Senate Democrats launch radio ad attacking GOP over cuts to rural radio funding

Source: The Hill

08/20/25 7:11 AM ET


The Senate Democrats’ campaign arm is launching a new radio ad Wednesday attacking Republicans for slashing funding for rural radio stations as a part of more than $1 billion Republicans made in cuts to public broadcasting in their recissions package. “Thank you for listening to your local radio station. But stations like these might not be around for long,” a narrator says in the 30-second ad, which was first shared with The Hill.

“Last month in D.C., Republican Senators cut radio funding, voting to end weather alerts, community news and our way to stay connected,” the narrator continued. “Rural America relies on radio. But Republican politicians left us behind.” They added, “We can’t trust them to fight for us.”

The ads are being aired in recognition of National Radio Day, and they’re expected to run in rural stations in Alaska, Iowa, Maine, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas, all of which Senate Democrats are eyeing as potential pick-up opportunities next year.

“Rural communities rely on local radio to stay connected on everything from local news to lifesaving alerts about severe weather — but Republican Senators left them behind,” Maeve Coyle, a spokeswoman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), said in a statement.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5461000-senate-democrats-radio-ad-cpb-npr-pbs-cuts/