In a move that has sparked controversy and raised questions about journalistic integrity, NPR correspondent Uri Berliner has resigned from the renowned radio broadcaster after calling out the organization's liberal bias. Berliner, who had been with NPR for 25 years, took to social media on Wednesday to announce his departure and directed criticism towards the network's controversial CEO, Katherine Maher.

In his resignation statement, Berliner expressed his respect for his colleagues and his desire for NPR to thrive as a respected news institution. However, he cited his inability to work in an environment where he felt disparaged by a CEO whose divisive views only reaffirmed the problems of bias at NPR that he had previously addressed in his Free Press essay.

Berliner specifically highlighted Maher's social media posts, which have raised eyebrows. Maher criticized Hillary Clinton for using gendered terms, claiming they erased language for non-binary individuals. She also appeared to justify looting during the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, stating that it was hard to be angry about the destruction. Additionally, Maher had previously labeled former President Donald Trump as racist in a now-deleted post.

NPR spokesperson Isabel Lara defended Maher, stating that her controversial posts were made as a private citizen exercising her First Amendment rights and were not connected to her work in journalism.

Berliner's essay, titled "I've Been at NPR for 25 years. Here's How We Lost America's Trust," highlighted the lack of political diversity within NPR's editorial staff at their Washington, DC headquarters. He revealed that out of 87 registered Democrats, there were no registered Republicans, a disparity he believed contributed to a loss of trust from the American public.

In response, Maher accused Berliner of being disrespectful and questioned whether his criticisms were based solely on the identity of NPR staff. Berliner claimed that Maher had denigrated him during a private exchange and failed to address his suggestion of diversifying NPR's workforce to better reflect the wider population.

Berliner also took issue with NPR's editorial decisions, particularly regarding the coverage of the Hunter Biden laptop story. He accused senior editors of refusing to give it significant attention, despite the emails suggesting potential influence-peddling by President Biden's son. Berliner believed that NPR's reluctance stemmed from a fear that the coverage would benefit Trump's reelection chances.

Furthermore, Berliner criticized NPR for allegedly prioritizing coverage of the Trump-Russia collusion allegations while downplaying Special Counsel Robert Mueller's findings of insufficient evidence to bring criminal charges. He argued that NPR had become an openly polemical news outlet, catering to a niche audience rather than unbiased reporting.

The resignation of an experienced and Peabody Award-winning journalist like Berliner, along with his scathing critique of NPR's alleged bias, raises questions about the organization's commitment to impartiality and diversity of perspectives. The incident highlights an ongoing debate within the media industry on the role of personal beliefs and political leanings in shaping news coverage.

As NPR moves forward, it will face challenges in regaining the trust of its audience while ensuring a diverse and balanced newsroom that reflects the broader spectrum of American society.