Trump funding cuts to PBS/NPR

[TheBigA]

But should Government pay for that? I say no.

We don't vote on those kinds of things. We vote for reps, and those reps voted to fund public broadcasting. In fact they voted to extend that funding in March. To them, it's the same as safety, infrastructure, and other necessities. It's federal money for the states. That's what reps do.

In fact a chunk of the federal money goes specifically to fund EAS alerts at public radio stations. So it's directly related to public safety.

There are plenty of wealthy arts and culture enthusiasts who can and do support it.

And they do. The majority of the money comes from them. The federal money is minimal, but right now, it's required by law. So far, the congress hasn't changed the law. So the money is still appropriated until 2026. What happens after that is up to them.

This whole battle was fought 40 years ago. Reagan wanted to do the same thing. So they amended the public broadcasting act to what it is now.

 

[MediaLover]

I would hate to see the Summit to go away if it ever comes to that. Same with WNEO/WEAO. All have played important roles in Northeast Ohio with entertainment that has been different than other outlets.

 

[geoffpeters]

But should Government pay for that? I say no.

There are plenty of wealthy arts and culture enthusiasts who can and do support it. Government should focus on safety, infrastructure and other necessities.
I know it's a spectrum, but arts and culture are outside the range of necessity, IMO.

I hear you and don't completely disagree...but part of the system is that we taxpayers don't get to pick and choose how are tax dollars are spent...someone might say I don't think sending all that money to Israel is how I want my money spent or using any kind of tax payer money to fund stadiums is not the way to use my tax dollars...I want them spent on x, y and z instead. A recent Pew poll found that 43% of people were in favor of some form of gov't support for pub brcsting...24% didn't...and 33% weren't sure....It's a thorny question with legit cases on both sides

 

[geoffpeters]

All I'm telling you is everyone is free to say whatever. You are free to decide if it's biased. That's not for the government to decide. It's pretty simple.

I have listened to my fair of pub radio over the years, and I do think they tend to report on a lot of issues through a certain lens...but I think one of the differences comes with an example I heard just recently....Terry Gross had Jake Tapper on Fresh Air to talk about his Biden book...They had a very candid discussion, she didn't attack him saying the book was unfair to Biden or stick up for Biden and want his adminstration did. Do you think of someone wrote a similar book about President Trump that a Fox interviewer would take a similar approach? Or would they defend Trump at every turn?

To this day, I'll never forget when the Baker Report came out saying the Bush adminstration badly mismanaged the war in Iraq-it was the lead story on every network but Fox, which gave it 30 seconds at around 20 after the hour. I think that's where the difference lies...but trust me, I have my fair share of questions about what NPR and WKSU cover and how they choose to cover it

 

[davideduardo]

Biden/Obama didn't want/need/try to control the press ... they already did.

That's nonsense.

Many on the conservative side will say that "control" is a subjective term and that the immense majority of journalists at the vast majority of media outlets are either registered Democrats or "independent", there is a feeling (some would say "suspicion") that news is influenced almost totally by political affiliation.

 

[davideduardo]

In fact a chunk of the federal money goes specifically to fund EAS alerts at public radio stations. So it's directly related to public safety.

I have not heard that the cost of making public stations' EAS alerts is any higher than that of a rural daytimer in Nebraska. Why would that even be a separate budget item?

 

[Rusty Muck]

Many on the conservative side will say that "control" is a subjective term and that the immense majority of journalists at the vast majority of media outlets are either registered Democrats or "independent", there is a feeling (some would say "suspicion") that news is influenced almost totally by political affiliation.

I've seen on social media pockets of the far left calling the NYT or WaPo "right-wing". Grifters will also say MSNBC is not to the left enough (while begging for money), and I'm seeing enough denial of the 2024 election results even among the fringes to make me uncomfortable.

Distrust of the media is not limited to one side of political spectrum. In fact I think it's a lot more bipartisan than one would think.

 

[TheBigA]

I have not heard that the cost of making public stations' EAS alerts is any higher than that of a rural daytimer in Nebraska. Why would that even be a separate budget item?

It has nothing to do with the cost. It's a federal item so it gets funded with federal money.

https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/integrated-public-alert-warning-system/broadcasters-wireless/ngwsp

 

[Delete My Account]

Many on the conservative side will say that "control" is a subjective term and that the immense majority of journalists at the vast majority of media outlets are either registered Democrats or "independent", there is a feeling (some would say "suspicion") that news is influenced almost totally by political affiliation.

And that's not something the government can or should be controlling. It's if anything, a reflection of the free market and the ways we've become "siloed" as a society. People on either side or no side can see it as an unfortunate dynamic, but it's not a problem that can be legislated against.

Also, the "majority" of media is said by many on the conservative side to no longer matter. If they're so irrelevant and can't even prevent Trump from being elected twice, how much power do they really have? When you have the number one cable network, multiple others, 95% or more of talk radio, huge numbers on podcasting and social media, and you're winning, why would it even matter? Let the free market sort it out. You can't have it both ways. Either you're dominating and winning, or you're an oppressed group who is only one election away from being completely impotent.

This is why I've tuned out much of talk radio, because the hypocrisy is astounding. Remember the Obama FCC wanted to incentivize "localism" and to Glenn Beck etc, that was just code for "socialism?" Now Carr says he wants to protect local media and news, and they buy that? But Carr is actually attempting to intimidate capitalist organizations because they don't report the news the way his boss wants it to be reported. Go figure.

 

[TheBigA]

there is a feeling (some would say "suspicion") that news is influenced almost totally by political affiliation.

Is your work as a programmer influenced in large part by your personal taste in music?

Or are you able to separate the two?

 

[davideduardo]

Is your work as a programmer influenced in large part by your personal taste in music?

No, because I use audience research to determine what to play.

Or are you able to separate the two?

I don't have to separate the two. Like dress codes at school, what I would like to do has nothing to do with what has to be done.

That said, it is a loot harder to keep feelings out of writing and covering news than in determining the right rotation for a tested song. This is where the temptation to add "convicted felon" to the President's name in a news item comes into play. Is it factual? Is it relevant? Is it necessary?

 

[TheBigA]

That said, it is a lot harder to keep feelings out of writing and covering news than in determining the right rotation for a tested song.

Not if it's done the same way. Most journalists don't pick the stories they cover. They're assigned by editors. Then their stories are reviewed and edited by those editors and producers, who look for any divergences from fact. Writing and covering the news is a profession. You're trained to keep personal views to yourself. If not, your stories are sent back for a rewrite. Yes it's harder. That's why you need so many people in the process.

Are there journalists who write their opinions? Sure. That was Hunter Thompson's beat. He covered politics as a feature writer. That's a different kind of writing than what Lou Cannon or someone like that did. In any case, it's all protected by the first amendment. The government can't abridge freedom of the press. It all competes in the free and open marketplace of ideas. It's why we don't have a fairness doctrine.

 

[gr8oldies]

Many on the conservative side will say that "control" is a subjective term and that the immense majority of journalists at the vast majority of media outlets are either registered Democrats or "independent", there is a feeling (some would say "suspicion") that news is influenced almost totally by political affiliation.

Fox News, Newsmax and others is there around the clock to act as State Television for Trump. In many places, it's on at nearly every business.

 

[davideduardo]

Fox News, Newsmax and others is there around the clock to act as State Television for Trump. In many places, it's on at nearly every business.

Not in California, unless a business wants to lose its clientele or worse. In Palm Desert, CA, the merchants next door and surrounding a new Republican Party office petitioned to have it removed as a nuisance and hazard!

(Plenty of documentation in The Desert Sun newspaper, but that is a paid site)

 

[TheBigA]

Today NPR filed a lawsuit saying the EO is unconstitutional:

NPR sues Trump administration over executive order to cut funding to public media

National Public Radio and three local stations have filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump, arguing that an executive order aimed at cutting federal funding for the organization is illegal

abcnews.go.com

CPB, the organization responsible for distributing federal funds, has filed its own suit.

 

[radiofollower]

This is an overall comment, not only about radio. The nation is trillions of dollars in debt. The government needs to financially cut things to pay down the debt. The Federal Government can't cut things to achieve this without, actually, cutting things. It's too bad, but increasingly necessary.

You trim the trees. You don't cut them down.

 

[radiofollower]

Agreed.

"Factual" in the same sentence as Fox News is pretty funny. During the Dominion lawsuit, Hannity, Ingraham and others at Fox News had their texts subpoenaed. It was revealed that both knew that the accusation that Dominion voting machines "rigged the election for Biden" was not true. Hannity wrote that he knew the accusation was false but texted to Ingraham and various producers (pretty much direct quote) "we can't tell our audience that. We will lose ratings". In the end, Fox News paid over 700 million in damages to Dominion.....a record. Now, occasionally a reporter gets the story wrong (see George Stephanopoulos) but in this case, the whole Fox News network got behind the fake story knowing it was fake.

 

[wadio]

johnbasalla said:
This is an overall comment, not only about radio. The nation is trillions of dollars in debt. The government needs to financially cut things to pay down the debt. The Federal Government can't cut things to achieve this without, actually, cutting things. It's too bad, but increasingly necessary.

If I could, I would give this comment 10 likes! 👍

 

[TheBigA]

If I could, I would give this comment 10 likes! 👍

Unfortunately, the congress & president are adding $3.8 trillion to the debt. Whether you "like" it or not:

https://www.business-standard.com/world-news/trump-tax-bill-house-vote-2025-debt-immigration-military-spending-cuts-125052201156_1.html

The cutting of public broadcasting has nothing to do with cutting debt.

You trim the trees. You don't cut them down.

That's the part of this the current administration doesn't understand at all. If they have ideas to fix things, we'd all love to hear them. But they don't. They just want to blow things up.

 

[gr8oldies]

Not in California, unless a business wants to lose its clientele or worse. In Palm Desert, CA, the merchants next door and surrounding a new Republican Party office petitioned to have it removed as a nuisance and hazard!

(Plenty of documentation in The Desert Sun newspaper, but that is a paid site)

Just come to a red state sometime. It's Fox in every bank, car dealer and restaurant