Lafayette Reporter

Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana has voiced concerns about taxpayer-funded news services such as National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), claiming their audiences are in decline. In a speech delivered on the Senate floor, Kennedy argued for the cessation of federal funding to these programs through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).

Kennedy stated, "The audience for public radio and public television is declining. Let me say that again. The audience for public radio and public television, which your tax dollars pay for, is declining."

He suggested that one reason for this trend is perceived bias in reporting: "People used to tune into PBS and NPR and Corporation for Public bias—Public Broadcasting, Freudian slip there—because those stations played it right straight down the middle, but they don’t anymore. They are very, very biased in their reporting. We all know that. I mean, all you have to do is listen to them."

Kennedy emphasized his support for the First Amendment but questioned the fairness of funding what he described as opinion journalism with taxpayer money: "I support the First Amendment, but they don’t have an inalienable right to report these things using opinion journalism that no fair-minded American can construe as anything but representing one point of view with your tax dollars."

He further announced his intention to introduce legislation aimed at ending subsidies not only for PBS and NPR but any media benefiting from federal funds: "I am going to try to stop subsidizing media—not just PBS and not just NPR—but any form of media that somehow is getting federal taxpayer dollars. It is just not right. It is not fair. I have a bill to do that."

Kennedy also mentioned potential support from former President Trump and Elon Musk on this issue.