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Trump DOJ Says President Can Abolish National Monument Protections

The May 27 document, which reverses a legal opinion issued in 1938, could be laying the groundwork for Trump to abolish or dramatically shrink national monuments, which confer federal protections to millions of acres of federal land, much of it in the American West. - Washington Post

A New Arts-And-Culture Journalism Outlet Is Opening In London

“Founder of culture and city guide Broadsheet Nick Shelton (explains) why the title is expanding from Australia and New Zealand into London. It currently has 85 staff based across Australia and begins its conquest of the London cultural media scene with a team of five later this year.” - Press Gazette (UK)

Smithsonian’s Board Confirms That Its Chief Executive, Not The U.S. President, Has Hiring And Firing Power

While the Board of Regents (which includes the U.S. Vice President and the Supreme Court’s Chief Justice) didn’t directly address Trump’s attempt to fire National Portrait Gallery director Kim Sajet, the Board’s statement clearly affirmed that hiring/firing power belongs to Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch. - The Washington Post (MSN)

Trump Takes Over Arts Institutions. But Can He?

Trump may not have the formal capacity to shape the leadership of any of the Smithsonian’s museums, but if others treat him as if he does, then, well, what’s the difference? - The New York Times

The Kennedy Center Begins Its Repurposed Life

Across the country, arts leaders say the Kennedy Center’s transformation—complete with a CEO firing, board overhaul and unprecedented political involvement in its programming—has become a cautionary tale for organizations large and small. - The Wall Street Journal

The National Library Of Wales Appears To Be Missing A Couple Thousand Items

“Missing sound recordings include the satirical song ‘Carlo’ by Dafydd Iwan which was written for the investiture of Charles as Prince of Wales in 1969.” - BBC

Prominent Lawyers Join The Fight Against Paramount’s Planned Settlement With The President

“Late Thursday, the two attorneys sent a strongly worded letter to Paramount’s chairworman and controlling shareholder Shari Redstone and other board members arguing that a Trump settlement would cause ‘catastrophic’ harm to the embattled media company.” - Los Angeles Times (AOL)

Pompeii, Like Venice, Has Become A Victim Of Its Own Success

“Rising visitor numbers to the UNESCO site … have placed the archaeological park’s three entrances under growing strain. Now guides who make a living leading tours of Pompeii’s ancient homes, eateries and brothels say the introduction of named tickets and visitor caps is aggravating bottlenecks.” - The Art Newspaper

EU’s Highest Court Finds Hungary’s LGBTIQ Content Ban Violates Charter Of Fundamental Rights

“The non-binding opinion from the court’s advocate general … represents a comprehensive demolition of the arguments made by the Hungarian government defending its so-called child protection law, passed in 2021. … The opinion does not bind the court but ECJ judges follow the advocate general in most cases.” - The Guardian

Indiana Legislature Passes Bill That Could Slash Hundreds Of University Degree Programs

More than half of the bachelor's degrees offered at Indiana's public colleges and universities could be eliminated under an eleventh-hour provision slipped into the state budget requiring strict quotas on program size. - Indianapolis Star

Survey Of Tech At Non-Profits: Haves and Have-Nots

The findings reveal a sector at a crossroads, where organizations that can afford to modernize are pulling ahead, while those that can’t fear being left behind entirely. - Chronicle of Philanthropy

Kennedy Center Ticket Subscriptions Are Down By Over One-Third

“Sales of subscriptions for the coming season … are down by about $1.6 million, or roughly 36%, compared with last year.” A current staff member told the Post, “We feel (it) necessary to show that mismanagement by the new leadership is becoming a real problem for the health of the organization.” - The Washington Post (MSN)

Copyright Has Become A Puzzle In The AI Landscape

Such is the convoluted logic puzzle around AI and copyright that it seems no one can fully solve—where both sides have compelling, seemingly reasonable arguments, yet the law doesn’t quite know how to reconcile them. Twentieth century copyright rules were designed for human creators, not 21st century AI systems trained on millions of works. - Fortune

After Decades Of Defense Of The NEA, It’s Stunning To See It Brought Low

If it remains at all, it will be as a sham vehicle through which the administration will fund its favored projects, such as non-Equity shows at the Kennedy Center and Trump’s sculpture garden of who he deems to be heroes. - Howard Sherman

What Henry James Knew About The Act Of Criticism

Criticism, done well, is performance. Criticism done best opens the lives of writers, as well as their literature. Henry James’ speech on Balzac (which was later revised and published as an essay) includes his central literary thesis. - The Metropolitan Review

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