A federal judge in Washington struck down part of President Donald Trump’s executive order targeting funding for NPR and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) on Tuesday, ruling that it was unconstitutional retaliation that violated their press freedom rights under the First Amendment.
The May 1, 2025, executive order, titled “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Biased Media,” cut off funding to public media — with Trump calling out what he perceived as left-wing bias in NPR’s and PBS’s news reporting.
“The message is clear,” U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss, a Barack Obama appointee to the federal bench, wrote in an opinion. “NPR and PBS need not apply for any federal benefit because the President disapproves of their ‘left-wing’ coverage of the news,” he wrote, adding that the action amounted to “viewpoint discrimination.”
Might be unconstitutional, but it – and the damage – has already been done. Who is going to undo it? How will it be enforced? Trump has already shown it doesnt matter what the courts say, he will do whatever he wants.
Ornery_Bear_5312 on
Didn’t Congress eliminate funding? So this ruling will not actually restore funding?
mokivj on
Judge ruled that it’s unconstitutional.
Ok, does that means funding for both will be returning? No. That money has already been funneled to POTUS’s personal bank accounts.
This ruling is merely procedural.
mjconver on
I’m tired, boss
aprilhare on
Bring on the Supreme Lackey Court. They’ll sort it for the orange one.
PoopScootnBoogey on
Boom!
nthpwr on
Trump breathing is unconstitutional
cerevant on
Too late. The CPB has already shut down.
modernmann on
Way to slow roll this ruling 😂
ImOldGregg_77 on
At this point can we just send all EOs through the courts before any action is taken?
GriffinFlash on
Good thing they got on that a year later after lots of people lost their jobs.
*^(Heck my old job worked directly with pbs, so prob a reason why they don’t have much work now either. Fuck Trump.)*
WarbossTodd on
Can we just fast forward to the Supreme Court saying it is and add it to the list of shit that leads to new amendments that puts term limits and the ability to recall these justices?
PrefersEarlGrey on
Add it to the pile of unconstitutional things Trump does with yet again no consequences?
Too bad it’s too late. Damage was done. Even suing for damages would just come at the expense of the US taxpayer. Delay of the courts and the legal cost of courts makes it very clear Trump is king in all but name because no one with enough fucking power will say no to our toddler in chief.
ThePhonyOrchestra on
Why the fuck was there a stay for the Biden student loan thing, but not for this?
27 Comments
A federal judge in Washington struck down part of President Donald Trump’s executive order targeting funding for NPR and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) on Tuesday, ruling that it was unconstitutional retaliation that violated their press freedom rights under the First Amendment.
The May 1, 2025, executive order, titled “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Biased Media,” cut off funding to public media — with Trump calling out what he perceived as left-wing bias in NPR’s and PBS’s news reporting.
“The message is clear,” U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss, a Barack Obama appointee to the federal bench, wrote in an opinion. “NPR and PBS need not apply for any federal benefit because the President disapproves of their ‘left-wing’ coverage of the news,” he wrote, adding that the action amounted to “viewpoint discrimination.”
Read more here: [https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/03/31/trump-npr-pbs-funding-unconstitutional/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit.com](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/03/31/trump-npr-pbs-funding-unconstitutional/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit.com)
And yet he’s going to continue doing it anyway.
And nothing was changed
Most of what he does is unconstitutional. It’s kind of his thing.
I think that’s going to have to get into line well behind taking the country to war.
Sunny day
Sweepin’ the clouds away
On my way to where the air is sweet
This Pres did something unconstitutional? No way!
Nice to figure that out over three months after Corporation for Public Broadcasting dissolved.
[https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2026/01/07/are-pbs-npr-shutting-down-corporation-public-broadcasting/88046403007/](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2026/01/07/are-pbs-npr-shutting-down-corporation-public-broadcasting/88046403007/)
What would Mr. Rogers say about all of this…
Does this mean we get PBS back?
Might be unconstitutional, but it – and the damage – has already been done. Who is going to undo it? How will it be enforced? Trump has already shown it doesnt matter what the courts say, he will do whatever he wants.
Didn’t Congress eliminate funding? So this ruling will not actually restore funding?
Judge ruled that it’s unconstitutional.
Ok, does that means funding for both will be returning? No. That money has already been funneled to POTUS’s personal bank accounts.
This ruling is merely procedural.
I’m tired, boss
Bring on the Supreme Lackey Court. They’ll sort it for the orange one.
Boom!
Trump breathing is unconstitutional
Too late. The CPB has already shut down.
Way to slow roll this ruling 😂
At this point can we just send all EOs through the courts before any action is taken?
Good thing they got on that a year later after lots of people lost their jobs.
*^(Heck my old job worked directly with pbs, so prob a reason why they don’t have much work now either. Fuck Trump.)*
Can we just fast forward to the Supreme Court saying it is and add it to the list of shit that leads to new amendments that puts term limits and the ability to recall these justices?
Add it to the pile of unconstitutional things Trump does with yet again no consequences?
Cool. So who’s going to enforce it?
[Congress already cut the funding](https://www.axios.com/2025/07/18/npr-pbs-funding-senate) for PBS and NPR a few months after the exec order is the ruling is moot.
Too bad it’s too late. Damage was done. Even suing for damages would just come at the expense of the US taxpayer. Delay of the courts and the legal cost of courts makes it very clear Trump is king in all but name because no one with enough fucking power will say no to our toddler in chief.
Why the fuck was there a stay for the Biden student loan thing, but not for this?
God I tucking hate this country