Ann Porter

Grand Forks

Public media, including National Public Radio (NPR), plays a crucial role in keeping Americans informed — especially in rural states like North Dakota. Stations such as Prairie Public Radio deliver trusted news, thoughtful conversation, and local programming that commercial stations often overlook.

From agricultural updates and in-depth election coverage to music, arts, and educational storytelling, public radio serves our communities with substance over sound bites. For many North Dakotans, it’s a daily connection to the broader world and to each other.

That’s why I’m alarmed by efforts to eliminate federal funding for NPR. This isn’t about budget savings — it’s about removing a vital service that supports informed citizenship. And doing it by executive order, without public debate or congressional oversight, sets a troubling precedent.

Federal support helps keep small, rural stations on the air — not just broadcasting national stories, but telling our stories. When a teacher in Devils Lake, a farmer near Rugby, or a senior in Carrington turns on the radio, they deserve access to fact-based, high-quality information just like anyone else.

Public media is a smart, efficient investment in civic life. It supports education, culture, and connection — things that strengthen our communities rather than divide them.

Let’s not allow politics to silence the stations that serve the public good. We should be expanding access to trusted news, not cutting it off.