't easily be eliminated.
The debt is increasing at a much slower rate than last year, but it is still unsustainable.
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Kari Lake previews her plans for Voice of America in the next Administration.
- Thread starter Bill Betten
- Start date
The debt is increasing at a much slower rate than last year, but it is still unsustainable.
In fact congress still wants to fund VOA, even though it's staff has been fired, and it's equipment is being sold:
Proposed Spending Bill Includes VOA Funding - Radio World
Congress has reached a deal to fund the Voice of America, with lawmakers agreeing to provide approximately $653 million for the U.S. Agency for Global Media.
www.radioworld.com
The left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. They're all from the same party. Obviously not on same page.
You might want to look at who was actually able to achieve the biggest reductions in the federal budget deficit within recent history, and who started to reverse that trend.
U.S. Treasury: FY 2025 Deficit Totaled $1.8 Trillion - AAF
The U.S. Treasury released its final Monthly Treasury Statement for FY 2025, estimating a $1.8 trillion deficit for the year. The deficit was the net effect of $7.0 trillion of spending and $5.2 trillion of revenue collections.
www.americanactionforum.org
More on new funding for VOA:
www.foxnews.com
Congress doesn't share the views of its president. They're funding something his people have shut down.
Unity wins out as Republicans swallow $643M in funding for Trump-opposed media agency
Republicans cleared hundreds of millions in funding for the U.S. Agency for Global Media, despite President Donald Trump's order attempting to shutter the broadcasting agency last year.
Congress doesn't share the views of its president. They're funding something his people have shut down.
Here's an update on what's happening at VOA:
radioink.com
They're expecting a judge's ruling in March.
USAGM Pushes Deferred Resignations as Court Decision Nears - Radio Ink
USAGM set a March 9 deadline for voluntary buyouts as a federal judge prepares to rule on the legality of workforce reductions ordered under Kari Lake.
radioink.com
They're expecting a judge's ruling in March.
Actually the quote should be "The right hand doesn't know what the far right hand is doing."In fact congress still wants to fund VOA, even though it's staff has been fired, and it's equipment is being sold:
Proposed Spending Bill Includes VOA Funding - Radio World
Congress has reached a deal to fund the Voice of America, with lawmakers agreeing to provide approximately $653 million for the U.S. Agency for Global Media.
The left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. They're all from the same party. Obviously not on same page.
Given our over (U.S) night entrance into Iran, I now wonder if the president is thinking about reviving the Voice of America to provide propaganda for both our troops and those resisting the current Iranian power structure.
To be effective, people need to have radios that receive such broadcasts. There are few if any shortwave radios available anywhere in the world any longer, and noting on SW that would make anyone want to buy them.
American troops have the armed forces radio and TV services to listen to. And the citizens of Iran are not going to rush out to stores to buy SW radios since there are really none available (if they were wanted, it would take months, if ever, to get them shipped from China and put into retail outlets),
Some radio stations owned by USGMA in the middle east are on FM. I don't have specific details but it's not all SW.
Then how come North Korea still regularly jams broadcasts? I think you'll find when media is censored like domestic broadcasts and internet people will find ways to obtain information. Remember Iran has no free press and internet has been known to be shut off. Shortwave is pretty much the only way
Where is there anFM outside of Iran that covers any significant Iranian population center or area?
NK is not a good example to use in trying to site examples.
The ONLY people listening to their broadcasts most likely are hobbyist DXers
The US used to have several AM stations (Radio Farda and the like) broadcasting to Iran in Persian from transmitters in the UAE and elsewhere. If they haven't all been dismantled/sold for parts recently, we should be using them. Iran has lots of AM stations so presumably AM radios are common/available there?
They were all shut down.
Musk Halts Funds for Radio Farda, VOA - Iran Times
February 21, 2025 The Islamic Republic is overjoyed with Elon Musk taking a scythe to US government programs because he is using his authority to shut down funds for Radio Farda and the Voice of America. In a post on X, Musk said it was a waste of money to continue supporting Radio Free Europe, […]
iran-times.com
Radio Farda broadcasts to Iran returned a few months ago, but from non-USAGM transmitters in the UK and UAE. Programming apparently still originates in Prague.
There are reports on SWDX forums this weekend that VOA Ashna Radio for Afghanistan has returned to the air, presumably due to the current conflict between that country and Pakistan. Looks like a one-hour broadcast from USAGM transmitters in Kuwait and The Philippines.
The BBC also set up shortwave and mediumwave broadcasts from the 4th of last month until the end of this month. The times and frequencies are in the article:
BBC launches emergency lifeline radio programme for Iran
The programme will air daily for 30 minutes across medium and shortwave frequencies
www.bbc.co.uk
Unfortunately, using shortwave rather than AM:
Radio Farda Returns to Shortwave, Bypassing Iran’s Digital Blackout
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) has today resumed shortwave radio broadcasts into Iran following the imposition of an internet blackout by the Islamic Republic.
about.rferl.org
Well, that kind of follows, since shortwave is probably one of the only things the remnants of the Iranian government can't block.Unfortunately, using shortwave rather than AM:
Radio Farda Returns to Shortwave, Bypassing Iran’s Digital Blackout
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) has today resumed shortwave radio broadcasts into Iran following the imposition of an internet blackout by the Islamic Republic.
Can anyone actually listen to it? Who knows, but the signal is nevertheless there for the presumptive few who happen to have SW radios and know how to use them.
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