Althouse: "Unlike anything ever done or seen before!"

December 29, 2025

"Unlike anything ever done or seen before!"

Link.

55 comments:

Aggie said...: Now that's the dumbest thing I ever saw. Who wants to rest their bare arm on a clammy piece of marble. They belong on an armchair in a mausoleum.

If that doesn't shock the squares enough, wait'll they park their tender fat behinds on the black granite toilet seats.; 12/29/25, 10:01 AM
bagoh20 said...: Was there ever an "I'm skeptical" tag for Biden, because that was some sketchy shit?; 12/29/25, 10:08 AM
bagoh20 said...: This is how the Romans and Greeks did it.
We should also return to nude Olympics.; 12/29/25, 10:09 AM
Clyde said...: Not that I'm ever going to go there anyway, but if I did, I'd certainly prefer something padded to rest my arms on. Marble? No, thanks.; 12/29/25, 10:11 AM
typingtalker said...: Easier to clean and sanitize between shows than cloth or leather. Lasts longer too.; 12/29/25, 10:15 AM
kiwinews said...: The white stone screams at the warm reds and golds of the room. Marble is a totally unsuitable material - cold, expensive, brittle, porous and impossible to clean. One smudge of lipstick from a patron's hand will be there until the sun goes out. NOT a good idea.; 12/29/25, 10:17 AM
Mark said...: They need to keep Trump occupied with something while the people who run the show meet with Netanyahu, etc.

Donald is too stupid to realize that picking out and cheerleaders armrests is normally something considered not worth the President's time.; 12/29/25, 10:18 AM
bagoh20 said...: "... normally something considered not worth the President's time."
I guess he could be sleeping till noon and back at it by 2pm. That seemed acceptable to millions for 4 years.; 12/29/25, 10:21 AM
Marcus Bressler said...: I think it is a troll. Trump saw these and decided to spark some more outrage amongst the sufferers of TDS.; 12/29/25, 10:23 AM
Marcus Bressler said...: And, of course, it is not suitable for an armrest.; 12/29/25, 10:24 AM
Aaron said...: Trump is too interested in Kennedy Center stuff and not enough about fraud in federal spending.; 12/29/25, 10:25 AM
Ficta said...: As someone who actually goes to the Kennedy Center from time to time, I say, those look cold and uncomfortable.; 12/29/25, 10:27 AM
Smilin' Jack said...: Hee. He knows the audience there, like DC itself, skews mostly Dem. Make them suffer!; 12/29/25, 10:29 AM
PM said...: All to benefit the Forearm Pad concession. Sad.; 12/29/25, 10:40 AM
Kai Akker said...: My Roman Empire thought for the day. Thanks!; 12/29/25, 10:42 AM
Known Unknown said...: "Potential"; 12/29/25, 10:45 AM
NorthOfTheOneOhOne said...: Aggie said...

Now that's the dumbest thing I ever saw. Who wants to rest their bare arm on a clammy piece of marble.

Maybe he's trying to get ladies back into the habit of wearing opera gloves.; 12/29/25, 10:46 AM
pacwest said...: We did something similar on a job about 20 years ago. Corian everywhere in a theater including wide armrests. We warned the architect it was a bad idea, but the customer is always right. We didn't provide any warranty as a part of the contract. Within two years it like someone had taken a hammer to the place. Cracked and broken everywhere. Stone is going to shink and swell with temperature changes, uneven stresses and hard objects are going to take a toll and as noted above the armrest will need constant refinishing to maintain a clean polished look. Stupid stupid idea.; 12/29/25, 10:52 AM
Wince said...: Marvel at the marble.; 12/29/25, 10:57 AM
Readering said...: I thought he was designing a battleship.; 12/29/25, 11:03 AM
rhhardin said...: John Kobylt is hosting Clay and Buck. Clever and irreverent KFI host might be good.; 12/29/25, 11:09 AM
loudogblog said...: One of my complaints with some designers is they forget that the artistic design should not defeat the function of the item. An arm rest is supposed to be a place to comfortably rest your arm. It shouldn't be cold and hard.; 12/29/25, 11:12 AM
Lazarus said...: Not so far away, Lincoln is sitting on a chair that is entirely made of marble. As he is and the whole building is.; 12/29/25, 11:15 AM
rhhardin said...: Care & Maintenance

Sealing: Essential to protect against moisture and stains; requires periodic re-sealing.
Cleaning: Use pH-neutral cleaners or warm water; avoid acidic cleaners (like vinegar) or harsh chemicals that cause etching.
Protection: Use coasters and trivets to prevent heat damage and scratches; 12/29/25, 11:20 AM
Hassayamper said...: Those remind me of the rather lavish bathrooms in the 1920's-era courthouse in the town I grew up in.

I'm OK with a return to classic architectural elements, but for armrests, that means carved mahogany or sumptuous upholstery. Marble is unsuitable. It should be decorative trim, not the main component of anything.; 12/29/25, 11:43 AM
Hassayamper said...: Trump is too interested in Kennedy Center stuff and not enough about fraud in federal spending.

I agree. I'm tired of hearing about the ballroom and grandiose plans for the Kennedy Center. Let's have a lot more discussion about what he's going to do about security for next year's election.; 12/29/25, 11:46 AM
Luke Lea said...: This is not going to end well.; 12/29/25, 11:47 AM
RCOCEAN II said...: Do all the US district court judges approve? It could be against the constitution.; 12/29/25, 11:54 AM
RCOCEAN II said...: You don't have to worry about cold marble in a hot auditorium. Could be a winner.; 12/29/25, 11:55 AM
Iman said...: One never wants to make Democrats feel too comfortable, as that is when their thoughts turn to larceny, grifting, and destroying America as we know it.; 12/29/25, 12:06 PM
Rocco said...: typingtalker said...
“Easier to clean and sanitize between shows than cloth or leather. Lasts longer too.”

Just hose down the theater and you’re done.; 12/29/25, 12:10 PM
bagoh20 said...: "Unlike anything ever done or seen before!"
He does have a love affair with hyperbole.
He should have waited for the heat of summer to announce this.; 12/29/25, 12:22 PM
narciso said...: well harmeet dhillon is working on that, and shes rather familiar with how the system works

I noted the Times did their best squirrel trying to debunk
DOGE's impact,; 12/29/25, 12:41 PM
Leland said...: The cold hard truth is why this hasn't been seen or done before.; 12/29/25, 12:59 PM
narciso said...: https://x.com/DrewPavlou/status/2005599459678527740; 12/29/25, 1:01 PM
gadfly said...: There is no such thing as the "Trump Kennedy" Center. The Memorial Center for the Arts in D.C. was named by an act of
Congress and Trump don't have the authority to change it, just as he cannot rename the Department of Defense and the Gulf of Mexico.

And Trump is showing off his dementia with proposed marble armrests. Why in the hell would anyone want to install hard, cold, uncomfortable rock to seat the remaining people who even attend concerts in the Kennedy Center now that Trump has put himself in charge?; 12/29/25, 1:04 PM
jim5301 said...: I like a little cushion myself.; 12/29/25, 1:12 PM
Josephbleau said...: How about plastic, brass, or wood, perhaps cushy velvet? I have no problem with stone, it will last a long time, it’s going to be as maintenance free as anything. You are not going to cook and chop vegetables on it so sealing all the time is a stretch. A person does not need to rest their arms on a pillow for a show.; 12/29/25, 1:19 PM
Rocco said...: jim5301 said...
“I like a little cushion myself.”

Spinal Tap disagrees.; 12/29/25, 1:45 PM
Rocco said...: gadfly said...
“There is no such thing as the "Trump Kennedy" Center. The Memorial Center for the Arts in D.C. was named by an act of
Congress and Trump don't have the authority to change it, just as he cannot rename the Department of Defense and the Gulf of Mexico.”

I’m old enough to remember when lefties were opposed to deadnaming.; 12/29/25, 1:51 PM
FormerLawClerk said...: This is what Trump is focused on when he gets off the golf course boosting Kai's YouTube channel while imported hood rats he keeps in the country literally steal America right out from under us.

Trump should be removed from office for dereliction of duty.; 12/29/25, 1:55 PM
Rocco said...: Josephbleau said...
“I have no problem with stone, it will last a long time, it’s going to be as maintenance free as anything. You are not going to cook and chop vegetables on it so sealing all the time is a stretch.”

Have you seen the price of food and drinks at those types of places? Imma bring in carrots and celery to chop up for the grandkids to munch on during intermission.; 12/29/25, 1:55 PM
FormerLawClerk said...: Trump shouldn't have left Kennedy's name on it. It's a STAIN on our nation's capitol to have that family's name on anything.

John F. Kennedy was a meth addict and our own intelligence agencies had to murder him to protect the country. He shouldn't be celebrated anywhere.

The things he did to that poor wife of his are beyond the pale. He was a gigantic asshole and it's good that his brains got scattered all over Dealy Plaza except that his poor wife had to go round picking them up.; 12/29/25, 1:58 PM
henge2243 said...: Never done before, because it feels cold and would be uncomfortable?; 12/29/25, 2:07 PM
Dogma and Pony Show said...: Who has standing to sue over the Trump-Kennedy Center name change? Is any living person actually aggrieved? Is any state actually aggrieved? I doubt that the Supreme Court's doctrines regarding standing would permit a lawsuit to go forward merely because people didn't like the change -- doesn't there have to be some kind of articulable injury?

As a practical matter, the Board is obviously on-Board with it. Has Congress taken (or will it take) any remedial measures?

Granted, the name was changed by a joint resolution of Congress in 1964 (although I think that means it wasn't an actual bill that the president signed into law). But that '64 resolution didn't say anything restricting the powers of the Board in terms of running the place.; 12/29/25, 2:22 PM
TeaBagHag said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 12/29/25, 2:24 PM
Peachy said...: Agree with Aggie #1 comment.

Stupid idea. cold and hard. No thanks.

I'm tired of hearing about Trump's side projects.
Just get it done and shut up.
also - fix THE VOTE system and make sure every state has universal ID to vote. ..and the corrupt dem's illegals cannot cannot scam it
If Trump and the GOP won't fix it now - we are done here.
and your marble arm rests mean exactly jack f*ck.; 12/29/25, 2:34 PM
FullMoon said...: Oh, sure another media diversion from ...; 12/29/25, 3:25 PM
Kakistocracy said...: Partialism fetishists are weeping. Grown men, tears in their eyes, walking up to Trump saying, "Sir, SIR, I had never even dreamed someone could f**k that many elbows at once."

There's a reason why no-one has done marble arm rests before.; 12/29/25, 4:49 PM
narciso said...: The 31 alpha mothership (that was dissapointing); 12/29/25, 5:21 PM
Earnest Prole said...: Reminds us of when Jimmy Carter personally intervened to get the fuzz right on White House tennis balls.; 12/29/25, 5:56 PM
Marcus Bressler said...: Battleship, Readering? 47 can do more than one thing at a time. Witness the immense amount of things he has accomplished and put into law via EA since January. So unlike a Biden or Obama or any Dem politician.; 12/29/25, 9:09 PM
Bunkypotatohead said...: No cup holders?; 12/29/25, 11:54 PM
Josephbleau said...: Stone feels colder due to its high effusivity, the rate that heat is transferred between two surfaces. Your skin is about 90 degf and the stone may be at 70 degf or so. So on first contact there is a transfer of heat to the outer layer of the stone that your nerves interpret as cold.

This lasts for less than a second until the surface absorbs the heat. But if you have a shirt on you won’t notice it, the outer surface of your shirt is not 90 degf. Wood has a lower effusivity so the effect is still there but lower.

But sure, condemn stone, let’s stir up a mob with pitchforks.; 12/30/25, 1:14 PM
n.n said...: Demos-cracy perched on a hard slab is old school.; 12/30/25, 5:58 PM