NPR CEO faces backlash over past comments about Trump
- Katherine Maher testified in Congress and faced scrutiny for controversial past remarks about President Trump.
- During the hearing, she admitted to making inappropriate comments, raising doubts about the bias of her organization.
- These events have heightened discussions regarding the necessity of federal funding for publicly supported media.
In a congressional oversight hearing held on March 27, 2025, Katherine Maher, the CEO of NPR, struggled to defend her organization and its federal funding. The session highlighted her previous public remarks labeling President Donald Trump as a 'fascist' and a 'deranged racist sociopath', admitting these comments were inappropriate. During the hearing, Rep. Brandon Gill pressed Maher regarding her substantiated claims and tweet about 'The Case for Reparations', revealing inconsistencies between her past assertions and her present knowledge. The interaction underscored broader concerns about NPR’s ideological leanings, evidenced by its workforce comprising predominantly registered Democrats with no Republicans. Simultaneously, Julie Pace, executive editor of the Associated Press, defended an ongoing lawsuit against Trump, asserting the organization’s supposed commitment to nonpartisan reporting, reflecting a wider crisis within legacy media and growing distrust among audiences. The ongoing discourse around public media funding continues to elevate critical questions about accountability, journalistic integrity, and the role of taxpayer dollars in supporting news institutions known for perceived biases, leading to suggestions that taxpayer funding should be limited to essential services only. Ultimately, the hearing results and public reactions may impact future funding decisions for NPR and similar organizations.