Good morning. Sunny and cool this morning; today’s high will only be around 58. A small chance of showers overnight, with a low near 45. The Capitals will visit Dallas tonight, and the Wizards will host Philadelphia. 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:
Mexican Slum Rats, “Cowboys.” This San Fernando Valley band makes utterly exhilarating music that feels like it could fall apart at any moment—and I mean that as a compliment! Mexican Slum Rats play Comet Ping Pong tonight with Skate Stance.
Take Washingtonian Today with you! I’ve made a playlist on Spotify and on Apple Music of my daily music recommendations this year.
Here’s some administration news you might have blocked out:
Shutshow: The government shutdown will enter its fifth week tomorrow. The American Federation of Government Employees called on Democrats in Congress to vote to reopen the government, saying it’s time to stop “punishing the people who keep our nation running.” One complication: It’s not clear whether the Trump administration will honor a law that grants back pay to furloughed feds, and the House’s GOP leadership won’t reopen its chamber, where a guarantee to pay them could be made part of a “clean” continuing resolution. (Government Executive) The move, from a large union that traditionally supports Democrats, increases pressure on party leaders to fold. (Politico) US Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin made a “proposal to pay all federal workers — essential and furloughed federal employees — while federal departments and agencies are shuttered,” and there seems to be a little hope that it might pass. (The Hill) Meanwhile, Republicans face anger from constituents whose health care premiums are skyrocketing—and subsidies to offset their cost will soon expire. (AP) Off the Hill, Democratic governors and attorneys general plan to sue the administration “over its decision to not tap emergency funds amid the government shutdown to keep food aid flowing to 42 million Americans next month.” (Politico) SNAP benefits will begin to run dry Saturday. (AP) ICE officials claimed they can’t allow Democratic lawmakers to visit detention centers because of the shutdown. (Politico) Some in Congress have asked that their own paychecks be held during the shutdown. Others aren’t answering questions about it. (Government Executive)
The war on blue cities: A federal law-enforcement officer shot at an unarmed man in DC last month, and DC cops covered up the shooting, lawyers for Phillip Brown alleged yesterday. Brown was jailed for three days after a Homeland Security Investigations officer put multiple bullets into his car, apparently because officers thought he might “flee.” (Washington Post) California plans to send observers to monitor the federal election observers headed for polling places next week. (LA Times) Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino will head to court today to testify in a lawsuit over feds’ actions during the immigration crackdown in Chicago. (Chicago Sun-Times) ICE agents there are tear-gassing people right and left. (Chicago Tribune) Trump plans to shake up regional ICE leadership, replacing people it sees as too soft with Customs and Border Patrol officials. (NBC News) The administration will try once again to deport Maryland’s Kilmar Abrego García this week, before he faces trial on criminal charges they filed against him earlier this year. (Politico) A judge in that matter “took Attorney General Pam Bondi and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to task Monday for their incendiary, out-of-court statements” about Abrego. (Politico)
Administration perambulation: Trump “gave another highly partisan speech to the U.S. military” aboard the USS George Washington early this morning. (Playbook) Former DOJ officials asked US District Judge Michael Nachmanoff to dismiss the case against James Comey that Trump dialed up, saying the case is one of “vindictive prosecution.” (Washington Post) The administration pulled the nomination of Joel Rayburn to be an assistant secretary of state. US Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky had opposed the appointment, and his scuttled nomination “highlights a weakness in the new system, established by Senate Republicans, to speed up confirmations.” (NYT) Trump asked a New York appeals court to overturn his criminal conviction. (Politico) The administration ordered FBI agents to search for documents related to the 1975 disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa. Previously, Trump made a priority request for agents to search for records regarding the disappearance of Amelia Earhart. (CNN)
A few embassies still welcome trick-or-treaters, by Daniella Byck:
Trick-or-treating at DC embassies isn’t quite the robust tradition it once was, but there’s still an opportunity to get some candy along Embassy Row. Washingtonian trick-or-treating correspondent Dara Mathis was able to identify five embassies that will welcome revelers on Halloween: Embassy of Belize, Embassy of Greece, Embassy of Portugal, Embassy of Romania, and Embassy of Slovenia. Some embassies that participated last year are taking a break, including the Embassy of Paraguay, which shared that there are “a lot of things going on.” We can certainly relate to that: It’s a spooky time in Washington, and not necessarily in a fun, campy way. For more Halloween things to do, check out our list of parties and parades.
Recently on Washingtonian dot com:
• Erin Adelekun had a debilitating stroke after she gave birth in 2020. Doreen Gentzler tells the remarkable story of her recovery.
• We talked with some Washingtonians who actually left the US after Trump won.
• A weird Taco Bell-fueled ultramarathon will happen here next month, so naturally Sylvie McNamara signed up for it.
Local news links:
• The Kansas City Chiefs hammered the Commanders last night. Washington is now 3-5. (Washington Post)
• Abigail Spanberger is on board with a push by Virginia Democrats to gerrymander congressional districts. (AP)
• The people who terrorized an Alexandria family, dressing in masks and pounding on their door saying they would kill the people inside, told police they were filming a “prank.” The aggrieved Alexandrians declined to press charges. (ALXnow)
• Crews replaced the statue of Albert Pike, a traitor to the US who fought to preserve slavery alongside other members of the Confederacy, which lost the Civil War, in Judiciary Square over the weekend. “The U.S. Department of the Interior said the restoration complies with President Donald Trump’s directives.” (NBC4 Washington)
Tuesday’s event picks:
• The annual 17th Street High Heel Race takes over Dupont Circle.
• Neighbors take the stage to help their friends get dates at Bridge District’s outdoor dating event.
• Carve a pumpkin while eating tacos at Shaw’s Tavern.
See more picks for this week from Briana Thomas, who writes our Things to Do newsletter.
We’re seeking nominations for our 500 Most Influential People list. Get ‘em to us by December 5!
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.
