Bill Maher wins Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize

Comedian and talk show host Bill Maher received the Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor on Sunday night, an honor presented against the backdrop of the performing arts center's own politically charged transformation under President Donald Trump.

The ceremony in the Kennedy Center's Concert Hall featured tributes from fellow comedians and celebrities, including Arianna Huffington, Jay Leno, Woody Harrelson, and Stephen A. Smith. In his acceptance speech, Maher derided political extremes on both the left and right, rejecting what he called "groupthink." He framed his comedy as a challenge to all sides, stating that laughter serves as an involuntary "truth detector." The event included extensive clips from Maher's career, spanning from his early show "Politically Incorrect" to his current HBO program, "Real Time with Bill Maher."

The evening's proceedings were notably set within a venue that has become a focal point of legal and political controversy. Since returning to the White House in January 2025, President Trump has fired much of the center's leadership, installed a board of allies, and had his name added to the building's iconic facade. A federal judge ruled...