Trump Signs Bill Defunding Public Broadcasting, Impacting California Stations

Former ABC News correspondent Terry Moran, who was fired after a social media rant against President Donald Trump and White House aide Stephen Miller, has expressed fears that the U.S. free press is under threat if Trump is not 'stopped.' Moran, now hosting a podcast on Substack, compared Trump's actions to those of authoritarian leaders like Vladimir Putin and Viktor Orban, warning that Trump may strip independent news operations from media corporations and hand them over to his cronies. Moran's concerns were voiced during a discussion with former MSNBC host Chris Matthews, who lamented media outlets' concessions to Trump, such as the recent CBS/Paramount settlement. Moran cited an FCC investigation into ABC News over fact-checking during the 2024 presidential debate as an example of media being pressured under Trump's administration. Meanwhile, President Trump signed a GOP-backed bill revoking $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a move that threatens funding for NPR, PBS, and smaller local stations, potentially leading to layoffs and reductions in local programming. Republican lawmakers argue public media should be funded by private donors rather than taxpayers, raising concerns about the future of local news coverage, especially in California.