The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts was a bipartisan project for the advancement of the performing arts conceptualized during the Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations. When JFK was assassinated in 1964, it was established as a “living memorial” in his honor. For decades, the Center was an American cultural stalwart. Then, last year, President Trump dismissed its entire board of trustees, took over as chairman, and changed its name to the Trump Kennedy Center. We’re joined by New Yorker staff writer Katy Waldman to dive into the Center’s legacy and Trumpian transformation.

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Inspired by our recent episode about Marilyn Monroe’s relationship with the Kennedy family, we watched the most recent fictionalized account of Marilyn’s life to make a splash: Andrew Dominik’s 2022 Netflix film ‘Blonde,’ starring Ana de Armas and based on the 2001 Joyce Carol Oates novel of the same name. We’re joined by film writer Esther Zuckerman to talk about the film’s divisive legacy, recognition by both the Oscars and the Razzies — and the infamous JFK scene that gave it its NC-17 rating. A content warning for our listeners: This episode discusses sexual assault.

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We discuss the buzzy new FX series ‘Love Story: JFK Jr. & Carolyn Bessette.’

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