16 h. ago Theatre director Rufus Norris says knighthood is an ‘extraordinary privilege’

Sir Rufus, who was director of the National Theatre for a decade, has been recognised for his services to theatre.

Politics

17 h. ago Director of National Portrait Gallery resigns after Trump’s effort to fire her

Kim Sajet’s departure comes after the Smithsonian Institute rebuffed the president’s attempt to fire her over DEIThe director of the National Portrait Gallery, Kim Sajet, has resigned just two weeks after Donald Trump attempted to fire her and accused her of being “highly partisan and a strong supporter of DEI”.“We thank Kim for her service. Her decision to put the museum first is to be applauded and appreciated. I know this was not an easy decision. She put the needs of the Institution above her own, and for that we thank her,” Lonnie Bunch, the Smithsonian secretary, wrote in a Friday internal email that was obtained by multiple outlets. Continue reading...

Politics

51 h. ago Mass resignations at prestigious scholarship board over Trump admin ‘interference’

All but one of the 12 board members has quit

Politics

3 d. ago Gabbard says AI is speeding up intel work, including the release of the JFK assassination files

The director of national intelligence says artificial intelligence is speeding up the work of America's spy services

Economics

3 d. ago DNI Director Tulsi Gabbard posts ominous video warning ‘elites’ are fine with nuclear war because they own bunkers

Donald Trump’s Director of National Intelligence has posted an ominous video suggesting “political elites” are fomenting nuclear tensions because they own bunkers which would protect them from a bomb.

Events

4 d. ago Dead elephants and feral sea lions: how poisonous algal blooms harm the planet

As the Earth heats up, the amount of algae in our waterways is rapidly increasing, transforming the colour of lakes and killing entire ecosystemsBefore the elephants collapsed, they walked in aimless circles. Some fell head first, dying where they stood moments earlier; their carcasses scattered near watering holes across the Okavango delta. The unexplained deaths in May 2020 alarmed conservationists. By July, at least 350 elephants had died and nobody knew why.“The animals all had their tusks, so poaching was unlikely. A lot of them had obviously died relatively suddenly: they had dropped on to their sternums, which was indicating a sudden loss of muscle function or neural capacity,” says Niall McCann, director of the conservation group National Park Rescue. Continue reading...

Events

9 d. ago Dominic Cooke appointed as the Almeida theatre’s artistic director

Cooke, who ran the Royal Court for several years, will succeed Rupert Goold at the illustrious London venue in 2026Dominic Cooke has been appointed as the new artistic director of the Almeida theatre in London, succeeding Rupert Goold in 2026.Cooke ran the Royal Court for several years and is an in-demand director with recent hits in the West End and at the National Theatre. “Twelve years after leaving the Royal Court, I couldn’t be more excited to be returning as an artistic director and to be taking the reins of this unique theatre,” he said. He described Goold’s Almeida as “a beacon of quality and innovation” and added: “I’m hugely grateful to him and his team to be handed an organisation in such good health. I look forward to building on this legacy and to future adventures in this magical space.” Continue reading...

Society

9 d. ago We in the cultural sector must stand up to Trump’s attacks – if not now, when? | Gus Casely

My former colleagues at the Smithsonian in Washington DC face unprecedented pressure. I urge them to defend their principlesGus Casely-Hayford is director of London’s V&A EastIn one of his recent Truth Social posts, Donald Trump appeared to fire Kim Sajet – the fearless and utterly brilliant director of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC. The president used his social media platform to claim that Sajet’s support for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) made her unsuitable for her role. “Upon the request and recommendation of many people, I am hereby terminating the employment of Kim Sajet as Director of the National Portrait Gallery”, Trump wrote. “She is a highly partisan person, and a strong supporter of DEI, which is totally inappropriate for her position. Her replacement will be named shortly.”Where to start? By now, we all know the arts has become the terrain for a brutal proxy battle for hearts and minds. A culture war 2.0, where not ...

Politics

2 w. ago Trump says he fired National Portrait Gallery chief in latest conflict with arts

President says director Kim Sajet has been fired but experts suggest president does not have legal grounds to do soDonald Trump says he is firing the first female director of the National Portrait Gallery, which contained a caption that referenced the attack on the US Capitol that his supporters carried out in early 2021.The president announced the termination on Friday in a post on his social media platform that accused Sajet – born in Nigeria, raised in Australia and a citizen of the Netherlands – of being “a strong supporter” of diversity initiatives that his administration opposes as well as “highly partisan”. He cited no evidence for either claim. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Trump fires National Portrait Gallery director in latest conflict with arts

Move against Kim Sajet, gallery’s first female chief, comes as caption on Trump references impeachments and January 6Donald Trump says he is firing the first female director of the National Portrait Gallery, which contained a caption that referenced the attack on the US Capitol that his supporters carried out in early 2021.The president announced the sacking Friday through a post on his social media platform that accused Sajet – born in Nigeria, raised in Australia and a citizen of the Netherlands – of being “a strong supporter” of diversity initiatives that his administration opposes as well as “highly partisan”. He cited no evidence for either claim. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Musk quits team Trump after slamming spending bill but says DOGE will continue

Elon Musk, the CEO of X, Tesla and SpaceX, has announced his resignation from his advisory role with President Donald Trump after the inseperable pair clashed over Trump's landmark spending bill

Politics

2 w. ago Turmoil, resignations and ‘psychological warfare’: how Trump is crippling US national parks

As the administration slashes jobs and hobbles research, current and former workers say the mood inside US national parks – described as America’s ‘best idea’ – is bleakThrowing up his hands in disgust and abruptly resigning was not how Mark Nebel envisioned he would end his long career with the National Park Service. He loved his job at the Grand Canyon, where he had worked for 15 years.As manager of the park’s geosciences program, Nebel, 68, oversaw efforts to protect its geology and paleontology as well as monitoring water sources, air quality and the effects of climate change. He had planned to stay in his position at least five more years before retiring. There was still much research to do to support the vulnerable ecosystems in one of the world’s greatest natural wonders. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Trump to address West Point graduates as he tries to impose agenda on military

President’s visit to military academy occurs as books are banned and clubs disbanded in line with anti-DEI policeDonald Trump will address graduates of West Point on Saturday, as his administration moves to implement a rightwing agenda at military service academies that has prompted the disbandment of student clubs, the removal of certain books and at least one faculty resignation.It will be the second time Trump has spoken to graduates of the United States Military Academy in upstate New York where the next generation of army leaders is educated, and offers the president an opportunity to stump for his defense policy. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago A huge Democratic victory in Omaha offers a lesson for the party | Katrina vanden Heuvel

The Nebraska city swung by 43 points to elect John Ewing Jr. Democrats should pay close attention to the model he embracedFor the last several months, the Trump administration’s reckless use of executive power, trade policy, gutting federal agencies, and defying court orders has gone largely unchecked. National Democrats have limited means of opposition – so the best hope for accountability will be electoral accountability.This may help explain why last Tuesday’s election results in America’s 41st biggest city generated such outsized excitement from progressives. John Ewing Jr, a longtime county treasurer, was elected the first Black mayor of Omaha, defeating the incumbent Jean Stothert, who was seeking a fourth term after holding that office since 2013. More than that, Ewing won big, by nearly 13 points, marking a huge shift after Stothert won her last race by 30.Katrina vanden Heuvel is editorial director and publisher of the Nation, she is a member of the Council on Foreign Relat...

Politics

3 w. ago Oil industry funded Girl Scouts and British Museum to boost image, evidence suggests

BP has funded Washington’s National Gallery of Art, UK’s Royal Shakespeare Company and National Portrait GalleryOil interests have funded cultural institutions such as museums, youth organizations and athletic groups in recent years, new research shows, in what appears to be a public relations effort to boost their image amid growing public awareness of the climate crisis.Top US fossil fuel lobby group the American Petroleum Institute (API) sponsored a 2017 workshop for the Pennsylvania Girl Scouts, featuring “activities that mimicked work in the energy industry”. Energy giant BP in 2016 sponsored Washington DC’s National Gallery of Art and continues to fund the British Museum in London. And in 2019, Shell sponsored the golf event the Houston Open for the 26th time. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Russ Vought: key Project 2025 figure set to continue Trump cuts after Musk exit

Goal of Christian nationalist and director of OMB to dismantle federal workforce may be coming to fruitionRuss Vought’s years-long quest to dismantle the federal workforce and consolidate power for the president is coming to fruition, and he may be given a major boost when he reportedly takes on Elon Musk’s cost-cutting efforts as the billionaire bows out of the federal government.The director of the office of management and budget has worked alongside Musk’s “department of government efficiency” to slash through the federal government since Trump took office. The Wall Street Journal reported this week that Vought would take on an increased public role in Washington as Musk transitions out and the president’s budget process advances. The outlet reported that Vought could use the budget process to make some of Doge’s cuts permanent. Continue reading...

Politics