President Trump has threatened a federal takeover of Washington, D.C., due to disagreements over the city’s crime statistics. Trump has already deployed federal troops and agents as part of a crackdown, despite a reported decrease in violent crime. This move has sparked controversy, with critics raising concerns about constitutional limits and home rule rights. The mayor of D.C. has stated that the city’s crime levels are at their lowest in 30 years and are working on improving the current issues. Legal challenges to the federal involvement are anticipated.
Read More
Following an influx of National Guard troops and federal officers, Washington D.C. has become a new front in Trump’s war on crime, leading to increased traffic checkpoints and heightened tension. Restaurant managers, like David Orozco, report feeling impacted by the crackdown with fewer customers and employees feeling uneasy due to the increased presence of law enforcement. While Trump claims the city is safer, data suggests a decline in restaurant bookings initially, despite a slight rally during “Restaurant Week,” and crime statistics are being investigated for potential manipulation. Ultimately, many restaurant employees and managers report fear and concern about the current situation.
Read More
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed National Guard members in Washington, D.C., to carry their service weapons while assisting with the President’s crime crackdown. This new guidance marks a shift from the Pentagon’s prior stance on arming the National Guard. More than 1,900 troops from various states have been deployed to support the D.C. National Guard in this mission. The administration has been highlighting the increased presence of National Guard members and federal law enforcement in the capital.
Read More
In a controversial decision, Judge Kendra Briggs, a Biden appointee, released two teenagers charged in connection with the alleged assault of a former DOGE staffer from a youth detention facility. The judge ordered the teens, who were charged in an alleged carjacking assault, to return to their caretakers under conditions including electronic monitoring and a curfew. This decision has sparked outrage from right-wing commentators and influencers, who have criticized the judge and demanded stricter punishment. While Trump has yet to directly address the decision, he has previously expressed concern about crime in Washington D.C.
Read More
President Trump announced plans to patrol Washington, D.C. streets on Thursday night with the Metropolitan Police Department and National Guard troops, aiming to combat crime and assert control over the city. The White House is still finalizing the details of the evening, which follows Trump’s recent actions to federalize the city’s police and deploy National Guard forces, despite declining violent crime statistics. Amidst these developments, Attorney General Pam Bondi reported hundreds of arrests, a significant portion of which involved immigrants. A recent poll indicates substantial opposition from D.C. residents to Trump’s intervention, reflecting public skepticism about the effectiveness of his approach.
Read More
During a photo opportunity at Union Station, JD Vance and other officials were met with boos and chants from protesters. While handing out food to National Guard troops deployed by Donald Trump, Vance stated their efforts brought “law and order” to the area, as demonstrators protested outside, chanting phrases like “Free DC!”. Vance addressed the protestors by saying they were out protesting policies that keep people safe. The deployment of troops, claiming to address rising crime, comes despite a falling crime rate and the federalization of the city’s Metropolitan police department.
Read More
The Trump Justice Department is reportedly investigating the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department for potential manipulation of crime data, as confirmed by sources and a social media post from the former president. This investigation, spearheaded by the U.S. attorney’s office in D.C., follows reports of an MPD commander being placed on leave amidst accusations of downgrading crime offenses. The probe marks an escalation in the ongoing conflict between the city and the Trump administration, which has previously criticized D.C.’s leadership for allegedly failing to address rising crime rates, despite city officials and public statistics showing a decrease in violent crime.
Read More
The article highlights the recent deployment of National Guard troops from several states, primarily in the Deep South, to Washington, D.C., ostensibly to address rising crime rates, echoing a narrative promoted by Donald Trump. However, a comparison of crime statistics reveals a striking irony: the murder rates in the capitals and major cities of the states sending troops to D.C. are significantly higher than those in the nation’s capital. This raises the question of why these states are not focusing their resources on their own cities. The piece suggests a counter-strategy: Democratic governors from states with lower crime rates should offer their National Guards to assist in cities experiencing higher crime rates in the states deploying troops to D.C.
Read More
President Trump’s recent actions in Washington, D.C., are an abuse of power and threaten public safety for all. The situation feels urgent, doesn’t it? It’s as if we’re watching a slow-motion train wreck, and everyone knows it’s coming, but nobody knows how to stop it. There’s a palpable sense of unease, a fear that something fundamental is shifting, something dangerous. And the feeling that the line between right and wrong is becoming increasingly blurred is almost suffocating.
One cannot help but wonder if the current situation in Washington, D.C., is part of a larger, more unsettling strategy. Is the militarization of the streets, the lockdown of Congress, a deliberate attempt to prevent a peaceful transfer of power?… Continue reading
Following the federalization of Washington D.C.’s police forces and the deployment of federal agents, restaurants in the city experienced a significant decline in reservations. OpenTable data revealed a 16% decrease in reservations on Monday, the day Trump invoked the Home Rule Act. This downward trend worsened throughout the week, with reservations plummeting to 31% below the previous year’s numbers on Wednesday. Even on the weekend, when Trump claimed high visitor numbers, reservations still saw notable drops of 20% and 22%.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood