The Needle: Judge Sets Deadlines for Arch Construction, Sen. Tammy Duckworth Criticizes Air Force One’s Low Flyover, Trump Is Reportedly Using Our Tax Dollars to Fund His Media Company, and More
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Gail O'Hara (via Washington CityPaper)
Court report: On Monday, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing lawsuits challenging convicted felon and President Donald Trump’s 250-foot arch, said she must be informed of any decisions made by the National Capital Planning Commission, National Park Service, and the Department of the Interior within an hour. Chutkan says that “any construction or demolition in preparation for construction before the National Park Service issues final agency action authorizing construction or without 14 days’ notice would be a violation of the court’s previous orders.” The National Capital Planning Commission is set to meet on Thursday about the plans. Plus one point for guardrails. +1 [AP News]
Plane silly: Many locals were startled and even scared by Trump’s low flyover last week, including Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who sent a letter to three federal agencies criticizing the display, calling it dangerous and a waste of taxpayer funds. According to flight tracking data, Air Force One’s altitude ranged from about 400 to about 1,000 feet. Duckworth also inquired about whether the Federal Aviation Administration objected to it or weighed its impact on airlines and passengers (there were 200 delays that day). The senator also criticized the FAA and Defense Department for facilitating the flyover despite not having implemented National Transportation Safety Board recommendations issued after the January 2025 plane crash. Plus one point for pushback. +1 [Post]
Ad nauseam: Trump is reportedly using taxpayer money to fund his own social media company. Trump Media & Technology Group, which owns Truth Social, earned $175,000 for running ads for America’s 250th birthday celebrations. The events were overseen by Freedom 250, a project of the National Park Foundation that is supposed to raise money for NPS; Trump Media board member Meredith O’Rourke also sat on Freedom 250’s board. Trump Media reportedly made another $175,000 in “outstanding receivables”—money owed for services already rendered—from the organization. Freedom 250 relies mostly on taxpayer money; Trump owns a 41 percent stake in Trump Media. Minus one point for using our tax dollars as your personal ATM. -1 [New Republic]
Foundation cracks: According to a brief filed Friday by lawyers for Ohio Rep. Joyce Beatty, Kennedy Center leaders put the institution’s future in jeopardy by tying foundation funding to putting Trump’s name on the building. The so-called “Trump Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Foundation,” which was created to raise money for the center, transferred $17.5 million to the struggling venue. But Trump lawyers said the money was only available if the space was named after Trump, which Judge Christopher Cooper barred six months ago. The center’s CFO said in September that returning the funds would cause immediate layoffs. Minus one point for using foundation funding as leverage. -1 [Post]
The day is finally here: The midterms are happening today! Plus 10 points because governments crack and systems fall. +10
