The highly effective phrases of the late Fred Rogers have gone viral following the Senate’s vote in favor of a invoice that can lower federal funding to public broadcast networks PBS and NPR.
On Wednesday (July 16), Senate Republicans gained an in depth 51-48 vote to move the laws, which can see President Donald Trump and his administration reclaim $9 billion that Congress had beforehand accepted for international help and public broadcasting. Trump, who has lengthy argued that PBS and NPR are “biased,” now must signal the invoice into legislation for it to go forward.
Following the information, a speech from the host of Mister Rogers’ Neighbourhood, testifying earlier than Congress in 1969, was shared on social media and rapidly went viral. Rogers spoke to Congress as President Richard Nixon proposed a plan to chop funding for public broadcasting from $20 million to $10 million.
The beloved youngsters’s tv host spoke passionately concerning the significance of public broadcasting, particularly its academic programming for youths.
Because the Senate prepares to vote on federal funding cuts for PBS and NPR, let’s keep in mind Mr. Rogers’ phrases on the significance of public broadcasting. pic.twitter.com/I6xihDyVEA
— Democrats (@TheDemocrats) July 16, 2025
“We cope with things like the inside drama of childhood,” Rogers mentioned. “We cope with things like getting a haircut, or the emotions about brothers and sisters, the type of anger that arises in easy household conditions. And we cope with it constructively.”
When a senator requested him to develop, Rogers defined, “I finish this system on daily basis by saying, ‘You’ve made this present day a big day, by simply your being you. There’s no particular person in the entire world such as you. And I such as you, simply the way in which you might be.’ If we in public tv could make it clear that emotions are mentionable and manageable, we’ll have accomplished an awesome service for psychological well being.”
The senator agreed, responding, “I believe that’s great. Appears to be like such as you simply acquired your $20 million.”
As for what’s subsequent, PBS CEO Paula Kerger mentioned in a press release on Thursday (July 17) that the community will likely be “compelled to make onerous choices within the weeks and months forward.”
NPR additionally launched a press release, saying, “Tonight, our community’s service to the nation suffered an incredible setback. Collectively — and with assist from listeners and readers in communities across the nation — we are going to work to rebuild.”
Whereas taxpayer cash accounts for under a portion of PBS and NPR’s funding, the cuts are nonetheless anticipated to have a big impression, significantly in rural areas. It’s because stations in small communities are likely to rely extra closely on federal funding, whereas these in bigger markets have numerous outdoors sources of revenue.
“These cuts will considerably impression all of our stations, however will likely be particularly devastating to smaller stations and people serving giant rural areas,” Kerger added.