Good morning. Hot and steamy today with sun and a high around 96 that will feel more like 105. Storms possible this evening, with a low near 72 overnight. The World Cup starts tonight! Here’s our guide to where you can watch with others. I will be watching from home, but you can find me on Bluesky, I’m @abeaujon.87 on Signal, and there’s a link to my email address below.
Briana Thomas, who writes Washingtonian’s events coverage, hosts a new podcast from the DC History Center called “DC Alley Archives.” It looks at how DC’s alleyways have been central to Black life in the District dating back to the Civil War. Give it a listen!
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I can’t stop listening to:
Air Miami, “World Cup Fever.” Hey, hey, hey, I’ve got it!
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: The US launched more strikes on Iran as President Trump expressed frustrations with the pace of peace negotiations. Iran responded with strikes on Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan. (AP) The US then launched more strikes near Tehran. The Iranian foreign ministry said the US actions had “effectively rendered the ceasefire … meaningless.” (AP) Nonetheless, both sides continued to pursue the framework of a peace deal. (Reuters) Trump has grown “increasingly frustrated over negative, even mocking media coverage about his unfulfilled promises of a deal.” (Axios) Satellite imagery shows that the US struck drinking-water facilities in attacks earlier this week. (NYT)
The strait: Iran said the Strait of Hormuz, which it has effectively closed since Trump began this war in late February, would be even more closed now. Trump claimed the US had engaged in a mission to ferry oil through the strait so secret no one—not reporters, not the Iranians—knew about it. Well, except for readers of a New York Times story about the effort last month. (NYT) Three Indian sailors died in US attacks on a tanker near Oman. (Reuters) Three tankers carrying liquid natural gas made it through the strait. (Reuters)
The effects: Inflation in the US shot up to 4.2 percent as a result of the war. That’s a three-year high. (WSJ) Trump said, “I love the inflation” when asked about it, apparently because he expects prices to fall when the war concludes. (CNBC) Real wage growth fell as well. (Axios) The optics on these developments are…not ideal: “Less than a quarter of Americans approve of how the president is managing cost-of-living issues.” (Politico) Trump intends to press the leaders of defense firms about the US’s dwindling stocks of munitions. (NBC News) The war has increased demand for clean energy technology from China. (FT)
Administration perambulation I: A juicy account of the White House’s scramble to control the narrative over the government’s files on the deceased, disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein from Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan‘s new book. The article includes a memorable sentence: “One official would later describe it as a ‘surreal’ experience to be discussing nipples in the White House Situation Room.” (NYT) A federal judge in DC warned the Justice Department not to “play possum” with Trump’s probably, sort of dead but maybe not totally deceased $1.8 billion slush fund. (NBC News) Bill Pulte pressed for Tulsi Gabbard to leave her job as director of national intelligence early. Trump then placed him in the role. (Axios) Hopes for a renewal of a key part of FISA are dimming as Trump sticks with Pulte, whom some in Congress do not want to see in the job. (NYT) The office of US Attorney for DC Jeanine Pirro has issued subpoenas to big US banks in an investigation of purported “debanking” of conservatives. (WSJ)
Administration perambulation II: Trump wants GOP lawmakers to muscle a third reconciliation bill through the Senate to funnel more money to the Pentagon and reshape election law. There’s “massive skepticism” among Republican legislators that they could get that done. (Politico) Trump saw 22 medical specialists during his recent trip to Walter Reed. It’s the highest number of specialists to assess a President’s health on one visit. (Washington Post) The planned UFC fight on the White House grounds this weekend will cost $60 million and involve seven federal agencies. (AP) Trump won’t attend the US-Paraguay match in Los Angeles Friday. (Politico) Some Knicks fans smudged the exterior of Madison Square Garden yesterday to purge what they called the “bad luck” Trump imported when he attended Monday. (Independent) Maybe it helped: The Knicks won in dramatic fashion last night. (ESPN)
Hidden Eats, by Ike Allen:
DC has quite enough big, polished restaurants financed by silent partners and developers. What I wish it had more of are places like Murry & Paul’s—quietly historic holes in the wall where few plates will run you over $10. It’s all about simple diner breakfasts here. I like the scrapple, but order your breakfast protein of choice and make sure to ask for onions on your hash browns.
Take Hidden Eats with you! Our new map will show you which out-of-the-way mom-and-pop eateries Ike has highlighted near you.
Recently on Washingtonian dot com:
• Mickey Bergman works on the fringes of diplomacy to free people held hostage abroad. He’s helped to free Brittney Griner and many others. Here’s a profile of Bergman, the cofounder of the local nonprofit Global Reach.
• US Representative Joyce Beatty tells us why she pursued legal action against the administration to get Trump’s name off the Kennedy Center. Speaking of which, a local group has installed a live-streaming camera trained on the center’s façade, so its court-ordered name change won’t happen unseen in the middle of the night.
• A new report from the Park Service outlines how Trump’s planned Triumphal Arch near Arlington Cemetery will affect views of the monuments and traffic in the already challenging Memorial Circle.
• Another addition to the local monument-scape is in the works: the “Global War on Terrorism Memorial,” whose initial design plans were released yesterday.
• Pack your trunk now: Smithsonian’s National Zoo will hold a three-day celebration of elephants this August.
Local news links:
• Construction on Trump’s planned arch near Arlington Cemetery could take place around the clock in an effort to complete the structure before the end of his term. (AP)
• Local boaters are not looking forward to possible river restrictions during the planned massive fireworks display on July 4. (Axios D.C.)
• The GSA sold the Old Post Office building to BDT & MSD Partners for an undisclosed price. (WTOP)
• Dulles officials say the first phase of a new terminal, with 14 gates for United flights, will open this fall. (WBJ)
• Six people were injured when a driver plowed into a Goodwill store in Sterling. (NBC4 Washington)
• Police in Herndon arrested a man they said threatened people with a Chinese-made AK pattern rifle outside a restaurant early on Saturday. (DC News Now)
• Alexandria welcomed Croatia’s national team to town yesterday. They’ll train at Episcopal High School during the World Cup. (WUSA9)
• A Swedish blue duck named Olivia is key to an effort to ban foie gras from DC restaurants. (NOTUS)
• Some genius drove an SUV down the Anacostia River Trail, which is typically reserved for bicycles. (PoPville)
Thursday’s event picks:
• The FIFA World Cup 2026 Fan Zone opens on the National Mall. You can also watch matches at the Wharf this summer.
• The DC/DOX Film Festival kicks off around town.
See lots more picks for this week and weekend 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.
