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Home Freedom Caucus Chair Bob Good, R-Va., is looking for an finish to taxpayer-funded media, the newest high Republican to push again on Nationwide Public Radio (NPR) after a now-former worker accused it of working with an awesome left-wing bias.
Good’s new Defund NPR Act, launched Friday, would block federal funding from going instantly towards NPR and in addition block public radio stations that get federal grants from utilizing these taxpayer funds to purchase content material from or pay dues to NPR as a member station.
“The federal government should not be within the enterprise of funding media, and it actually should not be funding media that has a transparent bias,” Good instructed Fox Information Digital in his first interview on the laws. “NPR has had a transparent left-wing bias for many years, and it is simply rising by the day. And there is no motive for taxpayers to need to fund this.”
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Home Freedom Caucus Chair Bob Good is the newest high Republican to name for defunding NPR. (Getty Photographs and Fox Information Digital)
The Virginia Republican mentioned that if the case have been reversed – {a partially} federally funded outlet being accused of a rightward slant – the general public outrage could be compounded.
“We now have a free and open press, or at the very least theoretically we’re purported to on this nation, as protected in our First Modification, and that is a important, foundational proper on this nation,” he mentioned. “However the authorities should not be placing their thumb on the size and forcing taxpayers to fund that. May you think about if we have been attempting to get what was acknowledged as a robust conservative-leaning media group to be funded by taxpayers? Are you able to think about the outrage in doing so?”
Conservatives have lengthy accused NPR of reporting with a left-wing bias whereas a few of its funding is offered by means of federal grants and different government-backed {dollars}.
These considerations have been lately magnified when now-former NPR editor Uri Berliner asserted in an op-ed that the outlet mishandled important tales that stemmed from Hunter Biden’s laptop computer laborious drive and COVID-19 lab leak theories, amongst others, and that registered Democrats have been vastly overrepresented within the newsroom by 87 to 0.
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Rep. Bob Good’s proposed invoice comes after former NPR editor Uri Berliner, above, accused the newsroom of maximum bias. (JP Yim/WireImage/File)
NPR chief information govt Edith Chapin responded in a press release revealed by the outlet, “We’re proud to face behind the distinctive work that our desks and exhibits do to cowl a variety of difficult tales. … We imagine that inclusion – amongst our workers, with our sourcing, and in our total protection – is important to telling the nuanced tales of this nation and our world.”
Berliner was suspended with out pay for 5 days quickly after, however he resigned a day later.
“I respect the integrity of my colleagues and need for NPR to thrive and do vital journalism,” Berliner mentioned in a portion of his resignation letter to NPR CEO Katherine Maher, through which he additionally opposed calls to defund NPR. “However I can’t work in a newsroom the place I’m disparaged by a brand new CEO whose divisive views verify the very issues at NPR I cited in my Free Press essay.”
Good instructed Fox Information Digital that Maher “would not appear involved about fact.”
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NPR CEO Katherine Maher has additionally caught criticism within the fallout. (Screenshot/Carnegie Endowment/File)
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“She’s clearly a left-wing particular person as properly, and she or he matches for that group. And that is high-quality, but it surely should not be on the taxpayer greenback,” Good mentioned.
Whereas most of NPR’s funding comes from company sponsorships, in line with its web site, the nonprofit additionally advantages each instantly and not directly from federal funds. The Company for Public Broadcasting, which received a fiscal 2026 advance of $535 million within the newest authorities funding deal, oversees each NPR and the Public Broadcasting Service.
Fox Information Digital reached out to NPR for touch upon Good’s invoice and feedback.
Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter for Fox Information Digital main protection of the Home of Representatives. Earlier digital bylines seen at Every day Mail and CBS Information.
Comply with on Twitter at @liz_elkind and ship tricks to [email protected]
Home Freedom Caucus chair requires finish to taxpayer-funded media after NPR scandal ends with editor’s exit
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