Taxpayer support for National Public Radio (NPR) and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) might be at risk after recent developments in a recovery package proposed by Senate President Donald Trump on Tuesday night.
The Senate passed the measure with a narrow 51-50 vote, featuring Vice President JD Vance casting the deciding vote. The specifics of how much federal funding NPR and PBS receive remain unclear. Direct federal grants make up about 2% of NPR’s funding and around 15% of PBS’s. However, both organizations also acquire unidentified amounts of taxpayer money through member station payments throughout the nation.
In May, Trump issued an executive order asserting that neither network presented American taxpayers with a “fair, accurate or impartial” depiction of current events. Evaluations of the coverage by both outlets seem to affirm these claims.
The Senate is expected to vote again on Tuesday, with a slim margin, pushing forward with a funding proposal that Trump has requested, which aims to reclaim $1.1 billion designated for public broadcasting.
NPR has produced a significant amount of news content addressing LGBTQ topics. A June 2024 article highlighted a documentary that explored the rise of LGBTQ comedians, focusing on humor with gay themes.
The documentary, titled “The Laughter,” traces the journeys of several LGBTQ comedians and critiques “transphobic material.” A writer involved in the project, Page, mentioned seeking insight from big names in comedy such as Andrew Dyscree and Eddie Murphy, referring to their work as “homophobic” comedy.
Further reports indicated on LGBTQ advocacy, including a so-called “Safety Handbook” intended for drag queens.
NPR also provided editorial resources for an article in April about the musical “Lenpika,” which tells the story of Polish painter Tamara de Lempicka, described in the outlet as a “queer artist.” A stage director shared insights about the character’s notable sexual appetite.
According to a Gallup poll, 10% of Americans identified as LGBTQ in early 2023.
NPR’s coverage regarding race relations appeared to take a distorted approach, particularly with a June 2020 conversation hosted by Michelle Martin, featuring author Jennifer Harvey, titled “How White Parents Talk to Their Kids About Race.” Without any pushback, Harvey expressed views on America’s “racist culture” and heritage of segregation.
She mentioned making it a point to teach her children about historical figures like Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr., explicitly discussing the complexities of their actions. Recalling a moment with one of her children after a police rally, she noted the child’s perception of racial safety dynamics, where the child recognized their own privilege.
PBS has aired various segments featuring drag queens, such as a 2017 segment in San Francisco titled “Persian and Stiletto Storytime.” In 2019, they showcased multiple drag queens reading to children during library events.
A YouGov poll from 2023 revealed that 64% of Americans believe children shouldn’t be allowed to attend drag queen shows.
Additionally, PBS produced several articles addressing gender issues, including features with titles like “Suffragist Gender Benders,” aimed at promoting messages about gender roles in the suffrage movement.
There have been indications of bias in PBS’s coverage regarding the Hunter Biden laptop story. PBS’s Nick Schifrin stated in October 2020 that misinformation expert discussions highlighted concerns over disinformation tactics used by foreign actors during election periods.
