Good morning, D.C. In today’s newsletter: The Smithsonian under scrutiny, Carter Barron’s (temporary) return and a fresh look at the Commanders’ stadium plans.
Sign up for the NOTUS Metro newsletter for essential coverage of the D.C. region.
THE LATEST
Republican lawmakers grilled the director of the Smithsonian’s U.S. history museum yesterday over concerns the institution is too “woke.”
Trending
The two-hour hearing was the latest installment in President Donald Trump’s “ongoing review” of the Smithsonian and his continued effort to remake Washington and its cultural institutions.
Representatives took aim at several exhibits, including ones on slavery, the American entertainment industry and girls going through puberty, NOTUS’ Eric Katz reports.
“History is incredibly challenging and … if we tell it in its richness, we absolutely, I think, have objects that can make people uncomfortable,” director Anthea Hartig fired back.
There are signs of life in Rock Creek Park, despite the cultural climate. Carter Barron Amphitheater, the park’s 76-year-old outdoor venue that has been shuttered and in disrepair for a decade, will host a three-night concert series in August featuring jazz, gospel and go-go. But this isn’t a permanent reopening. Carter Barron still needs significant work, and a local effort to upgrade the iconic site is ongoing.
FROM THE DISTRICT
Trump’s plans to renovate the golf links at East Potomac Park could affect the park’s other public spaces, worrying everyone from cyclists to fishers, NOTUS’ Shamira Muhammad reports.
Metro wants automated doors on Red Line platforms to be installed as part of a $913 million modernization project, ABC7 reports.
D.C. firefighters will get higher wages after their union reached a new collective bargaining agreement with the District yesterday, following nearly two years of contentious negotiations. They’ll receive a 3.5% increase next fiscal year and retroactive 2% and 3.5% increases for the 2025 and 2026 fiscal years, too.
“Like everybody else, we’re all struggling with higher utility bills, elevated grocery prices, you name it,” the union’s president, David Hoagland, told NOTUS. “It’s a much-needed increase at a time when affordability is [at] the top of everybody’s mind.”
FROM VIRGINIA
A new Virginia law extending the grace period for paying rent to 14 days is just one of the tenant protection policies being rolled out by the state, the Virginia Mercury reports.
FROM MARYLAND
Marylanders are fighting back against data centers and getting results, WAMU reports. Montgomery and Prince George’s counties have paused the development of new data centers, and one state senator told WAMU they may propose a statewide moratorium this summer.
PLAN YOUR WEEKEND
For the Swiftie: Rock the Dock: A Taylor Swift tribute at The Wharf, Friday.
For the Potterhead: Harry Potter Day at Nationals Park, Saturday.
For the history buff: District Vibes at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, ongoing.
For more info on this weekend’s events, read our weekly culture calendar here.
SPORTS
Check out this fresh rendering of the new Commanders stadium. Buried in a recent presentation to the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts is one of the first comprehensive views of what the new stadium will look like for most fans approaching from the west, including what’s being called Festival Plaza and the residential and retail development that will frame one side of it. There’s lots more to dig through here.
Congratulate AJ Dybantsa on a new position. More young athletes are opting for LinkedIn as their social media of choice, The Banner reports, using the buttoned-up, business-centric platform as a way to connect with fans without sharing too much. The Wizards rookie has gotten in on the trend, posting last month that he was starting a new full-time role as “Professional Basketball Player.”
What to Watch Today
MLB: Nationals at Rockies, 3:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)
WNBA: Mystics vs. Aces, 7:30 p.m. (Monumental)
Thank you for reading! If you liked this newsletter, please forward it to a friend. If someone shared it with you, please sign up — it’s free! Got a tip or comments to share? Email us at metro@notus.com.
The newsletter was produced by Jaden Amos, Michael Errigo and Nikie Johnson. Photo from the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts. One last thing: that three-bedroom house with a pool we showed you yesterday is located in Virginia, and 36% of you guessed that right. The most common guess was Maryland.
Authors
