The Needle: Trump Is Refusing to Testify and Turn Over Documents Related to Kennedy Center Takeover, D.C. Is No. 2 on List of Cities Most Vulnerable to AI, a Confederate Memorial May Return to Arlington Cemetery, and More
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Gail O'Hara (via Washington CityPaper)
Production values: Convicted felon and President Donald Trump is refusing to testify and produce documents about his involvement in the takeover of the Kennedy Center. In a court filing Wednesday, Trump exercised executive privilege, claiming that Ohio Rep. Joyce Beatty’s discovery requests were too broad and improper, and asked the court to deny her motion. Despite evidence showing that event cancellations, ticket sales, and donations plummeted after he took over as chair, he continues to keep the venue closed and says he’ll avoid doing renovations unless his name goes back on the building. Minus one point for failure to disclose and lead. -1 [New Republic]
The AIs have it: D.C. comes in second on a list of cities most vulnerable to AI automation, with 27.7 percent of its workforce vulnerable to the proliferation of the technology. Metro areas with large concentrations of professional services and tech jobs are vulnerable, while cities with more service or hospitality jobs less so. The positions most at risk include software engineers, credit analysts, financial managers, database administrators, and writers. D.C. is also in the top 10 for both Gen Z and total workers facing the highest exposure to AI. Minus one point for artificial intelligence being shoved down our throats. -1 [WBJ]
Confederacy dunces: Plans are underway to return a Confederate statue that was removed in 2023 to Arlington National Cemetery. The 1914 statue, designed to represent the American South, features a bronze woman on a 32-foot pedestal along with other figures including a Black woman depicted as “Mammy” holding what appears to be a White officer’s child and an enslaved man following his owner to war. The Trump administration has used its removal as an example of U.S. history being erased and plans to install new signage when it reappears next year to combat the “woke” narrative. The restoration is estimated to cost $10 million. Minus one point for racist monuments. -1 [NBC4]
Protected status: Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones announced this week he’s assembled a Voter Protection Section, a team of lawyers that will enforce election laws and investigate improper voter registration cancellations, absentee ballot denials, voter intimidation, and interference with election administration. The team will also enforce the Virginia Voting Rights Act, which requires local governments to give public notice and allow for comment before implementing election changes in areas like redistricting, polling places, language, and the ways governing bodies and local school boards are elected. Plus one point for safeguards. +1 [WTOP]
Rallying cry: The president mocked a woman who was beaten by one of his supporters on Monday for wearing a “Release the Epstein Files” shirt in Youngstown, Ohio. A man punched the woman in the face while other MAGA folks cheered, chanted “USA,” and gave high-fives to the assaulter. Trump claims she was a paid protester and also made comments about her weight. In San Antonio on Wednesday, a Trump heckler had his hair pulled by a cult member, I mean MAGA loyalist. That said, Trump also mocks his own supporters. Minus two points, one for assault on people who hold opposing views and one for the creep running our country. -2 [The Hill]
18 days … until the midterm elections. Plus one point for hope. +1
