On Wednesday, Congressional Republicans directed sharp criticisms towards PBS and NPR, alleging a pattern of institutional bias during a heated hearing that marked the most recent attack on the American media from those closely aligned with the Trump administration.
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia who spearheaded the hearing dubbed “Anti-American Airwaves,” kicked off her statements by labeling PBS and NPR as “radical left-wing echo chambers” responsible for publishing one-sided news articles and indoctrinating youth through L.G.B.T.Q. content.
The executives from PBS and NPR refuted these allegations, asserting that their organizations are vital sources of factual information and educational content for millions of Americans. The CEO of NPR did express regret for previously critical comments made about President Trump before taking the helm at the network.
Democratic members of the committee dismissed the hearing as a disingenuous platform for Republicans to vent long-standing grievances against the media. Some Democrats attempted to redirect the conversation toward the Trump administration, referencing the incident where senior security officials inadvertently included the editor of The Atlantic in a military operation planning group chat.
Democratic Representative Stephen Lynch from Massachusetts remarked that Republican lawmakers seemed more inclined to attack Big Bird than confront President Trump. “If shame still existed, this hearing would be a source of shame,” he declared.
The hearing, organized by a new congressional subcommittee focused on “Delivering on Government Efficiency,” represented yet another chapter in the relentless two-month campaign against the media spearheaded by the Trump administration and its supporters.
The White House has restricted The Associated Press’s access to certain events, broken with tradition by selectively choosing which media outlets could attend the presidential press pool, and attempted to dismantle the federal body that oversees Voice of America. Additionally, the Federal Communications Commission has scrutinized major news organizations’ impartiality and initiated an investigation into PBS and NPR.
For decades, public broadcasters and the federal funding that supports them have been targets for Republican lawmakers. In 1969, Fred Rogers, the beloved host of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” appeared before Congress to protest budget cuts proposed by the Nixon administration.
During Wednesday’s hearing, the heads of NPR and PBS defended their content and significance to audiences. They highlighted the local journalism that covers community sports and agricultural markets, especially in rural areas lacking other media outlets, along with treasured children’s programs like “Clifford the Big Red Dog” and “Curious George.”
“PBS embodies the essence of America,” declared Paula Kerger, PBS’s chief executive.
Ms. Greene adopted a confrontational approach from the outset, questioning Katherine Maher, CEO of NPR, about social media comments made prior to her leadership, in which she labeled Mr. Trump a “racist” and “sociopath.” Ms. Maher acknowledged her regret for those remarks, stating she would not write them today. “They were reflective of a moment when I was contemplating the president’s statements rather than his character,” she explained.
Further, Ms. Greene reiterated claims that journalists from both organizations downplayed a story regarding the contents of Hunter Biden’s laptop during the 2020 campaign. Although Ms. Maher was not in charge of NPR at that point, she stated that “our current editorial leadership agrees that was a misstep, as do I.”
Republicans also referenced Uri Berliner’s experience, a seasoned NPR business editor who argued in an essay last year that the organization had adopted a liberal bias. This essay, published by The Free Press, became a rallying point for conservatives advocating to eliminate federal funding for the broadcaster; Mr. Berliner subsequently resigned.
When asked for his thoughts on the hearing, Mr. Berliner expressed: “I do not support defunding NPR. However, I believe it should decline federal support and openly acknowledge its progressive stance.”
The hearing oscillated between Democrats fervently supporting children’s programming and Republicans making dire accusations about the “propaganda” and “communist agenda” supposedly presented by public media, with Ms. Greene alleging they were “grooming children.” Nevertheless, there were lighter moments.
Democratic Representative Greg Casar from Texas held up a sign that read, “Fire Elon, Save Elmo,” in reference to Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur advocating for reducing the federal government’s size.
At another point, Representative Robert Garcia, a California Democrat, humorously inquired whether Elmo was a member of the Communist Party. (“Well, he is a puppet,” she responded. “But no.”) Mr. Garcia also questioned if Bert and Ernie, characters from “Sesame Street” who cohabit, were part of an “extreme homosexual agenda” and if Cookie Monster was “silencing pro-cookie voters.”
“Cookies are a sometimes food,” Ms. Kerger replied.
Representative James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, recalled listening to local public radio for updates during his time farming in a rural area. Yet today, he said, “I can hardly recognize NPR.” He queried why public media should warrant the same level of government funding given the numerous digital news sources accessible to Americans no matter their location.
This year, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which is government-backed, secured $535 million in federal funding; most of this is allocated to public radio and television stations nationwide, while a smaller sum goes directly to NPR and PBS. Ms. Maher stated that NPR delivers “unbiased, nonpartisan, fact-based reporting” and serves 43 million users each week across the country. Ms. Kerger highlighted PBS and its programming, as well as local news coverage, as integral components of the community’s fabric.
According to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center, 43 percent of adults believe NPR and PBS should continue to receive federal funding; 24 percent support the removal of such funds; and 33 percent are uncertain.
Towards the end of the hearing, Representative Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, referenced Mr. Rogers’s testimony before Congress, advocating for quality educational content as a cause that should rise above political divides.
“Mr. Rogers comprehended what we have lost sight of in this country,” stated Mr. Khanna. “Some things hold more value than monetary considerations in our currently polarized society. I wish for a bit more empathy and compassion, and this should transcend party lines.”
Robert Draper contributed reporting.
