National Public Radio and three local stations filed a lawsuit Tuesday against President Donald Trump, arguing that an executive order aimed at cutting federal funding for the organization is illegal.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Washington by NPR, Colorado Public Radio, Aspen Public Radio and KUTE, Inc. argues that Trump’s executive order to slash public subsidies to PBS and NPR violates the First Amendment.

  • surph_ninja@lemmy.world
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    9 days ago

    Where in the first amendment does it guarantee funding for state media?

    NPR folks can’t seem to make up their minds. Does it need the government funding or not? Because every time this comes up, the NPR defenders diminish the impact by saying only a small fraction of funding comes from the government, but now it’s somehow a showstopper if the funding stops?

    The corporation for public broadcasting has been manufacturing consent for made up wars since their inception. I’ve heard them read CIA press releases verbatim on-air without even minimal pushback. And their corporatization for the past few decades has only exasperated the problems, while cutting out any content of value. Fuck’em.

    • blattrules@lemmy.world
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      9 days ago

      Funding is not guaranteed by the first amendment, but trump retaliating against them because he doesn’t like their content is a violation of free speech and that’s what the lawsuit is alleging. From the article:

      “The Order’s objectives could not be clearer: the Order aims to punish NPR for the content of news and other programming the President dislikes and chill the free exercise of First Amendment rights by NPR and individual public radio stations across the country.”

      • surph_ninja@lemmy.world
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        9 days ago

        That is an extremely weak legal argument with potentially disastrous precedent being set that no government entity could be defunded for their policies.

        • blattrules@lemmy.world
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          9 days ago

          NPR is not a government entity and the executive branch punishing the press because the truth hurts the president’s feelings sets a disastrous precedent.

          • surph_ninja@lemmy.world
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            9 days ago

            If you think it’s not a government entity, why are you arguing they should receive state funding? Pick a lane.

            • njm1314@lemmy.world
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              9 days ago

              All right two things here. First of all he doesn’t think it’s not a government entity, it’s not a government entity. That’s a statement of fact. Secondly since when does State funding not go to non- government entities? When was that a rule?

              • Amnesigenic@lemmy.ml
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                9 days ago

                Since when is a government obligated to fund an organization that isn’t part of that government?

                • njm1314@lemmy.world
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                  9 days ago

                  Since the elected Representatives of the legislative Branch authorized it. Like they do for all funding for non-government organizations. Of which there are hundreds. There’s some Schoolhouse Rock videos that might explain it better.