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· collected 2026-08-04 · by Andrew Miller, Kiera McDonald
Historian Dr. Jody Edward Ginn recently visited the National Museum of American History for the first time in over a decade and expressed disappointment at the shift he perceives towards activism. According to Ginn, the museum's mission has changed to prioritize activism over education, with exhibits intended to "direct" visitors to action rather than provide information for them to make their own decisions. The historian criticized specific exhibits, including graphic and sexually explicit displays that are accessible to children and families. This shift in approach was also questioned by lawmakers during a House hearing last month, who pressed museum director Anthea Hartig about the inclusion of such content.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Why this leaning score
The article's language is strongly sympathetic to Dr. Jody Edward Ginn's critique of the Smithsonian's shift towards activism, using phrases such as 'completely different place', 'abandoning its educational mission', and 'indoctrinate' without providing a balanced counterpoint or neutral explanation. The framing also emphasizes the criticism from conservative lawmakers, further reinforcing a right-leaning narrative.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score +0.90 for article 308 · logged 2026-08-04
A historian and museum professional accused the Smithsonian of abandoning its educational mission in favor of activism following his visit to the National Museum of American History (NMAH) for the first time in more than a decade amid mounting criticism from the Trump administration and conservatives over how the museum presents American history.
asserted
museum → accuse → history
"It's a completely different place than when I was there in 2012," Dr. Jody Edward Ginn told Fox News Digital.
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Ginn → tell → Digital
"Its mission is clearly exactly what they changed it to be.
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they → change → it
They use history, but that's kind of the problem.
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that → use → history
You know, scholars of history, and I don't consider these folks scholars anymore.
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folks → know → history
After reading the administration's Domestic Policy Council report accusing the Smithsonian and the NMAH of failing to present history "in a way that is inspiring, unifying, and worthy of our great republic," Ginn said he traveled all the way from Texas to see it for himself.
asserted
he → read → himself
"From the moment I walked in, it's a very different experience," Ginn said.
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Ginn → walk → moment
"Now, I wasn't totally shocked by this because I've been watching this evolution in my field for over a decade."
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I → shock → decade
As he made his way through the exhibits, Ginn said the institution seeks to "specifically direct" visitors "to action" rather than give them the information to "make their own decisions."
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institution → make → decisions
"It became this goal, their own stated goal, to turn museums from institutions of education, of public education, into institutions to encourage activism, which could also be said to indoctrinate."
uncertain
which → become → activism
Ginn said he found "factually incorrect information" in some exhibits but argued what they don't tell visitors is just as misleading.
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tell → say → visitors
"The biggest problem is in what they leave out," he said.
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he → leave → what
Ginn argued the museum's "graphic" and sexually explicit exhibits have no place in a museum frequented by children and families, saying they're "out of sync with what museums were just a few years ago."
"These are geared towards all ages," he said.
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he → argue → ages
"Why would you do that?
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you → do → that
In a House hearing last month, lawmakers raised similar concerns during a House hearing, pressing Smithsonian National Museum of American History Director Anthea Hartig about the museum's exhibits.
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lawmakers → raise → exhibits
Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., asked Hartig about the exhibit titled "Illegal to Be You: Gay History Beyond Stonewall," which featured a bondage harness, saying "You have pictures of bondage, you have some overtly sexual things up there, you have transgender folks."
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you → ask → folks
Lawmakers also questioned Hartig about the 2017 MASS Action Toolkit, a guide for museum professionals that references the 2014 Ferguson, Missouri, police shooting and subsequent Black Lives Matter protests while describing "objectivity" as a characteristic of "white supremacy culture," which Ginn said was part of its effort to lean towards activism.
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Ginn → question → activism
Reflecting on the testimony, Ginn said it was "very disappointing" and did not represent "a scholarly presentation whatsoever."
"If that's the kind of museum you've been approved to run, then just own it," he said.
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he → reflect → it
"Don't say you're being unbiased when it's really evident."
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it → say → ?
Ginn also criticized Hartig for maintaining that the museum has not taken a side, adding its revised mission statement "changed the purpose of that museum."
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statement → criticize → museum
During a 2024 presentation to undergraduate and graduate history students, Hartig explained the museum removed the mention of "American history" from its mission statement because it was "hard to get out of the 'America First' mentality."
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it → explain → mentality
For Ginn, his visit confirmed what he described as a "massive shift" in the museum profession, with the Smithsonian serving as "the highest-profile symptom of a process that's been going on for some time."
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that → confirm → time
"It is my opinion as a public historian that the mission we've always had is to educate the public and provide scholarly information," he said.
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he → have → information
However, Ginn said he is "not hopeful" the institution can change without a "massive effort" to replace current staff with people he believes would prioritize history over politics.
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he → say → politics
"You're going to have to put in new people who are committed to scholarly standards and non-politicized educational programming," he said.
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he → go → standards
"These people have bought into it, hook, line and sinker."
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people → buy → it
Fox News Digital reached out to the Smithsonian for comment.
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Digital → reach → comment
