City Cast DC with Michael Schaffer
National Guard will double in DC
August 18, 2025 · 💌 Kaela
Oh hey! Summer Restaurant Week starts today (aka a reason to live again). Lunch and brunch deals start at $25 and dinners at $40. Washingtonian’s Ann Limpert rounded up all the best new spots.
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What's CITY Talking About?
DC Sued Trump — One Small Victory
On Friday, D.C. negotiated a deal with the Justice Department to keep police chief Pamela Smith in charge, stopping Attorney General Pam Bondi’s order naming an emergency police commissioner. It’s a victory for local authorities, but a lot of questions — including D.C.'s sanctuary city status — remain. There’s another hearing this week. [City Cast DC 🎧]
- Meanwhile, Republicans are working on a bill to extend Trump’s control of D.C.’s police department indefinitely. [WTOP]
National Guard Presence In DC Doubles
An additional 700 National Guard troops will arrive in D.C. in the coming days, almost doubling the original 800 stipulated in Trump’s announcement. Many will also start carrying firearms. [NBC4]
- Related: Federal agents tackled and detained a food delivery driver who they say entered the country illegally in 2023. [Washington Post 🔒]
Local School Districts Face Cuts Over Trans Policies
The Education Department plans to pull funding from five Virginia school districts — Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William counties, and Alexandria — that refused to change their policies supporting transgender students. [Washington Post 🔒]
DC Provides Additional Shelter Space
The city is trying to work proactively ahead of expected federal encampment sweeps to provide alternative shelter and more resources for people experiencing homelessness. The FBI cleared several encampments downtown last week,e with more clearings expected today. [Axios/Street Sense]
Sewage Spill In NE
A sewage line failure over the weekend spilled 6,200 gallons of wastewater onto Anacostia Avenue and Ponds Street in Northeast. D.C. Water is working to repair and sanitize the streets. [WTOP]
Sponsored Content
Summer Restaurant Week Brings the Eats August 18 - 24.
Get ready to eat your heart out! Summer Restaurant Week is back August 18th to Sunday, August 24th. It’s your chance to explore the amazing flavors our region has to offer, with hundreds of restaurants rolling out the red carpet. Time to finally try that spot you’ve been eyeing or revisit an old favorite!
What To Do
Monday, Aug. 18
- 🍽️ Summer Restaurant Week Begins at Various Locations around the DMV
- 📽️ Screening - Don Barry: A Quixotic Exploration at Rhizome (Takoma)
- 😆 Monday Night Showcase at Room 808 (Petworth)
- 🆗 Literary Trivia at Kramers (Dupont)
- 😎 The National Hip-Hop Honors 2025 at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company (Penn Quarter)
- 🐝 Buzzy Spelling Bee at Punch Bowl Social (Arlington)
Tuesday, Aug. 19
- 🤔 The Inner Loop August Reading at Shaw's Tavern (Shaw)
- 🍿 Tuesday Night Movies: “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” at MLK Library (Downtown)
- 🍻 Profs & Pints DC: The Big Lebowski Lecture at Penn Social (Penn Quarter)
- 😆 Jews Like Free Speech, Actually: Comedy Show at Pikio Taco (Kalorama)
- 🎷 Tuesday Jazz Nights at Ciel Social Club (Downtown)
- 🕺 2025 LSDT Adult Dance Intensive at Capitol Hill Arts Workshop
👏 Welcome Katja E., Laura K., Toni G., and Jamie M. to the City Cast DC Neighborhood!
Special thanks to Jamie for the note: “I appreciate your detailed and thoughtful journalism as it pertains to D.C., socially. Also, your team has proven to be keenly aware of how to navigate challenging viewpoints by just stating the facts.”
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