As calls to defund PBS resurface in today’s political climate, it’s worth remembering a quiet, powerful moment in American history—Fred Rogers’ 1969 testimony before the Senate Subcommittee on Communications. At a time when public broadcasting was facing funding cuts, Rogers stood alone to defend the soul of children’s television—and, by extension, the role of publicly funded media in a democratic society.

“I give an expression of care every day to each child to help him realize that he is unique.” —Fred Rogers

That single sentence disarmed the skepticism of Senator John Pastore and helped secure $20 million in funding for PBS and National Educational Television. It was a reminder that public media is not just about programming—it’s about public trust, educational access, and emotional intelligence.

Fast forward to today, and the attacks on PBS are not driven by fiscal restraint, but by ideological retribution. Right-wing politicians are not cutting budgets to save money—they’re targeting values they fear: inclusion, empathy, representation, and truth.

“This is what I give. I give it out of love… I feel that if we in public television can only make it clear that feelings are mentionable and manageable, we will have done a great service.”

That’s what PBS does. It teaches children—and adults—that emotional literacy matters. That our democracy depends not only on facts, but on compassion.

So when today’s politicians talk about defunding PBS, they’re not simply cutting a budget line. They’re trying to erase one of the last remaining institutions that doesn’t bow to profit motives, political spin, or ideological conformity. PBS is one of the few places where children of all backgrounds can see themselves reflected—not through ads or algorithms, but through care.

Fred Rogers understood this deeply.

“I trust that you will read this. It’s very important to me. I care deeply about children.”

I grew up with PBS—Mr. Rogers, Sesame Street, The Electric Company—shows that didn’t just entertain, they shaped how I saw the world. They taught kindness, curiosity, empathy, and inclusion. We should care, too. Because public broadcasting isn’t just a service—it’s a civic covenant. And canceling it would say far more about our leaders’ values than it would about any ledger.