Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

BumRushDaShow

(151,323 posts)
Sun Mar 16, 2025, 01:53 PM Mar 16

Voice of America Journalist Speaks Out On 'Silencing' by Trump Admin: 'Will Be Celebrated by Communists, Autocrats

Source: MEDIAite

Mar 16th, 2025, 7:55 am


Voice of America journalist Carla Babb spoke out Saturday on what she said is the “silencing” of the government funded organization by President Donald Trump, saying it will “be celebrated by communists, autocrats and ayatollahs whose lies we shed light on.”

Trump signed an executive order Friday slashing the budgets and staffing of multiple governmental entities, including the US Agency for Global Media, which is the parent of the global news service Voice of America.

The White House published a statement on Friday to accompany the executive order labeling the VOA as “The Voice of Radical America” and writing that Trump’s decision “will ensure that taxpayers are no longer on the hook for radical propaganda.” As the cuts went into effect on Saturday, former Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, whom Trump appointed as Special Adviser to the USAGM, posted on X that employees should “check their email.”

Among those affected was Carla Babb, the outlet’s Pentagon correspondent, who spoke out later in the day. “Today I, like virtually every other full-time employee at VOA, was placed on administrative leave indefinitely. I’m not allowed to report the news to our hundreds of millions of viewers at this time,” she wrote in a post on X. “Let’s hope this is temporary.”


Read more: https://www.mediaite.com/news/voice-of-america-journalist-speaks-out-on-silencing-by-trump-admin-will-be-celebrated-by-communists-autocrats-and-ayatollahs/



Full headline: Voice of America Journalist Speaks Out On ‘Silencing’ by Trump Admin: ‘Will Be Celebrated by Communists, Autocrats and Ayatollahs’
3 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Voice of America Journalist Speaks Out On 'Silencing' by Trump Admin: 'Will Be Celebrated by Communists, Autocrats (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Mar 16 OP
Authoritarian regimes go after the public media. mwooldri Mar 16 #1
Yup, the education of America, has begun. republianmushroom Mar 16 #2
It's a dark day for sure. mahina Mar 16 #3

mwooldri

(10,615 posts)
1. Authoritarian regimes go after the public media.
Sun Mar 16, 2025, 03:10 PM
Mar 16

Happened in Poland, Hungary, Greece...

There won't be big uproar across the USA because Voice of America was always an external service and not on the minds of the average American. Also government international media is an example of "soft power" - UK has lots of it via the BBC. America has lost some of its soft power. Yes, VOA isn't officially shut down but it might as well be.

Yet another not good day for America. Folks who want to hear accurate and truthful news will have to get used to hearing "This is London" (or words to that effect, I know Lillibullero has long gone, along with most of the BBC World Service shortwave services).

mahina

(19,715 posts)
3. It's a dark day for sure.
Sun Mar 16, 2025, 03:25 PM
Mar 16

Who else is celebrating, as is almost always the case with his anti-American acts?

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Voice of America Journali...