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 @ISIDEWITHNewsUnited StatesGovernment SpendingWashington DCHistoric Preservation4wks ago

Trump defends $13 million blue paint job for Reflecting Pool amid cost scandals

Workers in Washington D.C. are currently applying a thick, vibrant blue rubberized coating to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool as part of a $13.1 million renovation project.

President Trump defended the overhaul on Friday, describing the landmark as a previously "disgusting, garbage-strewn dump" and dismissing reports of massive cost overruns. A recent government analysis found that the Virginia-based firm awarded the no-bid contract is earning a 20% profit margin, nearly double the standard for federal masonry work. Preservationists have since filed a lawsuit alleging "aesthetic injury," arguing the bright "American Flag Blue" color violates laws protecting the historic character of the National Mall.

Expect ongoing legal challenges and political friction as the administration continues its broader effort to redesign D.C. monuments and fountains.

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 @ISIDEWITHlinked…4wks4W

FACT FOCUS: Trump says Obama and Biden spent 'hundreds of millions' on reflecting pool. They did not

https://abc13.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In April, President Donald Trump announced a project to revamp the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, hiring a contractor...

 @ISIDEWITHlinked…4wks4W

Reflecting Pool Contract Has ‘Inflated’ Profit Margin, Government Analysis Finds

https://nytimes.com

The firm that was given a no-bid contract to fix the troubled landmark is charging 20 percent. The typical profit margin is 6 percent to 12...

 @ISIDEWITHlinked…4wks4W

Fact-checking Trump on National Mall's Reflecting Pool renovations

https://pbs.org

As President Donald Trump delves into several projects to remake the monumental core of the nation's capital, PolitiFact fact-checks...

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 @ISIDEWITH submitted…2yrs2Y

Elizabeth Warren Walks Back Murder Comments

Congressional Democrats broadly denounced the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson Friday morning, after Republicans started accusing Sen. Elizabeth Warren of excusing violence.“No one's condoning this,” said Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.). “Violence never is the right answer for anything. And it was a horrible murder, a tragic loss for his family.” Warren this week condemned the shooting, but added that people “can be pushed only so far.”"We'll say it over and over," Warren said on MSNBC’S “The ReidOut.” " Violence is never the answer. This guy [Luigi Mangione] gets a trial who's allegedly killed the CEO of UnitedHealth, but you can only push people so far, and then they start to take matters into their own hands."In a statement to POLITICO, Warren said, “Violence is never the answer. Period. I should have been much clearer that there is never a justification for murder.” Top Republicans denounced Warren's comments and the walked-back rhetoric, with House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) calling it “inappropriate and dangerous.”Some House Democrats asked about the incident on Thursday pivoted the conversation to discuss policy options on health care or gun safety.“I don't really know that this is really a space that Congress normally weighs in on,” said Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas). “But at the end of the day, I think it’s an opportunity, because now people are talking about health care and to talk about the fact that this industry has honestly not been as helpful as it could be.”“Violence is never the answer,” said Rep. Troy Carter (D-La.). “We know that there are people suffering, there’s great challenges in healthcare. There's great challenges, and people have, in fact, been wronged, but a process of governance is the way to address that, not violence.”And Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) who denounced the murder, said the killer should be prosecuted and that “I do know that allegedly a ghost gun was used, and we should also ban ghost guns. There's no reason for them beyond the streets.”

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