Pool me once, shame on...shame on you. Pool me...you can't get deflected again
Sunday, June 28, 2026 | 9:29 a.m.
Washington, D.C. Reflecting Pool at 6:30 a.m., Thursday, June 25. Photo: BoxfordDems.
“The Man” in D.C. foils BoxfordDems’ Deflecting Pool marketing plan — drink this instead!
It was yet another simple, liberal pipe dream. Arrive at the Lincoln Memorial at daybreak. Dip a Mason jar into the Reflecting-Pool-Turned Petri dish, seal it up, head back to the sanity of Massachusetts. Once back, fill algae into vials to be distributed alongside our BoxfordDems t-shirts (much the way old North Shore Brahmins used to store water from the River Jordan to baptize their tenth transmitters of a foolish face).
We were driven by a morbid desire to own part of what is surely most perfect metaphor for President Trump’s incompetence, his shifting of blame, and general misuse of tax dollars.
Alas it was not to be. By the time we arrived, the Administration had stationed what looked like bored National Guard soldiers to ensure no one interfered with the algae bloom. (The pool was fenced in after we left Thursday morning, supposedly in extended preparation for the 250 Year State Fair organized as part of the Trump-aligned Freedom 250 — but more likely because of the many tourists attracted by an intense desire for pool lining souvenirs from a massively botched attempts at beautifying DC.)
Our early-morning visit coincided with National Park scientists’ taking samples in between the pumping/filtering stations placed around the pool that are, let’s face it, operating against the clock, the rising D.C. sun, and the natural attributes of Potomac water..
Washington, D.C. National Guard in front of an otherwise empty Lincoln Memorial keeping a bored eye on the BoxfordDem
Thus foiled and with no “algae syrup” on hand, it was back to the BoxfordDems’ lab. Several minutes of testing later, our mixologists emerged unsteadily with the Deflection Pool Special. It’s seasonal; it resembles the Reflecting Pool surface; it has bits of fruit skin in it resembling rubberized coating; and it must be curative on account of the blueberries’ antioxidants and the calming effect of the alcohol.
In this mixing effort we stand on the frail shoulders of Boxford’s venerable, long-dormant, Martini Society, from when old-school Republicans would habitually shared drinks with their fellow Americans across the aisle.
Pool Me Once — Deflecting Pool Special
4 parts - Hendrick’s Gin
1 part - Chartreuse (Green)
2 parts - ginger syrup*
1 lime (juice and zest)
Garnish
Blueberry peal (to mimic rubberized paint)
Lime zest (to mimic blooming Petri dish surface)
Three blueberries on stick.
* Cut up fresh ginger in slices, add to 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar. Bring to boil and let cool. Remove ginger.
Pre-chill martini glasses in freezer. Combine gin, Chartreuse, and syrup in cocktail mixer filled with ice.
Shake vigorously and strain into glasses. Add peal and grate zest on top. Plop in stick with blueberries. Enjoy!
For an interactive Independence Day experience, we invite you to conduct your own social experiment. Invite a MAGA neighbor, who you believe might be ready to be re-assimilated into polite society. Serve them a Deflection Pool Special and report back. Please attach footage (if available).
Washington, D.C. Near-empty Lincoln Memorial. Photo: BoxfordDems.