The heads of two major public broadcasters, NPR and PBS, appeared before a House subcommittee on Wednesday to defend their organizations against accusations of political bias. NPR CEO Katherine Maher and PBS President Paula Kerger addressed lawmakers during a hearing titled “Anti-American Airwaves: Holding the Heads of NPR and PBS Accountable.” The hearing focused on whether public broadcasting should continue receiving federal funds.
The discussion, led by Republican lawmakers, raised concerns about alleged liberal bias in public media. In contrast, Democrats argued that the hearing was an attempt to silence opposing views. The subcommittee chair, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), stated her intention to cut all federal funding for public broadcasting, sparking a tense exchange on Capitol Hill.
Republicans Question Editorial Balance at NPR and PBS
Republican lawmakers accused NPR and PBS of failing to offer balanced news coverage. They cited specific programs and editorial decisions they claimed favored progressive viewpoints.
Rep. Greene criticized PBS in her opening statement, saying, “PBS news is not just left-leaning, but it actively uses taxpayer funds to push radical left positions. For example, featuring a drag queen on a show aimed at children.”
In response, PBS President Paula Kerger clarified that the incident Greene mentioned involved a local station’s website in New York City. “The drag queen was not part of any children’s show. It was mistakenly posted on a local website and removed immediately. It was never broadcast,” Kerger explained.
Greene argued that federal taxpayers should not fund media she considers politically biased. “For too long, taxpayers have been forced to fund biased news. This must come to an end,” she said.
Former NPR Editor’s Criticism Fuels GOP Claims
During the hearing, Republicans repeatedly cited an essay written by Uri Berliner, a former senior editor at NPR who resigned last year. In his essay, Berliner criticized NPR’s coverage, claiming it reflected a “rigid progressive ideology.”
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) referenced Berliner’s claim that in NPR’s Washington office, there were “87 registered Democrats and zero Republicans.” He asked CEO Maher if the claim was accurate.
Maher replied, “We do not track the political registrations of our employees.” When asked if Berliner had lied, she responded, “I’m not presuming such. We simply do not collect that information.”
Berliner’s essay has been widely used by public media critics to question NPR’s editorial independence.
Democrats Defend Public Broadcasting’s Role
Democratic lawmakers countered Republican claims, arguing that the hearing was a political attack designed to discredit public media. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) strongly criticized the Republican stance.
“Free speech is not about hearing only what you want to hear,” Crockett said. “You want to shut down every media outlet that’s not Fox News.”
At one point, Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) sarcastically asked Kerger if the beloved PBS character Elmo was a communist, to which Kerger replied, “No.”
“Are you sure? Because he is red,” Garcia joked, highlighting what he and other Democrats saw as absurd claims during the hearing.
Public Media Provides Vital Emergency Services in Rural Areas
Supporters of public broadcasting highlighted its crucial role in delivering news and emergency alerts, particularly in rural regions.
Ed Ulman, CEO of Alaska Public Media, testified that for many Alaskans, public media is their only source of news and emergency broadcasts. “We provide life-saving warnings and alerts, including extreme weather, earthquakes, and even volcanic activity,” Ulman said.
He also noted that PBS operates a Warning, Alert, Response Network (WARN), distributing emergency alerts nationwide. “This system ensures emergency information reaches millions of Americans’ cell phones,” he added.
Kerger shared a personal story about a rancher who drove for hours to attend a PBS event. “He told me, ‘We need PBS. My children learned to read watching PBS shows. It’s our connection to the rest of America.'”
Broader Debate Over Federal Funding Continues
The hearing is part of a larger debate over the future of federal funding for public media. Public broadcasting receives approximately $525 million annually from the federal government, less than 0.01% of the federal budget. Supporters argue that these funds help deliver unbiased news and educational content, especially in underserved areas.
NPR and PBS officials maintain that their organizations follow strict journalistic standards. They deny claims of political bias and say their goal is to serve all Americans with factual, trustworthy information.
The hearing ended without any immediate decision on funding. However, the discussion signals an ongoing political battle over the role of public media in American society.
