House Hearing Targets NPR and PBS Over 'Liberal Bias', Funding Dispute
A House subcommittee hearing, titled 'Anti-American Express Airwaves', was held on Wednesday. It targeted NPR and PBS Kids, with Republicans arguing against taxpayer funding for news outlets they disagree with. Democrats, however, support public broadcasting's crucial services. The hearing comes as both organizations face FCC investigations into their underwriting announcements.
The hearing was led by the DOGE subcommittee of the House Oversight Committee, focusing on perceived liberal bias in NPR and PBS. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, the subcommittee's chair, accused the organizations of being 'radical, left-wing echo chambers'. NPR CEO Katherine Maher and PBS CEO Paula A. Kerger defended their organizations' work during the hearing.
Representative Jasmine Crockett expressed concern that the targeting of NPR and PBS fits a pattern of recent assaults against the media. Press freedom groups share this concern, viewing the hearing as part of a broader campaign against the media in the US. Despite this, Congress has already allocated $535 million for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting through 2027, shielding public media from political pressure.
A 2024 survey by YouGov found that PBS was the third most trusted news outlet among Americans, with NPR ranking seventeenth. This trust is echoed by Democrats who support public broadcasting's crucial services. Republicans, however, maintain that taxpayers shouldn't fund news outlets they disagree with.
The hearing, titled 'Anti-American Express Airwaves', has sparked debate over the role of public broadcasting in the US. While Republicans argue against funding, Democrats and many Americans trust these outlets. Despite the FCC investigations and political pressure, Congress has ensured funding for public media until 2027. The future of NPR and PBS remains a contentious issue in American politics.
