Sen. Mike Lee blocks bill barring Kennedy Center demolition without Congress
Sen. Mike Lee objected to a bipartisan bill from Sens. Merkley and Murkowski that would bar demolition of presidential memorials, including the Kennedy Center, without an act of Congress. Outlets differ on whether the building's condition or Trump's intentions are the central context.
Updated (version 2). New coverage since the last version from The New York Times.
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The story, neutrally told
On Monday night, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) blocked an attempt by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) to prohibit President Trump from demolishing the Kennedy Center. The HillN “blocked an attempt from Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) to prohibit President Trump from demolishing the Kennedy Center” Read at The Hill ↗ Washington ExaminerR “Lee objected, blocking the measure from advancing.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Merkley sought passage by unanimous consent, which skips a floor vote if no senator objects; Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski also supported the bill. The HillN “also had the support of Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska)” Read at The Hill ↗ The Protecting Presidential Memorials Act would bar demolition of any federally authorized presidential memorial without an act of Congress, covering the Kennedy Center, the Lincoln Memorial and the Jefferson Memorial. Washington ExaminerR “The measure would prohibit the demolition of any federally authorized memorial honoring a U.S. president without an act of Congress.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗
Lee told the Washington Examiner that Democrats were wasting the Senate's time with "partisan scaremongering" that had not gone through the committee process. Washington ExaminerR “wasting the Senate’s time with partisan scaremongering they haven’t even tried to run through the appropriate committee process” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Merkley called it a "common-sense bill" and said Trump first "destroyed its programming, and now, he wants to destroy the building itself." Washington ExaminerR “First, he destroyed its programming, and now, he wants to destroy the building itself.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Merkley and Rep. Chellie Pingree said they would keep pushing the bill in both chambers. BreitbartR “are not backing down and will try to get their bill passed in the House and Senate” Read at Breitbart ↗
In an August court filing, Justice Department lawyers said that without Trump's renovation plan the building could become an "unsafe, decrepit structure" that might have to be taken down. BreitbartR “unsafe, decrepit structure” Read at Breitbart ↗ Center leaders told a court the building will not be torn down, and a judge ordered 30 days' notice to the court before any demolition steps. BreitbartR “The leaders of the Kennedy Center said in court that the building will not be torn down.” Read at Breitbart ↗ Washington ExaminerR “ordered the Trump administration to provide 30 days’ advance notice to the court” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Earlier this month a judge blocked Trump's name from being added to the building, and the venue closed in early September after part of a ceiling collapsed. Washington ExaminerR “A judge ultimately blocked Trump from adding his name to the building in any form earlier this month.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ BreitbartR “The venue was closed in early September after part of the ceiling collapsed in the Grand Foyer.” Read at Breitbart ↗
The New York Times reported that the president has entertained the idea of tearing the venue down, but analysts say any plan would face multiple daunting challenges. The New York TimesLC “Analysts say any plan would face multiple daunting challenges.” Read at The New York Times ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Explains whether Trump could realistically demolish the Kennedy Center, stressing legal and practical hurdles rather than the Senate vote.
- Emphasis
- Expert analysis of obstacles to demolition.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention Lee's objection in the coverage.
- For example
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“Analysts say any plan would face multiple daunting challenges.” — The New York Times
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Straight report of the procedural block, led by Lee's objection and Murkowski's bipartisan support.
- Emphasis
- The procedure and the bipartisan backing.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Little on the building's condition, court filings or Lee's reasoning.
- For example
-
“also had the support of Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska)” — The Hill
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Washington Examiner reports the block with Lee's and Merkley's quotes and court background; Breitbart stresses the building's poor state and the renovation.
- Emphasis
- Lee's committee-process objection; the building's collapse and renovation.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Breitbart gives Lee no quote and leaves out Merkley's quotes on programming and Trump's name.
- Charged language
- “Collapsing Kennedy Center”“crumbling Kennedy Center”“partisan scaremongering”
- For example
-
“would stop President Donald Trump from demolishing the crumbling Kennedy Center” — Breitbart
“partisan scaremongering” — Washington Examiner
What every side reports
- Lee objected on Monday night to Merkley's unanimous-consent request, blocking the bill.
- Murkowski, a Republican, backed the bill.
- Center leaders told a court the building will not be torn down.
Where accounts differ
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Whether demolition is a real prospect
- Left
- Says the president has entertained tearing it down, though experts see major obstacles.
- Centre
- Frames the bill as preventing Trump from tearing down buildings honoring presidents.
- Right
- Washington Examiner notes accusations and intensified concerns; Breitbart says the building is crumbling and Trump is fighting to renovate it.
-
Why Lee objected
- Left
- Not stated in the available coverage.
- Centre
- Not stated in the available coverage.
- Right
- Lee called it partisan scaremongering that skipped committee; Breitbart casts the bill as blocking a response to a collapsing building.
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Mike Lee blocked, by objecting to unanimous consent, Merkley's bill to bar demolition of the Kennedy Center.
Reported- Reports 3
- The Hill, Breitbart, Washington Examiner
-
The Trump administration has been accused of possibly seeking to demolish the Kennedy Center, while its leaders told court it will not be torn down.
Reported- Reports 3
- The New York Times, Breitbart, Washington Examiner
Mike Lee person
Objected, saying Democrats waste time on partisan scaremongering and skipped committee.
“wasting the Senate’s time with partisan scaremongering” — Washington Examiner
Jeff Merkley person
Defends the bill as common-sense and accuses Trump of seeking to destroy the building.
“But Merkley defended the measure, calling it a “common-sense bill.”” — Washington Examiner
Donald Trump person
His administration says in legal filings the building may need demolition if not renovated; center leaders told a court it will not be torn down.
“The Trump administration has warned in legal filings that the building may eventually need to be demolished if it is not renovated.” — Breitbart
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts organisation
Leaders told a court the building will not be torn down.
“The leaders of the Kennedy Center said in court that the building will not be torn down.” — Breitbart
Left1 article
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Can President Trump Demolish the Kennedy Center? Experts Say Not Easily.
Neutral Analytical piece on obstacles to any demolition.
Centre1 article
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GOP senator blocks move to prevent Trump from tearing down buildings honoring presidents
Neutral Concise report of Lee's objection and the bill's bipartisan support.
Right2 articles
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Mike Lee blocks effort to prevent Trump from tearing down presidential memorials
Neutral Full account with quotes from both senators and legal background.
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Sympathetic Emphasises the crumbling building and the administration's renovation effort.
- 29 Sep 15:52 First The HillN GOP senator blocks move to prevent Trump from tearing down buildings honoring presidents
- 29 Sep 16:11 +19m Washington ExaminerR Mike Lee blocks effort to prevent Trump from tearing down presidential memorials
- 29 Sep 20:53 +5h 2m BreitbartR GOP Sen. Mike Lee Blocks Bill that Would Stop President Trump from Demolishing Collapsing Kennedy Center
- 30 Sep 10:03 +18h 11m The New York TimesLC Can President Trump Demolish the Kennedy Center? Experts Say Not Easily.
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.