The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / Trump Orders Funding Cut To NPR & PBS. What Does This Mean For WNED?

**Posted by RadioActive** May 2, 2025 6:21 am

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 The White House also accused government funding of news media to be “not only outdated and unnecessary but corrosive to the appearance of journalistic independence,” arguing that the media landscape has become more “abundant” and “diverse” since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)

**Posted by mace** May 2, 2025 6:52 am

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.

**Posted by Forward Power** May 2, 2025 7:47 am

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.

**Posted by Buzzy Krumhunger** May 2, 2025 9:13 am

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

**Posted by turkeytop** May 2, 2025 9:15 am

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.

**Posted by Radiowiz** May 2, 2025 9:38 am

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...

**Posted by Fitz** May 2, 2025 3:00 pm

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.

**Posted by turkeytop** May 2, 2025 8:13 pm

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.

**Posted by Plate Voltage** May 2, 2025 8:16 pm

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.

**Posted by RadioActive** May 27, 2025 9:07 am

As the old saying goes, nobody gets rich but the lawyers.

NPR, Public Radio Stations Sue Trump Over Defunding: ‘Clear Violation of the Constitution’

**Posted by newsguy1** May 27, 2025 12:09 pm

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

**Posted by mace** May 28, 2025 8:56 am

newsguy1 wrote:
Trump would probably ship Mike and Goldie off to El Salvador.

Would Goldie's whiny voice be the reason?