(NewsSpace.com) – On April 9, Uri Berliner, an NPR journalist who admits he fits the outlet’s mold, wrote an expose in The Free Press. He detailed how the publication has always had a liberal bent, but encouraged free thinking and propagated an open-minded culture. That, Berliner says, has changed over the years and led to NPR failing to have “an audience that reflects America.” His statements angered the publication, which suspended him following the essay’s publication. He chose, instead, to resign. Now, one US senator is trying to cut funding for the outlet.
NPR receives a combination of public and private funding. Its public funding comes from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which issues grants to the outlet. US Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) is now trying to have that funding cut because of its left bent. Berliner revealed that 87 editorial positions were held by Democrats, and none by Republicans.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Blackburn said that the “mainstream media has become obsessed with doing the Left’s bidding” while “taking down strong [C]onservatives” with NPR leading the pack. As a result, she says the outlet should not receive public funding because it’s a “propagandist… that refuses to represent the voices of half the country.”
This isn’t the first time Blackburn has put NPR in her crosshairs. In 2011, while serving in the lower chamber, she wanted to sever federal funding via CPB. Eventually, the House passed a measure that cut it back by $50 million.
Blackburn said she is planning to pen legislative action that would cut funding to NPR. In the House, Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX) is trying to do the same thing. He has introduced several pieces of legislation to that effect, but so far it has failed. That’s not stopping him, though; he’s currently looking for co-sponsors and is urging the House to take it seriously.
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