Latest news with #AxiosNewsShapers
Axios
02-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
Trump signs order to ax federal funding for NPR and PBS
President Trump signed an executive order on Thursday that's designed to cut funding to NPR and PBS. Why it matters: The order that calls the two biggest public broadcasters in the U.S. "biased" and directs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to "cease direct funding" for them comes amid a broader push to target traditional media companies that the administration sees as biased against Republicans. The situation is already tense with the CPB, which allocates about $535 million in federal funding annually to NPR and PBS. The CPB filed a lawsuit against Trump and several administration officials on Monday for attempting to fire three members of its board. PBS and NPR had for decades enjoyed bipartisan support from lawmakers responsible for approving their government funds, per Axios' Sara Fischer and Natalie Daher. Zoom in: "The CPB Board shall cease direct funding to NPR and PBS, consistent with my Administration's policy to ensure that Federal funding does not support biased and partisan news coverage," states the order. "The CPB Board shall cancel existing direct funding to the maximum extent allowed by law and shall decline to provide future funding." Zoom out: The two public broadcasters are mostly funded by nongovernment sources, but PBS CEO Paula Kerger said during an an Axios News Shapers event in Washington, D.C., local member stations for PBS and NPR rely heavily on the government funding through the CPB. NPR previously defended its editorial integrity after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) called on the CEOs of the two broadcasters to testify at a DOGE subcommittee hearing on what she described as "systemically biased content" from federally funded radio and TV organizations. What they're saying: "For more than 50 years, NPR has collaborated with local nonprofit public media organizations to fill critical needs for news and information in America's communities," a spokesperson for the outlet said in an emailed statement on Friday morning. "NPR's editorial practices and decision-making are independent and free from outside influence, inclusive of any individual or commercial interest or political party," he said. "Eliminating funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting would have a devastating impact on American communities across the nation that rely on public radio for trusted local and national news, culture, lifesaving emergency alerts, and public safety information. As a system, we serve the public interest," he added. "Public radio serves 99% of the population over the air, counters the growth of local news deserts across the country, and, in some cases, may be a community's only source of daily, local news from journalists who live in and know their communities."
Axios
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Exclusive: Van Hollen says Dem leadership convo "should start now"
The internal conversation about who should replace Dick Durbin (Ill.) as the Senate's second-ranking Democrat is rightly under way, but it shouldn't wrap up until after the 2026 election, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) said at an Axios News Shapers event Wednesday. The big picture: Durbin's upcoming retirement after two decades as the Senate Democratic whip clears the floor for a leadership battle. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), the chief deputy whip, is already sprinting for the opening. But Durbin will retain his seat until the next year's midterms, so the passing of the baton wouldn't happen any time soon. Driving the news: Van Hollen did not make an endorsement — but he signaled in an interview with Axios' Stephen Neukam that he doesn't think it's too early to start talking about the road ahead. "My view is the conversation should start now, and there are ongoing conversations, but they should finish after the election," he said. Zoom out: The map for Senate Dems in 2026 is daunting. Van Hollen recognized that Wednesday, noting his party will have a "steeper climb" to regaining the majority in that chamber than in the House. But he said that if the election acts as "a referendum" on Trump, "that obviously provides opportunities for the Democrats." Trump's "standing," he said, has "absolutely plummeted." Several prominent polls recently lodged sinking approval ratings for the president, some to historic lows for this early in a term. "It's been a disastrous 100 days, and the American people are onto it," Van Hollen said. Yes, but: The path forward for the party — which has also seen its favorability crater — isn't just about fighting Trump, Van Hollen suggested. The Democrats also need to "provide an alternative vision for the country," he said.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mike Johnson says he's not on Signal and jokes that his texts are 'monitored by the Russians'
House Speaker Mike Johnson said he doesn't use Signal, an encrypted messaging app. "A lot of them text," Johnson said of his GOP colleagues. "That's our main means of communication." He jokes that his texts are "probably being monitored by the Russians." House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Wednesday that he doesn't use Signal, telling an interviewer that he's in "zero" chats on the encrypted messaging app. Instead, Johnson said, he primarily communicates via regular text messages. "I get about 400 a day literally just from members," Johnson said at an Axios News Shapers event in Washington, DC. "A lot of them text. That's our main means of communication." He added, jokingly: "Probably being monitored by the Russians, for all I know." Signal is an popular messaging app that uses end-to-end encryption to keep text messages secure, preventing third parties — including foreign governments — from being able to read messages. While Apple's iMessage also uses end-to-end encryption, regular SMS text messages are generally not encrypted, leaving them vulnerable to hacking. Signal was at the center of a recent scandal in Washington, when Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg was mistakenly added to a chat on the platform in which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Vice President JD Vance, and other Trump administration officials discussed upcoming strikes in Yemen. Trump recently discouraged members of his administration from using the app following the incident. "If you want to know the truth. I would frankly tell these people not to use Signal, although it's been used by a lot of people," Trump told The Atlantic. "But, whatever it is, whoever has it, whoever owns it, I wouldn't want to use it." Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Business Insider
Mike Johnson says he's not on Signal and jokes that his texts are 'monitored by the Russians'
House Speaker Mike Johnson said he doesn't use Signal, an encrypted messaging app. "A lot of them text," Johnson said of his GOP colleagues. "That's our main means of communication." He jokes that his texts are "probably being monitored by the Russians." Instead, Johnson said, he primarily communicates via regular text messages. "I get about 400 a day literally just from members," Johnson said at an Axios News Shapers event in Washington, DC. "A lot of them text. That's our main means of communication." He added, jokingly: "Probably being monitored by the Russians, for all I know." Signal is an popular messaging app that uses end-to-end encryption to keep text messages secure, preventing third parties — including foreign governments — from being able to read messages. While Apple's iMessage also uses end-to-end encryption, regular SMS text messages are generally not encrypted, leaving them vulnerable to hacking. Signal was at the center of a recent scandal in Washington, when Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg was mistakenly added to a chat on the platform in which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Vice President JD Vance, and other Trump administration officials discussed upcoming strikes in Yemen. Trump recently discouraged members of his administration from using the app following the incident. "If you want to know the truth. I would frankly tell these people not to use Signal, although it's been used by a lot of people," Trump told The Atlantic. "But, whatever it is, whoever has it, whoever owns it, I wouldn't want to use it."
Axios
30-04-2025
- Business
- Axios
Exclusive: Johnson would call Trump before raising alarm on constitutional power
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La) said Wednesday at an Axios News Shapers event that he'd call President Trump before stepping in if he ever felt the administration's tariff policy had begun to encroach on Congress' constitutional powers. Why it matters: Congress has ceded its tariff power to Trump for now, even amid economic turbulence. Johnson said Trump's tariffs are working and that he talks to the president "sometimes multiple times a day." "I think the executive has a broad array of authority that's been recognized over the years," Johnson told Axios' Hans Nichols. "If it gets close to where the imbalance is there, then we would step in." "But I think the first protocol, to be very frank, is I would call the president and talk with him," he added. Zoom in: Johnson also expressed optimism about meeting Hill leaders' shifting and self-imposed deadlines for Trump's "one, big beautiful bill." The package would extend and add tax cuts, raise the debt ceiling, slash spending, and provide more border money. Johnson has been gunning to get the bill done by Memorial Day. The Senate has a new July 4th deadline. But Johnson acknowledged the real deadline will be the debt ceiling X date. It's unclear when exactly that would hit, but the most recent estimate was August or September. Johnson said he is operating on the possibility that it could come as early as June. When a reconciliation package passes will ultimately depend on bicameral agreement. After it passes the House, "I hope [senators] don't do much to modify it," Johnson said, stressing there are "no secrets or surprises" over the legislation. The intrigue: Johnson confirmed that he has told members that if he does not get to the promised $1.5 trillion in spending cuts in the package, they can oust him as speaker. "I've never lied to any of my colleagues, and I was trying to emphasize the point," he said. Zoom out: Johnson also had a warning for Trump. If he loses the majority in the House next year, He said he expects Democrats to attempt to impeach Trump "on Day One."
