The Needle: No Kings Protests Call for Early Voting, Trump Wants to Close East Potomac Park for 15 Months, Class Action Lawsuit Alleges DC Jail Fed Inmates Vermin, and More
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Gail O'Hara (via Washington CityPaper)
Royal pain: Thousands of DMV residents protested at Saturday’s No Kings rallies that focused on encouraging people to vote early in the midterms. Some protestors marched from Memorial Circle to the Lincoln Memorial. But a spokesperson from Third Act DMV sent a statement to City Paper saying its request to march across the Memorial Bridge was denied at the last minute by “an unnamed office above” the National Park Service. Plus five points for national protests but minus one point for revoking permits. +4 [Blade, NPR, NBC4, AP News]
Weakest links: On Saturday, the Justice Department asked Judge Ana Reyes to step aside from the lawsuit over convicted felon and President Donald Trump’s plans to overhaul East Potomac golf course. This comes after the administration chopped down 430 trees in the park last week against the judge’s orders. Trump said Sunday he’ll close the park for 15 months’ of renovations despite court challenges, arguing that the golf course is in poor condition and dangerous. “This course is for the public, the people of Washington, D.C.,” one golfer told the Post. The judge refused to recuse herself. Minus two points for Trump’s attempt to fast-track his plans but plus one point for the judge and the public pushback. -1 [AP News, WTOP, Post, NYT]
Executive privilege: A new report says Trump’s plan to paint the Eisenhower Building would diminish its historic character but Trump still wants to paint its granite white as part of his $7.5 million plan to renovate it. Trump said the building’s gray exterior is a “really bad color.” Minus one point for bad taste and ignoring the experts. -1 [AP News, Post]
Jailhouse slop: People incarcerated at DC Jail filed a class action lawsuit against the city on Thursday alleging that the prison knew it was feeding them vermin and didn’t do enough to address the problem. The inmates describe eating mice and bugs in food and honestly we had to stop reading. Minus three points because people deserve better. -3 [Post]
Art attack: Donors and artists are worried about what’s being done to protect the artwork at the Kennedy Center—wondering whether their pieces will be temporarily moved and if they’ll be returned, according to half a dozen people who spoke to CNN. Minus one point for taking away a public space full of art. -1 [CNN]
15 days … until the midterm elections. Plus one point for hope. +1
