A conversation on the arts devolved into a messy argument about slavery and who benefited from it during a zany Aug. 13 roundtable discussion on “CNN NewsNight” with one panelist accusing host Abby Phillip of “racializing” the discussion.

Roundtable guests were talking about President Donald Trump’s latest efforts at controlling the distinguished Kennedy Center awards after Trump announced his apparent handpicked group of honorees on Wednesday, including actor Sylvester Stallone, country star George Strait, singer Gloria Gaynor, and the band Kiss.

A Democratic strategist on the panel said Trump’s efforts at remaking the Kennedy Center in his image were part of a larger plan to “change culture.” Trump has already initiated reviews of Smithsonian Institution exhibits, something he did shor

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