JoniD

JoniD

@jonid.bsky.social

I’m listening.

209 followers61 following3.1K posts

Column | The Kennedy Center is empty and in peril. Its community is in anguish. The fiasco of this week’s closure reveals the truth of President Trump’s motivations — and what the arts community stands to lose. By Philip Kennicott www.washingtonpost.com/style/2026/0...

washingtonpost.comColumn | The Kennedy Center is empty and in peril. Its community is in anguish.The fiasco of this week’s closure reveals the truth of President Trump’s motivations — and what the arts community stands to lose.

Join Hands Around the Kennedy Center on Friday, September 18 at 6:30 p.m. More info: dub.sh/HandsAroundKenCen The future is still uncertain, the KC needs you to stand up for freedom of expression & against authoritarian overreach into arts and culture institutions. Make a difference - show up.

dub.shdub.sh

Here's a simple fact, look it up: An executive order only applies to federal agencies under the executive branch, not state or local governments, private businesses, or people.

Concerned about our national debt? WarrenBuffett’s 5-minute solution: “I could end the deficit in 5minutes. You just pass a law that says that anytime there’s a deficit of more than 3% of GDP, all sitting members of Congress are ineligible for reelection.” Demand your rep pass it as law

Just want the old passport? Simply renew online (no Trump passport) or renew at a passport office outside D.C. (also no Trump passport.) The odds of getting one are low unless you’re in D.C. - even then it’s only issued “when available.” It won’t even be offered outside of DC

Congress must decide on Trump’s gigantic arch so please let your representatives know this is a really bad idea for DC, the US and them if they want your vote

Trump said no taxpayer money would be spent on the ballroom. A contractor’s invoices show otherwise. BTW - Any federal employee who approves an expenditure for a project where funds have not been approved is subject to prosecution. What was Clark Construction thinking!?!? They should know better.

Jay Clayton lacks meaningful intelligence or national-security credentials and has no operational or analytic intelligence background, making him another Trump choice missing serious qualifications. What a joke we have become

The Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center has the Atrium Ballroom which holds nearly 1,000 seated guests. Use that.

Hey Congress – how about dividing into teams? An Epstein File team, a ballroom/arch/Kennedy Center/DC Team, a conflict of interest team, an off shore accounts/flow the donation money team, an Iran team, a Ukraine team, a DEI lawsuit team, an enemies team - there is a team for everyone.

Hey Government! Please stop focusing on social issues and focus on the basics of local government: budgets, bridges and building essential services that undergird a resilient local economy. Your constituents will thank you and vote for you.

Why does scouting care what Hegseth thinks? The mission of the military: provide combat ready protect national security, defend America. The mission of scouts: prepare kids to make moral & ethical choices, instill values of the scouting oath & build character through camping & community service.

Did you know that according to the NYT, Homeland Security has asked social media companies to identify users that criticize ICE? What does that sound like to you?

The New Yorker sums it up well: Trump’s playbook for any potential and real disaster is distraction, disinformation, denial, delay. We would all do well to remember that.

Clarity Re Max Boot: “Trump wants to do whatever he wants, wherever he wants, unconstrained by any checks or balances, and he would like to make a lot of money doing it.”

In the past year, Trump has commissioned more than 630 air strikes in 7 countries across 3 continents, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data project. (According to the New Yorker). So no - not know as a “President of Peace.”

New Constitutional violations: taking $130 million from private donor to pay salaries of US military; Deploying US naval battlegroup to international waters & not telling Congress-killing 6; Awarding Pentagon contract for drones to a firm Donald Trump Jr. (on its board) has $4 million equity stake

“Whenever I see someone reading a book, especially if it is someone I don’t expect, I feel civilization has become a little safer.” - Matt Haig Exactly so.