Republicans accused public media shops NPR and PBS of bias at a Home subcommittee listening to on Wednesday, whereas Democrats defended the organizations and criticized the occasion as a distraction from the continued controversy relating to the Trump administration’s use of the Sign messaging app for the communication of delicate data.
PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger and NPR President and CEO Katherine Maher rebutted allegations of bias, saying the shops abide by journalistic requirements and serve a various viewers that features rural viewers.
The listening to, titled “Anti-American Airwaves: Holding the Heads of NPR and PBS Accountable,” was held by the Delivering on Authorities Effectivity (DOGE) subcommittee, the title of which echoes the Division of Authorities Effectivity, the Trump administration’s cost-cutting initiative overseen by Elon Musk.
Home Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., criticized NPR and PBS in the course of the listening to for alleged liberal bias, pointing to federal funding for the shops because the goal of potential cuts.
“NPR and PBS have more and more develop into radical, left-wing echo chambers for a slim viewers of largely rich, white, city liberals and progressives,” Greene stated.
President and CEO of Public Broadcasting Service Paula Kerger testifies throughout a Home Oversight and Authorities Reform Committee listening to on the U.S. Capitol on March 26, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Photos
Minutes later, Home Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Ma., defended the general public media shops and criticized the listening to as a distraction for extra vital points usually taken up by the Home Oversight Committee, the bigger physique to which the DOGE subcommittee belongs.
“I’m unhappy to see this as soon as proud committee — the precept investigative committee within the Home of Representatives — has now stooped to the bottom ranges of partisanship and political theater to carry a listening to to go after the likes of Elmo and Cookie Monster and Arthur the aardvark,” Lynch stated.
Later within the listening to, Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Ca., stated sarcastically: “Is Elmo now, or has he ever been, a member of the Communist Occasion?”
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