Will Clawbacks from Government mean anything? Terry Kelliher hosts a Radio Show to summarize his Public Access Media Project on this Kell News Show with Peter Mingils.

On this episode, Terry Kelliher and Peter Mingils discuss the opportunities and challenges associated with the new administration and their approach of reducing the funding for NPR.

The U.S. government, under the Trump administration, is attempting to rescind over $1.1 billion in federal funding previously allocated to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which supports public media outlets like National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). This effort is part of a broader $9.4 billion rescission package, which also targets foreign aid programs, aimed at reducing federal spending. The move aligns with recommendations from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by figures like Elon Musk, to cut what some Republicans deem wasteful or biased expenditures.

What is the Rescission Package? A rescission package is a formal request by the President to Congress to cancel previously appropriated funds. In this case, the White House sent a proposal on June 3, 2025, to claw back $1.1 billion allocated for CPB over fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The package requires a simple majority in both the House and Senate to pass within 45 days (by July 18, 2025). The House approved the measure on June 12, 2025, with a narrow 214-212 vote, largely along party lines, but it still needs Senate approval. If the Senate does not pass it, the funds will be released as originally appropriated.

Why Target NPR and PBS? The Trump administration and Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, argue that NPR and PBS exhibit liberal bias in their programming, labeling them as "left-wing propaganda” or "fake news.” They claim public funding for these outlets is unnecessary in a modern media landscape with abundant private news sources. Critics like Greene point to specific coverage—such as on COVID-19 origins or Hunter Biden—as evidence of bias, though NPR and PBS maintain their reporting is nonpartisan and adheres to journalistic standards. The administration also issued an executive order on May 2, 2025, directing CPB to cease funding NPR and PBS, though this was challenged as unlawful by the broadcasters, as CPB is a congressionally chartered nonprofit independent of direct presidential control.

Impact on Public Media NPR receives about 1% of its budget directly from federal funds, but its 246 member stations, operating over 1,000 stations, rely on CPB for 8-10% of their budgets. PBS stations depend on CPB for about 15% of their revenue. Most CPB funds go to local stations, particularly in rural and tribal areas, which use them to produce local programming and pay for national shows like NPR's Morning Edition or PBS's Sesame Street. If the rescission passes, smaller stations in news deserts could face closure, reducing access to local news, emergency alerts, and educational content. NPR and PBS argue this would disproportionately harm underserved communities.

Opposition and Challenges NPR, PBS, and CPB are fighting the cuts, emphasizing their role in providing trusted, free programming. Public media leaders, like NPR CEO Katherine Maher and PBS CEO Paula Kerger, highlight that federal funding supports critical services, especially in areas with limited media access. Lawsuits have been filed against the executive order, and a grassroots campaign, Protect My Public Media, has mobilized over 2 million messages to Congress. Some Republican lawmakers, like Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Rep. Don Bacon, express reluctance to cut CPB funding, citing its value in their states. Public support for NPR and PBS remains significant, with a Pew Research Center survey showing 43% of U.S. adults favor continued funding, though 44% of Republicans support cuts compared to only 5% of Democrats.

Current Status The rescission package awaits Senate action. If it fails to pass by mid-July, the $1.1 billion will remain allocated to CPB. The debate reflects long-standing partisan divides, with Republicans historically targeting public media funding since the 1967 Public Broadcasting Act, though past efforts have often failed due to bipartisan support.

You can see the bill:
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119hr4ih/pdf/BILLS-119hr4ih.pdf

We also talk about the launches of Vlog.news, Blog.News and the first channel.

This is one of the domains that explain some of the ideas as well as the others on Kell.News https://publicaccess.blog.news/

We are always updating the Kell News site with the Kell News Radio shows.
https://kell.news

You can also find Kell News shows on the Youmongus Radio Network as well.

https://youmongusradio.com

The post Terry Kelliher and Peter Mingils discuss Government Defunding of NPR and Public Access on Kell News Radio appeared first on Building Fortunes Radio Network.