1. United States
2. Ill.
3. Letter

I’m writing as a deeply concerned citizen and taxpayer. The decision to let PBS go off the air due to funding cuts is more than disappointing—it’s disturbing. I grew up with PBS. Shows like Sesame Street, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Reading Rainbow, Nova, and Frontline taught me how to think critically, understand others, and engage with the world. PBS wasn’t entertainment—it was a lifeline. It gave Americans of all backgrounds access to education, journalism, science, and the arts. And for less than two dollars per taxpayer per year, it was one of the most valuable public services we had. So I have to ask: why defund it? Because this isn’t just a financial decision—it’s a political one. And it follows a dangerous historical trend. When authoritarian regimes seek control, one of their first moves is to suppress public education and independent media. Hitler shut down opposing radio and press while pumping propaganda into every home. Mussolini nationalized broadcasting and dismantled public education access. In modern-day Hungary, Viktor Orbán gutted state media and turned schools into tools for party loyalty. Is this really the direction you want to lead America? Every time you cut resources that empower the public—like PBS—you push us further toward a nation that is uninformed, unequal, and afraid. That’s not freedom. That’s not democracy. That’s how fascism creeps in—not always with boots and banners, but through slow erosion of the public good. PBS was one of the last trusted, nonpartisan platforms available to all Americans. And you let it go dark. We notice. We remember. And we vote. Restore funding. Bring PBS back. And stop treating knowledge, culture, and public access like enemies of the state.