The U.S. government has long sought to be an authoritative source on a wide range of things, from historical events to economic data to medical advice. Lord knows, it has not always gotten it right, but getting it right has usually been the goal, and in general a report or exhibit with the seal of the United States on it is taken seriously and granted some deference. Donald Trump is working extremely hard to end that. The most recent example we have of this is the 120-day ultimatum the Trump administration has delivered to the Smithsonian Institution, one of the world's great repositories of science and art. The Smithsonian, while supported by the federal government, has long run independently and largely without interference from political figures.