Good morning. Showers and thunderstorms at times today, with a high around 87. Rain is likely overnight, with a low near 72. The Nationals finish a three-game visit to San Francisco this afternoon, and Loudoun United FC visit Greenville Triumph SC. You can find me on Bluesky, I’m @abeaujon.87 on Signal, and there’s a link to my email address below.
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I can’t stop listening to:
The Band Perry, “Better Dig Two.” The reconstituted country band plays three free shows around the area today, with the last one this evening at Pearl Street Warehouse.
Take Washingtonian Today with you! I keep ridiculously long playlists on Apple Music and on Spotify of this year’s music recommendations. Here are 2025’s songs (Apple, Spotify), too.
Here’s some administration news you might have blocked out:
The war: Iran was behind the downing of a US helicopter Tuesday, President Trump said. The US launched retaliatory strikes against Iran early this morning, and Iran fired missiles at countries in the region that host US bases. (AP) The chopper collided with an Iranian drone over Oman, and its crew were rescued via a drone boat. Trump initially said the incident “wasn’t a big deal” but changed his mind after a meeting with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Dan Caine. (WSJ) Iran claimed the US struck drinking-water infrastructure in southern Iran. (NYT)
So…how’re those peace negotiations coming along? Trump continues to insist a peace deal is nigh, though he’s made similar claims dozens of times for months. (CNN) Before the countries traded attacks, negotiators had begun to outline what an agreement over Iran’s nuclear program might look like. (NYT) Vice President JD Vance told Robert Costa an agreement “could happen in the next week, but the deal could also happen months from now.” (CBS News) The price of oil probably won’t return to pre-war levels for a long time, even if the US and Iran strike a peace deal. (WSJ)
The price of ICE: The House of Representatives voted Tuesday to fund ICE and Border Patrol operations through the remainder of Trump’s term. The bill doesn’t include reforms Democrats sought, and the long timeline ensures the agencies will “be insulated from additional pressure through the appropriations process for three years.” (NPR) A Government Accountability Office report found that an ICE facility in Texas was mismanaged, causing deaths and misery to detainees, and that the US wasted millions of dollars trying to fix the mistakes of the inexperienced contractor it hired to operate it. (AP) The US has detained more than 500 infants and toddlers since the beginning of Trump’s second term. (MS Now)
Administration perambulation: White House reporters won’t be allowed into Sunday’s planned UFC fight on the executive mansion’s South Lawn unless UFC credentials them. So far, the mixed-martial arts concern is mostly refraining from doing so. (Washington Post) The Trump Organization is selling commemorative coins for the event, with prices ranging from $250 to $12,000. (CNN) Patrick Davis, an official at the Department of Justice, planned to make a claim to the mostly dead $1.8 billion slush fund DOJ negotiated with Trump. (Politico) Trump indicated he won’t un-appoint Bill Pulte as acting US director of national intelligence, despite lawmakers’ refusal to reauthorize of a key part of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act if Pulte remains. (Politico) The Cleveland Clinic settled with the government over providing gender-affirming care and will fund detransition services. (Advocate) Lesley Groff, a former personal assistant to the deceased, disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, told lawmakers she arranged multiple calls between Epstein and Trump. Groff also claimed she was unaware of Epstein’s crimes. (Politico) The FDA okayed the use of bemotrizinol in sunscreens sold in the US. (NYT)
Recently on Washingtonian dot com:
• The World Cup starts tomorrow. Here’s a roundup of bars, fan zones, and embassy events where you can watch matches. (Washingtonian Today can exclusively report the Del Ray Tartan Army has established a forward operating base at my house.)
• What happened when the comedian Druski brought his satirical social media series “Coulda Been Records” to town? We rounded up some of the videos.
• Lots of Americans wish they knew how to volunteer. Points of Light CEO Jennifer Sirangelo wants to encourage them.
• NASA chose Andre Douglas, a Virginia scientist, for the Artemis III mission.
• A pop-up exhibit in Chinatown demonstrates the vastness of the government’s Epstein files.
• Photos from our America 250 party.
Local news links:
• DC Mayor Muriel Bowser sort-of endorsed Kenyan McDuffie in the District’s upcoming mayoral primary. (Axios D.C.)
• Jing Sheng Dong, the driver of a bus involved in a deadly crash on I-95 late last month, will face criminal charges in court today. (WUSA9)
• DC Water says it found more damage to the Potomac Interceptor yesterday and will begin more emergency repairs. (WUSA9)
• Police in DC say a three-year-old boy was grazed by a bullet in a shooting last night. (DC News Now)
• Authorities in Arlington charged two men with dumping “substantial quantities” of oil and gas into storm drains. (ARLnow)
• A woman who rammed a gate at CIA HQ in McLean last March pleaded guilty to DUI. (WUSA9)
• David Archuleta and Monroe Alise will serve as grand marshals for the June 20 Capital Pride Parade. (DC News Now)
Wednesday’s event picks:
• The Capital Jewish Museum celebrates the 150th Anniversary of the historic synagogue at the museum’s heart.
• Amyl and the Sniffers play the Anthem.
• A “Night of Expression” for Pride takes place at the Busboys and Poets on 14th Street, Northwest.
See more picks for this week from Briana Thomas, who writes our Things to Do newsletter.
Andrew Beaujon joined Washingtonian in late 2014. He was previously with the Poynter Institute, TBD.com, and Washington City Paper. He lives in Del Ray.
