This article was underwritten in part by the Mickey Flacks Journalism Fund for Social Justice, a proud, innovative supporter of local news. To make a contribution go to sbcan.org/journalism_fund .
This week, House and Senate Republicans voted to defund public media. The vote came as part of a rescission package put forward by President Donald Trump, which also claws back more than $7 billion in foreign aid funding. These funds, which Congress has already allocated, will be rescinded.
For community radio and PBS stations across the country, tough decisions are ahead. Public broadcasting provides local news, entertainment, education programming, and emergency alert systems. They can play an important role in rural areas, especially those without alternative news sources or, in some cases, reliable internet.