PBS — Defunded but not defeated

[Cartoon by Joe Wos]

Three simple letters, PBS. It’s arguably one of the best known and revered acronyms in the US today. Along with CBS, NBC, and ABC three-letter acronyms identified the media landscape throughout my childhood and coming of age in the 1960s and 1970s. Now add to that FOX, CNN, and international sources of information and entertainment such as the BBC and the options continue to increase.

These have been my personal information feed and inspiration  for most of my life. And likely yours. But things are changing, quickly and precipitously. For some very bad reasons, PBS and NPR are front and centre right now. The situation was beautifully put at the end of the PBS News Hour, Monday July 21, 2025:

As you likely know Congress last week approved President Trump’s request to rescind all federal funding for PBS and NPR. It’s an unsettling moment for all who believe in the mission of trusted independent journalism.

But your voices, your advocacy, and your unwavering support remind us why this work matters. There are undoubtedly challenges ahead for the entire PBS system, including our family of member stations across the nation. Most critically those who serve smaller and more rural communities.

As for us at the News Hour we’re not going anywhere, and we remain as committed as ever to bringing you the news, the analysis, and the stories you have come to rely on over our five decades on the air.

Your belief in the power of public broadcasting helps sustain our work, and your loyalty, especially now, fuels it. And we are profoundly grateful. And we will continue our work as journalists without fear of favor.

Bravo, and again I say, bravo. Power of and to the people. Push back; resist; revolt again against that which is revolting. The Trump team wants to kill PBS and NPR. (In Canada, had the conservatives won a majority in our last election the CBC would likewise be defunded; phew.)

Trump and his administration cannot tolerate or understand  critical thinking, both hallmarks of independent and insightful journalism. The voice of the people is of no interest to power-hungry autocrats. They see PBS as the embodiment of DEI (dignity, equity, and inclusion) initiatives and attitudes. They seek a white, male America driven by a ruling class of wealthy thugs. They see progressive journalism and imaginative programming of all sorts as a threat to their deceit.

Truth, nuance, and well-researched content comprise an energy they cannot control. A concentration of wealth in a few hands, some elected, some not, have now led to an abusive withdrawal of previously committed funding. The term rescission has now joined the popular lexicon. Spineless congressional leaders now  pave the way for a widespread denial of public voice.

Why? Well fascism hates truth. We now watch Joesph Goebbels 2.0. Compassion, on the other hand, feeds on truth. From Mr. Rogers’ Neighbourhood to Masterpiece Theatre, to Finding your Roots, to Nova, PBS continues to provide quality programming on both television and radio. PBS is a voice of reason, compassion, and community in communities large and small throughout America, and likewise Canada and abroad.

What will we notice in the months and years ahead? It’s what Joni Mitchell sang now decades ago. You “don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.”

Robert Reich sums things up well:

As corporate media bows to Trump, public broadcasting has never been more important to our democracy. If radio stations and TV affiliates close, millions will lose access to critical news and education programs.

It’s up to us now to support our local public broadcasting stations. Trump is trying to control not just what we do, but what we know. Be warned.

RIP PBS? I don’t think so. I love their defiant spirit, “Defunded, not defeated.” I suggest we all do our part to support it.

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