The ripple effects following the defunding of USGAM

The ripple effects following the defunding of USGAM

Author: Amanda Stephens, Hanna Bilinski,Rti April 21, 2025 Duration: 0:00

This week on the first-ever episode of the Doomscroll News Report,  we’re tackling how the cuts to the United States Agency for Global Media (USGAM) stand to impact the state of journalism now and in the near future, and close with a pulse-check on where things stand now. You can read along with us, by looking at the articles we cited for this discussion:

On the dissolution of the USGAM: 1. 'Bloody Saturday' at Voice of America and other U.S.-funded networks (David Folkenflik, at NPR), and 2. ‘Massive gift to America’s enemies’: Activists decry cuts to government-funded networks (Brian Stelter, CNN)

On the Chinese State media's response to USGAM cuts: 1. Chinese state media celebrates Trump’s cuts to Voice of America and Radio Free Asia (Kate Lamb, The Guardian) and 2. USAGM, Senior Advisor Kari Lake cancels obscenely expensive 15-year-lease that burdened the taxpayers and enforces Trump’s Executive Order to drastically downsize agency (USGAM statement)

 

 


Every week, writers Hanna Bilinski and Amanda Stephens find themselves stuck in the same cycle: falling down a rabbit hole of alarming headlines and relentless updates. The Doomscroll News Report is their attempt to climb back out and make sense of it all. Instead of just recapping the major international stories that flooded their feeds, they pause to place each event within a broader context, asking what it really means for the global conversation. This isn't a straight news broadcast; it's a dialogue between two curious observers who bring on knowledgeable guests to deepen the discussion. By weaving together expert insight with their own perspectives as individuals striving to stay informed, they create a space for understanding that goes beyond the reactive nature of the daily news cycle. Tuning into this podcast feels like joining a necessary conversation that seeks clarity and connection amidst the noise, offering a thoughtful alternative to the endless scroll.
Author: Language: en_us Episodes: 51

The Doomscroll News Report
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