For the last 70 years, National Public Radio has brought news content to the American people. From the segment 'Engines of our Ingenuity,' to informative radio broadcasts, they were a staple of American households for at least a few decades. But the platform has shifted severely from a news-based organization to a political mouthpiece for the Democrats.
There have been many a call for NPR to be defunded in the last 20 years or so, and once again, the calls are growing. But this time it is not based in political indifference or grudges. This is now based on fact after one whistleblower, a 25-year NPR veteran named Uri Berliner, exposed the organization for a blatantly biased newsroom, and one-sided reporting.
This is really no shock to the system. Plenty of American media outlets are now hard-Left leaning. But none of them have had employees come forward to thrash them like NPR has. Charles Blain of Urban Reform says that is what makes this time different.
"Now you have an insider, who because of his comments was suspended and eventually quit...it really gives credibility to what people had been complaining about," he says. "This is nothing new...it just adds more fuel to the fire moving into the next budget cycle and the election."
In his testimony, Berliner said he observed 87 Democrats in editorial positions, and not one single Republican. That creates no dissent, no debate, and no oversight in their pushing of ultra-progressive Leftist ideologies.
Yet, they continue to receive government money, as they have for the last 70 years. They might have been necessary back then, but now with multiple television options, and even smartphone notifications, they have become somewhat obsolete.
"There are more than enough ways to get the message across," he says.
So, this begs the ultimate question: why are we continuing to fund this? That is so the Left gets to continue their brainwashing and propaganda.
"If the organization was doing a genuine public service and good...then fine. But now it is just a mouthpiece for the left and covering for government...it is purely a waste," he says. "When there is so much competition both on TV and radio...it makes no sense for the government to still be funding this."
But they will continue to fund it as long as they can to try and push their twisted ideas on people, no matter the age.
Eventually, however, the chickens will come home to roost.
"NPR should be forced to defend itself if they do stuff that is overtly political...they should have to answer some questions," says Blain. "Unfortunately, we have seen this is how they will act...and nothing will change until Congress changes the law and restricts the funding they get."
Once again, these calls for defunding have gone on for the better part of two decades. But this time, there is legitimate momentum, thanks to Uri Berliner.
"With a big whistleblower coming out and saying this and seeing them retaliate against him...it may force some change...it may not cause significant reform...NPR likely is not going away anytime soon...but now that people are paying attention, it will definitely help going forward."
A bill to kill NPR funding has been spearheaded by Texas Congressman Ronny Jackson.
The NPR whistleblower Uri Berliner resigned this week after the company retaliated for his comments.
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