Yesterday, President Trump signed an Executive Order ending the taxpayer subsidization of National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).
Both media services receive funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting – and are largely supported by their large audience of independent viewers and listeners.
According to the networks, over 30 million people tune into public radio every week, and over 130 million watch PBS every year.
The networks provide a service that many Americans enjoy – often in remote communities. Furthermore, as they are public services, lower-income households can access them without costly subscription fees.
However, Trump doesn’t like how they cover his Administration or how they empower those who are often marginalized in society.
In the Fact Sheet released by the White House, it states that Trump said, “NPR and PBS have fueled partisanship and left-wing propaganda with taxpayer dollars, which is highly inappropriate and an improper use of taxpayers’ money.”
What is more disturbing in the Fact Sheet is the Administration’s focus on race and gender issues — specifically, casting hate on the independent coverage of stories on NPR and PBS.
The Administration makes a point to highlight what they deem is inappropriate, with such statements as “NPR has run stories defending looting and suggesting that crime fears are racist and has described its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices as ‘inseparable’ from its content.”
How is that a ‘bad’ thing?
One would hope that a public broadcaster would cover diversity, equity, and inclusion – which would mean that they are providing stories and coverage that represent the diverse cultural makeup of the United States, i.e., their audience.
Furthermore, the Fact Sheet lists three separate points specifically meant to target the LGBTQ2S+ community negatively, including listing the following as point-in-proof of why the defunding should occur: “PBS produced a movie titled “Real Boy” which celebrates a transgender teen’s transition.”
Why is highlighting the struggles and experiences of a transgendered individual a negative?
This entire Executive Order is partisan and hate-based, only meant to pander to Trump’s base and shut down speech that is in opposition to his policies and ‘ideals’ of Trump America.
The American people should be worried about what further actions this Administration will take when it makes moves like this to silence those who are most vulnerable in society.