Columbia News

Senator Eric Schmitt criticized NPR and PBS in a series of tweets posted on July 16, 2025, accusing the public broadcasters of promoting radical ideologies and inappropriate content for children.

In his first tweet, Schmitt addressed NPR CEO Katherine Maher’s past statements, writing, "It should come as no surprise that NPR CEO Katherine Maher is a radical ideologue. She called President Trump a 'deranged racist sociopath', called the First Amendment the 'number one challenge' to her censorship agenda, and defended violent looting during George Floyd riots." (July 16, 2025).

In a subsequent post on the same day, Schmitt turned his attention to PBS programming for children. He stated, "PBS aired a children’s program featuring a drag queen called 'Lil’ Miss Hot Mess' singing: 'The hips on the drag queen go swish swish swish.' This was marketed to kids. Disgusting." (July 16, 2025).

Continuing his criticism of PBS content, Schmitt wrote in another tweet: "PBS, too, is obsessed with pushing radical gender ideology on the most impressionable — our children. In 2021, they published 'Real Boy' — a documentary about a teenager 'changing gender identity'. This isn't education, it's taxpayer funded indoctrination." (July 16, 2025).

Public broadcasting organizations such as NPR and PBS are partially funded by federal appropriations through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and have faced recurring scrutiny from some lawmakers regarding their editorial choices and educational programming. In recent years, debates over LGBTQ+ representation in children's media and educational resources have intensified among policymakers and advocacy groups.