They use donated money to pay people to write NPR One. If you think of this as an acquihire, is it any different?

You are right and technically it is not.

I just feel like when they are doing the on air campaigns the plea's feel like they are desperate. Without your support this content wouldn't exist.

I just don't really expect them to have the budget to make that content, and ALSO make sure I can enjoy it in an application that is better than Apple's default podcast app. Or Stitcher on the web.

I enjoy the app, and I am glad they are making sure its available. But they next time I hear that they desperately need my money to continue... I'm going to think... "Ya, do you really?".

For what it’s worth, I’m with you on donations. But consider that not all NPR affiliates need money in the same way, and in the same way as NPR itself. My local affiliate definitely does need the money, for example, so I donate to them. WBEZ and WNYC are in much more affluent areas with different members. Likewise, those stations generate content that member stations pay for - again, mine doesn’t. There are lots of factors at play with how public radio is funded, and I wasn’t terribly surprised that either of two stations had sufficient funds to use here, not NPR national.