White House orders sweeping review of Smithsonian museums

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Transcript

00:00History could be in for some editing.

00:02Question is, who gets to hold the pen?

00:04The Trump administration ordered a review of eight Smithsonian museums,

00:08including the African American History Museum and the Air and Space Museum.

00:11Why, you may ask?

00:12To push, quote, American exceptionalism and remove what they call divisive language.

00:17Museums have 30 days to report in and 120 days to make changes.

00:21This could mean rewriting exhibit labels, changing how stories are told,

00:24and curating history with a more, quote, unifying tone.

00:27But not everyone's on board.

00:29Critics say this could be a form of whitewashing,

00:31erasing the messy, painful parts of history in exchange for a feel-good version.

00:35The Smithsonian responded by saying they're committed to truth and scholarship,

00:39free from political influence.

00:41They see it as more than just dusty artifacts.

00:43It's how we're able to understand our past.

00:45Museums shape how we see ourselves, our country, and each other.

00:48And with America's 250th birthday coming up, the timing seems like no accident.

00:52But what do you think?

00:53Let us know in the comments and follow us here for more.