President Trump wants to cut federal spending for education. The money often goes toward disadvantaged students in Republican states.

© Wes Frazer for The New York Times

Threatened by the president with political retribution, Republicans agreed to defund public broadcasting, imperiling a lifeline of communication in rural Alaska.

Since Congress approved President Trump’s request to claw back $1.1 billion in funding for public broadcasting, local stations in rural areas are at risk of going dark. Megan Mineiro, a congressional reporter for The New York Times, went to rural Alaska to see how the cuts affect one radio station and a town that relies on it.