Columbia News

Rep. Mark Alford, a U.S. Congressman representing Missouri’s 4th district since 2023, used his social media account on September 10, 2025, to comment on issues ranging from public broadcasting funding to political violence in the United States.

In a post published at 16:57 UTC, Alford addressed the subject of federal support for public broadcasters: "NPR and PBS can survive without taxpayer money, and  taxpayers shouldn’t be funding content that often leans ideologically anyway.

 It's time for Big Bird to fly out of the nest, Bert and Ernie to move out of their parents' basement, & for public broadcasters to grow up and https://t.co/zlkrgqIOIg".

Later that day at 19:13 UTC, Alford responded to reports of a shooting in Utah involving conservative activist Charlie Kirk. He wrote: "Leslie and I are praying for Charlie Kirk, his family, and the survivors of the shooting in Utah.

Political violence is unacceptable."

Following confirmation of Kirk's death later in the evening at 21:53 UTC, Alford posted another statement condemning political violence: "Leslie and I are horrified by the assassination of Charlie Kirk. We are praying for his family, especially his wife and young children.

We strongly condemn political violence in all forms. It has no place in the United States. Our country must be better than this.

While we".

Alford has served as Missouri’s representative after succeeding Vicky Hartzler in Congress starting January 2023. He was born in Baytown, Texas in 1963 and currently resides in Lake Winnebago. Alford earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1988.