Arts Jun 25 Acclaimed poet Arthur Sze on bridging Western and Chinese traditions Arthur Sze, one of the most acclaimed poets of our time, is celebrated for exploring the natural world, the human condition and connections between cultures. A second-generation Chinese American based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Sze’s work invites readers to…
Arts Jun 20 Carla Hayden on her time as a pioneering librarian of Congress and getting fired by Trump Dr. Carla Hayden, a trailblazing librarian of Congress, was fired by President Trump in May. Geoff Bennett recently spoke with her about being blindsided by the decision, the administration’s ongoing efforts to reshape key institutions and why she intends to…
Arts Jun 16 Author Colum McCann’s novel ‘Twist’ explores isolation in the internet age How lost are we without our devices? Or putting it more simply, as novelist Colum McCann might: just how isolated are we? His new novel "Twist" asks big questions through a story of characters literally at sea. Senior arts correspondent…
Arts Jun 10 Smithsonian board rejects Trump’s attempt to fire top leader The Smithsonian’s board of regents issued a statement on Monday declaring that “all personnel decisions are made by and subject to the direction of the secretary, with oversight by the board.” It comes amid President Trump's efforts to fire one…
Nation Jun 03 Basketball legend Candace Parker on ‘The Can-Do Mindset’ and finding success Three-time WNBA champion Candace Parker knows a thing or two about success and how to achieve it. Since announcing her retirement last year after 16 seasons, the seven-time all-star and two-time MVP has stepped into a new role as an…
Nation May 30 James Patterson reflects on fatherhood and what it means to him in ‘The #1 Dad Book’ James Patterson is a household name to many, having written more than 200 books and selling over 450 million copies worldwide. But he's turning the page from thrillers to something more personal in his latest release. In "The #1 Dad…
Arts May 02 Conservative offers perspective on Trump’s effort to exert authority over history and art President Trump has accused the Smithsonian and other museums of promoting “narratives that portray American and Western values as inherently harmful and oppressive.” Previously, Jeffrey Brown spoke with a historian critical of the president’s moves. Now, he has a different…
Arts Apr 25 Political cartoonists on navigating a changing media landscape "A picture is worth a thousand words." It's a well-worn phrase but there is special resonance when applied to editorial cartoons, a centuries-old tradition that is evolving as the media landscape itself does. Senior arts correspondent Jeffrey Brown takes a…
Arts Apr 04 Kennedy Center faces a crossroads as it’s pulled into partisan politics The Kennedy Center is one of the nation’s premier performing arts centers, holding around 2,000 events each year. It’s a public-private partnership with most funding raised privately, but some coming from the federal government. The center has traditionally been a…
Arts Apr 02 West Philadelphia uses art to confront neighborhood problems and threats to democracy Local arts organizations have the power to tackle everything from community challenges to threats against national democracy by expanding access to art. That mission drives one of the country’s most vibrant and diverse artistic hubs in West Philadelphia. Jeffrey Brown…