Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast How Federal Funding Clawbacks Will Impact Public Media
8 snips
Jul 17, 2025 LaFontaine Oliver, the President and CEO of New York Public Radio, brings a wealth of experience from leading public radio stations. He discusses the recent Senate decision to cut federal funding for NPR and PBS, highlighting the intense financial repercussions for both large and small stations. The conversation dives into the necessity of community support in advocating for public media and the urgent need for listener involvement. Oliver emphasizes the challenges these cuts pose to quality journalism and programming, urging listeners to rally for change.
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Advocate Against Funding Cuts
- Contact your representatives to oppose the federal funding rescission for public media.
- Your calls can influence the House vote and potentially change the outcome.
Impact of Federal Funding Loss
- Federal funding makes up about 3-5% of New York public radio's budget, roughly $3 million.
- Losing this money will force cuts in content acquisition and production starting FY26.
WAMC's Wide Reach and Cuts
- WAMC serves a large, diverse region including urban and rural areas stretching from Plattsburgh to the Berkshires.
- Their budget will face a 5% cut, about $500,000, impacting essential services and local reporting.