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Trump Becomes Kennedy Center Chairman, Cuts Board, Censors Joke

7/21/2026

37 8 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

President Donald Trump removed board members and became Kennedy Center chairman, the first sitting president to hold the post.
Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos said President Donald Trump approved Maher’s prize selection and Netflix did not edit Whitney Cummings’ set after the Kennedy Center cut her joke.
The Kennedy Center cut Whitney Cummings’ joke that President Donald Trump was “caught in sex traffic.”

History

Historical Context

During Ronald Reagan’s presidency, NEA funding fell about 50% and Congress passed 1985 amendments restricting grants to works with “significant merit,” while the 1990 veto of the NEA Four’s awards led to a Supreme Court case. Those battles created a pattern of partisan challenges that resurfaced in later administrations’ attempts to shape arts-board appointments.

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Story summary

President Donald Trump removed board members and became Kennedy Center chairman, the first sitting president to hold the post.
Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos said President Donald Trump approved Maher’s prize selection and Netflix did not edit Whitney Cummings’ set after the Kennedy Center cut her joke.
The Kennedy Center cut Whitney Cummings’ joke that President Donald Trump was “caught in sex traffic.”

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