Public Broadcasting Saves Lives

Sunday, August 31, 2025

Here's the bottom line: local public broadcasting stations save lives. That's not a slogan. It's a fact.

Posted by lamplighter at 05:30 PM | 58 COMMENTS | permalink

Comments

More from the Perspective ...

... When we talk about readiness and resilience, we can't leave public broadcasting out of the equation. It's not a "nice-to-have."

It's mission critical.

Established in 2022, the Next Generation Warning System (NGWS), funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has been vital to maintaining the reliable and resilient public broadcasting infrastructure that carries lifesaving public safety services.

Just this week, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced that it can no longer administer the NGWS grant program.

This is yet another devastating result of the rescission of public media funding. ...

#2 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-08-31 01:57 AM

In other news, Lewzer is going to fire most Voice of America staff.

#3 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-08-31 02:00 AM

@#3 ... In other news, Lewzer is going to fire most Voice of America staff. ...

Yup.

And replace the VOA's great news with a Trump-favored "news" organization.

Here's what I've found ...

VOA Chinese " Bias and Credibility
mediabiasfactcheck.com

... Overall, we rate VOA Chinese Least Biased based on balanced story selection and minimal use of loaded words. We also rate them High for factual reporting due to proper sourcing and a clean fact-check record. However, special attention is given to its funding and ownership, as it is a U.S. government-funded entity and may reflect American government interests. ...

And the replacement ...

One America News Network (OAN)
mediabiasfactcheck.com

... Overall, we rate One America News Questionable based on far-right bias, lack of sourcing, promotion of conspiracy theories, and propaganda, as well as numerous failed fact checks. OAN is not a credible news source. ...

So, OAN seems to be right up MAGA's alley? Just what they want to hear.

#4 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-08-31 02:32 AM

What makes any of you think Deplorable Trumping MAGAts care about saving the lives of others?

If anything, learning this information will make most of them double down on wanting Public Broadcasting gone.

#5 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-08-31 02:24 PM

MAGAs don't care about deaths of people who aren't them. Some of them even enjoy deaths of people who aren't them. But they're all "good Christians"

#6 | Posted by hamburglar at 2025-09-01 05:05 AM

Trump's agenda boils down to ...'Feed em lies, and kill em off as quickly as we can'.

#7 | Posted by Wardog at 2025-09-01 11:02 AM

Public radio is the last place for current weather and emergency information. It's centrally managed at the Federal level with some content from the university towns at the local level.

#8 | Posted by visitor_ at 2025-09-01 01:19 PM

Re 8
Blah blah blah

My public radio is controlled locally and provides news weather and local sports and local community calendars and even emergency broadcasts. It does provide national programming from NPR but also a lot of local programming.

Our local public radio (KHSU) was one of the few still broadcasting after a week long power outage we had during a severe storm several years ago now.

In fact you can go to their webpage right now and see the local programs at KHSU.org

BTW- There are actually very few radio stations now that are not controlled and programmed elsewhere. There are even songs about it like The Last DJ by Tom Petty.

So. You just admitted that have never even listened to public radio or that you are a Luddite that lives in a cave.

#9 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-09-01 01:37 PM

I can tell you that when we had straight line winds and major power outages WPR broadcast classical music and teacher's union propaganda. If they can't blame Trump or Act 10 it won't get reported. Madison and maybe Milwaukee weather only.

#10 | Posted by visitor_ at 2025-09-01 02:24 PM

"I can tell you that.."

Sure you can. And I bet everyone believes you! (lol)

Can you tell us which local privately owned radio stations DID report useful local information during that "major power outage"?

Do you actually have any locally owned and programmed radio stations?

#11 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-09-01 02:39 PM

Also-

Just went to WPR.org and I see local Wisconsin news all over the front page. Not sure what city you live in but you obviously have to listen to the station from your local area to get any local area news. But all public radio stations are obviously different in different parts of the country so your mileage may vary.

#12 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-09-01 02:47 PM

WPR claims to be a premier public network. Like most they are based on a major university campus. UW Madison cannot be bothered with the banal concerns of the rurals. It's not an ag school so no farm reports. Rural Wisconsin will not miss it's state employee and teacher's union focus. Commercial may not be much better, but they don't expect me to fund them.

#13 | Posted by visitor_ at 2025-09-01 02:56 PM

Re 13

Gosh .. I am so sorry Wisconsins don't seem to care about other Wisconsins.

I guess that's just another reason I don't live there.

#14 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-09-01 03:00 PM

Wiscon, it's not for puss3is.

#15 | Posted by visitor_ at 2025-09-01 03:10 PM

You'd fit right in at Madison. Got your monkey pox vax?

#16 | Posted by visitor_ at 2025-09-01 03:13 PM

Visiturd buys horse paste suppositories in bulk.

#17 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-09-01 03:16 PM

I bet a secure border under Biden would have saved more lives than NPR has in its entire existence.

#18 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-09-01 03:19 PM

Wiscon, it's not for puss3is.

#15 | POSTED BY VISITOR_

Then why are you whining about it like a snowflake?

Our local public radio listens to our community and is responsive to the needs of the communities it serves.

Sorry yours doesn't.

#19 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-09-01 03:20 PM

IAMRUNT's child-raping hero killed 1.2 million Americans.

#20 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-09-01 03:20 PM

Sorry IF (big if) yours doesn't.

#21 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-09-01 03:21 PM

When you say your local public radio is responsive, how far are you from the university that hosts it?

#22 | Posted by visitor_ at 2025-09-01 03:24 PM

Re 22

I am within the broadcast range of KHSU 90.5.

That's as close as you'll get to finding out where I live.

www.khsu.org

#23 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-09-01 03:34 PM

Let the state government or local millionaires and charities fund public radio. Get the feds out of the radio business.

#24 | Posted by lee_the_agent at 2025-09-01 03:38 PM

Humboldt? Damn dirty hippie.

#25 | Posted by lee_the_agent at 2025-09-01 03:40 PM

You are more than welcome to pay for radio that services public union members and the area immediately surrounding the university. But don't force the rest of us to pay for it and don't claim it serves the rurals.

#26 | Posted by visitor_ at 2025-09-01 04:44 PM

Not forcing the rest of us to pay for schools is why you ended up so ignorant, Visitor_.

#27 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-09-01 04:46 PM

Public education has a more legitimate claim on being a public good. The high and ever increasing amount spent on administration not so much.

#28 | Posted by visitor_ at 2025-09-01 05:39 PM

@#28 ... Public education has a more legitimate claim on being a public good. ...

A false equivalence.

Public education and public broadcasting are different in how each one serves the public.

#29 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-09-01 05:43 PM

Exactly, public radio serves a tiny minority.

#30 | Posted by visitor_ at 2025-09-01 05:50 PM

"Public education has a more legitimate claim on being a public good."

That's why Republicans want to defund it.

#31 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-09-01 05:54 PM

Exactly, public radio serves a tiny minority.
#30 | Posted by visitor_

Just like the police.
But at least public radio doesn't go around harassing minorities, like the police.

#32 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-09-01 05:55 PM

@#30 ... public radio serves a tiny minority. ...

Another false equivalence.

I note how your current alias falsely tries to equate public radio with all of public broadcasting.

#33 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-09-01 06:00 PM

PBS 2025 Fact Sheet
www.pbs.org

... PBS 2025 Fact Sheet

PBS is for every American. That's why we reach every community in America.

- - - 58% of all U.S. television households (over 130 million people) tune into PBS member stations over the course of a year.

- - - 60% of our audience lives in rural communities.

- - - Americans across the political spectrum watch PBS. Nearly two-thirds of our audience identifies as Republican or Independent (63%). ...

#34 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-09-01 06:07 PM

I note how your current alias falsely tries to argue with an argument no one has made. Gaslighter, losing badly with ones self.

#35 | Posted by visitor_ at 2025-09-01 06:08 PM

So the minority of Americans that can actually get public television might accidentaly flip to the channel on their way to something once a year? Well sign me up. Public television has no local content unless you're from a major metro area, Boston, DC.

#36 | Posted by visitor_ at 2025-09-01 06:21 PM

@#36 ... So the minority of Americans that can actually get public television ...

PBS - Member Stations
en.wikipedia.org

...As of March 2015, PBS maintains current memberships with 354 television stations encompassing 50 states, the District of Columbia and four U.S. possessions;[4][79] as such, it is the only television broadcaster in the United States -- commercial or non-commercial -- which has station partners licensed in every U.S. state (by comparison, none of the five major commercial broadcast networks has affiliates in certain states where PBS has members, most notably New Jersey).

The service has an estimated national reach of 93.74% of all households in the United States (or 292,926,047 Americans with at least one television set). ...

[emphasis mine]

#37 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-09-01 06:37 PM

So the minority of Americans that can actually get public television might accidentaly flip to the channel on their way to something once a year?
#36 | Posted by visitor_

You didn't watch Mister Rogers and Bob Ross when you were a child and it shows.

PBS helps low class people like you from not becoming --------.

Your parents didn't love you or educate you, just like millions of poor trash Americans. But PBS could have helped you, when you were still capable of being reached.

#38 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-09-01 07:05 PM

According to the American Cigarette Council, cigarettes are a nutritous part of a heathy breakfast.

#39 | Posted by visitor_ at 2025-09-01 07:07 PM

@#39 ... According to the American Cigarette Council, cigarettes are a nutritous part of a heathy breakfast. ...

'Tis a shame that fabrications are all your current trolling alias seems to have.

Seemingly similar to the JeffJ current trolling aliases.

#40 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-09-01 07:28 PM

According to the American Cigarette Council, cigarettes are a nutritous part of a heathy breakfast.
#39 | Posted by visitor_

Thanks, Capitalism!
Capitalism doesn't like PBS either.
Capitalism doesn't want any competition.

#41 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-09-01 07:30 PM

For only a few additional dollars a month in taxes everyone could get Netflix for free.

#42 | Posted by visitor_ at 2025-09-01 08:28 PM

He lives in Eureka Visitor. There isn't ---- up that far North in CA.

#43 | Posted by Bluewaffles at 2025-09-02 01:57 AM

You ever been?

It's absolutely beautiful up there.

#44 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-09-02 02:17 AM

@#42 ... For only a few additional dollars a month in taxes everyone could get Netflix for free. ...

... and your current trolling alias' point is?

... what?

#45 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-09-02 02:23 AM

@#44 ... You ever been?

It's absolutely beautiful up there. ...

Yeah, a quick visit to my search engine of choice seems to confirm that.

I wish I could travel ...

#46 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-09-02 02:26 AM

What's the range on your ankle bracelet?

#47 | Posted by visitor_ at 2025-09-02 10:12 AM

So does enforcing our borders yet liberals don't care about those lives. And you can't argue it...every article of an illegal murdering someone is a life lost due to liberals not enforcing borders (of course it can't be a 1:1 but the theme is more than legit).

Why do liberals care so much about some lives but then ignore other lives that are lost? It's not like that is a made up statement, there are literally people who die because of liberal policies. Just like there is "blood on your hands" against Reps who don't follow everything liberals do with trans. Yet, liberals care about the trans lives but not about the lives of people who die because they were in a situation that doesn't meet the liberal narrative. It doesn't make any sense and only prove how hypocritical political parties are. And yet, we have kids like on DR who grow up thinking their party is OK even though they ignore murders.

#48 | Posted by humtake at 2025-09-02 11:13 AM

Maybe if public broadcasting had a conservative offering, it might be worth it.

But I shouldn't have to pay for "all things considered". A garbage show.

Just a bunch of liberals listening to themselves talk about how much better they are to everyone else.

#49 | Posted by boaz at 2025-09-02 11:23 AM

But I shouldn't have to pay for "all things considered".

I can see how $1.60 a year will bust your budget you poor thing.

U.S. taxpayers have to pay for many things they don't necessarily use but do so because it benefits OTHER Americans.

Why is it that you think you are so special that you don't have to?

#50 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-09-02 12:27 PM

-Just a bunch of liberals listening to themselves talk about how much better they are to everyone else.

Now now now.....you volunteer to witness that here every day.

#51 | Posted by eberly at 2025-09-02 12:29 PM

you volunteer to witness that here every day.

Touche

#52 | Posted by boaz at 2025-09-02 12:30 PM

He lives in Eureka Visitor. There isn't ---- up that far North in CA.

#43 | POSTED BY BLUEWAFFLE

You are right. Nothing to see here.

lol

#53 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-09-02 12:31 PM

Also I do not live in "Eureka". ( we call it ewwfreaka)

It's a big area. My office (when I worked) used to extend from Brookings Oregon to Napa Ca and out east into the Trinity Alps.

Now it's just my playground.

"And there's fire on the mountain, lightning in the air
Gold in them hills and it's waiting for me there.."

#54 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-09-02 12:37 PM

I can see how $1.60 a year will bust your budget you poor thing.

I might not have a problem with it if there was a conservative equivalent.

#55 | Posted by boaz at 2025-09-02 12:38 PM

I might not have a problem with it if there was a conservative equivalent.

#55 | POSTED BY BOAZ

Just because it's not helpful to you does not mean it's not helpful to other Americans.

And Yes. We all know you have "problems". You have "problems" with a lot of things apparently. Sorry that $1.60 A YEAR would bust your budget.

Sorry you have so many problems.

I hear therapy sometimes helps.

#56 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-09-02 12:48 PM