A.G. Gancarski
Florida’s junior Senator is sounding off about what he believes is an overly left-leaning public radio landscape in America.
U.S. Sen. Rick Scott wrote Laura Gore Ross, the Chair of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting who was appointed to the panel in 2018 by President Donald Trump, to raise concerns about what he calls “disturbing allegations of bias in NPR’s reporting, stemming from leadership that has been accused of politicizing the editorial process and favoring liberal narratives.”
This “has created a crisis of confidence in public radio’s ability to provide objective, fact-based news to the American public,” according to Scott.
“As both Florida’s governor and my state’s U.S. senator, I have worked with local NPR affiliates to shed light on important issues facing families in my state. From covering local news, to providing life-saving guidance to Floridians during hurricanes, local NPR affiliates play a critical role in keeping families across the Sunshine State informed and safe,” Scott said.
He added that “Floridians must be reassured that the objective reporting we have come to expect and appreciate from local NPR affiliates, and the confidence that they have in these stations, will be maintained.”
“Allowing the crisis of confidence currently brewing at the national leadership level of NPR to spread to local affiliates would represent a colossal failure and could destroy the credibility of local public radio and public broadcasting services,” Scott continued, calling for “objective and fact-based” public broadcasting “to be free from narratives that favor any side of the political spectrum.”
NPR’s CEO Katherine Maher has gotten scrutiny for some of her tweets over the years, but as Reason reports, Maher claims her personal opinions don’t affect the newsroom writ large.
“The newsroom is entirely independent,” she said last month. “My responsibility is to ensure that we have the resources to do this work. We have a mandate to serve all Americans.”
16 comments
Isidro
May 6, 2024 at 4:28 pm
Scott should be in prison for Kingpin level Medicare fraud.
Lock him up!
MH/Duuuval
May 6, 2024 at 5:24 pm
A third contender Stanley Campbell has entered the contest and, among other achievements, a company he operates makes a widely used screening program looking for Medicare fraud.
This should make for an animated debate.
It's Complicated
May 6, 2024 at 4:39 pm
Public Radio – in the 40-years I’ve been listening to it, has been “left-leaning.”
Is there a left-leaning private sector equivalent to the conservative talk radio industry, which tends to have a mix of local and nationally syndicated shows?
My Take
May 6, 2024 at 4:53 pm
Does not giving credence to obvious Republican lies and spin make one left leaning?
Old geezer
May 7, 2024 at 1:07 pm
Yes. Yes it does, apparently. I used to be considered a conservative. Apparently now I’m a liberal. I haven’t changed. Small efficient government, fiscal responsibility, protect equal rights and opportunity, protect the vulnerable, worker rights, logical and fair immigration, logical and fair tax system, stay out of people’s business. Health care would be nice. If somebody figures out what party that is, please let me know. I know what party it ain’t. NPR sometimes annoys me but at least they’re educated and don’t scream at you or spew hate. Loved listening to Lake Wobegone with gramps. PBS is a world treasure. I have no problem supporting them. Find something new to trash, scooter. You’re all out of gas.
Old Geezer
May 7, 2024 at 1:13 pm
And for the record, if NPR and PBS were to be dismantled, I really don’t want to see what this country would look like. Support your local NPR/PBS station if you still enjoy being human and don’t enjoy being owned by corporations. It’s really that simple, folks.
PeterH
May 6, 2024 at 5:25 pm
How is that comprehensive southern border legislation coming along Rick?
D. Kowalewski
May 6, 2024 at 5:46 pm
Have you ever “shed light” on how to committ Medicare fraud, to the tune of millions of dollars, get acquitted in a court of law, get elected governor and then US Senator? Florida families would like to know so they can better protect themselves and fellow Florida’s from the type of conservative, right-wing “protectors of citizens” from the evil clutches of liberal socialists who really give a damn!
rick whitaker
May 7, 2024 at 7:24 pm
D KOWALEEWSKI, good comment.
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Michael K
May 6, 2024 at 7:51 pm
Republicans have been targeting federal support for public broadcasting, the arts, the humanities, and libraries, for decades.
If anything, NPR goes out of its way to balance points of view, and also fact checks. Rick doesn’t like journalism, just stenographers who don’t challenge his lies.
My Take
May 8, 2024 at 11:13 pm
Thatcher tried to squeeze BBC during the Falklands War too.
Ocean Joe
May 6, 2024 at 7:53 pm
“Wait, wait…don’t tell me,” …is Ricky trying to get attention again?
Judith
May 6, 2024 at 8:55 pm
What do you expect from a person who calls Democrats socialists. . He is using ridiculous fear tactics like the orange idiot.
rick whitaker
May 6, 2024 at 11:50 pm
IT’S COMPLICATED, for you to state that you find public radio left-leaning tells me everything about you. i have been listening to NPR since 73 or so, for over 50 years. maybe you need to listen to it ten more years to discover that NPR is not left-leaning. i am left-leaning, i should know what left-leaning is. NPR is neutral. i think the reason you think a middle of the road outlet is left-leaning is that you are so far to the right, everything looks left-leaning. try the TYT network if you are looking for a left-leaning station. my favorite sites are even harder core left, so you are not going to like them for sure. how dare you disparage NPR by accusing them of partisanship. i don’t know your history, but you might not have ever met a real left-winger .
LawLib
May 7, 2024 at 9:30 am
Ricky Scott probably thinks the Boy Scouts of America is a “left leaning” organization. The guy spouts absolute dribble. Two recent 2024 polls ranks NPR as the third most unbiased sources of news among the major media.