When we are driving in Westchester or on Long Island, we tune in to our favorite New York City-based, public radio station, WNYC. It’s one of of our major sources of news and entertainment, particularly programs like the Brian Lehrer Show, Fresh Air, This American Life and, of course, NPR, for up-to-the-minute national and international news coverage.
Historically, we have been on-again and off-again contributors. Since our 50s, I think we’ve been giving $10/month.
Thanks to the new public broadcasting cuts approved by Congress and our President, WNYC will fall short nearly $6,000,000 over the next two years. Yikes!Throughout the country, local, public radio stations will be facing similar draconian cuts that will likely end or inhibit their ability to pay NPR and other programming fees. It’s a shit show for what I consider fact-based radio, an integral part of a functioning democracy.
Learn about the cuts here: https://www.npr.org/2025/07/18/nx-s1-5469912/npr-congress-rescission-funding-trump
Short of burying our heads deeper into the sand or leaving the USA entirely (both understandable, real considerations for many), I think it’s time to rethink our activism and our giving.
We haven’t discussed it, yet, but Beth and I will consider increasing our donations, most likely to our local station, WJFF, in Liberty, New York. We might also donate to WNYC, too. Both stations have been great outlets, keeping us and thousands of listeners informed and connected to their communities.
We don’t have cable TV. Our only monthly subscription is for HBO Max. We gave up our Prime membership to Amazon years ago and haven’t regretted it (or missed fast shipping). Accordingly, we have saved a few extra bucks that we can repurpose for supporting public radio.
Taking care of our bodies, our families, our savings and our belongings has always been a priority. Now, it appears, we have to add taking care of our trusted news services to that list.
