Up First from NPR
Brown University Suspect Found Dead, Epstein Files Deadline, Kennedy Center Renamed
She's coming in from Congress and not appointed by the president.
Up First from NPR
Brown University Suspect Found Dead, Epstein Files Deadline, Kennedy Center Renamed
But Congresswoman Beatty's office tells me that she has voted on Kennedy Center board matters in the past.
Up First from NPR
Brown University Suspect Found Dead, Epstein Files Deadline, Kennedy Center Renamed
Yeah, well, President Trump made himself the chair of the board earlier this year.
Up First from NPR
Brown University Suspect Found Dead, Epstein Files Deadline, Kennedy Center Renamed
He replaced the former chair, David Rubenstein, and also fired the former president, Deborah Rudder.
Up First from NPR
Brown University Suspect Found Dead, Epstein Files Deadline, Kennedy Center Renamed
And then he kicked out all of the members appointed by President Biden.
Up First from NPR
Brown University Suspect Found Dead, Epstein Files Deadline, Kennedy Center Renamed
And now the board is stacked with, you know, I think it's fair to call them people loyal to the president.
Up First from NPR
Brown University Suspect Found Dead, Epstein Files Deadline, Kennedy Center Renamed
You got Second Lady Usha Vance, Fox News host Laura Ingraham, attorney general Pam Bondi, and more.
Up First from NPR
Brown University Suspect Found Dead, Epstein Files Deadline, Kennedy Center Renamed
Yes.
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Brown University Suspect Found Dead, Epstein Files Deadline, Kennedy Center Renamed
Speaking of authority.
Up First from NPR
Brown University Suspect Found Dead, Epstein Files Deadline, Kennedy Center Renamed
So congressional Democrats, including Senator Chuck Schumer and Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, sent a statement stating that federal law prohibits changing the name without congressional action and that the president doesn't have the legal authority to do so.
Up First from NPR
Brown University Suspect Found Dead, Epstein Files Deadline, Kennedy Center Renamed
And then they also noted that the incident with Congressman Beatty reflected a, quote, troubling lack of transparency and respect for the rule of law.
Up First from NPR
Brown University Suspect Found Dead, Epstein Files Deadline, Kennedy Center Renamed
Yeah, it's like intended to be a public auditorium for the country, right?
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Brown University Suspect Found Dead, Epstein Files Deadline, Kennedy Center Renamed
It was originally going to be called the National Cultural Center.
Up First from NPR
Brown University Suspect Found Dead, Epstein Files Deadline, Kennedy Center Renamed
And then in 64, President Johnson signed legislation naming it the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as a, quote, living memorial to President Kennedy, who was just assassinated a few months prior.
Up First from NPR
Brown University Suspect Found Dead, Epstein Files Deadline, Kennedy Center Renamed
And so, you know, the place hosts concerts and musicals and plays, and there's a lot of free events.
Up First from NPR
Brown University Suspect Found Dead, Epstein Files Deadline, Kennedy Center Renamed
And it also helps, like, develop young playwrights and supports dance companies that can't afford to tour.
Up First from NPR
Brown University Suspect Found Dead, Epstein Files Deadline, Kennedy Center Renamed
So it's big locally and nationally.
Up First from NPR
Brown University Suspect Found Dead, Epstein Files Deadline, Kennedy Center Renamed
And the president is really interested in it?
Up First from NPR
Brown University Suspect Found Dead, Epstein Files Deadline, Kennedy Center Renamed
I mean, he is now, right?
Up First from NPR
Brown University Suspect Found Dead, Epstein Files Deadline, Kennedy Center Renamed
He kind of ignored it mostly during the first term.