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Inside Trump’s Artless Takeover of the Kennedy Center

December 11, 2025·36 min·3 clips

Trump installed loyalists with no arts experience at the Kennedy Center, firing curators and banning pronouns in emails.

This episode examines how Donald Trump has reshaped the Kennedy Center Honors and institution during his second term, installing allies, altering programming to reflect his 80s-era tastes, and creating financial and staffing turmoil. Reporter Katie Waldman discusses the ceremony's MAGA vibe, Trump's personal aesthetic contradictions, and the broader implications for arts and culture under his influence.

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