Prager University, considered as a possible PBS replacement, has produced a children's program featuring a cartoon Christopher Columbus character who downplays slavery by calling it 'no big deal' and stating it was 'better than being killed.'
Mostly True
“Prager University," the possible PBS replacement, has a kids program with a cartoon Christopher Columbus character. He thinks slavery is ‘no big deal’ and ‘better than being killed’.
Potential PBS replacement network says slavery was 'no big deal' in video - TheGrio
Source: thegrio.com
At a glance
Verified August 15, 2025Key Evidence
Multiple news outlets report on the PragerU video featuring an animated Christopher Columbus downplaying slavery.
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The video includes explicit statements such as slavery being 'no big deal' and 'better than being killed'.
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The video has been approved for use in Florida schools, indicating institutional acceptance in some regions.
The reporting
What the Evidence Shows
Multiple independent sources confirm that Prager University (PragerU), a conservative educational platform often discussed as a potential PBS replacement, released a video aimed at children featuring an animated Christopher Columbus. In this video, Columbus is depicted making statements that minimize the severity of slavery, including phrases such as slavery being 'no big deal' and that being taken as a slave was 'better than being killed.'
The video has been widely criticized and described as presenting a watered-down and historically inaccurate portrayal of slavery.
The content has been approved for use in some educational settings, such as Florida schools, which has further fueled controversy.
The remarks are part of PragerU's broader approach to conservative educational content, which often challenges mainstream historical narratives.
While the core claim about the content of the video is accurate, the framing that PragerU is definitively replacing PBS is more speculative or aspirational rather than an established fact as of August 2025. The phrase "possible PBS replacement" reflects ongoing political discussions rather than a completed transition.
Primary trail
Verified Sources7
Open source