Today, Explained Extreme Makeover: White House Edition
53 snips
Oct 27, 2025 
Dan Diamond, a White House reporter for The Washington Post, and Debbie Millman, a renowned designer and host of Design Matters, delve into President Trump's audacious plan to demolish parts of the White House for a dazzling new ballroom. They discuss the legal loopholes allowing such drastic changes and the rising costs, now estimated at $300 million. Millman voices her heartbreak over the lack of preservation efforts, and both guests explore how these transformations echo across history, questioning if the White House remains 'the People's House' or merely a personal stage for Trump.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Demolition Before Plans
- The East Wing demolition happened before formal plans were released, an unusual bypass of typical review processes.
- The project size and scope changed repeatedly, showing the plan is in flux and opaque.
Ambitious, Shifting Scale
- Trump claimed a 90,000-square-foot ballroom that would nearly double the White House residence size.
- He repeatedly changed capacity and cost estimates, raising questions about the final design.
Loophole Allowed Quick Demolition
- The administration exploited a legal loophole allowing demolition before formal approvals.
- Demolition can proceed even when reconstruction would normally require historic review.
