Sen Marsha Blackburn: ‘NPR should not receive our tax dollars,’
Senator Marsha Blackburn, representing Tennessee, is taking action to address concerns regarding National Public Radio (NPR). Following NPR’s suspension of an editor who highlighted the outlet’s partisan leanings within its newsroom, Senator Blackburn is considering proposing legislation that could impact NPR’s federal funding.
NPR receives funding through grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which distributes federal funds to various public media outlets. Senator Blackburn is exploring legislative options to ensure that NPR does not continue to benefit from taxpayer dollars, citing what she perceives as a left-wing bias in its reporting.
This move reflects growing scrutiny over the impartiality of public media organizations and raises questions about the appropriate use of government funding for media outlets. As discussions unfold, the potential implications of Senator Blackburn’s proposed legislation will likely spark further debate within Congress and the public sphere.
In a statement to US Newzs Digital, Senator Marsha Blackburn criticized the mainstream media, accusing it of being fixated on advancing leftist agendas and targeting prominent conservatives. She singled out NPR as a leading example of this trend, asserting that it is unreasonable for taxpayers to fund a left-leaning outlet that neglects to fairly represent the viewpoints of a significant portion of the population.
Senator Blackburn emphasized her stance that NPR should not receive federal tax dollars, arguing against subsidizing what she perceives as a propagandist news source.
Back in 2011, while serving in the House of Representatives, Marsha Blackburn aimed to cut off government funding to NPR. At that time, the Republican-led House approved a measure to slash $50 million from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).
Blackburn, expressing her stance, stated, “The time has come for us to claw back this money.”
CPB, as noted on its website, relies entirely on federal government funding. It distributes grants to NPR and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). NPR utilizes these grants for its international bureaus and distribution infrastructure, which delivers content to all public radio stations.
Recently, NPR veteran editor Uri Berliner faced suspension without pay following his public criticism of the organization. The suspension was disclosed on Tuesday but commenced the previous Friday, according to NPR media reporter David Folkenflik. Berliner was reportedly warned on Thursday by NPR that this suspension was a final caution, and any future violation of NPR’s policy on employees needing approval to work for other news outlets could result in termination.
In an interview with David Folkenflik, NPR veteran editor Uri Berliner expressed his admiration for NPR, referring to it as a national treasure. Despite his appreciation for the organization, Berliner voiced concerns about its ideological bias, stating, “We have great journalists here. If they shed their opinions and did the great journalism they’re capable of, this would be a much more interesting and fulfilling organization for our listeners.”
Berliner disclosed that he had attempted to address his concerns internally with NPR’s leadership before resorting to publishing an essay in the Free Press. However, he felt that his concerns were not adequately heard by the organization’s leadership.
In his critique of NPR’s ideological uniformity, Berliner revealed startling statistics, noting that there were “87 registered Democrats working in editorial positions” at NPR’s Washington, D.C., headquarters, while there were “zero Republicans. None.”
Uri Berliner highlighted how the lack of viewpoint diversity at NPR has influenced its coverage of significant stories over the years. He criticized NPR’s handling of various topics, including the allegations of collusion between former President Trump and Russia in the 2016 election, the controversies surrounding Hunter Biden’s laptop, and the theory suggesting that COVID-19 originated from a lab leak in China.
In addition to Berliner’s concerns, a spokesperson for Representative Ronny Jackson from Texas revealed that Jackson has been working on legislation in the House to defund NPR. Jackson has introduced this legislation multiple times, including in the current Congress.
Jackson is actively seeking more co-sponsors for his bill and is urging House leadership to consider it, particularly in light of recent developments concerning NPR.
In a statement to US Newzs Digital, Representative Andy Ogles from Tennessee expressed his belief that Congress should exercise oversight of NPR, especially given recent whistleblower allegations and subsequent suspensions.
Ogles emphasized that since taxpayers fund NPR, it should offer a truly neutral and balanced perspective. He argued that achieving this requires a politically diverse staff; otherwise, NPR could be perceived as a propaganda machine for the Democratic Party.
A spokesperson for Senator Bill Cassidy from Louisiana stated that Senator Cassidy has made it clear that Congress should terminate public funding for NPR. The spokesperson indicated that their office is exploring options to achieve this goal.
NPR did not respond to requests for comment before publication.