Latest news with #Capus
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Radio Free Europe still hopes for Congress funds after U.S. financing halt
By Jan Lopatka and Jason Hovet PRAGUE (Reuters) -U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is seeking to build bi-partisan support in Congress to keep operating when approved financing ends later this year, its president Stephen Capus said. Started in 1950 to broadcast to communist-run countries during the Cold War, RFE/RL still reaches millions in eastern Europe, including Russia and Ukraine, as well as central Asia and the Middle East. However, it is caught in efforts to down-size government under U.S. President Donald Trump. The administration froze Congress-approved federal grants in March, leaving RFE/RL to fight in court for appropriated funds. RFE/RL received funds for May on Thursday after a court order, Capus said, and continues to seek over $50 million appropriated by Congress for its fiscal year ending September while seeking ways to fund operations ahead. "After September 30th, there is still a possibility of receiving funds from Congress," he told Reuters during the Globsec Forum in Prague on Thursday. "We've got very strong bipartisan support... We have confidence that can happen." The funding rows have forced the station to furlough about 350 staff, out of around 1,200, Capus said, and it has reduced some programming. It also let go "hundreds and hundreds" of freelancers and contractors, and some senior staff have left. The Czech Republic has searched for solutions with European Union partners and others to help RFE/RL. Last month, the EU said it would donate 5.5 million euros ($6.33 million). The station has so far not accepted outside funds and wants to see where talks and U.S. court decisions lead. Capus said some form of funding from U.S. and European sources might be an option, given Europe's rising focus on security, including in the information space. Nothing was on the table now, he said, but "it's an idea worth exploring." ($1 = 0.8692 euros)
Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Radio Free Europe still hopes for Congress funds after U.S. financing halt
FILE PHOTO: Radio Free Europe logo and U.S. flag are seen in this illustration taken April 23, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/ File Photo Radio Free Europe still hopes for Congress funds after U.S. financing halt PRAGUE - U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is seeking to build bi-partisan support in Congress to keep operating when approved financing ends later this year, its president Stephen Capus said. Started in 1950 to broadcast to communist-run countries during the Cold War, RFE/RL still reaches millions in eastern Europe, including Russia and Ukraine, as well as central Asia and the Middle East. However, it is caught in efforts to down-size government under U.S. President Donald Trump. The administration froze Congress-approved federal grants in March, leaving RFE/RL to fight in court for appropriated funds. RFE/RL received funds for May on Thursday after a court order, Capus said, and continues to seek over $50 million appropriated by Congress for its fiscal year ending September while seeking ways to fund operations ahead. "After September 30th, there is still a possibility of receiving funds from Congress," he told Reuters during the Globsec Forum in Prague on Thursday. "We've got very strong bipartisan support... We have confidence that can happen." The funding rows have forced the station to furlough about 350 staff, out of around 1,200, Capus said, and it has reduced some programming. It also let go "hundreds and hundreds" of freelancers and contractors, and some senior staff have left. The Czech Republic has searched for solutions with European Union partners and others to help RFE/RL. Last month, the EU said it would donate 5.5 million euros ($6.33 million). The station has so far not accepted outside funds and wants to see where talks and U.S. court decisions lead. Capus said some form of funding from U.S. and European sources might be an option, given Europe's rising focus on security, including in the information space. Nothing was on the table now, he said, but "it's an idea worth exploring." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Michael Stipe explains why R.E.M. is helping struggling news service
R.E.M. had a hit song in 1983 named after "Radio Free Europe," inspired by the federally funded news service that helped spread American ideals abroad. Now, the struggling organization, which says the Trump administration is withholding millions in funding that Congress had appropriated, is hoping a little bit of rock and roll can help keep them afloat. The iconic rock band answered their call: They're now giving their 45-year-old smash a remix, sharing all of the proceeds from it directly to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. It's being issued on digital and on vinyl, with four other R.E.M. rarities. R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe on answering call for help "We love journalism. We love freedom of speech. And we love the world," the band's former frontman Michael Stipe told CBS News senior culture correspondent Anthony Mason about why the band immediately answered Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's call for help. Stipe said now is a good time for the song to make a comeback to "celebrate the actual Radio Free Europe." More than 1,300 journalists work for the non-profit organization. In March, the Trump administration abruptly froze the roughly $75 million in funding granted to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty by Congress for the fiscal year 2025. "Yes, shut them down," Elon Musk wrote on X in early February. "1. Europe is free now (not counting stifling bureaucracy). Hello?? 2. Nobody listens to them anymore. 3. It's just radical left crazy people talking to themselves while torching $1B/year of US taxpayer money." Steve Capus, a veteran of CBS News who has been president of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty since January 2024, said there was "no warning whatsoever" about the funding freeze. He says Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is now running on dwindling reserves. "There was an absolute appalling lack of communication about the implications of this decision," Capus told Mason. "We don't have a lot of time left" Originally beamed across the Iron Curtain over short-wave radio, Radio Free Europe was launched in the Eisenhower administration. Today, from its headquarters in Prague and from satellite bureaus, it broadcasts to 23 countries in 27 languages. "So many countries and so many autocrats have ordered the silencing of independent media. If we go away, we're giving a massive gift to Russia, to China, to Iran," Capus said. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has already had to furlough journalists and gone to courts to get its funding released. "We don't have a lot of time left. That's why we've had to take such drastic actions," Capus added. When R.E.M. got the call to help drum up support, Stipe did not hesitate. "It's important to democracy and important in the fight against authoritarianism that they remain," the artist said. It's not likely to solve all of the organization's financial problems, but Capus said it does help with morale. "You know what, a morale boost is welcome these days," he said. This week, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to "immediately disburse" the nearly $12.2 million that Congress had appropriated to cover Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's expenditures for the month of April. The Trump administration has appealed the court's ruling that they have to release the April funding to Radio Free Europe. CBS News reached out to the Trump administration for comment but has not yet heard back. Mike Waltz leaving post as Trump's national security adviser | Special Report Extended interview: DHS Secretary Kristi Noem on deportations involving children and more U.S. employers add 177,000 jobs in April despite uncertainty
CBS News
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe says releasing new "Radio Free Europe" remix was easy decision: "It's important to democracy"
R.E.M. had a hit song in 1983 named after "Radio Free Europe," inspired by the federally funded news service that helped spread American ideals abroad. Now, the struggling organization, which says the Trump administration is withholding millions in funding that Congress had appropriated, is hoping a little bit of rock and roll can help keep them afloat. The iconic rock band answered their call: They're now giving their 45-year-old smash a remix, sharing all of the proceeds from it directly to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. It's being issued on digital and on vinyl, with four other R.E.M. rarities. R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe on answering call for help "We love journalism. We love freedom of speech. And we love the world," the band's former frontman Michael Stipe told CBS News senior culture correspondent Anthony Mason about why the band immediately answered Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's call for help. Stipe said now is a good time for the song to make a comeback to "celebrate the actual Radio Free Europe." More than 1,300 journalists work for the non-profit organization. In March, the Trump administration abruptly froze the roughly $75 million in funding granted to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty by Congress for the fiscal year 2025. "Yes, shut them down," Elon Musk wrote on X in early February. "1. Europe is free now (not counting stifling bureaucracy). Hello?? 2. Nobody listens to them anymore. 3. It's just radical left crazy people talking to themselves while torching $1B/year of US taxpayer money." Steve Capus, a veteran of CBS News who has been president of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty since January 2024, said there was "no warning whatsoever" about the funding freeze. He says Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is now running on dwindling reserves. "There was an absolute appalling lack of communication about the implications of this decision," Capus told Mason. "We don't have a lot of time left" Originally beamed across the Iron Curtain over short-wave radio, Radio Free Europe was launched in the Eisenhower administration. Today, from its headquarters in Prague and from satellite bureaus, it broadcasts to 23 countries in 27 languages. "So many countries and so many autocrats have ordered the silencing of independent media. If we go away, we're giving a massive gift to Russia, to China, to Iran," Capus said. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has already had to furlough journalists and gone to courts to get its funding released. "We don't have a lot of time left. That's why we've had to take such drastic actions," Capus added. When R.E.M. got the call to help drum up support, Stipe did not hesitate. "It's important to democracy and important in the fight against authoritarianism that they remain," the artist said. It's not likely to solve all of the organization's financial problems, but Capus said it does help with morale. "You know what, a morale boost is welcome these days," he said. This week, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to "immediately disburse" the nearly $12.2 million that Congress had appropriated to cover Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's expenditures for the month of April. The Trump administration has appealed the court's ruling that they have to release the April funding to Radio Free Europe. CBS News reached out to the Trump administration for comment but has not yet heard back.
Epoch Times
30-04-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
Judge Orders Trump Admin to Disburse $12 Million in Funding to Radio Free Europe
A federal judge ruled on April 29 that the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) must disburse the funding appropriated by Congress to the nonprofit news organization Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth Lamberth said the plaintiff had shown it would suffer irreparable harm absent a restraining order, noting that USAGM's actions to terminate the grants agreement 'threaten the very existence' of the group. The judge also stated that Radio Free Europe is likely to succeed on the merits of its claim that USAGM had violated the Administrative Procedure Act by terminating the grants agreement. Lamberth said the Trump administration must seek congressional approval to take such action, noting that it 'has no residual constitutional power to refuse' to spend appropriations by Congress. 'It is, after all, Congress that makes the laws in this country. In this case, for example, it was Congress who ordained that the monies at issue should be allocated to RFE/RL,' Lamberth stated, referring to the acronym for Radio Free Europe. Related Stories 3/25/2025 3/15/2025 The judge also determined that USAGM's decision to change the grant agreement after the start of the fiscal year was 'arbitrary and capricious.' According to the court order, USAGM presented 'a radically different grant agreement' in mid-April, leaving little time for a meaningful negotiation as Radio Free Europe was running out of funding. 'If our nation is to thrive for another 250 years, each co-equal branch of government must be willing to courageously exert the authority entrusted to it by our Founders,' Lamberth stated. USAGM moved to terminate Radio Free Europe's grant agreement following President Donald Trump's order The cutbacks affect the organizations and agencies under its umbrella, including Voice of America (VOA); the Office of Cuba Broadcasting; Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and other organizations such as Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks. Radio Free Europe was established during the Cold War to broadcast news to the Soviet Union. It The organization filed a lawsuit against USAGM on March 18 and subsequently sought a temporary restraining order to block the funding cancellation. Government lawyers have previously Stephen Capus, president and CEO of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, welcomed the ruling and said that they hope to receive the funding quickly. Capus said the group had to furlough staff and scale back some of its programming due to the funding cut. 'Every day that USAGM withholds money further endangers our journalists, including four who are currently in prison,' Capus said in a The Epoch Times reached out to USAGM for comment but did not receive a response by publication time. Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
