In this very special episode, the legendary architecture critic Paul Goldberger discusses the architectural ambitions of Donald Trump, comparing them to Mussolini's Rome, and explores the broader implications for American democracy and urban design. The dance with the devil continues, as we delve into proposals for transforming iconic infrastructure like Penn Station and Dulles Airport, with a side jaunt into the cultural significance of sports architecture and a sneak peak at Golberger’s upcoming book.
Show Notes
Intro: “S.P.Q.R.” by This Heat
Discussed:
“Trump Will Destroy Washington if It’s the Last Thing He Does,” New York Times, March 13, 2026
More Times analysis on the White House ballroom plans
Alternate venues, that would not require a new ballroom at the White House:
Saarinen's Dulles Airport design
“Fedlandia” – a plan to rebuild 230 acres of Federal downtown Washington
East Potomac Golf Links Trump takeover plan, and the resistance
National Garden of American Heroes
Christopher Columbus statue, Baltimore
White House ballroom architects
Suit against Kennedy Center renovations
Mamdani’s Trump-whispering to get funding for the Sunnyside Yards overbuild
Dulles Airport overhaul proposals
Original Dulles Airport mobile lounges
Trump offer to release Gateway Tunnel funds in exchange for naming Penn Station after him
Renaming of Palm Beach airport, after Trump
Renovation and expansion of the US Embassy in Delhi, India (Edward Durell Stone > Weiss Manfredi)
Penn Station reconstruction under Trump:
- Move Madison Square Garden?
- AECOM joint venture to lead project management
- ASTM + HOK + PAU Plan: Keep MSG, remove Hulu Theater
Ballpark: Baseball in the American City
FIFA Sites include:
- Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
- Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO
- SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
- AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
Chuck Klosterman: “Football” as a “hyperobject”
Milan San Siro (Stadio Giuseppe Meazza)
NY Jets plan for West Side stadium
Upcoming Goldberger book (11/17/2026): “The Imperfect City: Design, Serendipity, and the Real Life of Cities”
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Outro: “The Leopards Ate My Face,” by Franchesca Ramsey
Listen On
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