For years, Black troops fought for policies that allowed them to thrive in the service—including around grooming. To Hegseth, that’s the whole problem: a military with Black leadership and without obstacles to a diverse corps is one in which white men have to take orders from the wrong kind.

More than 1800 detainees are missing after the closure of Alligator Alcatraz. Their families and lawyers can’t find them and they’ve vanished from the ICE database. Feels like this should be a much bigger story www.miamiherald.com/news/local/i...

Happening now, until 3, at Benning/ Dorothy Height library! Swing by for end of summer fun with @51st.news: www.eventbrite.com/e/ward-7-ice...

🌟 YOU'RE INVITED to the AI Journalism Lab: ADOPTION Showcase — a free webinar featuring 5-minute presentations from program participants. Join us on on Friday, October 3 at 11:00am ET to learn how newsrooms are testing and implementing AI to enhance impact! RSVP here ↓ luma.com/yjua59zp

EPA tells scientists to stop publishing studies, employees say www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...

D.C. usually gets blamed for local crime, but Congress also a role to play. Specifically, the feds are supposed to reimburse D.C. for the costs of using local police for things like big protests and motorcades. But congressional funding hasn't kept up with costs: 51st.news/trump-dc-tak...

D.C. parents! A few readers have told us their children are struggling emotionally with the federal takeover and increased local law enforcement presence. We’re wondering: What strategies have you found to support your kids? And what information might help you in this challenging moment?

My dad was at DC Jail for almost a year, then sent to southern VA, and then transferred to Seagoville, just outside of Dallas. Removing people away from where their families can visit and they can remain somewhat connected to where they live in no way prepares people to be healthy when they get out.

I'm back from maternity leave and our newsletter is in your inbox! Open it for brief musings on becoming a parent in a city under military occupation and some really great reporting on how Republicans' relentless targeting of D.C.

If you're as thankful as we are for Martin's reporting, help fund the work: 51st.news/signup

The occupation feels relentless but there are things you can do: film arrests, attend a @freedcproject.bsky.social orientation, and dance it all out at a Latin Afrobeats Hip Hop Fundraiser for @dcmigrantmutualaid.org 51st.news/free-dc-civi...

The team behind "22 Walks In Washington That You Must Not Miss" explains why the book is essential for newcomers and longtime residents alike. 51st.news/dc-authors-2...

Four D.C. tenant unions penned a letter against the RENTAL Act, read it here:

We're so proud of @ericfalquero.bsky.social for being part of this cohort! The 51st is lucky to have him and excited for what we will learn.

Some traffic stops in D.C. are turning into a deportation pipeline. This video investigation, published in partnership with @evidentmedia.org and @bellingcat.com shows just how MPD is collaborating with ICE:

JUST IN: Anthropic has agreed to pay at least $1.5 billion to settle a lawsuit brought by a group of book authors alleging copyright infringement. That’s at least $3,000 for each copyrighted work that it pirated—well below what Anthropic may have had to pay if it had lost the case at trial.

Sports and politics may sometimes coexist uneasily, but they're inseparable at Washington Spirit games – where fans have been loudly and proudly chanting and displaying their opposition to Trump's takeover of D.C. Me for @51st.news: 51st.news/dc-spirit-tr...

I had the privilege of getting up at 5:30 am on my birthday to support this project. Props to my @doeedc.bsky.social colleagues! I can't wait to see the data analysis, even if it will likely be depressing--it will lead to important positive changes.

This week's takeover update from @maustermuhle.bsky.social: ⭕ MPD: Back to local control? ⭕ Federal agents: Still around ⭕ National Guard: Still around, but for how long? ⭕ Congress: Taking a big whack at D.C.'s laws ⭕ Need weekend plans? There's a big protest 51st.news/dc-takeover-...

Over 450 workers nabbed by ICE at the Hyundai plant in Georgia. Since construction began, three workers have been killed on the job. Activists say that the raid is only likely to prevent immigrant workers from speaking out. paydayreport.com/450-napped-b...

Random thing I learned in @51st.news today: There's apparently competitive Pokémon, and one of the world's best players lives in D.C. and basically makes the game his career. (I feel like maybe I took the wrong path at some point.) Behold: 51st.news/wolfe-glick-...

really good stuff from @maustermuhle.bsky.social and the rest of the @51st.news crew. best coverage of the occupation of DC I've seen 51st.news/archive/week...

“They were in my community around my neighbors, they were masked, and they felt like occupiers of our streets. I don’t believe they are keeping us safe ... I have a role to play in protecting my community.” 51st.news/dc-residents...

The reporting from @51st.news (@maustermuhle.bsky.social et. al) is some of the strongest, deepest coverage about the federal takeover of DC... if you're not subscribed, you're missing out:

Do you need a helping hand? Here’s where to find all kinds of help in D.C., from legal aid to housing assistance. 51st.news/a-guide-to-g...

I don't like living in occupied territory. Sandwich resistance is giving me some levity and hope. Also, support the @51st.news They are doing amazing reporting!

A fascinating new WaPo poll shows that despite Trump's claims that D.C. is a dystopian hellscape run by criminal gangs, the percentage of residents who say crime is a serious problem is down significantly from 2023 and 2024. Also, fears of assaults and carjackings are down.

This is an incredibly important issue — the survival of local news in DC is vitally important for a strong democracy, especially as our city stands in the shadow of a federal occupation. Check out how we can support outlets like @51st.news @washingtoninformer.com @washingtoncitypaper.com.web.brid.gy

Love my local news, hate the news they report! "...in 2020, two officials told Reuters that it cost about $530 a day for each Guard member who was deployed... if that figure held today, it would cost more than $1 million dollars a day for 2,000 troops to patrol the city."

Lots of great info here for DC folks -- if you find this stuff at all useful and can afford it, subscribe to the @51st.news!

This week's Ask A D.C. Native tackles an urgent question: How do we document D.C. right now? 51st.news/ask-a-dc-nat...

The subrising. Iconic. “Sandwich imagery has made it into signs at protests (“These condiments don’t run!”), & social media…(“Don’t Bread on Me” atop the traditional yellow Gadsden flag long used by conservatives who oppose big gov).“ 51st.news/the-subrisin... @maustermuhle.bsky.social @51st.news

Know-your-rights trainings, cop watching, and more taking place over the upcoming weeks. 51st.news/making-some-...

The 51st is a new local DC outlet with a bunch of longtime DC reporters on staff. Essential follow if you're tracking what's going on in DC.

UPDATE: D.C. notched a narrow win in court today, with D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith to remain in that role. The Trump administration had sought to replace her with one of its appointees and take day-to-day control of MPD, but a judge was skeptical of the legality. 51st.news/why-d-c-is-t...

Fill up the rest of your August calendar with fundraisers, workshops, bike rides, and more. Don't forget the noise demonstrations! 51st.news/making-some-...

My 51st subscription was money well spent. Here's their explainer on the DC takeover.

Let the lawsuits ... begin? D.C.'s Attorney General has filed a federal lawsuit challenging Trump’s most recent push to take day-to-day control over MPD, calling it “brazenly unlawful." 51st.news/why-d-c-is-t...

I saw a lot of people just reposting scary statements and "X is happening" last night, with a lot of people just trusting whatever fed into their bias. If you want to know what's really happening here, may I recommend @51st.news, DC residents, DC reporters, on the ground, doing the work.

If ever there was a time for news from #DC, by and for residents, it's now — so we're please to welcome @51st.news to Flipboard! Bonus: They've used @ghost.org‬ to build their site. Follow them here: flipboard.com/@51stNews

BREAKING: Federal prosecutors said today they went to a grand jury twice to indict a D.C. woman for assaulting an FBI agent during an arrest by ICE — and were twice rejected. Notably, she faces the same charge as the District's alleged sandwich thrower. www.wusa9.com/article/news...

“I have tons of paint. Clearly, these people are like, 'wow, she keeps fixing it.' But it’s right here. It’s easy for me.” 51st.news/this-d-c-art...

51st.news/metrobus-dc-... How riders are adjusting to D.C.'s new bus network via @51st.news

Loved this profile of an unsung community pillar:

We try to clarify what happened in D.C. this week, what we can expect in the future, and what this all means for the residents who call D.C. home. There's a lot we don't know, but we'll continue following this story in the days and weeks to come. 51st.news/trump-dc-mpd...

There's a lot of misinformation and lies swirling around about D.C. and Trump's attempts to take over the city. What questions do you have? What do you want clarified? Let us know, and we'll do our best to answer them in our newsletter on Thursday. 51st.news/dc-trump-mpd...

This story has been updated with context from Mayor Bowser's press conference: 51st.news/dc-trump-mpd...

On a personal note, I wanted to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for helping @51st.news meet its $125k fundraising goal! Your support, whether in single dollars or big donations, is invaluable to helping us grow our staff, coverage, and ambitions. THANK YOU. ❤️ givebutter.com/SsQ8CG

LAST DAY 🚨: a simple repost of the post I'm quoting here will increase money donated to my organization. Please take the time to click and amplify it! 🙏🏼 So will follows, detailed below. Russ generously offered to donate $1 to @51st.news "through this weekend" for every repost his offer receives.

If you miss DCist, make sure you're supporting @51st.news!