Washington, D.C

Surprised by Tony P’s NATO video? He was too.

Published

2 years ago

July 10, 2024

Surprised by Tony P’s NATO video? He was too.

A singular question loomed over Washington this week as some of the globe’s most powerful leaders gathered for NATO’s 75th anniversary summit.

Why in the world was Tony P the face of the security organization’s official welcome video?

The mild-mannered 25-year-old D.C. influencer, whose Instagram account promises “cooking, fashion, and adulting tips,” was probably not on anyone’s shortlist — or long, long list — to drop a one-minute video explaining how Washington was the birthplace of NATO and that its 32 member states are working “on the most important security challenges facing our world today, continuing to boost NATO’s ability to keep our 1 billion people safe.”

A Reddit user was not impressed. “Like what was the point of this?” they wrote. “Is this the only spokesperson DC could find? With all the unemployed international policy folks, this is who we use to do this work?”

A poster on X was puzzled as well, saying, “career diplomats being ousted for a media job by a 25 year old bachelor in dc. what in the world.”

To be fair, even Tony P, a.k.a. Anthony Polcari, was surprised.

“They want to work with me? Like, an influencer guy? I couldn’t believe it,” Polcari said in a phone interview Wednesday. “Really, just — I’m blown away by it. And, you know, any way I can help was just really cool for me.”

Polcari, who said he wasn’t paid for the video, is one of several dozen social media influencers invited by NATO, the Defense Department and the State Department to be a part of the high-level summit. As the alliance faces growing questions about its future, it wants to better explain its mission and bolster its image with young people who may have only a vague understanding of why it was formed.

Polcari said NATO reached out to his agent a few weeks ago. After he got over the shock of the request, he read the short script and jumped on board. The video was filmed on a blazing hot June day in front of various Washington landmarks as Polcari, boiling in a dark blue suit, delivered his lines without letting anyone see him sweat.

He thinks he may have been asked because he has become a more visible face in the District as his Instagram following — where he chronicles his bachelor life in aggressively inoffensive videos — has swelled from about 2,000 people a year or so ago to more than 200,000.

“They wanted someone who could showcase D.C., who was an influencer, you know, in the D.C. space,” Polcari said. As if on cue, a woman in the background could be heard yelling out, “Tony P!”

But not all of his Instagram followers were pleased with his new tie to NATO.

“I hate this so much,” one wrote. Another posted a vomit emoji.

On X there were more jabs:

“God, this is embarrassing. You got to be kidding me …”

“Congratulations! This is the worst thing I’ve ever seen!”

“D.C. really needs better local celebrities.”

Polcari shrugs off the naysayers.

“There’s some people saying that I’m one of those hated influencers in D.C. That’s just not true,” Polcari said. “It’s funny, the fact that people will take time out of their day to crap on me for doing a NATO video made me kind of laugh. Because I use the old line from the show ‘Mad Men’: ‘I’m not thinking about you, but you’re thinking about me.’”

Negativity has no place in Tony P’s world.

“I want to create a space for fun and positivity where people can come together,” he texted after the interview.

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Washington, D.C

97-year-old World War II veteran honored virtually at home

Published

50 minutes ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

97-year-old World War II veteran honored virtually at home

At 97, Veteran Harley Wero wasn’t up for a trip to the nation’s capital, so volunteers from the Western North Dakota honor flight brought the trip to him. Wero, his wife Muriel and their daughter Jennifer got to experience Washington, DC, without ever leaving their home.

Web Editor : Sydney Ross

Posted 2026-02-28T15:57:08-0500 – Updated 2026-02-28T15:59:05-0500

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Washington, D.C

DC Public Health to begin daily testing of Potomac, Anacostia rivers for E. coli

Published

13 hours ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

DC Public Health to begin daily testing of Potomac, Anacostia rivers for E. coli

WASHINGTON – Beginning on Monday, the D.C. Department of Health will be conducting daily tests for E. coli in the Potomac and Anacostia rivers.

It comes more than five weeks after the Potomac interceptor collapse sent millions of gallons of sewage into the river.

The testing will also coincide with an important safety advisory being lifted.

Why it matters:

Director of the D.C. Department of Health, Dr. Ayanna Bennett, says they will begin daily testing for E. coli in the Potomac and Anacostia rivers on Monday, along with help from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Currently, D.C. is only testing weekly.

“We feel really secure that the initial sewage is not a threat to people, it’s passed through some time ago, but we do want to get more information about what the long term condition of the river is gonna be and how we should look at it going forward.”

Big picture view:

Monday is also an important day because it’s when the District is expected to lift its advisory that recommends against recreational activities on the Potomac — we’re talking boating, fishing, walking pets by the water.

It’s important to note, however, that D.C.’s advisory pertains to its portion of the Potomac, and it has no bearing on advisories issued by officials in Maryland or Virginia.

Still, this is being treated by many as a hopeful sign.

What they’re saying:

But significant concerns absolutely remain for residents.

“I’ve had tons of messages from people saying they’re not going to let their kids row crew, they’re not going to go to sailing schools. We catch three million tons of blue cats out of the Potomac River. That season starts next week, and they’re not gonna be able to bring those blue cats to market,” said Dean Naujoks with the Potomac Riverkeepers.

“You knew years ago that parts of this Potomac Interceptor were corroded and vulnerable, especially where it broke, in Cabin John, our neighborhood,” one resident said, speaking at a public meeting in Bethesda on Thursday.

“I know there are small business owners here. Who’s accounting for all of our losses that we’re getting due to your sewer blowing up?” another resident asked.

Officials with D.C. Water, which is a public utility, have been running daily tests and will continue to do so as well.

NewsWashington, D.C.Top Stories

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Washington, D.C

Pleasant, spring-like weekend for Virginia, Maryland, DC ahead of active start to March

Published

1 day ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Pleasant, spring-like weekend for Virginia, Maryland, DC ahead of active start to March

After one of the coldest winters in years, the DMV is ending the month of February, and meteorological winter, with a nice spring preview.

Temperatures will reach the low 60s area-wide Saturday afternoon under mostly sunny skies. A real treat for the final day of February, enjoy!

Sunday will bring a few changes as an active weather pattern begins to bring in March.

A cold front will slowly move through the area and be mostly starved of moisture. There is a chance at a spotty shower or two, but most stay dry under mostly cloudy skies.

Temperatures will drop throughout the day as the front moves through with most afternoon temperatures in the 50s falling to the 30s by nightfall.

European model forecast rainfall totals

This front will stall just to the south and be a focal point for several days of active weather next week around the DMV.

A wintry mix looks likely Monday with temperatures near freezing with little to no wintry precipitation accumulation, but a different story as that will then switch to all rain chances Tuesday through about Friday.