#BreakingNews
- sources say that Ted Leonsis’ Monumental Sports is about to announce that it has abandoned its effort to move to Virginia and now will reach an agreement to remain in DC.
Goodbye Caps & Wizards. Deal with Virginia being announced tomorrow morning at Potomac Yards (where celebratory announcement tents are being prepared now). A significant blow to DC and its ailing downtown. Sad part is, it could have been avoided if city had acted.
Not good when your campaign for governor announces site for your final campaign rally and you misspell the Northern Virginia county five times in your release. For the record, it’s Loudoun.
@politicshour
#BreakingNews
- DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb tells Ted Leonsis in a stern letter this week that Leonsis’ DC contract means Leonsis cannot legally move his Caps & Wizards teams to Virginia until 2047 — 2047, that Leonsis can’t just pay off bonds early & move in 2027.
@wcp
For all watching the historic meltdown voting in the House speaker fight … note that DC and our 700k citizens don’t have a vote. As a “delegate,” Eleanor Holmes Norton, a member since 1991, can’t vote on this. Another wrong that needs to be righted.
@politicshour
@wcp
An out of town friend asked tonight if the Hill riot and threat of more violence had me thinking about moving from DC. I said, nope, and sent this photo of the city I call home.
@kojoshow
@wcp
Va Sen Tim Kaine endorses Joe Biden in Tues primary, says America “afflicted” by an uncaring President Trump. The 2016 Democrativmc Veep candidate says Biden has “heart, character and experience.”
@lokoshow
@davidfolkenflik
Here in DC, I’ve read the Sun more than four times in just one week! Many, many, many times. What an awful admission from the new owner.
@MacFarlaneNews
The exact wrong thing to do. Wrong because it's not needed for security, wrong for the image it sends in a free and open society, and wrong for the millions of people who come to the Capitol to see their government at work.
Enjoying Nats World Series game...A few minutes tonight with former Mayor Tony Williams who led 2004-2005 effort to bring baseball back to DC.
@kojoshow
@wcp
Here it is. Damn. The Capitol Police command fails to do its job and now they want to close off our — our — Capitol grounds with a security fence to make their job easier. Don’t let them do it!
@kojoshow
@wcp
#News
- Some insight into why the Arena deal is failing? Sources say yesterday - yesterday! - was the first time team owner Ted Leonsis ever met w/ Sen . Louise Lucas (at her Richmond hotel). The first time! Kinda late in the game to approach her, months into this battle.
@wcp
And, so it begins publicly. Site in Alexandria this morning where Ted Leonsis will stand with Virginia state and local officials to announce Caps and Wizards moving to massive development at Potomac Yard… body blow to DC.
@wcp
#Breaking
DC Council votes 8-to-5 to raise taxes on individuals earning more than $250,000, directing the funds to child care, homelessness and a pilot basic monthly income program.
@politicshour
#Wow
-Virginia Senate finance chair Sen Louise Lucas doesn't mince words. Shut out last fall when she first tried to learn more on the arena deal, she didn't like it or how she was treated. Today, after watching governor wail in public over his loss, she had her own message.
@wcp
As I will always remember NBC4’s Wendy Rieger. My condolences to her husband Dan, her family, close friends, her NBC4 family, and her vast audience that loved and laughed with her throughout her remarkable career.
@politicshour
@wcp
@nbcwashington
#BreakingNews
- NBC4 6-11 pm anchor Doreen Gentzler announces she is retiring at the end of November - 33 years as a strong voice both on air and off in our many communities. Congrats!
@politicshour
@wcp
This is too much "both-sideism." Why was it a disaster? Be specific. Name names. Who disobeyed the rules, how many times? Why did the moderator fail to enforce the rules? Just broadly denouncing the debate grants false equivalency and blame to the participants.
“That was a hot mess inside.a dumpster fire inside a train wreck,” Jake Tapper says on CNN minutes after the debate concludes. “The American people lost tonight. Because that was horrific.”
“That was a shitshow,” Dana Bash adds.
“I love this city, my city. And my city was wounded, grievously so, Wednesday morning, when men and women on the other side of the river toasted their good fortune, their deal well done, and didn’t seem to give a damn about the pain left behind.”
#News
- The Potomac Yard arena won’t be moving forward. The City of Alexandria just announced that the city is ending negotiations related to the Potomac Yard Entertainment District and “the proposal... [ALXnow reporting]
Hello, Everybody - just a note that there is no Politics Hour or other local programming today on WAMU as the station’s management prepares to roll out a “new strategic framework” for all programming later this morning to its entire staff. No details yet.
So. A DC Council hearing at 11:30 am on of all things school absenteeism and truancy ironically started 2hours 13 minutes late… without the slightest notice posted for parents, educators and others wondering why. Totally unacceptable. All Council committees should do better. /1
Somewhere in town, former DC Mayor Tony Williams is having a moment. As leader of the District in 2004, he and a small group of elected officials, community leaders and business interests overcame skepticism and criticism to bring us to this moment.
@wcp
@kojoshow
#Breaking
. Free Metro rides for federal workers beginning Monday. WMATA board meeting at 3 pm Friday to vote emergency policy. Workers to show ID cards at disability access gates while shutdown lasts.
@kojoshow
@wcp
#News
Mystics owner Sheila Johnson, a multi-millionaire partner in Monumental Sports, seem to wave a caution flag (potential opposition?) to Caps/Wizards move to Alexandria. "It's a long way from happening," she told David Rubenstein Thursday night at her Salamander DC Hotel. /1
Dr. Birx echoes the mask 😷 for everyone. I’m thinking she could make the biggest statement by refusing to appear with President Trump or VP Pence unless they get with the program. Same for Dr. Fauci.
At Library of Congress hallway outside of Madison Building Cafe (6th floor). Not an exhibit. Has a dial tone when you pick up the part called a receiver.
@wcp
@kojoshow
#Breaking
. Veteran Ward 2 DC Council member Jack Evans resigned today, stepping aside in the face of an almost certain Council move to expel him Jan. 21st over ethics issues that have dogged him for two years.
@kojoshow
@wcp
.
Whatever your political views, I’m proud of my son Peyton — selling BabyTrump balloons —for taking an active interest in his community and country.
@wcp
@kojoshow
Whoa. CNN’s Anderson Cooper wraps up a contentious interview with Rod Blagojevich, bluntly says on air the corrupt former governor’s attempt to rewrite history as a victim is “bullshit.”
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris visits the DC Central Kitchen, highlighting how many more American families now are going hungry. Welcome to our local Washington, Sen Harris. Many here willing to help in this hour of need.
@kojoshow
@wcp
Someone please tell CNN that Freedom Plaza is not — not — on the National Mall. Anchors keep saying the Palestinian rally is on the National Mall. It clearly isn’t.
Gone … but not forgotten. Former WAMU/DCist reporter Martin Austermuhle being honored next week with a DC Council resolution. Austermuhle and his family decamped to Switzerland a couple of weeks ago.
@wcp
“This is outrageous,” says DC Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton as she arrives to vote at crowded Eastern Market where only ONE vote-counting machine is here for two precincts (88 & 89).
@kojoshow
@wcp
#BreakingNews
— The DC government has filed in court for a temporary restraining order to prohibit the Washington Teachers Union from talking about any type of work stoppage in connection to DC schools reopening tomorrow.
@kojoshow
@wcp
Maybe the worst thing in politics is not losing, but having people laugh at you. Hearing room reaction to video of Senator Josh Hawley running through the Capitol on January 6th after his raised-fist photo to the rioters.
@politicshour
@wcp
DC attack. Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton condemns "an amendment filed by Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) to the Respect for Marriage Act that would prohibit the District of Columbia from enforcing D.C. laws that protect same-sex couples from discrimination."
@politicshour
@wcp
News - Philly passes bill, 13-2, to ban ski masks in some public areas to battle crime. Democratic Mayor Kenney says he'd review and “looks forward to our on- going work with City Council on the urgent matter of ensuring public safety.” Lets hear THAT from our DC leaders.
@wcp
#BreakingNews
— Sources say Veteran DC Council member Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3) is dropping out of her bid for re-election. Cheh was first elected in 2006 and registered last June for the 2022 campaign - her fifth. Awaiting Cheh confirmation.
@politicshour
@wcp
@MacFarlaneNews
Folded like a deck of cards. Some individual officers clearly were trying to hold the line, others quickly yielded. Senior officers - Chief Steven Sund -- AWOL. No doubt now we'll see even tighter restrictions on normal tourists and families after this debacle.
@kojoshow
Thank you, Kojo, for a great broadcasting career and 23 years with your daily show at WAMU that wraps at noon today. And thank you for agreeing to continue hosting the weekly Politics Hour on Fridays with its focus on the whole DMV region. Congratulations.
DC Mayor Murial Bower told DC Democratic officials tonight she politically objects to congress and President interfering with the city’s controversial crime bill, but understand why. She said DC Council passed “a bad bill…and I don’t live in La La Land.”
@politicshour
@wcp
Unpaid traffic tickets since 2000 cost DC taxpayers $841 million in uncollected fines, most from Maryland. Council pursuing legislation to authorize DC Attorney General to (civil) sue egregious violators. Part of major traffic law overhaul.
@wcp
Longtime residents of Ivy City, worried their NE community is being overrun with new development, gathered late today to urge DC Deputy Mayor to speed up restoration of the old Crummell school into a community center and play space for old and young alike.
@kojoshow
@wcp
Martin is among the best at covering, dissecting and explaining DC’s small but complicated legislature. Like most legislative bodies, it is hard to follow with competing interests pushing their issues. We’re lucky to have him.
On eve of DC Council crime bill vote, DC Auditor Kathy Patterson has scathing report on Mayor Bowser’s “failure” to revive crime lab; “refusal to acknowledge” 911 problems; not knowing impact of anti-violence programs. Faults US Attorney handling of police misconduct cases.
@wcp
We’ve got a new Auditude! In response to the
@councilofdc
safety bill, we summarize recent ODCA reports showing how agencies whose purpose includes preventing/solving crime aren't performing as they should for maximum impact on crime reduction.
“Chalk - in” at 14th & Irving streets Northeast today, calling attention to pedestrian - cyclist and other DC roadway deaths draws a large crowd of parents and other citizens. (5-year-old Allie Hart killed here Sept 13th.)
@politicshour
Hey Post editors - why the “D.C.”snipers? Your own damn map shows it was “suburban” snipers or “Maryland” or something similar. Why saddle our D.C. with this inaccurate tag?
@politicshour
@wcp
#News
- “The Wizards should remain in Washington, DC…” writes Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League in a letter to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, citing history and the Wizards’ “substantial fan base.”
@wcp
@NormOrnstein
@Bruce_DePuyt
“But Biden is so old” is this year’s, “But what about her emails?” Meanwhile, Trump rolls merrily along, ranting and being treated in much of the media as if what he says is normal political discourse.
Just to be clear, the big CPAC political gathering next weekend is not in DC, no matter how hard CPAC says it is or the site implies it is on websites.
@politicshour
@wcp
Stop it!! Just heard another reporter say there is a growing “feud” between President Trump and Dr. Fauci. It’s not a feud, it’s a one-sided assault by Trump on Dr. Fauci. Stop this silly and wrong both-sides nonsense.
#Breaking
. Sad news, former DC City Administrator Allen Lew has died of coronavirus complications. Lew oversaw rebuilding of DC out of its bankruptcy years -- the convention center, the Nats ballpark, and dozens & dozens of schools and athletic fields.
@kojoshow
@wcp
A big — but quiet — crowd gathers at DC Council to complain DC is getting too noisy with bucket drummers, shouters etc especially near Capital One Center. More people live downtown now and they want reasonable limits on all that noise.
#BreakingNews
DC Council Chairman announces he has withdrawn controversial criminal code bill from the Senate to forestall a vote against it. Bill would be reworked and submitted anew to House and Senate some time in the future.
@politicshour
@wcp
#News
Respected DDOT Director Jeff Marootian joining Biden White House as Special Assistant to the President for Climate and Science Agency Personnel. An immediate loss for DC government, but expect he'll be a strong voice for our city in the White House.
@kojoshow
@wcp