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NPR and PBS bosses faced tough questions today from Republican lawmakers about why taxpayers should keep funding their networks. The hearing, led by Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, put the spotlight on accusations that these media giants push liberal propaganda instead of fair news. Greene slammed NPR and PBS for ignoring big stories like Hunter Biden’s laptop and called their reporting “anti-American.”
President Trump cheered on the effort to cut funding, saying NPR and PBS are “biased” and “unfair.” He argued taxpayers shouldn’t foot the bill for news outlets that attack conservative values. Trump pointed out there are plenty of other news sources now, making these government-funded networks outdated.
NPR CEO Katherine Maher and PBS CEO Paula Kerger showed up to defend their organizations. They claimed their reporting is balanced and serves all Americans. But critics fired back, saying their newsrooms lean left and ignore stories that make Democrats look bad. Some lawmakers called public broadcasting a relic of the 1960s that doesn’t belong in today’s media world.
The hearing revealed that NPR and PBS get over $500 million yearly from taxpayers. While that’s less than 1% of NPR’s total budget, conservatives argue any taxpayer money is too much for biased outlets. Marjorie Taylor Greene blasted the networks for catering to coastal elites while regular Americans pay the bills.
Republicans stressed that public media fails rural communities it claims to help. They argued local stations could survive without federal handouts by running ads or getting private donations. Experts warned that letting government fund news creates a slippery slope toward state-controlled media.
Democrats pushed back, saying NPR and PBS provide vital educational shows and local reporting. But conservatives countered that Sesame Street and other shows could easily find corporate sponsors. They said letting Big Bird go commercial would free him from political strings.
The clash comes as President Trump’s administration slashes wasteful spending. With America drowning in debt, Republicans say propping up dinosaur media makes no sense. They want NPR and PBS to compete fairly instead of leaching tax dollars.
This fight isn’t just about money – it’s about fairness. Conservative voices say it’s wrong to force truck drivers and farmers to pay for news that insults their values. As one lawmaker put it, “If liberals want woke programming, let them buy it themselves.” The message is clear – time to pull the plug on taxpayer-funded propaganda.
