Federal judge rules DOGE's NEH grant cancellations unconstitutional

A federal judge determined that the decision by DOGE to revoke over $100 million in NEH grants was unconstitutional; however, this ruling is largely irrelevant since the administration has already reduced NEH staff by more than half, canceled 97% of grants, and dismissed 22 of the 26 advisory board members. In a separate report, PEN America has noted that the number of nonfiction book bans has doubled, particularly targeting themes related to activism and social movements. At the Venice Biennale, several prominent pavilions—including those from Austria, Belgium, Egypt, Japan, the Netherlands, and South Korea—closed in protest against Israel's involvement. The artist representing Israel threatened jurors with personal liability lawsuits prior to their resignations. Founded in 1987, Chicago Sinfonietta is suspending operations until 2027. Pulitzer Prize-winning critic Manuela Hoelterhoff has passed away at the age of 77. David Attenborough celebrates his 100th birthday.