People are watching the Reflecting Pool like reality TV. What does that say about us?

National People are watching the Reflecting Pool like reality TV. What does that say about us? July 22, 202611:41 AM ET By  Rachel Treisman The reflecting pool resurfacing has had many dramatic twists and turns, from algae to arrests to a second draining. Jackie Lay/NPR hide caption toggle caption Jackie Lay/NPR Of the many political dramas unfolding on any given day in the nation's capital, one character has emerged as an unlikely star: the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The shallow, rectangular landmark has been the site of historic speeches and presidential inaugurations over the decades. But now, at age 104, it's taken on a new national significance as the site of the Trump administration's embattled beautification efforts — and the criticism, misinformation and mockery that's ensued as the months drag on. Sponsor Message National The many ways Trump wants to change D.C., from buildings to statues to parks "The reflecting pool is sort of the perfect fodder for hate-watching in real life, because it is something that keeps unfolding," said Danielle Lindemann, a professor of sociology at Lehigh University and the author of True Story: What Reality TV Says about Us. President Trump said in April that it would take about two weeks and $2 million to resurface the pool in "American flag blue," to address leaks and freshen its appearance ahead of D.C.'s Fourth of July celebrations. The price tag has since ballooned to over $14 million, and more than two weeks after Independence Day, the pool is empty and fenced off from the public. There have been plenty of twists and turns along the way. A construction worker walks across the empty Reflecting Pool on Monday. It was drained a second time after July Fourth, to repair damage and remove fireworks debris. Tom Brenner/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Tom Brenner/Getty Images Days after the pool was refilled in June, algae blooms turned the water bright green. Workers tackled the blooms with hydrogen peroxide...