In a Q&A with Contributor @samdelgado.bsky.social, environmental historian and MIT professor Kate Brown discusses her new book, "Tiny Gardens Everywhere," about the power of urban gardening to transform people and societies.

We're here to serve our city's info needs, and our "D.C. Explained" series is one of the most direct ways we work towards that goal. This year's topics have included giving/receiving help locally, talking to kids about the federal occupation, and everything you need to know about the D.C. Council.

Earlier this year, @maustermuhle.bsky.social reported that activists had been calling for the D.C. Council to publicly question MPD about officers' continued collaboration with federal immigration enforcement. Within days, the council's Committee on Public Works & Operations scheduled a hearing.

What. A. Year. It. Has. Been. Locals have lost jobs because of the slashing of the federal workforce. D.C.'s local laws and budget have been targeted by the GOP. And Trump flooded the streets with federal troops. I can't imagine a more important time for independent media.

In Mount Pleasant, a tight-knit D.C. neighborhood where immigrants are deeply embedded into the social fabric, the Trump administration’s targeting of migrants has shaken the community. This poignant story about the impact from @samdelgado.bsky.social was one of our team's favorites this year.

Catching fish launched Ernest Robinson into online stardom. He’s one of the thousands of people who fish along the District’s rivers and streams each year. @samdelgado.bsky.social got to know some of them for this story on fishing in D.C. — one of our team's favorite we published this year:

All gifts and memberships to The 51st are: ✅ Tax deductible ✌️ Doubled through the end of the year, thanks to Newsmatch 🗞️ Directly funding local, worker-led news in D.C. Become a member today: 51st.news/signup

This year, D.C. residents were regularly reminded how vulnerable our local laws and political systems are — and how easily daily life can be disrupted by the federal government. But @samdelgado.bsky.social reports, it was also a year when we fought back. Here's how:

In 2025, the Trump Administration turned life upside down in DC, but it will also go down as a year that the city fought back, organizing rallies, documenting ICE sightings, and scaling up mutual aid. A great @51st.news read by @samdelgado.bsky.social to close out the year 51st.news/how-dc-resid...

1/ We have an update to share on this past reporting: We reported in late October that Gael Gomez and his family were all but certain to leave D.C. due to the termination of Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelan migrants. But so far Gael is still here — trying to find a way to stay. 🧵

Spotted outside of the Gallery Place metro. DC is goated — literally

I have a fun little contribution in this workshop tomorrow, merging two of my favorite things: journalism and birding. Do you pay attention to DC wildlife? Maybe even take a photo here and there? Come learn with us at MLK Library tomorrow morning at 10? www.eventbrite.com/e/documentin...

My first time going to a high school sports game in DC but certainly not my last — I had an absolute ball (no pun intended)

Come for the love for local news, stay for the free pizza 🍕 On 12/11, SpotlightDC will be celebrating the people who bring important local stories to life: reporters, editors, and funders.

The holidays are upon us, along with the annual barrage of gift guides dominated by e-commerce giants. But this season, @freedcproject.bsky.social is offering people another choice, @samdelgado.bsky.social reports:

Catching fish launched Ernest Robinson into online stardom. He’s one of the thousands of people who fish along the District’s rivers and streams each year. @samdelgado.bsky.social got to know some of them for this story on fishing in D.C.:

Did you know there's a thriving community of anglers in DC? Whereas some people look at DC's rivers and see pollution, these fishers see potential. I spent time with some local fisherman — including fishing influencer Ernie the Hog Snatcher — and got a close look at what fishing means to them. 🎣⬇️

THE WASHINGTON SPIRIT ARE GOING TO THE FINALS!

Game has barely started and the energy is already off the charts. Let’s go Spirit 😤😤

JUST IN: The Trump administration late Saturday directed states that they must "immediately undo" any actions they have made to provide benefits to low-income families via SNAP.

Tiny lil' thread on SNAP during the shutdown. Yesterday, I reported that the Trump admin's approach to food stamps -- and a court's directive to pay them -- would mean millions of people would get $0 or as little as $12 www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/u...

We've entered the longest government shutdown in US history, and as a result, vital services like SNAP — which feeds 42 million people — have been impacted. For @civileats.com, I wrote a brief guide to help folks navigate this lapse in funding & find their next meal. civileats.com/2025/11/05/a...

In Mount Pleasant, a tight-knit D.C. neighborhood where immigrants are deeply embedded into the social fabric, the Trump administration’s targeting of migrants has shaken the community. From @samdelgado.bsky.social, here's one poignant example of the impact this loss is leaving:

If you believe that within every person is a whole world, then within every community is a universe. So what happens to a neighborhood when it loses one of its stars? For Mt Pleasant, it means losing Gael Gomez, a 19 year-old who helped bring the cosmos to the people. 51st.news/mount-pleasa...

Local news brings us closer to each other, even as the powerful work to tear us apart. This beautiful piece about Gael the sidewalk astronomer, who is losing his TPS (but would prefer us to focus on the stars) by @samdelgado.bsky.social @51st.news really exemplifies that. 51st.news/mount-pleasa...

NEWS: Amidst uncertainty over the possible lapsing of federal funds for SNAP and WIC food benefits this weekend because of the shutdown, @mayorbowser.dc.gov says she will use local funds to ensure that the 153,000 residents who rely on the programs don't lose benefits.

My latest for Civil Eats brought me and my camera to New York, where I was able to spend the day with the team at Community Kitchen and learn how their nonprofit restaurant is challenging the norms of our food system. Watch the full video below ⬇️

This is an interesting and encouraging piece in @51st.news by @samdelgado.bsky.social . There is a *lot* happening in DC. It is an engaged, improving place. Lots of problems, but lots of participation. (Some day we'll have equal Congressional rights. But for now, DC solidarity.)

I have another story out with @51st.news this week. This time, about a intrepid crew of vine-fighting volunteers with the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) who are reviving green spaces and history — one tree at a time. 🌳 51st.news/invasive-vin...

Invasive vines can be deadly for forests. But this past year, scrappy groups of @chesapeakeclimate.bsky.social volunteers have helped save nearly 1,000 trees across green spaces in Southeast and Northeast D.C. alone, @samdelgado.bsky.social reports:

Legal experts, community advocates, and residents told me that the mass presence of unidentifiable agents is creating wide-spread distrust, fear, and an opportunity for abuse to arise. Read the full story at the link below ⬇️

A good ad on the DC Metro

My latest for @51st.news: how masked federal agents are taking a toll on DC residents and communities

@samdelgado.bsky.social at @51st.news really captures the mood in DC these days: "President Trump’s thirty-day crime emergency may have ended, but life in D.C. is anything but back to normal." 51st.news/masked-feds-...

Today the Washington Spirit play at Audi Field, and before you go, read my new story in @51st.news about how Spirit fans have been leading the resistance to Trump's takeover of D.C.: 51st.news/dc-spirit-tr...

Some D.C. tenants were relocated during demolitions with a promise they could return to the new buildings. Now they’re facing eviction notices for units that no longer exist. Contributor Suzie Amanuel investigates:

Now through this weekend, I'll donate $1 to @51st.news for each: - person who reposts this post - new follower @51st.news ws gets - new follower @maustermuhle.bsky.social gets - new follower @christurdisani.bsky.social gets - new follower I get And tag/DM me your donation = I'll match it 1:1.

🐀 It’s an unpleasant reality of city life: Animals get run over or otherwise die, and someone has to clean them up. I met the two D.C. workers who spend their days doing this thankless-yet-critical job – and you’d be surprised just how busy they are. For @51st.news: 51st.news/dc-who-colle...

Martin’s hard at work today reporting on the council’s second budget vote — happening now! Help us reach $50,000 by tonight (only a little more than $6k away!) to ensure we can hire Martin full-time, and continue delivering you this unbeatable budget coverage. givebutter.com/SsQ8CG

Hidaya Al-Motawaq's son is a year and a half old and weighs less than 10 pounds. Doctors warn of permanent damage to children's health due to chronic malnutrition from Israel's earlier blockade.

A long-awaited rule to protect workers from heat stress moves forward, even under Trump. While labor experts say the regulation is progressing quickly, advocacy groups wonder what has taken so long. grist.org/labor/federa... #Heat #Workers #Unions #Politics #Climate #Policy #BosPoli

Per usual, Congress is interfering in local affairs. This time, a new congressional rider could prevent D.C. from suing oil companies over climate change. 51st.news/dc-lawsuit-o...

A hearing on a Hagerstown mother’s deportation ends in tears

Louisville Public Media has now raised: $444,000. In a little more than one day. Dunno, I’m pretty speechless. And I guess I’ll still be employed here for awhile. Can’t thank everybody enough who donated!

An entrepreneur had big plans for a West Baltimore grocery store. Then rent came due.

6-year member of the Farm Alliance of Baltimore here to let you know that they are currently fundraising for this very program! Donate here or please share farmalliancebaltimore.org/digging-in/

I might be biased bc I've had the pleasure of writing for this incredible newsroom, but I really think that if you care about our city, you should invest in it by funding local journalism. These stories can't be told otherwise! Send some $ to the @51st.news fundraiser and become a paying member!!

For @civileats.com, I visited the Black Butterfly Teaching Farm in Baltimore, where food-curious residents in historically redlined neighborhoods are trained to become urban farmers. Now, this work is at risk due to funding cuts by USDA. civileats.com/2025/06/30/c...

For @civileats.com, I visited the Black Butterfly Teaching Farm in Baltimore, where food-curious residents in historically redlined neighborhoods are trained to become urban farmers. Now, this work is at risk due to funding cuts by USDA. civileats.com/2025/06/30/c...