On the Media cover image

On the Media

Voice of America Goes Quiet. And, Apocalypse Now?

Mar 21, 2025
Nicole Hemmer, a political historian and co-host of "This Day," discusses the significant funding cuts to Voice of America and their historical implications for press freedom. Dorian Lynskey, a cultural journalist and author of "Everything Must Go," dives into humanity's obsession with end-of-the-world narratives, linking them to contemporary anxieties about climate change and social instability. Together, they explore how these stories reveal our deepest fears and the vital importance of independent journalism in preserving truth in a chaotic world.
50:18

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Funding cuts to Voice of America compromise press freedom globally, enabling authoritarian regimes to flourish without accountability.
  • Historically rooted in combating propaganda, Voice of America’s decline signifies a troubling retreat from U.S. commitment to democratic values and independent journalism.

Deep dives

Impact of Funding Cuts on International Broadcasters

Recent funding cuts have severely impacted numerous state media organizations, particularly Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Europe. These cuts have left the VOA effectively silent, creating a vacuum of unbiased news in regions like Russia, Ukraine, and China that rely on such services for information. The reductions threaten the flow of accurate reporting in these areas, allowing disinformation and propaganda from authoritarian regimes to flourish. Jodi Ginsberg from the Committee to Protect Journalists emphasizes that these developments pose significant risks not only to public knowledge but also to U.S. national security.

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