NPR and PBS Stations Brace for Funding Battle Under Trump

The New York Times ^ | Dec. 27, 2024, 10:26 a.m. ET | Benjamin Mullin and Kate Conger

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Elon Musk is gunning for public media.

In his new role advising President-elect Donald J. Trump, Mr. Musk has floated sweeping cuts to the federal government, including the elimination of entire departments and the firing of agency leaders. One of the most concrete proposals on his list is eliminating hundreds of millions of dollars in annual funding that the government funnels to PBS and NPR stations, home to cultural touchstones like Elmo, Big Bird and “Fresh Air.”

For decades, NPR and PBS have overcome similar threats. But this year, “the attention and intensity” of the calls to defund public media seem greater, said Michael Isip, the president and chief executive of KQED, which operates NPR and PBS stations in the San Francisco Bay Area.

NPR and PBS stations are bracing for the fight. After the election, leaders of NPR’s biggest member stations circulated a report that warned “it would be unwise to assume that events will play out as they have in the past,” with regard to their federal funding. PBS received an update on the situation from political consultants at a board meeting in early December. And station directors in some states are already making their case to legislators.

Internally, NPR is preparing for a variety of funding possibilities, including that government money will be clawed back immediately, according to two people briefed on the network’s planning.

While many Americans know NPR and PBS by popular programs like “Sesame Street” and “All Things Considered,” those national organizations are merely the most visible part of a network of local stations crisscrossing the United States — a network that depends on public funding for local news, educational programming and emergency alerts. More than 98 percent of the U.S. population lives within listening range of at least one of...

[dljordan]

Prepare for the march of the Muppets led by Big Bird.

[Alas Babylon!]

Just delete them.

[hal ogen]

Cut these parasites at npr and pbs off at the knees. They have stolen enough from the USA taxpayers. What pathetic dishonest leftist bums!

[Zathras]

I was shocked that NPR is only about 150 employees.

[RetiredTexasVet]

There is no reason for funding those entities ... there are plenty of TV, Radio, etc commercial stations. We have no need for government propaganda pimps.

[cgbg]

While the enemy is focused on funding blindside them by revoking the local television licenses in every market.

They do not serve the public interest—they are propaganda outlets in blatant violation of their television licenses.

When that is complete then go after the funding.

Win the easy battles first.

[CPT Clay]

Buh Bye

[Cobra64]

One step at a time.

[Cobra64]

As Elon has said several times on the topic of eliminating federal departments and agencies: “Delete.”

[Jimmy Valentine]

These may have made sense when Johnson was President, but they are long obsolete. Close them down or sell them off.

[shoff]

“More than 98 percent of the U.S. population lives within listening range of at least one of...”

That’s their range what’s their audience? How many people believe the lies they tell?

[minnesota_bound]

NPR and PBS can stand on their own or fail.
There are literally thousands of podcasts and youtube video channels of all sorts of content.

[TChad]

I was shocked that NPR is only about 150 employees.

That's far less than are usually reported.

[M Kehoe]

Here’s a novel idea, sell advertising.

5.56mm