This doesn’t happen in America. This is what happens in dictatorships, when federal agents silence lawmakers for asking questions. A sitting U.S. Senator was physically removed and restrained by his own government. That’s not just a breach of protocol, it’s a warning sign.

And he’s not Javert or Valjean. He’s Thénardier.

Fun fact - the new KC leaders gave 500+ seats for free to WH and MAGA staffers with instructions to cheer loudly enough to drown out the boos….

How it’s going.

Guitarist Yasmin Williams Had Questions about the Kennedy Center Shake-Up The interim director Richard Grenell, gave "unprofessional" responses.

Absolutely proud of you all! HUG! So far, 3.1 million protesters counted today — that’s nearly 1% of the U.S. population! Photos are flooding social media everywhere. Still waiting on more numbers to come in.

EXCLUSIVE: Tonight at the Kennedy Center, Guster brought on cast members from Finn, an LGBTQ+ kids musical that was recently canceled when Trump took over the center. They performed the band’s song “Hard Times” to a standing ovation. Full story, exclusive quotes and video on The Handbasket:

“Mr. Trump’s push to expand his influence over the Honors program is part of a broader campaign to reshape the Kennedy Center’s cultural identity. Promising a “Golden Age in Arts and Culture,” Mr. Trump has vowed to rid the center of “woke” influences, drag shows and “anti-American propaganda.”“

Who is Ric Grenell?

Mr. Seller said the “Hamilton” team believed that Mr. Trump “took away our national arts center for all of us…The Kennedy Center is for all of us, and it pains me deeply that they took it over and changed that. They said it’s not for all of us.”

How it started: In 1962 as bipartisan when JFK named Jackie Kennedy and Mamie Eisenhower honorary co-chairs of a fundraising drive for a national cultural center. How it's going: Trump did a hostile MAGA takeover and RFK Jr. did nothing. By @stevenpetrow.bsky.social www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...

Andrew Rannells, Andrea Martin, Kelli O'Hara, Lea Salonga, Bonnie Milligan, Jessie Mueller, and more have joined a one-night-only performance of Finn, after the musical's Kennedy Center-produced tour was canceled. www.broadwayworld.com/article/FINN-Musica...

“This coup is antithetical to the founding of the institution…It’s an attack on freedom of expression and speech. It’s repressive. It’s unAmerican.”

Comedian W. Kamau Bell speaks with NPR's Michel Martin about his decision to perform at the Kennedy Center after President Donald Trump assumed the organization's chairmanship.

They called this stolen light the golden age.

Much like our democracy itself, artistic expression must be nurtured, fostered, prioritized, and protected.