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Bowser continues to push back on Trump's call for federal government to take over DC

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Bowser continues to push back on Trump's call for federal government to take over DC


D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is continuing to push back against calls for a federal takeover of the District — now backed by President Donald Trump — by making the case for the District of Columbia to become the 51st state. 

“The question for us is how do we maintain the pathway to the 51st state,” Bowser said. “We’re Americans. We pay taxes. We go to war. We have all the responsibilities of citizenship but we don’t have all of the rights.” 

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This isn’t a new push for the mayor but it is a direct rebuff of President Trump’s statement from earlier this week, saying that he supports a bill brought forth by two Republican senators that would strip D.C. of its autonomy.

Pushing for Federal Control

The backstory:

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Two Republican lawmakers introduced the “Bringing Oversight to Washington and Safety to Every Resident (BOWSER) Act back on Feb. 6. also seeking to overturn home rule. 

Similar legislation failed to pass back in 2023.

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The Home Rule Act of 1973 —  hard-fought legislation — is what lets residents of D.C. elect the mayor and council but with limited power because the president, along with congress, can overturn district laws.

But the president says D.C. isn’t doing enough when it comes to crime and homelessness, though data from the district and the metropolitan police department shows violent crime at the lowest rate in three decades.

“I like the mayor. I get along great with the mayor but they’re not doing the job,” Trump said, speaking to the press on Air Force One Wednesday night. “Too much crime, too much graffiti, too many tents on the lawns. Magnificent lawns and tents.” 

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Bowser Pushes Back

What She’s Saying:

At the National Press Club Friday, Mayor Bowser also called for reduction in the federal workforce to be done in an orderly and humane way, saying there are roughly 600,000 federal workers in the region, with about 70,000 of them being D.C. residents.

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“Our focus is on being supportive of our residents and calling on our government to not use a chainsaw but figure out which jobs we need and which jobs we don’t,” she said. 

The mayor went on to say there are shared priorities between the feds and local D.C. government, including lowering crime and beautification. She said she had reached out to the White House following these latest comments. It’s not clear if she’s heard back yet.

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DC leaders considering transit options for new RFK Stadium

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DC leaders considering transit options for new RFK Stadium


The Commanders are set to build a new stadium in D.C., and the debate over how fans will get to and from games is happening right now. On Wednesday, city leaders will join Metro and the Washington Commanders to talk stadium transit.



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D.C. Police Chief manipulated crime data; new House Oversight report

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D.C. Police Chief manipulated crime data; new House Oversight report


A new report from the House Oversight Committee alleges former D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith pressured officers to manipulate crime data. The committee released the report on Sunday, less than a week after Smith announced she was stepping down.

You’re lulling people into this false sense of security. They might go places they wouldn’t ordinarily go. They might do things they wouldn’t ordinarily do,” said Betsy Brantner Smith, spokesperson for the National Police Association.

Included in the report were transcribed interviews with the commanders of all seven D.C. patrol districts and the former commander currently on suspended leave. One was asked, “Over the last few years, has there been any internal pressure to simply bring down crime statistics?” Their response, “Yes, I mean extremethere’s always been pressure to keep crime down, but the focus on statistics… has come in with this current administration.”

Every single person who lives, works, or visits the District of Columbia deserves a safe city, yet it’s now clear the American people were deliberately kept in the dark about the true crime rates in our nation’s capital,” House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-KY) said in a statement.

“They are going to have to regain the public trust. Again, this is a huge integrity issue,” Brantner Smith said.

Among the reports findings, Smith’s alleged pressured campaign against staff led to inaccurate crime data. Smith punished or removed officers for reporting accurate crime numbers. Smith fostered a toxic culture and President Trump’s federal law enforcement surge in D.C. is working.

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While Smith has not yet publicly responded to the report, she’s previously denied allegations of manipulating crime data, saying the investigation did not play a factor into her decision to step down at the end of the year.

My decision was not factored into anything with respect to, other than the fact that it’s time. I’ve had 28 years in law enforcement. I’ve had some time to think with my family,” Smith said earlier this month.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser also released a statement Monday, writing in part that “the interim report betrays its bias from the outset, admitting that it was rushed to release.”

According to crime stats from the Metropolitan Police Department, since the federal law enforcement surge started in August, total violent crime is down 26%. Homicides are down 12% and carjackings 37%.



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National Menorah Lighting in DC dedicated to Bondi Beach victims

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National Menorah Lighting in DC dedicated to Bondi Beach victims


The first candle lit on the National Menorah near the White House in Washington, D.C., marked the first night of Hanukkah — and solemnly honored victims of the Bondi Beach shooting.

The National Menorah Lighting was held Sunday night, hours after gunmen opened fire on a crowd celebrating the beginning of Hanukkah at Australia’s iconic Bondi Beach. Fifteen people were killed, including a 10-year-old girl, a rabbi and a Holocaust survivor, and over three dozen others were being treated at hospitals.

Authorities in Australia said it was a terrorist attack targeting Jewish people.

Organizers behind the National Menorah Lighting said the news from Australia, along with the bitter cold, forced them to consider whether or not to hold the annual event.

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After consulting with local law enforcement, National Menorah Lighting organizers decided to hold the event and honor the victims.

Several D.C.-area police departments issued statements confirming there are no known threats to local communities, but are monitoring just in case.

Montgomery County Executive Mark Elrich condemned the attack and said community safety is a priority.

“Acts of antisemitism, especially those meant to intimidate families and communities during moments of gathering and celebration, must be called out clearly and condemned without hesitation,” Elrich said. “I have heard directly from members of Montgomery County’s Jewish community who are shaken and concerned, and I want them to know that their safety is a priority.”

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