Good morning. Windy and rainy this morning, then just windy as temperatures drop from a high around 60 to around 38 by early evening. Clear and breezy overnight, with a low near 27.
Sports this weekend: The Capitals host Detroit Saturday and visit Detroit Sunday. The Wizards visit Memphis Saturday and host San Antonio Sunday. The Commanders host the Eagles Sunday.
You can find me on Bluesky, I’m @abeaujon.87 on Signal, and there’s a link to my email address below. This roundup is available as a morning email newsletter. Sign up here.
I can’t stop listening to:
Satoshi Tomiie, “Metropolis.” This weekend’s music pick comes courtesy of Washingtonian Today’s personal music stylist, John Rickman: “Attention deep house heads: Japanese-born, NYC-based DJ-producer Satoshi Tomiie will keep your head nodding and feet moving at Flash Saturday.”
Take Washingtonian Today with you! I’ve made a playlist on Spotify and on Apple Music of my daily music recommendations this year.
Here’s some administration news you might have blocked out:
Remember how ethically troubling the Trump Hotel once seemed? That was quaint: President Trump went ahead and slapped his name on the Kennedy Center yesterday—I’m sorry, the board Trump appointed when he took over the arts center “voted” to do something Trump has mused about publicly for months after a meeting he sat in on by phone and feigned surprise at the honor. Trump, who’s already renamed the US Institute of Peace for himself, put his name on government savings accounts and a government prescription drug site, and may be featured on a $1 coin soon, also plans to name a ballroom that he tore down the East Wing of the White House to build after himself. (Washington Post) It appears that by law, Congress must be involved in such a name change, though GOP lawmakers have been AWOL on such matters all year, and anyway legislators just left town for the year. (NYT) JFK‘s family is incandescent with rage. (Axios)
Blunt force politics: Trump moved to reschedule cannabis yesterday, the biggest shift in federal policy toward marijuana in decades. (CNBC) It’s not legalization—moving cannabis from Schedule I, where it sat beside heroin, to Schedule III, still means it’s a controlled substance—but Trump’s move will ease research into the plant’s medical possibilities and greatly help state-licensed cannabis businesses with a tax matter. (Marijuana Moment) Cannabis stocks fell on the announcement. (WSJ) Trump may have just legalized recreational weed in DC. (Martin Austermuhle/X) Elsewhere in health news: Republicans are still searching for an alternative to Obamacare. (NYT) The Health Department plans to recommend fewer vaccines for kids. (CNN)
Judge dread: Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan was found guilty of obstructing federal agents who tried to make an arrest outside her courtroom in a case the federal prosecutor insisted wasn’t political. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) Dugan faces five years in jail and is unlikely to keep her job. She plans to appeal. (NYT) Other immigration news: ICE arrested Dulce Consuelo Diaz Morales, whose lawyers say she is a US citizen born in Maryland, in Baltimore on Sunday. The agency has denied that her documents are legitimate, her attorneys say. (HuffPost) Trump suspended a green-card-lottery program apparently used by the suspect in the Brown University shooting. (Axios)
Epstein, Epstein, Epstein: The Justice Department is scheduled to release most of its files on the deceased, disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein today. Here’s a look back on how these files have shaped this year for Trump, a former Epstein pal. (Axios) Lawyers at DOJ have not especially enjoyed the process of getting files ready for release. (CNN) Democrats released dozens of new photos from the Epstein estate yesterday. (Politico) David Brooks appears in some of those pix; the New York Times said its columnist “regularly attends events to speak with noted and important business leaders to inform his columns.” (Guardian) Here are five rules for approaching the files when they appear, including not reading them. (Politico) A profile of US Representative Robert Garcia of California, who has helped lead the charge to get the files released. (NYT)
Administration perambulation: Trump rebranded an already Congressionally approved housing benefit for members of the military as a “warrior dividend” from him. (Defense One) He also implied the money was coming from funds raised by his tariffs. It’s not. (Politico) A Trump media company will merge with a nuclear fission company in a $6 billion deal. Sure, why not. (WSJ) Turning Point USA’s conference kicked off with some hot MAGA-on-MAGA action. (Politico) Erika Kirk endorsed Vice President JD Vance at the event. (NBC News) Larry Bushart, who was jailed in Tennessee after he posted about the slaying of Kirk’s husband, Charlie Kirk, has sued the state. (Washington Post) We could still go to war with Venezuela, apparently. (NBC News) The Coast Guard deleted guidance from its workplace harassment policy that downgraded symbols such as swastikas and nooses to being only “potentially divisive.” (Washington Post) Christian Turner will be the United Kingdom’s new ambassador to the US; his predecessor, Peter Mandelson, lost his job after he appeared in some Epstein-related material. (BBC News) Republicans (most of whom remained anonymous) said Trump bombed in his speech the other night. (Politico) Trump plans a “Patriot Games” event featuring high school athletes from across the US and territories for next year’s celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. (ABC News)
One snazzy open house this weekend:
This six bedroom/five-and-a-half bathroom Victorian in Kensington is on the market for the first time in more than 30 years. Historic details in the 1896 house include intricate woodwork and multiple wood-burning fireplaces. Among the outdoor amenities: A spacious backyard and more than 1,200 square feet of porch and deck space. It’s listed at $2.995 million, and you can see it and our other choices for the weekend’s best open houses this weekend.
Recently on Washingtonian dot com:
• NASA is working to protect us from killer asteroids.
• Here’s our list of the most influential people shaping health-care policy around town.
• Start planning your NYE bash now.
• This timeless wedding at Anderson House drew on Nigerian traditions; a black-tie wedding at the Waldorf Astoria featured arrangements of blue hydrangeas.
Local news links:
• The University of Virginia will likely name a new president today, despite pressure from incoming governor Abigail Spanberger to hit pause on the process. (Washington Post)
• DOJ sued the District and three states for voter data. (AP)
• Former Voice of America employee Seth Jason pleaded guilty to making threats against US Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia. (DC News Now)
• Janeese Lewis George picked up five union endorsements, a big boost to her mayoral campaign. (Washington Post)
• Maryland will knock down the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and build a new one that’s nearly twice as big. (Washington Post)
• Public schools officials in Fairfax and Arlington say they’ll increase police presence at schools after online threats. (WUSA9)
• Two pedestrians were struck in Arlington by the driver of a Jeep with DC plates in what’s reportedly a road rage incident. (ARLnow)
• Dan Snyder‘s Potomac mansion got auctioned off for about a third of what it was first listed for. (UrbanTurf)
• A copy of “Harry the Dirty Dog” was returned to the Fairfax County Public Library after 36 years. (Northern Virginia Magazine)
• Sandy Pony Donuts in Annapolis has gotten a big boost from the TV show “Pluribus.” (WTOP)
• An area pig named Bimbap needs a home. (WUSA9)
• Someone in DC has already thrown out their Christmas tree. (PoPville)
Weekend event picks:
Friday: Patti Smith discusses her memoir “Bread of Angels” at the Lincoln Theatre.
Saturday: Christmas Illuminations at Mount Vernon will dazzle with fireworks on the Potomac.
Sunday: It’s your last chance to visit the Del Ray Artisans’ Fine Art and Fine Craft Holiday Market.
See lots more things to do this weekend curated by 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.
