Plus: Werner Herzog’s thoughts on the Trump penguin meme.
Of all the events that might fracture the religious right’s alliance with Trump, it could be him posting an AI-generated image of himself as Jesus Christ shortly after attacking Pope Leo XIV. This image was initially posted by Nick Adams but altered significantly by the time it reached Trump’s feed, including changes that made social media users view it as demonic. Despite attempts to control his social media, Trump continues posting such images, with the latest being him embracing Jesus in front of an American flag.
DC’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner Week events often reflect the financial health of media companies. Collaborations this year include YouTube and CSPAN, Washingtonian Magazine with the Embassy of Qatar, Beehiiv hosting at a Shinola store, and PubKey hosting The Creative Coalition’s annual gala. America250 is co-hosting with the Motion Picture Association, while The Washington Post has scaled down to a traditional reception.
Werner Herzog commented on the White House using a scene from his film “Encounters at the End of the World” as a meme. Herzog finds it bizarre and amusing that after 18 years, an old film scene becomes a meme, acknowledging the ephemeral nature of internet events.
In other news, The Atlantic’s Caity Weaver has an 11,000-word feature searching for America’s best free restaurant bread, with the top choice being served in a DC restaurant. For those who can’t visit, a close recipe alternative is available online.
See you next week.