Viola Davis and Walter Murch Receive Honorary Degrees From AFI

Viola Davis and Walter Murch were recently honored with honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts degrees by the American Film Institute at a special commencement ceremony held at the TCL Chinese Theater. The event, which took place on a Friday morning, was a momentous occasion for both individuals.

During her acceptance speech, Viola Davis imparted words of wisdom to the graduating class, reminding them that they already possess the power within themselves to achieve their dreams. She emphasized the importance of self-belief and resilience in the face of challenges. Davis also expressed her gratitude for the recognition of her contributions to the film and TV industry by AFI, noting that it was especially meaningful coming from her peers.

Walter Murch, a renowned film editor and sound designer, also shared inspiring words with the graduating class. He spoke about the evolving landscape of the entertainment industry and the need for resilience in the face of change. Murch encouraged the graduates to support each other as they navigate their careers in a rapidly changing world.

Both Davis and Murch were presented with their awards by esteemed industry professionals, highlighting the impact of their work on the world of film. Their speeches resonated with the audience, reminding them of the power of storytelling and the connections it fosters among audiences.

As the ceremony came to a close, Davis and Murch joined the ranks of previous recipients of AFI’s honorary degrees, a prestigious list that includes industry icons such as Jamie Lee Curtis, Spike Lee, and Nora Ephron. Their words of wisdom and encouragement will undoubtedly stay with the graduating class as they embark on their own journeys in the world of film and entertainment.

See also Eliminating Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in Medicaid My Administration has been relentlessly committed to rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse in Government programs to preserve and protect them for those who rely most on them. The Medicaid program was designed to be a program to compassionately provide taxpayer dollars to healthcare providers who offer care to the most vulnerable Americans. To keep payments reasonable, billable costs for such care were historically capped at the same level that healthcare providers could receive from Medicare. The State and Federal Governments jointly shared this cost burden to ensure those of lesser means did not go untreated. Under the Biden Administration, States and healthcare providers were permitted to game the system. For example, States "taxed" healthcare providers, but sent the same money back to them in the form of a "Medicaid payment," which automatically unlocked for healthcare providers an additional "burden-sharing" payment from the Federal Government. Through this gimmick, the State could avoid contributing money toward Medicaid services, meaning the State no longer had a reason to be prudent in the amount of reimbursement provided. Instead of paying Medicare rates, many States that utilize these arrangements now pay the same healthcare providers almost three times the Medicare amount, a practice encouraged by the Biden Administration. These State Directed Payments have rapidly accelerated, quadrupling in magnitude over the last 4 years and reaching $110 billion in 2024 alone. This trajectory threatens the Federal Treasury and Medicaid's long-term stability, and the imbalance between Medicaid and Medicare patients threatens to jeopardize access to care for our seniors. I pledged to protect and improve these important Government healthcare programs for those that rely on them. Seniors on Medicare and Medicaid recipients both deserve access to quality care in a system free from the fraud, waste, and abuse, that enriches the unscrupulous and jeopardizes the programs themselves. We will take action to continue to love and cherish the Medicare and Medicaid programs to ensure they are preserved for those who need them most. The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall therefore take appropriate action to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid, including by ensuring Medicaid payments rates are not higher than Medicare, to the extent permitted by applicable law. This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. DONALD J. TRUMP