Overview

• Congress reclaimed roughly $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting through a rescissions package that President Trump signed in late July.
• The New York Times reported that as many as 245 largely rural public radio and TV outlets are at risk of closing, with more than half of CPB’s budget previously flowing to local stations.
• Senator Lisa Murkowski opposed the bill and criticized what she called Republican lawmakers’ blind allegiance to the president’s wishes despite harm to their own constituents.
• Public broadcasters describe local stations as lifelines for community news and emergency alerts, and many have launched emergency fundraising drives to stay on the air.
• Rural organizers, including Lynlee Thorne of RuralGroundGame.org, report rising voter awareness of the cuts but say economic stress and disengagement continue to hinder mobilization.