Trump plans order to cut funding for NPR and PBS

[davideduardo]

Keep in mind the only reason the government has funded public broadcasting for almost 60 years is because congress passed a law to make it so. Congress could amend the law to give everyone money, but that doesn't seem to be where things are going. My view is the president should follow the law. Anything wrong with that?

Actually, the issue is whether the president, any president, can dictate changes of this nature. And if presidents can, we know like the current tax cuts, when they expire the situation will revert to the congressional mandate.

 

[TheBigA]

NPR is rarely local.

The money doesn't go to NPR. The money goes to thousands of local radio stations, who hire local staff.

The "local" I see more than often are statewide networks with one local broadcast point, the state capital.

We have a guy at a station in Alaska who posts here a lot. You should listen to him.

The reason why most liberals don't want NPR defunded is that, in many conservative areas, their stations will go off the air as they don't serve the local public. No one is listening and no local advertisier would buy underwriting.

NPR stations are very competitive. The reason the president is so angry is because they're popular. If they weren't, he wouldn't care.

 

[TheBigA]

Actually, the issue is whether the president, any president, can dictate changes of this nature. And if presidents can, we know like the current tax cuts, when they expire the situation will revert to the congressional mandate.

The constitution is very clear. He can't. He's upset about it.

 

[davideduardo]

The money doesn't go to NPR. The money goes to thousands of local radio stations, who hire local staff.

The poster does make a good point that local staffs that create content generally are in bigger metro areas and their efforts are, in some states, networked regionally or state wide.

NPR stations are very competitive. The reason the president is so angry is because they're popular. If they weren't, he wouldn't care.

No station with a 3 or 4 share on average is "popular". There have been few truly "popular" radio stations since, perhaps... at best... the early 70's or so.

 

[The Beat]

The money doesn't go to NPR. The money goes to thousands of local radio stations, who hire local staff.

Yep. Engineers. Rarely any air-staffs on that hiring list. They are hardly as local as the commercial stations in the market... who are held to a different standard (public service) because they are not funded with taxpayer money.

We have a guy at a station in Alaska who posts here a lot. You should listen to him.

In Paul's case, it makes sense. Fund the Alaska stations but defund every medium-major market NPR station. Defund any NPR stations where 10 or more stations can be received.

NPR stations are very competitive. The reason the president is so angry is because they're popular. If they weren't, he wouldn't care.

You don't get it. It's not "the president" - it's the electoral college and every swing state that elected him. The majority of the American people. The voters are the ones who want NPR defunded. America knew who they were electing when they went to the ballot box.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

I wonder how you'd feel if the government funded Fox News or NewsMax? Probably like the conservatives feel about the funding of NPR.

Public broadcasting serves no purpose in 2025. If you are a liberal, I understand why you are fighting so hard, but you are only proving the point. NPR news is very partisan and it speaks your truth. You don't want it to go way. Yeah, we get it.

Most NPR reporters are liberal. 87 to zero. That's 87 reporters who claim to be liberal and zero who claim to be conservative. Uh, yeah. Nothing to see here.

Broadcasting that truly serves the public will be supported by the public and not need government funds to survive. Broadcasting that doesn't serve the public is just a waste of spectrum.

Defund that partisan cesspool, today.

I'm not the liberal you think most NPR station staff is

Plenty of purpose for public broadcasting in 2025 and I can prove it, unequivically, without a shadow of a doubt.

Plus, I see the effort many NPr member station reporters go through to be fair, accurate, unbiased and tell both sides of the story ... something most people don't get to see

 

[davideduardo]

You don't get it. It's not "the president" - it's the electoral college and every swing state that elected him. The majority of the American people. The voters are the ones who want NPR defunded. America knew who they were electing when they went to the ballot box.

Here you go too far. Yes, Trump won the presidency. But close to an equal number of people did not want him in the White House. He (Trump) engages in ample hyperbole in talking about winning the swing states and the like, but he all to often believes his own hype.

And I'd bet that less than one one-hundredths of a percent voted for Trump because of what he might do with NPR.

 

[The Beat]

Here you go too far. Yes, Trump won the presidency. But close to an equal number of people did not want him in the White House. He (Trump) engages in ample hyperbole in talking about winning the swing states and the like, but he all to often believes his own hype.

And I'd bet that less than one one-hundredths of a percent voted for Trump because of what he might do with NPR.

They likely voted for the totality of his agenda. They knew who he was and voted for him. During his ralleys, he did bring up NPR/PBS along with all of his views.

I never said all people supported him, just the ones who voted for him.

 

[TheBigA]

Yep. Engineers. Rarely any air-staffs on that hiring list.

Have you ever listened to WQXR? How about WFUV? WXPN? All full local staffs. All CPB recipients. All will be defunded.

Fund the Alaska stations but defund every medium-major market NPR station. Defund any NPR stations where 10 or more stations can be received.

Once again, that's up to congress. They pass the laws. If they want to change the requirements, they can. But they'll have to get a majority to vote, and it may take a few big states to do it.

America knew who they were electing when they went to the ballot box.

It doesn't matter. He still has to follow the laws. In this case, he isn't. I don't care who voted for him. He doesn't get to tell the media what to do.

I never said all people supported him, just the ones who voted for him.

But now that he's elected, he's supposed to work for all the people. Because we all have to pay taxes regardless of who we voted for.

 

[gr8oldies]

I wonder how you'd feel if the government funded Fox News or NewsMax? Probably like the conservatives feel about the funding of NPR.

Public broadcasting serves no purpose in 2025. If you are a liberal, I understand why you are fighting so hard, but you are only proving the point. NPR news is very partisan and it speaks your truth. You don't want it to go way. Yeah, we get it.

Most NPR reporters are liberal. 87 to zero. That's 87 reporters who claim to be liberal and zero who claim to be conservative. Uh, yeah. Nothing to see here.

Broadcasting that truly serves the public will be supported by the public and not need government funds to survive. Broadcasting that doesn't serve the public is just a waste of spectrum.

Defund that partisan cesspool, today.

How much NPR programming have you consumed. You habe the talking points down that they are all horrible Communist Liberals and how dare they not be broadcasting only right-wing taklking points. You seem to think any outlet that doesn'tv praise and worship Trump just has to go.
I live in a red suipermajority state. There is literally no effective critique of the Supermajority from the commercial radio or TV stations. My legislators feel absolutely no obligation to talk to their constituents and one in particular will go on Fox News within 5 seconds to praise and worship Donald Trump, or condemn Democrats and minorities, but hasn't spoken to in-state media in years. So it would appear in your perfect world no one in my state woule even have a chance to hear any viewpoint other than "Donald Trump and our Republican supermajority were divinely placed by God."
I have to go to an alternative weekly to find out most things that happen in my state capitol. You can say, "well, the GOP has the majority and needs no critique, so suck it.". My NPR affiliare, by the way, runs hours of classical, world music and programming that has absolutely nothing to dp with politics. There's also an Americana station that gets some CPB funds and does no politics. You seem to think any criticism of Trump is out of bounds, I certsainly don't agree.

 

[gr8oldies]

NPR is rarely local. Maybe in major markets where there isn't a need for them anyway. The "local" I see more than often are statewide networks with one local broadcast point, the state capital. The network stations are just repeaters. NPR is not reporting about the traffic light that is out on Main St. or the new restaurant in town.

Local radio is, at least accountable, due to the fact that the community won't fund them unless they serve the local public. NPR should play by the same rules.

The reason why most liberals don't want NPR defunded is that, in many conservative areas, their stations will go off the air as they don't serve the local public. No one is listening and no local advertisier would buy underwriting.

Why else would NPR advocates be fighting so hard for government funding?

My NPR station dows do local news and local events.

 

[gr8oldies]

Here you go too far. Yes, Trump won the presidency. But close to an equal number of people did not want him in the White House. He (Trump) engages in ample hyperbole in talking about winning the swing states and the like, but he all to often believes his own hype.

And I'd bet that less than one one-hundredths of a percent voted for Trump because of what he might do with NPR.

I do love it when I'm told Trump won (by 1.5%), therefore I have no place in my country.

 

[ted chittenden]

My NPR station dows do local news and local events.

So does mine.

 

[tbolt909]

They likely voted for the totality of his agenda. They knew who he was and voted for him. During his ralleys, he did bring up NPR/PBS along with all of his views.

I never said all people supported him, just the ones who voted for him.

The majority of people do not support Trump. He won another election with extremely low voter turnout (just like the 2016 election). There are unpleasant consequences for not voting. I would wager that most Trump voters have never heard of NPR...

 

[davideduardo]

So does mine.

The point another poster made was that in smaller markets, there is less such local news coverage. And in some, the NPR affiliated station is part of a wide area or statewide network, where no local news at all is done outside of the location of the main studios and offices.

 

[TheBigA]

The point another poster made was that in smaller markets, there is less such local news coverage. And in some, the NPR affiliated station is part of a wide area or statewide network, where no local news at all is done outside of the location of the main studios and offices.

BTW That "network" is funded by CPB and is available for use by anyone. It's also in danger of losing all of its funding,

 

[gr8oldies]

NPR is rarely local. Maybe in major markets where there isn't a need for them anyway. The "local" I see more than often are statewide networks with one local broadcast point, the state capital. The network stations are just repeaters. NPR is not reporting about the traffic light that is out on Main St. or the new restaurant in town.

Local radio is, at least accountable, due to the fact that the community won't fund them unless they serve the local public. NPR should play by the same rules.

The reason why most liberals don't want NPR defunded is that, in many conservative areas, their stations will go off the air as they don't serve the local public. No one is listening and no local advertisier would buy underwriting.

Why else would NPR advocates be fighting so hard for government funding?

By the way, it's a little beyond annoying being told I have to worship Trump as Christ Himself or be a "liberal, socialist, Communist". I'm iold enough to remember when I could agree with a policy from column A and a policy from, Column B. But no more. All or nothing., Federal funding is something Congress can debate, I don't have a problem with that. Though my Congresspeople won't listen to me, I can advocate for my opinion, whatever it is. I don't believe the GOP shopuld have an absolute monopoly on what news is available

 

[gr8oldies]

The point another poster made was that in smaller markets, there is less such local news coverage. And in some, the NPR affiliated station is part of a wide area or statewide network, where no local news at all is done outside of the location of the main studios and offices.

You're forgetting the importance of statewide news though, what the legislatiure's up to, I mentioned that I get most of my state news fron an alternative weekly, which yes, does lean left. My local TV news doesn't cover that much, especially if there's news regarding a certain major university's sports program

 

[davideduardo]

The majority of people do not support Trump.

Cite a reliable survey or source.

He won another election with extremely low voter turnout (just like the 2016 election).

The U.S. does not have required voting. Many of the places I have lived get over 90% turnout because of that. And in all those places, elections are on a Sunday so that people have very limited work excuses to not vote (just police, emergency workers, etc. are "pardoned")

There are unpleasant consequences for not voting. I would wager that most Trump voters have never heard of NPR...

I'd wager that a majority of all voters have not heard of it. Remember, except for a few markets like DC and SF, the NPR station(s) average less than 5% of listening.

I don't listen, but know what it is. I don't use "appointment" radio, so NPR does not match my schedule. I used to listen to all-news radio in LA, but have always had subscriptions to the WSJ, The Economist, INFOBAE, the NYT, Reuters (paid one) and several others which I spend too much time reading. I also have personal / family requirements that have me subscribed to El Nuevo Día in Puerto Rico and El Comercio in Quito (INFOBAE gives me Argentina along with the world and Latin America).

 

[TheBigA]

Remember, except for a few markets like DC and SF, the NPR station(s) average less than 5% of listening.

Then again, the #1 station in those markets get less than 10% of listening.