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The Hill
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hill
NPR editor-in-chief Edith Chapin resigning amid attacks from Trump administration
This week, NPR's editor-in-chief and acting chief content officer, Edith Chapin, announced she is stepping down — a decision she says was entirely her own. But the timing couldn't feel more symbolic. Her resignation comes just days after Congress voted to eliminate all $500 million in federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which supports NPR and PBS. And while NPR itself doesn't rely heavily on federal dollars, the same can't be said for its member stations — especially in rural areas where these grants keep the lights on. This isn't just a media story. It's a story about who gets to stay informed — and who gets left behind. Let's start with Chapin. During her time at NPR, she didn't just hold a title — she elevated the newsroom. She led the charge to hire senior editors specifically tasked with ensuring fairness, accuracy, and balance across NPR's reporting. In a time when media bias has become a political football, Chapin doubled down on journalistic standards. She once said, "We need to hear from all kinds of people — and that is our job. And we need to be as clear and transparent as we possibly can, and our audiences can decide how useful we are for them." Her departure is a loss for public journalism at a moment when it is already under siege. Now, let's talk about that funding cut. It's a move that's small-minded and shortsighted. Here's why: First, rural communities will be hit the hardest. Small stations don't have the same access to donors or corporate sponsors as big-city outlets. Without federal funding, they risk shutting down entirely — cutting off essential access to local news, weather alerts, and educational programming. Second, public media is a lifeline, not a luxury. Nearly three in four Americans rely on public radio for public safety updates. It's also the home of beloved shows like "Sesame Street" and "Daniel Tiger," especially for families who can't afford streaming platforms. Third, not everyone has Wi-Fi. Lawmakers arguing that public media is 'obsolete' forget that rural broadband is still unreliable in many parts of the country. Radio is still a reliable source of information that many Americans are using. This funding cut also defies the original purpose of public broadcasting, which was meant to provide unbiased, educational content for all Americans. Stripping it away because of perceived political slights? That's retaliation — not policy. So yes, Edith Chapin may have chosen to leave. But we all lose something when a principled journalist walks away in the shadow of a system that's being dismantled. And what's at stake isn't just news — it's access, it's education, and it's equity. Lindsey Granger is a News Nation contributor and co-host of The Hill's commentary show 'Rising.' This column is an edited transcription of her on-air commentary.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
NPR's top editor Edith Chapin to step down
July 22 (Reuters) - National Public Radio's (NPR) Edith Chapin will step down from her role as editor in chief and acting chief content officer later this year, the news outlet said on Tuesday, at a time when the broadcaster faces funding pressure after the Trump administration slashed public media subsidies. The news comes a week after the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives passed a $9 billion funding cut to public media and foreign aid. This includes $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which distributes funding to news outlets NPR and PBS. The Trump administration has accused, opens new tab NPR and PBS of bias against conservative viewpoints. Chapin, who joined NPR in 2012 after 25 years at CNN, will remain head of newsroom operations while NPR searches for a new editorial leadership. Under her leadership, NPR's news division expanded its investigative reporting and deepened its international and national coverage, the company said. NPR is a nonprofit media organization that boasts a weekly audience of 43 million across its platforms and has 953,000 weekly app users, according to its website.
New York Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Trump is stacking wins, voters reject Dems' left turn and other commentary
GOP watch: Trump Is Stacking Wins Republican 'hand-wringing' over President Trump's performance, character and temperament is overdone, asserts Ingrid Jacques at USA Today. Trump's 'detractors on the right' need to take a deep breath and 'consider what this president has accomplished.' His 'wins' surpass those of any 'other Republican president in modern history.' Defunding the Corporation for Public Broadcasting tops the list, with Trump making clear there is no 'First Amendment requirement for the government (taxpayers) to fund any specific outlet.' He's also dismantling the Department of Education, a 'behemoth' that's done 'nothing to improve education in the country.' Finally, his judicial choices 'sealed the court's conservative majority for years to come,' making it foolish for anyone to say Trump's been 'bad news for the Republican Party.' From the right: Voters Reject Dems' Left Turn A new I&I/TIPP poll shows 'the Democratic Party's attempt to 'resist' President Donald Trump is backfiring,' as 'a plurality of American adults now believe the one-time party of the center has gone too far to the left,' reports Issues & Insights' Terry Jones. The poll found 'more than one-in-five Democrats believe their party is too radical, sharply reducing the number of reliable votes for the party come election time.' Also, 'among Democrats, those who want to work with Trump (19%) plus those who want to work with him depending on the issue (37%) form a significant 56% majority, exceeding the still substantial share of the Dems who prefer to 'resist' Trump on all things (38%). So outright Trump rejectionism is a minority even within the Democratic Party.' Antisemitism beat: Resist Anti-Israel Hate 'Silence' in the face of attacks on Israelis and surging antisemitism 'has become all too familiar to American Jews' laments Yael Bar Tur at the City Journal. And antisemites have gone even further, speaking out to 'accept or even condone violence against Jews, Zionists, and the people of Israel.' Indeed, for some New Yorkers, 'anti-Israel sentiment has become a routine part of their social media feeds and conversations,' as they 'dismiss' anti-Jewish attacks as part of 'the cosmic struggle for justice.' Yet others are unwilling to 'normalize the Intifada.' Good: 'New Yorkers shouldn't be fooled by activists' efforts to present the anti-Israel cause as mainstream.' New Yorkers need to do what they do best: 'Think for themselves and resist the pull of propaganda.' Culture critic: Stephen Colbert's Big Mistake Stephen Colbert's 'The Late Show won't continue in any form,' cheers Joe Concha at the Washington Examiner. The show often hosted liberal darlings like Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Adam Schiff and Rachel Maddow. After its cancellation, many lefties 'immediately cried foul and pointed the finger at Trump.' 'Here's the actual story: The Late Show lost $40 million last year,' and 'Colbert's show is, by far, the most expensive to produce at CBS.' He was able to ride the wave of Trump-hating to gain ratings success during the first term. 'But as Colbert found out by napalming Letterman's legacy at CBS, making Trump the sole focus while inviting (tedious) Democrats on as featured guests was a recipe for disaster.' 'The only question is . . . who will be the next to fall?' 'Here's looking at you, Jimmy Kimmel.' Mideast desk: Israeli Hack Attack 'The 12-day war between Israel and Iran featured an unprecedented cyber campaign against the Islamic Republic's financial system,' observe Michael Doran and Zineb Riboua at The Wall Street Journal. 'Predatory Sparrow, a hacker group linked to the Israeli government, claimed credit for erasing Bank Sepah's banking data and rendering its systems inoperable.' 'As panic spread, a run on all banks ensued.' Tehran's stock market crashed, and Iran's private currency exchange was shut down. 'Israel's success offers the Trump administration new tools for confronting the Iranian threat.': Use economic sanctions and shift US cyber policy 'from passive support to active partnership in offensive operations.' 'The more Washington and Jerusalem operate together in combat, the stronger their alliance grows.' — Compiled by The Post Editorial Board
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Jamie Lee Curtis weighs in on CBS' cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Jamie Lee Curtis has shared her thoughts on CBS' controversial decision to cancel The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, a move that has sparked significant backlash. While attending the Culture Awards in Los Angeles on Thursday, July 17, Curtis was asked about the network's announcement and expressed her disappointment, stating, "It's bad." The 66-year-old actress, known for her roles in Freaky Friday and Halloween, praised Colbert, calling him "a great, great guy." Colbert, who has hosted the late-night program since 2015, will see the show come to an end in May 2026. Curtis also used the occasion to voice her concerns over recent legislative changes aimed at rolling back funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which supports PBS and NPR. "They're trying to silence people," Curtis said cryptically, before predicting, "That won't work. We will just get louder," with a confident smile. The cancellation of The Late Show has raised eyebrows across the entertainment industry, with many, including Curtis, voicing their disapproval. As the 2026 end date looms closer, it remains to be seen what impact the decision will have on late-night television and the broader cultural landscape.
Kuwait Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Kuwait Times
In victory for Trump, US Senate passes aid, broadcasting cuts
$9 billion in cuts passes by narrowest possible margin WASHINGTON: The US Senate early on Thursday approved President Donald Trump's plan for billions of dollars in cuts to funding for foreign aid and public broadcasting, handing the Republican president another victory as he exerts control over Congress with little opposition. The Senate voted 51 to 48 in favor of Trump's request to cut $9 billion in spending already approved by Congress. Most of the cuts are to programs to assist foreign countries suffering from disease, war and natural disasters, but the plan also eliminates all $1.1 billion the Corporation for Public Broadcasting was due to receive over the next two years. Trump and many of his fellow Republicans argue that spending on public broadcasting is an unnecessary expense and reject its news coverage as suffering from anti-right bias. Standalone rescissions packages have not passed in decades, with lawmakers reluctant to cede their constitutionally mandated control of spending. But Trump's Republicans, who hold narrow majorities in the Senate and House, have shown little appetite for resisting his policies since he began his second term in January. The $9 billion at stake is extremely small in the context of the $6.8 trillion federal budget, and represents only a tiny portion of all the funds approved by Congress that the Trump administration has held up while it has pursued sweeping cuts, many ordered by billionaire Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. As of mid-June, Trump was blocking $425 billion in funding that had already been appropriated and previously approved by Congress, according to Democratic lawmakers tracking frozen funding. However, Trump and his supporters have promised more of the 'rescission' requests to eliminate previously approved spending in what they say is an effort to pare back the federal government. The House of Representatives passed the rescissions legislation without altering Trump's request by 214-212 last month. Four Republicans joined 208 Democrats in voting no. But after a handful of Republican senators balked at the extent of the cuts to global health programs, Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, said on Tuesday that PEPFAR, a global program to fight HIV/AIDS launched in 2003 by then-President George W. Bush, was being exempted. The change brought the size of the package of cuts to $9 billion from $9.4 billion, requiring another House vote before the measure can be sent to the White House for Trump to sign into law. The rescissions must pass by Friday. Otherwise, the request would expire and the White House will be required to adhere to spending plans passed by Congress. Republican 'no' votes Two of the Senate's 53 Republicans - Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine - joined Democrats in voting against the legislation. 'You don't need to gut the entire Corporation for Public Broadcasting,' Murkowski said in a Senate speech. She said the Trump administration also had not provided assurances that battles against diseases such as malaria and polio worldwide would be maintained. Most of all, Murkowski said, Congress must assert its role in deciding how federal funds were spent. Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota called Trump's request a 'small, but important step toward fiscal sanity.' Democrats scoffed at that, noting that congressional Republicans earlier this month passed a massive package of tax and spending cuts that nonpartisan analysts estimated would add more than $3 trillion to the nation's $36.2 trillion debt. Democrats charged Republicans with giving up Congress' Constitutionally-mandated control of federal spending. 'Today, Senate Republicans turn this chamber into a subservient rubber stamp for the executive, at the behest of Donald Trump,' Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said. 'Republicans embrace the credo of cut, cut, cut now, and ask questions later,' Schumer said. The cuts would overturn bipartisan spending agreements most recently passed in a full-year stopgap funding bill in March. Democrats warn a partisan cut now could make it more difficult to negotiate government funding bills that must pass with bipartisan agreement by September 30 to avoid a shutdown. Appropriations bills require 60 votes to move ahead in the Senate, but the rescissions package needs just 51, meaning Republicans can pass it without Democratic support.— Reuters
