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In a surprising turn of events during a hearing on public broadcasting funding, House Democrats utilized beloved children’s characters as a means of defending National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service from Republican criticism. The DOGE Subcommittee session, held on Wednesday, featured representatives referring to characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets to challenge proposals aimed at cutting the budget for these organizations.
NPR and PBS have faced scrutiny for being perceived as politically biased, particularly for content that some critics claim promotes leftist ideologies. For instance, a PBS documentary titled Real Boy follows a transgender teenager as he navigates the complexities of adolescence and the emotional impacts of gender identity.
The hearing, branded Anti-American Airwaves: Holding the heads of NPR and PBS Accountable, gathered under the leadership of Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., who questioned the validity of taxpayer funding for what she described as increasingly biased news coverage aimed at a narrow audience.
This discussion gained traction after Donald Trump declared his willingness to defund NPR, asserting that the organization has consistently exhibited bias.
Greg Casar, a Democratic congressman from Texas and a member of the progressive group known as the Squad, directed his remarks at Trump and DOGE chief Elon Musk, posing rhetorical questions that invoked childhood characters to highlight his points. Standing in front of a poster that read Fire Elon, Save Elmo, Casar asked, “Has Miss Piggy ever been caught trying to funnel billions of dollars in government contracts to herself and her companies?”
He continued to stress that characters like Daniel Tiger have not misused taxpayer money, unlike Trump, who he claims did so at the onset of his administration. Casar’s remarks suggested Republicans are targeting public media as a distraction from larger issues, particularly criticizing Musk’s business practices.
Another Democrat, Robert Garcia from California, also chimed in with his own unexpected defense of NPR and PBS. Garcia questioned PBS President Paula Kerger, asking, “Is Elmo now or has he ever been a member of the Communist Party of the United States?” His comments pulled in the character of Elmo as emblematic of a supposed dangerous agenda, asserting that the character’s lessons on sharing are attempts at indoctrination.
Garcia confidently asserted that the ongoing efforts to defund PBS stem from its children’s programming, which includes public health messages like those promoted by Big Bird during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Big Bird actually tweeted support for the COVID-19 vaccine, and we believe in vaccines,” Garcia noted, hinting at a direct correlation between the Republican stance on public media and underlying ideological beliefs.
He raised concerns about equal representation for all characters, specifically bringing up Bert and Ernie in relation to the so-called extreme homosexual agenda. He humorously pointed out Cookie Monster’s advocacy for baked goods amid health criticisms from public figures.
Garcia described taxpayer funding for PBS and NPR as a minor yet crucial investment in public media, underscoring that such resources are essential now more than ever. He stated, “If we’re going to get rid of any puppeteers, we should get rid of the one that’s actually controlling Donald Trump. Fire Elon Musk and save Elmo.”
This exchange highlights the ongoing battle over public media funding, reflecting deeper ideological divides. As both sides of the aisle continue to debate the role of NPR and PBS, these playful yet pointed references to childhood characters bring an unexpected lightness to a contentious political issue.
