The intersection of politics and culture sees President Trump's engagement with the Kennedy Center, criticism over the administration's proposed Smithsonian exhibit review, and comedic takes on White House affairs.

• At the Kennedy Center, Trump Puts His Pop Culture Obsession on Display — New York Times Arts -
• Trump Administration Plan to Oversee Smithsonian Exhibits Draws Criticism From Historians — New York Times Arts -
• Trump Will Visit Kennedy Center to Announce New Honorees — New York Times Arts -

• Jimmy Fallon Isn’t Optimistic About the Trump-Putin ‘Listening Exercise’ — New York Times Arts -
• White House Announces Comprehensive Review of Smithsonian Exhibitions — New York Times Arts -

The music world buzzes with Taylor Swift's upcoming album announcement, Beyoncé's historic Emmy win, a look at Molly Drake's enduring influence, and new trends in music videos and celebrity collaborations.

• Taylor Swift’s ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ Will Release on Oct. 3 — New York Times Music -
• Overlooked No More: Molly Drake, a Maternal, Musical Force Behind Nick Drake’s Sound — New York Times Music -
• The Song Was a Hit 20 Years Ago. It Just Got a Video. — New York Times Music -

• Beyoncé Wins First Emmy for N.F.L. Halftime Show — New York Times Music -
• Q&A: How Role Model Gets Celebrities Like Kate Hudson to Play Sally — New York Times Music -

In film and TV, explore Steve Buscemi's acclaimed role on 'Wednesday', reviews of the animated film 'Fixed', streaming horror movie recommendations, and **a recap of the new 'Alien: Earth' series**.

• Steve Buscemi’s Role on ‘Wednesday’ Adds to His Legend — New York Times Arts -
• Five Horror Movies to Stream Now — New York Times Movies -
• ‘Fixed’ Review: Dirty, Dirty Dogs — New York Times Movies -

• ‘Fixed’ Review: Dirty, Dirty Dogs — New York Times Movies -
• ‘Alien: Earth’ Episodes 1 and 2 Recap: Gross Encounters — New York Times Arts -

The arts community mourns the passing of innovative Barbie designers Mario Paglino and Gianni Grossi, cable TV magnate and philanthropist Leonard Tow, child star Danielle Spencer, and dancer Linda Hodes.

• Mario Paglino, 52, and Gianni Grossi, 54, Die; Designers Made Barbies Into Art — New York Times Arts -
• Leonard Tow, Cable TV Magnate and a Major Philanthropist, Dies at 97 — New York Times Arts -
• Danielle Spencer, Child Star of ‘What’s Happening!!,’ Is Dead at 60 — New York Times Arts -

• Linda Hodes, Dancer Who Championed Martha Graham’s Vision, Dies at 94 — New York Times Arts -

Literary updates include reviews of new books like 'Little World' and 'Writers Revealed', a deep dive into new crime novels, and a surprising re-evaluation of 'American Psycho's Patrick Bateman as a style icon.

• Patrick Bateman Is Now an Unironic Style Icon. Are People Missing the Joke? — New York Times Books -
• A Wild Corner of Ireland, Through the Eyes of Dylan Thomas — New York Times Books -
• Book Review: ‘Little World,’ by Josephine Rowe — New York Times Books -

• Book Review: ‘Writers Revealed,’ by Alexandra Ault and Catharine MacLeod — New York Times Books -
• New Crime Books — New York Times Books -

Beyond specific genres, headlines touch upon a new ballet exploring women in power, the unique beauty of New York's bodega ramps, the intriguing world of actors' fan mail, and a contemplative look at male friendships.

• What Does It Mean to Be a Woman in Power? A Ballet Looks to Two Queens. — New York Times Arts -
• You’ve Got Fan Mail: The Weird and Lovely Things Actors Get — New York Times Arts -
• The Strange Beauty of New York’s Bodega Ramps — New York Times Arts -

• Where Did All My Male Friendships Go? — New York Times Arts -