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So what is the National Guard actually doing?

Plus, how to document D.C. right now, Metro backtracks, and more.

The 51st

21 Aug 2025 — 4 min read

Hey everyone,

Last week, we answered your most pressing general questions about the Trumpian takeover. The time, 51st reporter Martin Austermuhle dove deep on the National Guard's presence in D.C., answering reader questions about what District residents might expect moving forward.

Personally, I've been wondering how we should document this unprecedented time in our city, so I turned to my favorite historian and fellow D.C. native, Dr. Izetta Autumn Mobley, for answers. She shared how daily acts of living can be most impactful in capturing this moment for future generations. She also stressed the importance of being ethical and thoughtful about what acts of resistance we post to social media.

In an opinion piece, Councilmember Janeese Lewis George writes about why she introduced the Local News Funding Act of 2025, legislation that addresses the challenges facing local journalism in D.C.

Keep scrolling to see how you can give input to both Metro and The 51st, plus ways to get civically engaged this month. (Happy Black August!)

Christina

What's going on with the National Guard in D.C.?

Why deploy the National Guard, what they're actually doing here, how long this could last, and more of your questions answered.

Stay informed

Ask A D.C. Native: How do we document this time in history?

A historian tells us how to ethically capture this time in D.C. — through video, photos, journaling, collecting objects, and more — both for now and the future.

Prevent erasure

In Case You Missed It:

Opinion: D.C. must invest in local news

Local journalism is facing a funding crisis at a crucial moment in our democracy, writes Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George. A new public funding strategy could help.

The transit agency wants residents to vote on a new exterior for its 8000-series railcars. All three options include brown, a color they've steered away from in recent years.

Back on track

We're still collecting words from people who call D.C. home. If you haven't already, give us three words to describe the D.C. you love. Fill out this form, and we'll make a cool collage with your answers.

D.C. or Nothing

Celebrate Black August: Your Civics Roundup

Here's your roundup of actions, fundraisers, and community-driven events in D.C.

Make some noise

Colleen has rounded up some other news for you this week:

Meet the four local women who founded Free DC – the grassroots org working tirelessly to protect D.C.’s autonomy. [The 19th]
Deploying National Guard troops in a city isn’t exactly unprecedented, but as one historian argues, something’s different this time. [Capital B News]
How so? For one, they’re reportedly training to carry and operate M-17 pistols as they patrol our streets. [The Handbasket]
Sorry, the links just get worse from here: Trump’s “crime crackdown” (by which he apparently means ramping up ICE enforcement) is killing business at local bars and restaurants. [The Advocate]
Your tax dollars will be used to deck out ICE vehicles in horrendous wraps and genuinely vile paint jobs. [Post]
A National Guard military vehicle t-boned an SUV in Capitol Hill. The driver had to be extracted by firefighters and taken to a hospital with a minor head laceration. [Post]
The White House is releasing daily arrest data during the “takeover.” The problem is, it’s not clear whether or not that data is real! [Post]
To cleanse your spirit before you go, enjoy these videos from a week of #resistance: Someone called JD Vance a couch-fucker in the middle of Union Station as he and Pete Hegseth (flanked by a full military detail, btw) tried to pick up Shake Shack; a crowd of D.C. residents heckled, booed, and shouted precise and expletive-laden insults at ICE agents in Columbia Heights until they left; and here’s that same afternoon from a different angle – because it’s so nice you just have to see it twice!