Dec. 28, 2025
A Letter. A Lawsuit. And Legislation. It's a DJT Christmas at the Kennedy Center!
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RSS Feed The Trump-appointed board of the Kennedy Center has sent a scathing letter with notice of a forthcoming million dollar lawsuit to the lead jazz musician who canceled a decades long Christmas Eve concert in protest of the decision to put President Trump’s name on the building. Meantime, a member of Congress has now sued the Trump administration for what she calls the illegal name change and two other members of Congress have introduced legislation to try and prevent a sitting president from naming any Federal asset after themselves.
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00:00:11
Speaker 1: Hey there, folks.
00:00:12
Speaker 2: It is Sunday, December twenty eighth, and letters, lawsuits, and legislation is the most wonderful time of the year at the DJTJFK Center for the Performing Arts in DC. And with that, welcome to this episode of Amy A TJ Roads. Why you laughing?
00:00:28
Speaker 1: It's the most wonderful time of the year.
00:00:30
Speaker 3: Did you have that planned or did that just roll right out of your mouth?
00:00:34
Speaker 1: You know it?
00:00:34
Speaker 2: If you don't even have to write this stuff, it writes itself. We are literally talking about what is supposed to be a special time at a memorial to one of our some would argue greatest and most influential presidents.
00:00:47
Speaker 1: I'm supposed to have holiday concerts and all this going on.
00:00:50
Speaker 2: But literally we are talking about what lawsuits, a letter, and legislation. Let's start with the lawsuit part of it first. Yes, someone has now sued to get Donald Trump's name down. The legislation we're talking about is a couple of bills floating around out there to keep this from ever happening again. And then a scathing letter from the board to the guy who just canceled the Christmas Eve concert.
00:01:14
Speaker 1: Where do you want to start.
00:01:16
Speaker 4: Well, I think you just nailed it, and it is eye popping, jaw dropping.
00:01:20
Speaker 3: It is.
00:01:21
Speaker 4: We're in a new era, and it does all seem repetitive. That's the problem. You even pointed this out. We will read it for you. But this letter that was written from the board chairman the Kennedy Center board that was appointed by President Trump. This letter to this jazz musician who canceled the Christmas Eve concert in protest for having Donald Trump's name put on the Kennedy Center's facade, it sounds as if Donald Trump himself wrote it.
00:01:48
Speaker 1: Oh yeah, this is fair familiar language.
00:01:50
Speaker 4: I would be willing to bet that he said here's a sample draft, and.
00:01:56
Speaker 3: Then they just said, let's keep it as is.
00:02:00
Speaker 2: How do you usually send it to somebody saying you have any notes?
00:02:03
Speaker 4: And if the president, well not just the president, but if President Trump asked you that, you say.
00:02:08
Speaker 3: No, sir, this is perfect.
00:02:12
Speaker 1: So let's start with again. This is all. Everybody knows it, and Rose, we're only a little over. It hasn't even been.
00:02:18
Speaker 2: Two weeks since he put his name up there. Right, everybody knows this now. It says the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing.
00:02:26
Speaker 4: Arts Memorial Center. I like the word memorial is there, like it's there's no question this is a memorial center.
00:02:35
Speaker 1: I think we don't.
00:02:37
Speaker 2: I don't know it's because it is active and ongoing. I don't think we look at it sometimes the same as we look at the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the Washington Memorial. Those are just monuments sitting there. This thing is active and work everything. But this is the equivalent.
00:02:51
Speaker 4: Yes, and I don't think either one of us realized that it had that same status. Yes, because it is an operating theater. There are events that take place there, so it feels more like a theater and less like a memorial. But it absolutely, one hundred percent is a memorial and was dedicated specifically to honoring the legacy of John F.
00:03:14
Speaker 3: Kennedy.
00:03:15
Speaker 1: So let's start with.
00:03:16
Speaker 2: They have been doing these Christmas Eve concerts for years, for decades, and the guy who's been running them is jazz musician Chuck Read. He's a drummer. Most people don't know his name, but a long time international, even renowned drummer.
00:03:30
Speaker 1: He's been doing the concert.
00:03:31
Speaker 2: Well robe He said specifically that he canceled the concert because of the name change, no other reason, period, point blank.
00:03:41
Speaker 4: Yeah, he made it very clear. I appreciated his direct honesty. He said, I think it was within It was pretty quick. It was swept his decision once the board voted to put Donald Trump's name up. And remember Trump's name got put up the next day, like within hours of the board's decision.
00:03:58
Speaker 3: Trump feigned surprise. He said he was surprised and honored.
00:04:02
Speaker 4: The lettering was ready to go and was being put up on the building within hours of the board's decision.
00:04:10
Speaker 3: There was no surprise.
00:04:11
Speaker 2: Guess they found a hobby lobby open at the right thoughts that they needed.
00:04:15
Speaker 3: Sure, that's what it was. So yes, Red made it very clear.
00:04:18
Speaker 4: He spoke to journalists and said this is the reason why it's a shame.
00:04:22
Speaker 3: He had been in charge of it since two thousand and six.
00:04:25
Speaker 4: And he even said it's especially sad because they usually honor a high school musician.
00:04:30
Speaker 3: It's a big deal.
00:04:32
Speaker 4: One lucky high schooler gets to take part in this and that was canceled for the first time in decades.
00:04:38
Speaker 2: Okay, can I stop there before we move on with the news. The idea what do you do you do? What's in your heart, But should you have people miss out on the experience, on the concert, on the music, to have some high school kid miss out on a moment because a name is on a building, do you carry on?
00:04:56
Speaker 1: I don't know the right answer I have.
00:04:57
Speaker 2: You guess you have to do it in your heart, but to in some degree, I hate that people are missing out.
00:05:03
Speaker 4: So I really do think that this is just my personal opinion. It is a little bit of cutting off your nose despite your face. I think going higher is better than going lower. I know he made a point, the musician Chuck read. He made a point. He was making a statement, and certainly it made headlines and now it's continuing to do so. So in some way, yes, his form of protests had some pretty sad consequences, but he is probably getting the desired result in terms of publicity and pressure he's hoping to put on the president.
00:05:32
Speaker 1: However, that is hilarious.
00:05:33
Speaker 3: It's not It's like David and Goliath.
00:05:36
Speaker 1: It's hilarious. What are you going to do?
00:05:38
Speaker 4: You're not going to achieve anything other than creating a firestorm in the media.
00:05:43
Speaker 2: Okay, all right, so let's go now, Chuck Red con counsels the concert. I was surprised though there was a letter that the board president, Richard Grenell. You don't know his name necessarily either, but he's a close, close ally and advisor to President Donald J.
00:05:56
Speaker 1: Trump.
00:05:56
Speaker 2: He sends a letter as the board president to mister Red, and he robes, as we said, ripped, let loose. This whole letter might as well have been posted in several truth social posts. Is what it sounds like. Show to the capital letters. I think there's no capital letters. But other than that, this letter is hilarious. He starts, Dear mister Red, I write to you, as president of the Donald J.
00:06:18
Speaker 1: Trump and John F.
00:06:20
Speaker 2: Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, regarding your abrupt cancelation of your scheduled performance Jazz Jam.
00:06:27
Speaker 1: For partisan political reasons.
00:06:30
Speaker 2: Your decision to withdraw this last minute, explicit explicitly in response to the Center's renaming, which honors President Trump's extraordinary efforts to save this national treasure, is classic intolerance and very costly to a non profit arts institution.
00:06:46
Speaker 1: That I have to kind of agree. What do we do.
00:06:50
Speaker 2: We can choose not to participate, we can choose not to vote, We can choose all kinds of things.
00:06:54
Speaker 1: Is this classic intolerance?
00:06:57
Speaker 4: Yes, in a way, yes it is, and I do do you think he could have recused himself as the musician.
00:07:02
Speaker 3: He didn't have to cancel the whole concert.
00:07:04
Speaker 1: You make the point, that's the compromise.
00:07:07
Speaker 2: This will go on, but I want to step away for personal reasons, but I don't want anyone else to have to miss out.
00:07:14
Speaker 3: That would have been the right call.
00:07:15
Speaker 1: There you go.
00:07:16
Speaker 2: Damn, you usually nail it, like mid episode.
00:07:20
Speaker 3: It all comes together.
00:07:22
Speaker 4: But yes, that would have been You're right, a perfect compromise.
00:07:25
Speaker 3: It really would have.
00:07:26
Speaker 4: So the letter goes on, and this is when it really gets interesting.
00:07:31
Speaker 3: So he's upset.
00:07:32
Speaker 4: Of course, he says, regrettably, your action surrenders to this sad bullying tactics employed by certain elements on the left who have sought to intimidate artists into boycotting performances at our National Cultural Center. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that attendance for your jazz jam had been lagging considerably behind our other Christmas and holiday offerings, which have drawn strong crowds and enthusiastic response. The contrast between the public's lack of interest in your show with the success we are experiencing under our new chairman is drastic.
00:08:09
Speaker 2: Yeah, that's Trump.
00:08:12
Speaker 1: Yeah, he maybe personally wrote that line.
00:08:14
Speaker 4: I would believe that, and I think that it continues with perhaps the Trump speak. Our innovative Casey Speakeasy, an intimate rooftop after hours venue featuring live jazz, has consistently sold out, attracting diverse audiences and revitalizing the genre in exciting ways. The most ovent, guard and well regarded performers in your genre will still perform regularly, and unlike you, they'll do it to sold out crowds, regardless of their political leanings.
00:08:44
Speaker 3: That was unnecessary.
00:08:45
Speaker 1: Throw it insult in there.
00:08:46
Speaker 2: Don't know if it's accurate or not, but it doesn't matter if it is, because this is out there. I'm not going and looking through all the attendance records for the past twenty years. They just throw that stuff out there. Fine, but it's meant to be an insult. We don't even want you or need you. You whack nothing, get out. We don't even want you here. You don't do anything. Cross now, your mama's ugly.
00:09:09
Speaker 3: And that's where the board went over the line.
00:09:12
Speaker 4: They could have also just stopped it at so this was unnecessary. Now you're taking things to a childish level, and now you're saying nana nana boo boo, and it's just that's when I'm like, come on, I understand what they're doing, the letter they sent, but this is when you lose me, and when you lose a lot of people.
00:09:31
Speaker 2: They went through and they have a lot of stuff here about Trump's decisive intervention saving the building from what they say was almost certain destruction.
00:09:40
Speaker 1: That I miss something.
00:09:41
Speaker 3: I actually have never heard this before.
00:09:43
Speaker 4: This note that there were apparently structural assessments that indicated severe deterioration. There were recommendations for full demolition and rebuild.
00:09:53
Speaker 3: I had not heard that.
00:09:55
Speaker 2: Okay, what you know, it's I wouldn't mind updated modern President John F. Kennedy Memorial Center. I wouldn't mind it at all. But they close out this letter UH mentioning the dismal ticket sales. They say it's cost them considerably, and I believe the last minute cancelation probably did. But this is the line now quote, this is your official notice that we will seek one million dollars in damages from you for this political stunt.
00:10:23
Speaker 4: And they will, no doubt, no doubt, that's one thing we know for sure. When President Trump or any of his affiliates say they're going to sue you, they do follow through. This is not just a threat, this is notice for absolutely so, yes, one million dollars in damages.
00:10:41
Speaker 2: Hey, look, we should note it's been widely reported this year in ticket sales that that place have the words they use are plummeted. There's some plate in New York Times report a fifty percent reduction in sales. Ticket sales to that place. Now, it could have a lot to do with a lot of stuff, but when you have the likes of East Array and lin Manuel Miranda saying we ain't coming to that center, a lot of people will not.
00:11:05
Speaker 1: Go because they'll listen to those people.
00:11:06
Speaker 2: But also those are great offerings to sell tickets at the Kennedy Center to go see Hamilton at the Kennedy Center.
00:11:12
Speaker 3: That was supposed to be twenty twenty six.
00:11:15
Speaker 4: Hamilton was going to be at the Kennedy Center and lin Manuel said no more.
00:11:20
Speaker 2: So that is obviously going to hurt your ticket sales. Yes, this isn't helpful.
00:11:25
Speaker 1: And look, we talked about Trump's name on the outside.
00:11:28
Speaker 2: This is hurting artists and everybody who works at that place. When ticket sales go down, people are losing jobs, and a lot of those musicians are not playing to sold out crowds and not making the money they're used to.
00:11:38
Speaker 4: Yeah, and I will say this last line of the letter I agree with. So I do think that this is an important part and both sides need to acknowledge this.
00:11:48
Speaker 3: They end the letter.
00:11:49
Speaker 4: This institution remains dedicated to the excellence and accessibility for generations to come, and we will not yield to the pressure tactics being directed at us from political performers on our stages. True artists perform for everyone, regardless of the political affiliation of audience members.
00:12:07
Speaker 3: Do you agree with that?
00:12:09
Speaker 2: If they would have handed us this letter for notes, there are certain sections to cross out, and there are certain sections we wouldn't have touched because it makes a good point.
00:12:18
Speaker 3: That is right exactly.
00:12:19
Speaker 2: Let's have that conversation. Let's talk about that. Let's talk about it.
00:12:23
Speaker 1: As an artist. Can you have a personal Can you make a personal statement? Should you at all? Should it matter?
00:12:29
Speaker 2: Yes, if it's in your heart, fine, But how can you argue haven't we done this? So?
00:12:34
Speaker 1: Hell? What? It just sounds crazy?
00:12:36
Speaker 2: Johnny Cash, he wouldn't perform for freaking prisoners, Like, how do you make a distinction, like you're not worthy or I'm not going to participate because you don't deserve my art or access to it or for whatever political it's art?
00:12:49
Speaker 1: Right? Is this that the beauty of it are supposed to be the point?
00:12:52
Speaker 3: Music, visual performance.
00:12:53
Speaker 4: It's all supposed to unite or bring us together a shared experience, no matter what language we speak, no matter what political affiliation we have, who we voted for, what we think about whatever, that is supposed to be uniting. So it's so sad to see the arts being used divisively.
00:13:10
Speaker 2: Well we talk, Yes, that was the letter part. There's also some legislation floating around out there. Yes, folks, they are introducing bills in Congress. They don't even want Trump to be able to put his name on a damn park bench. We'll explain what that's about. Stay here, all right, folks. We continue on this Sunday, December twenty eighth, with all that's going on around the jay No excuse me, let me get it right to Donald J.
00:13:44
Speaker 1: Trump. John F.
00:13:45
Speaker 2: Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, Center for the Performing Arts, Okay, that's what I didn't realize. It's such a mouthful these days. But Robes, there's some We got a bunch of bills, okay, lawsuits and legislation. There's a law suit at least that one Ohio congresswoman has put out there that she wants to take his name down. That's a lawsuit essentially saying he doesn't have the right to do this, it should come down.
00:14:10
Speaker 1: Then we got at least two pieces of legislation.
00:14:13
Speaker 2: Voting around where they're trying to prevent Trump from putting his name on anything else.
00:14:17
Speaker 3: That's right.
00:14:17
Speaker 4: Maryland Democratic Congresswoman April McLain Delaney, she's actually introduced two bills in the House. The first one is called the Kennedy Center Protection Act, so that would void the board's vote to put Trump's name out there and mandate the removal of Trump's name from all signage. And then she also this is the big one. She's put out this legislation. It's called the Federal Property Integrity Act, and that would prohibit renaming federal assets of any kind after sitting presidents.
00:14:51
Speaker 3: That makes a lot of sense.
00:14:52
Speaker 4: And Bernie Sanders then followed through in the Senate and said, I will be introducing legislation prohibiting the naming of federal buildings after sitting president. So there'll be a parallel bill in the Senate that is much like the House one that says, hey, if you are sitting president, you don't get to name things after yourself, period. And he started Britty Sanders put this out on X and he said, what arrogance, what narcissism.
00:15:15
Speaker 3: He added that, but what.
00:15:17
Speaker 2: A shame we have to write that bill. We need laws to tell a sitting president not to put his name on federal buildings. We never thought we would need that. I don't know what's next, but it's I can't believe of all places he would have put his name up, that one feels especially like I actually googled this morning to see if the JFK Eternal flame was still going.
00:15:40
Speaker 1: I swear to god I did. This. Is that guy JFK like, who has an ego.
00:15:47
Speaker 2: Big enough that they think they can put their name in front of JFKs and not.
00:15:52
Speaker 4: Just think it, but actually do it and have everything ready to go hours after a board you appointed said you could, Yeah, we know who the I really think he might be one of the only people in the world who would feel fully confident and entitled to do so well, and he did it.
00:16:07
Speaker 2: Can you imagine Barack Obama, I want to rename Mlkday the Obama Mlkday. It's gonna be a new federal holiday.
00:16:16
Speaker 4: What honestly, I mean, he's basically his birthday, which is Flag Day. I'm waiting for that now to become a national holiday, because already now you get the free park admission national Can he name a federal holiday for his birthday and claim it's for Flag Day?
00:16:33
Speaker 3: In quotes?
00:16:34
Speaker 2: I just said no and laughed at myself because we say no, he can't do that, and he keeps doing stuff. By the way, it is not by our account, but by every legal scholar who was looking at the law says he cannot legally change the name of the building. Now he has an officially, legally he can't. Then there was a question of could he put the signage even up, and they say, legally he can't do that either because of a specific language in the law that says no plan So memorials of any kind yet be added up in the place. Are they going to argue it's not a plaque, it's not really a memorial. It's not really a name to somebody else.
00:17:09
Speaker 1: I don't know.
00:17:09
Speaker 3: How do you enforce that? I agree with you. I have looked.
00:17:12
Speaker 4: There is not one person who says what President Trump is done is legal, not one.
00:17:17
Speaker 3: You can't even put your whole the whole.
00:17:20
Speaker 4: Point of the Kennedy Center Board is that it was supposed to be and had been up until now, bipartisan. You can't just wipe out the whole board and put all people.
00:17:29
Speaker 1: So you can't. That's illegal, too, said you can't.
00:17:31
Speaker 3: Yes, well okay.
00:17:32
Speaker 4: The point being is yes he did, and he yes, I can. Okay, okay, but okay, so it's illegal. How do you then enforce it? He's the commander in chief?
00:17:41
Speaker 3: What do you do? That's the point. You can't. Can you enforce it?
00:17:45
Speaker 2: What somebody has to send in the military to protect a construction worker who was taking down the D and the O and the.
00:17:53
Speaker 1: N and the I don't know.
00:17:56
Speaker 4: This is fascinating to see what happens. I mean, people will be studying this period in our country for generations to come.
00:18:04
Speaker 1: Okay, can we sleep first and then get to that part? All right?
00:18:09
Speaker 2: Folks, Well, we always appreciate you spending some time with us. This is another fascinating but certainly sad this one. You know what stung most Maria Schreiver. Yeah, her that tweet. She sent a long kind of explaining that it's stung. This is her family member, this is their memorial. This is you equated it to putting your name on somebody's tombstone above theirs.
00:18:35
Speaker 3: It's exactly what it feels like.
00:18:36
Speaker 4: And yes, and I appreciate the Kennedy's have been outspoken but respectful, and I think that's at least some decorum has been taking place.
00:18:45
Speaker 2: Wow, that should be That should be your slogan. What'd you just say? Outspoken but respectful. That's that's every That should be your campaign slogan. Hey, we're going to be outspoken but respectful, and all we.
00:18:58
Speaker 3: Do would not be wonderful folks.
00:19:01
Speaker 1: All right, well, we.
00:19:01
Speaker 2: Always appreciate you listening to us, folks. For my dear Amy Robock, I am T J.
00:19:05
Speaker 1: Holmes. We will talk to also
Speaker 1: Hey there, folks.
00:00:12
Speaker 2: It is Sunday, December twenty eighth, and letters, lawsuits, and legislation is the most wonderful time of the year at the DJTJFK Center for the Performing Arts in DC. And with that, welcome to this episode of Amy A TJ Roads. Why you laughing?
00:00:28
Speaker 1: It's the most wonderful time of the year.
00:00:30
Speaker 3: Did you have that planned or did that just roll right out of your mouth?
00:00:34
Speaker 1: You know it?
00:00:34
Speaker 2: If you don't even have to write this stuff, it writes itself. We are literally talking about what is supposed to be a special time at a memorial to one of our some would argue greatest and most influential presidents.
00:00:47
Speaker 1: I'm supposed to have holiday concerts and all this going on.
00:00:50
Speaker 2: But literally we are talking about what lawsuits, a letter, and legislation. Let's start with the lawsuit part of it first. Yes, someone has now sued to get Donald Trump's name down. The legislation we're talking about is a couple of bills floating around out there to keep this from ever happening again. And then a scathing letter from the board to the guy who just canceled the Christmas Eve concert.
00:01:14
Speaker 1: Where do you want to start.
00:01:16
Speaker 4: Well, I think you just nailed it, and it is eye popping, jaw dropping.
00:01:20
Speaker 3: It is.
00:01:21
Speaker 4: We're in a new era, and it does all seem repetitive. That's the problem. You even pointed this out. We will read it for you. But this letter that was written from the board chairman the Kennedy Center board that was appointed by President Trump. This letter to this jazz musician who canceled the Christmas Eve concert in protest for having Donald Trump's name put on the Kennedy Center's facade, it sounds as if Donald Trump himself wrote it.
00:01:48
Speaker 1: Oh yeah, this is fair familiar language.
00:01:50
Speaker 4: I would be willing to bet that he said here's a sample draft, and.
00:01:56
Speaker 3: Then they just said, let's keep it as is.
00:02:00
Speaker 2: How do you usually send it to somebody saying you have any notes?
00:02:03
Speaker 4: And if the president, well not just the president, but if President Trump asked you that, you say.
00:02:08
Speaker 3: No, sir, this is perfect.
00:02:12
Speaker 1: So let's start with again. This is all. Everybody knows it, and Rose, we're only a little over. It hasn't even been.
00:02:18
Speaker 2: Two weeks since he put his name up there. Right, everybody knows this now. It says the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing.
00:02:26
Speaker 4: Arts Memorial Center. I like the word memorial is there, like it's there's no question this is a memorial center.
00:02:35
Speaker 1: I think we don't.
00:02:37
Speaker 2: I don't know it's because it is active and ongoing. I don't think we look at it sometimes the same as we look at the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the Washington Memorial. Those are just monuments sitting there. This thing is active and work everything. But this is the equivalent.
00:02:51
Speaker 4: Yes, and I don't think either one of us realized that it had that same status. Yes, because it is an operating theater. There are events that take place there, so it feels more like a theater and less like a memorial. But it absolutely, one hundred percent is a memorial and was dedicated specifically to honoring the legacy of John F.
00:03:14
Speaker 3: Kennedy.
00:03:15
Speaker 1: So let's start with.
00:03:16
Speaker 2: They have been doing these Christmas Eve concerts for years, for decades, and the guy who's been running them is jazz musician Chuck Read. He's a drummer. Most people don't know his name, but a long time international, even renowned drummer.
00:03:30
Speaker 1: He's been doing the concert.
00:03:31
Speaker 2: Well robe He said specifically that he canceled the concert because of the name change, no other reason, period, point blank.
00:03:41
Speaker 4: Yeah, he made it very clear. I appreciated his direct honesty. He said, I think it was within It was pretty quick. It was swept his decision once the board voted to put Donald Trump's name up. And remember Trump's name got put up the next day, like within hours of the board's decision.
00:03:58
Speaker 3: Trump feigned surprise. He said he was surprised and honored.
00:04:02
Speaker 4: The lettering was ready to go and was being put up on the building within hours of the board's decision.
00:04:10
Speaker 3: There was no surprise.
00:04:11
Speaker 2: Guess they found a hobby lobby open at the right thoughts that they needed.
00:04:15
Speaker 3: Sure, that's what it was. So yes, Red made it very clear.
00:04:18
Speaker 4: He spoke to journalists and said this is the reason why it's a shame.
00:04:22
Speaker 3: He had been in charge of it since two thousand and six.
00:04:25
Speaker 4: And he even said it's especially sad because they usually honor a high school musician.
00:04:30
Speaker 3: It's a big deal.
00:04:32
Speaker 4: One lucky high schooler gets to take part in this and that was canceled for the first time in decades.
00:04:38
Speaker 2: Okay, can I stop there before we move on with the news. The idea what do you do you do? What's in your heart, But should you have people miss out on the experience, on the concert, on the music, to have some high school kid miss out on a moment because a name is on a building, do you carry on?
00:04:56
Speaker 1: I don't know the right answer I have.
00:04:57
Speaker 2: You guess you have to do it in your heart, but to in some degree, I hate that people are missing out.
00:05:03
Speaker 4: So I really do think that this is just my personal opinion. It is a little bit of cutting off your nose despite your face. I think going higher is better than going lower. I know he made a point, the musician Chuck read. He made a point. He was making a statement, and certainly it made headlines and now it's continuing to do so. So in some way, yes, his form of protests had some pretty sad consequences, but he is probably getting the desired result in terms of publicity and pressure he's hoping to put on the president.
00:05:32
Speaker 1: However, that is hilarious.
00:05:33
Speaker 3: It's not It's like David and Goliath.
00:05:36
Speaker 1: It's hilarious. What are you going to do?
00:05:38
Speaker 4: You're not going to achieve anything other than creating a firestorm in the media.
00:05:43
Speaker 2: Okay, all right, so let's go now, Chuck Red con counsels the concert. I was surprised though there was a letter that the board president, Richard Grenell. You don't know his name necessarily either, but he's a close, close ally and advisor to President Donald J.
00:05:56
Speaker 1: Trump.
00:05:56
Speaker 2: He sends a letter as the board president to mister Red, and he robes, as we said, ripped, let loose. This whole letter might as well have been posted in several truth social posts. Is what it sounds like. Show to the capital letters. I think there's no capital letters. But other than that, this letter is hilarious. He starts, Dear mister Red, I write to you, as president of the Donald J.
00:06:18
Speaker 1: Trump and John F.
00:06:20
Speaker 2: Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, regarding your abrupt cancelation of your scheduled performance Jazz Jam.
00:06:27
Speaker 1: For partisan political reasons.
00:06:30
Speaker 2: Your decision to withdraw this last minute, explicit explicitly in response to the Center's renaming, which honors President Trump's extraordinary efforts to save this national treasure, is classic intolerance and very costly to a non profit arts institution.
00:06:46
Speaker 1: That I have to kind of agree. What do we do.
00:06:50
Speaker 2: We can choose not to participate, we can choose not to vote, We can choose all kinds of things.
00:06:54
Speaker 1: Is this classic intolerance?
00:06:57
Speaker 4: Yes, in a way, yes it is, and I do do you think he could have recused himself as the musician.
00:07:02
Speaker 3: He didn't have to cancel the whole concert.
00:07:04
Speaker 1: You make the point, that's the compromise.
00:07:07
Speaker 2: This will go on, but I want to step away for personal reasons, but I don't want anyone else to have to miss out.
00:07:14
Speaker 3: That would have been the right call.
00:07:15
Speaker 1: There you go.
00:07:16
Speaker 2: Damn, you usually nail it, like mid episode.
00:07:20
Speaker 3: It all comes together.
00:07:22
Speaker 4: But yes, that would have been You're right, a perfect compromise.
00:07:25
Speaker 3: It really would have.
00:07:26
Speaker 4: So the letter goes on, and this is when it really gets interesting.
00:07:31
Speaker 3: So he's upset.
00:07:32
Speaker 4: Of course, he says, regrettably, your action surrenders to this sad bullying tactics employed by certain elements on the left who have sought to intimidate artists into boycotting performances at our National Cultural Center. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that attendance for your jazz jam had been lagging considerably behind our other Christmas and holiday offerings, which have drawn strong crowds and enthusiastic response. The contrast between the public's lack of interest in your show with the success we are experiencing under our new chairman is drastic.
00:08:09
Speaker 2: Yeah, that's Trump.
00:08:12
Speaker 1: Yeah, he maybe personally wrote that line.
00:08:14
Speaker 4: I would believe that, and I think that it continues with perhaps the Trump speak. Our innovative Casey Speakeasy, an intimate rooftop after hours venue featuring live jazz, has consistently sold out, attracting diverse audiences and revitalizing the genre in exciting ways. The most ovent, guard and well regarded performers in your genre will still perform regularly, and unlike you, they'll do it to sold out crowds, regardless of their political leanings.
00:08:44
Speaker 3: That was unnecessary.
00:08:45
Speaker 1: Throw it insult in there.
00:08:46
Speaker 2: Don't know if it's accurate or not, but it doesn't matter if it is, because this is out there. I'm not going and looking through all the attendance records for the past twenty years. They just throw that stuff out there. Fine, but it's meant to be an insult. We don't even want you or need you. You whack nothing, get out. We don't even want you here. You don't do anything. Cross now, your mama's ugly.
00:09:09
Speaker 3: And that's where the board went over the line.
00:09:12
Speaker 4: They could have also just stopped it at so this was unnecessary. Now you're taking things to a childish level, and now you're saying nana nana boo boo, and it's just that's when I'm like, come on, I understand what they're doing, the letter they sent, but this is when you lose me, and when you lose a lot of people.
00:09:31
Speaker 2: They went through and they have a lot of stuff here about Trump's decisive intervention saving the building from what they say was almost certain destruction.
00:09:40
Speaker 1: That I miss something.
00:09:41
Speaker 3: I actually have never heard this before.
00:09:43
Speaker 4: This note that there were apparently structural assessments that indicated severe deterioration. There were recommendations for full demolition and rebuild.
00:09:53
Speaker 3: I had not heard that.
00:09:55
Speaker 2: Okay, what you know, it's I wouldn't mind updated modern President John F. Kennedy Memorial Center. I wouldn't mind it at all. But they close out this letter UH mentioning the dismal ticket sales. They say it's cost them considerably, and I believe the last minute cancelation probably did. But this is the line now quote, this is your official notice that we will seek one million dollars in damages from you for this political stunt.
00:10:23
Speaker 4: And they will, no doubt, no doubt, that's one thing we know for sure. When President Trump or any of his affiliates say they're going to sue you, they do follow through. This is not just a threat, this is notice for absolutely so, yes, one million dollars in damages.
00:10:41
Speaker 2: Hey, look, we should note it's been widely reported this year in ticket sales that that place have the words they use are plummeted. There's some plate in New York Times report a fifty percent reduction in sales. Ticket sales to that place. Now, it could have a lot to do with a lot of stuff, but when you have the likes of East Array and lin Manuel Miranda saying we ain't coming to that center, a lot of people will not.
00:11:05
Speaker 1: Go because they'll listen to those people.
00:11:06
Speaker 2: But also those are great offerings to sell tickets at the Kennedy Center to go see Hamilton at the Kennedy Center.
00:11:12
Speaker 3: That was supposed to be twenty twenty six.
00:11:15
Speaker 4: Hamilton was going to be at the Kennedy Center and lin Manuel said no more.
00:11:20
Speaker 2: So that is obviously going to hurt your ticket sales. Yes, this isn't helpful.
00:11:25
Speaker 1: And look, we talked about Trump's name on the outside.
00:11:28
Speaker 2: This is hurting artists and everybody who works at that place. When ticket sales go down, people are losing jobs, and a lot of those musicians are not playing to sold out crowds and not making the money they're used to.
00:11:38
Speaker 4: Yeah, and I will say this last line of the letter I agree with. So I do think that this is an important part and both sides need to acknowledge this.
00:11:48
Speaker 3: They end the letter.
00:11:49
Speaker 4: This institution remains dedicated to the excellence and accessibility for generations to come, and we will not yield to the pressure tactics being directed at us from political performers on our stages. True artists perform for everyone, regardless of the political affiliation of audience members.
00:12:07
Speaker 3: Do you agree with that?
00:12:09
Speaker 2: If they would have handed us this letter for notes, there are certain sections to cross out, and there are certain sections we wouldn't have touched because it makes a good point.
00:12:18
Speaker 3: That is right exactly.
00:12:19
Speaker 2: Let's have that conversation. Let's talk about that. Let's talk about it.
00:12:23
Speaker 1: As an artist. Can you have a personal Can you make a personal statement? Should you at all? Should it matter?
00:12:29
Speaker 2: Yes, if it's in your heart, fine, But how can you argue haven't we done this? So?
00:12:34
Speaker 1: Hell? What? It just sounds crazy?
00:12:36
Speaker 2: Johnny Cash, he wouldn't perform for freaking prisoners, Like, how do you make a distinction, like you're not worthy or I'm not going to participate because you don't deserve my art or access to it or for whatever political it's art?
00:12:49
Speaker 1: Right? Is this that the beauty of it are supposed to be the point?
00:12:52
Speaker 3: Music, visual performance.
00:12:53
Speaker 4: It's all supposed to unite or bring us together a shared experience, no matter what language we speak, no matter what political affiliation we have, who we voted for, what we think about whatever, that is supposed to be uniting. So it's so sad to see the arts being used divisively.
00:13:10
Speaker 2: Well we talk, Yes, that was the letter part. There's also some legislation floating around out there. Yes, folks, they are introducing bills in Congress. They don't even want Trump to be able to put his name on a damn park bench. We'll explain what that's about. Stay here, all right, folks. We continue on this Sunday, December twenty eighth, with all that's going on around the jay No excuse me, let me get it right to Donald J.
00:13:44
Speaker 1: Trump. John F.
00:13:45
Speaker 2: Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, Center for the Performing Arts, Okay, that's what I didn't realize. It's such a mouthful these days. But Robes, there's some We got a bunch of bills, okay, lawsuits and legislation. There's a law suit at least that one Ohio congresswoman has put out there that she wants to take his name down. That's a lawsuit essentially saying he doesn't have the right to do this, it should come down.
00:14:10
Speaker 1: Then we got at least two pieces of legislation.
00:14:13
Speaker 2: Voting around where they're trying to prevent Trump from putting his name on anything else.
00:14:17
Speaker 3: That's right.
00:14:17
Speaker 4: Maryland Democratic Congresswoman April McLain Delaney, she's actually introduced two bills in the House. The first one is called the Kennedy Center Protection Act, so that would void the board's vote to put Trump's name out there and mandate the removal of Trump's name from all signage. And then she also this is the big one. She's put out this legislation. It's called the Federal Property Integrity Act, and that would prohibit renaming federal assets of any kind after sitting presidents.
00:14:51
Speaker 3: That makes a lot of sense.
00:14:52
Speaker 4: And Bernie Sanders then followed through in the Senate and said, I will be introducing legislation prohibiting the naming of federal buildings after sitting president. So there'll be a parallel bill in the Senate that is much like the House one that says, hey, if you are sitting president, you don't get to name things after yourself, period. And he started Britty Sanders put this out on X and he said, what arrogance, what narcissism.
00:15:15
Speaker 3: He added that, but what.
00:15:17
Speaker 2: A shame we have to write that bill. We need laws to tell a sitting president not to put his name on federal buildings. We never thought we would need that. I don't know what's next, but it's I can't believe of all places he would have put his name up, that one feels especially like I actually googled this morning to see if the JFK Eternal flame was still going.
00:15:40
Speaker 1: I swear to god I did. This. Is that guy JFK like, who has an ego.
00:15:47
Speaker 2: Big enough that they think they can put their name in front of JFKs and not.
00:15:52
Speaker 4: Just think it, but actually do it and have everything ready to go hours after a board you appointed said you could, Yeah, we know who the I really think he might be one of the only people in the world who would feel fully confident and entitled to do so well, and he did it.
00:16:07
Speaker 2: Can you imagine Barack Obama, I want to rename Mlkday the Obama Mlkday. It's gonna be a new federal holiday.
00:16:16
Speaker 4: What honestly, I mean, he's basically his birthday, which is Flag Day. I'm waiting for that now to become a national holiday, because already now you get the free park admission national Can he name a federal holiday for his birthday and claim it's for Flag Day?
00:16:33
Speaker 3: In quotes?
00:16:34
Speaker 2: I just said no and laughed at myself because we say no, he can't do that, and he keeps doing stuff. By the way, it is not by our account, but by every legal scholar who was looking at the law says he cannot legally change the name of the building. Now he has an officially, legally he can't. Then there was a question of could he put the signage even up, and they say, legally he can't do that either because of a specific language in the law that says no plan So memorials of any kind yet be added up in the place. Are they going to argue it's not a plaque, it's not really a memorial. It's not really a name to somebody else.
00:17:09
Speaker 1: I don't know.
00:17:09
Speaker 3: How do you enforce that? I agree with you. I have looked.
00:17:12
Speaker 4: There is not one person who says what President Trump is done is legal, not one.
00:17:17
Speaker 3: You can't even put your whole the whole.
00:17:20
Speaker 4: Point of the Kennedy Center Board is that it was supposed to be and had been up until now, bipartisan. You can't just wipe out the whole board and put all people.
00:17:29
Speaker 1: So you can't. That's illegal, too, said you can't.
00:17:31
Speaker 3: Yes, well okay.
00:17:32
Speaker 4: The point being is yes he did, and he yes, I can. Okay, okay, but okay, so it's illegal. How do you then enforce it? He's the commander in chief?
00:17:41
Speaker 3: What do you do? That's the point. You can't. Can you enforce it?
00:17:45
Speaker 2: What somebody has to send in the military to protect a construction worker who was taking down the D and the O and the.
00:17:53
Speaker 1: N and the I don't know.
00:17:56
Speaker 4: This is fascinating to see what happens. I mean, people will be studying this period in our country for generations to come.
00:18:04
Speaker 1: Okay, can we sleep first and then get to that part? All right?
00:18:09
Speaker 2: Folks, Well, we always appreciate you spending some time with us. This is another fascinating but certainly sad this one. You know what stung most Maria Schreiver. Yeah, her that tweet. She sent a long kind of explaining that it's stung. This is her family member, this is their memorial. This is you equated it to putting your name on somebody's tombstone above theirs.
00:18:35
Speaker 3: It's exactly what it feels like.
00:18:36
Speaker 4: And yes, and I appreciate the Kennedy's have been outspoken but respectful, and I think that's at least some decorum has been taking place.
00:18:45
Speaker 2: Wow, that should be That should be your slogan. What'd you just say? Outspoken but respectful. That's that's every That should be your campaign slogan. Hey, we're going to be outspoken but respectful, and all we.
00:18:58
Speaker 3: Do would not be wonderful folks.
00:19:01
Speaker 1: All right, well, we.
00:19:01
Speaker 2: Always appreciate you listening to us, folks. For my dear Amy Robock, I am T J.
00:19:05
Speaker 1: Holmes. We will talk to also