Entertainment
DOJ Whistleblower Calls Ivy League Antisemitism Probes Predetermined
“Money, Power, Politics” host Stephanie Ruhle and MS NOW Justice and Intelligence reporter Ken Dilanian slammed the Trump administration Tuesday for forcing “good civil servants” to do “things they find absolutely abhorrent,” in the wake of new whistleblower allegations surrounding the federal government’s antisemitism investigations into multiple Ivy League institutions last year.
Per the AP, a former Department of Justice lawyer has alleged that the task force created to combat antisemitism on college campuses rushed settlements with the targeted universities, despite failing to establish any illegal or unconstitutional activities. The whistleblower alleges the investigations were designed solely to force the schools in question to cut deals with the Trump administration.
The outcomes were supposedly “predetermined, without regard to the evidence” as part of a “politically mandated effort” to score money from the targets, the whistleblower’s allegations state. Said money was obtained through a combination of settlement demands and funding freezes, all of which were allegedly done under the pretext of combating antisemitism.
The whistleblower, identified as former DOJ attorney Haley Van Erem, alleges that the Justice Department-created task force’s activities were “marked by extraordinary procedural irregularities.” Van Erem’s disclosure was filed Tuesday with the inspectors general at the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services, as well as the Office of Special Counsel. Her disclosure additionally accuses the DOJ’s task force of targeting Muslim professors.
“We knew the top line here,” Dilanian said Tuesday. “What this whistleblower complaint does is allow us to peek under the hood and see how the Trump administration is manipulating the levers of government and forcing good civil servants to do things they find absolutely abhorrent.”
“It’s not antisemitic to protest against Israel,” he then noted of the campus activities that were investigated by the DOJ’s task force. “That didn’t matter to the senior officials in the Trump administration. They wanted this outcome because they wanted to force these schools to settle.”
“These people are not saying that antisemitism didn’t exist and that there weren’t incidents [at the universities],” Dilanian added. “What they’re saying is there’s not enough evidence that these colleges violated the Civil Rights Act.”
Van Erem, who worked for nearly a decade at the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division before being assigned to help with the task force’s efforts last year, specifically spotlighted the investigations into Brown, Harvard and Columbia in her disclosure. Sge left the DOJ in May 2025, citing her unwillingness to “be made vulnerable to further participation in politically motivated investigations unsupported by facts and contrary to law.”
In response to the investigations, Columbia agreed to a $200 million settlement with the government in exchange for the restoration of federal funding. Brown, meanwhile, agreed to pay $50 million to Rhode Island workforce development organizations. Speaking with Ruhle Tuesday morning, Dilanian said the universities may fight to get that money back now.
“They certainly have a right to take legal action,” he explained. “If I were those schools, I would take a very hard look at what happened here.”
“The settlement aside, the damage has been done,” Ruhle argued. “The reputations to these schools have been seriously damaged over the last four years as they were marred with these accusations.”
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Directors Sean Baker and Haifaa al-Mansour, producers James Wilson and Effie T. Brown and actress Rita Wilson are among more than four dozen Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences members who have been appointed as chairs or vice chairs for the organization’s 2026-27 committees.
Baker, who often celebrated the art of theatrical moviegoing in his acceptance speeches when he won for his 2024 Best Picture winner “Anora,” will head the Academy Marquee Theater Committee alongside his partner and producer, Samantha Quan.
Documentary filmmaker Michèle Ohayon and producer James Wilson will head the International Feature Film Executive Committee, which oversees the Best International Feature Film category.
Here is the full list, from the Academy press release:
Academy Marquee Theater Committee reviews submissions and recommends theaters for inclusion on the Academy Marquee Theater List.
Sean Baker (Directors Branch), co-chair, Academy Marquee Theater Committee
Samantha Quan (Producers Branch), co-chair, Academy Marquee Theater Committee
Awards Committees
The International Feature Film Executive Committee oversees the awards rules, submission requirements and eligibility of the Oscars® International Feature Film category.
Michèle Ohayon (Documentary Branch), co-chair, International Feature Film Executive Committee
James Wilson (Producers Branch), co-chair, International Feature Film Executive Committee
The Short Films Qualifying Festivals Selection Committee determines festival eligibility criteria and reviews global applications to select which festivals and awards should be deemed Oscar®-qualifying in the animated, documentary and live action short film categories.
Summer Joy Main-Muñoz (Short Films Branch), chair, Short Films Qualifying Festivals Selection Committee
The Scientific and Technical Awards Executive Committee reviews submissions and makes recommendations for individuals and companies to receive Scientific and Technical Awards.
Darin Grant (Visual Effects Branch), co-chair, Scientific and Technical Awards Executive Committee
Rachel Rose (Visual Effects Branch), co-chair, Scientific and Technical Awards Executive Committee
Membership Committees
Branch and Category Executive Committees oversee branch-and category-related business, including awards rules, eligibility and the review of candidates considered for Academy membership.
Branch and Category Executive Committee chairs (alphabetically by branch and category):
Rita Wilson (chair, Actors Branch Executive Committee)
Marlon West (chair, Animation Branch Executive Committee)
Kim Taylor-Coleman (chair, Casting Directors Branch Executive Committee)
Paul Cameron (chair, Cinematographers Branch Executive Committee)
Daniel Orlandi (chair, Costume Designers Branch Executive Committee)
Patricia Cardoso (chair, Directors Branch Executive Committee)
Jean Tsien (chair, Documentary Branch Executive Committee)
Pam Abdy (chair, Executives Branch Executive Committee)
Terilyn A. Shropshire (chair, Film Editors Branch Executive Committee)
Gerald Quist (chair, Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch Executive Committee)
Laura C. Kim (chair, Marketing and Public Relations Branch Executive Committee)
Lesley Barber (chair, Music Branch Executive Committee)
Effie T. Brown (chair, Producers Branch Executive Committee)
Annie Chang (chair, Production and Technology Branch Executive Committee)
Kalina Ivanov (chair, Production Design Branch Executive Committee)
Chris Tashima (chair, Short Films Branch Executive Committee)
Andy Nelson (chair, Sound Branch Executive Committee)
Brooke Breton (chair, Visual Effects Branch Executive Committee)
Howard A. Rodman (chair, Writers Branch Executive Committee)
Keya Khayatian (chair, Artist Representatives Category Executive Committee)
The International Engagement Committee helps guide global Academy membership initiatives, promoting connectivity among members worldwide.
Peter Devlin (Sound Branch), chair, International Engagement Committee
Khadija Alami (Producers Branch), vice chair, International Engagement Committee
The London Committee provides advice and guidance on UK member screenings and special events.
Maggie Todd (Marketing and Public Relations Branch), chair, London Committee
May Leung (Visual Effects Branch), vice chair, London Committee
The New York Committee provides advice and guidance on New York member screenings and special events.
Mia Neal (Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch), chair, New York Committee
Dana O’Keefe (Executives Branch), vice chair, New York Committee
Membership Affinity Groups
Academy Affinity Groups bring together members from shared backgrounds and affinities, with a focus on underrepresented and marginalized communities. They offer guidance on membership, awards and programming while fostering community and promoting networking and educational opportunities.
Academy Affinity Group chairs and vice chairs (alphabetically by affinity group):
Stephanie Lowry (Music Branch), chair, Asian Affinity Group
Guneet Monga (Producers Branch), vice chair, Asian Affinity Group
Taura Stinson (Music Branch), chair, Black Caucus
Renard T. Jenkins (Production and Technology Branch), vice chair, Black Caucus
Àlex Lora (Short Films Branch), chair, Disability & Accessibility
Chelsea Winstanley (Producers Branch), chair, Indigenous Alliance
Howard Berger (Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch), co-chair, Jewish Heritage Affinity Group
Steven Raphael (Marketing and Public Relations Branch), co-chair, Jewish Heritage Affinity Group
Carlos López Estrada (Directors Branch), chair, La Agenda
Carla Gutiérrez (Documentary Branch), vice chair, La Agenda
Andrew Ahn (Directors Branch), co-chair, LGBTQ+ Coalition
Kimberly Reed (Documentary Branch), co-chair, LGBTQ+ Coalition
Haifaa al-Mansour (Directors Branch), chair, MENA & WANA Alliance
Edie Ichioka (Film Editors Branch), chair, Women’s Affinity Group
Gennie Rim (Animation Branch), vice chair, Women’s Affinity Group
Academy Foundation Committees
The Academy Museum Inclusion Advisory Committee helps to ensure the Academy Museum experience is inclusive for all visitors by bringing diverse perspectives to programmatic discussions.
Bird Runningwater (Production and Technology Branch), chair, Academy Museum Inclusion Advisory Committee
The Student Academy Awards Executive Committee guides the direction of the Academy’s international college student filmmaking competition, including approving rules and setting standards for judging the films.
Brooke Breton (Visual Effects Branch), chair, Student Academy Awards Executive Committee
The Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting Executive Committee reads finalist screenplays for the Academy’s international program that supports emerging screenwriters and selects the recipients of the annual fellowships.
Kim Taylor-Coleman (Casting Directors Branch), chair, Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting Executive Committee
The Science and Technology Council helps to guide Academy initiatives connected to scientific and technological standards and developments in filmmaking.
Annie Chang (Production and Technology Branch), chair, Science and Technology Council
Nick Cannon (Production and Technology Branch), vice chair, Science and Technology Council
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The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, during its annual all-members meeting on Tuesday, announced the newly appointed chairs and vice chairs for its 2026-2027 committees and affinity groups, including appointments to the new Academy Marquee Theater Committee. All chairs and vice chairs serve one-year terms.
“As a member-led organization, we are deeply grateful to all our chairs and vice chairs for their leadership and engagement across the Academy’s work,” Academy president Lynette Howell Taylor and CEO Bill Kramer said in a statement. “Their dedication helps advance our mission while ensuring that the Academy is well-positioned for the future.”
Below are the appointed chairs and vice chairs for its 2026-2027 committees.
Academy Marquee Theater Committee
The Academy Marquee Theater Committee, which reviews submissions and recommends theaters for inclusion on the Academy Marquee Theater List, will be co-chaired by Sean Baker (Directors Branch) and Samantha Quan (Producers Branch), the couple behind Anora.
Awards Committees
The International Feature Film Executive Committee, which oversees the awards rules, submission requirements and eligibility of the Oscars’ International Feature Film category, will be co-chaired by Michèle Ohayon (Documentary Branch) and James Wilson (Producers Branch).
The Short Films Qualifying Festivals Selection Committee, which determines festival eligibility criteria and reviews global applications to select which festivals and awards should be deemed Oscar-qualifying in the animated, documentary and live action short film categories, will be chaired by Summer Joy Main-Muñoz (Short Films Branch).
The Scientific and Technical Awards Executive Committee, which reviews submissions and makes recommendations for individuals and companies to receive Scientific and Technical Awards, will be co-chaired by Darin Grant (Visual Effects Branch) and Rachel Rose (Visual Effects Branch).
Membership Committees
Branch and Category Executive Committees, which oversee branch-and category-related business, including awards rules, eligibility and the review of candidates considered for Academy membership, will be chaired by:
Rita Wilson (chair, Actors Branch Executive Committee)
Marlon West (chair, Animation Branch Executive Committee)
Kim Taylor-Coleman (chair, Casting Directors Branch Executive Committee)
Paul Cameron (chair, Cinematographers Branch Executive Committee)
Daniel Orlandi (chair, Costume Designers Branch Executive Committee)
Patricia Cardoso (chair, Directors Branch Executive Committee)
Jean Tsien (chair, Documentary Branch Executive Committee)
Pam Abdy (chair, Executives Branch Executive Committee)
Terilyn A. Shropshire (chair, Film Editors Branch Executive Committee)
Gerald Quist (chair, Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch Executive Committee)
Laura C. Kim (chair, Marketing and Public Relations Branch Executive Committee)
Lesley Barber (chair, Music Branch Executive Committee)
Effie T. Brown (chair, Producers Branch Executive Committee)
Annie Chang (chair, Production and Technology Branch Executive Committee)
Kalina Ivanov (chair, Production Design Branch Executive Committee)
Chris Tashima (chair, Short Films Branch Executive Committee)
Andy Nelson (chair, Sound Branch Executive Committee)
Brooke Breton (chair, Visual Effects Branch Executive Committee)
Howard A. Rodman (chair, Writers Branch Executive Committee)
Keya Khayatian (chair, Artist Representatives Category Executive Committee)
The International Engagement Committee, which helps guide global Academy membership initiatives, promoting connectivity among members worldwide, will be chaired by Peter Devlin (Sound Branch) and vice chaired by Khadija Alami (Producers Branch).
The London Committee, which provides advice and guidance on UK member screenings and special events, will be chaired by Maggie Todd (Marketing and Public Relations Branch) and vice chaired by May Leung (Visual Effects Branch).
The New York Committee, which provides advice and guidance on New York member screenings and special events, will be chaired by Mia Neal (Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch) and vice chaired by Dana O’Keefe (Executives Branch).
Membership Affinity Groups
Academy Affinity Groups, which bring together members from shared backgrounds and affinities, with a focus on underrepresented and marginalized communities, and offer guidance on membership, awards and programming while fostering community and promoting networking and educational opportunities, will be chaired and vice chaired by:
Stephanie Lowry (Music Branch), chair, Asian Affinity Group
Guneet Monga (Producers Branch), vice chair, Asian Affinity Group
Taura Stinson (Music Branch), chair, Black Caucus
Renard T. Jenkins (Production and Technology Branch), vice chair, Black Caucus
Àlex Lora (Short Films Branch), chair, Disability & Accessibility
Chelsea Winstanley (Producers Branch), chair, Indigenous Alliance
Howard Berger (Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch), co-chair, Jewish Heritage Affinity Group
Steven Raphael (Marketing and Public Relations Branch), co-chair, Jewish Heritage Affinity Group
Carlos López Estrada (Directors Branch), chair, La Agenda
Carla Gutiérrez (Documentary Branch), vice chair, La Agenda
Andrew Ahn (Directors Branch), co-chair, LGBTQ+ Coalition
Kimberly Reed (Documentary Branch), co-chair, LGBTQ+ Coalition
Haifaa al-Mansour (Directors Branch), chair, MENA & WANA Alliance
Edie Ichioka (Film Editors Branch), chair, Women’s Affinity Group
Gennie Rim (Animation Branch), vice chair, Women’s Affinity Group
Academy Foundation Committees
The Academy Museum Inclusion Advisory Committee, which helps to ensure the Academy Museum experience is inclusive for all visitors by bringing diverse perspectives to programmatic discussions, will be chaired by Bird Runningwater (Production and Technology Branch).
The Student Academy Awards Executive Committee, which guides the direction of the Academy’s international college student filmmaking competition, including approving rules and setting standards for judging the films, will be chaired by Brooke Breton (Visual Effects Branch).
The Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting Executive Committee, which reads finalist screenplays for the Academy’s international program that supports emerging screenwriters and selects the recipients of the annual fellowships, will be chaired by Kim Taylor-Coleman (Casting Directors Branch).
The Science and Technology Council, which helps to guide Academy initiatives connected to scientific and technological standards and developments in filmmaking, will be chaired by Annie Chang (Production and Technology Branch) and vice chaired by Nick Cannon (Production and Technology Branch).
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EXCLUSIVE: Vault Entertainment continues its commitment to internal growth with the promotion of Preslee Krout to Talent Manager.
Krout joined Vault in 2023 following a stint at talent management company Impact Artists Group.
Founded by Adam Griffin in 2019, the management/production company has expanded in recent years with the additions of industry veteran Craig Baumgarten, longtime talent agents Justin Baxter and Mike Staudt, along with internal promotion of Tori Robertson.
Krout has played a key role in helping launch and grow Vault’s comedy talent and touring department.
She is a graduate of Emerson College, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre & Performance.
Additionally, Vault has hired Lucy Stover as a junior manager. She joins from More/Medavoy Management. Stover is a graduate of Syracuse University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Television, Radio & Film Production.
Four years ago, Vault expanded its office footprint, moving from Beverly Hills to its own building, now headquartered near Sony Pictures.
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Film Academy Announces Leaders of Committees and Affinity Groups
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