Since it seems that no one wants to come perform, President Donald Trump said Sunday he will move to the recently (and controversially) renamed John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, which has been battered by cancellations and boycotts, for two years starting this summer. The move came after a major backlash by performers, contributors and audience members and amounted to a significant setback to one of the key initiatives of his second term.

From his first weeks in office, Trump set out to remake the center, opened as a tribute to John F. Kennedy after his assassination in 1963, in his image. But in the discussions of that remaking, which included talk of renovations, there had been no public discussion of anything as drastic as a full two-year shutdown.

“This important decision, based on input from many Highly Respected Experts, will take a tired, broken, and dilapidated Center, one that has been in bad condition, both financially and structurally for many years, and turn it into a World Class Bastion of Arts, Music, and Entertainment,” Trump wrote when he announced the plans on social media.

The center historically has hosted more than 2,000 events a year, according to the website, although many performers don’t want to come anymore. Hamilton producer Jeffrey Seller said in a social media post that “our show simply cannot, in conscience, participate and be a part of this new culture that is being imposed on the Kennedy Center”. And just last week, Philip Glass, the acclaimed American composer, said he was withdrawing Symphony No. 15, which had been commissioned by the National Symphony Orchestra in tribute to Abraham Lincoln, that was to be performed there in June. A week earlier, the acclaimed soprano Renée Fleming canceled a performance.

The Washington National Opera announced last month that it was cutting its ties to the center, and the other classical music anchor there, the National Symphony Orchestra, has been playing to empty seats. So while it’s sad to think the Center will be going dark, it seems like the lights were already dimming.

House Speaker Mike Johnson predicted Sunday that the House will end the partial government shutdown by Tuesday, even as he prepares to move forward without Democratic support for Department of Homeland Security funding. The House needs to pass a Senate-approved spending package to end the partial government shutdown and Johnson says he’s not counting on Democratic support to help fast-track the measure.

Instead, he’s relying on help from President Trump to ensure passage. Trump struck a deal with senators to separate funding for the Department of Homeland Security from a broader package after public outrage over two shooting deaths during protests in Minneapolis against Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The measure approved Friday by the Senate would fund DHS temporarily, for two weeks, setting up a deadline for Congress to debate and vote on new restrictions on ICE operations. “It’s his play call to do it this way,” the speaker said, adding that the Republican president has “already conceded that he wants to turn down the volume” on federal immigration operations.

Johnson faces a daunting challenge ahead, trying to muscle the funding legislation through the House while Democrats are refusing to provide the votes for speedy passage. They are demanding restraints on ICE that go beyond $20 million for body cameras that already is in the bill. They want to require that federal immigration agents unmask and identify themselves and are pressing for an end to roving patrols, along with other seemingly common sense changes.

Did you catch the Grammys last night? Comedian Trevor Noah returned to host the show for his sixth consecutive time (which was also, apparently, his last). Olivia Dean took home the Best New Artist award at the 68th annual award show, but most people were talking about Bad Bunny, who accepted the Best Música Urbana Album award to a thunderous standing ovation, saying to the audience, “Before I say thanks to God, I’m gonna say: ICE out.”

In fact, several artists, including Shaboozey, Kehlani and Bon Iver, made political statements as they accepted their awards and walked the red carpet, taking stands against Immigration and Customs Enforcement and standing in solidarity with Minnesota protesters. Many attendees, including Justin and Hailey Bieber, Billie Eilish and Joni Mitchell, wore “ICE OUT” pins.

Meanwhile, Kendrick Lamar, who dominated the 2025 awards, officially broke the record for most-awarded hip-hop artist in Grammys history, earning 26 total awards thus far. Jay-Z was the previous record-holder. Later, performing perhaps her biggest song in years, Lady Gaga took the stage with a resounding “put your paws up!” It felt like viewers missed this theater from Gaga, whose “Abracadabra” has taken over the music scene (and my spinning class) over the last year. She performed the rock version of the song from behind a keyboard, with loud electric guitars and drums taking over the beat.

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