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Today’s newsletter is 999 words — a 4-minute read.

Washington is renewing discussions about launching a ferry commuter service.

Why it matters: There have long been talks about running ferries on the Potomac and Anacostia, but concerns like costs and feasibility previously waylaid plans.

• But now the idea could finally be gaining traction, thanks to a new type of boat service that's cheaper, more sustainable and faster.

⛴️ Driving the news: Officials last week presented an early feasibility study envisioning a commuter service using hydrofoil ferries.

• These are small electric boats with underwater wings that lift the hull above the water's surface, reducing wake — which could allow them to travel faster on the local rivers' no-wake zones, says Emeka Moneme, president of the Navy Yard Business Improvement District, which conducted the study in partnership with the Southwest Business Improvement District.
• Potential stops include Georgetown, Buzzard Point, Navy Yard, Old Town and National Harbor.

What they're saying: A hydrofoil ferry line would be a natural extension of all the development that's transformed D.C.'s waterfront over the past two decades, Moneme tells Axios.

• "This project takes it to the next level," he says, making the waterway a place you "can live on" and "move on."
• Plus, it's an enjoyable way to commute, especially east to west across the city, he says, likening it to the Acela, but on water.

Zoom in: The goal would be to make this cheaper and faster than the existing water taxis from Alexandria, and to price this competitively with other transit options like Metro, Moneme says.

• A trip from Georgetown to the Wharf to Navy Yard takes about 45 minutes when a boat's speed is limited by wake restrictions, he says.
• That trip would take about 24 minutes with a hydrofoil.

📍 Other stops being floated include Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Poplar Point and National Landing/DCA.

• "We've been fielding a lot of calls and interest from jurisdictions that want to be included," says Moneme.

Reality check: All of this is hypothetical. There's more for the group to study, with next steps being focused on cost and funding, Moneme says.

• Still to be determined are what the actual details — like ferry route, ticket cost and infrastructure build-out — would look like.

What we're watching: The group wants to see how the ferries would actually work in the area by eventually launching a pilot, possibly at the District stops, Moneme says.

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More than 12.6 million Americans have already cast ballots in the midterm elections, according to the University of Florida Election Lab's tracker — and Virginia is among the nation's early-voting leaders.

Why it matters: Early turnout offers a first glimpse of voter engagement in the final weeks of campaigns, with control of Congress at stake.

By the numbers: Georgia and Virginia lead reporting states in early turnout as a share of all ballots cast in the 2022 midterms.

• Virginia: 770,916 ballots cast as of Oct. 20 — more than 25% of its 2022 turnout.
• Maryland: 218,469 ballots, or nearly 11% of 2022 turnout.
• D.C.: 23,696 ballots, or more than 11% of 2022 turnout.

Context: Virginia has a major head start. Early in-person voting began Sept. 18, while Maryland's starts today and D.C.'s on Monday.

Yes, but: Early voting isn't a crystal ball. States have different voting schedules and reporting practices, and early voters tend to be more politically engaged — making the numbers an unreliable predictor of Election Day results.

What's next: Early in-person voting runs through Oct. 29 in Maryland, Oct. 31 in Virginia and Nov. 1 in D.C.

• Election Day is Nov. 3.

President Trump is pushing aides to evict the press from the White House and has talked about replacing the briefing room with an indoor swimming pool, The New York Times' Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan write.

• Trump pitched the idea to former Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt in one of her final meetings with him in the Oval Office, telling her it'd be her "last legacy."

Trump has "told aides he would prefer to bring back the indoor pool President Franklin D. Roosevelt added in 1933 as therapy for his polio-afflicted legs; President Richard Nixon later covered it over to make room for the news media," the Times writes.

Zoom in: Aides have floated relocating press to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building — which Trump wants painted white, so the building can look more like the White House.

• Keep reading (gift link).

🏗️ The developer of D.C.'s Reservoir District — aka the old McMillan Sand Filtration site — wants to adjust its plans, nixing a previously planned healthcare facility for a new anchor. (UrbanTurf)

🖼️ Some donors of artwork to the Kennedy Center want to relocate their pieces, concerned about the turmoil roiling the center. "I want to get that sculpture out of there," one donor told CNN. They want answers about how their artwork will remain safe. (CNN)

Sit, Kennedy! D.C. pet owners are getting political with their furry friends' names, according to Rover's new 2026 Top Pet Names & Trends report.

• Other trending names include Hamilton, Eleanor (Roosevelt or Holmes Norton, take your pick) and — throwback! — Ike, for the Eisenhowerheads out there.

🐱 Driving the meows: Mimi is D.C.'s fastest-rising cat name, up a whopping 611% from last year, followed by Reggie and Raven.

• For dogs, Louis leads the pack, followed by Rex and Raven.

The big picture: Luna still reigns supreme as the most popular name for both dogs and cats.

🐶 The intrigue: Neighborhood names are trending too, including Morgan and Navy — maybe thank all the single women for that one.

🐕‍🦺 Anna is hanging with her D.C. pup, Juan Soto (who some people mistake for "Sotomayor").

🐶 Mimi is hanging with her pup, Ziggy, named after Ziggy Stardust, who some people mistake for being named after Ziggy Marley.

🎬 Cuneyt is watching "The Social Reckoning."

This newsletter was edited by Cuneyt Dil and Alexa Mencia Orozco.