{"schema":"hottub-news/story/v1","story":"st_vpbp65rrtxvvhqd463da","title":"Sen. Mike Lee explains why he blocked bill banning demolition of presidential memorials","title_en":null,"outlets":1,"brief":null,"page":"https://hottub.news/stories/sen-mike-lee-explains-why-he-blocked-bill-banning-demolition-of-vpbp65rrtx","count":1,"items":[{"id":"n_vpbp65rrtxvvhqd463da","seq":722348,"kind":"article","title":"Sen. Mike Lee explains why he blocked bill banning demolition of presidential memorials","url":"https://www.deseret.com/politics/2026/09/29/mike-lee-blocks-proposal-to-ban-demolition-of-presidential-memorials","summary":"Utah Sen. Mike Lee objected to fast-tracking a bipartisan proposal to ban the demolition of presidential memorials unless explicitly approved by Congress, which would include the dismantling of the Kennedy Center. In late-night Senate proceedings on Monday night, Lee objected to an effort by Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley to unanimously approve a bill that would ban the demolition of any memorial without a vote by Congress. The bipartisan bill from Merkley comes as the Trump…","published":"2026-09-29T16:28:29Z","seen":"2026-09-29T16:49:28Z","lang":"en","country":"US","source":{"id":"kite-deseret-com-2e77dd","name":"deseret.com","domain":"deseret.com","outlet":{"wikidata":"Q1056889","name":"Deseret News","type":"newspaper","country":"US","designations":["daily newspaper","newspaper"]}},"via":"kite-deseret-com-2e77dd","topics":["utah"],"authors":["Cami Mondeaux"],"entities":[{"id":"Q627098","name":"Mike Lee","type":"person"}],"image":"https://www.deseret.com/resizer/v2/TYIH4HJITBG2PII2CCT3MDIT5A.jpg?auth=30094ee6a0a2d63ea3e03d853ec3e0c7b4bcbb734c86bb94df921c9d29eb3627&height=600&smart=true&width=980","story":"st_vpbp65rrtxvvhqd463da","category":"politics","category_p":0.9100000262260437,"sentiment":"neutral","tone":-0.33000001311302185,"political":0.9700000286102295}]}