Summary4 min read

Pod Force One – Friday Mini: The Smithsonian Institution’s Woke Leaders are Indoctrinating Millions with Anti-American Propaganda

Host: Miranda Devine (New York Post)
Episode Date: July 24, 2026

Episode Overview

In this topical mini-episode, Miranda Devine critically examines what she describes as the Smithsonian Institution’s embrace of “anti-American woke propaganda.” Devine argues that the museum, which has long been a revered American institution, is now promoting Marxist, anti-patriotic ideas to millions of annual visitors and schoolchildren. She frames the discussion as a warning about cultural influence, federal funding, and the ideological direction of American museums.

Key Discussion Points

1. Accusations of Ideological Indoctrination

Devine claims the Smithsonian, "the world’s largest and most influential museum," has been "hijacked by Marxist ideology" and is actively teaching self-loathing anti-American messaging to its 20 million annual visitors and 20 million students.
The host points out alleged messages in Smithsonian exhibits, like politeness and hard work being characterized as "white supremacy," and Mickey Mouse being implicated as a "form of blackface."
Quotes from heritage organizations and White House reports are cited to bolster the argument that the Smithsonian now portrays America as "irredeemably racist and evil and must be dismantled."

Memorable Quote:
“The Smithsonian teaches that politeness, punctuality, objectivity and hard work is white supremacy and that Mickey Mouse is a form of blackface."
— Miranda Devine [01:00]

2. Display Choices and Critique of Content

Devine points out the absence of major exhibits dedicated to George Washington or Founding Fathers, replaced by critical perspectives on figures like Benjamin Franklin and Columbus.
She further critiques new exhibits for promoting topics like "transgenderism, bondage and sadomasochism" and advocating for migrant voting rights.

3. The 2020 BLM Riots and Collection of "Artifacts"

Devine alleges that, during the 2020 protests, Smithsonian secretary Lonnie Bunch instructed curators to "collect trash left behind by arsonists, vandals, looters and useful idiots as ‘historical artifacts.’"
This action, she argues, signifies the institution’s approval of disruptive activism.

4. Congressional Testimony of Smithsonian Leadership

The episode’s focal point is recent Congressional testimony by Smithsonian boss Anthea Hartig, described as defiant, elitist, and unapologetic. Devine dissects the hearing exchange with Texas Rep. Brandon Gill:
- Hartig is questioned over the supposed labeling of Mickey Mouse as racist and politeness as white supremacy.
- She denies being a white supremacist, calls the question absurd, and equivocates on the museum’s narrative.
Gill presses her on the "Mass Action toolkit," which the Smithsonian has promoted for staff education, linking it to what Devine alleges is left-wing activist ideology.

Key Exchange:
Gill: “Is Mickey Mouse racist?”
Hartig: “Mickey Mouse is not racist.”
Gill: “According to one of your exhibits, Mickey Mouse represents vestiges of long-standing traditions of blackface minstrelsy...Would you describe that as racist?”
(Hartig avoids direct answer, eventually concedes "certain obvious racial overtones.")
— [04:30-06:30]

5. Specifics of the Museum’s Controversial Training and Exhibits

Devine references a 2020 incident where the Smithsonian posted a chart listing characteristics such as "rugged individualism," "objectivity," "hard work," and "the nuclear family" as symptoms of “whiteness.”
She connects this to institutional training materials funded by left-wing philanthropic entities (e.g., Andrew W. Mellon Foundation) and developed by activist coalitions.

Notable Quote:
“The nuclear family it defined as father, mother, 2.3 children. And that's another dreadful symptom of whiteness, as is the scientific method, objective, rational, linear thinking.”
— Miranda Devine [09:05]

6. Founding Principles and Historic Mission

Devine quotes James Smithson’s original intent: “An establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men.” She argues present leadership is in opposition to this vision.
She contrasts Lyndon Johnson’s expansion of the Smithsonian to focus on "American achievement and patriotism" with current programming she claims undermines the United States.

7. Federal Funding and Call for Congressional Action

With 62% of its $1.3B annual budget sourced from taxpayers, Devine calls for Congress to consider defunding the Smithsonian unless it "reverts back to its founding principles."

Closing Quote:
“It is beyond time that Congress defunds the Smithsonian unless it reverts back to its founding principles.” — Miranda Devine [12:50]

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

"If you wondered how Communism has grabbed a foothold in the United States of America of all places, look no further than the Smithsonian Institution." [00:20]
“Would you say the goal of history is to be objective?...Your organization has promoted for many years under your leadership that references objectivity as a defining characteristic of white supremacy culture.” — Rep. Brandon Gill to Anthea Hartig [07:45]
"Poor James Smithson…must be rolling in his grave." — Miranda Devine [10:20]

Important Timestamps

[00:30] — Introduction to episode and the central claim about Smithsonian’s "anti-American wokery"
[02:10] — Specific criticisms of exhibits and educational material
[04:00] — Discussion of BLM riot artifact collection
[05:15] — Congressional testimony: key exchanges with Anthea Hartig
[08:30] — Historical context: exhibit controversies from 2020 and prior
[10:00] — Smithson’s founding intent; critique of current mission
[12:50] — Call to action for Congressional defunding

Summary: Tone and Takeaway

Miranda Devine’s mini-episode is a sharply critical, polemic argument against what she sees as the ideological corruption of the Smithsonian Institution. The language is combative and urgent, characterizing the changes as a wholesale betrayal of both history and American values. Listeners are left with a call to political action: seek a return to traditional narratives, or withdraw taxpayer support.

This summary captures the passionate, confrontational nature of the episode and breaks down the host’s main contentions, offering context and specificity for those who haven't listened.

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Transcript1 lines

[00:00]
A
Foreign. Hello, it's Miranda. I'm back with a new mini episode of Pod Force One. This feature is a little more topical and relevant to my job as a columnist for the New York Post. Today the topic is the irredeemable anti American wokery of the once great Smithsonian Institution. If you wondered how Communism has grabbed a foothold in the United States of America of all places, look no further than the Smithsonian Institution. The world's largest and most influential museum has been hijacked by Marxist ideology to teach self loathing anti American woke propaganda to its 20 million annual visitors plus 20 million students a year. The Smithsonian teaches that politeness, punctuality, objectivity and hard work is white supremacy and that Mickey Mouse is a form of blackface. While devoting not one major exhibit to George Washington or any of the Founding Fathers, it does teach that Benjamin Franklin was a vile slave owner who owed his discoveries to his slaves and that Christopher Columbus was a psychopathic killer and racist and that we live on stolen land. Meanwhile, it celebrates transgenderism, bondage and sadomasochism in various sexually explicit blizzard exhibits. It says illegal migrants deserve the right to vote. During the BLM riots of 2020, the Smithsonian's woke secretary, Lonnie Bunch, sent curators onto the streets to collect trash left behind by arsonists, vandals, looters and useful idiots as, quote, historical artifacts that need to be collected and saved for posterity. According to the Heritage foundation, which has been chron the downfall of a once great 175-year-old institution, generations of American children have been brought up to revere the Smithsonian, yet it abuses its $1.3 billion annual budget, 62% from the taxpayer, to persuade impressionable minds that everything about America is irredeemably racist and evil and must be dismantled. And the supercilious congressional testimony this week of Smithsonian boss Anthea Hartig shows that she has no intention of changing a thing. A California transplant who once described herself as, quote, propped up by the cushions of whiteness and the pillows of the bourgeoisie, she has described history as, quote, a prime tool of social justice and noted how, quote, we work to reframe the traditional celebratory narrative of US History for visitors, End quote. Grilled by Texas Republican Brandon Gill on Tuesday, she dripped with arrogance, defiance and elitist contempt. Quote, is Mickey Mouse racist? Gill asked her. Mickey Mouse is not racist, she replied. Well, said Gill. According to one of your exhibits, Mickey Mouse represents vestiges of long standing traditions of blackface minstrelsy. Would you describe that as racist? He asked Hartig, then launched into a waffling mini dissertation of Mickey's historical trajectory to avoid the question before Gil forced her into admitting she believes that the beloved mouse is rooted in minstrelsy with certain obvious racial overturns. There was a lot more Is it important to be polite? Gil asked her silkily. Yes, sir, she replied. Well, said Gill, your organisation references politeness as a defining characteristic of white supremacy culture. Ma', am, are you a white supremacist? Hmm, no sir, she said snootily, as if his question were absurd, when it is her museum that she has turned into an expensive laughing stock. Would you say the goal of history is to be objective? Gill asked Hartig. Waffled about many goals of history, Gill then quoted from a white supremacy document. He said, your organization has promoted for many years under your leadership that references objectivity as a defining characteristic of white supremacy culture. End quote. Hartig tried to feign ignorance about the document despite the fact that the Smithsonian has adopted and promoted the Mass Action toolkit in staff development and educational material since the start of her tenure in 2019. The screed was developed by a left wing activist coalition, Museums as Sites for Social Action, that is dedicated to using museums as platforms for social justice, anti racism and equity and is funded by the DEI obsessed Andrew W. Mellon foundation, among others. Smithsonian staff were even involved in its inception, quote, unquote. It's not our toolkit, hartig said. Gill pressed her. We did not come up with the toolkit, she said. But finally she admitted the document has been, quote, used as a reference. It doesn't get much more disingenuous than Hartig's feigned surprise unless she has the memory of a goldfish. In July 2020, it was big news when she was excoriated by the first Trump White House for a Smithsonian exhibit which listed the evils of whiteness as rugged individualism, self reliance, hard work, objectivity, the nuclear family, progress, respect for authority, delayed gratification, and so on. The nuclear family it defined as father, mother, 2.3 children. And that's another dreadful symptom of whiteness, as is the scientific method objective, irrational, linear thinking. Whiteness also holds that Christianity is the norm, God forbid, and anything other than Judeo Christian tradition is foreign. You get the drift. And of course the unspoken goal is that whiteness must be eradicated. A more depressing or demoralizing message you could not imagine. Poor James Smithson, the British scientist and 18th century creature of the Enlightenment who bequeathed his fortune to the US to establish the Smithsonian Institution, must be rolling in his grave. His instructions were that it be, quote, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men. How Hartig and Powell's must hate that motto. President Lyndon Johnson later expanded the Smithsonian to include the National Museum of American history in 1964 to focus specifically on American achievement and patriotism. Today it does the opposite. Back in 2020, the White House Domestic Policy Council issued a 162 page report saying the Smithsonian had been captured by a, quote, radical activist ideology that is fundamentally opposed to telling the noble, honest story of America. Hartig's leadership was fingered for forcing Smithsonian exhibits to be all about race, identity, gender, sexuality, climate change, immigration, economic inequality, technological change and nationalism, globalism. End quote. But nothing was done. And during the Biden years, the Smithsonian only further entrenched its sick wokery. It is beyond time that Congress defunds the Smithsonian unless it reverts back to its founding principles. Thanks for listening. I'll be back with another mini episode on Monday. Hope you can tune in and enjoy the rest of your week.