NPR CEO Katherine Maher refused to resign despite direct pressure from Patricia Harrison, CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB)—a major federal funding distributor for public media—who suggested she step down "for the good of public media" amid concerns over perceived bias in NPR's reporting.
This pressure came during a spring 2025 phone call, as reported by The New York Times on December 30, 2025. Harrison raised listener complaints about bias, but Maher rejected the notion of systemic bias and declined to resign, viewing any concession as undermining NPR's journalistic independence.
The incident stemmed from longstanding accusations of liberal bias at NPR, amplified in 2024-2025 by Veteran editor Uri Berliner's essay criticizing progressive influences on coverage (leading to his resignation).
Resurfaced old tweets from Maher critical of Donald Trump
These culminated in Congress eliminating over $500 million in annual federal funding for public media, a move NPR challenged in court as First Amendment retaliation.
Maher's Response and Outcome
Maher's defiant stance—refusing compromise with critics or Congress—drew internal criticism from some public broadcasting allies advocating conciliation but ultimately strengthened NPR financially through record private donations and heightened listener support.
As of late 2025, Maher remains in her role, having navigated the crises with an aggressive approach that contrasted with predecessors and solidified her leadership amid ongoing debates over public media's role and funding.