Elizabeth Blair

The new leadership recently eliminated the Kennedy Center's Social Impact Office, which organized projects and free events for underserved communities.

The new leadership recently eliminated the Kennedy Center's Social Impact Office, which organized projects and free events for underserved communities.

It's affecting the thousands of arts groups in every corner of the country that receive money from the National Endowment for the Arts, or the NEA. The ACLU is suing the NEA because the agency had told arts groups that they wouldn't be eligible for funding if they promoted what the Trump administration calls gender ideology, which they say is denying, quote, the biological reality of sex.

It's affecting the thousands of arts groups in every corner of the country that receive money from the National Endowment for the Arts, or the NEA. The ACLU is suing the NEA because the agency had told arts groups that they wouldn't be eligible for funding if they promoted what the Trump administration calls gender ideology, which they say is denying, quote, the biological reality of sex.

It's affecting the thousands of arts groups in every corner of the country that receive money from the National Endowment for the Arts, or the NEA. The ACLU is suing the NEA because the agency had told arts groups that they wouldn't be eligible for funding if they promoted what the Trump administration calls gender ideology, which they say is denying, quote, the biological reality of sex.

ACLU attorney Vera Edelman says that language violates the First Amendment and also the 1965 law that created the NEA. which says in part the agency should encourage freedom of thought.

ACLU attorney Vera Edelman says that language violates the First Amendment and also the 1965 law that created the NEA. which says in part the agency should encourage freedom of thought.

ACLU attorney Vera Edelman says that language violates the First Amendment and also the 1965 law that created the NEA. which says in part the agency should encourage freedom of thought.

Just a note here that NPR receives NEA grant money. Once the lawsuit was filed, the NEA removed that language from its guidelines temporarily, but they're making a final determination in mid-April.

Just a note here that NPR receives NEA grant money. Once the lawsuit was filed, the NEA removed that language from its guidelines temporarily, but they're making a final determination in mid-April.

Just a note here that NPR receives NEA grant money. Once the lawsuit was filed, the NEA removed that language from its guidelines temporarily, but they're making a final determination in mid-April.

I talked to Holly Bass, who is a multidisciplinary artist whose work often explores her life as an African-American woman. She says lots of artists who have applied for NEA grants or who would like to are confused about language that says you can't do anything related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

I talked to Holly Bass, who is a multidisciplinary artist whose work often explores her life as an African-American woman. She says lots of artists who have applied for NEA grants or who would like to are confused about language that says you can't do anything related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

I talked to Holly Bass, who is a multidisciplinary artist whose work often explores her life as an African-American woman. She says lots of artists who have applied for NEA grants or who would like to are confused about language that says you can't do anything related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Thank you, Scott. Thank you.

Thank you, Scott. Thank you.

Thank you, Scott. Thank you.

John Mulaney said he first became a fan of Conan O'Brien's watching him on TV when he was 11.

John Mulaney said he first became a fan of Conan O'Brien's watching him on TV when he was 11.

Other comedians who paid tribute were Nikki Glaser, Adam Sandler, Sarah Silverman, Tracy Morgan, and Will Ferrell. And a number of them made jokes about President Trump ousting Kennedy Center leaders and ending up chair of the board himself. Conan O'Brien said that accepting an award named for Mark Twain was a responsibility.