D.C. Mayor Blasts Donald Trump and the Supreme Court is Asked to Reverse Same Sex Marriage
D.C. Mayor is blasting Donald Trump, the National Guard is not yet deployed as I walk the streets of D.C., the Supreme Court is asked to reverse same sex marriage protections, and much more.
I’ve been on the ground in Washington, D.C. all day, and so far, it’s business as usual. No visible increase in police presence. No sign of the National Guard—at least, not yet. People are out enjoying my favorite city in the world, moving through their day as if nothing’s on the horizon.
But quiet streets can change in a heartbeat. Just because we haven’t seen a shift yet doesn’t mean it’s not coming. When it does, I’ll be here—bringing you relentless, real-time coverage from the heart of the action.
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With that, here’s the news:
Donald Trump’s Takeover of D.C.:
Donald Trump announced a federal takeover of the DC Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the deployment of 800 National Guard troops to assist local law enforcement, declaring crime in the city a “public safety emergency.” Invoking a section of the DC Home Rule Act, the move places MPD under federal control for an expected 30 days, according to the White House.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser called today’s federal action “unsettling and unprecedented,” though “not totally surprising” given past rhetoric. Said her office will follow the law and cooperate with the federal government per the DC Home Rule Act, which requires the mayor to provide police services during a declared emergency—while questioning the subjectivity of such declarations in light of falling violent crime rates.
Bowser further said: "I think I speak for all Americans -- we don't believe it's legal to use the American military against American citizens on American soil."
She has requested a meeting with Attorney General Pam Bondi, who will temporarily oversee the Metropolitan Police Department, and emphasized that all officers should be clearly identifiable with a uniform, badge, and jacket.
CNN reports that National Guard troops deployed to the nation’s capital by the Trump administration are not expected to openly carry rifles. An Army official said weapons will likely be kept nearby, such as inside trucks, for self-defense if needed, though troops could be ordered to operate differently at any time.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned the president’s plan to federalize the DC police department and deploy the National Guard, calling it baseless in law and dangerous to the capital’s residents. He noted that violent crime in DC is at a 30-year low, accused Trump of disregarding public safety, and pointed out that on his first day in office, Trump pardoned hundreds of violent felons, including many who assaulted officers on January 6. Jeffries labeled the move an illegitimate power grab and expressed solidarity with DC residents.
All the other news:
Former Kentucky clerk Kim Davis, jailed in 2015 for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, has petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, calling the ruling “egregiously wrong” and arguing her First Amendment religious rights shield her from liability in a damages case. Lower courts have rejected her claims, and legal experts see the appeal as a long shot, but it marks the first formal bid since 2015 to reverse the landmark decision. The court will consider the petition this fall amid renewed conservative efforts in several states to roll back same-sex marriage rights.
Trump previewed his upcoming Friday meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska, saying he would know “probably in the first two minutes” whether a peace deal is possible. He confirmed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would not attend the summit but would receive a call immediately if a “fair deal” for a ceasefire emerged. Trump also left open the possibility of a future trade relationship with Russia.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has invited Donald Trump to join emergency virtual talks with EU leaders and Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday, as pressure mounts for the US president to set clear red lines ahead of his Friday summit in Alaska with Vladimir Putin—a meeting to which neither Zelenskyy nor European leaders have been invited. Merz’s office said the talks will address options to increase pressure on Russia and preparations for possible peace negotiations, including territorial claims and security issues. It remains unclear whether Trump has accepted the invitation.
Amid the ongoing US redistricting battles, California Governor Gavin Newsom warned in a letter to Trump that he would be “forced to lead an effort to redraw the maps in California to offset the rigging of maps in red states” if the president cannot persuade Texas Governor Greg Abbott to drop his mid-decade congressional map changes.
Gavin Newsom initially attempted to work cordially with MAGA leaders, but turned sharply against the Trump administration after the president deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles in June to quell immigration protests following ICE raids.
Since then, Newsom has used social media to taunt, fact-check, and warn against the administration. After Trump’s Monday announcement activating the National Guard in D.C. and taking control of Washington’s police department, Newsom’s team warned that other cities could be next—reminding followers he had predicted this back in June.
An explosion at the US Steel Clairton Coke Works plant in Pennsylvania killed at least one person, left two unaccounted for, and injured several others, prompting a search-and-rescue operation. The blast, described by witnesses as sounding “like thunder,” occurred around 10:51 a.m. and caused a fire at the facility, the largest coking operation in North America.
Governor Josh Shapiro and Senator John Fetterman expressed condolences and pledged support for steelworkers, while environmental group The Breathe Project warned of likely hazardous air emissions. This is the plant’s third major incident in 2025, following a February stack explosion and a June pollution control malfunction. The 120-year-old facility has a history of safety, pollution, and legal issues, including an $8.5 million settlement in 2019 to reduce emissions.
Elon Musk’s Grok was suspended for a period of time on Twitter today:
At least four people were injured in a shooting near a Target in Austin, Texas, on Monday. The suspect, described as a white male wearing khaki shorts and a Hawaiian or floral shirt, remains at large, according to Austin police. The victims’ conditions were not immediately known, and the incident is still developing.
A JAMA study found Aid Access shipped nearly 120,000 abortion pill packs between July 2023 and August 2024, almost 100,000 to people in states banning abortion or mailing the pills. US abortions rose to 1.14 million in 2024—driven by medication and telehealth—with higher provision rates in poorer, rural, and ban states. Aid Access relies on untested “shield laws,” now at the center of legal battles likely headed to the US Supreme Court.
