In the wake of an unusually honest op-ed in The Free Press by Senior Editor Uri Berliner, which ended up costing him his job, Republican senators expressed concerns about the bias of NPR and suggested that CEO Katherine Maher begin to make a "course correction" back toward neutrality and objectivity. 

"We have deep concerns regarding the editorial direction under NPR's national leadership," the group led by Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) wrote in a letter to NPR national leadership.

Republican Conference Chairman John Barrasso (R-WY) and Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and Eric Shmitt (R-MO) also signed the letter, which noted that NPR had 87 registered Democrats in editorial positions in Washington, D.C. and no Republicans, according to Berliner's research.

The senators said NPR's homogeneity was an "ethical failure" in taking taxpayer dollars, but only providing one perspective.

"Left-leaning editorial stance"

The "decidedly left-leaning editorial stance" of the outlet is a serious threat to "the integrity and diversity of thought," they wrote.

"If NPR’s goal was to become an echo chamber, mission accomplished. But as a publicly funded entity, you are responsible for providing impartial coverage that accurately informs all Americans, regardless of political affiliation," the letter continued.

Maher is not likely to take Republicans' advice, given that she is known for posting partisan left-wing views on her social media pages over a period of years.

She doesn't even have an editorial background, and is more of an activist or maybe even covert intelligence, according to some research by Christopher Rufo published in City Journal.

She worked for the National Democratic Institute, which Rufo suggested did privately some of the same things the CIA did as a function of government.

What happens now?

Berliner accused NPR of being so desperate to oppose Donald Trump that it relied on unreliable sources like Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), who repeatedly lied about evidence of Trump-Russia collusion.

If Maher doesn't course-correct, Republicans may push for defunding the organization.

Why should taxpayers pay for a biased news source that pretends to be objective?

The letter was a long past-due warning to NPR.

Berliner's op-ed brought what everyone already knew into the open where it can now be (hopefully) dealt with.