Legalectric

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced an “investigation” of underwriting announcements by PBS and NPR. It’s agency “weaponizing” against public broadcasting and it’s mission of informing the public.

Call the FCC 888-225-5322; your Congresscritter (find my Rep); and send a postcard to White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, 20500.

Why?

Trump’s FCC chief opens investigation into NPR and PBS

From the link, here’s the short version, another attempt at opening the door to eliminate federal funding:

President Trump’s new head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has ordered an investigation of NPR and PBS, with an eye toward unraveling federal funding for all public broadcasting.

“I am concerned that NPR and PBS broadcasts could be violating federal law by airing commercials,” Chairman Brendan Carr wrote on Wednesday to the presidents and chief executives of NPR and
PBS, Katherine Maher and Paula A. Kerger, respectively. “In particular, it is possible that NPR and PBS member stations are broadcasting underwriting announcements that cross the line into prohibited
commercial advertisements.”

___________________________________________________

Really! Do they not know history of broadcasting underwriting? I’m remembering when Reagan’s admin cut funding to Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and they allowed underwriting, private and corporate funding on which broadcasters quickly became dependent. I also remember at that early time spending a week hustling the first underwriting at KFAI to fund a week’s long live broadcast of the 7th International Indian Treaty Council at White Earth (quite the adventure, for another day). That budget slash really hurt Community Radio stations like KFAI.org.

UNDERWRITING BEGAN WHEN OTHER FUNDING WAS CUT! And now this.

Even wiki acknowledges the relative importance of underwriting in public broadcasting budgets:

In the United States, public broadcasters may receive some funding from both federal and state sources, but generally most of their financial support comes from underwriting by foundations and businesses (ranging from small shops to corporations), along with audience contributions via pledge drives. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_broadcasting, emphasis added)

The rules for underwriting ID announcements are pretty clear (I remember when it first started, there was a specific limit of words, I think 7 or 11? So long ago, and it’s changed, errr, “enhanced.”)

Underwriting Identification for Licensed Noncommercial Broadcasters

See also:

Enhanced Underwriting for Non-Commercial Broadcast Stations

Public broadcasting has long been a “Conservative” target for elimination. From CIA (!) files made public:

Give Up on Public Broadcasting

And other articles with more history:

The Chilling Effect of Public Broadcasting Funding Cuts which has this background info:

• CPB historical budget data
• Timeline of key events

“Is there any justification for continuing to ask taxpayers to fund NPR and PBS?”

Again, call/write the FCC 888-225-5322 (closed Sunday); your Congresscritter (Find my Rep) and send a postcard to White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, 20500. Tell them to back off, underwriting approved, promoted, and regulated by the FCC, and most importantly, that public broadcasting is a valuable American resource deserving of federal funding.

Minnesota Republicans recommend U.S. marshal, U.S. attorney candidates

Who? Guess… Reps. Tom Emmer (202-225-2331), Pete Stauber (202-225-6211), Michelle Fischbach (202-225-2165), and Brad Finstad (202-225-2472)! Kroll was one of two recommended, so Reps., withdraw your recommendation of Bob Kroll.

Folks, let all of these Representatives know what you think of their recommendation.

Per the Settlement Agreement, below:

Here is documentation of the Complaints against Bob Kroll gathered by Communities United Against Police Brutality. In addition to the documentation below, “[h]e was disciplined in at least one Internal Affairs complaint. Kroll was also sued a dozen times, costing the city millions in judgments and settlements, including in the Art-a-Whirl incident.”

52 complaints against Kroll

Kroll is utterly disqualified. Either Emmer, Stauber, Fischbach, and Finstad did not do their homework and vet Kroll, or they did and do not care. Is it malfeasance or misfeasance? Either way, it’s an extreme abdication of their duty.

And the cases:

Unqualified, disqualified, just NO!

Yes, it’s real.

Will they learn anything from this?

The Office of Management and Budget “pause” of federal grant, loan, and other financial assistance was beyond belief, but there it was. Spent all day on the horn, email, fb giving others contact info, took over my life, and I hope it did for others too, as the flood of pushback is what got a reprieve. TEMPORARY, until Monday, but a reprieve.

An aside — if you go to the OMB link above, https://www.usa.gov/agencies/office-of-management-and-budget, and then click on the “website” link for OMB:

… here’s what you get:

WHAT?!?! And again, there’s no way to contact. Same goes for www.omb.gov — and try calling, any of the numbers… you can get through at 202-395-3080, Option #1 is worthless, Option 2 – Operations – you can leave a message — DONE!

It’s not over. They all need to hear from us in TECHNICOLOR. Spend a few minutes — Call/write your state Reps & Senators, especially Republicans, and ask them if this is what they want and tell them to speak up, use their power (We have America First state Rep. and Senator here, and it looks like locals might start to comprehend what “America First” means.)

• White House (Comment line MIA 202-456-1111; Switchboard – call but they won’t do anything (202) 456-1414,) only option is to write: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington D.C., 20500
• Office of Management & Budget 1-202-395-3080 – Option 2 lets you leave a message
• U.S. House Representative: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
• U.S. Senators: https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm

A big shout out, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to National Council of Nonprofits, American Public Health Association, Main Street Alliance, and SAGE, and the Democracy Forward attorneys who jumped into the fray, Jessica Anne Morton, Kevin E. Friedl, Kaitlyn Golden, Robin F. Thurston, Skye L. Perryman, and Will Bardwell.

Here’s the Complaint that brought the “pause” to a screeching halt:

UPDATE – DON’T STOP NOW, BUT THERE IS THIS:

Judge temporarily pauses Trump’s freeze on grants, loans

It’s not over. They all need to hear from us in TECHNICOLOR. Spend a few minutes — CONTACT:

• White House (Comment line MIA 202-456-1111; Switchboard – call but they won’t do anything (202) 456-1414,) only option is to write: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington D.C., 20500
• Office of Management & Budget 1-202-395-3080, Option 2 – Operations – you can leave a message
• U.S. House Representative: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
• U.S. Senators: https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm
• Speaker Mike Johnson: 202-225-4000; Majority Leader Steve Scalise: (202) 225-3015
• Call/write your state Reps & Senators, especially Republicans, and ask them if this is what they want and tell them to speak up, use their power (We have America First state Rep. and Senator here, and it looks like locals might start to comprehend what “America First” means.)

The damage this guy is doing, unreal.

It’s hard to believe, and the harm, where’s the Advil…

A few quotes from M-25-13 Temporary Pause to Review Agency Financial Assistance Programs:

• Career and political appointees in the Executive Branch have a duty to align Federal spending and action with the will of the American people as expressed through Presidential priorities.
• The use of Federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve.
• President Donald J. Trump issued a series of executive orders to protect the American people and safeguard valuable taxpayer resources, including Protecting the American People Against Invasion (Jan. 20, 2025), Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid (Jan. 20, 2025), Putting America First in International Environmental Agreements (Jan. 20, 2025), Unleashing American Energy (Jan. 20, 2025), Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing (Jan. 20, 2025), Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government (Jan. 20, 2025), and Enforcing the Hyde Amendment (Jan. 24, 2025).
• etc… there’s more, but I want to get this posted! Read for yourself and be stunned.