President Donald Trump’s recent executive order halting funding for the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and National Public Radio (NPR) has elicited cries of “censorship” and accusations of First Amendment violations from the liberal establishment. But a quick review of those networks’ programming quickly reveals that they are hardly the “unbiased, nonpartisan” news sources they claim to be. Here are 10 examples of PBS and NPR betraying the public trust and exposing why they don’t deserve taxpayer dollars.
Promoting the “Russiagate” Hoax
Following Trump’s victory in the 2016 election, NPR aggressively promoted the narrative that Trump was the beneficiary of covert support from the Russian government – a repeatedly debunked conspiracy theory known as “Russiagate.” As recently as last September, NPR was still propping up the “Russian interference” hoax.
In other words, Americans’ own tax dollars were used to peddle a fake Democrat narrative and mislead the public.
Discrediting the Hunter Biden Laptop Scandal
Like the rest of the corporate media, NPR and PBS dutifully repeated the Democrat Party line that the Hunter Biden laptop was “Russian disinformation” ahead of the 2020 election. NPR’s Managing Editor Terence Samuels specifically stated in a post on X, “We don’t want to waste our time on stories that are not really stories.” The network also alleged that there were “red flags” on the veracity of the story.
Of course, we now know that not only was the laptop story completely legitimate, NPR, PBS, and the rest of the legacy media also had all the evidence they needed to know it was a real story. During a recent hearing held by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, NPR CEO Katherine Maher admitted, “NPR acknowledges that we were mistaken in failing to cover the Hunter Biden laptop story more aggressively and sooner.”
Post-election polling shows that 79 percent of Americans believe Trump would have won the 2020 election had the story gotten more coverage.
Falsely Smearing the COVID-19 Lab Leak Theory
During the COVID-19 pandemic, NPR repeatedly sought to silence and discredit the theory that the virus had originated in a lab in Wuhan, China, calling it a politically motivated conspiracy theory. In April of 2020, NPR published an article titled “Scientists Debunk Lab Accident Theory Of Pandemic Emergence” asserting that “scientists dismiss the idea that the coronavirus pandemic was caused by the accident in a lab.”
Now, multiple federal agencies, including the CIA, FBI, and Department of Energy have stated that COVID indeed most likely originated in a lab. But NPR has offered no apology for smearing so-called “COVID conspiracy theorists” in 2020.
Cover Up of Joe Biden’s Cognitive Decline
Like the rest of the corporate media, NPR and PBS participated in the media’s cover-up of Joe Biden’s cognitive decline throughout his presidency.
As questions began to arise regarding Joe Biden’s mental state during the 2024 campaign, PBS host Jeff Goldberg stated of Joe Biden, “Mentally, he’s quite acute.” Another NPR piece in February 2024 suggested that Biden’s repeated gaffes were “signs of normal aging – or may be nothing.”
Peddling Transgender Ideology
Both PBS and NPR have actively promoted left-wing transgender ideology, including to American children. In 2017, PBS released a documentary titled “Real Boy” about a trans teenager celebrating “changing gender identity.” PBS also aired a “children’s program” titled “Lil’ Miss Hot Mess” that featured a drag queen skit that sought to promote the book “The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish.”
NPR, meanwhile, published a story about “queer animals” in 2024 stating that “some deer are nonbinary,” as well as that “banana slugs are hermaphrodites.” NPR also sought to “educate” the entire nation about a “whole community of genderqueer dinosaur enthusiasts” and “trans-ceratops.” They went as far as saying that there was “limited scientific evidence of physical advantage” between male and female athletes in a March 2023 piece.
Hosting A “BLM Sesame Street Town Hall”
Following the death of George Floyd and the ensuing Black Lives Matter riots in 2020, PBS launched a new initiative with CNN titled “Coming Together: Standing Up To Racism – A CNN/Sesame Street Town Hall For Kids and Families.”
The program ostensibly sought to “teach” kids and families about racism and the ongoing “protests.” However, its content played out more like a propaganda movie for BLM, avoiding any criticism of the movement that was then burning American cities to the ground.
During the program, for instance, Elmo’s dad, Louie, said that the “protests” were justified because “racism is a huge problem in our country,” further stating that, “Not all streets are like Sesame Street… What we are seeing is people saying ‘enough is enough.’ They want to end racism.”
NPR’s Declaration of Independence Stunt
In 2022, rather than engage in their Fourth of July tradition of publicly reading the Declaration of Independence, NPR decided instead to hold a discussion related to “equality” focusing on the issue of abortion and claiming that Trump was attacking people’s rights. A year prior, NPR stated that the Declaration of Independence had “flaws and deeply ingrained hypocrisies.”
Carrying Water for the Slavery Reparations Movement
As part of PBS’s “ReFramed America” series, the network released a documentary titled “The Cost of Inheritance” that claims to explore the issue of slavery reparations and its “complexity.” Despite appearing as an educational resource, the program displays a clear pro-reparations bias by amplifying arguments in favor of reparations.
PBS has since created and aired other programs that have only offered the pro-reparations side of the debate, including “The Big Paycheck,” which celebrates the “passage of the first tax-funded reparations bill for Black Americans” in Illinois.
Disparaging March for Life
While covering the March For Life in 2020, NPR released a piece titled “President Trump Faces Friendly Crowd At March For Life” that spoke disparagingly of the people in attendance. Throughout the piece, the pro-life attendees are called “Anti-Abortion rights activists” and portrayed as anti-woman.
Discriminating Against Conservatives in the Newsroom
In April of 2024, 25-year NPR veteran reporter Uri Berliner wrote an article for the Free Press exposing the left-wing bias of the organization. Titled “I’ve Been at NPR for 25 Years. Here’s How We Lost America’s Trust,” Uri disclosed that registered Democrats outnumbered Republicans 87 to 0 in NPR’s newsroom, precluding any ideological diversity within the organization. “Today, those who listen to NPR or read its coverage online find… the distilled worldview of a very small segment of the U.S. population,” Uri wrote.
These are only some of the most notable examples on the long list of instances in which NPR and PBS displayed their one-sided progressive bias. The Trump administration is now taking a long-overdue step to stop American taxpayer funding of these two very clearly left-wing media networks.
Hunter Oswald is a Research Fellow for The American Spectator. He is an alum of Grove City College, where he graduated Cum Laude with a B.A. in Political Science. You can follow him on X @HunterOswald8.
Perhaps [I doubt it] at its outset there was some reason for “public” media outlets. There were only 3 networks who controlled national news and programming. Those days are far gone today. If LEFTISTS want to see things which “tickle their ears” they can go many places without MY tax money paying for their garbage!
This article is good but unless it appears over the major news networks, it is entirely worthless since MSM will never post this on any of their controlled news sources.
Please defund this NPR, we do not need more of their news! Also PBS,it has outlived its original reason for existence. Make them earn their existence, like all other news outlets. Just common sense!
It’s time to yank all money from government boondoggles that the private sector provides now or could provide if there is profit incentives.
Nothing but just another left wing propaganda outlet.
Socialist Commie organizations.
Thank you Trump!
Not mentioned was PBS’s biography of William Buckley, which finished with a lengthy slanderous attempt to portray him as a dangerous fanatic.
This is not censorship. They can still report lies but they wont get federal money to do it.
PBS does have some programs I enjoy, like some Masterpiece Theaters and All Creatures Great and Small, but these shows would not have a problem getting sponsors. Most of their other shows are soooooooooo liberal, it is an insult my tax dollars go towards paying for it.
When I came back from VietNam I listened to NPR and PBS for the Classical music and programs. By 1977 the music stopped and the Proleteriot Broadcast System was in place. I stopped listening and watching back then and it has gotten only worse over time. I have never understood why our Government was sponsoring it. NPR and PBS even said they didn’t need Federal money but our Government still kept funding it. It took Trump to finally propose ending funding now will the useless, spineless Congress Defund it. That is the question
Pravda media. They won’t stop spewing their fake news.
Like with anything Trump does the left will make it political if not a court case out of it. The Nazis used to pick you up and arrest you and put you against the wall. The left now disrespects any opposition and calls everything a failure. A president with dementia who ruined this country is elevated to perfection while president Trump is standing for truth and honesty. And fighting for the common man. Like the voters wanted him too. He has done most things he campaigned on that is more than the democrats did in the past 4 years. Was America build back better? Was the economy robust? Was America safer? No to all of the above. And the lies continue. Wait till all the tariffs are in place. And things are made in America again. The illegals have been deported and police depts funded again. What will the democrats do then? Assassinate Trump and JD? The Bernie Oligarchs will see to it. Please pray for president Trump to keep him safe from harm. And vote a Republican majority in the House and Senate in 2026.
Everytime PBS runs ads they seek donations when getting Fed funds anyway
I say GO ALL donor for PBS
PBS and NPR have swung increasingly left in their “news reporting” over the years since their inception in November 1969 (PBS) and February, 1970 (NPR – by LBJ). They are no better (and just as biased) than the Leftist “Enemy Media”. They deserve NO funding from taxpayers! Let them compete in the marketplace.
I support President Trump! Our tax dollars should ONLY support truth. Grateful he is trying to Make America Great Again! ❤️
There is a contract between all broadcast stations and the FCC the federal communications commission. Broadcast stations are allowed to use the public airwaves only if they broadcast in the public interest. None of the existing broadcast networks broadcast in the public interest. They are all hard left Democrat. They all need to lose their FCC license. Anything received federal funding at a tax exempt status need to have that revoked. It’s a fact I don’t care what the Democrats say. Actually if the Democrats are against it is probably a really good idea..
PBS Channel 9 in St Louis, states they receive no government funding. They use this lie as a reason for their so-called Telethons. Lies upon lies for years now. If they claim they are not receiving government funding, they are deceiving the public and should have their funds pulled and their broadcasting license suspended or revoked.
PBS/NPR Sadly have done citizens in the USA wrong, and there is lots of proof.
All broadcast media have a contract with the FCC that states the FCC grants them the right to use the public airwaves ONLY if they broadcast in the public interest. Members of the public can contact the FCC and register concerns about the entities broadcasting in the public interest that will be reviewed at license renewal time. If it is determined they are not broadcasting in the public interest the FCC will revoke their license to broadcast. PBS and NPR, along with ABC, NBC and CBS should have their licenses revoked immediately. PBS and NPR should not receive any taxpayer money to broadcast left-wing Marxist democrat material, Full stop!
we have never had a freepress in my lifetime wehave never in mylifetime had a constitutional government shame on you politicians all you care about money and power
Will their pledge nights increase dramatically now? I wonder. If so, it will be interesting to see how much $$ they can rake in now, and who from.
For years I have noticed the strong left wing bias at NPR and PBS. I rarely listen to them anymore and do not give them any financial support.
I don’t know if there is any way of knowing this statistic but I wonder how many abortions are the result of the sins of fornication and adultery.
Another corrupt news source.
Hell even Sesame Street has gone LGBTQ with their series. My grandkids don’t need that CRAP shown to them on TV.
These networks do fund raise. They receive more money in one donation drive than I was able to make in 4 or 5 years when I was working. I have always wondered why they got federal funding and asked for donations. If they are so essential, then they should have no shortage of donations to cover the loss of our tax dollars.
Perhaps George Soros should buy them as he is buying up radio stations to broadcast his Socialist/communist propaganda. He should be Glad to fund them both.
National Propaganda Radio deserves not one dime from the taxpayers.
I’ve been calling them Communist propaganda rags for over 40 yrs. Their left wing bias goes way back. I also compared them to Pravda.
Only “TEN”…? I’m shocked!
This should have been done during Trumps first term but it is especially important to get rid of the hateful Leftwing tax payer funded pariahs to truth and good journalism ASAP.
They’ve been going downhill for years. Good shows, but always lesbians, etc on them all.
The people running NPR, and PBS, can stick their slime-balls Networks where the sun doesn’t shine, I have not watched their lying commie trash for years.
God Bless America!
if i’m not mistaken, i believe both npr & pbs were started to expose rural communities & rural states to up-to-date news & the children there in to educational opportunities. at this time there were only 3 television stations and a handful of national radio stations that covered a small portion of the u.s.. with the advent of the old 3 meter satellite dish, rural areas & rural states had access to immediate national and diverse television programming. after the 3 meter dish came the home 1 meter & 18″ dishes. then cable tv. and then came the fiber optic cable systems. because of the current availability of various programming i certainly approve de-funding tax-payer monies for both npr & pbs.
NPR and PBS are the benchmark of hierocracy, they are crying “censorship” while they present their perverse, ungodly propaganda. They are a news outlet of propaganda of anti-white, anti-family values, and justify abortion, which is murder. On my radio, they can be found on the extreme left side of the dial. How appropriate
What happened to real journalism? What happened to telling the people the real truth? This hasn’t started with President Trump and the current events. This has been going on for decades. AMAC has been truthful and I applaud them. The Epoch Times also have great journalists. The American people are waking up to the b~~~~~~t and my tax paying dollars are wasted on nonsense. Thank GOD Harris lost.
Great article. Thank you Hunter. My friend tried many times to pitch shows to PBS and always turned down. I always felt she was targeted. Let’s keep defunding these 3 letter agencies! (Good comment Max).
When I was in Journalism getting my MA at U of M, I met with some NPR people and I actually wrote a piece for the network that was about John Lennon. It was not for a few years that I realized what NPR had become and I was appalled that taxpayer dollars went to fund an entity that spent all of its effort on spewing Leftist propaganda. I am now one who doesn’t believe our government should fund any media. Both NPR and PBS are propaganda voices for Socialism (and anti- freedom in actuality), Both raise tons of $ by begging for donations and they even have commercials now which are subtly clothed in “sponsors of” language …. Let them both stand on their own and if they cannot pay for what they air, they can have ads and commercials to support their partisan output. I, and millions like-minded Americans, certainly don’t want to fund it.
They forgot the definitions of “public” and “national.”
Haven’t watched anything on PBS except for Antique Roadshow in Years and years!! NPR a total waste of time!
NPR and PBS ARE LEFT-WING PROGRESSIVE SOCIALIST COMMIE ORGANIZATIONS. Not ONE DIME should have ever gone to these organizations. In fact, Trump should fight to get back the hundreds of billions of dollars already stolen from the American taxpayers.
I have long thought that they should NOT be granted public funds. Let the ones who watch them pay, not our taxes.
“Democrats outnumbered Republicans 87 to 0 in NPR’s newsroom”
One of these incidents should have been enough to shutter this arm of the Democrat Party…. I don’t want my tax money squandered on lies and liars… Chain the doors and board up the windows… A festering sore has been eliminated..
NPR subtlely disparaged President Trump at every opportunity about something. It was in the narrative always.
I thought public broadcasters ALWAYS betray the public trust. Isn’t that their job?
Times has really change! At least the American is made in channel of news, bias of PBS & NPR. Hope this doesn’t have any lasting effects.
How have these outlets been allowed to become an arm of the democratic, far-left liberal party? Is there absolutely no oversight? What were republican politicians doing while this “takeover” occurred? Did this start with Obama? What was Biden’s part in this train wreck that is supposed to be non-partisan? Who are the editors, etc., that decide what airs and what is put into print? Those people need to be fired and possibly charged for pushing out lies and false information. Seriously, once people see that there are repercussions, and that the people responsible were charged, we will not see much of this in the future.
Thank you Pres. Trump for defunding these two very biased toxic & lying network. We don’t want any of our tax dollars to pay for their programs to brainwash us with lies. God bless our President always.
The government should never have funded a network for the democrat party. They should have funded their own.