👋 Hey, D.C. Mark here, excited to help pilot Axios D.C. PM.

• I've lived in the city since 2017 and spent the last decade in the sports department at The Washington Post. (Google "Washington Post layoffs" for an AI overview of why I no longer do.)
• Send me tips, story ideas and the debates taking over your group chats. You can reach me at [email protected].

📺 What's on the tube:

• Nationals at Tigers, 6:40pm, Nationals.TV/Peacock — Just six games left, starting tonight in Detroit.

Today's newsletter is 749 words, a 3-minute read.

Acceptable reactions to Jayden Daniels dislocating his left elbow during the Washington Commanders' loss Sunday to the Dallas Cowboys:

• Not again.
• "Oh s***." — Tom Brady, live on Fox.
• At least the Mystics are in the playoffs …

Why it matters: The Commanders are 0-2 and have the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks on deck. But right now, the standings feel secondary.

The big picture: Daniels' injuries are piling up. Following a rookie season that convinced Washington it finally had a franchise quarterback, injuries derailed his sophomore year. A recap of 2025:

• Week 2: Sprained knee, missed two games.
• Week 7: Hamstring injury, missed one.
• Week 9: Dislocated left elbow, missed three.
• Week 14: Aggravated the elbow injury in his return and was shut down for the season.

The latest: Daniels is undergoing more testing Monday. Coach Dan Quinn said there's no fracture and is scheduled to speak with reporters again at 3pm.

Between the lines: This region already has RG3 PTSD. The parallels with Robert Griffin III, Washington's last great hope in 2012, are hard to ignore:

• Dual-threat QB
• Heisman winner
• No. 2 draft pick
• Rookie of the year
• Potential superstar
• Then, mounting injuries.

Reality check: It's premature to say Daniels is headed down the same path. But durability questions followed Daniels into the league.

• Some analysts wondered before the draft whether his 6-foot-4, 210-pound frame could withstand NFL violence — particularly given how much of his brilliance comes from running.

Flashback: When Daniels dislocated his elbow last year, Quinn took the blame. The game was out of hand, and Daniels was still running the ball trying to score.

This time is different.

• On one hand: It was a fluke. An offensive lineman stepped on Daniels' foot and the QB awkwardly braced himself. Could have happened any time.
• On the other: Maybe Washington should have settled for a field goal. It was the final play of the half, and the Commanders came away with nothing but an injured QB.

What they're saying: "I wasn't hesitant about going into that spot," Quinn said Sunday. "I thought we were going to be aggressive into this game against their offense, so I don't regret that."

The bottom line: Blaming Quinn misses the bigger problem: How do the Commanders keep Daniels healthy without limiting him?

What we're watching: Quinn's news conference. By the time you read this, we may know how much Marcus Mariota you should expect this fall.

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✈️ D.C. air traffic is getting an AI-powered copilot. The FAA is debuting a new tool in the area that aims to predict air traffic snarls and reduce delays and cancellations. (Wall Street Journal)

🤑 Speaking of airports, forget just flying private. The real D.C. flex is getting your jet into Reagan instead of Dulles, Vanity Fair reports of Washington's new Trump-era status symbols.

• What else: Custom Rolexes, Gucci loafers and six-figure private clubs.

📺 The presidential TV pool is going dark after CNN was blocked from White House grounds. The five major TV networks that rotate responsibility for pooled video coverage of President Trump say they won't provide replacement pool coverage. (Axios)

It's the D.C. sports crossover episode we've been waiting for.

• The Spirit and the Mystics are teaming up for Capital Queens, a weeklong celebration of women's sports.

Why it matters: The playoff-bound Mystics are closing out their regular season. The Spirit are closing in on a playoff spot. Oh, and both are coming off a weekend of wins.

The intrigue: For the first time, the teams are selling tickets together. The Queens Pass will get you into the Mystics' Thursday game against the Chicago Sky at Capital One Arena and Saturday's Spirit-Angel City match at Audi Field.

• It also comes with a limited-edition hat.

Plus: Look out for more exclusive merch drops, events and fan experiences throughout the week.

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☕️ I'm about to pour my second cup of coffee.

Today's newsletter was edited by Alexa Mencia Orozco.