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May 2, 2025 6:21 am  #1


Trump Orders Funding Cut To NPR & PBS. What Does This Mean For WNED?

Claiming it's filled with "biased" reporting, U.S. President Trump signed an executive order late Thursday ordering the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to cut funding to both NPR (National Public Radio) and PBS, which stations like WNED in Buffalo and WTVS in Detroit depend on for programming. 

The ruling is not likely to go unchallenged and may even be unconstitutional, which has never stopped the Orange one before. 

His reasons are almost laughable. 

"The administration notes that under the CPB’s governing statute, the group may not “contribute to or otherwise support any political party.” The White House also accused government funding of news media to be “not only outdated and unnecessary but corrosive to the appearance of journalistic independence,” arguing that the media landscape has become more “abundant” and “diverse” since the CPB was founded in 1967."

You can be sure this latest overstep will be challenged in court, but the question is what happens to the stations that depend on PBS in the meantime? I'm guessing viewer donations won't be enough to keep the main network going for long, let alone some of its spin-offs like PBS Kids. 

In a time of so much uncertainty, the one thing that's almost certain is that you haven't heard the end of this. And the courts will be busy. 

Trump White House Seeks to Cease Federal Funding to PBS, NPR With New Executive Order 

Last edited by RadioActive (May 2, 2025 6:23 am)

 

May 2, 2025 6:52 am  #2


Re: Trump Orders Funding Cut To NPR & PBS. What Does This Mean For WNED?

I don't listen to NPR so I am not aware if they have a political slant in their programming. As for PBS, depending on the topic, I often watch Nova, Frontline, American Masters, American Experience, Independent Lens and P.O.V. Having access to three affilliates [Buffalo, Detroit and Seattle] is a nice bonus.

 

May 2, 2025 7:47 am  #3


Re: Trump Orders Funding Cut To NPR & PBS. What Does This Mean For WNED?

As far as I know, NPR and its member stations are fairly neutral, though its critics and haters, including the orange toddler himself, accuse the nation's public broadcasters of being too "left", i.e. anywhere to the left of said critics' far-right positions.

 

May 2, 2025 9:13 am  #4


Re: Trump Orders Funding Cut To NPR & PBS. What Does This Mean For WNED?

What does this mean for WNED?
Time to reanimate the corpses of Mike and Goldie!

 

May 2, 2025 9:15 am  #5


Re: Trump Orders Funding Cut To NPR & PBS. What Does This Mean For WNED?

When we're in the US, I listen to NPR almost exclusively. They are mostly neutral. If they have any bias at all it is to the right.

They have a daily program for capitalists, "Marketplace." They don't have a program for the working class. They accept financial backing from corporations but they refuse donations from Unions and other labour organizations. They say it would create the appearance of bias.


After all is said and done, more is usually said than done.
 

May 2, 2025 9:38 am  #6


Re: Trump Orders Funding Cut To NPR & PBS. What Does This Mean For WNED?

This isn't a Trump thing at all. This has been a Republican thing since Mitt Romney ran against Obama and lost.
Mitt openly admitted the first order of business would be to terminate PBS funding if he were to win the election...


CityNews 24/7: https://toronto.citynews.ca/video/
RadioWiz & RadioQuiz are NOT the same person. 
RadioWiz & THE Wiz are NOT the same person.

 
 

May 2, 2025 3:00 pm  #7


Re: Trump Orders Funding Cut To NPR & PBS. What Does This Mean For WNED?

Radiowiz wrote:

This isn't a Trump thing at all. This has been a Republican thing since Mitt Romney ran against Obama and lost.
Mitt openly admitted the first order of business would be to terminate PBS funding if he were to win the election...

Yes the republicans have been after it just as Conservatives have been after CBC but Don pulled the trigger and to him neutral/objective means something to go after as they are covering what is actually happening and not kissing at his feet like Trump state Television FOX and others of their ilk.
 


Cool Airchecks and More:
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May 2, 2025 8:13 pm  #8


Re: Trump Orders Funding Cut To NPR & PBS. What Does This Mean For WNED?

According to NPR, only about 3% of their funding comes from the public purse. The rest comes from listener contributions and from Corporate grants.

A loss of 3% of it's funding may not kill NPR but it would certainly hamper its ability to produce quality programs.

But if defunding doesn't kill NPR, the Republicans will try other means. Donations from listeners are tax deductible. They could take away that tax break to limit contributions.


After all is said and done, more is usually said than done.
 

May 2, 2025 8:16 pm  #9


Re: Trump Orders Funding Cut To NPR & PBS. What Does This Mean For WNED?

turkeytop wrote:

According to NPR, only about 3% of their funding comes from the public purse. The rest comes from listener contributions and from Corporate grants.

A loss of 3% of it's funding may not kill NPR but it would certainly hamper its ability to produce quality programs.

But if defunding doesn't kill NPR, the Republicans will try other means. Donations from listeners are tax deductible. They could take away that tax break to limit contributions.

They could also go after licenses as they are for some of the privates.

 

May 27, 2025 9:07 am  #10


Re: Trump Orders Funding Cut To NPR & PBS. What Does This Mean For WNED?

     Thread Starter
 

May 27, 2025 12:09 pm  #11


Re: Trump Orders Funding Cut To NPR & PBS. What Does This Mean For WNED?

Trump would probably ship Mike and Goldie off to El Salvador.

 

 

May 28, 2025 8:56 am  #12


Re: Trump Orders Funding Cut To NPR & PBS. What Does This Mean For WNED?

newsguy1 wrote:

Trump would probably ship Mike and Goldie off to El Salvador.

 

Would Goldie's whiny voice be the reason?

 

June 12, 2025 7:38 pm  #13


Re: Trump Orders Funding Cut To NPR & PBS. What Does This Mean For WNED?

It's not official yet, but on Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives took the first step in cutting more than a billion dollars in funding to both PBS and NPR. That potentially puts the future of stations like WBFO-FM and WNED-TV in jeopardy. The measure passed by just two votes, despite the fact four Republicans voted against it. 

It now has to clear the Senate and if it does, it could spell some very troubling times for public radio and TV down south. 

How ironic then if it were to be left to Canadians to help fund Channel 17 if that happens. The Buffalo station gets a lot of money (taken at par) from Canada, especially those in the GTA. It's one of the reasons the entity behind it officially changed its name to Buffalo Toronto Public Media a few years back. But there are no guarantees that the programs on the station - and PBS itself - would be able to continue if the cuts officially become law. 

Critics say PBS and NPR lean too heavily left and this is the chance for the right wing currently in charge to weaken them or get rid of them entirely. 

What would happen to stations like WNED and WTVS in Detroit remains to be seen. But they would certainly be a shadow of their former selves if millions of dollars in funding suddenly disappeared - if, that is, they could even survive. 

"If the bill passes and is signed by Trump, it would have a varying effect on NPR and PBS member stations. Larger operations — particularly those in major markets or which are backed by universities — are less likely to be impacted, with corporate underwriting supporting many of those stations.

"Small and rural-area radio and TV stations are more likely to see the immediate effects of lower funding. Some station managers have warned of significant layoffs and the inability to purchase programming from PBS, NPR and other public media distributors. Some may shut down entirely, leaving local communities deprived of critical news and information.


U.S. House votes to claw back $1.1 billion from public media

     Thread Starter
 

June 12, 2025 8:09 pm  #14


Re: Trump Orders Funding Cut To NPR & PBS. What Does This Mean For WNED?

It PASSED by 2 votes because 4 Democrats DIDN'T BOTHER TO VOTE.