is the "incredibly powerful aura" a symptom of the dementia pic.twitter.com/JK3mJOb9gZ
— Fentanyl Tsar ?????? (@canderaid) March 22, 2025
Per the mealy-mouthed NYTimes, “Elvis, ‘Cats’ and Babe Ruth: Chairman Trump Reimagines the Kennedy Center” [gift link]:
… He mused about how great it could be if he hosted the Kennedy Center Honors (“The king of ratings,” he called himself). And he floated the idea of giving awards to dead figures in culture and sports, including Luciano Pavarotti, Elvis Presley and Babe Ruth.
Monday was President Trump’s first visit to the Kennedy Center since he took it over last month by replacing all the Biden appointees on the board of the once bipartisan institution and having himself elected chairman.
As he gathered members of the new board on the stage of its opera house he expressed strong and sometimes surprising opinions on a variety of matters, according to an audio recording of his private remarks obtained by The New York Times, which was confirmed as authentic by a participant.
Asked about the recording, a Kennedy Center official pointed to a social media post by its new president, Richard Grenell, which said that Mr. Trump wants to save the center and “ensure it is the premier Arts institution in the United States” and a place where “EVERYONE is welcome.”…
Mr. Trump, who as a young man dreamed of becoming a theater producer, told the board that he had been informed that Broadway shows sell the best at the Kennedy Center, and pledged to present many of them. And he waxed poetic about his love of Broadway shows of a certain vintage, especially Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats.”…
After a board member asked if there were any new musicals that were not “totally woke,” somebody replied that, in a break with the past, the center would be doing some shows not affiliated with Actors’ Equity, the union representing actors. The person said that the change “opens us up for a whole bunch of more options as well as a lot more money.”
He wants to remake the Kennedy Center Honors, which he said celebrated “radical left lunatics.”
Mr. Trump has been preoccupied with the Kennedy Center Honors, the annual awards ceremony, since his first term, after several artists being honored criticized him. In response, the president boycotted the ceremony, breaking with tradition…
Kennedy Center Honors have traditionally been bestowed on artists. But Mr. Trump suggested they might also look to the world of sports, politics and business, naming the casino mogul Steve Wynn, a major Republican donor, as a potential recipient. (Mr. Trump appointed Mr. Wynn’s wife, Andrea, to the Kennedy Center’s board.)
“You could do entrepreneurs, you could do people that, you know, that were really in charge of show business,” he said. “I would say you could do politicians, you could do sports stars.”…
[For the right kickback, of course. ]
Mr. Trump, drawing on his experience in television, took aim at the Honors show, a star-studded event that is broadcast each year on CBS. “I didn’t like it,” he said. “I couldn’t watch it. And the host was always terrible.” (Queen Latifah was the host last year.)
Then he offered an idea for who might host the show: himself.
“Believe me, I don’t want to do it, I don’t want to do it,” he said…
Mr. Trump praised the new Kennedy Center board, which is packed with more than 30 of his allies, including several donors to his campaign. (He joked, however, that some members “didn’t give me anything; they probably won’t be here too long.”)…
Shame about the arts, but we honestly should probably encourage our mad king to worry about the arts and what's on at the Kennedy center and not *waves hands at everything.* He'd be happier. We'd be happier. Win win.
— Schnorkles O'Bork (@schnorkles.bsky.social) March 19, 2025 at 11:37 PM
As the MAGAts say: Good enuf fer gubmint werk!
Fool really thinks that’s the real one ?? https://t.co/qZx2cX6Si5
— Wu Tang is for the Children (@WUTangKids) March 20, 2025
Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)
Huh. History really does rhyme
But I thought EVERYONE was supposed to be welcome at the Kennedy Center. Which is it, Trumpy?
eclare
Guess that’s the end of my watching The Kennedy Center Honors. I still remember when they honored Led Zeppelin. Lenny Kravitz sang “Whole Lotta Love,” and the camera showed Barack Obama in the audience singing along.
If you haven’t seen it, a knockout performance. Easy to Google.
geg6
This really hurts my heart. I don’t think I’ve ever missed any Kennedy Center Honors programs. Not since my freshman year of college at least. Forever tainted now.
geg6
@eclare:
Heart doing Stairway to Heaven. Adam Lambert doing Believe to honor Cher. Two of the greatest cover performances I’ve ever witnessed.
Other MJS
We have a venue for that, you murderous simpleton. It’s called “Broadway”.
Suzanne
It absolutely cracks me up to know that he loves Cats. Like ketamine with face paint.
Harrison Wesley
So…. only radical left lunatics have artistic talent? I’ll be damned.
VFX Lurker
Is that the euphemism now for the Odious Orange’s odor?
TS
Is there nothing he will not ruin – and where are all these sycophants coming from who worship at his feet – as we see the image of Germany 1933, I have no idea how to stop this nor where it will end.
We will see the 22nd amendment interpreted to mean “twice in successive terms”
Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)
@TS:
Commenter Matt McIrvin has speculated that they could just run Donald Trump Jr, with the understanding and expectation that it’s actually Trump himself on the ballot
Other MJS
See the Aura. Release the Evil.
YY_Sima Qian
Given the relentlessly dark & depressing news lately, I would like to share the below video to lighten the mood for a bit. It is apparently from a few years ago, but just came across my X feed yesterday.
Lisette Oropesa is singing Violetta’s ‘Sempre Libera’ when student Liu Jianwei decides to join her !
It was the 4th encore of a recital performance, Oropesa chose È Strano from La Traviatta, but at the end of which the accompanist apparent segued directly to Sempre Libera, which normally needs a tenor off stage to sing Alfredo to Violetta, much to Oropesa apparent surprise. The accompanist played the tenor part, as is normal if the aria is performed solo, but there was a clear awkwardness through the 1st bar w/o a tenor voice. A young Chinese student tenor in the audience, then studying in Italy, decided to pitch in at the start of the 2nd bar for tenor, & serendipity followed. Oropesa improvised a clearly grateful “O Grazie” in place of “O Amore“, & the accompanist immediately stopped the piano to make space for the impromptu tenor. It was doubly magical in that the real life moment perfectly mirrored the moment in the opera, putting new meaning to life imitating art.
I can enjoy opera performances, but not enough of a fan to seek them out. However, this still brought a big smile to my face, & to happy tears.
Here is a longer version from a different angle:
Lisette Oropesa – È Strano… Sempre Libera • With an Audience’s tenor voice!!
I hope these videos put you in a happy place before going to sleep. It is even tangentially on topic! :-)
MobiusKlein
I saw the vid of the declaration in the oval office, and had to stop when trump made an aside about Biden that was shameless, and the interviewer just let it slide. I’m still shocked how much interviewers just let invective fly against Dems, with no pushback.
Badpenny
Trump looks like Hitler in the last film taken before killed himself a few days later with the Hitler youth.
Cheryl from Maryland
Hurts my soul. I’ve been a subscriber to the Symphony for over 15 years and a donor as well. Received a letter today re renewal – now composing a letter of how I will not renew as I have no confidence in what will be presented at the Kennedy Center in the future. The Symphony has been so wonderful these last few years, with old standards mixed with pieces from contemporary composers. Last year I was at a performance conducted by Leonard Slatkin of music by his father who was a composer for Hollywood. The Kennedy Center presented such a wide variety of arts for all tastes, such as broadway shows to hip hop dance to rap. It was the best of America, and its devotion to the arts and the expanse of what art can represent is being destroyed. Yes, education, health care, and libraries are more important, but it’s all a part of Trump and the Trumpistas shrinking American to basically nothing.
Jackie
@Suzanne:
I read recently that a yuuuge part of his love for Cats was all the young beautiful women dressed in skintight leotards showcasing their bodies… the leotarded men, not so much. He was discussing the Lincoln Center, and why he loved Cats.
Too tired and lazy and busy watching the Zags to find the link.
Martin
@Suzanne: When I saw he was going to take over the Kennedy Center I figured Cats would be in residence for 4 years with progressively diminishing energy.
Urza
@MobiusKlein: The reason for this is simple, Democrats won’t have people threatening to kill them.
pajaro
It is totally on brand for someone of Donald Trump’s deep appreciation of the arts to wonder why the nation’s performing arts center gives its awards to performing artists, rather than casino moguls or sports stars, or that it focuses on the arts contribution of Americans.
Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)
@Suzanne:
By the way, I wanted to let you know I understood what your point was re:Waymo and automation of transportation reducing injuries and deaths from a few days back. That’s a great goal and I agree with it. I just hope public policy keeps up with people’s needs when jobs from that sector get eliminated, which I’m sure you agree with too
CliosFanboy
@Martin:
feral cats
NotMax
You Won’t Succeed On Broadway.
:)
Suzanne
@Goku (aka Amerikan Baka): I understand your point and it’s absolutely valid. It was a good discussion. I would like to think that we are smart enough people to manage multiple goals at the same time….. though there are times I lose that faith!
Suzanne
@Martin: Spawn the Elder, who loves musicals, went to the movie and enjoyed the hell out of it. He got absolutely stoned off his ass right beforehand, though!
I was sober when I saw it, and hence enjoyed it much less! Maybe if it had been a sing-along….,
different-church-lady
This man cannot hang by his heels from the canopy of a petrol station soon enough.
Glory b
@TS: Thats already been floated by a couple Republican members of Congress.
It has the added benefit of barring Obama from running against him.
Martin
@Suzanne: Star Wars Holiday Special is a lot more palatable when you’re stoned as well.
different-church-lady
I just discovered a new level of hatred I never knew existed…
NotMax
@Martin
Ain’t enough Road Apple Red* on the planet.
*hat tip: Firesign Theater
:)
brantl
Funny to me that incredible aura looks like he got a bad burrito.
Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)
@Suzanne:
👍
I do worry that I don’t hear many people in either party seriously talk about solutions to this looming problem, such as UBI. I’m not surprised I don’t hear it from Repukes, I think they and the billionaires like Musk, Bezos etc want to replace as many of us as they can with automation and see us as parasites. I have no idea who they think will buy their products and services when there’s mass unemployment
pajaro
@Cheryl from Maryland:
I’m not going to give up on the National Symphony. There is no way Trump is going to dictate to the Music Director the music they are going to do next year, which is certainly already been booked. The Trumpkins already know that they are not going to get a warm welcome when they show up at NSO concerts, as JD Vance got long and loud booing after he waved from the crowd at a recent concert.
Shalimar
@Goku (aka Amerikan Baka): It was lost in his massive mountain of bullshit, but Musk said months ago (I think December but it might have been before the election) that we would need UBI in the future with all of the people put out of work by tech advancement.
NotMax
Is the world ready for Scott Baio’s Hamlet?
//
Chetan Murthy
@Goku (aka Amerikan Baka): I remember a couple of decades ago, Brad Delong was writing about NAFTA and “the China Shock” (an article or maybe series by Autor et al?) about how the original NAFTA called for the US to use redistribution to redistribute some of the winnings from the winners to the losers. B/c while it was well-established (by Ricardo) that free trade benefited the economy that opened-up, the benefit was not uniformly distributed so there was a call at the time for redistribution to do just that.
But of course, it never happened, and hence you got what you got: which was devastation as freer trade destroyed American jobs and nothing replaced them.
There’s a deeper problem: too many people indulge in the ceteris paribus fallacy: the belief “if I make this one change here (from which I will benefit, snicker snicker [rubs greedy hands]) then all other things wil be equal (unchanged)” Ceteris paribus. It’s a fallacy, b/c if you make enough small changes, or enough people each make one small change, then that amounts to a big change, and all other things will not remain equal. I fully expect that that’s what’s going to happen with AI.
Jay
@pajaro:
It’s gonna be Lee Greenwood and YMCA all the time.
Jackie
@pajaro:
They can cancel just like previously scheduled artists have. If they haven’t already.
And, hasn’t the FFOTUS already taken over the Music Director role?
Chetan Murthy
@Jay: Speaking of YMCA, I remember during the election season, when the Village People came out and said that YMCA wasn’t about gay life at the YMCA. I mean ….. wtf dudes, you really think anybody’s gonna believe you?
pajaro
@Suzanne:
There is no way that Donald J Trump could go to a performance of Cats, or any other musical. He couldn’t even stay at a Super Bowl. He is incapable of being in any setting where he is not the center of attention. At some point after the music started, the lights would go down, and he would be sitting in the dark, having to watch with the rest of us. There’s no way in hell he could do it, even if he could be assured that he wouldn’t be booed.
eclare
@NotMax:
Hahaha…and you know Kid Rock will perform.
Jackie
@Chetan Murthy:
😂 🤣 😂
Shalimar
@Jay: Special Show This Month Only: 17 different artists do their own covers of YMCA.
YY_Sima Qian
@Chetan Murthy: The impact from globalized trade far predates NAFTA & the “China Shock 1.0”. The U.S. has been offshoring to E/SE Asia since the 70s. & instead of focusing on lack of adequate redistribution of value capture, the political zeitgeist in the U.S. went in the direction of economic nationalism & xenophobia.
pajaro
@Jay:
YMCA, with its gay theme? I don’t think so.
Jackie
@pajaro: What are you smoking? Please share with the rest of us!
Jackie
@pajaro: See comment #45
eclare
Great photo today, WaterGirl.
Suzanne
@pajaro: From what I understand, TFG went to see Cats multiple times in the 80s, which tracks.
TS
@Glory b:
Just how Hitler got absolute power – and the parliament was no longer needed to enact laws.
Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)
@pajaro:
I think the Village People were playing at a party at MAL, maybe NYE last year? Plus, Trump has “danced” to YMCA at his campaign rallies
pajaro
@Jackie:
The Music Director of the NSO is a different person than the Chairman of the Board of the Center, which Trump is. He’s also not the Executive Director, who would be the person to oversee the NSO’s music director. That’s Trump lickspittle Richard Grenell. I suppose he could cancel the people who have been booked for next year, but that will in effect be cancelling the NSO. No one worth hearing will come.
pajaro
@Goku (aka Amerikan Baka):
Well the thing about a piece of music is that, once it”s out there, it’s for us to say what it means.
Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)
@Shalimar:
He sure doesn’t act like he believes in it. Probably thinks the UBI should distributed by his companies or something
Jay
@YY_Sima Qian:
In some regards, it was Corporate mismanagement.
I worked for a Plastics Injector company, making “high tech”, (as far as plastics go), for a while. They went bankrupt. Took me a while to figure it out. In the 70’s and 80’s, their big cash cow was moldmaking for other companies. They did not charge design, materials, labour +mark up, they massively overcharged.
Moldmaking went offshore, about 2 years before I was hired. In China, a mold was design, materials, labour +mark up. A mold we would make and sell for $150k, they would sell for $20k.
Because that side of the business was such a cash cow, they ignored the plastics side of it. When I was interviewing, the Production Scheduler said that every time a mold popped open, caching, $0.87 profit.
Turns out, between waste, scrap, garbage BOM’s, bad contracts, every time a mold popped open, they lost $0.18, and for two decades, the profits from moldmaking hid that and nobody, nobody drilled down into their volume/high labour side of the business.
I only figured it out because the same thing happened when I worked for an Industrial Computer Company. When our cash cow went away, turned out everything else we did, was at a loss.
While we took steps, ( in both companies to fix things). both bled out before we could turn things around. The tech company was a sub of a Fortune 100 Company, the second was not.
Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)
@pajaro:
True. Like Death of the Author
mrmoshpotato
I’m good with “Hitler” shooting himself in the head; his second in line poisoning himself, his wife, and their children.
Then hangings of a bunch of fascist shitstains on October 16, 202x after free and fair trials before an international tribunal (that doesn’t include shitstain Russia.)
Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)
@Chetan Murthy:
You might be right. It’s sad to think of what could have been re: NAFTA
Cheryl from Maryland
@pajaro: Good fortune go with you. A NSO program for the next season has generally arrived by now, and it has not. My favorite violinist, Christian Tetzlaff, has stated he’s not coming. I’m looking into the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.
Chetan Murthy
@Goku (aka Amerikan Baka): There is simply no substitute for comprehensive, progressive, and confiscatory taxation. Non substitute at all. And I say this as someone who definitely would get taxed a lot more.
Bulgakov
This right here is why everyone who has a subscription to the NY Times should cancel it and why no one in their right minds should ever subscribe to the NY Times. From the article
“he expressed strong and sometimes surprising opinions on a variety of matters”
Both-siding Hitler.
comrade scotts agenda of rage
@Bulgakov:
FTFNYT and Totebagger Radio basically do the same thing. For example, if Biden had walked on water in front of a live audience, each would have similar headlines:
Or, if we go back to oh, 1937 Germany and the FTFNYT:
Which would have been parroted in a very cheery-voiced report on Totebagger Radio’s ‘Morning Edition’ and lapped up by tons of white, professional self-professed progressives.
Tehanu
You said it!
You and me both, sister.
scav
If only there were some major sports franchise that would announce the winner of the seasons MVP was the interval act headliner or the CFO of the team with the highest door receipts.
prostratedragon
@different-church-lady:
That’s what comes out when you press “such lowbrow shit as you can hardly imagine, blown through a foghorn” through a keeping-my-job filter.
prostratedragon
@Jackie: The Music Director of the NSO is Gianandrea Noseda, who as usual with symphony orchestras is also the principal conductor. TFG could break up the band like *that* if he went charging in there. Noseda already has other positions in other countries, and the market for fine instrumentalists is also worldwide, though the short run disruption for many might be significant. They have several more major dates this season, including LvB’s Missa Solemnis.
Darkrose
@Suzanne: There’s an amazing video essay on YouTube about why the musical performances in Cats the movie are so awful. TL;DR: Tom Hooper doesn’t know jackshit about music or musicals. At one point he says that Hooper continuing to be tapped to direct musicals is “proof that we do not live in a meritocracy,” and he’s right.
pluky
@geg6:
Bettye LaVette covering The Who: “Love Reign O’er Me”
Aretha Franklin doing “Natural Woman” for Carole King.
pluky
@pluky: Oops! “Rain”, not “Reign”.
Another Scott
@pluky: @pluky:
You were right the first time.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love,_Reign_o%27er_Me
(’tis one of my very favorites.)
Best wishes,
Scott.