Trump’s Funding Cuts Threaten Sesame Street and Public Broadcasting

In 1994, Sesame Street used Ronald Grump—a sly developer—to teach kids about greed. Now, Trump targets public broadcasting, risking PBS.

July 18, 2025

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Back in 1994, the popular children’s program Sesame Street introduced a character named Ronald Grump, portrayed by Joe Pesci. Grump, a slick developer sporting a bright orange wig, was created to teach young audiences about the perils of greed through his scheme to demolish Sesame Street for a new skyscraper.

In one memorable scene, Grump declares, “If there’s one thing I despise, it’s cheap sentiment! Hugs, kiddie television, cute furry animals!”

Fast forward to the present, and former President Donald Trump, along with congressional Republicans, is advocating for cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). This decision could threaten the future of PBS and its iconic show, Sesame Street—a program renowned for its positive impact on children’s education and social awareness.

A 2015 study by economists Melissa Kearney and Phillip Levine highlighted that children who watched Sesame Street achieved better reading and math skills, akin to the benefits of preschool, which remains inaccessible to about one-third of American children.

“This show initially aired in 1969; its fundamental goal was to reduce the educational deficits experienced by disadvantaged youth,” Levine and Kearney noted. “It cost pennies on the dollar relative to other early childhood interventions.”

Federal funds from the CPB make up 15–18% of PBS stations’ budgets, totaling approximately $375 million annually. The remainder is funded by viewers.

Beyond academics, Sesame Street has been instrumental in promoting cultural awareness. Research from VoxDev found that viewers were more conscious of racial disparities and more accepting of diverse cultures. As adults, they showed a higher tendency to support minority and female political candidates.

The Republican stance against public broadcasting isn’t new. Mitt Romney proposed defunding the CPB during his 2012 campaign, and Trump attempted similar actions during his presidency, though Congress blocked these efforts.

Trump claims public broadcasting is biased against him, questioning the legitimacy of federal funding. However, NPR and PBS consistently rank as highly trusted news sources, prompting debates on whether Trump’s stance is about media bias or a divergence from reality.

In 1992, Ronald Grump abandoned his plan to raze Sesame Street after being persuaded by Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch of the value of community and cooperation. It remains a rare instance where Sesame Street may not have achieved its intended lesson—some hearts resist change.

ICYMI

Following severe flooding in central Texas, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse issued a stark warning: regulate fossil fuels now, or face more climate-induced disasters.

“It is entirely possible that history will show that the three most consequential disasters for America in our lifetimes were the capture of the Supreme Court by right-wing billionaires, the influx into our elections of floods of corrupting special-interest dark money, and the success of the fossil fuel climate-denial operation at blockading solutions to the fossil fuel emissions crisis,” Whitehouse said.

This marks the 300th time Whitehouse has reiterated such concerns, having first voiced them in 2012 when he challenged President Barack Obama’s climate policies. He has consistently raised this issue every few months.

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Dr. Jasmeet Bains, a physician and California state assemblymember, has announced her campaign for Congress in California’s 22nd District, a race anticipated to be highly competitive next year.

Bains’ campaign video prominently features the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, criticizing current Rep. David Valadao for endorsing the law’s Medicaid cuts, which impact approximately 67% of CA-22 residents.

This strategy is likely to be adopted by several Democratic campaigns in 2026. Check it out!