Former Fox News host Bill O'Reilly has praised comedian Bill Maher for his critical remarks about NPR during a recent interview, asserting that the public broadcaster has become too ideologically aligned with the "extreme-left."
O'Reilly, speaking on his podcast "We'll Do It LIVE!," stated that Maher's comments during an appearance on NPR's "Newsmakers" were "brutally honest" and accurate. Maher had suggested that NPR has radicalized in recent years, a sentiment O'Reilly echoed, calling the outlet's content predictable and "boring."
Maher, host of HBO's "Real Time," questioned NPR's direction during his conversation with "Newsmakers" host Steve Inskeep. Maher expressed surprise at being invited onto the program, suggesting NPR was no longer the entity it once was. Inskeep responded with laughter and a remark about his audience being more diverse than Maher might assume. Maher countered by stating that neither political extreme in the country currently engages with opposing arguments.
O'Reilly, who was fired from Fox News in 2017, argued that news organizations, like NPR and PBS, have lost diverse viewpoints and have become stale. He suggested that such outlets pay for research that monetizes consumers' political beliefs, leading management to discourage content that deviates from the established narrative. O'Reilly referred to this as daily helpings of "progressive soup."
He further contended that anyone considering NPR and PBS as fair sources of information is misguided, particularly given their current donation-driven funding model. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which previously channeled federal funds to NPR, ceased operations in January 2025 following arguments that its coverage was not in the country's best interest. This followed a congressional vote to reclaim $1.1 billion designated for public media under the "No Partisan Radio and Partisan Broadcasting Services Act."
NPR CEO Katherine Maher had previously faced scrutiny from representatives regarding staff political affiliations, with filings reportedly showing no registered Republicans among employees and a significant number of Democrats. She and NPR maintained that the decision to cut federal funding was politically motivated and that rural communities relying on local stations would be most affected. However, federal funding constituted only about 1 percent of NPR's annual revenue.
O'Reilly launched his podcast "We'll Do It LIVE!" in March, aiming to expand his media presence as an independent journalist. Maher's show "Real Time" debuted in 2003, and he has expressed growing dissatisfaction with the Democratic party since the 2024 election.