not necessarily. It just means it's not as bad as it would be in China or Russia.
NPR knew the democrats would be back in power in a couple of years...they weren't risking much by being anti-Trump. But they did gain goodwill from the democrats, which can extend them support every time they are in power.
I am not arguing for or against either side, I am just pointing out a flaw in your logic.
I think NPR is so solidly on the democrats side, that it's hard to distinguish what came first: the chicken or the egg?