NSA and Traffic Reports

Damn! In San Francisco last week, I heard this and meant to blog it:

Does anyone else find this weird: The National Security Agency helps sponsor Metro Traffic, which feeds traffic information to one of the two great NPR stations in SF — KQED. Why is the NSA funding (albeit indirectly) NPR? [Lessig Blog]

It was really, really strange to hear the dour voice announcing “Funding for Metro Traffic provided by the National Security Agency, and listeners like you.” I remember zoning out on the 101, heading north, then suddenly snapping to attention. WTF? Did he just say that?