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NEA Funding For 2026 Advances

The U.S. Senate & the House of Representatives released final funding levels for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Interior, Environment & Related Agencies Appropriations bill including $207 million for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). The Creative Coalition commends Congress for maintaining FY 2025 funding levels for the NEA & calls on lawmakers in both chambers to approve this funding level when it comes for a vote in each chamber. Tim Daly, President of The Creative Coalition stated, “Maintaining stable funding for the National Endowment for the Arts is a vital step toward nurturing creativity, boosting local economies & ensuring access to the arts for all Americans. This funding supports jobs, education & community vitality across the country. It’s a smart investment in our nation’s cultural & economic strength.” Robin Bronk, CEO of The Creative Coalition concluded, “The Creative Coalition applauds this bipartisan agreement to preserve NEA funding at current levels, but our work isn’t done until it becomes law. We’ll keep pushing to protect & grow support for the arts, which drive innovation, heal communities & contribute billions to our economy every year.” The House of Representatives is expected to vote on NEA funding as part of a larger spending package as soon as this week. If the bill passes the House the Senate must also approve the measure before it is sent to the President for signature. The Creative Coalition will continue to engage with lawmakers as new funding for the NEA moves toward finalization. Founded in 1989 by prominent members of the creative community The Creative Coalition is dedicated to educating its members on issues of public importance. 
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Andrea Jenkins Announces Retirement

Andrea Jenkins President of the Minneapolis City Council has announced her retirement. I remember how amazing she was during the George Floyd murder back in 2020 in Minnesota when she was Vice President of the Minneapolis City Council. Dr. David J. Johns CEO & Executive Director of the National Black Justice Collective (NBJC) stated, “As my dear fraternity sister Andrea Jenkins prepares to retire from the Minneapolis City Council, I want to celebrate her extraordinary legacy of groundbreaking leadership and unwavering commitment to justice. Andrea made history in 2017 as the first openly transgender African American elected to public office in the United States & she continued to break barriers by becoming the first out trans person to serve as a city council president… Andrea's leadership through the aftermath of George Floyd's murder demonstrated her courage & vision, guiding the city through profound grief & upheaval, championing meaningful police reform & investing in community safety while never losing sight of the humanity at the center of these debates. Her commitment to restoring communities, supporting violence prevention initiatives & creating the Office of Community Safety reflects her dedication to building a Minneapolis where all residents can thrive. Beyond her political achievements, Andrea is a gifted poet, writer & historian whose cultural contributions have enriched our understanding of transgender history & Black LGBTQ+/SGL experiences. As a member of NBJC's Good Trouble Network, she has been an invaluable ally & advocate & I am deeply grateful for her support of my own leadership & of our organization's mission.” NBJC is America’s leading civil rights organization dedicated to the empowerment of Black LGBTQ people including people living with HIV. 
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Stronger Than Ever Moving Forward

A year ago I was in a wait & see mode like so many others in America. Now a year later as we enter 2026 I’m much wiser, focused & stronger as so many others in this country have become. When I reflect on the 2025 I have to agree with Bette Midler who stated, “In my entire life, I have never lived through a more horrible year…It was hideous & left us a smaller nation in the eyes of the world; we may never shine the way we once did. Every day was full of cruelty, viciousness, sadism, stupidity, corruption, even towards our friends. Every day, decimation of every value & institution we as Americans hold dear. It has been a heartbreaker, we got through it, but barely.” So to everyone who  survived 2025 celebrate yourself for persisting in the human experience to depths we have all experienced this pass year & though it still feels like an uphill battle, we are more rooted than ever to take on 2026. Two of my major mantras for this year are first from Duke Ellington who stated, "Life has two rules: #1 – Never quit. #2 – Always remember rule #1.". The other mantra that has saved me from despair is from my Aunt Ruby who told me “Nothing is so bad it can’t get worse & we spend our lives worrying about things that never happen.” 2025 as shocking as it was is over & what everyone in America does now counts. So dust off 2025 as effectively as you can & be true to your authentic self because as Eleanor Roosevelt stated, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."
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OUTTAKE MEDIA 2025 Year End Review

 

 
We're closing out 2025 on a high note with over 15 million views throughout our global network. Thanks to our loyal worldwide audience & contributors for supporting OUTTAKE MEDIA’s mission to always deliver the truth especially all the leaders, filmmakers, actors, authors & allies who participated on OUTTAKE VOICES in '25 now syndicated on over 25+ podcast platforms including activist Cathy Marino-Thomas, award-winning writer Sarah Schulman, Bradbury-Sullivan’s Chrystina Obleschuk, Emmy-winning Actor & star of “The White Lotus” Murray Bartlett, filmmaker Megan Rossman, director Carmen Emmi, directors Jackie Reeves & Lauren Wolk, producer Christine Vachon, director Michael Koehler, filmmaker Claire Titelman, writer Jeff Copeland, Tim Mendelson longtime executive assistant to legendary actress Elizabeth Taylor, filmmaker Jota Mun, director Sophie Hyde & actor Aud Mason Hyde from the feature film Jimpa. We also wish to thank all the fabulous publicists & PR firms for providing us with fabulous voices in 2025 including Mark Umbach at LUCKY BREAK PR, Adrienne Mazzone at Trans Media Group, Mona Elyafi at ILDK Media, Marlea Willis at PBS’s American Documentary, Inc & the team from Obscured Pictures. This has been an exceptional year extending our coverage from producing our VOTE PSA Campaign in 2024 that received over 300K views to developing a new docuseries that is due to be released in 2026. As we head into the new year we've already lined up some amazing guests to address the significance of our human rights & democracy globally so stay tuned for exciting new projects & more. Wishing Everyone A Safe & Healthy New Year. LISTEN
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Rocker Abby Nissenbaum New Release

Rock artist Abby Nissenbaum is releasing her newest single “If You Wanted to You Would” due out January 2nd. Nissenbaum writes from the heart exploring themes of depression, isolation, & heartbreak but anchored by messages of hope, empowerment & community. Complemented by her effortlessly honest & raw vocal delivery Abby offers relatable, honest & heartfelt lyricism amidst catchy melodies, beautifully contrasting the energetic indie-rock soundscape which surrounds her. Nissenbaum stated, "’If You Wanted To You Would’ is my modern take on a 60s torch song. I was inspired by artists like Lesley Gore who could combine vulnerability & heartbreak with quietly radical feminist declarations all delivered in a sweet, melodic pop package. The song is ultimately about the moment you stop negotiating your worth in someone else’s uncertainty & decide instead to choose yourself & your own wellbeing instead. The through line of, “if you don’t care / then it’s all good / if you wanted to, you would” sounds a bit like resignation on face value, but at its core, I see it as a mantra for closure.” Nashville-based LGBTQ indie-rock artist Abby Nissenbaum is a lifelong musician, classically-trained soprano her 2023 debut EP "Unreliable Narrator" swept international press with accolades from Wonderland, Earmilk, Notion, Clash, Psychedelic Baby Mag, Today in Nashville & She Makes Music UK among others. Nissenbaum’s emotive, bright vocal performances blend with contemporary indie-alt rock elements creates a compelling & unique sound worthy of the kudos so check out “If You Wanted to You Would” due out January 2nd. 
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Full Circle Honoring Our Shared History

Cris Williamson returns to The Freight for her annual homage to the New Year bringing a curated set of songs from 5 decades for 2 shows on January 10th & 11th at 7P in Berkeley, CA. Singer, songwriter, musician, teacher & activist Williamson is one of the most important figures from the women's music movement rooted in the '70s. Cris stated, “A musical & visual journey through our shared history, beginning & ending with The Changer & the Changed … songs that soothed us, wooed us, summoned us, united us, strengthened us & gathered us together in community. Let’s greet this next year together, armed with memories of what we've done, pride in who we are & our shared belief in what is possible.” Cris has continued to write, record, teach & tour including 3 sold-out shows at Carnegie Hall. Along with touring, a new album & a documentary in the works her recent album Harbor Street serves as a mirror of these difficult times. Williamson continues to be a fearless trailblazer, an avowed feminist & a proud lesbian long before most dared to come out. In 2018 Cris & Judy Dlugacz founders of the landmark women-led label Olivia Records were honored with the Jack Emerson Lifetime Achievement Award for Executive by the Americana Music Association. Since 1968 The Freight has been deeply rooted in the aspect of Berkeley’s culture that embraced freedom, justice, acceptance, collaboration & innovation. Premium advance tickets are $74 & premium day of show tickets are $79. General advance tickets are $54 & general day of show tickets are $59 including all fees. 
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Stonewall National Museum 2026 Gala

Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library will ceremoniously & historically induct Jon Stryker, retired Congressman Barney Frank & Janis Ian into its nationally traveling “Standing on the Shoulders of Heroes” exhibition on February 21st at The VENUE in Wilton Manors, FL. Robert Kesten, Stonewall National Museum’s President & CEO stated, “Deeply impactful & culturally transformative, Stryker, Frank & Ian will be memorialized among other LGBTQ+ trailblazers in Stonewall National Museum’s national human rights exhibit. It will be an incredible experience to unveil their exhibition pieces & celebrate their achievements with guests at our 4th annual Gala. Our three honorees continue to be transformative figures in all aspects of our society. They uniquely represent what is best in us simply by being themselves. Jon has impacted the planet with his one-of-a-kind foundation, his board service & commitment to our humanity. Barney can synthesize what is going on in the world & keep it in perspective & in his colorful & expressive way, letting us know this too can be solved & then there is Janis. Her vulnerability in words & music takes you in & her wicked guitar riffs keep you emotionally engaged, it’s almost like being hypnotized & transformed. I am thankful that in the world as it is today, these three will be inducted into our exhibit & join us in repairing our world.” The “Standing on the Shoulders of Heroes” exhibition has been displayed in Fort Lauderdale, FL, Philadelphia, PA, NYC, Washington D.C., New Orleans, LA, New Jersey, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Rockland County, NY, Arlington, TX, West Palm Beach, FL & continues its travels to cities from coast to coast. 
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NEA Funding For 2026 Advances

The U.S. Senate & the House of Representatives released final funding levels for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Interior, Environment & R...

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