"closely associated with another typically in a dependent or subordinate position"

"an organization that is officially connected with or controlled by another, usually larger, organization"

dependent: "relying on another for support" (also uses of the words "need" and "requires")

I would agree with parent comment - NPR is not directly, closely affiliated with the state. And isn't in a subordinate position with the state. It has about 12% of its funding from tax dollars, but I think it'd likely exists without that.

I also agree with parent comment they are state funded, however, and anyone who had 12% of their income from a given source for free and no work would be biased and influenced to be friendly towards them. To suggest that the people who work at and run NPR are free from bias and influence is demonstrably not true, and so it also follows we can't assume they would approach their funding without bias.