Axios D.C.

January 10, 2024
It's a watery Wednesday.
Today's weather: Breezy and partly sunny, with a high near 50.
๐ Happy birthday to our Axios D.C. member Suzanne Gaynor!
Today's newsletter is 912 words โ a 3-minute read.
1 big thing โ Scoop: RFK bill revisions
Illustration: Aรฏda Amer/Axios
๐๐ผ It's Cuneyt, back with Town Talker โ my column on power and money.
The congressional bill that would allow D.C. to build a new football stadium at RFK is undergoing unspecified revisions, the House Oversight Committee tells Axios.
Why it matters: D.C. needs Congress to approve the bill extending RFK's lease to the city in order to build a new neighborhood over 190 acres that could potentially house a Washington Commanders stadium.
๐ฃ What I'm hearing: It's taken the House a little bit longer than expected to move the bill. The Oversight Committee last took a Sept. 20 markup vote.
- "House Oversight Committee staff are actively working on revising bill text in a bipartisan fashion in full coordination with the D.C. government," Austin Hacker, a spokesperson for the committee, said in a statement. "We remain hopeful that a path forward in the House can be found in the coming month."
- The committee, chaired by Republican Rep. James Comer, and Mayor Muriel Bowser declined to offer details of the revisions. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton's office didn't respond to an email.
The big picture: This comes as Josh Harris has begun removing the last vestiges of the Dan Snyder regime, beginning the rebuild of Washington's football franchise.
- Much rests on Harris picking the right replacements and the right location for a new stadium โ a process that, as we just witnessed with Ted Leonsis, can divide the region like no other.
Catch up fast: The 99-year lease extension would jump-start development.
- Bowser has doubled down on bringing the Commanders back to D.C, while Maryland and Virginia are also vying for the team.
๐ Between the lines: The deal has produced a group of interesting bedfellows.
- The conservative Comer is on Bowser's side in favor of an RFK deal.
- But Maryland Democrats Jamie Raskin and Kweisi Mfume โ possibly motivated by keeping the team in their state โ supported in September a provision from Republican Rep. Scott Perry to block public funds for a new sports stadium. The amendment ultimately failed.
What I'm watching: Hacker said more information would be available in the coming week or two.
2. Winter storm slams D.C.
Satellite image: NOAA
A powerful winter storm whipped through D.C. yesterday, shuttering area schools early, delaying or canceling flights, and disrupting commutes.
Why it matters: Record-setting rain and strong winds downed trees and caused some power outages across the region.
Driving the news: The storm brought more than 2.2 inches of rain to Reagan National yesterday โ a record for the date, per the Washington Post. Dulles got a record 1.75 inches.
- Washington was under a high wind warning through yesterday evening, but it was discontinued earlier than expected once the storm swiftly moved through the area, the Post reported. Overall the winds were less forceful than forecasted.
The big picture: A whopping 196 million people were under wind advisories, warnings, and watches as one in a fusillade of winter storms swept across the U.S. yesterday.
Context: D.C. is a low-lying city built on land that was once a series of creeks, marshes, and wetlands, a history that leaves it especially prone to flash flooding, particularly as climate change results in more frequent and heavier extreme precipitation events.
- It can result in dangerous outcomes like trapped motorists, damaged homes, and flooded businesses โ as seen during last year's flood at District Dogs, which resulted in the deaths of 10 pets.
- D.C.-area coastlines are also vulnerable to coastal flooding, a threat increasing with sea-level rise.
3. Trump doubles down in D.C.
Former President Trump speaks to the media at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in D.C. following his U.S. District Court appearance on Tuesday. Photo: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images
Two stunning moments at former President Trump's appeals court hearing in D.C. yesterday put on full display how bumpy this year's election could be, Axios' Mike Allen writes:
- A lawyer for Trump โ taking a legal argument to extreme lengths โ said a president couldn't be prosecuted for ordering SEAL Team 6 to assassinate a political rival unless they were first impeached and convicted.
- Trump told reporters after the hearing there "will be bedlam in the country" if the case proceeds and hurts his chances in the election.
Zoom in: With Trump in attendance, his lawyers argued he was acting in his official duty as president when he challenged the 2020 election results โย thus protecting him from criminal prosecution, Axios' Erin Doherty writes.
- A three-judge panel appeared skeptical of Trump's argument.
- James Pearce, an attorney on special counsel Jack Smith's team, said the Trump lawyer's assassination argument would lead to "an extraordinarily frightening future."
4. Around the Beltway: Hush-hush hospitalization
Photo illustration: Allie Carl/Axios. Photo: The Washington Post via Getty Images
๐ฅ Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's recent hospitalization was due to complications from a prostate cancer procedure, according to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center officials. Secrecy surrounding his hospitalization prompted days of controversy and calls for his ouster from some Republicans. (Axios)
โฝ The Washington Spirit has a new coach: 32-year-old Spaniard Jonatan Girรกldez, the current manager for Champions League winners FC Barcelona Femenรญ โ a huge get for the home team. The season starts March 16. (Washington Post)
๐ Which locals are changing D.C. for the better? Washingtonian is out with its annual list of 10 outstanding do-gooders, including Theatre Lab's Deb Gottesman, Maryland head football coach Michael Locksley, and Lucky Dog Animal Rescue founder Mirah Horowitz.
Stay booked and busy
๐ Upcoming events around the city.
Falls Church Restaurant Week begins January 19th: Designed to celebrate the city's diverse and vibrant food culture, Restaurant Week captivates over 15 different countries' food. Ten-day event; price varies.
Hosting an event? Post an event.
Looking for other events? Check out our Event Board.
5. ๐ Where's Go-Go ... revealed!
Photo: Mimi Montgomery/Axios
Little known fact: Pandas loooove breakfast tacos! Go-Go was in Pat Miller Neighborhood Square in Del Ray, hanging by the dog mural on the side of taco spot Rubia's.
- Congrats to reader Christina S., who correctly guessed Go-Go's location โ and also recommended continuing the Del Ray taco crawl at across-the-street restaurant Taqueria el Poblano.
Editor's note: Yesterday's 1 big thing included incorrect information about the Bridge District development. The project is being developed on eight acres, not 100.
๐ฅฉ Anna is making a wagyu flank steak (why not?)
โ Cuneyt is glad we avoided the worst forecasts for the rain.
๐ฎ Mimi is now thinking about tacos...
Today's newsletter was edited by Alexa Mencia and copy edited by Patricia Guadalupe.
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