'Defund NPR' trends after outlet tweets disclaimer on Declaration of Independence



Conservatives on Twitter skewered National Public Radio over the weekend after the left-leaning news outlet added a notable disclaimer to its annual broadcast reading of the Declaration of Independence.

What happened?

In a Twitter thread posted on Independence Day, the taxpayer-funded outlet noted that the Declaration, one of America's prized founding documents, is filled with "flaws and deeply ingrained hypocrisies."

"245 years ago today, leaders representing 13 British colonies signed a document to declare independence. It says 'that all men are created equal' — but women, enslaved people, Indigenous people and many others were not held as equal at the time," NPR said in a tweet. "The document also includes a racist slur against Indigenous Americans."

It went on to add: "In this thread of the Declaration of Independence, you can see a document with flaws and deeply ingrained hypocrisies. It also laid the foundation for this country's collective aspirations — the hopes for what America could be."

🧵 245 years ago today, leaders representing 13 British colonies signed a document to declare independence.It says… https://t.co/sWrnliWK2M

— NPR (@NPR) 1625411033.0

In this thread of the Declaration of Independence, you can see a document with flaws and deeply ingrained hypocrisi… https://t.co/Bpf6joXaVw

— NPR (@NPR) 1625411035.0

The same statement was read aloud during NPR's reading of the document along with some further context, provided by a staffer.

"After last summer's protests and our country attempting to confront its history, we want and need to be honest about the words in this document," the staffer said.

What happened next?

In response to the disclaimer, several critics — discontented by the outlet's decision to criticize America on a day set aside for its celebration — called on government officials to "defund NPR."

Florida Republican congressional candidate Lavern Spicer quipped, "Today is a great day for America to declare its independence from NPR which is currently attacking our Constitution."

Today is a great day for America to declare its independence from NPR which is currently attacking our Constitution… https://t.co/lpeE3bHq1V

— Lavern Spicer (@lavern_spicer) 1625483718.0

"Why in the hell are American taxpayers funding this nonsense? #DefundNPR," California Republican congressional candidate Buzz Patterson added.

Why in the hell are American taxpayers funding this nonsense?#DefundNPR https://t.co/x2eXXyniFh

— Buzz Patterson (@BuzzPatterson) 1625448638.0

Sebastian Gorka stated simply: "#DefundNPR Already," as did Kurt Schlichter.

#DefundNPR Already.

— Sebastian Gorka DrG (@SebGorka) 1625502659.0

Defund NPR https://t.co/POqAmzQLYy

— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) 1625417325.0

Inez Stepman blasted "what is essentially a trigger warning at the start [of the document] to let people know that they're about to read something offensive."

"Maybe we should add a similar rider to our tax dollars," she suggested.

The Declaration of Independence requires what is essentially a trigger warning at the start to let people know that… https://t.co/yyYVi5l3pL

— Inez Stepman ⚪️🔴⚪️ (@InezFeltscher) 1625489204.0

Political advisor Blair Brandt tweeted: "Defund NPR - an Anti American outlet funded by American taxes."

Defund NPR - an Anti American outlet funded by American taxes.

— Blair Brandt (@BlairBrandt) 1625428072.0

Spectator contributor Stephen L. Miller responded to the controversy by re-upping a column he wrote last summer in which he questioned whether taxpayers should "continue to fund these enterprises, when they clearly focus less on educating the public, and more on pushing commentary and opinion, and now, even libel?"

Yeah some of us wrote that a few months ago https://t.co/gqwtHR1eac https://t.co/QRVwPzuAUF

— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) 1625454798.0

TikTok video shows Gavin Newsom inside a restaurant while not social distancing



Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom was seen inside a restaurant in Fresno, California, where restaurants are only permitted to be open if they are outside because of Newsom's own stay-at-home order.

Newsom is seen on a TikTok video and photos at the Los Amigos restaurant in Fresno. Based on Newsom's "Blueprint for a Safer Economy" restrictions, Fresno is a purple tier area, which means the area has "widespread" COVID-19 infections. Purple tier regions prohibit bars, breweries, and distilleries to be open, plus indoor dining is banned. Only restaurants and wineries may offer outdoor service.

Despite Newsom's own strict coronavirus constraints that he signed into effect, the governor was inside a restaurant. Newsom, who has preached social distancing to his constituents for months, is seen not physically distancing in the restaurant.

Photo ops w/ no social distancing are okay inside of purple tier restaurants, but don’t you dare wait inside for yo… https://t.co/rcIIkD4VSK
— Bill Melugin (@Bill Melugin)1614488797.0

The video that was originally posted to TikTok shows Newsom with comedian George Lopez.

@PorscheCutie @RichardGrenell @TheLeoTerrell @JamesBradleyCA @KevinKileyCA @BuzzPatterson Here’s the video. https://t.co/CME7vZVzoW
— Reopen California Schools (@Reopen California Schools)1614462972.0

In a video posted by the restaurant, Lopez is seen without a face mask and not practicing social distancing, which Newsom has demanded all Californians practice since the beginning of the pandemic.

Chef Andrew Gruel, a prominent restaurateur in Los Angeles, claimed that Newsom was "dining/drinking" at the restaurant. He astutely noted that the restaurant had a table full of refreshments that commenters believe to be pitchers of water with limes or margaritas.

California is the only state where indoor dining is banned. Industry gutted. It’s an explosive topic. Newsom holds… https://t.co/L3O7aSrbV3
— Chef Andrew Gruel (@Chef Andrew Gruel)1614487940.0

Gruel called for Newsom's resignation on Twitter:

Newsom must resign ASAP. Yesterday he was inside a restaurant dining and doing a painfully cringe-worthy "bit" with George Lopez in a county that is NOT ALLOWED to have indoor dining. It is in purple tier. This is a slap in the face to every restaurant worker. Every citizen.
Newsom must resign ASAP. Yesterday he was inside a restaurant dining and doing a painfully cringe-worthy “bit” with… https://t.co/jdMeHvG7aB
— Chef Andrew Gruel (@Chef Andrew Gruel)1614481490.0

A spokesperson for Newsom's office told Fox News that the governor did not dine at the restaurant. Newsom's camp said he was there to meet with the restaurant's owners, who received a COVID-19 relief grant.

Newsom infamously sparked criticism in November after he flouted his own coronavirus rules when he was caught dining at the luxurious French Laundry in Napa. The Michelin-star restaurant reportedly received $2.4 million in Paycheck Protection Program loans from the Small Business Administration, which is allegedly 17 times more than the average California restaurant.

EXCLUSIVE: We've obtained photos of Governor Gavin Newsom at the Napa dinner party he's in hot water over. The phot… https://t.co/Py6J960zE6
— Bill Melugin (@Bill Melugin)1605677199.0

California voters who are disappointed in Newsom's leadership and hypocrisy during the coronavirus pandemic have started a petition to recall him. The petition organized by The Recall Newsom campaign purportedly has 1,825,000 signatures, more than the necessary threshold of 1,497,709 signatures.

During a speech at CPAC, former Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell hinted that he may run for governor of California if Newsom is recalled.