March 11, 2011 9:30AM 

# NPR — A New Target for Harkin? 

By [Neal McCluskey](https://www.cato.org/people/neal-mccluskey) 

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[Secret recordings](http://harkin.senate.gov/forprofitsound.cfm) apparently revealing rampant dirty dealing. Big [headlines](http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Education/2010/0804/For-profit-colleges-hit-with-claims-of-fraud-aggressive-recruiting). [Taxpayer dollars ](http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-12/for-profit-colleges-facing-taxpayer-funds-loss-fight-aid-limit.html)wrapped up in it all. Surely all this ugliness — even if it turns out that the [reality isn’t nearly as bad as inital reports](https://www.cato.org/author/neal-mccluskey/) make it sound — is coming from the favorite target of Senator Tom Harkin (D‑IA), evil for-profit colleges!

Nope. It’s [National Public Radio](http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2011-03-10/npr-stung-again-phony-donor-coached-on-evading-audit/). And I assume Harkin and his pals will give NPR the exact same over-the-coals treatment they’ve been giving for-profit schools.

OK, I’m probably [not able to assume that](http://www.ktiv.com/Global/story.asp?S=14152258) at all — but I should be.

##### Related Tags 

[Education](https://www.cato.org/education), [Government and Politics](https://www.cato.org/government-politics), [Technology and Privacy](https://www.cato.org/technology-privacy), [Center for Educational Freedom](https://www.cato.org/center-educational-freedom) 

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