House Republicans are taking a stand against liberal bias at National Public Radio (NPR) by introducing a bill aimed at cutting off the public funding spigot. In a bold move reported by The Daily Caller, Representative Jim Banks (R-IN) is spearheading the charge with new legislation designed to completely eliminate NPR’s access to taxpayer dollars, traditionally provided through federal entities like the Center for Public Broadcasting, the Department of Education, and the Department of Commerce.
Despite the fact that direct federal funding constitutes less than 1% of NPR’s total budget, when combined with indirect support from various governmental levels, this figure balloons to nearly 10%, a detail highlighted by the neutral agency Influence Watch.
Rep. Banks minced no words in his critique: “NPR’s new CEO is a radical, left-wing activist who has no place in journalism. Hoosiers shouldn’t be footing the bill for Katherine Maher, who would struggle to qualify for an entry-level journalism class, let alone steward millions in American tax dollars,” he asserted in his comments to the Caller before bringing the bill forward.
Seems accurate pic.twitter.com/nx5TmJY7GX
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 5, 2023
This legislative push gains further context with the recent resignation of NPR editor Uri Berliner, a veteran of over two decades, who departed after facing backlash for his critical commentary about the progressive tilt in NPR’s coverage. His observations included a significant political disparity in the D.C. bureau—87 Democrats to no Republicans. The response from NPR’s new chief, Katherine Maher, was quick and dismissive, despite her own controversial past support for President Joe Biden and derogatory remarks about former President Donald Trump, whom she labeled a “racist.”
Dubbed the Defund NPR Act, Banks’ proposal builds on similar efforts by Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX) last year, which have since stalled in committee. This isn’t the first rodeo for Republican attempts to strip NPR of federal funding; such initiatives date back to the Tea Party’s heyday in 2011.
The international governing body for track and field will ban trans women athletes from elite women’s competitions, citing a priority for fairness over inclusion, despite limited scientific research involving elite trans athletes. https://t.co/CcYOVuDVlR
— NPR (@NPR) March 26, 2023
The battle against what many conservatives view as a biased mainstream media has intensified, with figures like Elon Musk branding NPR and The New York Times as “State Affiliated Media” on Twitter—now known as X—a term generally reserved for outlets in authoritarian regimes. The classification led NPR to sever ties with the platform, based on Musk’s criteria that state-affiliated media are those significantly influenced by government through financial or political means, or through control over production and distribution.
NPR has long been criticized for skewing its reporting to appeal to its predominantly Democratic listenership, who form 43% of its base. The outlet has been particularly controversial for its reporting on the COVID-19 origins, dismissing the lab leak theory without substantial evidence, and later had to backtrack on its claims regarding the scientific research on transgender athletes’ competitive edge.
As House Republicans push forward with their campaign to realign public broadcasting, the spotlight intensifies on the political and editorial directions of taxpayer-funded media entities.
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