Legacy Media Faces Cuts, Scandal, and Audience Decline

The American media landscape is experiencing significant upheaval as legacy and left-leaning outlets face political and financial pressures. The Trump administration has targeted mainstream media with lawsuits, regulatory actions, and substantial funding cuts to NPR and PBS, aiming to reduce progressive influence. CBS canceled 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,' while Congress voted to cut over $1 billion in public broadcaster funding, reflecting industry-wide viewership and profitability declines. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released classified documents that challenged the Russian collusion narrative, exposing alleged manipulation by political and intelligence officials and prompting accusations of media complicity. Mainstream news programs have been criticized for focusing on sensationalism over critical political analysis. As alternative networks rise, the American news landscape is becoming increasingly fragmented and contested.