Brendan Carr, the head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under Trump, is launching an investigation of National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).
Both organizations are already facing the loss of taxpayer funding, but this investigation will increase pressure on lawmakers to pull that funding.
Conservative Americans have been calling for the defunding of NPR and PBS for years. There are countless examples of these organizations acting as surrogates for the Democrat party. They do not even try to appear politically balanced, even though they are funded in part by taxpayers.
FOX News reports:
Trump FCC chair targets NPR, PBS for investigation ahead of Congressional threats to defund
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) launched an investigation into media outlets PBS and National Public Radio (NPR) over member stations potentially airing “prohibited commercial advertisements,” according to a letter obtained by The New York Times.
“I am concerned that NPR and PBS broadcasts could be violating federal law by airing commercials,” FCC chair Brendan Carr wrote, according to the Times. “In particular, it is possible that NPR and PBS member stations are broadcasting underwriting announcements that cross the line into prohibited commercial advertisements.”
The FCC allows businesses to support noncommercial radio and television stations — such as NPR, PBS or college radio stations — via on-air announcements known as underwriting sponsorships. The sponsorships, though similar to advertisements, face different FCC rules than typical TV or radio ads.
The Washington Free Beacon has more on this:
Both outlets have long faced scrutiny. NPR senior editor Uri Berliner resigned in April after he was suspended for criticizing Maher’s “divisive views” and “devastating” bias. The Washington Free Beacon reported that month that Maher had dismissed widespread looting and property damage during the summer 2020 riots, saying it was “hard to be mad” about the destruction.
Carr’s investigation aligns with President Donald Trump’s campaign pledge to cut wasteful spending and boost government efficiency. Shortly after his election victory in November, Trump named Carr, a longtime Republican member of the FCC, to lead the commission, saying Carr is “a warrior for Free Speech” and “will end the regulatory onslaught that has been crippling America’s Job Creators and Innovators.”
NPR and PBS have received federal funding for decades through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. For fiscal year 2025, the CPB received around $535 million from the federal government, which it distributed among public broadcasting entities, including NPR and PBS.
Conservatives should not be expected to fund organizations which actively work against their political beliefs and aspirations. If the left wants to support NPR and PBS, they are free to do so through charitable contributions.
The post Trump’s FCC Chair Launching Investigation of NPR and PBS, Taxpayer Funding Under Increased Scrutiny appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.