Good morning. A cloudy day will follow this morning’s showers, with a high around 83. A low near 68 overnight. Here’s our guide to some of the ways you can commemorate the 25th anniversary of 9/11 today and this weekend. Metro buses and trains will stop for one minute this morning at 9:37, the time that a plane hit the Pentagon. The National Museum of American History has objects that tell the story of that day on display.
Sports this weekend: The Nationals host the Angels today, tomorrow, and Sunday. D.C. United hosts Atlanta United at Audi Field Saturday. Loudoun United FC visits Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Saturday. The Washington Spirit host the Boston Legacy at Audi Field Sunday. The Washington Commanders kick off their new season with a visit to Philadelphia Sunday.
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I can’t stop listening to:
Czonka, “Shibuya Crossing.” These geography-obsessed local art punks put on an excellent live show. They play Rhizome tonight with Richmond’s Snack Truck and DC’s Cash on the Nail.
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-backed Houthi rebels took the Yemeni port city Mokha yesterday and advanced toward full control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Rebel control of another critical waterway would hand Tehran an advantage in its months-long war with the US. (Reuters) Saudi strikes hit Mokha’s airport this morning. (AP) US military advisers are helping the Saudis’ campaign against the rebels. (CNN) Iran is building ballistic missiles again, this time in underground facilities, intelligence officials say. (WSJ)
The fallout: Oil hit $108 a barrel, and analysts expect energy prices to remain elevated through next year, in contrast to President Trump‘s new prediction that they’ll fall after the midterm elections. (CNN) The national average price of a gallon of gas rose 13 cents in the last week. (AAA) Vice President JD Vance has sought assessments of the war and the US’s weapons shortage from individual US military commanders, leaving him with “deep concerns about the overall strategy and the prospects for success.” (NYT) In an interview yesterday, Trump said that with regard to the war he started more than six months ago, “If I had it to do again, I’d do exactly as I did.” (Axios)
Meanwhile, in Dallas: Some in the crowd tried to repeat a convoluted pledge Trump offered in a speech to Republicans at a convention intended to fire them up for the midterms. Trump referred to himself as “the greatest president in the history of the United States that loves us so much he can’t even breathe” and said they’d go to hell if they didn’t vote. (Hill) He also renewed his pledge to send Americans $5,000 checks should Republicans hold Congress this fall. (Washington Sun) Vance gave last night’s keynote speech and called Democrats the “party of hatred.” He was rewarded with chants of “48.” (Washington Post)
About those $5,000 checks: Trump’s proposed checks would cost more than the US spends on defense each year, would goose inflation, and would raise interest rates. (WSJ) The idea “came as a surprise to senior Republicans across Washington.” (Washington Sun) Trump said he didn’t believe he’d need Congress’s okay to send the money out. (CBS News)
Administration perambulation: Trump ally Joseph diGenova resigned as lead prosecutor in the so-called “grand conspiracy” case Trump dialed up in Florida. Big wheels in the Justice Department had reportedly “been slowly losing confidence” in his ability to bring charges in the matter. (NYT) Republican officials in Kentucky, Georgia, and North and South Dakota asked the US Supreme Court to block an administration plan to restrict mail-in balloting before the election. (Washington Post) Jimmy Kimmel said the FCC pressured him not to air an interview with Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico. (AP) Related: Here’s our recent profile of Brendan Carr, the FCC boss charged with enforcing Trump’s campaign against broadcast outlets. (Washingtonian) The White House gave Health Secretary RFK Jr. access to US military jets while he campaigns for Republicans. (Washington Post) The US created the Department of Homeland Security after 9/11. A long look at how it evolved, and how even some of its former leaders believe it should change. (Politico)
Recently on Washingtonian dot com:
• The espresso martini refuses to be a flash in the pan. Is it time to admit this drink is now a classic?
• The Bit, a new bar in Capitol Hill, has opened below Barrel and offers velvety olive couches and martini service.
• A guide to a terrific day out in Great Falls Park.
Local news links:
• The Pentagon still lacks a visitors center that memorializes the 9/11 attacks. A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for tomorrow. (Washington Post)
• Unless they’re enclosed by glass shields, Metro Bus operators won’t have to remind riders to pay their fares, according to an agreement between the drivers’ union and WMATA. (NBC4 Washington)
• US senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner of Virginia want to restrict flights at National Airport. They expect resistance from some of their colleagues, who enjoy the airport’s easy access. (Washington Post)
• Fencing has gone up around the US Marine Corps Memorial, where crews are reportedly using blowtorches to “beautify” Felix de Weldon’s Iwo Jima statue. (ARLnow)
• DC’s police union expressed concern about use of Flock cameras after the department’s internal affairs division used data from the license plate readers to investigate a union member. (City Cast DC)
• Maryland’s Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission joined a lawsuit against DC Water over the Potomac Interceptor fiasco. (Washington Sun)
• The Justice Department sued UDC, saying its policy of extending in-state tuition to people with undocumented immigration status is illegal. (WTOP)
• Federal prosecutors charged a DC man with running a business they say delivered drugs including MDMA, magic mushrooms, and DMT near Catholic University. (WUSA9)
• Montgomery County Council member and county executive candidate Will Jawando says he’ll be back at work soon following a heart attack this past weekend. (Baltimore Banner)
• Mobius Records, a new record store in Del Ray, will open this weekend. (ALXnow)
Weekend event picks:
Friday: Art All Night lights up DC neighborhoods tonight and Saturday.
Saturday: Enjoy country, bluegrass, and Americana music at the Watermelon Pickers’ Fest in Berryville.
Sunday: It’s Adams Morgan Day.
See lots more picks for the 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.
