Comedian Bill Maher was awarded the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor on Sunday. The award has been presented since 1998 to recognize those who have made significant contributions to humor and commentary in the United States. Previous winners include Conan O’Brien, Dave Chappelle, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, David Letterman, Carol Burnett, and Tina Fey.

Kennedy Center Upheaval

The Kennedy Center has been navigating changes since President Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025. Trump fired much of the center’s leadership and installed a board largely composed of allies, naming himself as chairman. However, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that Trump’s name was illegally added to the building and ordered it removed.

The legal fight has turned into a saga, with the full closure of the Kennedy Center on hold. The final event scheduled for the Kennedy Center’s Concert Hall is ‘The Freedom Gathering: A Musical Celebration’ on July 3. Ahead of the ceremony, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Trump ‘wants to make this building sensational.’ However, others were more skeptical, with Jay Leno calling Trump’s moves at the Kennedy Center ‘hilarious’ and about ‘vanity.’

Bill Maher’s selection for the award was notable due to his fraught relationship with Trump. The two men have a long history of public disagreements, including a $5 million lawsuit filed by Trump against Maher in 2013 for breach of contract. The lawsuit was eventually dropped.

The Twain prize ceremony will air on Netflix on July 21. The event featured a range of celebrities, including Woody Harrelson, Arianna Huffington, Stephen A. Smith, and Jay Leno.

Original reporting: KOAT Albuquerque — read the source article.