GOP senators air 'deep concerns' over NPR bias, urge CEO to ‘start a course correction’

A group of Republican senators urged the CEO of NPR to course-correct the publication following revelations of its lack of ideological diversity in the newsroom.

A group of Republican senators sent a letter to Katherine Maher on Monday, urging her to correct the ideological homogeneity at NPR. (Getty Images)

Berliner first penned his essay for the Free Press on April 9, discussing why he believes the institution has lost public trust. He detailed his criticisms of the coverage of various events, including allegations of former President Trump's collusion with Russia in the 2016 election, Hunter Biden's laptop and the theory that COVID-19 actually began in a lab in China and was leaked. 

The 25-year NPR veteran further revealed that his research found there were "87 registered Democrats" in editorial roles in NPR's Washington, D.C., headquarters and no Republicans. 

According to the senators, the ideological homogeneity at NPR is not just disappointing, but amounts to "an ethical failure."

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Sen. Kevin Cramer led the letter to NPR CEO Katherine Maher. (Tom Williams-Pool/Getty Images)

In closing, the Republicans called on Maher to begin a "course correction" to remedy the exposed lack of diversity at NPR. 

Maher has come under particular scrutiny due to her lack of editorial background, as well as her opinionated and overwhelmingly Democratic personal views, which she has publicly shared on social media over time. In 2020, she criticized news outlets for their coverage of looting during the riots following the death of George Floyd. "I mean, sure, looting is counterproductive. But it’s hard to be mad about protests not prioritizing the private property of a system of oppression founded on treating people’s ancestors as private property," she said at the time. 

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Sen. Marsha Blackburn is looking to cut funding to National Public Radio after it was revealed that its newsroom was made up entirely of Democrats. (Getty Images)

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NPR did not immediately provide comment to Fox News Digital. 

In the wake of Berliner's public criticism of his then-employer, several Republican lawmakers have renewed calls to restrict funding of the organization that provides grants for NPR, giving the outlet federal money. Blackburn recently revealed she is looking at legislative options with the intent of introducing a bill to address funding for NPR, and there are multiple measures in the House already looking to do so. 

Julia Johnson is a politics writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business, leading coverage of the U.S. Senate. She was previously a politics reporter at the Washington Examiner. 

Follow Julia's reporting on X at @JuliaaJohnson_ and send tips to Julia.Johnson@fox.com.

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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-senators-air-deep-concerns-npr-bias-urge-ceo-start-course-correction