DOGE's Musk: NPR Should Survive On Its Own

Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency, calls for NPR to "defund" and survive independently amid allegations of biased reporting. This follows Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's announcement of a March hearing on NPR and PBS, focusing on claims of ignoring unfavorable stories about the Biden administration. NPR defends its objectivity, emphasizing its commitment to impartial journalism. 

Katherine Maher

Meanwhile, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr called for an Enforcement Bureau investigation into NPR and PBS, questioning whether their underwriting acknowledgments have crossed the line into prohibited commercial advertising. Under federal law, public broadcasters can acknowledge financial contributions but cannot promote a company’s products, services, or business through comparative claims, pricing details, or calls to action.

Chairman Carr went on to say, “I do not see a reason why Congress should continue sending taxpayer dollars to NPR and PBS given the changes in the media marketplace since the passage of the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967.”

In response, Katherine Maher was insistent that NPR and its Member stations adhere to FCC regulations on underwriting for noncommercial broadcasters. “We are confident any review of our programming and underwriting practices will confirm NPR’s adherence to these rules. We have worked for decades with the FCC in support of noncommercial educational broadcasters who provide essential information, educational programming, and emergency alerts to local communities across the United States,” she added.