Brendan Carr described as “Trump’s Censorship Czar” as he launches media probes.

Summary

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has launched an investigation into NPR and PBS, alleging they may be violating federal law by airing commercial advertisements.

He also urged Congress to defund them, arguing taxpayer support is outdated.

Critics, including FCC Democratic commissioners and media advocacy groups, say the move is politically motivated and aimed at intimidating independent journalism.

Carr has previously acted on Trump’s media complaints and contributed to Project 2025.

NPR and PBS deny wrongdoing, asserting their underwriting practices comply with FCC regulations.

  • prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone
    10·
    5 hours ago

    My only hope is that PBS and NPR have gotten so used to subsisting nearly 100% on member donations over the past few decades of constant GOP attacks on their funding, that this doesn’t have the affect that they’d hope.

    Though I can see them actually shutting them down and not allowing them to exist, not just defunding them…

    • adarza@lemmy.caEnglish
      3·
      5 hours ago

      cpb receives a not insignificant amount of federal funding. but since the pba, which established the cpb in 1967, specifically gives no control to the feds–they’ll just nuke the whole thing instead.