Good morning. This report is a bit later than usual because I just returned home after biking around the streets of Washington, D.C. seeing whether the National Guard has fully been deployed. As of this post, the streets remain quiet. Business is proceeding as usual. I’ve seen no surge in police presence, no checkpoints, and not a single member of the National Guard on patrol.
But I will keep looking. I will keep reporting. And I will not stop. Not now. Not ever.
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With that, here’s the news:
Donald Trump took control of Washington DC’s police force, deployed the National Guard under federal authority despite the city’s 30-year-low violent crime rate, and launched a “massive law enforcement surge” that made 23 arrests, seizing illegal firearms and targeting various offenses; the move drew sharp criticism from local and national leaders as an authoritarian overreach, with DC Mayor Muriel Bowser pledging to work with federal forces while other Democratic mayors and governors warned it could be a blueprint for similar interventions in other cities.
The National Guard has arrived in Washington, D.C. with images coming from across the Capital. Meanwhile, FBI agents have been seen patrolling the Navy Yard and Georgetown communities alongside local law enforcement. This is one image taken by Reuters:
Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser escalated her criticism of President Trump’s deployment of federal agents and the National Guard, calling it an “authoritarian push” and urging residents to defend the city’s autonomy and elect a Democratic House as a check on the president; while previously pledging to cooperate with federal forces, she reaffirmed the police chief’s authority, denounced Trump’s portrayal of DC, and joined other critics in condemning the move as an overreach despite the city’s 30-year-low violent crime rate.
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced the state will draw new electoral maps after Donald Trump “missed” a key redistricting deadline, mocking the president with all-caps social media posts styled after Trump’s own, dubbing him “Taco” (“Trump always chickens out”); the move comes amid escalating redistricting battles in which Democratic leaders, including Newsom, have threatened retaliatory maps if Republican-led states like Texas proceed with partisan redistricting plans.
According to ABC News, Texas House Democrats plan to return from their quorum-breaking absence for a second special session, saying they’ve achieved their goal of blocking the first session and spotlighting Republican-led mid-decade redistricting; they aim to prioritize Hill Country flood relief, while the GOP-controlled Senate has already passed the contested new electoral map ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Ahead of his Alaska summit with Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump faces criticism for sidelining experienced Russia specialists after deep cuts to the federal workforce, leaving key diplomatic posts unfilled and negotiations led by non-experts; former officials warn that without seasoned advisers, Trump—who favors instinct and personal relationships over preparation—risks being outmaneuvered by Putin, while the administration defends its leaner structure as more efficient.
The Trump administration altered a key US State Department human rights report, toning down criticism of allied nations like El Salvador and Israel—omitting references to Gaza’s humanitarian crisis and death toll—while emphasizing alleged free speech erosion in Europe and increasing criticism of Brazil and South Africa; language on LGBTQ+ rights was largely removed compared to Biden-era reports, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was referred to as the “Russia-Ukraine war.”
Arizona Representative Yassamin Ansari described “sickening” and “worse than prison” conditions during a visit to an ICE detention facility housing immigrants targeted in Trump’s mass deportation campaign—overcrowded, moldy cells with unreliable food, water, and medical care—and was later denied re-entry; similar blockages have faced other Democratic lawmakers nationwide, who report “filthy” and “inhumane” conditions, prompting accusations from Congresswoman LaMonica McIver that the administration is trying to intimidate oversight efforts, with detainee protests over hunger and overcrowding underscoring the crisis.
A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to restore part of the $584 million in federal grants it had frozen for UCLA, ruling the suspension violated a June injunction protecting University of California system funding; the freeze, tied to allegations of antisemitism during pro-Palestinian protests, comes as Trump threatens cuts to universities over Gaza-related demonstrations, while UCLA warns a proposed $1 billion settlement from the administration would “devastate” the institution.
A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to immediately improve conditions at a New York City immigration holding facility following mounting detainee complaints of overcrowded, unsanitary, and inhumane cells.
Fears of ICE raids amid Trump’s immigration crackdown have led rural communities, including Harrisonburg, Virginia, to cancel Latino and international cultural festivals—such as Harrisonburg’s annual Hispanic Festival—despite no confirmed targeting, with organizers citing a climate of fear that undermines the events’ purpose of providing safe, celebratory spaces for immigrant communities.
A glacial outburst from Alaska’s Suicide Basin is causing the Mendenhall River in Juneau to rise toward potentially record-breaking levels for the third August in a row, prompting evacuation orders for residents in flood zones; officials warn the life-threatening flooding—driven by climate change and accelerating glacier melt—could surpass last year’s destructive event, with barriers in place but hazards including fast-moving water and debris like large trees.
Good news:
Scientists have identified a Vibrio bacteria strain (FHCF-3) as the cause of a wasting disease that has devastated Pacific sea star populations from Washington to Baja, likely fueled by warming ocean temperatures; recovery efforts now include breeding programs for sunflower stars, public education, and routine pathogen screening to restore their critical role in controlling sea urchin populations and maintaining marine ecosystem balance.
After battling a rare bone disorder and receiving a bone marrow transplant, 12-year-old Jase Garland fulfilled his Make-A-Wish dream of becoming quarterback for the Carolina Panthers, suiting up, meeting players and coaches, and scoring a touchdown during Fan Fest—an inspiring moment that symbolized his triumph over adversity.
After a month-long escape, a Hermann’s tortoise named Matilda was found three miles from her Leicestershire home—having scaled a zucchini plant to get out, crossed fences, roads, and a stream—before being spotted by passersby and reunited with her relieved owner, who called her survival and return a “miracle.”
