Katherine Maher

But we want them to have credible sources of news to begin with to be able to base that work on. But more importantly, I think the big misconception is that this money goes to NPR or to PBS. The reality is that the vast majority of funds in public broadcasting resources go directly to local stations. So I'm talking about, I did a little research. I'm talking about WKAR.

But we want them to have credible sources of news to begin with to be able to base that work on. But more importantly, I think the big misconception is that this money goes to NPR or to PBS. The reality is that the vast majority of funds in public broadcasting resources go directly to local stations. So I'm talking about, I did a little research. I'm talking about WKAR.

I think it's WMUK, WKAR are the stations where you grew up.

I think it's WMUK, WKAR are the stations where you grew up.

There you go. Exactly, yes, WMUK.

There you go. Exactly, yes, WMUK.

And so stations like that, they get a significant part of their funding comes from public funds. And that really matters, especially when you get into rural parts of the country. So I was in Asheville, North Carolina recently, as we all know, devastating damage in Hurricane Helene. They have enormous radio towers that broadcast across that top because it's like this.

And so stations like that, they get a significant part of their funding comes from public funds. And that really matters, especially when you get into rural parts of the country. So I was in Asheville, North Carolina recently, as we all know, devastating damage in Hurricane Helene. They have enormous radio towers that broadcast across that top because it's like this.

You know, it's the Appalachian Mountains. Same thing's true. Eastern Kentucky. You get out to the Rocky Mountains, same thing is true. Huge swaths of the country. That's expensive to maintain. We cover 99.7% of the country with our broadcast coverage, and that allows for Americans to have access to news, even in places where news deserts are growing, where disasters happen.

You know, it's the Appalachian Mountains. Same thing's true. Eastern Kentucky. You get out to the Rocky Mountains, same thing is true. Huge swaths of the country. That's expensive to maintain. We cover 99.7% of the country with our broadcast coverage, and that allows for Americans to have access to news, even in places where news deserts are growing, where disasters happen.

That's what your federal funds go to. They go to your local station. They go to your local reporters.

That's what your federal funds go to. They go to your local station. They go to your local reporters.

Corporation for Public Broadcasting, NPR, PBS, and all of public media.

Corporation for Public Broadcasting, NPR, PBS, and all of public media.

It's not great. I think that Americans need to be aware that it is going to be harmful to the system, right? So a lot of us probably grew up on kids' television, PBS Kids. I mean, it is a crown jewel of American public broadcasting programming.

It's not great. I think that Americans need to be aware that it is going to be harmful to the system, right? So a lot of us probably grew up on kids' television, PBS Kids. I mean, it is a crown jewel of American public broadcasting programming.

And whether you think about your history with Mr. Rogers, whether you're thinking about Sesame Street, whether you're thinking about more contemporary programming, That is so important, and that is a threat, under threat. When you think about your local radio stations, those may not be able to provide the same sorts of services.

And whether you think about your history with Mr. Rogers, whether you're thinking about Sesame Street, whether you're thinking about more contemporary programming, That is so important, and that is a threat, under threat. When you think about your local radio stations, those may not be able to provide the same sorts of services.

And the first thing that's gonna go, I have to tell you, is going to be local reporters' jobs. We have news deserts. 20% of Americans live in a place where they have no local news coverage other than public radio. What that means is that when we lose public funding, we are no longer going to be able to cover things like what matters in the statehouse.

And the first thing that's gonna go, I have to tell you, is going to be local reporters' jobs. We have news deserts. 20% of Americans live in a place where they have no local news coverage other than public radio. What that means is that when we lose public funding, we are no longer going to be able to cover things like what matters in the statehouse.