Public Media Funding Faces Renewed Scrutiny Following GOP Hearings

NPR and PBS leaders defend their role as unbiased public broadcasters as Republican lawmakers and public figures push for defunding and privatization.

NPR CEO Katherine Maher testified before a House subcommittee, defending the organization’s editorial integrity while admitting past mistakes, including insufficient coverage of the Hunter Biden laptop story.
Republican lawmakers criticized NPR and PBS for alleged left-wing bias and called for an end to federal funding for public broadcasters.
Bill Maher, during his HBO show, labeled NPR as 'crazy far-left' and argued that public media should be privatized in today’s polarized political climate.
Former President Donald Trump reiterated his call for defunding NPR and PBS, claiming they are biased platforms aligned with the Democratic Party.
A Pew Research Center poll shows a plurality of Americans support maintaining federal funding for public broadcasters, highlighting divided public opinion on the issue.