Up First from NPR
Public Media Cuts, Waltz Out As National Security Advisor, Alien Enemies Act Ruling
02 May 2025
A new executive order aims to cut federal subsidies to PBS and NPR. President Trump is nominating national security adviser Mike Waltz as his ambassador to the United Nations, and a federal judge ruled that the use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan immigrants from the US is "unlawful." Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Gerry Holmes, Roberta Rampton, Eric Westervelt, Janaya Williams and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange. And our Executive Producer is Jay Shaylor. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Full Episode
A new executive order is trying to stop federal funding to PBS and NPR.
It's the latest attack on public media. What happens to local stations in news deserts if the money dries up? I'm Laila Faldil, that's Michelle Martin, and this is Up First from NPR News. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz is leaving the White House. He's nominated for a new job as U.N. ambassador. Is it a promotion or a punishment for Signalgate?
And a federal judge in Texas dealt a major blow to the president's efforts to deport non-citizens.
This decision protects everyone who's detained in the Southern District of Texas. It means that they cannot be removed anywhere under the Alien Enemies Act, much less to a brutal Salvadoran prison.
Stay with us. We'll give you the news you need to start your day. Late last night, President Trump issued an executive order that attempts to end federal funding for NPR and PBS, accusing the organizations of political bias.
It's the latest in a string of attacks on public media by the administration and Republican leaders in Congress. The move bans direct federal funding for the public broadcasters. It also bans local public radio and television stations from using taxpayer dollars to support them. Under NPR's protocol for reporting on itself, no NPR executive reviewed the story before it airs.
With us to talk about all of this is NPR's Ryland Barton. Hi, Ryland.
Hi, Leila.
So tell us exactly how Trump is trying to defund NPR and PBS through this executive order.
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