In a recent display of journalistic loyalty, CNN’s media correspondent Brian Stelter has come to the defense of PBS and NPR, asserting that these public broadcasters are merely fulfilling their role in the news ecosystem.
For years, conservative voices have clamored for the defunding of these institutions, arguing that they receive taxpayer money while consistently delivering news coverage that skews sharply to the left. Their critics contend that the programming often disparages anyone with views right of Bernie Sanders.
With the possibility of Republicans finally moving to cut off federal funding for PBS and NPR, Stelter has jumped into the fray, attempting to frame these outlets as paragons of journalistic integrity.
NewsBusters reported:
During the Tax Day edition of CNN’s Inside Politics, Stelter appeared alongside host Dana Bash to allege that President Trump’s agenda includes defunding PBS and NPR, which he claims are just “covering the news.” If Stelter genuinely believes this, it begs the question of how he defines newsworthiness.
Bash probed further, asking, “What’s the White House’s take on not only PBS and NPR but its broader conflicts with media organizations, including the AP, that we discussed earlier?”
Stelter responded by explaining, “The White House’s narrative revolves around combating what they term ‘wokeism’ and liberal bias. They’ve outlined instances of perceived bias at NPR and PBS, accusing them of disseminating ‘radical woke propaganda disguised as news.’”
However, Stelter wasn’t convinced by this perspective: “Some of the examples cited on the White House’s list are merely instances where NPR and PBS are reporting on the news, such as stories about transgender Americans. This list clearly reflects the president’s agenda to challenge DEI initiatives. Moreover, we see the FCC facing pressure, and signs of authoritarianism emerging. Yet, networks like CBS continue to report the news. The same can be said for PBS and NPR.”
Here’s the clip:
Brian Stelter warns that “it would also be, in many cases, Republican constituents that would suffer” from the defunding of PBS and NPR. He also claims, “Some of the examples [of liberal bias] on the list on the White House website are examples of NPR and PBS simply covering the news… pic.twitter.com/DjSb07mYBT
— Alex Christy (@alexchristy17) April 15, 2025
It seems that figures like Stelter view the progressive stance as the norm, rendering conservative viewpoints as fringe. Such a perspective illustrates a broader disconnect, where acknowledging conservative arguments is perceived as an aberration.
