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Drudge Retort: The Other Side of the News
Sunday, August 31, 2025

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

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More from the Perspective...

... When I led FEMA, one of the biggest challenges we faced during disasters was getting accurate, timely information to the public -- especially when everything else was failing.

Cell networks go down. Power grids fail.

But local public broadcasting stations stay on the air. And they're often the only lifeline communities have.

Public media isn't just about educational programs and documentaries. It's about infrastructure. It's about having a trusted voice and a signal that reaches nearly every household in America -- especially in rural areas where there may be no local news station and where cell coverage is spotty at best.

These stations serve as critical components of our national emergency communications backbone.

Many are the primary hubs for the Emergency Alert System in their states. They carry AMBER Alerts.

They support severe weather warnings. And they're part of the technology FEMA and others use to push Wireless Emergency Alerts to your phone.

That system doesn't work without public broadcasting. ...


#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-08-31 01:54 AM | Reply

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 | Reply

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

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

@#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 | Reply

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 | Reply

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 | Reply

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 | Reply

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 | Reply

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 | Reply

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 | Reply

"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 | Reply

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 | Reply

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 | Reply

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 | Reply

Wiscon, it's not for puss3is.

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

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

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

Visiturd buys horse paste suppositories in bulk.

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

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 | Reply

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 | Reply

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

#20 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-09-01 03:20 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Sorry IF (big if) yours doesn't.

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

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 | Reply

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 | Reply

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 | Reply

Humboldt? Damn dirty hippie.

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

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 | Reply

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 | Reply

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 | Reply

@#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 | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Exactly, public radio serves a tiny minority.

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

"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 | Reply

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 | Reply

@#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 | Reply

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 | Reply

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 | Reply

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 | Reply

@#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 | Reply

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 assholes.

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 | Reply

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 | Reply

@#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 | Reply

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 | Reply

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