Washington, D.C
How the DC Council is trying to fly under Trump’s radar – Washington Examiner
Washington, D.C., lawmakers are trying not to attract Republicans‘ attention, opting for benign bill names to avoid getting any attention from the next White House and Congress.
The Council of the District of Columbia so far renamed two bills, according to the Washington Post.
The previously named Reparations Foundation Fund and Task Force Establishment Act, which would create a study group focused on reparations to the Insurance Database Amendment Act, and the Advancing the Range of Reproductive Options for Washingtonians Amendment Act, which would require insurance companies to cover vasectomy procedures and related services, was changed to the Insurance Regulation Amendment Act.
D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, a Democrat, as well as two other city officials, told the outlet the changes are part of a strategic effort across the city’s government to adopt a more neutral stance on some sensitive matters in hopes of avoiding Republican backlash.
“I am not afraid of President Trump. I would like to have the Council working with him, the government working with him,” Mendelson said. “I want to be more careful about ensuring that what we are talking about is focused on issues.”
Mendelson said some of the naming approach is from a standoff that happened last year between the city council and Congress over a revision to D.C.’s criminal code. The House and Senate voted in favor of overturning local, D.C. legislation for the first time in more than 30 years.
The political fight was encompassed by a series of testy hearings with congressional Republicans, using the state of crime in D.C. to portray nationwide Democrats as being soft on crime.
Mendelson said, “The Council lost control of the messaging on that issue.
“Lesson learned,” he said. “We need to be sensitive to messaging.”
Before the election, the reparations bill from Councilman Kenyan McDuffie, which was co-introduced by nine other lawmakers, appeared likely to pass easily through the council until it became the subject of conversations.
Mendelson said he had been part of discussions “where folks have talked about whether the idea of reparations is controversial.”
By Nov. 18, according to a committee report, the name of the legislation had changed. McDuffie has focused on reparations while in office, telling the outlet the council would somewhat regularly edit the names of bills and the new names “were chosen in consultation with my colleagues to more accurately reflect the purpose of the measures.”
“It is important to recognize the ever-changing political landscape and understand when to pick a fight and when to be strategic and not pick a fight,” McDuffie said. “It’s a very delicate balance, one which the council must be cognizant of.”
Councilman Robert White Jr. had planned to push a bill that would expand the size of the D.C. Council but told the Washington Post he was pausing his effort out of fear that a “slow news day” might make the expansion of D.C.’s local government a centerpiece of talks and shut it down.
“The District has to be strategic to not throw red meat in front of Republicans when they control the House, the Senate, and the White House,” he said.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Since leaving office in 2021, President-elect Donald Trump has maintained a distaste for D.C. and its governance. On the campaign trail, Trump repeatedly vowed to “take over” the city and bypass the local government in doing so.
“We will take over the horribly run capital of our nation in Washington, D.C., and clean it up, renovate it, and rebuild our capital city so there is no longer a nightmare of murder and crime,” Trump said in July. “But, rather, it will become the most beautiful capital anywhere in the world. Right now, if you leave Florida – let’s go, darling. Let’s look at the Jefferson Memorial, let’s look at the Washington Monument. Let’s go and look at some of the beautiful scenes, and you end up getting shot, mugged, raped.”
WASHINGTON – The Metropolitan Police Department released new body camera footage on Friday of an officer firing his gun at an armed carjacking suspect last month.
The backstory:
The carjacking happened early in the morning of June 24.
According to MPD, two suspects held a man at gunpoint in the 700 block of 19th Street in Northeast Washington before taking his keys and driving off.
After the carjacking, officers searched the city for the suspects, before finding the car on Valley Avenue in Southeast. Officers tried to pull the car over, but the driver took off, before bailing at 2nd and Xenia Streets.
What we know:
The body camera footage released Friday picks up during officers’ search for the suspects.
In the short clip, the officer can be heard shouting out the window of his patrol car before firing out the window.
According to MPD, the officer was driving on Livingston Road SE when he saw one of the suspects. The officer asked the suspect to show their hands, but instead, MPD said the suspect pointed a rifle at the officer. That’s when the officer fired, and the suspect ran off into the woods.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 13-year-old charged in DC armed carjacking, officer shoots at second suspect
What’s next:
That suspect is still on the run, according to MPD. A second suspect was arrested the night of the carjacking. The 13-year-old has been charged with armed carjacking, reckless driving, and fleeing from a law enforcement officer.
The United States Attorney’s Office for DC and MPD’s Internal Affairs Division Force Investigation Team will both review the shooting.
The Source: Information in this story is from the Metropolitan Police Department and previous FOX 5 DC reports.
Washington, D.C
What’s that noise? What you need to know about D.C. flyovers Friday and Saturday – WTOP News
Reagan National Airport will close for America 250 flyover rehearsals Friday and celebrations Saturday featuring the Thunderbirds, Blue Angels and more.
Reagan National Airport will close from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday for rehearsals ahead of this weekend’s America 250 celebrations, meaning people around D.C., Arlington and Alexandria may hear and see low-flying military aircraft.
According to Freedom 250 event organizers, Friday’s “Wings of Freedom” demonstrations over the National Mall will feature parachute teams, helicopters and military aircraft, including the U.S. Marine Corps’ MV-22 Osprey and F-35B, the Navy’s F-18F and F-35C, the Air Force’s F-22 Raptor, the Thunderbirds and a tri-bomber formation.
On Saturday, the FAA will close the airport from noon to midnight for the full celebration. All arrivals and departures at Reagan National are scheduled to end before noon.
Flyovers and demonstrations are scheduled throughout the afternoon and evening along the National Mall and Washington Monument grounds, including appearances by Air Force One, the Thunderbirds, Blue Angels, military aircraft fleet reviews, parachute demonstrations and B-2 stealth bombers.
Highlights include an Air Force One flyover scheduled for 7:03 p.m., a Thunderbirds demonstration beginning at 6:25 p.m., a tri-bomber formation at 6:02 p.m. and a stealth aircraft flyover at 7:38 p.m.
Friday’s schedule of flyovers and demonstration rehearsals along the National Mall and Washington Monument
- 10 a.m.: Golden Knights, Leap Frogs
- 10:15 a.m.: Army Helo Flyover
- 10:20 a.m.: USMC V-22 Osprey Demo
- 10:35 a.m.: USMC F-35B STOVL Demo
- 10:50 a.m.: USN F-18F Demo
- 11:10 a.m.: USN F-35C Demo Team
- 11:30 a.m.: USAF F-22 Raptor Demo
- 11:50 a.m.: NASA F-5s
- 12 p.m.: HUGE (1) Formation
- 12:05 p.m.: USAF Thunderbirds
- 12:55 p.m.: USAF Tri-Bomber
Saturday’s schedule of flyovers and demonstration along the National Mall and Washington Monument
- 1:14 p.m.: – NASA F-5 Flyover
- 1:24 p.m.: -NASA Fleet Review
- 1:44 p.m.: USCG Helo Flyover
- 1:54 p.m.: USCG Fixed Wing Flyover
- 2:09 p.m.: Golden Knights, Leap Frogs
- 2:29 p.m.: Army Helo Flyover
- 2:44 p.m.: USAF Fleet Review – Wave 1 – Heavies
- 2:54 p.m.: USAF Fleet Review – Wave 2 – AFSOC
- 3:04 p.m.: USAF Fleet Review – Wave 3 – Fighters
- 3:29 p.m.: Executive Rotary Wing Airlift
- 3:39 p.m.: USMC Fleet Review – Wave 1 – Rotary
- 3:49 p.m.: USMC Fleet Review – Wave 2 – Fixed Wing
- 3:59 p.m.: USN Fleet Review – Wave 1 – Rotary
- 4:09 p.m.: USN Fleet Review – Wave 2 – Fixed Wing
- 4:19 p.m.: USN Fleet Review – Wave 3 – Fighters
- 4:21 p.m.: USN F-18F Demonstration
- 4:59 p.m.: USN Blue Angels
- 5:26 p.m.: USMC MV-22 Osprey Demonstration
- 5:44 p.m.: USAF Fleet Review – Fighters
- 6:02 p.m.: USAF Tri-Bomber Formation
- 6:05 p.m.: USN F-35C Demonstration
- 6:25 p.m.: USAF Thunderbirds Demonstration
- 7:03 p.m.: Air Force One Flyover
- 7:07 p.m.: USAF Thunderbirds Delta Break
- 7:17 p.m.: HUGE 1 Flyover Led by the Newly Renovated Air Force One
- 7:38 p.m.: U.S. Stealth Airpower Flyover
- 7:39 p.m.: F-22 Raptor Demo
- 7:53 p.m.: F-22 Raptor in Afterburner
- 7:59 p.m.: B-1 Flyover
- 8:07 p.m.: B-1’s in Afterburner
- 8:11 p.m.: HUGE ONE Fly Over Review
- 8:22 p.m.: Golden Knights Twilight Jump
- 10:36 p.m.: B-1 Afterburner Night Pass
Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.
© 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
An Air Force major was arrested in uniform on the steps of the Capitol after he called for the impeachment of President Donald Trump.
U.S. Capitol Police arrested Jason Watson, an active-duty service member, on Wednesday afternoon following remarks at a news conference where he said Trump and Vice President JD Vance should be removed from office.
The event was organized by the Removal Coalition, a group that lobbies members of Congress to impeach Trump, and attended by Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, who has repeatedly introduced articles of impeachment against Trump.
“I’m here with him because Rep. Green is the only member of Congress that has demonstrated the courage and conviction to … force a vote on articles of impeachment,” Watson said at the event. “If Congress followed his example, we could remove the entire Trump administration, but Congress remains unconvinced of the urgency and necessity for them to honor their oaths, so we must persuade them with our unrelenting, uncompromising civil resistance.”
Watson said he is not a Democrat and does not share policy positions with Green, who lost his re-election bid this year. Green’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Watson’s arrest.
Capitol Police said in a statement that it “is generally against the law for the public to demonstrate on the House Steps unless they are with a Member of Congress.”
“Yesterday afternoon, a man was escorted to the House Steps by a Member of Congress,” the statement said. “When the Member of Congress left the area, our officers gave the man lawful orders to stop the illegal demonstration or he would be arrested. The man refused our lawful orders.”
Capitol Police identified the man as Watson, adding that he was arrested on charges of “Crowding, Obstructing, and Incommoding” and that it is legal to protest in other spots on the Capitol grounds.
Service members are subject to stricter laws than the average citizen when it comes to protesting. The Uniform Code of Military Justice prohibits officers from “using contemptuous language towards the President, Vice president, the Secretaries of War and of a military department, Congress, and certain other officials,” according to an Air Force memo last year.
An Air Force spokesperson said in a statement Thursday: “Service members must comply with all laws, regulations and policies governing conduct and the wear of the uniform. All Department of the Air Force personnel are expected to uphold the highest standards of discipline and professionalism, both on and off duty.”
All service members, not just members of the Air Force, are prohibited from participating in “political activities” in uniform.
Watson’s criticism of Trump and Vance focused on the administration’s actions in Venezuela and Iran, calling them “an unconstitutional usurpation of Congress’ authority and a violation of the War Powers Clause.”
“These violations resulted in the deaths of 13 service members and injuries of hundreds more,” he said, referring to the number of U.S. military deaths tied to the Iran war. “For this, the president and vice president must be impeached, convicted and removed.”
Watson also called the administration’s immigration policies and tactics unconstitutional.
The Removal Coalition did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and Watson could not be reached.
President Donald Trump responded to criticism of a financial disclosure that listed $1.4 billion in crypto earnings largely driven by meme coins.
-
Detroit, MI18 minutes agoPistons sign premier shot-blocker to two-way contract
-
San Francisco, CA30 minutes ago1 dead, 1 injured in Bay Point shooting; suspect sought
-
Dallas, TX32 minutes agoViral video shows Egypt coach, team director in Dallas police confrontation
-
Miami, FL33 minutes agoFourth of July celebrations planned across South Florida for America’s 250th birthday
-
Boston, MA45 minutes ago‘Forever grateful for all we accomplished together’: Jayson Tatum speaks out about Jaylen Brown trade – Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News
-
Denver, CO48 minutes agoNations Cup in Colorado another showcase for Denver’s bid to host the 2031 Rugby World Cup
-
Seattle, WA53 minutes agoUSA Coach Mauricio Pochettino To Throw Out First Pitch At Seattle Mariners Game
-
San Diego, CA60 minutes agoCalifornia to institute Bruce Lee Day, a first for a Chinese American in the state’s history
