The Senate moved a step closer Tuesday to approving President Donald Trump’s proposal to rescind $9.4 billion in federal funding, advancing the measure by the narrowest of margins after Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote.
The bill, pushed by the White House and the Department of Government Efficiency under Elon Musk, would cancel $8.3 billion in foreign aid and $1.1 billion in funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It represents some of Trump’s effort to scale back federal spending, particularly on programs the administration has characterized as non-essential or misaligned with “America First” priorities.
Three Republican senators — Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky — broke with their party, voting against moving the bill out of committee and to the floor. Their opposition forced the 50-50 split, with Vance casting the decisive vote to advance the legislation.
Murkowski has been among the most vocal critics of the bill within the Republican caucus, focusing on the potential impact to rural communities in Alaska. Alaska’s widespread use of public broadcasting for news has been a key point of contention, although in this century there are many alternatives.
The Senate’s next procedural hurdle is a vote to begin formal debate. That also requires 51 votes. GOP leadership remains cautiously optimistic but is contending with lingering concerns from several Republican senators who have not publicly committed to supporting the package.
Under the fast-track rescissions process, the legislation must be approved by both chambers of Congress within 45 days of the president’s formal request, which puts the deadline at midnight on Friday, July 18.
The House narrowly passed the bill in June by a 214-212 vote, and would need to reconvene to approve any changes made by the Senate.
Senate Republicans can only afford to lose three votes without relying on Vice President Vance. Any additional defections would likely doom the bill, requiring the White House to release the funds as originally appropriated.
I live in a Village and I can use Starlink to listen to AM or FM 24/7 if I so choose.
Public radio is the Democrats propaganda channel out here.
In Bethel, old timers just call it radio Hoffman.
Or, public commie radio.
We have for profit radio stations in the Bush. Let free enterprise support these stations.
🤜🤛👍
Starlink Yes
NPR No
We never listened to any public radio or watched public TV while raising Lisa. She was too busy with the new cars we purchased for her and letting her have outdoor pool parties with her friends. Lisa was no academic. And she still
isn’t. She needs to get out of DC and get closer to home. We have her spacious room ready for her at our new digs in Palm Desert, where the aridity won’t bother her mind.
Frankie, as soon as your knees get better I’m sending you up to the Arctic for your place on the whaling crew. Lisa got two free tickets from the Captain. You need to get out of the house for awhile. The temperature in Palm Desert is too hot and Wrangell sounds like a nice place to head to.
Can you please do this before Lisa has her mental breakdown?
How about just Lisa no. No more.
Twenty-five years of listening to a public radio station in a North Slope village provided convincing evidence (during the very first year) that NPR’s ‘All Things Considered’ news program was 99% pure liberal/leftist propaganda. The D-partisan NPR news writers and interviewers caused me to gag countless times, and I always wondered how and why that blood-sucking organization could continue being funded by ‘We the People’ taxpayers. Thank you, President Trump and Congress, for driving a wooden stake into that NYC beast by putting an end to NPR’s politicking with my/our money!
“Alaska’s widespread use of public broadcasting for news has been a key point of contention, although in this century there are many alternatives.” Surely there are more efficient propaganda delivery methods.
Of course she opposes it, anything she can do to support demoncrats in their tkedown of America.
She screws us Alaskans every opportu ity she gets.
Lisa is EVIL.
I used to travel almost every week to a different part of Alaska and NPR was always a democrat propaganda machine. Let private radio and star link do the broadcasting Kotzebue had KOTZ Nome had one as well as Sitka Wrangell Ketchikan and others. NPR can stand on its merit or go away.
But..but…people want choice! Alaska got into the entertainment business under the guise of “educational” radio and TV… For a Party that worships “sustainability” they love public funding of their projects. The “need” has gone away with new technology.
Fire murkowski along with npr
The first rescission bill moves forward. There will be more. This is the piece that locks in the DOGE cuts, the piece Musk didn’t understand was coming. There will be a second, much larger piece offered sometime after Aug 18. Progress. Cheers –
SHUT UP LISA!!
Of course she does.
The main takeaway from all this is just how little congress cares what voters think.
It’s pork above all else
I grew up listing to NRP, PBS, Masterpiece Theater, etc. and they have great shows but when it gets to political commentary it is so blatantly slanted toward the left it hardly can be described as a media for all to enjoy. I can remember as far back as the election of President Bush and the “hosts” of the current hourly show were lambasting him and all those who had voted for him, literally to the point that the country would fall. If organizations like this get federal funding, then it should not be a political bullhorn or influencer for one side….i
Talkeetna has the worse NPR no one listens to them and their idea of music and news is they can’t even tell you why we loose power.
What is her reason for giving billions to foreign governments and the head of NPR said they don’t require our money.
I think that some people are missing the point here. Public broadcasting should be opposed whether left leaning or right leaning. The government has no business in broadcasting.
Anchor
we are not missing the point, just stating the facts as they currently are.
Lisa is a rino at the highest order.
When voting is fare and not run by computers she will be just a bad memory.
I believe most everyone is aware of the this ‘Twerking’ phenomenon that is hopefully about played out.
Unfortunately for us here in Alaska, we still have to live with the equally grotesque ‘Murking’ phenomenon.
Lord, help us.
When the internet went down in Alaskan communities the last few years, we relied on public radio and local papers. It’s stupid to cut something we depend upon.
Rather expensive back up system… I have no problem with the State helping with the basic needs of communities…. but a good idea morphed from needs into wants. You can never over fund wants. Add to that the preening of being anointed by government largess… and focus blurs.
Hey Lisa, if you can’t vote to support the Republicans, and you are constantly voting against the Republicans, as your voting record reflects, then maybe you should switch parties, and either retire, or run as the Democrat your voting record reflects you to be. If you’re constantly butting heads with Republicans, supposedly your party, then maybe it’s you, and not them. Quit diluting the conservative vote of Alaska.
You should vote to support the DOGE cuts. If you don’t, it deeply reflects the corruption of you and your office. Just because Democrats keep voting you in, doesn’t mean you are doing the will of your constituents, it just means you are tone deft to the conservative voices in Alaska.
So glad to see congress cut funding for PBS and NPR. As much as I love Masterpiece Theater, PBS and NPR are lefty wing propaganda machines. Like many of the comments have stated, you have Starlink, so the sky is not going to fall if PBS and NPR are no longer funded by the tax payers.
Is that totem pole rubbing its nipples?