Latest news with #publicbroadcasting
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Congress approves public media and foreign aid cuts: What to know
Congress this week approved a bill that claws back about $9 billion in foreign aid and public broadcasting funds, as Republicans look to begin locking in cuts pursued by his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The package includes about $8 billion in cuts for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and other foreign aid, as well as more than $1 billion in cuts to the Corporation of Public Broadcasting (CPB), which provides some funding to NPR and PBS. Here are five things to know about the bill. NPR and PBS brace for cuts The bill yanks back more than $1 billion in advanced funding appropriated for CPB over fiscal years 2026 and 2027. Many Republicans say the cuts are long overdue, singling out NPR and PBS, for what they perceive as political bias. But some are concerned about how the cuts would impact smaller stations. In the previous fiscal year, NPR received upwards of $13 million from CPB, the corporation's grants and allocations data shows. More than $70 million went to PBS based in Arlington. About one percent of NPR's current operating budget comes directly from the federal government, compared to 15 percent for PBS, multiple outlets report. At the same time, however, fees from member stations, which rely on a larger share of CPB funding on average, make up about 30 percent of NPR's funding. PBS says it also receives annual programming dues from stations to carry national programming. About 35 percent of the annual funding for PBS News Hour, the organization said, comes from CPB and national programming funds it described as 'a combination of CPB appropriation funds and annual programming dues paid to PBS by stations re-allocated to programs like ours.' Public media faces fiscal 'cliff' in October Opponents of the cuts have already sounded alarm about the fiscal 'cliff' that some stations will face as a result of the latest legislation come October, the start of fiscal year 2026. 'It is a cliff,' Rep. Rosa Delauro (Conn.), the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, told The Hill Thursday. 'They're already speaking about it, frightened to death, particularly in rural communities that they're not going to have access to important information or alerts about weather situations, information that they need to know, education for their kids, because they're not in communities where there are multiple sources of information.' In a statement responding to passage of the cuts on Friday, CPB president Patricia Harrison said 'many local public radio and television stations will be forced to shut down.' 'Cutting federal funding could also put Americans at risk of losing national and local emergency alerts that serve as a lifeline to many Americans in times of severe need,' Harrison also said. Senators on both sides of the aisle have raised similar concerns. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) said at the Hill Nation Summit on Wednesday that the cuts could put rural radio stations in her home state out of business, calling them 'the lifeblood of these communities when it comes to emergency alerts.' Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), one of two Republicans in the upper chamber to vote against the bill, pointed to a recent earthquake in her home state. Seven-point-three [magnitude] earthquake off of Alaska and tsunami warnings. You know how I got this information? From public broadcasting,' she said on the Senate floor. Less than 5 percent of the nonprofit corporation's funding goes toward its operations, while more than 70 percent 'goes directly to local public media stations,' CPB states on its website. And almost half of its 'total 544 radio and TV grantees are considered rural.' However, many Republicans have downplayed the cuts. 'There's so many means for communications now that we didn't have in the 1960s. Everyone has it on their phone,' Rep. Mark Alford (R-Missouri) told The Hill this week. 'Everyone, pretty much, has a smartphone, even in rural districts that that I represent, there's all types of access for information that we didn't have in the 1960s' 'I don't think the American taxpayer should be funding journalism,' Alford, who is also a former television news anchor, also said, while arguing there's a 'liberal, progressive bent towards NPR and PBS.' Foreign aid The request initially sent by the White House called for $8.3 billion in cuts to USAID and other foreign aid. But the White House ended up agreeing to exempt the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which was established under former President George W. Bush in 2003 and totaled about $400 million, after those cuts became a critical point of contention for moderate GOP lawmakers. The administration said the bill targets items like migration and refugee assistance that 'could be more fairly shared with non-U.S. Government donors,' USAID efforts officials say have been used to 'fund radical gender and climate projects,' and development assistance they argued 'conflict with American values' and 'interfere with the sovereignty of other countries,' among other rescissions. Republicans in both chambers have overwhelmingly cheered the cuts. But a few have also voiced concerns about the proposal in recent weeks, sounding alarm over what they see as a lack of information about the accounts being targeted. Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) specifically singled out a proposed $2.5 billion in cuts to the Development Assistance account. She noted in a statement that the account 'covers everything from basic education, to water and sanitation, to food security,' but said lawmakers still lacked key details as to how those programs would be affected. More cuts could be coming Republicans see the bill as a critical 'test run' for the party, as Trump administration officials have already indicated they aim to send multiple special requests to Congress to claw back more funding if the first package makes it through. White House budget chief Russell Vought said Thursday that another rescissions package is 'likely to come soon,' though he stopped short of offering specifics as to what programs could be on the chopping block. 'Have nothing to announce, but we've been talking about it, and there's certainly an enthusiasm, although,' Vought said. 'I spent a good hour with Senate Republicans, there is still a great enthusiasm for these rescissions bills, because Congress wants to be a part of voting for these cuts and making them permanent.' Hardline conservatives have ramped up calls in recent months for the president to use the rare 'rescissions' tool – which unlocks a process that Republicans can use to secure funding cuts with GOP-only votes – as the party looks to codify DOGE cuts amid legal challenges over the administration's efforts to reshape the federal government. Implications for Sept. 30 Fewer than 20 legislative days stand between Congress and a looming Sept. 30 deadline to prevent a government shutdown. Both chambers are running behind in marking up and pushing their annual funding bills across the floor — increasing the likelihood Congress will have to resort to a stopgap measure to keep the lights on and buy time for lawmakers to finish their funding work. Senate Democrats have already warned the passage of the recent rescissions package threatens already fragile bipartisan funding talks. And some Republicans are also eager to begin shifting more focus to crafting and approving new funding levels for fiscal 2026. Asked about the administration's plans to send Congress additional requests for cuts, Murkowski, a senior GOP appropriator, said, 'I do not think that should be our path.' 'It's not legislating. It's basically the White House saying this is what we want you to do. Take it or leave it,' she told reporters this week. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Donald Trump Cut Funding To PBS, And Now This "Arthur" TikTok Is Going Viral For Breaking The Internet's Heart
Everyone's inner child is heartbroken after the Trump administration received approval to reportedly cut all federal funding for public broadcasting, leaving programs like PBS in limbo. PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger said the cuts "go against the will of the American people," in a written statement. "The Senate just approved a rescissions package that goes against the will of the American people, the vast majority of whom trust PBS and believe we provide excellent value to their communities. These cuts will significantly impact all of our stations, but will be especially devastating to smaller stations and those serving large rural areas. Many of our stations, which provide access to free, unique local programming and emergency alerts, will now be forced to make hard decisions in the weeks and months ahead. There is nothing more American than PBS. Despite today's setback, we are determined to keep fighting to preserve the essential services we provide to the American public," Kerger said. Related: The PBS channel has been home to many popular educational children's TV shows, including the Emmy-winning animated series Arthur, a show about an 8-year-old aardvark who explores real-life issues through the lens of a child and promotes healthy problem-solving and social skills for young kids. Well, the official Arthur TikTok page recently posted a video in response to the news of budget cuts, with the caption: "PBS has been defunded. This isn't goodbye yet." In the clip, the character Sue from Arthur is seen writing in her journal. "I never wanna go through another fire. But I also never wanna lose this feeling. That each day is special; that my friends are the best friends in the world; and that if we stick together, we can make it through just about anything." The TikTok has received over 350,000 views in less than 24 hours, and thousands of comments have expressed their heartbreak over Trump's PBS cuts. Related: "You guys raised multiple generations and that won't be forgotten ever," one person wrote. "I can't believe these vile politicians defunded you. Fuck them," another person wrote. "Trump is trying to defund education. They know education means they have less power and voter base. Don't let them win. Continue to educate yourself," another person wrote. Related: Others shared what the show Arthur has meant to their lives. "This channel was my everything. I learned how to speak English watching PBS." "I came to the U.S. when I was 4. I went into school knowing 0 English thanks to PBS kids I learned English by the 3rd grade fluently. I'm now about to be in 12th." "from a foster child that had no structure or love growing up. thank you for helping raise me into who I am." Related: One person even shared that "Arthur's Reading Race" helped them start reading as an autistic kid. And this teacher said that PBS reinforced the "ethics" taught to them at home and helped them as a student. According to @arthursPBS, donating to your local PBS station is one way to help. What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below. Also in In the News: Also in In the News: Also in In the News:
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
What's next for PBS and NPR after Republicans strip funding?
Ken Burns has made more than 30 documentaries and won multiple Emmys. But without funding from public television, his educational programming such as "The Civil War" and "Baseball" might never have existed, he told "PBS News Hour" in an interview Thursday. Even today, the acclaimed filmmaker whose works — including his upcoming project "The American Revolution" — are broadcast on PBS, said his films get around 20% of their budgets from the Corp. for Public Broadcasting, the body Congress recently voted to defund. Projects that receive a higher percentage of their funding through public media "just won't be able to be made," Burns said. "And so there'll be less representation by all the different kinds of filmmakers. People coming up will have an impossible time getting started." The U.S. Senate this week passed the Trump administration's proposal to cancel $9 billion in federal funding previously allocated for foreign aid and public broadcasting, and the House of Representatives approved the package after midnight Friday, sending it to President Trump's desk. The Corp. for Public Broadcasting, which administers the funds for NPR radio stations and PBS TV affiliates, is on track to lose $1.1 billion that had previously been budgeted for the next two years. The impact of those cuts will be deeply felt across both NPR and PBS, leaders of both organizations told The Times. Layoffs and reduced programming are expected, and the blows will disproportionately strike smaller markets that rely more heavily on federal funding. "This is going to hit hardest in the places that need it the most," said Gabriel Kahn, a professor at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Read more: The Senate voted to defund NPR and PBS. How will local stations cope? Stations in smaller markets are staffed significantly less than stations in larger cities, often because of the disparity in funding. The Corp. for Public Broadcasting acted as "the great equalizer," Kahn said, padding the budgets of smaller stations so they could continue operating. "It's just going to be increasingly lonely out there as these voices, who were of the community and generally very well trusted, are going to disappear," Kahn said. "Because within a year, you're not going to be able to hear these things on the radio anymore in a lot of places." Media leaders react The cuts fulfill a longtime dream of conservatives and libertarians, who bristle at the notion of public funds supporting media organizations, especially ones they view as left-leaning. Republicans have for decades called for cuts to public broadcasting because of their perceived liberal slant of its programming. Trump has called NPR and PBS government-funded 'left-wing propaganda.' But several prominent voices in media and politics were quick to call attention to the harm the cuts will have, especially on communities where the local stations rely heavily on federal funding. "A PBS station is really like the public library. It's one of those important institutions that may be the only place where people have access to local news," Burns said. "There's a kind of sense of local accountability, and as news becomes nationalized and even internationalized, there's a loss there." PBS President Paula Kerger expressed similar concerns. 'Many of our stations which provide access to free unique local programming and emergency alerts will now be forced to make hard decisions in the weeks and months ahead,' Kerger said in a statement Thursday. Read more: NPR stations targeted for cuts by Trump have provided lifelines to listeners during disasters Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, one of two Senate Republicans to vote against the package, said she strongly opposes the cuts to public media in a statement after the vote. She referenced a 7.3 magnitude earthquake in Alaska this week that triggered a tsunami warning as an example of the public service stations provide. "My colleagues are targeting NPR but will wind up hurting — and, over time, closing down — local radio stations that provide essential news, alerts and educational programming in Alaska and across the country." A devastating blow to SoCal stations Public media outlets in Southern California's urban areas, which can turn to wealthy locals for donations, are less dependent on federal funding than stations in smaller markets. But they will still feel an immediate loss. Washington, D.C.-based NPR has two major affiliates serving the Los Angeles area: LAist, or KPCC-FM (89.3), and KCRW-FM (89.9). LAist, based in Pasadena, was set to receive $1.7 million, about 4% of its annual budget. Alejandra Santamaria, president and chief executive of LAist, said the money is equivalent to 13 journalist positions at the local news operation. KCRW in Santa Monica was expecting $264,000 from the Corp. for Public Broadcasting. PBS SoCal, which operates member stations KOCE and KCET in Orange and Los Angeles counties, respectively, is facing a loss of $4.3 million in federal funding, according to Andy Russell, president and chief executive of the stations. Connie Leyva, executive director of KVCR Public Media in San Bernardino, which operates PBS and NPR affiliates, said earlier this week that the Senate action will mean losing $540,000, about 6% of its operating budget. Thus, she has to consider cutting five positions on an already lean staff. Kahn, the USC professor who is also the publisher and editor of Crosstown L.A., a nonprofit newsroom focused on local reporting and data journalism, said the cuts could have unintended consequences for Trump's own voters. "The irony, of course, is that these are areas that generally support Trump with high margins, and they're are also areas that have the greatest allegiance to their local public radio station," he said. Sign up for our Wide Shot newsletter to get the latest entertainment business news, analysis and insights. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Solve the daily Crossword
Washington Post
a day ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
How Trump's Epstein woes nearly derailed his spending cuts
House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks to reporters at the Capitol on Thursday as the House prepared to vote on the rescissions bill. (Will Oliver/EPA/Shutterstock) Congress passed a rescissions package early Friday. The package formally withdraws funding for foreign aid, as well as for public television and radio stations. But debate stretched into the night on Thursday, as unrest over the Trump administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case continued to roil the GOP. While the bill passed along largely partisan lines, the saga illustrates the heat some Republicans are facing after the recent Justice Department decision to withhold the 'Epstein files' from the public. Host Colby Itkowitz speaks with Post congressional reporters Liz Goodwin and Marianna Sotomayor about the controversy over the rescissions package and why the Epstein scandal remains a sticking point for lawmakers. Today's show was produced by Arjun Singh. It was edited by Laura Benshoff and mixed by Sean Carter. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.
CBS News
2 days ago
- General
- CBS News
CEO of WQED says, "We are not going anywhere" amid federal funding cuts
He says they've been thinking about a path forward for a couple of years now. "We're going back to our roots in many ways by being very focused on the local community," Jedlinski said. Jedlinski says that means using the airwaves to platform content from that community. "Whether they be professional filmmakers, whether they be teachers – the Heinz History Center, Duquesne University," Jedlinski said. Focusing on local is something WQED did, nearly two decades before PBS. "We are standing in the birthplace of educational television," Jedlinski said. Of course, the station will continue relying on people's funding, but it always has. "The station began with 60,000 Pittsburghers giving two dollars," Jedlinski said. Now it's telling those Pittsburghers it's not going away as the station plans to keep beaming. "We are still here – we are not going anywhere," Jedlinski said.
