Martin Longman

Martin Longman

Does the Reflecting Poll Fiasco Have the Power to Break Trump's Armor?

Maybe it's just a DC villager story, but it's also a powerful "reflection" of Trump's character flaws and failures.

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Martin Longman
Jun 20, 2026
∙ Paid

I’m not sure what to think about all the attention the media (including social media) is paying to the algae problem at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on the National Mall. My first instinct is that it is just the latest example of the DC Village Elite erroneously thinking that the nation at large cares about their city and its struggles.

But another part of me thinks this story is such a perfect reflection (no pun intended) of Donald Trump’s failures and character flaws that it might have unique power to break through some otherwise impermeable skulls.

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