Dear supporters and members,
This week, a federal choose blocked an govt order that instructed federal businesses to not fund NPR and PBS primarily based on the content material of speech the authorities disliked. The court docket dominated that the govt order was unconstitutional on the grounds that the “First Amendment does not tolerate viewpoint discrimination and retaliation” of any sort.
You might have seen protection of this ruling in current days, together with reporting from the Associated Press.
It’s an vital resolution, and a transparent affirmation and safety of the basic First Amendment precept that journalism should stay unbiased and free from political interference.
But it’s additionally vital to be clear about what this ruling does — and what it doesn’t do.
It doesn’t carry federal funding again for Chicago Public Media.
That funding has already been rescinded by Congress, and right here in Chicago, we at the moment are greater than 4 months into working with out it.
So whereas we have fun this resolution, it doesn’t change the monetary actuality we’re navigating day by day.
What has made an unlimited affect, nonetheless, is that hundreds of listeners and readers have stepped up in current months, selecting to help the journalism Chicago depends on and serving to guarantee it continues.
That type of help is what sustains our work now.
And it’s what will carry it ahead.
We’ll proceed to maintain you knowledgeable as issues evolve. But most of all, we need to say thanks — for being a part of our neighborhood, and for standing with native unbiased journalism in Chicago.
Melissa
