Residents want answers about MPD and ICE

Hi everyone,

We've got lots of local politics on the agenda today. Weeks after the end of the president's "crime emergency" declaration, D.C. police still seem to be helping federal agents arrest and deport immigrants. The nature and extent of their cooperation remains unclear, and activists say the D.C. Council isn't doing enough to get to the bottom of it.

In other political news: The National Guard could be here until next summer; Congress really exacerbated D.C.'s budget woes; and, and, after a bunch of back and forth, the D.C. Council did roll back TOPA protections for small properties.

In non-political news: What exactly is going on with Waymo?

Also, in case you hadn't heard, Congress is considering a sweeping package of bills that would repeal some of the District's most progressive criminal justice laws. Robert Barton, a returning citizen and co-founder of More Than Our Crimes, wrote about his experiences lobbying against the package on Capitol Hill.

Per usual, we've also got your weekend events and a list of ways to get involved in your community.

And don't forget! Our one-year birthday party is TODAY at Kbird DC from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. The event is sold out, but you can join the waitlist here!

– Natalie

Questions remain about MPD’s work with ICE. Activists want lawmakers to step in 

Activists say the D.C. Council should publicly question MPD about cooperation on immigration enforcement.

Wilson Building Bulletin: The National Guard may be here a long while

Also: Congress makes D.C. spend money it didn't have to, and the D.C. Council exempts small properties from a longstanding tenant right.

What's happening with self-driving cars in D.C.?

Waymo says it could operate here in 2026, but the law isn’t ready for it yet.

Opinion: What I learned about democracy walking the halls of Congress

"In the seven short months since my release from prison," Robert Barton writes, "I had gone from being among the dregs of society to getting an audience with the people who make this country's laws."

13 things to do around D.C. this weekend

Get into the spooky spirit this weekend with horror films, witchy dance parties, and Halloween adventures for all ages.

Politics and pumpkins: Your weekly Civics Roundup

How you can get involved this week: Two Halloween party mutual aid fundraisers, a training for federal employees on organizing their workplaces, opportunities to testify to the D.C. Council, and a day-long teach-in on the value of historic preservation.

We recently published a story about the volunteers restoring D.C.’s green spaces by removing invasive vines from the region's trees. Are there any other worthy volunteer opportunities that we should highlight in our reporting?

Here's some news you may have missed this week:

• A clear look at all the food aid that never arrived after it was canceled by the Trump administration. [ProPublica]
• The Washington Post is bleeding top talent, and it's sinking morale. [Status]
• An independent newsroom is suing MPD for body camera footage depicting the day officers allowed a DOGE takeover at the U.S. Institute of Peace. [The Handbasket]
• A D.C. woman successfully sued her neighbor for smoking weed in his own home. [Daily Beast]
• How Medicaid cuts could affect this local day program for disabled adults. [WAMU]
• Workers are unionizing at four local music venues, including the 9:30 Club. [The Post]
• Mount Pleasant's Scooby Doo Mansion is a group house and an arts hub. But its five tenants have to move out after the owner put the house up for sale. [The Post]
• Goodbye to the East Wing, apparently? [Politico]

That's all from us!

Natalie