NY Times warns: "Elon Musk is gunning for public media"

Elon Musk has announced plans to zero out funding for NPR and PBS, the public broadcasting networks that bring us Sesame Street, All Things Considered, and This American Life.

Harris, Elon Musk, the co-chair of Donald Trump's so-called Department of Government Efficiency, has announced plans to eliminate funding for NPR and PBS, the public broadcasting networks that bring us beloved programs like Sesame Street, All Things Considered, and This American Life.1 And now, with Trump's inauguration just five days away, we don't have much time to fight back. Defunding NPR and PBS would be a massive blow to one of the last remaining reliable sources of news and information in communities across the country. We can't let that happen. Will you make a donation to support our work, including our efforts to save NPR and PBS? Donate $20 Donate $40 Donate $75 Or, donate another amount Republicans have wanted to defund public media for decades, beginning in the Nixon administration, when Mr. Rogers himself testified before Congress. During the George W. Bush administration, they tried again.2 Trump proposed defunding public broadcasting during his first term as well. Last April, he posted on Truth Social: "NO MORE FUNDING FOR NPR, A TOTAL SCAM! THEY ARE A LIBERAL DISINFORMATION MACHINE. NOT ONE DOLLAR!!!"3 But PBS ranks as one of the most trusted institutions in America, and Republican members of Congress from rural districts that rely on NPR and PBS stations for local news have helped save funding time and again.4 This time could be different. Rural district Republicans may no longer be willing to stand up to Trump, and Elon Musk has pledged to personally fund primary challenges to any member of Congress who refuses to fall in line.5 That's why NPR staff are warning that "it would be unwise to assume that events will play out as they have in the past," according to reporting by The New York Times.6 We've already mobilized tens of thousands of people to help save NPR and PBS. But with the new Republican Congress sworn in this week, we need to ramp up our campaign right now. Will you chip in $20 to help Demand Progress Action stop the defunding of NPR and PBS, and push for other key reforms? With gratitude, The team at Demand Progress Action DONATE Sources: 1. The Wall Street Journal, "Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy: The DOGE Plan to Reform Government," November 20, 2024. 2. On The Media, "Public Broadcasting Is In Danger (Again)," January 10, 2025. 3. The Guardian, "Trump's threat to defund all US public media has NPR and PBS on the back foot," December 28, 2024. 4. Columbia Journalism Review, "PBS could help rebuild trust in US media," March 9, 2021. 5. Common Dreams, "Musk's Threat to Primary Democrats Sparks Fresh Call for Ban on Super PACs," December 21, 2024. 6. The New York Times, "NPR and PBS Stations Brace for Funding Battle Under Trump," December 27, 2024. Contributions to ActBlue Civics and Demand Progress Action are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. Join our online community on Instagram or Twitter. Receiving too many emails from Demand Progress? You can opt to pause emails from Demand Progress for a month. And of course you can unsubscribe from this list at any time.