Katherine Maher, NPR Chief, Funded Stacey Abrams’ Refusal to Concede Election

Is it acceptable for the CEO of a reputable news organization to have donated to a group spreading false claims about election theft?

Consider what the reaction would be if ABC News’ coverage of the 2024 election was led by Kim Godwin, who had donated to Donald Trump post-January 6.

The outcry would be tremendous, and Godwin would likely not last a day in her role.

Now the tables have turned.

National Public Radio CEO Katherine Maher is a donor to Stacey Abrams’ political action committee, Fair Fight, which has denied the results of elections.

In 2020, Maher donated $500 to Fair Fight PAC, one of her largest donations among 19 to Democrats and their allies between 2016 and 2022.

This donation was made before Maher became NPR’s CEO.

It’s worth noting that:

• Abrams never conceded the governor’s race she lost in Georgia in 2018;
• Abrams made false claims about voting machines altering votes;
• Abrams’ PAC filed a lawsuit challenging the election results, which was later dismissed, and Fair Fight had to pay legal fees.

The double standard is concerning.

When Trump’s legal team made similar claims about election machines and faced legal challenges, their credibility suffered. But Abrams, who made similar false claims, received a donation from a prominent figure like Maher?

I reached out to NPR multiple times to ask if they were aware of Maher’s donation before hiring her and if they believe funding an election denier is suitable CEO behavior, but I did not receive a response.

Maher has also faced criticism for her tweets aligning with a perceived progressive groupthink at NPR and her TED Talk where she questioned the importance of truth. Her views have been mocked for seemingly matching typical NPR executive beliefs.

It’s becoming clear that Maher’s reputation for impartiality is in question, and her credibility is at stake. She should consider resigning.

David Mastio, a former USA Today editor and columnist, is a regional editor for The Center Square.

Twitter: @DavidMastio