NPR In a Tizzy As eMail To Host Goes To 'All Staff'

National Public Radio (NPR) finds itself at the center of a controversy after an internal email exchange was accidentally sent to a wide group of staff members, revealing initial plans to bar longtime All Things Considered host Ari Shapiro from attending a corporate LGBTQ Pride event. 

The situation began when NPR’s managing editor for standards and practices, Tony Cavin, emailed Shapiro, advising him against participating in the event. Cavin cited NPR’s ethics handbook, which advises staff to “avoid appearances at private industry or corporate functions,” noting that the Pride event was a closed corporate gathering. He suggested Shapiro “politely decline” the invitation. However, this email was inadvertently sent to a broader internal group, including the news desk and international editors, rather than remaining a private exchange.

Ari Shapiro

Shapiro quickly responded, pointing out that he had attended similar corporate Pride events annually with Cavin’s personal approval in prior years. He questioned the sudden shift in policy, asking, “What’s changed?” His reply also noted the email’s unintended wide distribution, amplifying the issue within NPR’s newsroom.

The flub gained external attention after Semafor reported on the exchange, prompting NPR to reverse its stance. An NPR spokesperson told Semafor that Shapiro would be permitted to attend the event after all, claiming the decision was made shortly after the initial email thread. This backtrack came amid growing scrutiny of NPR, as the Trump administration and congressional Republicans have intensified efforts to challenge federal funding for public broadcasters like NPR and PBS, often criticizing their perceived focus on DEI initiatives.

The incident coincided with broader pressures on NPR tied to the Trump administration’s anti-DEI agenda. Since taking office in January 2025, President Trump has issued executive orders rolling back DEI programs across federal agencies, including directives to terminate such initiatives and place related staff on leave. NPR, which receives funding through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, has faced accusations from conservative figures, including Trump and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, of an “obsession with DEI.” This criticism intensified after NPR’s Chief Diversity Officer, Keith Woods, retired in February 2025—a move some linked to the administration’s crackdown, though NPR has not confirmed plans to replace him.