Democrats to Protest Trump's Takeover of Kennedy Center With Pride Event
Five Democratic senators have rented a small theater at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and invited the producer of 'Hamilton' to stage a gay pride concert there as a form of symbolic protest against President Trump's takeover of the institution.
The event, scheduled to take place on Monday night before an invited audience, will feature Broadway artists performing songs and readings. The concert, hosted by Senator John Hickenlooper of Colorado, is being called 'Love Is Love,' a slogan used by the gay rights movement and quoted by the 'Hamilton' creator Lin-Manuel Miranda when his show won at the Tony Awards in 2016.
'What's happening in the world is deeply concerning, but even in our darkest hours, we must continue to seek out the light,' Mr. Hickenlooper said in a statement. 'The L.G.B.T.Q. community has long embodied this resilience, maintaining joy and creativity in the face of adversity.'
Mr. Trump took over the Kennedy Center in February after purging its previously bipartisan board of Democratic appointees and replacing them with his allies. He denounced its programming as too 'wokey' and promised to usher in a 'Golden Age in Arts and Culture.'
The senators, who exercised a prerogative extended to members of Congress to rent space in the center, chose this week for the event because June has long been when supporters of the gay community have celebrated Pride Month.
Mr. Trump, in a departure from previous presidents, has not acknowledged Pride Month, and some of his actions in recent months have prompted concern in the L.G.B.T.Q. community. Since his takeover of the center, several groups have canceled events there, saying they no longer feel welcome.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
ESPN's 'NFL Live' to broadcast on location in Nashville at 'Tight End University' camp Tuesday
ESPN's "NFL Live" will do its first live broadcast from Nashville on Tuesday, June 24 on location at the "Tight End University" camp founded by George Kittle, Travis Kelce and Greg Olsen. TEU is heading into its fifth year as a Nashville-based summer event. More than 70 tight ends have been announced as participants in this year's festivities, including Tennessee Titans rookie Gunnar Helm. In addition to Kelce, Kittle and Olsen, other top tight ends announced as participants for 2025 include Las Vegas Raiders standout Brock Bowers and Arizona Cardinals star Trey McBride. Advertisement "NFL Live" will broadcast from the camp's practice field at Vanderbilt from 3-4 p.m. CT with TV personalities Laura Rutledge and Dan Orlovsky anchoring the set and interviewing players from the camp. "NFL Live" has previously done on-location shows from events like the Super Bowl, Pro Bowl and NFL draft, but this will be the first time the show has made a summer excursion to Nashville. CHARITY TALK: Why a Titans coach teams with Prison Fellowship to help kids with incarcerated parents "TEU" has been held in Nashville every year since 2021 and is billed as an event where the best tight ends in the game can help train and foster the next generation at the position while growing community among the top players in the sport. A concert billed as "Tight Ends And Friends" will follow the festivities, scheduled at Brooklyn Bowl for 8:30 p.m. on June 24. Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@ Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: 'NFL Live' broadcasting from Nashville Tuesday at 'Tight End University' camp
Forbes
26 minutes ago
- Forbes
American Manufacturing Revival & The Skills Gap
Addressing the skills gap A few weeks ago, I had the honor of welcoming supply chain and manufacturing leaders to the inaugural U.S. Manufacturing and Revitalization Summit. This gathering underscored a pivotal moment in American industry—a manufacturing resurgence fueled by strategic investments and reshoring efforts. While this is certainly driven by legislation like the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, tariffs are clearly having an impact here. According to the 10th Annual State of Manufacturing and Supply Chain Report, the vast majority of manufacturing and supply chain leaders consider onshoring critical to their overall supply chain strategy. Onshoring strategy Prior to the new U.S. Administration, the same leaders were incresaingly concerned about global trade tensions and tariffs. Growing global business uncertainty Investments in U.S. Manufacturing Despite these concerns, recent years have seen a dramatic uptick in U.S. manufacturing activity. According to the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), investment in construction for manufacturing projects hit record highs in 2023, especially in sectors like semiconductors, clean energy, and electric vehicles. Major brands like GM, Intel, Samsung, Honda, and Ford are constructing or expanding domestic manufacturing plants. Apple is reconfiguring supply chains to rely less on China. Kraft Heinz recently announced a $3 billion investment in U.S.-based manufacturing—their largest in decades. These moves signal that U.S. manufacturing isn't just reviving; it's repositioning for long-term strategic growth. But what's especially striking is how this growth reflects a broader shift in the global economy. Companies are no longer simply chasing low costs abroad—they're looking for stability, reliability, and resilience. This has made manufacturing a national priority once again and brought renewed focus to one of the sector's most stubborn challenges: labor shortages. Despite the surge in manufacturing investments, the industry faces a daunting talent shortage. A study by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute projects that 2.1 million manufacturing jobs could go unfilled by 2030 due to a lack of skilled labor. This gap is not merely a numbers issue; it's about the evolving nature of manufacturing roles. Modern manufacturing demands proficiency in areas like CNC machining, robotics, and automation. However, outdated perceptions persist, painting manufacturing as low-tech and low-paying. This misalignment deters younger generations from pursuing careers in the sector, exacerbating the talent shortage. Formula Electric Berkeley Team To bridge the skills gap, it's imperative to reshape the narrative around manufacturing. Today's manufacturing environments are clean, technologically advanced, and offer lucrative career paths without necessarily requiring a four-year degree. Partnerships between industry and educational institutions play a crucial role in this transformation. Programs like Formula Electric at Berkeley exemplify this synergy. With support from companies like Fictiv, engineering students design and build electric vehicles, gaining hands-on experience in advanced manufacturing. These initiatives not only equip students with practical skills but also showcase the innovative nature of modern manufacturing. Green manufacturing and cleantech clearly resonate with the next generation's focus on meaningful work and environmental impact (90% of Gen Z and Millennials believe it's essential that their work reflects these values). The rise of automation and AI in manufacturing is often viewed with apprehension. However, automation should be seen as a tool that complements human labor rather than replacing it. By automating repetitive tasks, workers can focus on more complex, value-added activities. AI is already integrated into central manufacturing tasks, including inventory management, quality control, and product design. AI advances Moreover, the integration of AI and automation creates new roles, such as robotics technicians and systems analysts, requiring a blend of technical and digital skills. Investing in training programs to develop these competencies is essential to ensure that the workforce evolves alongside technological advancements. Global Lessons: Building a Resilient Workforce Looking globally, countries like Germany and India have successfully implemented apprenticeship and vocational training programs aligned with industry needs. These models offer valuable insights for the U.S. in developing a robust manufacturing workforce. In the U.S., companies like Siemens are pioneering inclusive workforce development strategies. At their Fort Worth facility, Siemens has created hundreds of jobs, focusing on training individuals without prior factory experience through innovative programs led by former educators. Such approaches highlight the potential of comprehensive training programs in addressing the skills gap. Supply Chain Strength Through Regional Flexibility One often-overlooked aspect of the labor story is geography. The U.S. manufacturing resurgence isn't happening in just one location—it's unfolding across a distributed network of regional hubs. This regional diversification plays a critical role in helping companies manage labor shortages. By operating across multiple locations (like China, Mexico, and India), manufacturers can better align talent strategies with regional strengths. Some regions might be ideal for high-mix, low-volume prototyping, while others excel in large-scale production or access to specific skill sets. The Path Forward: A Collaborative Effort Addressing the manufacturing skills gap requires a concerted effort from industry, education, and government. Key strategies include: Modernizing education. Integrate advanced manufacturing topics into curricula and promote STEM education to prepare students for modern manufacturing roles. Public-private partnerships. Foster collaborations between companies and educational institutions to provide hands-on training and real-world experience. Reskilling and upskilling. Implement programs to continuously develop the skills of the existing workforce and adapt to technological perceptions. Launch campaigns to redefine manufacturing careers, highlighting innovation, technology, and sustainability. Conclusion: Seizing the Opportunity The resurgence of American manufacturing presents a unique opportunity to redefine the industry and its workforce. By addressing the skills gap through education, partnerships, and a shift in perception, we can build a resilient, innovative, and inclusive manufacturing sector. The future of manufacturing lies not just in advanced machinery but in the people who operate, innovate, and drive the industry forward. It's time to invest in that future.
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Watch: Bernie Sanders reacts to Trump's Iran strikes in real time at 'Fighting Oligarchy' rally
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., was delivering remarks at a "Fighting Oligarchy" rally in Tusla, Okla., on Saturday night when President Donald Trump announced the United States had successfully attacked three nuclear sites in Iran. An aide interrupted Sanders' remarks to deliver the message Trump had just blasted off on Truth Social. "We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan," Trump said in the post. Sanders read the piece of paper with Trump's Truth Social post to his supporters, shaking his head as the socialist senator processed what the president had just announced. "No more wars!" the crowd chanted. Bernie Sanders Says Israeli Pm 'Wrong' Both In The Past And Now: 'We Must Not Get Involved In Netanyahu's War' Trump added in the post: "All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter." Read On The Fox News App Bernie Sanders Says Largest 'Fighting Oligarchy' Rally With Aoc Is Making Trump, Musk 'Very Nervous' Sanders nodded along as the crowd continued to chant, "No more wars!" before responding to the news in real time. He said the news was not only "alarming," but "so grossly unconstitutional." "All of you know that the only entity that can take this country to war is the U.S. Congress. The president does not have the right," Sanders shouted. Sanders joins the bipartisan coalition in Congress who have called out the "unconstitutionality" of Trump striking Iran without congressional approval. A bipartisan War Powers Resolution was introduced in the House of Representatives this week as strikes between Israel and Iran raged on, and the world stood by to see if Trump would strike. Congress has the sole power to declare war under Article I of the Constitution. The War Powers Resolution seeks to "remove United States Armed Forces from unauthorized hostilities in the Islamic State of Iran" and directs Trump to "terminate" the deployment of American troops against Iran without an "authorized declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military forces against Iran." "The American people do not want more war, more death!" Sanders said. "It might be a good idea if we concentrated on the problems that exist in Oklahoma and Vermont rather than getting involved in another war that the American people do not want." But Sanders told the crowd not to give up on their vision for America's future. "In this moment in American history, what we have got to do in Vermont and Oklahoma, in Texas, all over this country, is stand up and fight back, and tell them this is our country!" Sanders said. Sanders has been a vocal opponent of the United States joining Israel in its war against Iran as Trump weighed striking its nuclear facilities. "Netanyahu is not the President of the United States," Sanders said on social media earlier this week. "He should not be determining U.S. foreign and military policy. If the people of Israel support his decision to start a war with Iran, that is their business and their war. The United States must not be a part of it," he added. The democratic socialist has been a vocal opponent of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's war against Gaza since Israel retaliated following Hamas' terrorist attacks on Oct. 7, 2023. After Israel launched preemptive strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities last week, Sanders said it was "just his latest violation of international law," likening Netanyahu to a "war criminal." The Vermont senator was speaking at his second rally of the day, part of his southern swing of the "Fighting Oligarchy" tour that Sanders started in response to Trump's sweeping second-term agenda. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Tx., and former Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-Tx., are slated to join the Vermont senator at his rallies in Texas on Sunday. And Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., joined Sanders on his Western swing of the tour earlier this year. The tour targets deep red districts currently held by Republicans, a strategy picked up by Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., who hosted town halls in Republican congressional districts, and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) through their "People's Town Halls" across the United States. Sanders also held a rally in House Speaker Mike Johnson's hometown of Shreveport, La., on article source: Watch: Bernie Sanders reacts to Trump's Iran strikes in real time at 'Fighting Oligarchy' rally
