Hi John,
Donald Trump’s war on the free press is unlike anything we’ve seen:
- He forced CBS into a settlement and publicly celebrated the network for installing a Trump-friendly editor.
- He kicked out mainstream outlets like the AP and opened the briefing room to MAGA influencers.
- His FCC chair threatened Jimmy Kimmel, prompting ABC to pull him off the air.
- And at the Washington Post — where coverage has noticeably softened under Jeff Bezos — the editorial board even warned against releasing the full Epstein files.
But the most dangerous shift is happening outside the spotlight: more than $1.1 billion in public-media funding was wiped out this year, leaving local public radio and TV stations fighting to survive. Rural and tribal stations that rely on CPB for emergency alerts, weather updates, and children’s programming now face going dark. And without a new Congress in 2026, there’s no path to restoring that support.
Project 2025 spells out what comes next: once local stations shut down, their licenses can be reassigned by an FCC increasingly shaped by the executive branch — replacing trusted local journalism with government-aligned content.
MAGA’s full-court push to silence independent media is an alarm bell for democracy. Now is the moment to double down on support for independent media like COURIER.
Here’s what this takeover looks like on the ground:
Stations like KGHR in Tuba City — serving Navajo Nation communities with emergency alerts, weather, and youth programming — warn they may go dark as federal support disappears in 2026. More than 70% of their budget came from CPB.
Once that signal goes dark, the FCC can reassign the frequency — filling it with partisan content aligned with the administration’s political goals.
Other rural public-radio stations — like KAWC and KOFA in Yuma, Arizona — face the same crisis. When federal support vanishes, so do local news bulletins, community programming, and emergency broadcasts millions rely on.
These aren’t abstract numbers — they’re information lifelines for communities the mainstream press ignores. And most Americans have no idea they’re about to lose them.
That’s why COURIER is working around the clock to build a local alternative — and why we need your help to keep going. Our local newsrooms are serving many communities where vital coverage is going dark.
In solidarity,
The COURIER Team