The Reflecting Pool Contract: A Window into Trump-Era Governance

Slate’s interview with journalist David Fahrenthold explains how the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool renovation—awarded via a no‑bid contract to a non-pool company, with Trump touting a color called American Flag Blue—has become a microcosm of Trump-era governance: rushed, noncompetitive contracting that raises conflicts of interest and transparency concerns. The piece emphasizes reporting the story incrementally to surface details and underscores how a seemingly minor maintenance project illustrates a broader pattern of decision‑making under the administration.