If a game like woke-elite bingo existed, Katherine Maher would undoubtedly claim the top honor.
The recent appointment of Maher as the CEO of NPR has sparked considerable controversy in a short period since assuming the role on March 25. The turmoil began when long-time NPR journalist and editor Uri Berliner criticized the network’s noticeable shift towards a more staunch left-wing bias.
In response, Maher made the decision to suspend Berliner without pay for five days, prompting further scrutiny and debate within the organization.
Berliner expressed his concerns about Maher’s leadership style and approach, emphasizing the importance of a unifying figure who can embrace a broader perspective on American values. This critique has placed Maher in a precarious position, drawing attention not only to her current actions but also to her past statements and lifestyle choices that seem almost scripted for a narrative by someone like Lena Dunham.
Maher’s background and associations tick all the boxes of a far-left profile, including roles at prominent institutions such as Wikimedia, the World Economic Forum, Stanford University, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Atlantic Council, UNICEF, as well as experiences in high finance with HSBC and the World Bank before her tenure at NPR.
Her social media activity, including references to political figures like Elizabeth Warren and dream scenarios involving Vice-President Kamala Harris, further highlight her ideological leanings.
Maher’s introduction to her husband, Ashutosh Upreti, at a friend’s interdenominational seder in San Francisco’s Mission District, followed by a subsequent conversation that hinted at professional interests, adds a personal touch to her narrative.
Raised in Wilton, Conn., Maher comes from a family background with intriguing connections, including her grandfather’s rumored involvement in postwar espionage during his time at IBM.
Despite Maher’s impressive resume, her online presence has attracted criticism from conservative circles, particularly for her neo-Marxist tweets and controversial statements questioning the pursuit of truth as a distraction. These remarks have been scrutinized and interpreted as reflective of a specific archetype within American liberalism.
The fallout from these revelations has impacted NPR internally, with some employees expressing concerns about the direction Maher is steering the organization. A group of fifty staffers penned a letter to Maher and senior editor Edith Chapin, urging them to address factual inaccuracies highlighted in Berliner’s Free Press essay and maintain journalistic integrity.
In his resignation letter, Berliner reiterated his belief in the importance of unity and a comprehensive understanding of American values in leadership, indirectly referencing his divergence with Maher’s approach.
As the situation unfolds, Maher’s tenure at NPR continues to be a subject of intense scrutiny and debate, underscoring the challenges of balancing personal convictions with professional responsibilities in a high-profile role.