NPR, PBS members see record donations after Congress cuts funding

[davideduardo]

So this is your opinion, not a factual statement of policy from the government. That's fine. You're entitled to your opinion. That's all it is.

No, it's a fact. As of now, the current administration does not support any of the aspects of "broadcasting" that I named.

Maybe what you read was a protest from the writer at Inside Radio. They have been known to editorialize.

They took the article almost textually.

A protest would involve legal action. There has been no legal action, from NPR, CPB, PBS, or any of the stations. None.

If my steak is overcooked, I protest to the waiter. If people are cutting into a line I am in, I protest. If I hand out leaflets against cruelty to animals, I protest. "Legal action" is not a requirement to "protest".

The comments from everyone have been measured and polite. No threats. No retaliation. Everyone is still dedicated to the mission.

And that is still protesting.

 

[TheBigA]

No, it's a fact. As of now, the current administration does not support any of the aspects of "broadcasting" that I named.

You said the administration is not involved in broadcasting. There's more to broadcasting than what you named. You know this.

The current administration was never involved in public broadcasting. It was all between congress and CPB. The president had to ask congress.

That's part of the administration's frustration. and why they're seeking to remove the dem members of the CPB Board, even though it's defunded.

If you read the law, you'd understand why. Please read the law.

If my steak is overcooked, I protest to the waiter. If people are cutting into a line I am in, I protest. If I hand out leaflets against cruelty to animals, I protest. "Legal action" is not a requirement to "protest".

No one at NPR, PBS, CPB, or any of the stations have done anything like any of those examples. They simply responded with comments when asked by the media. But no letters to congress or the white house. Nothing official. No leaflets. No demonstrations. Nothing. It's all been very quiet.'

In fact if I was advising them (and I'm not) this is exactly what I'd advise them to do. Nothing. Stay low. Wait for the government to make the next move. Because it's coming.

 

[umfan]

I can say that that study stinks as badly as a raw sewage plant in the tropics.

That is a very generous assessment. The study is far worse than that.

 

[umfan]

Wait for the government to make the next move. Because it's coming.

Nope. It's done. The demise of CPB closes the book.

 

[umfan]

What steps could they have taken?

Ceased allocating funding to NPR.

 

[umfan]

What steps could they have taken? Tell Ken Burns to redo The Civil War so that the south won?

This was all laid out in Project 2025. Everybody knew this was what they were going to do. There were no proactive steps.



So now NPR no longer has to fear losing any funding. They can report whatever they want, right? Can I have that in writing?

Yes, they can. Nobody really cares what NPR reports because so few consume its content. It was always only a question of why should taxpayers fund it. That has been resolved.

 

[TheBigA]

Nope. It's done. The demise of CPB closes the book.

Nope. CPB still exists and the president is suing to take control of the board. From there, it's anyone's guess.

 

[umfan]

Nope. CPB still exists and the president is suing to take control of the board. From there, it's anyone's guess.

CPB is ceasing operations. From there, it's history.

 

[TheBigA]

CPB is ceasing operations. From there, it's history.

Then why is the president suing to remove dem board members? This happened after the defunding. Clearly he has a purpose.

 

[umfan]

This happened after the defunding. Clearly he has a purpose.

Trump administration sues CPB board members in latest attempt to force their ouster

The Trump administration filed a new lawsuit against the three CPB board members whom the president has attempted to fire but have refused to leave.

abcnews.go.com

Not exactly. The recent filing is a continuation of a previously filed suit. His purpose may be to see the legal action, started well in advance of the conclusion of the rescission process that defunded CPB and is leading it to cease operations. Another purpose may be to establish a precedent that makes clear the President has the ability to fire appointees even when his authority to do so isn't explicitly articulated. I'm not sure of his purpose. You seem to really want to know, so perhaps consider writing and asking him?

Certainly neither I, nor anyone else who posts here, would know.

 

[TheBigA]

Another purpose may be to establish a precedent that makes clear the President has the ability to fire appointees even when his authority to do so isn't explicitly articulated.

That's a good theory. As you say, he's doing the same at all other boards. The goal seems to be to rid the government of any opposition.

You were right about one thing: There was no protest from CPB after the action.

 

[On the Dial]

While not getting into the debate over whether public broadcasting should get federal funding, I would take issue with the notion that nobody listens to public radio. NPR's Morning Edition has a weekly audience of about 12 million listeners. The three broadcast network TV morning shows have a COMBINED audience of about 7.5 million viewers.

 

[TheBigA]

NPR reports it has received two very large grants, although neither of them are for news programming:

NPR Receives $113 Million in Donations Following Federal Funding Cuts

The gifts announced on Thursday are the largest since Joan B. Kroc, the widow of McDonald's mogul Ray Kroc, donated more than $200 million in 2003.

barrettmedia.com