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PBS Adopts Kimmel’s ‘We’re Still Here’ Message After CPB Dissolves

The public broadcaster remains on air as a separate nonprofit despite the CPB’s closure following a $1.1 billion federal rescission.

Overview

  • On January 15, PBS’s official Threads account reshared a Jimmy Kimmel Live! screenshot with the line “We’re still here, b**ch,” joking it as a new tote bag design.
  • The phrase originated in Kimmel’s January 14 monologue, which ended with a mock PBS promo created to address online claims that the network was shutting down.
  • Fans responded with enthusiastic calls for tote bags and related merchandise, though no merchandise has been announced.
  • PBS remains on the air as a separate nonprofit supported by member stations, corporate underwriting, foundation grants and viewer donations.
  • The Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s board voted on January 5 to dissolve after Congress rescinded $1.1 billion for public broadcasters, contributing to confusion about PBS’s status.