#capitol-hill

#capitol-hill

When you go to your friend's house, do you steal shot glasses?How about wall art or an expensive bottle of booze?Hopefully not, but for whatever reason, people feel comfortable taking these sorts of items from D.C. dives to high-end restaurants.The seemingly benign (and frequently alcohol-induced) practice can be pretty serious to many restaurants in the long run - setting them back tens of thousands of dollars or more.

Rep. Kevin Hern speaks at a press conference on vaccine mandates for businesses with House Republicans on Capitol Hill on November 18, 2021, in Washington, D.C.Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images A panel comprised of three-quarters of the House Republican caucus released a budget proposal on Wednesday that would raise the Social Security retirement age - cutting benefits across the board-while further privatizing Medicare and slashing taxes for the rich, a plan that Democratic lawmakers and progressive advocacy groups said is a clear statement of the GOP's warped priorities ahead of a critical spending fight this fall.

The suspended FBI agent had allegedly been leaking sensitive information to far right propaganda group Project Veritas.Suspended FBI special agent Garret O'Boyle waits for the beginning of a hearing before the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government of the House Judiciary Committee at Rayburn House Office Building on May 18, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Alex Wong / Getty Images A key Republican witness in a recent House subcommittee hearing may have lied to Congress about his ties to far right propaganda group Project Veritas in a recent testimony dubiously accusing the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of being biased against the right, potentially constituting a breach of federal law, Democrats are saying.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (left) and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley arrive to a hearing with the Senate Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill on March 28, 2023, in Washington, D.C.Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images Following weeks of acrimonious debate in Congress, President Joe Biden signed into law on Friday a bill that suspends the debt ceiling until 2025.

CNN gifted Trump over an hour to tell lies to the American public on Wednesday night.Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (R) speaks to members of the press during a break of a hearing before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee at Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on February 8, 2023 in Washington, D.C.Alex Wong / Getty Images Following a CNN town hall with Donald Trump on Wednesday night during which the former president peddled dangerous lies on nationally-broadcasted TV for over an hour, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) condemned the network for giving a platform to Trump at all, calling the debacle a "profoundly irresponsible" move from one of the largest news networks in the U.S.
Ocasio-Cortez denounced CNN and Trump in an appearance on MSNBC after the town hall ended, emphasizing the danger that the network's decision poses to victims of sexual abuse like E. Jean Carroll and to the country itself.

President Joe Biden and top lawmakers agreed on Tuesday to further talks aimed at breaking a deadlock over raising the $31.4tnUS debt limit, with just three weeks before the country could be forced into an unprecedented default.After about an hour of talks in the Oval Office, Biden, a Democrat, and House of Representatives speaker Kevin McCarthy, a Republican, deputized their aides to hold daily discussions about areas of possible agreement as a default looms as soon as 1 June.

"There is no rational reason, other than greed, for Medicare to pay twice as much" for drugs, Sanders said.Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on May 4, 2023.JIM WATSON / AFP via Getty Images On Thursday, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) introduced a bill aimed at cutting the price of prescription drugs under Medicare in half in one of a series of actions that the senator is taking on drug prices.

Best "Kidult" Trend
Boozy Mini-Golf
Given the craziness of the past few years, it's no wonder some adults have been reaching for childhood comforts-hence "kidult" trends (alcoholic juice pouches, Legos for grownups).Our favorite to roll into town: boozy mini-golf, which pairs the low-stakes game with cocktails for a welcome bit of whimsy.

If you're heading to Washington, DC, you might be wondering how to best organize your itinerary.There's a lot to do-and three days, our sample itinerary here, is hardly enough time to do it all.Still, we've featured some of the city's highlights, allowed a little leeway for a choose-your-own-adventure, and plotted the best itinerary for three days in Washington, DC.

Happy June, everyone!Let's start off the new month with great music, family fun, and delicious food.Celebrate Black Music Month at Capital Jazz Fest, or taste healthy bites at Bethesda's food festival.There's a ton of cool ways to recognize Pride Month, too.Best Things to Do This Weekend



Capital Jazz Fest.

Happy holiday weekend, everyone!Who's thrilled about the long weekend?Show your excitement with live music and camping at Delfest, or explore artist Robert Houle's new colorful retrospective at the Smithsonian.Best Things to Do This Weekend


National Memorial Day Concert.Before you head to the parade on Monday, experience an evening of grand live music at PBS's National Memorial Day Concert .

That includes Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.), a longtime Trump ally who - as of now - will only say that "I've endorsed his policies.""An official endorsement, I have not.I've been pretty clear I'd like to see someone articulate for the Republican Party what we're going to do policy-wise," added Braun, who's running for governor of his bright-red state.

"Right now, our focus is on ensuring they are receiving the care they need.... The thought that someone would take advantage of my staff's accessibility to commit an act of violence is unconscionable and devastating," Connolly added.A motive for the assault wasn't immediately clear, but members of Congress have been increasingly concerned about their safety outside of the Capitol.

The PGA Tour said Tuesday night that Jay Monahan, its commissioner, was recuperating from a medical situation and that two of its other executives would oversee the tour's day-to-day operations for the time being.The tour's four-sentence statement came one week after Monahan, 53, announced that the tour had reached a partnership deal with Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, which bankrolled the LIV Golf league that has clashed with Monahan's circuit for more than a year.

NEW: White House spokesman Jay Carney denies the change is related to midterm elections Health officials want to give insurers, consumers and IT pros more time to learn from mistakes The delay won't affect 2014 coverage or sign-ups President Obama's approval rating has taken a beating over the glitches in the Affordable Care Act White House spokesman Jay Carney denied Friday that next year's midterm elections are the reason behind the administration's decision to postpone the 2014 opening date for 2015 enrollment in Obamacare from October 15 to November 15.

Happy weekend, everyone!We hope the air clears up so you can enjoy the weekend's fun outdoor music shows.If you prefer to stay inside, you can visit the new Capital Jewish Museum, or get tickets to Hadestown the musical.Best Things to Do This Weekend
June 8-11



Capital Jewish Museum opening.Get a first look at DC's newest cultural attraction: the Capital Jewish Museum.

Happy Monday, everyone!Grab a lawn chair and enjoy live music outdoors at the summer's first Jazz in the Parks, or attend one-or all-of Capital Pride's beloved festivities.Best Things to Do This Week



Capital Pride Parade and Festival.The Capital Pride Parade will take to the streets in support of the LGBTQ+ community and its allies beginning at the intersection of 14th Street NW and T Street NW.

Happy Monday, everyone!AAPI Cocktail Week is making a local debut with Asian sips and a drink-making competition.Plus, you can snag tickets to see popular DC rock band The Walkmen at one of their homecoming shows.Best Things to Do This Week



National Memorial Day Parade.Honor the sacrifice of America's soldiers and service members at the National Memorial Day Parade.

Happy Monday, everyone!Eat delicious, healthy bites during DC Veg Restaurant Week, or shop new spring plants in celebration of DC Plant Week.If you're looking for something to do besides greenery fun, then see Rare Essence vibe out at the National Gallery of Art.Best Things to Do This Week


AAPI Heritage Month Celebration.

Binance Co-Founder and CEO Changpeng Zhao, widely known as CZ, speaks during a press conference at the Europe's largest tech conference, the Web Summit, in Lisbon on Nov. 2, 2022.The SEC sued Binance and CZ on Monday, saying the company misled customers among other charges.Patricia De Melo Moreira/AFP via Getty Images U.S. regulators are targeting more giants in the world of crypto.

We look at the largely forgotten 1937 Memorial Day Massacre, when police in Chicago shot at and gassed a peaceful gathering of striking steelworkers and their supporters, killing 10 people, most of them shot in the back.It was a time like today, when unions were growing stronger.The workers were on strike against Republic Steel, and the police attacked them with weapons supplied by the company.

WASHINGTON Republicans in Congress on Tuesday escalated their attacks against Alejandro N. Mayorkas, the homeland security secretary whom House leaders have vowed to impeach, accusing him of bearing personal responsibility for the drug deaths of Americans and the rapes of migrant children, and repeatedly calling on him to step down.

Alabama will have to redraw its maps to allocate one additional majority-Black district.The Supreme Court of the United States on Capitol Hill, photographed on February 21, 2023, in Washington, D.C. Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images In a decision that surprised legal experts across the country, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 on Thursday against congressional maps drawn in Alabama, asserting that they were the product of racist gerrymandering.

Why is Washington the perfect place to host a historical- board-game conference?Just ask Kevin Bertram, owner of Fort Circle Games: "You know, DC has the highest concentration of nerds in this country, so . . . ." Actually, the answer is more prosaic.Bertram is the organizer of the event-held for the first time this year-and Fort Circle is based in the District.

The Supreme Court is looking less like a bench and more like an auction house, said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.Virginia Thomas, conservative activist and wife of Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, leaves a closed-door meeting on Capitol Hill on September 29, 2022, in Washington, D.C. Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and his wife Ginni Thomas are under fresh scrutiny as yet another revelation, this one reported by the Washington Post on Thursday evening shows Ginni received tens of thousands of dollars in off-the-book compensation from a powerful right-wing nonprofit shortly before the group "soon would have an interest before the court" - a pivotal voting rights case.

Activists hold signs calling on Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to resign, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on April 19, 2023.STEFANI REYNOLDS / AFP via Getty Images A report published Monday highlights potential connections between the political influence of Harlan Crow's family and the billionaire GOP megadonor's yearslong endeavor to shower U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas with lavish vacations and other undisclosed gifts.

The fundraising is a "shocking display of audacity by the spouse of a sitting Supreme Court justice," one observer said.Virginia "Ginni" Thomas, wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, walks during a break as she speaks behind closed doors with investigators on the Jan. 6 Select Committee in the Thomas P. O'Neill Jr. House Office Building on Capitol Hill on September 29, 2022, in Washington, D.C.Jabin Botsford / The Washington Post via Getty Images A group once led by far right activist Ginni Thomas, spouse of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, received nearly $600,000 in anonymous donations to oppose progressive cultural causes, a new report from The Washington Post details.

The Treasury Department is steadily draining the funds it has to pay the nation's bills during the debt ceiling impasse.Treasury had $57.3 billion in cash on hand as of Thursday, according to federal data.The amount bounces around as the agency takes in revenue and makes payments, but the balance has declined from $238.5 billion at the start of the month, when the coffers were relatively flush from tax collections in April.

The White House says it is not currently planning to ask Congress for new Ukraine funding before the end of the fiscal year at the end of September, pitting administration officials against some lawmakers and congressional staffers who are concerned that the funds could run out by mid-summer.Thanks to the bipartisan Congressional support for Ukraine, we believe we have the resources we need through the end of this fiscal year, a White House spokesperson told CNN.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and FBI Director Christopher Wray will each testify before the House Judiciary Committee in separate hearings next month, a source familiar with the plans told CNN.Wray is expected to testify in mid-July, and Mayorkas is expected to testify the last week of July.

Former Vice President Mike Pence on Monday filed the paperwork for his bid for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, setting up a clash with his running mate of elections past, former President Donald Trump.Pence is set to formally announce his candidacy on Wednesday ahead of a CNN presidential town hall that evening.

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Stewart Rhodes, the leader of the far-right Oath Keepers militia, was sentenced on Thursday to 18 years in prison for his conviction on seditious conspiracy charges for the role he played in helping to mobilize the pro-Trump attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.The sentence, handed down in Federal District Court in Washington, was the most severe penalty so far in any of the more than 1,000 criminal cases stemming from the Capitol attack and the first to be increased for fitting the legal definition of terrorism.

Looking to find breakfast carbs and bottomless mimosas on Memorial Day?These restaurants are serving brunch Monday, May 29.1320 19th St., NW
The Dupont Levantine restaurant will offer a boozy three-course brunch with bottomless mimosas.Options include a lamb burger; buckwheat pancakes with apricot compote; and zalabia-fried dough with cinnamon and cherry preserves.

Here's a look at the life of former US Congressman Charles Rangel, who represented New York from 1971 to 2017.Birth date: June 11, 1930 Birth place: New York, New York (Harlem) Birth name: Charles Bernard Rangel Father: Ralph Rangel Sr. Mother: Blanche (Wharton) Rangel Marriage: Alma (Carter) Rangel (July 26, 1964-present) Children: Steven and Alicia Education: New York University, B.S., 1957; St. John's University, J.D., 1960 Military service: US Army, 1948-1952 Religion: Roman Catholic 1948-1952 - Serves in the US Army.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speaks before a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law hearing on artificial intelligence, on May 16, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington.Patrick Semansky (AP) The head of the artificial intelligence company that makes ChatGPT told Congress on Tuesday that government intervention will be critical to mitigating the risks of increasingly powerful AI systems.

Check out these DC-area homes for sale this week:
1
A one-bedroom condo in Mount Vernon Triangle
Price: $425,000Where: 400 Massachusetts Ave., NW, #1210
This one-bedroom, one-bathroom condo features new kitchen appliances and hardwood flooring throughout the open-concept space.The building offers a rooftop pool, fitness center, and an onsite parking garage.

Happy Thursday, everyone!Take a moment to delight in the beautiful weekend weather at a PorchFest concert performance, or view a cultural parade and sample tasty bites at the Fiesta Asia Street Fair.Best Things to Do This Weekend
Want More Things to Do?
Budget-friendly.Adults only are invited to this fun library gaming night (every third Thursday, free, Woodbridge).

Now Open
The owners of the Tex-Mex institutions Cactus Cantina and Lauriol Plaza are branching out with an American hangout in Adams Morgan.On brand, the indoor/outdoor place is huge and caters to groups with a crowd-pleasing menu (pizzas, steaks, salads) plus wallet-­friendly drinks like frozen Negronis and, yes, margaritas.

Happy Monday, everyone!There's a ton of fun things to do around town this week.You can have a family jump session in a giant bounce house, or see Signature Theater's rendition of Sweeney Todd.Best Things to Do This Week


Big Bounce House.Big Bounce America's touring "world's biggest bounce house " arrives in Maryland this weekend.

The day after Representative George Santos was charged with wire fraud and money laundering as part of a 13-count federal indictment, he was free to go back to work as a freshman Republican congressman from Long Island.Mr. Santos, who pleaded not guilty, can still vote in the House, and he can still raise money to run for re-election.

WASHINGTON As he strode into a bar packed with margarita-sipping young Republicans here the other night, Representative George Santos of New York looked like a man who had finally gotten what he had always wanted.Nevermind the conspicuous giggling or an introducer's reference to bipartisan condemnation that he has inspired.

Deontré Hancock and Darel Dawson are making news.Deontré Hancock
The news: Hancock, who grew up on Capitol Hill and has a clothing brand called Hoodlvm, showcased his style on the latest season of the Netflix design competition Next in Fashion.He made it to the final but didn't win."I rep my city to the fullest," he says.

Wondering how to get someone on Washingtonian's annual 500 Most Influential People in Policy list?Here are answers to frequently asked questions:
Can I nominate someone?The 500 Most Influential People in Policy list is an editorial project, done by a reporter who interviews people throughout DC to determine the most important and influential people in policy work at that time.

Want to celebrate Mom this year with a beautiful bouquet of flowers?These DC-area florists are all offering special bouquets, as well as in-store pickup or delivery.1550 Harry Thomas Way, NE, Suite 180; 721 8th St., SE
With locations in Eckington and Capitol Hill, She Loves Me offers a Mother's Day bouquet with lavender and bright orange flowers, available for pickup or delivery on Friday, May 12, Saturday, May 13, and Sunday, May 14.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, during a Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing on Sept. 29, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Mariam Zuhaib/AP Every month, Renee Hoolan sends her son, Bailey Sanders, $75.He's been incarcerated for the last 6 years, so he uses that money for things like over-the-counter medications, shoes for his job or minutes on the phone.

Happy weekend, everyone!Close out the month of March with some springtime fun and take a tour of the historic White House gardens, or jam to live music outdoors at one of the area's cherry blossom-inspired parties.Best Things to Do This Weekend

The National Capital New Play Festival.Get an inside look at new theatrical works through play readings, panel discussions, and live productions at the Round House Theatre's National Capital New Play Festival .

One researcher called the SVB bailout "a good illustration of the enormous class bias in American policymaking."Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Chairman Martin Gruenberg during a hearing before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee on September 9, 2014, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.Alex Wong / Getty Images In prepared testimony for a Senate Banking Committee hearing slated for Tuesday morning, the chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation reveals that the 10 largest deposit accounts at Silicon Valley Bank held a combined $13.3 billion, a detail that's likely to intensify criticism of federal regulators' intervention in the firm's recent collapse.

The patent community often treats the Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) as the person responsible for setting and changing an administration's patent policy.On this episode of the Clause 8 podcast, former USPTO Commissioner for Patents, Robert Stoll, says that's a mistake.