Stories of justice and action across America
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President Donald Trump's mission to brand the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is taking a stark turn that has consumed Washington this past week.
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Welcome back, This is America readers, I'm Phillip M. Bailey, chief political correspondent with USA TODAY.
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The 55-year-old building, which was erected to honor the slain the 35th president, is being threatened with demolition by Trump, who has for months tried to install his name on the "artistic mecca" just on the bank of the Potomac River.
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He argues that is needed without substantial renovations, but as USA TODAY White House correspondent Joey Garrison reports, a federal judge effectively blocked Trump from taking immediate action.
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Much of the saga began earlier this year, however, when without approval from Congress, the president installed his name on the center's title and signage which was later ordered removed. Trump has been open that he will pay for any supposed fixes that are needed, but he wants recognition in return for his financial support which has infuriated critics and Kennedy family members.
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"This is hostage taking by the president of the United States," Kerry Kennedy, whose uncle was President John F. Kennedy, said in a statement.
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The exterior of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, a day after the Kennedy Center board voted to close the center for repairs, in Washington, D.C., U.S., September 16, 2026.
Aaron Schwartz, REUTERS
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For more on the Kennedy Center, check out USA TODAY's coverage: |
Kennedy Center votes to close as Trump threatens to spike renovations: Rep. Joyce Beatty, the plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging the closure, said the Kennedy Center has historically conducted "phased renovations" to keep the center open during construction.
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What we saw outside the Kennedy Center after board votes to close venue: Read.
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What on earth happened to the Kennedy Center? It has inspired American pride for years. Now the Trump administration says it's falling apart and needs to close.
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Bannon, Sanders united against AI |
Opposition and fears about artificial intelligence have brought an unlikely pair together on Capitol Hill this week, underscoring the broadening coalition ahead of the 2026 midterms.
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Speaking at a "pro human" rally, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-VT and Steve Bannon, a former Trump adviser, both said teh burgeoning technology is a threat, and that Washington needs to do something.
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But the two differ on what to do next.
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Sanders wants Congress to take the lead and is filing a measure that would permanently ban the development and deployment of super-intelligent AI. It would also pause advanced AI development until a federal regulator has established safety rules.
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Bannon is demanding swift executive action, saying any "legislation will be enormously complicated and take a while." But Trump, his old boss, is firmly in the corner of AI developers, calling the warnings a hoax.
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Half of U.S. women had trouble when getting health care, according to new research. One in three women said a doctor minimized or dismissed symptoms.
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Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar’s criticism of a signature piece of Trump’s agenda comes as the president has been losing support among Hispanic voters.
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Juliana Stratton, Lisa Blunt Rochester and Angela Alsobrooks could make history as the first three Black women to serve in the Senate concurrently.
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Borrowers can expect to see higher APRs on their credit cards at a time when more are relying on lent money to make ends meet.
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New data shows median household income rose 2.6% in 2025, income at the top rose 1.7%, while earnings at the bottom stayed flat.
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