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Janay Kingsberry

@janaykingsberry.bsky.social
227 followers 32 following 10 posts

Staff writer, The Atlantic Reach me at jkingsberry@theatlantic.com or on Signal: janaykingsberry.29

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Reposted by Janay Kingsberry
The Atlantic @theatlantic.com · 20/09/2026
Previously unseen tax filings for the Kennedy Center paint a fuller picture of the finances Trump inherited—and what happened during his first months in charge, @janaykingsberry.bsky.social reports:
bit.ly
The Kennedy Center’s Tax Return
A previously unseen filing captures the state of the institution seven months after Donald Trump’s takeover.
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Reposted by Janay Kingsberry
The Atlantic @theatlantic.com · 18/09/2026
Previously unseen tax filings for the Kennedy Center paint a fuller picture of the finances Trump inherited—and what happened during his first months in charge, @janaykingsberry.bsky.social reports:
bit.ly
The Kennedy Center’s Tax Return
A previously unseen filing captures the state of the institution seven months after Donald Trump’s takeover.
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Reposted by Janay Kingsberry
Jonathan L. Fischer @jonfischer.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
New reporting from @janaykingsberry.bsky.social: The Kennedy Center's tax return — the first revealing what was going on there after the Trump takeover www.theatlantic.com/culture/2026...
theatlantic.com
The Kennedy Center’s Tax Return
A previously unseen filing captures the state of the institution seven months after Donald Trump’s takeover.
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Janay Kingsberry @janaykingsberry.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
At a town hall today, Lonnie Bunch told staff that he’s ready to start a new chapter—one that he said will allow him “to continue to fight for and protect the integrity of the Smithsonian.” In other words, he said, “I may be going away, but I'm still going to be a pain in the ass to some people."
theatlantic.com
Why Lonnie Bunch Is Leaving the Smithsonian
After months of clashes with the White House, the historian and leader of the institution is retiring later this year.
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Reposted by Janay Kingsberry
The Atlantic @theatlantic.com · 05/09/2026
Donald Trump wants work on the White House ballroom, the triumphal arch, and the Kennedy Center done while he’s in office—but speeding up construction projects invites numerous risks, @janaykingsberry.bsky.social reports.
bit.ly
The Rush-Job Presidency
Trump wants his ballroom and arch done while he’s in office. There’s a risk.
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Reposted by Janay Kingsberry
The Atlantic @theatlantic.com · 29/08/2026
The Kennedy Center has a problem that the courts can’t fix—and it’s keeping the cultural institution in purgatory, @janaykingsberry.bsky.social reports:
bit.ly
The Kennedy Center Has a Problem That Courts Can’t Fix
A board of Trump loyalists keeps dragging out a legal fight over the center’s future.
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Janay Kingsberry @janaykingsberry.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
My latest story on the Kennedy Center for @theatlantic.com steps away from the boardroom and the courtroom to explore the institution’s smallest stage—and how it’s quietly holding the line while everything else has gone dark.
theatlantic.com
The One Sign of Life at the Zombie Kennedy Center
The major performers are gone. But staff are trying to keep the center alive on its smallest stage.
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Reposted by Janay Kingsberry
Dan Diamond @ddiamond.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
The Trump administration is seeking to loosen federal rules intended to protect historic sites and reduce — or even end — the process of soliciting public input. The current rules have held up Trump’s arch. Me + @jakespring.bsky.social at WaPo, matching our pal @janaykingsberry.bsky.social.
washingtonpost.com
Trump officials seek to weaken historic-preservation reviews of projects
The Trump administration is moving to rewrite federal historic-preservation rules to give agencies broader authority to advance projects with less public input and narrower protections for historic si...
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Reposted by Janay Kingsberry
The Atlantic @theatlantic.com · 19/07/2026
Exclusive: As Trump pushes his proposed D.C. arch through an approval process, his administration is working to change a rule that could speed up numerous Trump projects in Washington and shrink the amount of scrutiny they get, @janaykingsberry.bsky.social reports.
bit.ly
Inside Trump’s Rush Job to Build His Arch
If the president gets his way, new rules would lower the bar for building monuments in Washington.
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Reposted by Janay Kingsberry
The Atlantic @theatlantic.com · 01/07/2026
Lawyers for the Kennedy Center are urging an appeals court to restore Donald Trump’s name to the building—but their latest argument raises a new mystery about fundraising for the center, @janaykingsberry.bsky.social reports:
bit.ly
The Kennedy Center’s Latest Defense Raises a New Mystery
What is the Trump Kennedy Center Foundation? And why is it being mentioned only now?
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Reposted by Janay Kingsberry
Jonathan L. Fischer @jonfischer.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
NEWS: There's a new Kennedy Center mystery: The "Trump Kennedy Center Foundation," which @janaykingsberry.bsky.social reports was created in March. www.theatlantic.com/culture/2026...
theatlantic.com
The Kennedy Center’s Latest Defense Raises a New Mystery
What is the Trump Kennedy Center Foundation? And why is it being mentioned only now?
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Reposted by Janay Kingsberry
The Atlantic @theatlantic.com · 29/06/2026
As comedians assembled at the Kennedy Center to honor Bill Maher, the recipient of this year’s Mark Twain Prize, the building itself delivered a punchline before anyone even walked in the door, @janaykingsberry.bsky.social reports:
bit.ly
Trump Gets Roasted on Bill Maher’s Night
The Mark Twain Prize ceremony illustrated the perils of a president making everything about himself.
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Janay Kingsberry @janaykingsberry.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
For months, Rep. Joyce Beatty has fought to have Trump’s name removed from the Kennedy Center — a battle that at times left her mocked by conservatives and isolated as the lone lawmaker challenging the institution’s overhaul. Today, she says she feels vindicated. My latest for @theatlantic.com:
theatlantic.com
The Congresswoman Who Got Trump’s Name Off the Kennedy Center
Representative Joyce Beatty sued over the president’s control of the arts complex. The effort to keep it open isn’t over.
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Janay Kingsberry @janaykingsberry.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
The Kennedy Center rebranded itself around Trump almost overnight. Undoing it will take longer. An internal memo directed staff to remove Trump’s name from email signatures, contracts, signage, etc to comply with a court ruling. My latest for @theatlantic.com: www.theatlantic.com/culture/2026...
theatlantic.com
Trump’s Name Is Disappearing From More Than Just the Kennedy Center
Lawyers are ordering staff to remove “Trump” from email signatures, letterhead, webpages, brochures, promotional materials, press releases, signs, and more.
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Reposted by Janay Kingsberry
The Atlantic @theatlantic.com · 30/05/2026
A pair of rulings have prohibited Trump from shutting down the Kennedy Center for proposed renovations—but staffers worry that the president has already permanently broken the institution, @janaykingsberry.bsky.social reports.
bit.ly
The Kennedy Center Enters the Unknown
It may or may not close. Trump says he’ll abandon it. And the fight isn’t over.
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Reposted by Janay Kingsberry
The Atlantic Communications @theatlanticpr.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
We are announcing four new staff writers joining The Atlantic: @kelseyables.bsky.social, @janaykingsberry.bsky.social, @willoremus.com, and Matt Viser. More info here: www.theatlantic.com/press-releas...
theatlantic.com
The Atlantic Hires Kelsey Ables, Janay Kingsberry, Will Oremus, and Matt Viser as Staff Writers
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Reposted by Janay Kingsberry
Travis M Andrews @travismandrews.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
Absolute must-read story about the Kennedy Center’s longest-serving volunteer by @janaykingsberry.bsky.social. www.washingtonpost.com/style/2026/0...
washingtonpost.com
The Kennedy Center’s longest-serving volunteer fears ‘this is the end’
Marilyn Schoon has given her heart to the national cultural center since 1972, a year after its inception. But she no longer fully trusts it.
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Reposted by Janay Kingsberry
Jonathan L. Fischer @jonfischer.bsky.social · 10/01/2026
NEWS: The Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery removed wall text describing Trump's impeachments and Jan. 6 when it swapped out his portrait this week www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...
washingtonpost.com
Smithsonian removes Trump impeachment text as it swaps his portrait
A biographical placard in President Trump’s section of the National Portrait Gallery exhibition was replaced with one so short the old outline is visible beneath it.
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Janay Kingsberry @janaykingsberry.bsky.social · 31/12/2025
We obtained the Kennedy Center’s bylaws and found they were revised this year to specify that only presidentially appointed board members could vote. The change came months before Trump-appointed trustees voted to rename the center after him. From me and @kelseyables.bsky.social: wapo.st/4baSiya
wapo.st
Kennedy Center changed board rules months before vote to add Trump’s name
The cultural center said only trustees appointed by the president could vote, barring other members, including Democrats who hold seats, from decisions.
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Janay Kingsberry @janaykingsberry.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
Senate Dems are investigating the Kennedy Center over its spending practices and booking deals that involve Trump allies. The probe cites lavish dining expenses, luxury hotel stays and contracts for events like FIFA’s World Cup draw — which we reported last week will pay $0 in rent. wapo.st/4pmYw1U
washingtonpost.com
Senate Democrats are investigating Kennedy Center’s deals and spending
A Senate committee is examining the Kennedy Center’s contracts and expenses, accusing its Trump-allied leadership of “self-dealing, favoritism, and waste.”
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Janay Kingsberry @janaykingsberry.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
DHS keeps using Norman Rockwell’s art to promote its deportation agenda. I talked to his granddaughter about what the painter actually stood for — and how the family’s working to remind younger generations that his legacy goes far beyond that one Lana Del Rey album. wapo.st/4qTJulZ
wapo.st
DHS keeps posting Norman Rockwell after family condemns use of his art
Descendants of Norman Rockwell have accused the Department of Homeland Security of misrepresenting the painter’s beliefs.
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Janay Kingsberry @janaykingsberry.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
The National Council for the NEH had 26 scholars and leaders serving humanities efforts across the U.S. After today’s White House firings, it’s down to just 4 Trump-appointed White men, one terminated member told me. From me, @travismandrews.bsky.social and @kelseyables.bsky.social: wapo.st/3IRQBdg
wapo.st
White House fires much of the National Council on the Humanities
The White House appeared to fire all but four members of the National Council on the Humanities, an advisory board to the head of the government’s grantmaking agency.
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