“I worry about climate change. But when I cut vines and save one tree, I worry less.” Meet some of the volunteers who are restoring D.C.’s green spaces — and combating the effects of climate change, one tree at a time. @samdelgado.bsky.social reports:

D.C. has one of the lowest rates of uninsured residents across the U.S. Looming cuts to a city-funded healthcare program could change that — with disastrous consequences, advocates say. What’s behind the decision, and what are the alternatives?

D.C.'s budget has been growing for years, which means that lawmakers have spent much more time arguing about what to fund rather than cut. But now, an estimated $1B loss in revenue over the next three years is ushering in new talk of fiscal discipline.

This weekend, The 51st team closed out summer with our Ward 7 neighbors at an ice cream social at the Benning Road Library. Here, Community Connector George Kevin Jordan shares what we heard from attendees about their neighborhoods. Thanks to @dcpubliclibrary.bsky.social and Everyday Sundae!

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:

Lobby for D.C. on Capitol Hill, attend a workshop on economic justice, and more opportunities to get engaged in the city this week in @colleengrablick.bsky.social’s guide:

What are you doing this weekend? In our event guide: Gear up for a bike festival, a punk-themed dog fest, a chance to check out some lowriders, and more from @elizatebo.bsky.social:

Six D.C. agencies spent a combined $325M over their budgets for the 2024 fiscal year. The biggest offenders: Department of Human Services: $139M over Metropolitan Police Department: $121M over The pattern is expected to repeat, @maustermuhle.bsky.social reports: 51st.news/wilson-build...

Advocates say the elimination of DC Health Care Alliance, which insures 26,000 low-income residents, could have disastrous consequences. The first round of cuts to the program go into effect next week.

📧 The weekly newsletter is out 📧 In your inbox today: Looming cuts to the DC Health Care Alliance, the volunteers saving local trees from invasive vines, the city’s $$$ problems, and more. Read it online here:

“Something in my heart keeps telling me that D.C. taxpayers desire and expect more for us than to simply serve lengthy prison terms and be regurgitated back on the streets.” Hear from an incarcerated writer about how the federal Bureau of Prisons fails D.C. residents:

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 ⬇️

It’s entirely legal for federal agents to hide their identity, but it’s not necessarily normal — and it’s taking a deep toll on D.C., @samdelgado.bsky.social reports.

As Trump and other Republicans lambast D.C. for how it handles crime and other issues, the federal government doesn’t always shoulder its share of the burden of making the city safer. In this week's takeover update, @maustermuhle.bsky.social has the receipts:

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-...

“Is this MPD? Is this DEA? Is this HSI? Is this ICE? We don't know.” After the surge of federal agents began, 60+% of D.C. residents said they felt less safe, but community members and lawmakers have been especially outraged by the presence of anonymous masked officers. 51st.news/masked-feds-...

The closure of Lorton Prison in 2001 made the District the only “state” in the country without its own. As a way to save money, D.C. chose to rely on the federal system instead. This system is failing all of us, incarcerated writer Askia Afrika-Ber argues.

Now, more than ever, is the time to support your local media. For real—subscribe to your local newspapers. They’re one of the few bastions of free speech and 1A. I support @51st.news in DC. What do your recommend for your city?

D.C. doesn’t have its own prison, so its residents are sent to federal facilities all over the country. This is a bad system that serves no one. Story via @51st.news.

We’ve been reporting on the Commanders stadium deal since it was first unveiled by Mayor Bowser in late April. Now that it’s officially approved, here are some takeaways from @maustermuhle.bsky.social on D.C.’s single biggest investment in any sports team to date.

As the Trump administration targets hospitals and schools, parents are scrambling to protect their kids. What does that mean in the D.C. area? For our first story in partnership with @19thnews.org, @oriion.bsky.social interviewed five local families:

This week's takeover update from @maustermuhle.bsky.social: So...... what happens now? Also: 🚁 That helicopter you've been hearing might be CBP 🚔 Has Congress been stiffing D.C. on police costs?

I think you should fund orgs like @51st.news (maybe you do already) @capitalb.bsky.social and @19thnews.org . These are fairly new organizations that I think does amazing work 19thnews.org/2025/09/tran...

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.

The problems with D.C.’s beloved, newly renovated Fort Dupont Ice Rink became clear earlier this month. In a cave, stalagmites are a natural curiosity. On an ice rink, they’re a problem. What's delaying the rink's reopening? @maustermuhle.bsky.social reports:

D.C. doesn’t have its own prison, so its residents are sent to federal facilities all over the country. This is a bad system that serves no one, Askia Afrika-Ber writes. This writer is a D.C. resident currently incarcerated at USP Hazelton in West Virginia, published here via More Than Our Crimes:

What are you doing this weekend? Brazilian drumming, '90s nostalgia, a clay festival? Choose your own adventure in our weekly events guide:

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?

Want to make D.C. a better place this week? Options in our weekly civic engagement roundup from @colleengrablick.bsky.social: 🏝️ Love-Island-themed fundraiser for local climate organizers and migrant families 🌳 Kid-friendly park cleanup ✊ What we can learn from Andor about resistance in D.C.

Lawmakers gave final approval Wednesday to a $3.7B deal to bring the Washington Commanders back to D.C. — and into a 65,000-seat roofed stadium at the old RFK site. What can we expect? @maustermuhle.bsky.social has the details:

I have seen so much joy & laughter in trans kids that I know. And the parents of trans kids that I know are really amazing parents. I will fight for their kids to access appropriate medical care, attend school, use restrooms, and live as who they are.

Families in and around Washington, D.C., are navigating the White House’s crackdown on gender-affirming care and a growing assertion of federal power. This story was produced in partnership with @51st.news, a worker-led local news source for D.C.

D.C.’s beloved Fort Dupont ice rink closed in early 2023 for a $40 million demolition and reconstruction. The group that has managed the rink since the mid-1990s says local officials have mismanaged that work, @maustermuhle.bsky.social reports.

“We deserve to live here. She deserves to live here. No trans person is asking for more rights. Just stop picking on us.” @oriion.bsky.social spoke to five local families about their experience raising trans kids right now in the D.C. area. In partnership with @19thnews.org:

It's Thursday! In your inbox today: Raising trans kids in Trump's D.C. (our first story in partnership with @19thnews.org), a beloved D.C. ice rink faces an uncertain future, the Commanders get their stadium, and how the Federal Bureau of Prisons is failing D.C. residents:

An important read on the anti-democratic voted yesterday in the US House of Representatives. #FreeDC

Follow for all of @maustermuhle.bsky.social's council updates:

The D.C. Council is back tomorrow! The lawmakers will be busy working their way through consequential local bills – from a controversial housing bill, to the Commanders stadium deal, to police raises – all while trying to fend off aggressive Congressional interference. 51st.news/dc-council-f...

A news tidbit: This week the D.C. Council will vote on an emergency bill from @cmchenderson.bsky.social that will allow pharmacies to administer the COVID-19 vaccine without a doctor's prescription. Because of changes at the federal level, local pharmacies have been requiring a prescription.

Fall is the perfect season for a stroll. With a new book from two D.C. experts, you can turn your walk into an hour-long history lesson. 51st.news/dc-authors-2...

This was published almost a year ago, but is more important than ever. DC needs The 51st! Become a member today: 51st.news/dc-deserves-...

The @newrepublic.com actually does very useful and helpful REPORTING. How about @propublica.org? Excellent. The @51st.news is doing excellent actual reporting. So is @thetriibe.com in Chicago. There are so many other places to get actual useful news.

"But in the eyes of Mayor Muriel Bowser and the D.C. Council, TOPA is a burden on developers and delays the timeline of transactions. In other words, tenant rights are always expendable in the name of landlord profits." 51st.news/dc-tenant-as...

I know most WaPo subscribers outside the DMV are/were in it for their national reporting but also consider our local news groups for support!

D.C. used to limit police collaboration with immigration enforcement. This video investigation from @bellingcat.com and @evidentmedia.org shows how much that's changed. 51st.news/dc-police-wo...

The session took place on the final day of President Trump’s 30-day takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department, indicating that while one form of federal control was coming to an end, a new form of interference was just getting started. 51st.news/house-republ...

Cheers 🍎🍇🍒🍏🍓

“We all kind of came together randomly, but we were the perfect random people to work together on this.” 51st.news/dc-authors-2...

Write letters to incarcerated D.C. residents, unite with members of the city's queer community, brush up on your rights as a tenant, and more opportunities to get engaged in the city this week.