Indiana Republican Rep. Jim Banks has introduced a bill aimed at withdrawing federal funding from National Public Radio.
The proposal, known as the Defund NPR Act, seeks to halt any government financial support to the organization. The move comes after NPR’s editorial stance and staff political affiliation became public.
Recent reports, including one from former NPR editor Uri Berliner, have sparked debates about the news outlet’s political impartiality. Mr. Berliner wrote a fiery piece that led to his suspension and subsequent resignation, claiming — as many conservatives have contended for years — that NPR exhibits a significant leftward lean in its reporting. He said the Washington, D.C., bureau staff is 100% registered with the Democratic Party.
Adding to the discussion, NPR’s recently appointed CEO, Katherine Maher, has faced scrutiny over her public statements. Before joining NPR in March, she made various remarks that supported President Biden and were critical of former President Donald Trump. Her comments on misinformation in the context of the First Amendment have also drawn attention.
Mr. Banks criticized Ms. Maher’s leadership role at NPR, questioning her commitment to unbiased journalism and free speech principles.
“NPR’s new CEO is a radical, left-wing activist who doesn’t believe in free speech or objective journalism. Hoosiers shouldn’t be writing her paychecks. Katherine Maher isn’t qualified to teach an introductory journalism class, much less capable of responsibly spending millions of American tax dollars,” Mr. Banks told The Daily Caller before introducing his bill.
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