The U.S. Senate approved a rescissions package that cuts $1.1 billion from public media over the next two years. That includes funding from the Corporation of Public Broadcasting that goes to 16 media organizations in Minnesota.

Some of those organizations are MPR News and our sister music stations, as well as regional PBS stations and small radio stations. At those smaller stations, federal dollars cover up to half the budget.   

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar has commented that the cuts could shutter tribal and rural radio stations. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini on Minnesota Now to talk about it.

Disclosure: While MPR receives money from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, when reporting on the business of MPR and public media, we do so independently from news executives and do not let them review material before it runs.