Last month, Uri Berliner, a former National Public Radio editor, published a report in The Free Press explaining how the outlet began to become more left-leaning in recent years.
“An open-minded spirit no longer exists within NPR, and now, predictably, we don’t have an audience that reflects America,” Berliner wrote, adding that “people at every level of NPR have comfortably coalesced around the progressive worldview.”
In a House hearing on Wednesday about the accusations against NPR, Colorado Democrat Rep. Diana DeGette claimed that NPR is necessary because some of its smaller outlets are “the only ones” providing information to Floridians about hurricanes.
“In Florida. some of these stations in rural areas are the only ones who are giving weather reports about impending hurricanes and extreme weather events,”
Colorado Democrat Rep. Diana DeGette whines that NPR is necessary because some of their stations are the only ones giving weather reports about hurricanes in Florida.
— Media Research Center (@theMRC) May 8, 2024
Pretty sure Floridians can figure out if a hurricane is coming without listening to NPR. pic.twitter.com/3gf5CX160W
Earlier this week, headlines broke that NPR chief Katherine Maher would not appear at the hearing.
According to Fox News, she claimed that she had an all-day meeting with the organization's board of directors.
"NPR respects the Committee and its request and has offered to testify on a date in the near future that works for the Committee and Maher," a spokesperson told the outlet in a statement.
"These meetings are scheduled more than a year in advance. This meeting will be Maher’s first opportunity to review and consult with the Board on the challenges and opportunities facing the organization, including a strategy to lead NPR forward in fulfilling its public service mission to serve all of America," they continued.