Trump Is Screwing His Voters So Badly It Shocks His GOP Senator

Washington, D.C. – The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed by President Donald Trump on July 4, has eliminated funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), cutting off hundreds of rural radio stations that serve as critical lifelines for isolated communities.

The move, part of the bill’s $1 trillion in cuts, including Medicaid reductions, has drawn sharp criticism from GOP Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), who, despite voting for the bill, expressed shock at its impact on rural voters, accusing colleagues of “blind allegiance” to Trump.

As rural areas reel, Democratic organizer Lynlee Thorne of RuralGroundGame.org highlighted the cuts’ devastating effects and Democrats’ opportunity to capitalize on GOP missteps ahead of the 2026 midterms, amid a broader political storm involving the Epstein files, health concerns about Trump and federal overreach.

The CPB Funding Cut Is A Blow to Rural America

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, described by CNN’s Harry Enten as the most unpopular legislation since 1990 with a minus 22-point net favorability, slashed CPB’s $535 million annual budget, affecting 1,200 public radio and TV stations, 400 of which serve rural areas. These stations provide essential news, weather alerts and emergency information to communities with limited internet access.

The cuts, effective immediately, threaten station closures, with 80% of rural stations reliant on CPB for 10-50% of their budgets, per the National Federation of Community Broadcasters.

Senator Murkowski, in a New York Times interview, expressed dismay, stating, “This is driven by a blind allegiance to the president’s desires… fear of Trump’s anger overrode GOP lawmakers’ concerns for their own constituents.”

Though she voted for the bill, Murkowski opposed many cuts, including CPB’s, highlighting their impact on Alaska’s remote villages, where radio is often the only communication source. Her comments reflect growing GOP unease, with rural voters–a key Trump base—facing disproportionate harm from policies like tariff-driven farm losses and Medicaid cuts affecting rural hospitals.

Democratic Opportunity–Lynlee Thorne’s Perspective

Lynlee Thorne, political director of RuralGroundGame.org, discussed the fallout in a New York Times podcast, emphasizing rural radio’s role as a “lifeline” for communities like those in Montana and Appalachia, where stations broadcast crop prices, disaster warnings, and local news.

“These cuts shaft rural areas particularly hard,” Thorne said, noting that 60% of rural Americans rely on public radio. She argued that Trump’s agenda—tariffs raising equipment costs, subsidy cuts, and now CPB defunding has eroded his rural support, with a Politico poll showing his approval among rural voters dropping from 65% in 2020 to 52% in 2025.

Thorne urged Democrats to rebuild trust with rural voters, long alienated by the party’s urban focus. “Democrats need to show up, listen, and talk about real solutions like restoring CPB funding and protecting farms,” she said, proposing town halls and targeted ads. She cited Rep. Mikie Sherrill’s (D-NJ) rural outreach as a model, noting her 2025 gubernatorial bid’s focus on small-town healthcare. Democrats, Thorne argued, could leverage GOP missteps, with betting markets giving them a 71% chance of retaking the House in 2026.

Why It Matters

The CPB cuts exacerbate tensions in Trump’s second term. Protests over his D.C. police federalization, involving “reconfigured” crime stats admitted by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s condemnation of a Chicago troop plan as “evil” highlight federal overreach.

The Epstein files, Ghislaine Maxwell’s DOJ interview, and Virginia Giuffre’s mememoir release fuel distrust, while health concerns about Trump—swollen ankles, a left-hand bruise on August 23, and a right-hand bruise first noted February 25, attributed to “handshaking,” amplify instability narratives, with Alex Jones warning of a “collapse.”

On X, reactions are polarized. Liberals like @CalltoActivism posted, “Trump’s CPB cuts are killing rural radio—GOP’s betraying its own voters!” MAGA users like @LauraLoomer countered, “Public radio’s woke propaganda—Trump’s saving taxpayer money!” GOP infighting, exemplified by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Gaza comments, and Steve Bannon’s warnings of 2026 midterm losses show vulnerabilities. Murkowski’s critique, alongside Missouri voter Fred Higginbotham’s viral rant against Rep. Mark Alford, signals growing rural discontent.

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What’s Next?

The CPB defunding could devastate rural communities, with 150 stations at risk of closure by 2026. This risks amplifying misinformation, as rural areas lose trusted local sources, a concern raised by Thorne given X’s role in spreading unverified claims. Democrats are seizing the issue, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries proposing a $600 million CPB restoration bill, though it faces a GOP-controlled Congress.

The cuts could shift 2026 midterm dynamics, particularly in rural swing districts like Missouri’s 4th, where Alford faces a tough re-election. Barack Obama’s fundraising and Sherrill’s campaign bolster Democratic momentum, while GOP policies like Trump’s attempted firing of Fed Governor Lisa Cook and DHS’s deleted texts, labeled a Federal Records Act violation, deepen transparency concerns. As protests grow, with groups like Refuse Fascism planning a November 5, 2025, “day of resistance,” the CPB cuts symbolize broader GOP missteps.