April 17, 2026

You might have seen recently that a federal judge blocked President Trump’s May 2025 executive order barring federal funding for NPR and PBS, saying the move violated their First Amendment rights. 

Some of you saw the news and asked me: Are you getting your funding back? The answer is no. The ruling does not change the action Congress took in July 2025 to rescind funding for the entire public media system, including OPB.

The ruling does support the First Amendment rights of the press, including public media organizations, and says that the order overstepped the bounds of the executive branch. 

Even though this ruling doesn’t restore funding, we’re in a strong position thanks to your support. Your incredible outpouring of generosity closed our first year’s funding gap. With you and now over 173,000 in the OPB member community standing with us, OPB is thinking big as we serve people all across our region. 

Becoming a More Rooted Presence Across Our Region

As I shared in my update in February, the journalism ecosystem in our region is in trouble, with the problems especially acute in rural areas. In response, OPB is putting down roots in more communities. 

I’m pleased to share that we are now recruiting another reporter in Eastern Oregon, and a second reporter in our Southwest Washington bureau. We also hope to add another reporter on the Oregon Coast in the coming months. Keep an eye out for fresh reporting across the Northwest as new talented people fill these positions soon. 

Connect With All Things OPB Through Our First LookNewsletter

If you already receive OPB’s First Look email newsletter, you may have noticed that it got a spring makeover. If you don’t currently receive First Look, I strongly encourage you to sign up now! 

Our daily newsletter now features a clean new design to improve the reading experience and better highlight the stories, events, and documentaries that OPB is working on. And with your generous support, we continue to grow our team and our output—so there will continue to be more to enjoy over time. 

You Help Create Award-Winning Stories That Make a Difference 

Just last week, I was overjoyed to see our team’s hard work commended on the national stage. Monica Samayoa and Tony Schick were awarded a national Goldsmith Prize for Explanatory Reporting for their work on the series "Power Struggle: What Stalled the Northwest’s Push for Green Energy." Produced in partnership with ProPublica, the series documents key obstacles to renewable energy growth in the Pacific Northwest—and how states like Texas are performing well ahead of Oregon and Washington. 

Spurred by OPB’s reporting, by the end of last year Oregon and Washington leaders were pursuing many of the solutions outlined in the stories.

The Goldsmith Prize is awarded by the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, and the selection committee unanimously selected this series as the winner from among 85 entries.

Earlier this month, OPB also received a record 32 nominations in the NW Emmy Awards. These nominations cover work across our organization: our education team’s capstone “Class of 2025” documentary, Oregon Field Guide‘s groundbreaking special on Indigenous youth paddling the newly undammed lower Klamath River, an Oregon Art Beat story on Black rodeo culture, and many more wonderful works across our teams.

Thank you for standing with OPB!

With gratitude,

— Rachel Smolkin, President and CEO of Oregon Public Broadcasting

News Source : https://www.opb.org/pressroom/presidents-update-executive-order-meaning-exiting-new-future/