I was a fairly regular listener to NPR...from the early 90s to around 2005/2006. Even while stationed overseas....AFN often used their news segments and re-aired them in the Ramstein region.
So one day....science-Friday came up (their normal Friday show). This segment dealt with global warming/climate change/global cooling/carbon crap. The expert came up for a 30-minute talk/interview.
Caller came on and challenged the expert....saying solar winds/sun spots could contribute to 'change'. 'NO' was the response from the expert. 'Not possible' came up once or twice....to reassure the public.
Later, I took note of the guy's name and looked up his educational background.....bachelors in X (related to climate change degree) and masters in Y (related to climate change degree). I noted the two colleges....then browsed to see the total catalog of courses offered.
Oddly....neither college offered a course in solar studies. So I was left to wonder....he probably has no background in solar studies, but why take a 'not possible' position?
Over the weekend, I made the decision....I was finished with NPR. I saw it as a propaganda unit (at best).
As for what happens to NPR without gov't funding? I'm pretty sure at least ten Republican Senators will drag this 'dead-horse' out and try to save funding. But I see it as a failed effort.
NPR, with some foundation help, and commercials....probably will survive....mostly by cutting the expensive staff, and relocating to a midwest state. Money to keep state stations operational? That will be the key problem....especially if colleges don't cover the cost factor. If you live in a highly rural state (like Iowa)....then there's likely to only be one single repeater-station in the whole state....around the capital city. Streaming? Yeah, there will be alot of that....but the radio-traffic will doom the effort.
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My acquaintance 'Lisa' attempted to explain her fixation with government propaganda radioprogramming ('NPR') by exclaiming in disbelief "But don't you want to stay informed!".
No.
I go to great lengths to avoid 'staying informed'.
Most, perhaps 99.999%, has nothing to do with us, running the farm and our farmers markets, the cost of diesel, or my long-time decision to avoid anything political.
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I feel the same about gurus, preachers on televisionprogramming, and that cheesy grifter and professional blowhard tony robbins.
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Speaking of, is there any truth to the rumor he has five identical toupees, and they live on Golden Pedestals arranged in a pentagram in a dedicated humidity and temperature controlled 'shrine' room, and because they are clingy, they demand frequent smooches for reassurance.
And they constantly shed, accounting for his voice issues.
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I should probably stop now.
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