Save VOA
@savevoa.bsky.social
Voice of America has been silenced for the first time in 83 years. Contact Congress! Visit savevoa.com to learn more. Support our journalists >> bit.ly/SaveVOA Follow us: instagram.com/savevoa x.com/savevoanow youtube.com/@SaveVOA
"Putting the US Agency for Global Media under effective Trump administration control would be a boon to US adversaries", writes Clayton Weimers
Why US Media Should Be Independent from the State Department
Putting the US Agency for Global Media under effective Trump administration control would be a boon to US adversaries.
nationalinterest.org
“Turning VOA into a propaganda outlet will not help the administration control the narrative; it will only serve adversaries’ purpose of making all information seem unreliable.”
A propagandistic Voice of America hands strategic victory to adversaries - Asia Times
The war with Iran is driving fuel shortages and inflation around the world, deepening anti-American sentiment at a time when international confidence in
asiatimes.com
If VOA loses its independence and reputation for objective journalism, “people are going to stop listening.” - Brad Hanson, retired U.S. diplomat
1/2 Military veterans have seen VOA in action in some of the toughest environments in the world. #savevoa
“USAID programs supported governance, economic development, healthcare, education, and civil society, while Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty provided independent information to populations targeted by authoritarian propaganda.”
As America Is Losing Friends, China Is Courting Them
Just look at the contrast between NATO and BRICS.
thebulwark.com
“Former Voice of America White House Bureau Chief Steve Herman and nationally syndicated radio host Bill Bernardoni will lead a discussion on the First Amendment”
Radio host and former VOA journalist to discuss First Amendment challenges July 21
Former Voice of America White House Bureau Chief Steve Herman and nationally syndicated radio host Bill Bernardoni will lead a discussion on the First Amendment with Eric Hageman, Laura Handman and Toni Locy at a National Press Club Headliners Cocktails & Conversation event at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 21. Get your ticket here. The United States has turned 250 this year. As a clear-eyed accounting of where the country actually stands and where it’s headed, Bernadoni and Herman, executive director of the Jordan Center for Journalism Advocacy and Innovation at the University of Mississippi, have created their radio show “America at 250: Due Diligence.” They will explore current challenges to the First Amendment with journalism and legal experts Tuesday evening at the Club. The discussion will be featured in a future episode of the radio program. The Headliners event begins with a statement from Catherine Herridge on her ongoing First Amendment case at 6 p.m., followed by a discussion with Hageman, Handman and Locy moderated by Bernadoni and Herman, ending at 7 p.m. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.
press.org
“While hundreds of VOA journalists remain on paid administrative leave,“ … “hundreds more contractors had to reinvent their careers almost overnight, often leaving journalism behind entirely.”
Voice of America’s exiled journalists find meaning in work outside the newsroom
At Trader Joe's, a coffee shop, a military hospital and a real estate firm, top international broadcasters are embracing second acts they never asked for.
washingtonpost.com
Fifty years ago, Congress passed a law to stop VOA from becoming a government mouthpiece. This July, as the VOA Charter turns 50, that law is being ignored. #SaveVOA #VOACharter50
Partnerships with international allies who share U.S. values are key for long-term American security, says Dick Branum, a retired United States Navy captain. And the Voice of America is the U.S.’s single most important mechanism to communicate these values to the world. #SaveVOA
While the #UnitedStates celebrated it’s #independence day, #SaveVOA #Journalists took to the streets in #Washington to raise awareness about the importance of #pressfreedom and an editorially independent #VoiceofAmerica.
“Under Kari Lake, VOA pushed a relentless pro-administration line, violating the requirement for reporting that presents not only administration policies but also other perspectives, including disagreement with those policies.” By Jeffrey Trimble.
America’s Silenced Voice
On the nation’s 250th birthday, one voice will be missing from the global conversation about the state of the union.
johnwalcott.substack.com
VOA’s journalism embodies the very best of the American ideal: a strong nation is one that is willing to tell the truth. Happy July 4th!
The Save VOA campaign “encourages people to call their representatives about VOA, publicizes the group’s legal battle, and raises money to cover the daily needs and legal help for staff living abroad.”
Reviving Voice of America Will Be Difficult, Insiders Say
Damage from the Trump administration is hard to reverse.
washingtonian.com
“Voice of America and BBC short wave broadcasts helped to keep the ideal of freedom alive in Soviet occupied Europe for many decades.”
Life Among the Geeks: Impressions from an Amateur Radio (Ham) Field Day
When visiting a large county park the other day, I noticed a sign for “Amateur Radio Field Day, Public Welcome.” I have always had great respect for amateur radio operators, for their technical pro…
economistwritingeveryday.com
“Independent international voices like VOA are essential in restrictive environments such as Russia, Belarus, and parts of Central Asia, where Russian propaganda spreads like a virus,” says Anastasiya Zhyrmont of Access Now. #JournalismNotPropaganda #SaveVOA
VOA is Vital Against Propaganda
“It is extremely important for independent international voices, including the Voice of America, to reach out [to] audiences in the most restrictive environm...
youtube.com
Opinion by Trudy Rubin. www.inquirer.com/opinion/trum...
I’ve seen struggles for democracy around the world. It’s painful to see that battle come home | Trudy Rubin
For decades I’ve reported on the struggles of other countries to achieve the kind of free elections that most Americans have taken for granted. The U.S. was a lodestar. That's all changed.
inquirer.com
“Voice of America has been decimated. Insiders explain why bringing back the essential news source will be difficult.” By Ike Allen - Washingtonian.
Peek Inside the July Issue
On newsstands now!
washingtonian.com
“The outcome of those cases will determine what funding, if any, USAGM is able to provide to these outlets. It will also determine the future staffing of VOA and the level of control the administration can exercise over editorial decisions.”
Federal Judge Says Executive Order Blocking NPR, PBS Funding Violated the First Amendment
Here's everything you need to know about the legal disputes surrounding government-funded media outlets in the U.S., including NPR and PBS.
freedomforum.org
Don’t you hate government waste? So do we. That’s why we want you to call your lawmakers and demand that the administration stop paying VOA journalists to stay at home and do nothing. Read Public Citizen’s full report here: www.citizen.org/article/11-b...
"A reformed USAGM willing to make difficult decisions and recommit to its core mission will emerge from this crisis more credible to our audiences, not less. America’s voice has been silenced—but we can again be heard and trusted." #SaveVOA
25 Year Anniversary Special Blog Series: America’s voice has been silenced. It may just come back stronger.
Written By: Patsy Widakuswara Patsy Widakuswara is the White House bureau chief for Voice of America. She has over three decades of broadcasting and radio journalism in Indonesia, the U.K., and the U.S., focusing on U.S. foreign policy and politics. She has been with the Voice of America since 2003, and…
blogs.gwu.edu
“In February 2026, the U.S. Agency for Global Media also offered its staff a similar offer as long as employees accepted the termination offer by March 9, 2026.”
Trump's $11 Billion Resignation Program: How the Trump Administration’s Downsizing of the Federal Workforce Cost American Taxpayers Billions - Public Citizen
The Trump administration has paid federal employees at least $11 billion – and likely much more – not to work.…
citizen.org
For decades, VOA reported for and about refugees, advancing U.S. interests by providing trustworthy information to places where it was often scarce. On #WorldRefugeeDay - June 20th - we honor the courage and resilience of displaced people around the globe and renew our call to #SaveVOA.
“Shaheen argued the reductions weakened America's ability to communicate with audiences in critical regions,”
‘You cut Spanish services ahead of Venezuela invasion’: Shaheen GRILLS Kari Lake in heated hearing
A tense Senate hearing erupted as Senator Jeanne Shaheen confronted Kari Lake over cuts to U.S.-funded international broadcasting services, including Spanish-language programming and other outreach efforts managed by the U.S. Agency for Global Media. Shaheen argued the reductions weakened America's ability to communicate with audiences in critical regions, while Lake defended her broader overhaul of the agency. Recent congressional hearings have featured sharp clashes over Voice of America and USAGM staffing and funding decisions.
economictimes.indiatimes.com
Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S and reflects the nation's ongoing pursuit of freedom, equality, and justice. For decades, VOA has helped global audiences understand those conversations through factual, independent journalism. It's time to bring all of VOA back to work.
The FIFA World Cup isn't just about soccer. It is a global conversation and a public diplomacy event. In 2026, the U.S. will host most of the matches—but America's international broadcaster, VOA, will largely be absent. Instead, others will tell America's story.
Americans don't always agree on what the U.S. flag represents, and they don’t all celebrate Flag Day. But freedom, democracy, and open debate remain core American ideals. VOA was created to explain those values through truthful, independent journalism. It's time to bring all of VOA back to work.
Jason Church, retired Army captain and Purple Heart recipient who lost both of his legs during his tour in Afghanistan, says VOA broadcasting was vital for American interests in the region, even when it wasn’t broadcasting good news about the U.S. #SaveVOA
“The DC Circuit dismissed several appeals by the Trump administration challenging a lower court’s order requiring the US Agency for Global Media to reinstate hundreds of employees and contractors who were put on leave last year in response to an executive order.”
US Global Media Agency Appeals Over Dismantling Tossed, Paused
The DC Circuit dismissed several appeals by the Trump administration challenging a lower court’s order requiring the US Agency for Global Media to reinstate hundreds of employees and contractors who were put on leave last year in response to an executive order.
news.bloomberglaw.com
"In the contest for belief, the side that goes silent loses. And we can't be that side," says Jason Church, retired Army captain and Purple Heart recipient, speaking about the need to #SaveVOA to counter China’s influence.
Voice of America’s strength comes from its commitment to truth and journalistic integrity. Retired U.S. diplomat David Cowhig says informed citizens and access to facts are essential to democracy. #SaveVOA