Is artistic expression a bedrock of our Constitution?

One of President Donald Trump’s focuses during his second term is his desire to reshape the arts in America. In February, he announced that he would serve as board chair of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and dismissed half of its board members. In their place are Trump loyalists like White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Second Lady Usha Vance, among others. More broadly, Trump has targeted what he calls “woke” content. He has moved to cancel millions in federal grants previously approved for arts and culture groups. While some have questioned whether the federal government should fund the arts and to what extent, a larger question looms: Can a democracy thrive without artistic freedom? Marc Bamuthi Joseph, an internationally renowned artist and cultural strategist who recently served as the Vice President and Artistic Director of Social Impact at The Kennedy Center, joins The Excerpt to share his perspective.

Episode Transcript available here

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