Everything's 'National Security' in Trump's Washington (with Stephanie Mencimer)

<p>Donald Trump is changing the landscape of Washington—literally. From East Potomac Park to the Kennedy Center to the &#39;Arc de Trump,&#39; everything he touches turns to plaster and adhesive gold-colored filigree. And all the while, D.C. is still under occupation by National Guard out-of-towners. Stephanie Mencimer, a senior reporter with Mother Jones and resident of the city under siege, joins us.</p><p><br></p><p>Resources</p><p><br></p><p>https://bsky.app/profile/smencimer.bsky.social</p><p><br></p><p>https://www.motherjones.com/topics/reveal-podcast/</p><p><br></p><p>https://www.youtube.com/@MotherJones</p><p><br></p><p>https://www.tiktok.com/@motherjonesmag</p><p><br></p><p>https://www.motherjones.com/author/Stephanie-mencimer/</p><p><br></p><p>https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/08/fore-trumps-dc-golf-course-is-already-in-the-rough/</p><p><br></p><p>https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/05/the-kennedy-center-was-part-of-dc-life-trump-destroyed-it/</p><p><br></p><p>https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/09/30/trumps-upscale-golf-plan-would-destroy-dc-haven-cyclists-runners/</p><p><br></p><p>https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/09/29/trumps-arch-not-expected-feature-drones-snipers-officials-say/</p><p><br></p><p>https://www.youtube.com/shorts/NZIUqUdoz2I</p><p><br></p><p>https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/08/23/secret-white-house-bunker-undercuts-trumps-ballroom-lawsuit-ex-officials-say/</p><p><br></p><p>https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/18/us/politics/trump-ballroom-construction.html</p><p><br></p><p>https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/2026/09/30/kennedy-center-was-solvent-when-trump-took-over-then-its-finances-collapsed/</p><p><br></p><p>https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/29/politics/mike-lee-kennedy-center-bill</p><p><br></p><p>https://apnews.com/article/trump-rose-garden-historical-statues-founders-sculptures-0fe922ef11337b4937adf3ac505e9b5b</p><p><br></p><p>https://www.turtlediaries.net/p/update-from-the-great-american-state </p><p><br></p><p>https://people.com/trump-rose-garden-renovations-complete-photo-timeline-11985903</p><p><br></p><p>https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/08/a-year-of-troops-in-washington/688317/</p><p><br></p><p>https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-put-thousands-soldiers-washingtons-streets-they-seldom-stop-crime-2026-08-19/</p><p><br></p><p>https://www.pbs.org/newshour/classroom/daily-news-lessons/2025/10/east-wing-of-white-house-torn-down-as-trump-clears-space-for-his-ballroom</p><p><br></p