Good morning. Sunny today without much humidity and a high around 82. A low near 62 overnight. The Mystics host the Minnesota Lynx tonight at CareFirst Arena. The Nationals host Philadelphia again—surely things can’t go worse than they did last night. Loudoun United FC visits the Charleston Battery. 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:
Trashboat and the Ambush, “Later Than You Think.” Yes. Yes. A thousand times yes. Trashboat and the Ambush join Rent Strike and Fix Your Hearts at Pie Shop DC tonight.
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:
Department of the fence: Fencing went up around the Reflecting Pool after President Trump‘s botched renovation of the water feature reached the same stage his takeovers of the Kennedy Center and the US Institute of Peace did—the one where he removes most access to the site of the boondoggle. An Interior Department spokesperson said the troubled body of water “was always set to be fenced off ahead of the 4th of July.” (AP) An environmental group said the pool had become a “giant duck death trap.” (Politico) That does sort of appear to be the case. (Washington Post) Interior Department documents do not appear to support Trump’s claims that the pool’s algae bloom and peeling blue surface were the work of left-wing vandals. (NYT)
Mall for one: Trump will hold a rally on the Mall this evening. Alexis Wilkins, the girlfriend of FBI Director Kash Patel, will perform, as will Lee Greenwood. A previous attempt to book musicians for the event went sideways. (Variety)
Meanwhile, on the Hill: The Senate finally passed a war-powers resolution about the Iran war after four Republicans joined Democrats to back the mostly symbolic legislation. (NYT) The measure passed in part because US Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky was out sick and Senator Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania accompanied Trump to a campaign event in Lehigh County. (Washington Post) Some GOP lawmakers are steamed that the White House still hasn’t run the framework for a peace deal with Iran by it. (Politico) The House passed a bipartisan bill that aims to lower housing costs. (Axios) Trump will sign it today. (Politico) He’ll also meet with Senate Republicans today. (Washington Post)
So, about that Iran deal: Iran said it had not agreed to nuclear inspections after Trump said it had. (Washington Post) Trump also said Iran would use funds unfrozen by the agreement to purchase food from US farmers. Iran disputed that, too. (Reuters) Iran also said it—not the US and Qatar—would decide how it used such funds. (AP) Meanwhile: The Department of Homeland Security eased restrictions on Iran’s World Cup team. (NOTUS)
Administration perambulation: Eight people the feds say are members of Antifa—a charge they deny—received heavy sentences yesterday for taking part in a protest that turned violent last July. The sentences were made possible in part by an order Trump signed that designated Antifa to be a terrorist organization. (AP) Bill Pulte has reportedly fired six Tulsi Gabbard appointees at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and reassigned dozens of career officials. (CNN) Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reportedly forced out US Army General C. D. Donahue, the head of forces in Europe and Africa. (Atlantic) US services will once again require recruits to get flu shots after a massive outbreak at a Texas air base. (ABC News) A federal judge in California blocked the administration from arresting people who aren’t US citizens at courthouse nationwide. (Politico) A woman who bought a used Cadillac in Arlington in 2023 returned a badge apparently issued to border czar Tom Homan by former Culpeper County, Virginia, sheriff Scott Jenkins, who was pardoned by Trump after he was convicted of taking bribes. (NBC4 Washington) Trump said he asked a US Attorney in California to investigate his bogus claims of election fraud, saying, “Do me a favor. Take a look.” (Politico) FIFA honcho Gianni Infantino said Trump would present the World Cup trophy to the tournament’s winner next month. Perhaps one of those will end up in the Oval Office, too? (ESPN)
Recently on Washingtonian dot com:
• The Wizards chose AJ Dybantsa with their top pick in this year’s NBA Draft. Here’s what you need to know about him.
• We got a sneak peek at the Air and Space Museum’s renovations.
• Former Cranes chef Pepe Moncayo will lead a reboot of the Tabard Inn.
• Last month’s most expensive residential real estate transactions—and the boldfaced names that made them.
Local news links:
Maryland primaries: US Representative April McClain Delaney beat David Trone in a Democratic primary to represent the state’s Sixth District that drew national attention for its expense and vitriol. (NYT) Adrian Boafo won the Fifth District Democratic primary to succeed Steny Hoyer, topping rivals that included former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn. (Politico) Dan Cox won the Republican gubernatorial primary and will again challenge Governor Wes Moore. (Maryland Matters) Will Jawando leads in the Democratic primary for Montgomery County executive. (Bethesda Today) Aisha Braveboy won the Democratic primary for Prince George’s County executive. (NBC4 Washington)
DC politics: DC’s likely next mayor, Janeese Lewis George, said her administration will “find ways to resist” Trump. (NYT) The DC Council passed a budget, which will now go to Mayor Muriel Bowser—and Congress. (WTOP) The Council also passed a measure that will allow independents to vote in party primaries beginning in 2028. (City Cast DC)
• The US Department of Justice abandoned an unusual attempt to subpoena national-security reporters from the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal. (Washington Post)
• DC sandwich joint Bub and Pop’s says it “never agreed to participate” in the Great American State Fair. (Axios D.C.)
• Paul Ebert, who prosecuted both the Beltway Sniper and Loreena Bobbitt cases, has died. He was 88. (InsideNoVa)
Wednesday’s event picks:
• The author Norman Kelley discusses the history of exploitation of Black music at West End Neighborhood Library.
• Take in a phone-free experience somewhere in Logan Circle (register for the address).
• Annapolis poet laureate Jefferson Holland hosts readings by 15 local poets at Annapolis City Dock waterfront.
See lots 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.
