The Trump Presidency, Season 2

[Free]

Who knew that actual fans of the performing arts would turn away from Trump-sanctioned productions?

Kennedy Center ticket sales have plummeted since Trump takeover

After President Donald Trump took over the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in February, he and the executive he put in charge repeatedly accused the institution’s former leadership of not doing the very thing they were responsible for: selling tickets.

“We had spent way too much on programming that doesn’t bring in any revenue,” Richard Grenell, a Trump ally and former ambassador to Germany, told the Washington Reporter, a conservative media outlet, in late March. According to Grenell, the center hadn’t been making money. It was too woke and niche. The new team was, in Trump’s words, going to make it “hot” again.

How's that anti-woke bravado working out for you, hotshot?

Nearly nine months after Trump became chair of the center and more than a month into its main season, ticket sales for the Kennedy Center’s three largest performance venues are the worst they’ve been in years, according to a Washington Post analysis of ticketing data from dozens of recent shows as well as past seasons. Tens of thousands of seats have been left empty.

Since early September, 43 percent of tickets remained unsold for the typical production. That means that, at most, 57 percent of tickets were sold for the typical production — and some tickets may have been “comps,” which are given away, often to staff members or the press. That compares with 93 percent sold or comped in fall 2024 and 80 percent in fall 2023.

I guess success is no longer measured in ticket sales under the new regime.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Trump and the Test Ban

A nuclear test in the Nevada desert, 1955.

samf.substack.com

Evernote Link

The noted defence analyst considers Trump's recent annoucement

As is often the case with some of Trump’s more dramatic announcements did not betray extensive staff work or fact-checking.

Every sentence is problematic. Russia has more nuclear weapons than the US, because of its substantial arsenal of short and medium-range weapons. The renovation of the US nuclear arsenal began under the Obama administration, and it was about replacement not addition. China is working hard to catch up with the US and Russia but it won’t be there by 2030. No other country is currently testing weapons. So what is meant by ‘equal basis?’ The US can’t test immediately, and if it could that would be the responsibility of the Department of Energy and not the Pentagon. Other than those issues he’s spot on.

This has all the hallmarks of one of Trump’s more impulsive initiatives and for that reason may lead to a flurry of activity while officials try to work out what he wants, before it all becomes too difficult and is then forgotten. For reasons to be explained that is more likely than not.

 

[Cindy Claveau]

Nothing says, "I have an enormous wang" like ordering nuclear testing to resume.

 

[Noodles]

In a way, I’m kind of glad they’re spending all this money on over the top stuff like this, and demolishing part of the White House, and giving away money to Argentina, etc etc etc. It might not make any difference to the maga cult, but it may disgust some who voted for him like farmers, and those who are going through difficult times at the moment. Anyway, one can hope

Yes yes, thats all terribke, but have you considerd that trans people aometimes have to use the restroom and maybe collapsing the government is worth it?

 

[Noodles]

Who knew that actual fans of the performing arts would turn away from Trump-sanctioned productions?

Kennedy Center ticket sales have plummeted since Trump takeover


How's that anti-woke bravado working out for you, hotshot?


I guess success is no longer measured in ticket sales under the new regime.

Imagine that.

Performing arts, which is basically a prime haven for everyone (they consider) "woke", hates the fascist "anti-woke" takeover.

 

[Cindy Claveau]

 

[Innula Zenovka]

The Guardian: Trump policies spur economic anxiety in US Republican heartland: ‘Tariffs are affecting everything’

 

[Veritable Quandry]

Still pleanty of Trump signs in rural Ohio, but I am noticing that they are not getting replaced as often when they get faded and storm damage.

 

[GoblinCampFollower]

The Guardian: Trump policies spur economic anxiety in US Republican heartland: ‘Tariffs are affecting everything’

...but... but... the stock market is still rocketing up!!! Historically the stock market was a leading indicator of economic performance. ...but I think that's no longer true because of the massive AI/tech bubble that keeps the stock market rocketing up past the fundamentals.

 

[Cristiano]

 

[Noodles]

...but... but... the stock market is still rocketing up!!! Historically the stock market was a leading indicator of economic performance. ...but I think that's no longer true because of the massive AI/tech bubble that keeps the stock market rocketing up past the fundamentals.

I think the biggest reason its a poor indicator is how out of control the wealth inequality in the country is.

 

[GoblinCampFollower]

I think the biggest reason its a poor indicator is how out of control the wealth inequality in the country is.

Yeah, agreed. I think there is enough data to suggest things could get REAL BAD when this bubble pops. It's when not if.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Still pleanty of Trump signs in rural Ohio, but I am noticing that they are not getting replaced as often when they get faded and storm damage.

Is it usual in the US to advertise your political alliegence when it's not election time?

 

[Cindy Claveau]

Is it usual in the US to advertise your political alliegence when it's not election time?

Interesting question. For years, the answer would be no. These days, though, everybody's either anti-democracy or anti-fascist and it's hard to tell 'em apart until they open their mouths.

 

[Veritable Quandry]

Is it usual in the US to advertise your political alliegence when it's not election time?

It has not traditionally, but Trump supporters tend to leave campaign signs up year round. And put flags on their trucks.

 

[Katheryne Helendale]

Is it usual in the US to advertise your political alliegence when it's not election time?

Normally, no. But these aren't normal times.

 

[Noodles]

Is it usual in the US to advertise your political alliegence when it's not election time?

Only for MAGA Cultists.

 

[Casey Pelous]

Is it usual in the US to advertise your political alliegence when it's not election time?

These days, it is less "political allegiance" than "tribal membership" and, of course, trolling/owning the libs.

 

[Willow Matthews]

You guys are fucked. And the rest of the world will follow, so we're all fucked. Then all that money the rich have? Climate will consume.

Yay. It's been nice knowing you.

 

[Cindy Claveau]