COMBO Newsletter Editor’s note: Here’s what’s going on: Bruce Springsteen made a statement at a concert in Europe about matters in the U.S.A. The president didn’t like it and he made a counter-statement that set off a lot of people in defense of the musician – and other musicians. Because COMBO is not allowed by “the rules” to get involved in “politics” (is this dispute really a political problem or is it a matter of one person who dislikes someone?) so we’ll just give you the links to go read the statements for yourselves. Also, the president has put out some executive orders that will affect musicians’ music on PBS stations.
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Statement from AFM International President on Trump Attacking Members Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift
https://www.afm.org/2025/05/afm-statement-on-trump-attacking-members-bruce-springsteen-and-taylor-swift/
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The President’s Opinion:
Trump calls Bruce Springsteen ‘obnoxious jerk’ after singer voiced criticism at concert
By Swapna Venugopal RamaswamyJay StahlLori Comstock, USA TODAY
https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2025/05/16/trump-calls-bruce-springsteen-obnoxious-jerk/83671059007/
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Bruce Springsteen’s Statement:
Springsteen Releases EP Including Remarks That Angered Trump
By Derrick Bryson Taylor, NY Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/21/arts/music/bruce-springsteen-e-street-band-ep-trump.html
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Trump posts altered video of himself hitting Bruce Springsteen with a golf ball in ongoing feud
https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/music/trump-springsteen-golf-ball-video-rcna208242
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Musicians [the President] Has Insulted, From Taylor Swift to Snoop Dogg
By Hannah Dailey, Billboard
https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/musicians-donald-trump-has-insulted-from-taylor-swift-to-snoop-dogg/
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Corporation for Public Broadcasting Statement Regarding Executive Order on Public Media
https://cpb.org/pressroom/Corporation-Public-Broadcasting-Statement-Regarding-Executive-Order-Public-Media
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting makes a brilliant chess move to counter Donald Trump’s plan to gut its board of directors by changing its bylaws to block his firing power.
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Trump Administration Fires Almost 600 Voice of America Employees
By Dominic Mastrangelo, The Hill
President Trump has fired hundreds of employees at Voice of America (VOA) as his government aims to trim down the size of the federal broadcaster and retool its editorial strategy.
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WGA Demands Immediate Reinstatement of US Copyright Office Head After Trump’s ‘Unlawful’ Firing
By Tess Patton, The Wrap
The Trump administration fired the head of the U.S. Copyright Office Shira Perlmutter just days after her office published a report critical of the use of artificial intelligence in government agencies.
The post WGA Demands Immediate Reinstatement of US Copyright Office Head After Trump’s ‘Unlawful’ Firing appeared first on TheWrap.
https://www.thewrap.com/wga-demands-reinstatement-copyright-office-head-after-trump-firing/