The Needle: DOJ Asks SCOTUS to Let Trump Take Over Elections, Kennedy Center Officials Say Chunk of Ceiling Has Fallen, White House Launches Arcade of Cruel Video Games, and More

Washington City Paper · Gail O'Hara · September 8, 2026

License to steal : The “Justice Department” has asked the Supreme Court to let the U.S. Postal Service enforce its new mail-in ballot restrictions, which legal experts, the trial court judge, and the ACLU say is unconstitutional. Minus one point for even putting our democracy in this position. -1 [ NYT , Lawdork ]

Skyfall : Current Kennedy Center leadership is renewing pleas to shut down the space after providing photos to AP that allegedly show a large hole where a chunk of ceiling fell on the carpet in the hall that connects the three main auditoriums. “This structural failure stems from decades of neglect and deferred maintenance by the previous leadership, and there’s no justification for further delays in restoring America’s cultural center,” a Center spokesperson said. In related news, former KenCen chair David Rubenstein bought the recently removed “Blue” sculpture for more than $2 million, and it will eventually be on display in the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden. Minus one point for falling debris but plus one point for giving unwanted art a new life. 0 [ AP News , Post ]

Looney tunes : The White House is using its official web presence to launch an arcade of racist, xenophobic video games that use familiar themes of bygone machines while pushing the administration’s extremist deportation agenda. The Tetris-style game is called “Build the Wall,” while “Flappy Bill” features a bald eagle carrying legislation. The objective in “Trump Savings Tycoon” is to collect cash and prizes, and “Fill your kids’ Trump Accounts,” which convicted felon and President Donald Trump launched this summer. Minus one point for cruelty. -1 [ Mother Jones , NPR , CNBC ]

Slush puppies : As part of discovery for a lawsuit brought by Democracy Forward, U.S. magistrate judge Ivan Davis has ordered the Trump administration to reveal who set up the $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund” that was going to reward insurrectionists and other friends of Trump. Part of the agreement shields Trump and his family from future tax audits. Last month, Attorney General Todd Blanche said the fund was dead. “We will continue to meet the government in court until our investigation is complete and the slush fund is permanently halted,” said Aman George , senior counsel at DF. Plus one point for discovery. +1 [ Guardian , Post ]

56 days … until the midterm elections. Plus one point for hope. +1

Friday’s Needle rating : -185 Today’s score: 0 Today’s Needle rating: -185

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