Jonathan Edwards
jonathanreports.bsky.social
Jonathan Edwards
@jonathanreports.bsky.social
Washington Post reporter
Reposted by Jonathan Edwards
Breaking news: A federal judge suggested he would allow the Trump administration to continue work on its controversial ballroom addition, but gave the White House two weeks to file its still-unfinished ballroom plans.
Federal judge suggests White House ballroom construction may continue
Judge Richard J. Leon said Trump officials had two weeks to submit plans for their controversial addition. Historic preservationists are demanding an immediate halt.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 16, 2025 at 10:35 PM
I just got a text from Paul Abdou, the math teacher featured in this story:

"Thank you for the article. I’ve had a visit from some engineers this morning. Your work can be a force for good."

Let's hope they actually get the heat working 🤞
www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...
Teachers accuse city officials of neglect as D.C. classrooms grow cold
HVAC problems have plagued Francis L. Cardozo Education Campus for years as teachers and parents say city officials have ignored their pleas to fix basic. infrastructure
www.washingtonpost.com
December 16, 2025 at 3:45 PM
The latest White House ballroom news from @ddiamond.bsky.social and me
The White House says its ballroom construction must continue for national security reasons.

(They won’t specify why, but a presidential emergency bunker has long been below the former East Wing.)

Argument comes ahead of a showdown in court this afternoon. With @jonathanreports.bsky.social.
White House ballroom work must continue for national security, DOJ says
Trump officials maintain the president can unilaterally remake the White House. Historic preservationists are suing to immediately halt the project.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 16, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Trump has wanted to go ever-bigger with his White House ballroom. One person who disagrees: Trump’s handpicked architect, worried the 90,000-sq-ft addition will overshadow the main White House mansion, four sources tell the @washingtonpost.com. W/ @ddiamond.bsky.social
wapo.st/4prs3HI
Trump wants a bigger White House ballroom. His architect disagrees.
The president and James McCrery had argued in recent weeks over the project’s size, with Trump pushing him to expand the ballroom.
wapo.st
November 26, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Donors to Trump’s White House ballroom have $279B in federal contracts in the past 5y, have paid $1.6B in political spending and are targets in several federal investigations into alleged wrongdoing, according to a new report from @publiccitizen.bsky.social

www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Report: Donors to Trump’s White House ballroom have $279B in federal contracts
The White House ballroom’s donor list contains heavyweights in the tech, financial and defense sectors, including Google, Comcast and Lockheed Martin.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 3, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Scoop: Trump has started demolishing the White House's East Wing facade to build his ballroom. The president had claimed construction of the $250 million building wouldn’t ‘interfere’ with the existing White House structure. /W @ddiamond.bsky.social wapo.st/4hqBNiU
White House begins demolishing East Wing facade to build Trump’s ballroom
The president had claimed construction of the $250 million ballroom wouldn’t ‘interfere’ with the existing White House structure.
wapo.st
October 20, 2025 at 6:33 PM