NPR Creates New Rule After They Quoted One ‘Expert’ In 77 Different Stories

NPR has a resolution for 2026: Stop quoting University of Richmond law professor Carl Tobias.

Tobias “appears 77 times on NPR’s website, and seems to be a dial-a-quote for NPR and numerous other media outlets on a very wide range of topics,” NPR’s standards chief, Tony Cavin, reportedly complained in an email sent to staff. That email — subject reading “GUIDANCE: Don’t I know you from somewhere?” — was shared with Semafor. (RELATED: NPR’s President Claimed With A Straight Face Her Outlet Wasn’t Biased. Here’s 5 Times NPR Was Shamelessly Political) 

Tobias’ “hobby seems to be getting himself quoted about anything and everything in news stories,” the email reads. “He is often quoted by wire services and as a result his name is likely familiar even to readers of The South China Morning Post in Hong Kong.” 

Tobias’ name may be familiar to loyal readers of the Daily Caller, too. He’s been quoted no less than five times by the Daily Caller News Foundation, most recently in 2019, usually on matters related to judicial appointments. 

The professor “often emails reporters offering his expert opinion on stories of the day and while I don’t presume to judge his expertise in legal matters, the professor is certainly an expert in getting himself quoted,” Cavin reportedly wrote. “In many of these quotes he’s described as an ‘expert’ in whatever the story happens to be about. As with other claims, I think we should exercise a healthy skepticism and do our best to find alternate sources going forward.” 

Can’t stop thinking about this. From what I can tell Carl Tobias is a successful law professor, but as a hobby spam emails news outlets his opinions on random topics in hopes he gets quoted. The quotes are always pretty banal. There are so many ways to live life https://t.co/aRaLqUoS0Z

— cold 🥑 (@coldhealing) December 22, 2025

“Tobias casts his net far and wide, from California to the New York Island. And it’s not just on the coasts, he’s quoted by outlets across the country including The Minneapolis Star Tribune [,] The Fresno Bee, the Beaver County Times in Western PA, the Superior Telegram in Duluth MN, and even the Chronicle in the New York City suburb of Croton-on-Hudson, population 8,300,” the email continues, before proposing that “as a collective New Year’s resolution we give the professor some (well deserved) time off.” 

There have been Carl Tobiases before Carl Tobias, commenters pointed out. 

Ann Coulter noted, in 2003, that a New York Times (NYT) piece on “Hillary-mania” hinged on the testimony of a Gregory F. Packer. (RELATED: Hillary Clinton Immediately Starts Attacking Republicans After Telling Everyone To Stop ‘Demonizing’ Each Other) 

“I’m a big fan of Hillary and Bill’s. I want to change her mind about running for president. I want to be part of her campaign,” Packer reportedly told the outlet.

“It was easy for the Times to spell Packer’s name right because he is apparently the entire media’s designated ‘man’ on the street’ for all articles ever written. He has appeared in news stories more than 100 times as a random member of the public. Packer was quoted on his reaction to military strikes against Iraq; he was quoted at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Veterans Day Parade. He was quoted at not one — but two — New Year’s Eve celebrations at Times Square. He was quoted at the opening of a new ‘Star Wars’ movie, at the opening of an H&M clothing store on Fifth Avenue and at the opening of the viewing stand at Ground Zero. He has been quoted at Yankees games, Mets games, Jets games — even getting tickets for the Brooklyn Cyclones. He was quoted at a Clinton fund-raiser at Alec Baldwins house in the Hamptons and the pope’s visit to Giants stadium.” 

Packer was eventually profiled by the NYT in his own right. Packer is the “perfect grass-roots source” who “usually gets his name in the paper simply by showing up. He also has a predilection for being first in line.” 

There’s a lesson there. 

Author’s note: I’ve reached out to Tobias for comment and eagerly await his expert response.

Follow Natalie Sandoval on X: @NatSandovalDC