The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, renovated for over $14 million by a Trump-connected contractor, quickly turned green with algae as its coating peeled. Critics say the failed project mirrors Trump's Washington, where the city has become a fenced-in, militarized construction zone ahead of the nation's 250th birthday, despite claims of beautification.
Background
- The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is the long, rectangular water feature between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument on the National Mall in DC — an iconic American landmark, not a swimming pool.
- "Kayfabe" is a term from pro wrestling meaning the staged, fictional narrative that wrestlers and promoters maintain as real to the public; the author argues Trump treats governance the same way.
- The article refers to President Donald Trump's second term (he won re-election in 2024) and the lead-up to July 4, 2026, which marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence ("Semiquincentennial").
- Political Wire and Daring Fireball are long-running political and tech blogs, respectively; the author (John Gruber of Daring Fireball) is riffing on an earlier piece by Taegan Goddard of Political Wire.
- The "no-bid project" and "politically connected contractor" refer to a pattern in the Trump administration of awarding government contracts to allies without competitive bidding.
A post criticizes the first flight of "Qatar Force One," claiming a foreign government gifted the sitting US president a $400 million plane, US taxpayers paid at least another $400 million to retrofit it, and ownership will transfer to his presidential library. It argues this would be a presidency-ending scandal in any other administration.
Marjorie Taylor Greene reposted a thread from "Israel Exposed" featuring a website with thousands of videos and photos from Gaza, and criticized the US for funding what she called a horrific situation.
A tweet claims that 9 out of 12 industrialized countries that implemented a wealth tax have since repealed it, including France, citing that billionaires relocate to avoid the tax, leaving a hollowed tax base. The post argues this has already partly occurred in California and warns that a proposed California wealth tax would be catastrophic.
In 1913, the US national income tax began as a 1% rate that affected less than 1% of Americans. A century later, roughly 70% of Americans pay income tax, with top rates reaching 37%. The post draws a contrast as politicians propose a new wealth tax.
Rep. Thomas Massie criticizes former President Trump for bragging about pressuring a private company to give the government a 10% ownership stake, asking why free-market advocacy groups have not condemned the action.