Editor’s note: This episode of The Metro aired prior to the president signing an executive order directing federal funding cuts to PBS and NPR.

Public trust in the free press has been steadily declining for decades and President Donald Trump’s combative relationship with the news media has further eroded that trust. He frequently refers to the free press as “the enemy of the people” and “fake news.” 

Those words have had an impact. 

In 2020, American journalists faced a sharp rise in attacks, especially during the Black Lives Matter protests. 

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, “at least 400 press freedom violations were reported, including physical assaults, arrests, and damage to equipment.”  

The committee found that many of these incidents, including roughly 300 assaults, were attributed to law enforcement.

On the campaign trail in 2024, Trump continued his rhetoric against the press.

“To get to me, somebody would have to shoot through the fake news. I don’t mind that so much,” he told a crowd in Pennsylvania.

Now, after Trump’s first 100 days in office, the Committee to Protect Journalists is sounding a louder alarm. 

It says the beginning of Trump’s term has “been marked by a flurry of executive actions that have created a chilling effect and have the potential to curtail media freedoms. These measures threaten the availability of independent, fact-based news for vast swaths of America’s population.”

Trump has banned reporters from his press conferences. He is selective of which media outlets he speaks to, and he has filed multiple lawsuits accusing media companies of misconduct against him. 

The president is also taking aim at NPR and PBS.

NPR reported last month that the administration plans to request Congress cut funding from NPR and PBS — news and information that is not profit-based and relies on funding from listeners, sponsorships, and the government. WDET is an NPR affiliate station that also would feel strong impacts from these cuts.

NPR media correspondent David Folkenflik joined The Metro on Thursday to talk more about this.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

More stories from The Metro

WDET 101.9 FM, Detroit’s nonprofit radio station, was named Public Radio Station of the Year during the Michigan Association of Broadcasters (MAB) Broadcast Excellence Awards ceremony held Saturday at MotorCity Casino’s Sound Board Theater.

WDET won several categories of awards including Station Excellence and Community Station of the Year and was awarded Station of the Year for the third time in the past four years within the Public Radio Group 2 category.

“It’s an honor to be a part of the MAB and the prestigious network of Michigan public media broadcasters,” said WDET General Manager Mary Zatina. “This year’s award recognition means even more to us given we were celebrating 75 years as Detroit’s Public Radio station and made significant schedule and programming changes based on listener and member data and their requests for what they wanted from us as we move into the future.”

Honors all around WDET

The MAB also honored WDET with nine additional awards, including the Station Excellence award for its 75th-year accomplishments submission, “best ofs” and “merits.”

“WDET has been telling Detroit’s most important stories since 1949, so it’s especially meaningful to be honored by MAB during this anniversary year,” said WDET Program Manager Adam Fox. “These awards recognize our excellence in news, music, and current affairs — and our ongoing commitment to serving Detroit with more local programming, and hosts who reflect and celebrate our community.”

• Station Excellence – Public Radio Group 2 (Large market category): “Bold Moves – 75 Years of Detroit Radio”, WDET Staff
• Best Membership Appeal: “WDET Farms”, WDET Production Staff
• Best Community Involvement: “MichMash Live”, Hernz Laguerre, Cheyna Roth, Zach Gorchow, Alethia Kasben
• Best Newscast: “WDET News 5:04 a.m. July 22, 2024”, Pat Batcheller
• Best Musical Programming: “In The Groove – Jack White World Premiere”, Ryan Patrick Hooper
• Merit Feature/Use of Medium: “Detroit Students Follow the Path of the Buffalo Soldiers in Yosemite”, Sascha Raiyn
• Merit Special Interest & Cultural Programming: “MichMash – Mackanac“, Cheyna Roth, Alethia Kasben, Hernz Laguerre
• Merit Musical Programming: “Modern Music Holiday Special”, Jon Moshier
• Merit Use of Multiplatform Media Promotional/Membership Materials: “Jack White Surprise Album Reveals Promotional Materials”, Ryan Patrick Hooper, Jenny Sherman, Dave Kim