Just saw a few articles about this.

.https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/15/media/voice-of-america-trump-cuts/index.html

To quote:
The order was in line with Elon Musk’s declaration in February that government-funded international broadcasters should be shut down altogether.

“Nobody listens to them anymore,” Musk posted on X. “It’s just radical left crazy people talking to themselves while torching $1B/year of US taxpayer money.”

TBH, I didn't know these broadcasters were still on short wave.

Compare that with the lack of response when Radio Australia was killed off. I know some politicians said things, but of course nothing happened.

Back to the BBC then. Probably thinks that it is radical left too.

How long before WWV and WWVH get terminated, I wonder.

Just think about it Rob, most of the current generation don't even know what a 'radio' is!
Being spoon fed with smartphones and I-pads they literally know of no other way of communicating.
And use of the 'telephone' part of a modern device is dropping.

The current generation lack the skills to actually speak English and rely on texting mainly via symbols and icons.
It was mind boggling to me to have this demonstrated and alarming at the truncation of the English language devolving to picture symbols.

I'm not up with the current school curriculums, somebody may correct me about this, but spoken English seems to be the last subject taught?
The sight of young students doing end of year exams with each student tapping away on a laptop keyboard did something to my mind.

Is all communication by the next generation going to be via a screen or keyboard?
Watching a group of students sitting in close proximity but communicating by sending text to each other just blew my mind.
I can see why some schools are BANNING smartphone during school hours.

Fred.

The current generation will be totally lost when the war starts, and the smartphones can't connect to anything. They certainly won't be volunteering to fight for the country, they will just be a drain on whatever is left of society.

Noticed a nearby high school has banned mobile phones outright. Don't know whether other schools have done the same thing.

As for Musk all he wants is to do is close down all free to air communications so everyone will have to sign up to his Starlink satellite service.

The idea being so he can censor out any opinions contary to his personal ideological position.

Should a global conflict break out undersea internet cables will be the first to go and probably key satellites.

Younger people (25 to 35yrs) I know in my family would not know how to even switch a radio on or use it to its full potential. Internet goes they will be completely stuffed to put it politely.

I think the days of government-owned media are coming to an end, bit by bit. It'll all either fold or be privatised. Personally, if our own ABC was privatised and forced to stand on an equal footing with the commercial networks that wouldn't bother me one bit. The ABC is just as ideological as any other media outlet and I don't mind that - we need diversity, but we shouldn't be paying for it.

The other thing is that governments all around the world are struggling to meet their budgets and carry out their mandatory functions. Running media isn't high on the list of priorities. Government-run media should be left for the few remaining dictatorships around the world.

Perhaps then, I am the exception and not the rule, of what most people my age are like

There is some hope VOA may be restored.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/voice-america-restored-judge-after-trump-dismantled-tax

Sorry, the link does not work and cannot restore it.

QUOTE: A federal judge ordered the restoration of Voice of America (VoA) on Tuesday, the federally-funded state media network that the White House dismantled earlier this spring.

Judge Royce Lamberth ruled in favour of the plaintiff's request for a preliminary injunction, though the Trump administration is allowed to appeal the decision.