U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski was in the news again, complaining about public media being defunded, and when I was listening to her, all I could think about was all the crows in my neighborhood.
For some reason, crows like to nest in the trees around my house. They are very protective of their young and will alert each other with loud “caw, caw” noises if they see a threat present in the area. It has gotten so bad that I can’t walk outside without one of them squawking at me from a tree in a very raucous and annoying way. While it is irritating, there are times when it offers some benefit. Earlier this summer, a flock of them was making a ruckus nearby, which alerted me to a bear near my house, so I suppose they are occasionally worth having around.
I don’t know exactly why, but the loud, raucous noise from crows is the image that comes to mind when I hear Lisa Murkowski complaining about the cuts in federal spending for public media. What she is saying about the subject is entirely incorrect. There is a bigger reason behind her support of NPR and PBS stations, and it isn’t what she is telling us.
If emergency broadcasts are not the real reason why Senator Murkowski is opposed to the cuts in funding for public broadcasting, then you might ask what her true objective is.
Senator Murkowski says the cuts will hurt residents in rural Alaska, particularly in emergency situations. Well, Alaska had a test of Murkowski’s theory last week. A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck off the Alaska coastline near Sand Point, raising the possibility of a Tsunami. The National Tsunami Warning Center sent out an alert, which triggered every cell phone in communities near Tsunami zones. I was in the Homer Safeway store at the time, and my cell phone, along with those of every other shopper near me, went off with the alarm. When the warning was triggered, I first received it on my phone, not by listening to public radio.
Critics may argue that this isn’t a good example because Homer isn’t rural enough, and cell phones don’t work in bush villages. My reply is that while they may not work in every village, my cell phone worked when I spent the summer commercial fishing in Egegik, out in western Alaska; it’s hard to get much more remote than a fish camp on Egegik Bay.
However, to further debunk Murkowski’s allegation, I conducted some additional research. Since Lisa’s specific concern is that budget cuts could render Alaska-based public radio stations unavailable to residents in remote communities during an emergency, I compiled a list of communities in Alaska that have only public media radio and television stations, with no private radio or TV stations available as an alternative. The list isn’t very long.
According to my quick analysis, only a handful of communities might lose access to public radio or television, and have no alternative for broadcast news.
If emergency broadcasts are not the real reason why Senator Murkowski is opposed to the cuts in funding for public broadcasting, then you might ask what her true objective is. The reality is that NPR and PBS have a distinctly left-wing bias and promote stories that support liberal policies. That is why the so-called “Bush Caucus” of mostly Democrats in the Alaska legislature, along with liberal politicians in Washington, D.C., support public radio and television. Folks living in rural communities are constantly bombarded with liberal propaganda and end up supporting left-of-center politicians. That is what the hubbub about NPR budget cuts is truly about: it isn’t about providing safety in emergencies, it is about supporting liberal partisan politics. RINO Senator Lisa Murkowski is an outspoken advocate for NPR and PBS in every home in rural Alaska, because she receives the rural vote when she runs for reelection.
ALASKA WATCHMAN DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX
The left-wing bias of public media isn’t just my opinion. Uri Berliner, an editor for National Public Radio, was rebuked last year for pointing out that in its Washington, DC headquarters, there were 87 registered Democrats in editorial positions, but zero Republicans. He called out the truth of the situation and got in trouble for it. When people accuse NPR of being a partisan mouthpiece for liberals in this country, they are 100% correct.
The bottom line is that federally funded public media is analogous to that old crow squawking at me outside my house every morning. On rare occasions, the old crow does some good, such as warning about a bear, but more often than not, it is just making a lot of noise that has no value at all, other than giving people a warped, liberal view of the world.
Someone should let our Senior Senator know that people are starting to catch on to the scam she is trying to sell us, and we aren’t buying her story any longer.
The views expressed here are those of Greg Sarber. Read more Sarber posts at his Seward’s Folly substack.
29 Comments
Your opinion isn’t the same as evidence.
Manny you wouldn’t recognize evidence if hit you head on. You’re a troll, and most people whom read the Alaska Watchman recognize you as such.
I live in Quinhagak. We haven’t had public radio or TV for the last two decades. We won’t miss it.
What Lisa is afraid of is, it will be gone from the Hubs with thousands of votes, not a couple dozen or up to a couple hundred votes in the remote villages…………………. Cash43.Com
I live in Quinhagak. We haven’t had public radio or TV for the last two decades. We won’t miss it.
What Lisa is afraid of is, it will be gone from the Hubs with thousands of votes, not a couple dozen or up to a couple hundred votes in the remote villages………. Cash43.Com
Your opinion is predictable and not worth having read, Lucinda.
I’m in Anchorage and threw my TV out 35 years ago. I haven’t turned on a radio since Spotify became ubiquitous. None of that trash is necessary and NPR should have been defunded long ago. The future is SatComm and has not been TV or radio for a long time.
Now… as to Murkowski not understanding budgets and how to be fiscally responsible; she has no need for more money as foreign government gives her all she can spend. Here’s an example:
https://www.trackaipac.com/congress
Scroll down to Alaska and you’ll see she’s sold her vote to one foreign government for $436k. If she overspends she can just gobble up a few more bucks from another foreign influence buyer. Easy peasy and not an option for you or me.
Put a sock in it, Lisa. We’ve heard enough of your nonsense.
nor is yours
Native- YES, you’re right! I’ve been trying to lead people to critical thinking for years. You get it.
Oh Yes It Is!! Good Riddance to Bad Radio Lefties.
Do you even live in Alaska? Me thinks Not.
Well written. Truths spoken in a world inundated by lies and deceit. Mt. 7:14 reminds us though that narrow is the way that leads to life. Thus the demonic world we live in. Thanks again for the well written article.
https;Www.join.work43.com
Speaking as a true leftist!! The man gave you 3 communities that may or may not lose public broadcasting. True leftist never agree with anyone else. Murkowski needs to go. She is not in politics to help the people but for her own personal gain.
agreed. once upon a time, years back, Lisa truly represented Alaskan values. These last 10 or so years, she seems to care little for her constituents & only for her coffers. she is owned by dirty outside money, and dances to their corrupt policies.
Lisa is also owned by the #TribesThatBribe
She has TDS Bad!! What a RINO!!
What I want to know is; when is Princess Lisa is going to issue a formal apology to President Trump for supporting the Democrats attempt at impeaching him? Everything she’s upset about has been proven fraud, she can’t hide from the truth now. Losing NPR & PBS for the Princess is like losing Mitch McConnell’s campaign money. I do believe that she is running scared now, and I couldn’t be happier. Well that’s not completely correct, her removal from the Senate would make me even happier. Is she tired of losing now?
I live in Quinhagak. We haven’t had public radio or TV for the last two decades. We won’t miss it.
What Lisa is afraid of is, it will be gone from the Hubs with thousands of votes, not a couple dozen or up to a couple hundred votes in the remote villages.
And Willy, I have always been able to get AM stations out of Anchorage in Talkeetna.
“…might lose access to public radio or television, and have no alternative for broadcast news.” If there is internet available, then there are alternatives and whatever news you care to view streaming. Don’t all schools have internet and broadcast that wirelessly for students to use? or others to piggy back off of just outside the school on their devices?
I live in Quinhagak. We haven’t had public radio or TV for the last two decades. We won’t miss it.
What Lisa is afraid of is, it will be gone from the Hubs with thousands of votes, not a couple dozen or up to a couple hundred votes in the remote villages……..www.best.work43.com
Drill baby drill
Cry Lisa cry
Lisa you just need to go away.
spoken like an Alaskan who pays attention.
She Does! Super RINO!
When all the debate about defunding NPR and PBS started I read some where that it was about time they were. It seems that most rural communities are turning to Wi-Fi for their news and entertainment and receiving a broader view in what the internet has to offer.
Just maybe, if public radio fails to sustain itself in some communities, a private station will start up in its absense or nearby private stations might be able to afford boosting their power.
I live in Quinhagak. We haven’t had public radio or TV for the last two decades. We won’t miss it.
What Lisa is afraid of is, it will be gone from the Hubs with thousands of votes, not a couple dozen or up to a couple hundred votes in the remote villages……..……. COPY AND OPEN →→→www.best.work43.com
Her real reason is she can’t use NPR to spread her propaganda into the villages and then buy them gifts so they will accept her wrist bands to spell her name correctly and vote for her. Murkowski needs to just join her commie friends on the left and become a Democrat. The Democrat Party is imploding and hopefully, Lisa will go down with them. Good riddance!
I live in Quinhagak. We haven’t had public radio or TV for the last two decades. We won’t miss it.
What Lisa is afraid of is, it will be gone from the Hubs with thousands of votes, not a couple dozen or up to a couple hundred votes in the remote villages…….. rb.gy/uvl61c
I live in Quinhagak. We haven’t had public radio or TV for the last two decades. We won’t miss it.
What Lisa is afraid of is, it will be gone from the Hubs with thousands of votes, not a couple dozen or up to a couple hundred votes in the remote villages……..>> rb.gy/uvl61c
“I’m Terry Gross and this is fresh air”
No it’s not Terry; its stale.