Jonathan L. Fischer

Good overview in American Theatre of what happens when a major U.S. city loses its one full-time theater critic. Ahem. www.americantheatre.org/2026/03/05/w...

‘Soulless hotel conference space’: Trump’s East Wing ballroom is poised for approval despite scathing public feedback | CNN Politics President Donald Trump’s massive East Wing ballroom project is poised to get its final approval from a government commission that oversees planning for federal buildings and land in the nation’s capit...

Both CNN and my pals at the Post did interesting AI analyses of the public comments (overwhelmingly negative) on the White House ballroom www.cnn.com/2026/03/05/p... and www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Jim Ford - Harlan County YouTube video by meatfugger

If you are enjoying Sturgill's funky country and are unfamiliar with Jim Ford, it's a great week to fix that. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivPT...

Disco Stu vs. the apocalypse As Johnny Blue Skies, Sturgill Simpson wants to party like it's the end of the world

A pleasing dissent from @chrisrichards.bsky.social thefutureisourstomake.substack.com/p/disco-stu-...

Hat stand.

What does the Paramount-WBD merger mean for CNN? | CNN Business Viewers and readers of CNN might be wondering the same thing that CNN employees are asking right now: What will Paramount’s ownership mean?

How refreshing to see a prominent media organization empowered to report fearlessly on itself www.cnn.com/2026/02/27/m...

One question interview with Heavenly By the time the great British band Heavenly first rattled my ears in the late ’90s, their music seemed to have become synonymous with the word “twee.” I loved the sound, but the language felt too tigh...

Everyone calls HEAVENLY “twee” but I wondered if they like harsh music

substack.com/home/post/p-...

Adore Willie’s ‘60s-‘80s music. I put on “La Gran Fuga” for some unfamiliar folks tonight and their jaws dropped. RIP.

Timothy Bailey & the Humans, by Timothy Bailey & the Humans 10 track album

I was shocked to see that Tim Bailey -- a gem of our region -- died. Make it your business to hear the 2022 Timothy Bailey & the Humans album, a beautiful and beguiling thing. Really, everything he did:
timothybaileyandthehumans.bandcamp.com/album/timoth...

The final Sunday arts section I worked on. (It’s a lovely one.)

Weirdly I think it may have always been missing. It’s a separate item on the section list. (Not saying there’s anything *good* about what just happened to the arts coverage….)

Column | At a broken Kennedy Center, the National Symphony begins a new journey The NSO is losing its home — after becoming a world-class orchestra.

Proud to see my team still doing the work. Fire and beauty from @philipkennicott.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...

It is worth noting the Post slashed the bulk of its arts coverage, including most of the critics, ending a great tradition in journalism.

I consider 2025 my finest professional year. The Post just laid me off.

Kennedy Center workers still in the dark as orchestra scouts other venues The center’s unions, leaders of the National Symphony Orchestra and lawmakers across the aisle reacted Tuesday to President Donald Trump’s planned closure of the center.

KenCen workers are worried about layoffs and attempts to weaken unions following Trump’s announcement of plans close it down for renovations. At one point last year, they said, new execs offered free parking to everyone on staff who wasn’t in a union. www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...

Column | The grave risk of Trump’s Kennedy Center shutdown Even in the best-case scenario, the president’s plan will only strain the performing arts ecosystem required for the center to thrive.

A two-year closure could be existential for the Kennedy Center, and it's unnecessary for the repairs proposed. Is there a larger agenda, including repurposing the memorial to the 35th President to serve the needs of the 47th? www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...

‘Crisis’: The fallout from Trump’s surprise plan to close Kennedy Center The president’s announcement shocked artists and staff. A letter obtained by The Washington Post brought the National Symphony Orchestra’s future into focus.

"Crisis." "Catastrophe." "Chaos." Just three words people used to describe the state of the Kennedy Center after Trump's announcement that he wants to close it for two years for construction.

Our latest: www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...

‘Crisis’: The fallout from Trump’s surprise plan to close Kennedy Center The president’s announcement shocked artists and staff. A letter obtained by The Washington Post brought the National Symphony Orchestra’s future into focus.

But: The Kennedy Center plans to continue funding the National Symphony Orchestra, and has agreed to find it alternative places to perform, according to an email obtained by The Washington Post. www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...

‘Crisis’: The fallout from Trump’s surprise plan to close Kennedy Center The president’s announcement shocked artists and staff. A letter obtained by The Washington Post brought the National Symphony Orchestra’s future into focus.

NEWS: The Trump plan to close down the Kennedy Center caught the staff, artists and members of the board by surprise. www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...

Column | The most important sound at this year’s Grammys? Free speech. With trophies in hand, Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish and SZA spoke out against ICE during an awards show where the musical performances felt secondary.

Column: Politics are often treated like radioactive material on Grammy night — divisive complications that the healing power of pop can neutralize.

But at the 68th annual Grammy Awards, the world outside had become too loud to ignore.

Our Sunday section.

Trump plans to close Kennedy Center for about two years, starting in July Under a proposal by President Donald Trump, the closure could begin July 4, with construction beginning immediately.

Our report on tonight's shocking news from Trump about the Kennedy Center www.washingtonpost.com/style/2026/0...

Column | What if there is no ‘behind the scenes’ for Melania Trump? “Melania,” the new Amazon documentary about the enigmatic first lady Melania Trump, mostly celebrates her zealous dedication to her external presentation.

HESSE on MELANIA www.washingtonpost.com/style/2026/0...

Trump wants to build a 250-foot-tall arch, dwarfing the Lincoln Memorial The president is eying a plot of land near Memorial Bridge. The art critic who proposed the idea called for a smaller arch or for Trump to pick a new site.

Trump wants to build a 250-foot-tall arch, dwarfing the Lincoln Memorial www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

It’s Conan O’Brien’s big night — at Donald Trump’s Kennedy Center At this year’s Mark Twain Prize for American Humor ceremony honoring Conan O’Brien, a tribute to comedy may compete with the drama in the building.

Catherine O'Hara was originally supposed to receive the Mark Twain Prize from the Kennedy Center in 2025. (She declined just after the 2024 election, citing a conflict.) www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...

The Washington Post's International, Immigration, National Security and Climate journalists – reporters, writers, editors, photographers, videographers – work in concert to produce independent, revelatory reporting that holds power to account wherever in the world it is wielded

go.bsky.app/M6MFQsC

Kennedy Center’s new programming head resigns days after hire was announced Kevin Couch, appointed the Kennedy Center’s senior vice president of artistic programming, resigned less than two weeks after his hire was announced.

Kennedy Center’s new programming head resigns days after hire was announced www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...

"The GSA 'intends to retain ownership' of both the statue of Benjamin Franklin located in front of the building and the vast sculpture in the atrium by American installation artist Robert Irwin..."

Government moves to sell Old Post Office, once home to Trump hotel The building’s tower, offering sweeping city views, is closed to the public as the effort to shrink the federal footprint in D.C. is underway.

The government moves to sell the Old Post Office, former home of the Trump hotel: www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...