Democrats invoke children’s shows in bizarre defense of PBS, NPR: ‘Fire Elon, Save Elmo’
Democrats had some bizarre defenses for NPR and PBS in Wednesday’s House DOGE Subcommittee, with some representatives invoking characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets to attack Republican efforts to cut funding to public broadcasting.
Both PBS and NPR have faced criticism for political bias and for promoting leftist ideologies, such as gender ideology. For example, PBS aired a movie called “Real Boy,” which follows a transgender-identifying teen as he navigates adolescence and the physical and emotional ramifications of his changing gender identity.
The hearing, titled “Anti-American Airwaves: Holding the heads of NPR and PBS Accountable,” was called by DOGE Subcommittee Chair Marjorie Taylor Greene to question public media leaders on why their biased news coverage should continue to be funded by taxpayers.
President Donald Trump expressed his willingness to defund NPR, citing bias in their reporting. Rep. Greg Casar, a member of the “Squad,” attempted to criticize Trump and DOGE chief Elon Musk by referencing characters from children’s shows. He questioned whether Miss Piggy, Arthur the Aardvark, or other characters had engaged in unethical behavior like Trump and Musk.
Casar suggested that Republicans are using PBS and NPR as a distraction from the alleged wrongdoings of Trump and Musk. He argued that these public media outlets are not the real problem and should not be defunded.
Rep. Robert Garcia also defended NPR and PBS in a peculiar manner, asking if Elmo was a member of the Communist Party of the United States. He accused Elmo of promoting dangerous messages about sharing and helping others, suggesting a socialist plot.
Garcia raised concerns about characters like Big Bird advocating for COVID-19 vaccines, implying that Republicans wanted to defund PBS for supporting vaccination efforts. He also questioned whether characters like Bert, Ernie, and Cookie Monster were part of an extreme agenda or silencing certain groups.
Despite the criticisms, Garcia emphasized the importance of taxpayer funding for NPR and PBS, calling it a “tiny federal investment” that is needed now more than ever. He urged the committee to focus on holding accountable those in power, rather than targeting public media.
In conclusion, the hearing showcased the unusual defenses put forth by Democrats to protect NPR and PBS from funding cuts. By referencing characters from children’s shows, they attempted to shift the focus away from allegations of bias and highlight the value of public media in today’s society.
