D.C. vs. Musk-Trump takeover

Hi everyone,

What a week it's been. And it's not even Friday.

At the "Department" of Government Efficiency, Elon Musk and his fraternity of barely legal fanboys with no government experience nor developed prefrontal cortexes have been upending federal agencies day after day. Just this week alone, Musk – the richest man in the world — handed over the Treasury Department's payment system to a 25-year-old engineer, announced his intentions to dismantle the foreign aid agency USAID, and hinted that the Department of Labor could be next on the list of federal agencies he plans to raze.

All of this has immediate impacts on the real lives of D.C. residents — and as D.C. residents are wont to do, they've been fighting back. This week, we've got a Q&A with an organizer who's been staging daily demonstrations, a guide on what to know if you're arrested in D.C., and a roundup of the D.C. Council news you may have missed while distracted by the coup happening south of K Street. (Have you already forgotten the D.C. Council expelled one of its own this week? You'd be forgiven.)

Also this week: an argument for raising kids in D.C., local florists on how to pick out the perfect bouquet this V-Day, weekend events, and more.

And before we go: We could all use a laugh, so we're bringing back overheards. Send us your submissions at overheards@51st.news. Include where you heard it, who said it, and a little context.

Okay, scroll on.

-Colleen

D.C. vs. the Musk-Trump takeover: How residents fought back this week

With every nonsensical executive order and Muskian coup attempt this week, D.C. residents staged a rally or protest to match. We talked with local organizer and Free DC Executive Director Keya Chatterjee about the protests, what the Trump administration means for D.C., and how residents who are feeling overwhelmed can better navigate the weeks ahead.

What to know if you're arrested in D.C.

Whether you are one of the protesters out there this week or just a resident trying to exist in the city, you're likely to encounter cops in D.C. at some point. From the FBI and CIA all the way to the U.S. Mint police, there are literally dozens of law enforcement agencies policing the District. And because the criminal justice system isn’t particularly known for its transparency, understanding your rights within the arrest process is crucial to protecting yourself and your neighbors.

Wilson Building Bulletin: Let the stadium debates begin!

Expelling Ward 8's Trayon White wasn't the only big news to come out of the Wilson Building this week. After years of pleading and an act of Congress, the push to give D.C. more control over the RFK Stadium site is now a done deal. On Tuesday, the D.C. Council approved the city’s new 99-year lease with the federal government. Catch up on what's in the agreement, what's now up for debate, and other bills brought to the dais this week.

Ask a D.C. Native: Should I raise kids in D.C.?

If you can afford to, yes, argues Christina, who wouldn't trade her childhood in D.C. for anything. Big-city energy blended with small-town intimacy creates plenty of great reasons to raise kiddos here; this week, Christina outlines four of them.

Local florists weigh in: how to pick the perfect V-Day bouquet

There's an art to choosing flower arrangements for different people in your life. The flowers you'd give a lover may not be the same as the flowers you'd give a friend (well ... unless ...). From kids and grandparents to teachers and coworkers, D.C. florists break down how to create meaningful and personalized bouquets for whatever relationships you're celebrating this V-Day.

13 things to do around D.C. this weekend

Bleak weeks in D.C. call for good weekends. Here's a guide to help you make this one as festive as possible, with lots of museums for quiet reflection and dance parties for getting out of your head.

Let us know how you're coping

It's hard to put moments like these into words. "Crazy," "horrific," "genuinely bizarre" feel like understatements. We know, we're journalists — language is supposed to be our thing! — but sometimes it just fails. So to make sense of these times in D.C., we're turning to you: How are you getting through the days? What are you doing to take care of yourself and your community? If you're struggling, what would help – even just a little? Share your thoughts with us here. If you're up for it, we'll reach out to you for a story.

ICYMI: Last week's story about D.C.'s chaotic process for licensing street vendors is also available in Spanish

Vendedores ambulantes de Columbia Heights siguen sin poder obtener licencias

Han pasado 16 meses desde que el Distrito de Columbia creó un nuevo proceso para conceder licencias a los vendedores ambulantes de Columbia Heights y Mount Pleasant. Entonces, ¿por qué hay tan pocos vendedores con licencia?

The 51stNatalie Delgadillo

More news you may have missed this week:

• D.C. has plenty of laws on the books to crack down on shady landlords, they’re just not enforcing them. [WCP]
• The Black D.C. church that the Proud Boys attacked and vandalized in 2020 now controls the hate group’s trademark and symbol. [NYT]
• How's the Le Dip et al union drive going? Workers say the Knightsbridge and Starr restaurant groups are threatening workers in response to their organizing. [Washingtonian]
• (Anti-)Union Kitchen paid $133,000 in a settlement for illegally withholding wages. [Post]
• As D.C. leaders attempt to ban phones in school, a local teen offers a counterargument: maybe there are bigger fish to fry? [Informer]
• Local food aid organizers are concerned Trump’s deportation threats are scaring immigrant communities away from accessing the resources they need. [Axios DC]
• FYI: Mount Pleasant Library will be closed from Feb. 10 to June 23 for upgrades. [DC News Now]
• Trust the process: after a 16-game losing streak and 41 total season losses, the Wizards won their third game in a row last night. [Post]
• Beyoncé is coming to D.C. Landover, Md. this summer. [Washingtonian]
• Read this if you're struggling to make sense of this week's news. [The New Republic]

Your Civics Download

You’ll find this handy guide to public meetings at the bottom of every edition of The 51st. We’ll refine and improve along the way, so if you think we’re missing resources, please let us know!

It’s performance oversight season at the Wilson Building! This is the time of year — pre-budget season — when government agencies are called to testify before the D.C. Council’s various committees. This may seem like the typical humdrum operations of government bureaucracy, but performance oversight is one of the council’s most important responsibilities; these hearings can shape which agencies get (or don’t get) money and how they spend it. You can tune into any of these on the council’s website, and you can usually find the uploaded written testimony of the agencies that are called to testify. 

• Today is the last day to sign up to testify in Monday's D.C. Council hearing on a resolution that would expand the Rock Creek Park, East Potomac, and Langston golf courses. Current development plans include the removal of more than 1,000 trees from Rock Creek Park.
• On Saturday, Feb. 8 at 3 p.m., D.C.'s Party for Socialism and Liberation will host an ICE defense training. Residents will learn what their rights are during ICE encounters, how to identify and respond to ICE raids, and how to document ICE detainings. It'll take place at the DC Justice Center.
• Until Monday, Feb. 10, you can submit your comments on Metro's proposed fare and service changes for the Fiscal Year 2026 budget.
• On Tuesday, Feb. 11 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., the Free DC campaign is hosting an orientation. Residents will learn about the group's strategies to defend D.C. against federal interference and how they can take part. The event will be held at the Greenpeace Offices at 1300 I Street NW #1100E.

That's all she wrote. We'll see you next week. Take care.

– Colleen