I value public media! Today, I’m joining supporters nationwide to protect local public media, like Minnesota Public Radio, for #ProtectMyPublicMedia Day.
Love live public media!
Minnesota Public Radio means the world to me, and as such Brianna and I have been sustaining members for years.
89.3 The Current (thecurrent.org) has provided me with countless hours of entertainment and I've learned so much about music from what has been my favorite radio station for over 20 years now. Just on the way to work this morning I heard "Leadfoot" by Billy Strings and a 'new music exploration' segment wherein they played the new Goose single, "Give It TIme". Not the most exciting Goose song to date, but still fun to hear (let's get an extended Creatures or Hot Tea going and that's some real driving music!). It's not all bluegrass phenomenons and indy jambands, though. The Current plays any genre you can possibly think of, from new and classic hip-hop to jazz to country and rock and/or roll. Also played this AM: The Cure's great new single, Jimi Hendrix, The Replacements, Kasey Musgraves, Spoon, The Beach Boys, Childish Gambino, Kendrick, and local movers and shakers Kiss The Tiger and The Jayhawks.
If you like live music, as I very much do, The Current provides the Gig List (https://www.thecurrent.org/events), a comprehensive daily guide to musical happenings in the area, and they will add your band 's gig to it if you complete a form online. They have live sessions in-studio, ticket giveaways, presale codes, and unmatched coverage of our beloved music scene. Also, the Local Show spins Minnesota artists every Sunday from 7-11pm. I don't know of a better resource for Twin Cities music lovers than The Current.
91.1 KNOW (mprnews.org) is my go-to news station. Their reporting is unimpeachable and they have scores of informative, thought provoking syndicated National Public Radio programs and podcasts like All Things Considered, On Point, Fresh Air, Reveal, and many more that are very much worth listening to. Speaking of NPR - Tiny Desk concerts anyone?! There are literally hundreds of incredible artists that have done one, all available for free here: https://www.npr.org/series/tiny-desk-concerts/
How anyone could have an issue with public media in general, or NPR in particular is hard for me to comprehend. Here, as in many other aspects of our lives as American citizens, it is important to acknowledge that there are some sinister forces in the world that include the dictator of Russia and sadly, our president. They want to see every country move in a more authoritarian direction and they do not want honest news - certainly not taxpayer funded reporting that will accurately report on the litany of misdeeds of this or any administration. So they find some nonsense, non-evil sounding excuse to cut funding. From www.mpr.org/action:
"Several bills have been introduced to freeze or eliminate federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which help support 1,300 local stations like us across the country as well as NPR and PBS.
The FCC launched an investigation into the underwriting practices of NPR and PBS, and their member stations. In announcing the investigation, the FCC chairman expressly indicated his opinion that NPR and PBS should no longer receive taxpayer dollars."
So, there is valid concern about how much support organizations like NPR and PBS will be getting from the federal government during this nightmare administration, headed by a sad billionaire who abhors anything educational or any nonprofit or government agency that is helpful to the average American (or starving African child). Second in command Donald Trump's hostility towards the free press ought to infuriate anyone who loves this country and what it stands for. He'd prefer that the only news sources available to Americans are right wing disinformation factories akin to Tulsi Gabbord's favorite channel, RT in Russia.
We absolutely need a free press and unbiased public media. If there is one thing I am a proponent, even an evangelist for, aside from what we all *claim* to be in favor of, freedom and democracy, it's that music and art more broadly are healing to the soul and that a free press and vibrant public media are critical to any thriving democracy. I rely on Minnesota Public Radio specifically every single day to keep me informed, even if these days being well-informed drives me absolutely bonkers. Still, I plan to stay informed and engaged. I hope you will too and I hope you see the inherent value and trustworthiness of public radio.
