MSNBC’s Ana Cabrera grew up in the 80s, and the media landscape has changed a lot since then, but on her Thursday show, she implied her family’s inability to pay for cable as a child means Congress should not approve President Trump’s rescission package that seeks to defund PBS and NPR.
During an interview with ranking member of the House Budgetary Committee, Rep. Brendan Boyle, Cabrera wondered, “The House today will also debate a spending package that will codify some cuts to the USAID and to public broadcasting. It would claw back about $9 billion in previously approved spending. Do you expect any moderate Republicans to oppose this?”
Boyle didn’t begin with public broadcasting but still managed to make some un-fact-checked assertions that should’ve merited a second look:
Well, you know we keep hearing that there are these so-called moderate Republicans who speak out and say they have concerns about these cuts, concerns about cuts to a program called PEPFAR, which was actually a legacy of George W. Bush, as well as Democrats and Republicans in Congress over the last 20 years, has led to the largest reduction in HIV/AIDS around the world that we've ever seen. Just a real great bipartisan American achievement. That program is about to be decimated.
According to Politico, “In recent days, White House officials have conveyed to GOP leaders that they will not only maintain life-saving treatments under PEPFAR but will also — in response to concerns from more than a dozen House Republicans — preserve some prevention programs as well, according to three people granted anonymity to discuss the private assurances.”
As for PBS, “The cuts to PBS will be absolutely devastating. And I'm the first generation to grow up on Sesame Street and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. I mean, I can't believe Republicans are finally cutting billions that go to the programs that all Americans really cherish and love. And why? Again, all part of furthering this agenda of driving more tax cuts to the top one-tenth of one percent, literally multi-millionaires and billionaires.”
In reality, PBS and NPR are in the rescission package because they have spent decades running afoul of their legal mandate to be neutral in their news coverage. Nevertheless, Cabrera concluded, “My family could never afford cable growing up. And I remember watching Sesame Street and Mister Rogers, too. Fine memories of that as a child. Congressman Brendan Boyle, thank you for joining us. I appreciate it.”
Sesame Street was recently purchased by Netflix, but one reason why PBS has to partner with a private company—previously it was HBO—to produce the show is because it is not the 1980s anymore. Sesame Street is not as popular as it once was relative to other children’s programming. If Netflix wants to put Big Bird on its payroll, it can, but the American people should not be expected to keep David Brooks and Jonathan Capehart on theirs.
Here is a transcript for the June 12 show:
MSNBC Ana Cabrera Reports
6/12/2025
11:41 AM ET
ANA CABRERA: The House today will also debate a spending package that will codify some cuts to the USAID and to public broadcasting. It would claw back about $9 billion in previously approved spending. Do you expect any moderate Republicans to oppose this?
BRENDAN BOYLE: Well, you know we keep hearing that there are these so-called moderate Republicans who speak out and say they have concerns about these cuts, concerns about cuts to a program called PEPFAR, which was actually a legacy of George W. Bush, as well as Democrats and Republicans in Congress over the last 20 years, has led to the largest reduction in HIV/AIDS around the world that we've ever seen.
Just a real great bipartisan American achievement. That program is about to be decimated. The cuts to PBS will be absolutely devastating. And I'm the first generation to grow up on Sesame Street and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. I mean, I can't believe Republicans are finally cutting billions that go to the programs that all Americans really cherish and love. And why? Again, all part of furthering this agenda of driving more tax cuts to the top one-tenth of one percent, literally multi-millionaires and billionaires.
CABRERA: My family could never afford cable growing up. And I remember watching Sesame Street and Mister Rogers, too. Fine memories of that as a child. Congressman Brendan Boyle, thank you for joining us. I appreciate it.