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Clint Smith on Telling the Truth About America’s History

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Construction fencing surrounds the Smithsonian Institution Building on the National Mall on March 28, 2025 in Washington, DC. U.S. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

In an executive order titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” President Trump targeted the Smithsonian, demanding that “improper ideology” be removed from exhibits. Under the order,  exhibits that “divide” Americans will be defunded, including  portrayals of race and its history at the National Museum of  African American History and Culture. We talk to Clint Smith, Atlantic staff writer and author of “How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America,” about the battle over how American history is told.

This show was inspired by listeners like you in our Discord community! Thank you to user “it’s me” for suggesting this topic.

Guests:

Clint Smith, poet; author; staff writer, The Atlantic. His books are "Above Ground" and "How the Word is Passed."

Key Jo Lee, chief of curatorial affairs and public program, Museum of the African Diaspora

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