The New Yorker staff writer Katy Waldman joins Tyler Foggatt to discuss how the Kennedy Center, the premier performing-arts hub in Washington, D.C., has been transformed under President Trump’s second term—and under his chaotic and unprecedented chairmanship of the organization. They talk about this year’s Kennedy Center Honors, which featured a group of honorees that reflect the President’s personal tastes, as well as the past year of mass firings, boycotts, and programming changes that have followed the Trump-led upheaval inside the institution. They also examine Trump’s relationship to arts and culture, and how the planned White House ballroom reflects the kind of cultural legacy he hopes to leave behind. This week’s reading:<ul>
<li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-lede/how-the-kennedy-center-has-been-transformed-by-trumpism">How the Kennedy Center Has Been Transformed by Trumpism</a>,” by Katy Waldman</li>
<li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/12/15/the-trump-administrations-chaos-in-the-caribbean">The Trump Administration’s Chaos in the Caribbean</a>,” by Jonathan Blitzer</li>
<li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/12/15/how-to-leave-the-usa">How to Leave the U.S.A.</a>,” by Atossa Araxia Abrahamian</li>
<li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/sports/sporting-scene/the-weird-spectacle-of-the-world-cup-draw">The Weird Spectacle of the World Cup Draw</a>,” by Louisa Thomas</li>
<li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/is-the-supreme-court-unsure-about-birthright-citizenship">Is the Supreme Court Unsure About Birthright Citizenship?</a>,” by Amy Davidson Sorkin</li>
</ul>The Political Scene draws on the reporting and analysis found in The New Yorker for lively conversations about the big questions in American politics. Join the magazine’s writers and editors as they put into context the latest news—about elections, the economy, the White House, the Supreme Court, and much more. New episodes are available three times a week. Tune in to The Political Scene<a href="http://swap.fm/l/tny-tps-extref"> wherever you get your podcasts</a>.

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Inside Trump’s Artless Takeover of the Kennedy Center

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