Summary
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has launched an investigation into NPR and PBS, alleging they may be violating federal law by airing commercial advertisements.
He also urged Congress to defund them, arguing taxpayer support is outdated.
Critics, including FCC Democratic commissioners and media advocacy groups, say the move is politically motivated and aimed at intimidating independent journalism.
Carr has previously acted on Trump’s media complaints and contributed to Project 2025.
NPR and PBS deny wrongdoing, asserting their underwriting practices comply with FCC regulations.
My only hope is that PBS and NPR have gotten so used to subsisting nearly 100% on member donations over the past few decades of constant GOP attacks on their funding, that this doesn’t have the affect that they’d hope.
Though I can see them actually shutting them down and not allowing them to exist, not just defunding them…
Since NPR reporting tends to be local and neutral the lack of national funding creates issues. The stations have to focus more coverage on areas that fund them.
So smaller rural communities have to rely on corporate funded radio which is almost always right wing. Without stations and funding they continue to only have disinformation available to them.
If you see a smaller rural ‘purple’ district or just under-served republican one, adopt it as a NPR donor. Give 1-2$ a month and try and get others you know to give that kind of gift. This will help LOTS as it gives a clear voice in the haze of propaganda dressed up a news.
cpb receives a not insignificant amount of federal funding. but since the pba, which established the cpb in 1967, specifically gives no control to the feds–they’ll just nuke the whole thing instead.