NPR and PBS were the focus of a House subcommittee hearing on Wednesday, during which Republican congress members grilled the broadcasters over what they called alleged bias.
The hearing was titled “Anti-American Airwaves: Holding the Heads of NPR and PBS Accountable,” and was held by the Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) subcommittee, which echoes the Department of Government Efficiency in attempting to cut federal costs.
During the hearing, Republicans went after the taxpayer-funded media outlets, accusing them of having a bias and promoting a “woke ideology” for younger audiences.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) sat on the panel and led a line of questioning at one point. During her allotted time, she criticized NPR and PBS, saying they have a liberal bias and should be subject to potential cuts.
“NPR and PBS have increasingly become radical, left-wing echo chambers for a narrow audience of mostly wealthy, white, urban liberals and progressives,” Greene said.
“PBS news is not just left-leaning, but it actively uses taxpayer funds to push some of the most radical left positions,” Greene added. “Like featuring a drag queen on the show Let’s Learn, a show targeted toward young children ages 3 to 8 years old.”
Rep. James Comer, (R-KY) went after NPR specifically, questioning how the media outlet covered the House investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as a House investigation into the Biden family.
“I think you’ve abused the privilege that you had with receiving federal funds,” Comer said.
Other Republicans questioned the bias of NPR’s reporting and editorial section, including Rep. Jim Jordan (OH), who had raised past claims that none of the media outlet’s opinion writers were Republicans.
NPR President and CEO Katherine Maher responded to questions about her staff’s voting patterns, saying she didn’t track which party they registered to vote for.
However, not everyone on the panel was critical of media outlets.
Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) led a line of questioning in which he appeared to mock his Republican colleagues, asking targeted questions about the popular Sesame Street characters Elmo and the Cookie Monster.
“The American people want to know, is Elmo now, or has he ever been, a member of the communist party of the United States?” Garcia asked.
“No,” PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger replied.
“Now, are you sure, Miss Kreger, because he’s obviously red,” Garcia responded.
“Well, he is a puppet, but no,” Kreger replied.
Garcia went on to say while smiling, that Elmo shares a “dangerous” message that “sharing is caring,” which he sarcastically said must mean that Elmo has socialist ties.
Testifying alongside Maher and Kreger was the head of Alaska Public Media, Ed Ulman, who stressed that public media is often the only option for those who need access to emergency broadcasts, especially Americans who live in rural areas.
“We provide potentially life-saving warnings and alerts that are crucial for Alaskans who face threats ranging from extreme weather to earthquakes, landslides, and even volcanoes,” he said.
“Nationwide, our public television interconnection system supports the PBS Warning, Alert, Response Network, a critical pathway for the distribution of wireless energy emergency alerts to cell phones,” Ulman added.