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Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Firing, hiring and a mystery: The 225-year-old Library of Congress has never had a moment like this
The Library of Congress, a 225-year-old Washington institution, has never had a moment like this. A week ago, the Trump administration fired the longtime librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden. The man appointed by President Donald Trump to be interim librarian, Todd Blanche, may not actually be the interim librarian. And Hayden's ouster may not even be legal. Here's more about the library, Hayden's ouster and the mystery of who's in charge now: What is the Library of Congress? The country's oldest federal cultural institution, the Library of Congress was founded in 1800 under legislation by President John Adams and has traditionally enjoyed bipartisan backing. In addition to its billing as 'the largest library in the world,' it could also be called the country's unofficial memory bank. It contains more than 100 million books, recordings, images and other artifacts and offers a vast online archive, and its contents span three buildings on Capitol Hill. Each year, the library's National Film Registry chooses 25 movies 'showcasing the range and diversity of American film heritage.' The National Recording Registry selects for preservation sound recordings that 'are culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant, and inform or reflect life in the United States.' The library also manages the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, which responds to tens of thousands of requests from Congress each year. Communications are confidential from disclosure under the 'speech or debate' clause of the U.S. Constitution. Library of Congress events include an annual book festival, tours, films, exhibits and conferences. The Library of Congress is not a traditional circulating library but is instead a research library. No one under 16 can get a reader card to access the collection. Those 16 and 17 require a parent's permission. What does the librarian of Congress do? The librarian has a wide range of responsibilities, from overseeing the Library of Congress' collections to selecting the country's poet laureate to awarding the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song and the Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction. Librarians serve 10-year terms, and Hayden's was scheduled to end in 2026. Her predecessors include James Billington, Daniel Boorstin and Archibald MacLeish. Who was fired? Who was hired? Late last week, the Trump administration abruptly fired Hayden, the first Black person and the first woman to hold the position. Hayden, nominated by President Barack Obama in 2015 and confirmed 74-18 by the Republican-led Senate the following year, was informed via email that 'your position as the Librarian of Congress is terminated effective immediately. Thank you for your service.' More upheavals quickly followed. The White House fired U.S. Copyright Office head Shira Perlmutter, whom Hayden had appointed in 2020. The Justice Department then announced that Blanche, the deputy attorney general, had been named acting librarian of Congress and that Paul Perkins, an associate deputy attorney general and veteran Justice Department attorney, was acting director of the Copyright Office. Blanche was a member of Trump's defense team in his New York hush money trial, which ended last year in a conviction on 34 felony counts. Why was Hayden fired? The White House cited no specific reason in its email to her, although Trump has been purging officials he believes opposed to him and his policies. The conservative American Accountability Foundation had alleged she was promoting children's books with 'radical content,' and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that she was 'putting inappropriate books in the library for children.' A copy of virtually every book published in the U.S. during a given year is given to the Copyright Office, with the Library of Congress deciding whether to include it in the main collection. Hayden's firing was denounced by Democrats, librarians, educators and others, including the outgoing U.S. poet laureate, Ada Limón. Appointed by Hayden in 2022, Limón called her the 'kindest, brightest, most generous Librarian of Congress we could have hoped for as a nation.' Did the White House have the legal right to fire her? Despite being nominated by the president, the librarian of Congress is a legislative branch employee and appoints leaders to other positions under it, such as the assistant librarian and the director of the Copyright Office. That's why a dispute between Congress and the White House has erupted as Republican leaders sort out how much authority the president -- the head of the executive branch -- has in tapping an acting librarian. Usually, if that position is vacant, an interim librarian is chosen from the current ranks of the Library of Congress. Who is in charge right now? Although Blanche was announced as acting librarian, he has yet to turn up at the Library of Congress offices, according to a person with knowledge of internal operations. The person was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The library is currently being run by Robert Randolph Newlen, the person says. Newlen had been principal deputy librarian, and, per library regulations, was in line to succeed the librarian of Congress in case of absence or temporary unavailability. ___ Associated Press writer Seung Min Kim contributed to this report from Washington.
Winnipeg Free Press
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Firing, hiring and a mystery: The 225-year-old Library of Congress has never had a moment like this
The Library of Congress, a 225-year-old Washington institution, has never had a moment like this. A week ago, the Trump administration fired the longtime librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden. The man appointed by President Donald Trump to be interim librarian, Todd Blanche, may not actually be the interim librarian. And Hayden's ouster may not even be legal. Here's more about the library, Hayden's ouster and the mystery of who's in charge now: What is the Library of Congress? The country's oldest federal cultural institution, the Library of Congress was founded in 1800 under legislation by President John Adams and has traditionally enjoyed bipartisan backing. In addition to its billing as 'the largest library in the world,' it could also be called the country's unofficial memory bank. It contains more than 100 million books, recordings, images and other artifacts and offers a vast online archive, and its contents span three buildings on Capitol Hill. Each year, the library's National Film Registry chooses 25 movies 'showcasing the range and diversity of American film heritage.' The National Recording Registry selects for preservation sound recordings that 'are culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant, and inform or reflect life in the United States.' The library also manages the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, which responds to tens of thousands of requests from Congress each year. Communications are confidential from disclosure under the 'speech or debate' clause of the U.S. Constitution. Library of Congress events include an annual book festival, tours, films, exhibits and conferences. The Library of Congress is not a traditional circulating library but is instead a research library. No one under 16 can get a reader card to access the collection. Those 16 and 17 require a parent's permission. What does the librarian of Congress do? The librarian has a wide range of responsibilities, from overseeing the Library of Congress' collections to selecting the country's poet laureate to awarding the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song and the Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction. Librarians serve 10-year terms, and Hayden's was scheduled to end in 2026. Her predecessors include James Billington, Daniel Boorstin and Archibald MacLeish. Who was fired? Who was hired? Late last week, the Trump administration abruptly fired Hayden, the first Black person and the first woman to hold the position. Hayden, nominated by President Barack Obama in 2015 and confirmed 74-18 by the Republican-led Senate the following year, was informed via email that 'your position as the Librarian of Congress is terminated effective immediately. Thank you for your service.' More upheavals quickly followed. The White House fired U.S. Copyright Office head Shira Perlmutter, whom Hayden had appointed in 2020. The Justice Department then announced that Blanche, the deputy attorney general, had been named acting librarian of Congress and that Paul Perkins, an associate deputy attorney general and veteran Justice Department attorney, was acting director of the Copyright Office. Blanche was a member of Trump's defense team in his New York hush money trial, which ended last year in a conviction on 34 felony counts. Why was Hayden fired? The White House cited no specific reason in its email to her, although Trump has been purging officials he believes opposed to him and his policies. The conservative American Accountability Foundation had alleged she was promoting children's books with 'radical content,' and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that she was 'putting inappropriate books in the library for children.' A copy of virtually every book published in the U.S. during a given year is given to the Copyright Office, with the Library of Congress deciding whether to include it in the main collection. Hayden's firing was denounced by Democrats, librarians, educators and others, including the outgoing U.S. poet laureate, Ada Limón. Appointed by Hayden in 2022, Limón called her the 'kindest, brightest, most generous Librarian of Congress we could have hoped for as a nation.' Did the White House have the legal right to fire her? Despite being nominated by the president, the librarian of Congress is a legislative branch employee and appoints leaders to other positions under it, such as the assistant librarian and the director of the Copyright Office. That's why a dispute between Congress and the White House has erupted as Republican leaders sort out how much authority the president — the head of the executive branch — has in tapping an acting librarian. Usually, if that position is vacant, an interim librarian is chosen from the current ranks of the Library of Congress. Who is in charge right now? Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Although Blanche was announced as acting librarian, he has yet to turn up at the Library of Congress offices, according to a person with knowledge of internal operations. The person was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The library is currently being run by Robert Randolph Newlen, the person says. Newlen had been principal deputy librarian, and, per library regulations, was in line to succeed the librarian of Congress in case of absence or temporary unavailability. ___ Associated Press writer Seung Min Kim contributed to this report from Washington.
USA Today
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Elton John, Brandi Carlile are sunshine and sadness on joint album: Review
Elton John, Brandi Carlile are sunshine and sadness on joint album: Review Show Caption Hide Caption Watch Chappell Roan and Elton John duet at his Oscar after-party Chappell Roan performed at Elton John's annual Oscars after-party, where they duetted to each other's songs. Fans knew an official musical alliance between kindred spirits Elton John and Brandi Carlile was inevitable. Their relationship built on mutual admiration has manifested at concerts (John invited Carlile to sing at his final concert at Dodger Stadium in 2022) and soirees (Carlile was one of the most sincere performers at last year's Gershwin Prize concert honoring John and lyricist Bernie Taupin). Carlile has also developed into an icon whisperer, first helping reestablish Joni Mitchell's confidence and now patiently enduring John's acknowledged studio tantrums. Despite any volatility while writing and recording, the John/Carlile partnership on their collaborative album, 'Who Believes in Angels,' out Friday, shimmers with a just-right balance of sunshine and sadness. Produced by Andrew Watt, the 10 songs also boast the fingerprints of Taupin (surely the lyric about 'a rodeo queen breathing fire into the night' from the title track spawned from his poetic brain), who knows better than anyone how to coax greatness from John. John and Carlile blend seamlessly over the melodious piano and robust chorus of the title track, as well as the sweet pop song 'Someone to Belong To.' Carlile, meanwhile, earns a spotlight moment on the tender 'You Without Me' as her lovely voice flutters over the acoustic guitar spine of the ballad. In announcing the album, John said that he was so invigorated by the work he and Carlile started in October 2023 that 'this (album) is the start of my career, Mark 2.' If so, it's an auspicious beginning. Here are four of the best songs on 'Who Believes in Angels.' More: Chappell Roan duets with Elton John at intimate Oscars after-party 'The Rose of Laura Nyro' Named for the '60s-era cult singer/songwriter whom John says he idolized, the song that kicks off the album emits serious 'Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding' vibes. A long synth introduction dissolves into swirls of sound before a guitar solo kicks in and leads to the combined vocals of John and Carlile. Their voices collide in a cloud of melody as they sing in their ode, 'Like Virginia to the lighthouse/see the songbirds in their cages/the rose of Laura Nyro/shed its petals on the pages.' A boogie-piano coda stretches the song past the six-minute mark, and it sets the tone for an album that can sometimes feel scattershot but is always rescued by the warmth of its stars. 'Someone to Belong To' This midtempo gem trots in like a standard pop song, but then the sublime chorus latches onto your emotions as John and Carlile spin their most honeyed vocals on the album. Over mellifluous piano runs, the pair sing lyrics full of hope and gratitude: 'Hang in there, darling, won't you?/the best is yet to come … But if there's still gold in those hills/I owe it all to you/I thank my lucky stars/that I've got someone to belong to.' It's an uncomplicated message that harkens to the simplicity of 'Your Song' – and no one is complaining about that. 'The River Man' It's the kind of song that sneaks up on you with quiet verses and acoustic guitars, then erupts into a blues-rock frolic. Carlile's rootsy sensibilities are knitted with John's pop instincts for a foot-stomper that surprises throughout. And then there is that midsong breakdown of racing guitars and piano: Yes, 'Pinball Wizard,' we hear you in there. 'When This Old World is Done With Me' Much like Billy Joel's 'And So It Goes,' John's reflective ballad is a bit of a lament and a bit of a valentine to a life well-lived. 'I've felt sympathy and silence/helping hands and guidance/happiness and anger since the day that I was born,' he projects in a booming lower register, which gives the song an extra layer of gravitas. It's an ideal album closer as John sings alone of taming demons and a reminder that 'none of this came easy.' But then he moves from bleak minor chords to 45 seconds of silky music box riffs, signaling the sound of a new day.
CBC
19-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Paul Simon announces surprise tour, with 3 shows each in Vancouver, Toronto
Social Sharing Paul Simon fans in Toronto and Vancouver will get a chance to catch the legendary singer-songwriter in a theatre setting after he announced Tuesday a return to touring. The Toronto dates occur several weeks into what is being called the Quiet Celebration tour, which kicks off April 4 in New Orleans. Simon is set to play Massey Hall on May 27, May 28 and May 30. The Vancouver shows at the Orpheum are to take place July 25, July 26 and July 28. It's the second last stand of the tour as scheduled, before Simon wraps in Seattle a week later. Simon, 83, last toured in 2018, playing arena venues in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. He speculated publicly at the time that it was possible it was his last full-fledged tour, and he then experienced hearing issues in his left ear that manifested during the sessions for his 2023 album, Seven Psalms. "Where I'm at now, I can't play live," Simon told CBC Q host Tom Power in an interview broadcast in June 2023. "What I can't do at the moment is hear when there are three or four players, which I've tried," he added. WATCH l Simon in 2023: 'Haven't given up' on performing Seven Psalms live: Paul Simon doesn't want you to think his album is about dying 2 years ago Duration 14:03 Paul Simon doesn't agree with the widely talked-about assessment that his latest album, Seven Psalms, is primarily a reflection of his own mortality. In conversation at his private studio cabin near Austin, Texas, the 81-year-old reveals to CBC's Tom Power the meaning behind the music, and his hope to perform it live despite losing his hearing. Worked with hearing loss experts on staging Simon will, in fact, be accompanied on the upcoming tour by several musicians. In a news release for Tuesday's announcement, Simon was said to be "inspired to perform again" after his production team and experts at Stanford University's hearing loss clinic worked together to construct a stage setup that made it viable. Seven Psalms, which Simon said was inspired by an unusual dream, was composed as a single 33-minute acoustic suite divided into seven movements that ruminate on God, faith and meaning. It was the 15th studio album as a solo artist in a career that has seen Simon inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame both for his individual work and for his earlier body of work with childhood friend Art Garfunkel. Simon has also been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and in 2007 was the first recipient of the annual Gershwin Prize for Popular Song from the Library of Congress. Simon is fresh off an appearance on the 50th anniversary special for Saturday Night Live. Simon sang a duet with pop star Sabrina Carpenter on Homeward Bound, originally a top five hit for Simon and Garfunkel in 1966. A longtime friend of Canadian SNL producer Lorne Michaels, Simon has made several appearances on the late night show as host and musical guest through the years. Simon and Garfunkel performed on the second episode of the show in 1975, and in a memorable Thanksgiving weekend appearance a year later, Simon sang Homeward Bound with former Beatle George Harrison.
