Good morning. Sunny with a high of 72 today. A low near 55 overnight. The Nationals visit Cincinnati this evening. 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:
Puuluup, “(nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi.” These Estonian non-conformists–if you are a true sicko like me you might remember the version of this song they performed with 5miinust at a recent Eurovision Song Contest—are a lot of fun. They play Songbyrd tonight with Light Beams.
Take Washingtonian Today with you! I keep ridiculously long playlists on Apple Music and on Spotify of this year’s music recommendations. (And I just updated them with the last couple weeks’ worth of tunes.) Here are 2025’s songs (Apple, Spotify), too.
Here’s some administration news you might have blocked out:
The war: President Trump described the US’s ceasefire with Iran as being on “massive life support” and called Iran’s counteroffer for a peace deal a “piece of garbage.” (Washington Post) He claimed Iran had asked the US to remove what he calls its nuclear “dust” but then reversed course. Iran has not publicly acknowledged any such offer. (AP) Trump also said he would temporarily lift the federal tax on gasoline as the price of a gallon of gas now averages $4.50 nationally due to the war he started more than two months ago. (CBS News) Doing so actually requires an act of Congress, and while two Republicans duly filed legislation to enshrine Trump’s idea, other GOP lawmakers expressed caution—one bipartisan group estimates suspending the tax for five months “would increase federal deficits by about $12 billion.” (Politico)
Sure, that’ll fix it: After Trump handed him a stack of news reports festooned with a sticky note reading “treason,” acting Attorney General Todd Blanche ordered investigations into how reporters got leaked info about the war and issued subpoenas to the Wall Street Journal. (WSJ) The Pentagon posted a photo and location of a nuclear-armed Ohio-class submarine, perhaps in an attempt to intimidate Iran. Such information is typically considered a secret. (New York Post) The UAE attacked targets in Iran near the time when Trump announced a ceasefire. (WSJ) Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will appear before Congress again today. (Punchbowl News)
The redistrict line: Virginia Democrats filed an emergency appeal to the US Supreme Court to retain the political map that voters approved and which the commonwealth’s supreme court overturned Friday. (AP) The move is probably a “long shot because federal courts typically defer to state courts on interpretations of state law.” (Politico) Meanwhile, the high court handed a win to Alabama Republicans, a boost to GOP lawmakers looking to redraw majority-Black districts in the South to prevent Democrats from winning back the House this fall. (Washington Post) “Republicans still have some room to maneuver and eke out a few more seats in the months before the midterms, while Democrats appear to have run out of time.” (NYT) US Representative Jen Kiggans, a Republican from Virginia, agreed with a radio host who said House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is Black, should keep his “cotton-picking hands off of Virginia.” Dems called on her to resign; in a reply that misspelled Jeffries’ name, Kiggans said she didn’t agree with the language. (Axios)
Administration perambulation: Americans are dropping off ACA plans in huge numbers after Republicans declined to renew Covid-era subsidies. (Notus) The White House made a U-turn on a plan to lower tariffs on imported beef after ranchers and some Republicans complained. (WSJ) Trump named Kari Lake as ambassador to Jamaica. Lake unsuccessfully attempted to close Voice of America. (NYT) He also nominated Cameron Hamilton to lead FEMA. Trump fired Hamilton last year. (Politico) The US Navy plans to buy 15 “Trump-class” battleships by 2055. That could change. (Notus) Despite clamming up about vaccines at the White House’s request, Health Secretary and vaccine skeptic RFK Jr. has continued to push to investigate them. (NYT) FDA Commissioner Marty Makary is still in his job, days after Trump reportedly signed off on a plan to fire him. (Politico) A photo of him smiling still greets visitors to the FDA’s website. (FDA.gov) Trump’s plan to paint the Reflecting Pool blue will cost at least $13 million, a bit north of the $1.8 million he’d promised. (NYT)
Shop for vintage goods this weekend, by Daniella Byck:
The only reason I still have a Facebook is for Facebook Marketplace. At midnight on any given day, I’m bathing in that good blue light, scouring listings for distinctive pre-loved décor. But as much as I enjoy a good scroll and shop, there is something more satisfying about a well-curated, in-person (and in daylight) marketplace. If you have a similar inclination, Lucketts, a favorite for vintage and antiques, will host its annual spring market from Friday, May 15, to Sunday, May 17. More than 200 vendors are headed to the Clarke County Fairgrounds in Berryville, Virginia, bringing an eclectic collection of furniture and homewares. Tickets are $23 per person and cover access for the entire weekend. Bring your own cart or rent a wagon for $5, and furniture-movers can help haul your finds for a $10 fee. Once you get your fill of treasure hunting, make a stop at Nall’s Farm Market, a roadside shop with pickled goods and fragrant fruit pies. (Seriously, they should put this smell into a candle.) The Berryville store is a ten-minute drive from the fairgrounds.
Recently on Washingtonian dot com:
• What is that unfamiliar feeling, Washington Wizards fans wonder. Could it be…hope?
• The local nonprofit Cultural Landscape Foundation sued to stop Trump from painting the Reflecting Pool blue, arguing that the President’s chosen hue is “more appropriate to a resort or theme park.”
• Martin’s Tavern got featured in an “SNL” skit this past weekend. FBI Director Kash Patel has in fact visited the bar, owner Billy Martin says.
• Adjoa Andoh, Joey Wiemer, and others we’d like to have over for dinner this month.
Local news links:
• Survey and testing work began yesterday at the site near Arlington Memorial Cemetery where Trump hopes to build a massive triumphal arch. (AP)
• Two Republican Maryland state lawmakers made a video in which they accused a Chinese-born Democratic colleague of being a spy and mocked the way he speaks. (Maryland Matters)
• Accused WHCD shooter Cole Allen pleaded not guilty in a court appearance yesterday. (WTOP)
• A raid on a Norfolk CBD shop may offer clues to what may have prompted the FBI’s raid on powerful Virginia state Senator Louise Lucas‘s office and cannabis businesses. (Virginian-Pilot)
• As it clears homeless encampments at Trump’s direction, the District has “run out of housing vouchers.” (WCP)
• Police in Arlington say a Maryland man got out of his SUV and punched someone who crossed in front of him in a crosswalk where drivers are instructed to yield to pedestrians. (ARLnow)
• Police in DC say a suspect in a theft tried to evade arrest by running into the Mexican Cultural Institute on 16th Street, Northwest. Mexico’s ambassador to the US, Esteban Moctezuma Barragán, posted about the suspect’s eventual capture. (WUSA9)
• Laurel officials temporarily shut down a Mexican restaurant after a triple shooting and double stabbing nearby during a Cinco de Mayo celebration. (WTOP)
• Amazon will use some e-bikes to deliver packages in DC. It’s a pilot program. (WUSA9)
• The group behind those golden statues of Trump on the Mall unveiled its latest stunt: arcade games at the District of Columbia War Memorial that lampoon Trump’s war in Iran. You can play the games online. (Huffpost)
• A cat named Greedy is missing after workers from a junk removal company picked up a sofa in DC. Her owner says she’s an emotional support cat who has helped him during cancer treatments. (WUSA9)
Tuesday’s event picks:
• “Pippin” opens at Signature Theatre.
• “The Great Gatsby” opens at National Theatre.
• Austin Graff discusses his book “111 Places for Kids in Washington, DC That You Must Not Miss” at Solid State Books.
See more picks 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.
