Restore PBS and NPR funding

Public media has uncovered some of the country’s biggest scandals and failures...

SIGN NOW: Local PBS and NPR stations are shutting down after Trump’s cuts. Demand Congress restore funding for public media NOW >> SIGN THE PETITION Pamela, for decades, when those in power fail communities, local public media has stepped up to expose the truth. Public media has uncovered some of the country’s biggest scandals and failures – from the government negligence behind Flint, Michigan’s poisoned water [1] to the Black Lung epidemic devastating rural Appalachia while officials looked the other way. [2] But now, that work is under attack. After Trump cut $1.1 billion from public media, local stations are shutting down, investigative reporting is disappearing, and rural communities are losing trusted news and emergency alerts. If Congress doesn’t restore funding for public media now, communities across the country will lose one of the last independent sources of local accountability journalism – while Trump’s allies fill the vacuum with far-right propaganda. Trump is gutting public media to deprive our communities and force his own narrative. Sign the petition to push back – and demand Congress restore funding for public media now >> SIGN THE PETITION Here’s what else is at stake when public broadcasting comes under attack: Local stations are being forced to cancel community programs, and PBS kids had to cut 25% of its staff. [3] Now, far-right outlets like PragerU are rushing in – replacing beloved shows like Sesame Street with political propaganda targeted at children. [4] PBS [5] and NPR [6] remain the most trusted news sources in America. But local affiliates are cutting staff or even shutting down entirely – forcing us to rely on corporate networks that are increasingly bowing to Trump. Rural Americans are getting hit the hardest. Nearly 250 rural stations are on the brink of shutting down – threatening to cut off millions of Americans, including many of Trump’s own voters, from their only source of local news and emergency alerts. [7] Defunding PBS and NPR was never about saving money. It’s about silencing truth, weakening democracy, and emboldening Trump’s far-right agenda. That’s exactly why Trump wants them gone. An informed public threatens his propaganda machine. Add your name: Tell Congress to restore funding now. We must save public media before it’s too late. Public media belongs to the people – not politicians or billionaires. And together, we can protect it. Thanks for all you do, The team at Common Cause [1] https://www.mediamatters.org/new-york-times/analysis-how-michigan-and-national-reporters-covered-flint-water-crisis [2] https://www.npr.org/2018/12/18/675253856/an-epidemic-is-killing-thousands-of-coal-miners-regulators-could-have-stopped-it [3] https://www.parents.com/pbs-defunding-what-parents-need-to-know-11734532 [4] https://prospect.org/education/2025-08-15-prageru-wants-to-capitalize-on-pbs-defunding/ [5] https://foundation.pbs.org/pbs-fast-facts/ [6] https://www.nationalpublicmedia.com/audience/ [7] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/us/politics/public-broadcast-cuts.html Common Cause is a leader in fights that matter at the local, state, and national level. Your support helps us fight special interests, hold elected officials accountable, and build a better democracy for all Americans. DONATE Interested in volunteering with our Action Team? Sign up here. 805 15th Street, NW, Suite 800 Washington, DC 20005 202.833.1200 https://commoncause.org Common Cause’s work to defend and strengthen our democracy is powered by members like you. You can use this link to unsubscribe or let us know you'd like to receive fewer emails from us.

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