Overview

• The Senate is set by Friday to decide on a rescission request that would eliminate more than $500 million in annual funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
• The House has already approved the cuts and President Trump has warned he will withhold support from Republicans who oppose the measure.
• PBS and NPR have enlisted public figures such as Bill Nye, Kerry Washington and Reba McEntire to spearhead a last-minute lobbying campaign.
• Directors of rural stations, including Alaska Public Media and South Dakota Public Broadcasting, are meeting senators to warn that up to 18% of stations could close and 30% of listeners could lose access.
• The Corporation for Public Broadcasting and its grantees are pursuing legal challenges to the Trump administration’s executive order on constitutional separation-of-powers grounds.