Fake News Is Eating Real News

Trump is going after PBS and NPR. And sadly, he's likely to win that fight.

The effects of this would be absolutely devastating. Already, there is too much disinformation being constantly shoved in Americans' faces. That disinformation machine is what put Trump into office, by delivering a steady-stream of lies, lies, lies. Through it all, NPR and PBS have been stalwarts of the truth, telling people what they need to know instead of what they want to hear. They are the ONLY major not-for-profit news outlets within the U.S.

And Trump wants to completely remove all public funding.

That dollar amount would have a huge impact. Congress has apportioned $500 million to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and that funding is maintained on a two-year cycle precisely to prevent political interference. But Trump has clearly been bulldozing his way through the usual barriers, and that means this time, that money may be forfeit. That adds up to a $1 billion dollar cut for public broadcasting.

Will that kill NPR? Probably not. That public funding mostly goes to local stations. As every Public Media pledge-drive reminds us twice per year, the vast majority of it's funding comes from "viewers like you." At most, tax money funds about 15% to 20%. And while that may force some local stations off the air permanently, we live in an era where any smart phone can bypass the need for local stations with an app. NPR will go on reporting the news the way it should. PBS will take a huge hit, though. And with Sesame Street having been first bought out by HBO, then cut loose, it is likely that someone else besides CPB will have to take up the streaming rights after 2025. Donations will pick up the slack, especially if NPR reminds its viewing audience that a donation to their cause results in far more change than donating to some pesky Democrat who is stuffing your inbox and phone texts with messages begging for money.

But for many, they will be left with nothing but corporate-owned, oligarch media. And you can bet your bottom dollar that Trump will then pepper NPR with bogus, SLAPP lawsuits.

He will target similar lawsuits at MSNBC. Rachel Maddow will surely be targeted. That network will be unable to afford the financial damage of such an onslaught, and probably shut down.

And then, as I mentioned in my previous blog post, CNN/HBO will be targeted. In particular, John Oliver and Bill Maher.

Well, not Bill Maher anymore. He defected. Fuck him.

After that? There will be little else except Oligarch News, brought to you by Sinclair, Newscorp, Newsmax, OAN, Bezos, Zuckerberg, and Musk.

Leaving Americans with nothing to turn to other than the BBC for unbiased news. This is coming, folks. Brace for it.

This is how freedom of the press dies -- in the name of "freedom of the press."

Eric

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