The head of National Public Radio has resigned amidst controversy created by the release of an undercover video. NPR president and CEO Vivian Schiller stepped down one day after right-wing activist James O’Keefe released a video showing two people posing as Muslim donors meeting with two NPR executives. On the tape, one of the executives suggests the Tea Party is xenophobic and racist and that NPR would be better off without government funding. The executive, Ron Schiller—no relation to Vivian Schiller—has also resigned. The incident comes as NPR faces calls for massive funding cuts from Republicans and Tea Party supporters. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said the Obama administration backs continued funding for NPR and public broadcasting.

Jay Carney: “We do not support calls to eliminate funding for National Public Radio and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, as is evidenced by our budget. We think they are worthwhile and important priorities, as our budget makes clear… Administrations, both Republican and Democratic, have supported public broadcasting in the past, and we think, in an era where tough choices have to be made, including the ones that this president laid out in his proposed 2012 budget, that there remains a need to support public broadcasting and NPR.”