Bill Maher Calls for Privatizing NPR and PBS, Citing Political Polarization
The HBO host criticized NPR CEO Katherine Maher's testimony defending the outlet's neutrality during a contentious congressional hearing on public broadcasting funding.
- Bill Maher labeled NPR as 'crazy far-left' and argued that public broadcasters like NPR and PBS should no longer receive federal funding due to increasing political polarization.
- During a House subcommittee hearing, NPR CEO Katherine Maher defended the organization as nonpartisan and essential for fact-based reporting, while admitting past editorial mistakes, including limited coverage of the Hunter Biden laptop story.
- Republican lawmakers intensified their accusations of left-wing bias at NPR and PBS, with some calling for the complete defunding of public broadcasting.
- A Pew Research Center poll revealed that a plurality of Americans support continued federal funding for NPR and PBS, though public opinion remains divided.
- Donald Trump reiterated his stance on defunding NPR and PBS, while Katherine Maher distanced herself from prior social media posts reflecting left-wing ideologies during the hearing.