Martin Austermuhle
@maustermuhle.bsky.social
Wandering reporter with @51st.news, Switzerland and D.C. Formerly of WAMU 88.5 and DCist.
Interesting: D.C.'s Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration says the number of applications for medical cannabis cards more than *tripled* from July 2024 (2,130) to June 2025 (7,181). That generally aligns with the big increase in dispensaries in the city.
November 21, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Interesting: D.C.'s Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration says the number of applications for medical cannabis cards more than *tripled* from July 2024 (2,130) to June 2025 (7,181). That generally aligns with the big increase in dispensaries in the city.
In a statement, @dcattorneygeneral.bsky.social calls Trump's use of the National Guard in D.C. "unprecedented federal overreach." He urges Trump to send the troops home.
November 20, 2025 at 9:15 PM
In a statement, @dcattorneygeneral.bsky.social calls Trump's use of the National Guard in D.C. "unprecedented federal overreach." He urges Trump to send the troops home.
NEWS: A federal judge has ruled that President Trump's deployment of the D.C. National Guard and Guardsmen from other states to fight crime in D.C. is unlawful. The ruling is a win for D.C., but the judge stayed it for 21 days to allow the Trump administration to appeal. oag.dc.gov/sites/defaul...
November 20, 2025 at 9:13 PM
NEWS: A federal judge has ruled that President Trump's deployment of the D.C. National Guard and Guardsmen from other states to fight crime in D.C. is unlawful. The ruling is a win for D.C., but the judge stayed it for 21 days to allow the Trump administration to appeal. oag.dc.gov/sites/defaul...
The other Republican bill would reinstate cash bail in D.C., which was eliminated some three decades ago. A new report from @tzedekdc.bsky.social says that bringing back cash bail wouldn't make D.C. residents safer: www.tzedekdc.org/news-1/2025/...
November 17, 2025 at 6:41 PM
The other Republican bill would reinstate cash bail in D.C., which was eliminated some three decades ago. A new report from @tzedekdc.bsky.social says that bringing back cash bail wouldn't make D.C. residents safer: www.tzedekdc.org/news-1/2025/...
Repealing the law would also erase new hiring standards for MPD, which now prohibit the department from hiring anyone who committed serious misconduct at another police agency or additional reasons listed below.
November 17, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Repealing the law would also erase new hiring standards for MPD, which now prohibit the department from hiring anyone who committed serious misconduct at another police agency or additional reasons listed below.
There have also been 75 civil ceremonies in the Wilson Building completed or scheduled since early October, again since the court's Marriage Bureau was closed to couples. @cmchenderson.bsky.social conducted one ceremony herself.
November 17, 2025 at 5:40 PM
There have also been 75 civil ceremonies in the Wilson Building completed or scheduled since early October, again since the court's Marriage Bureau was closed to couples. @cmchenderson.bsky.social conducted one ceremony herself.
Pinto's proposal for new teen centers follows complaints from some youth that existing rec centers don't offer interesting programs and aren't open very late. Below is what she envisions these centers offering. Unless existing rec centers are repurposed, this would cost money.
November 17, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Pinto's proposal for new teen centers follows complaints from some youth that existing rec centers don't offer interesting programs and aren't open very late. Below is what she envisions these centers offering. Unless existing rec centers are repurposed, this would cost money.
Interesting: After authoring a bill that expanded pre-trial detention in D.C. and pushing for the expanded youth curfew, Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto has now unveiled package of 23 bills (called Prosper D.C.) focused on economic opportunities for residents. All the bills are below.
November 17, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Interesting: After authoring a bill that expanded pre-trial detention in D.C. and pushing for the expanded youth curfew, Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto has now unveiled package of 23 bills (called Prosper D.C.) focused on economic opportunities for residents. All the bills are below.
THE WASHINGTON SPIRIT ARE GOING TO THE FINALS!
November 15, 2025 at 7:11 PM
THE WASHINGTON SPIRIT ARE GOING TO THE FINALS!
MPD has released a more detailed narrative on the traffic stop/car chase along Benning Road NE yesterday afternoon where a federal agent shot their gun. It's still unclear here when and where the agent used their gun, though. (There were no injuries from it.)
November 14, 2025 at 8:26 PM
MPD has released a more detailed narrative on the traffic stop/car chase along Benning Road NE yesterday afternoon where a federal agent shot their gun. It's still unclear here when and where the agent used their gun, though. (There were no injuries from it.)
Some news: The Washington Commanders have chosen an architect for the new $2.7 billion stadium the team will be building at RFK. (D.C. is kicking in $1 billion to prepare the site.) The choice: HKS, which worked on SoFi Stadium in California.
November 13, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Some news: The Washington Commanders have chosen an architect for the new $2.7 billion stadium the team will be building at RFK. (D.C. is kicking in $1 billion to prepare the site.) The choice: HKS, which worked on SoFi Stadium in California.
Interesting: D.C. has placed two speed-sensing cameras along the Metropolitan Bike Trail that show a smiley face if you’re riding under 15 mph or a frown if you’re above. City officials say it’s to encourage safer riding, but they are also collecting speed data from cyclists.
November 12, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Interesting: D.C. has placed two speed-sensing cameras along the Metropolitan Bike Trail that show a smiley face if you’re riding under 15 mph or a frown if you’re above. City officials say it’s to encourage safer riding, but they are also collecting speed data from cyclists.
Never thought I would live to see the day the Metropolitan Branch Trail stretch from Fort Totten to Takoma along Blair Road NW opened, but here we are!
November 12, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Never thought I would live to see the day the Metropolitan Branch Trail stretch from Fort Totten to Takoma along Blair Road NW opened, but here we are!
Here's more details on the proposed D.C. ballot initiative that would freeze rents across the city for two years. The proposer is Ward 8 ANC @salimadofo.bsky.social, and the organization behind it includes @aeidinger.bsky.social, who has been involved in lots of initiatives over the last 10 years.
November 10, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Here's more details on the proposed D.C. ballot initiative that would freeze rents across the city for two years. The proposer is Ward 8 ANC @salimadofo.bsky.social, and the organization behind it includes @aeidinger.bsky.social, who has been involved in lots of initiatives over the last 10 years.
BIG: @dcattorneygeneral.bsky.social says that the former owner of the rent-controlled Marbury Plaza in Ward 8 will pay tenants and the city $41 million for years of problems with housing conditions. Almost $30 million of that will go to repay tenants for 75% of rent they paid from 2017 to 2024.
November 10, 2025 at 1:43 PM
BIG: @dcattorneygeneral.bsky.social says that the former owner of the rent-controlled Marbury Plaza in Ward 8 will pay tenants and the city $41 million for years of problems with housing conditions. Almost $30 million of that will go to repay tenants for 75% of rent they paid from 2017 to 2024.
There is also this critical question: If Qatar was somehow bribing Bowser with the trip, what was it getting in return? Qatar did invest in D.C.'s City Center development, but that was before Bowser became mayor. www.washingtonpost.com/local/qatar-...
November 6, 2025 at 11:15 PM
There is also this critical question: If Qatar was somehow bribing Bowser with the trip, what was it getting in return? Qatar did invest in D.C.'s City Center development, but that was before Bowser became mayor. www.washingtonpost.com/local/qatar-...
Here’s a statement from Bowser’s office regarding the investigation and underlying trip:
November 6, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Here’s a statement from Bowser’s office regarding the investigation and underlying trip:
Interesting: @cmcharlesallen.bsky.social has a new bill that would allow D.C. to offer three-year rent guarantees to small and local businesses so they can better compete with national chains when it comes to landing retail spaces. Allen says developers like chains since they sign long leases.
November 6, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Interesting: @cmcharlesallen.bsky.social has a new bill that would allow D.C. to offer three-year rent guarantees to small and local businesses so they can better compete with national chains when it comes to landing retail spaces. Allen says developers like chains since they sign long leases.
As @mayorbowser.dc.gov is speaking to the D.C. Democratic Party meeting in Ward 5, there’s been a few interruptions from protesters angrily criticizing her over the apparent collaboration between D.C. police and ICE. They call her “complicit.”
November 6, 2025 at 12:56 AM
As @mayorbowser.dc.gov is speaking to the D.C. Democratic Party meeting in Ward 5, there’s been a few interruptions from protesters angrily criticizing her over the apparent collaboration between D.C. police and ICE. They call her “complicit.”
Per a police source, the Felony Footlong patches (referring to Sandwich Guy Sean C. Dunn) are very real.
November 5, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Per a police source, the Felony Footlong patches (referring to Sandwich Guy Sean C. Dunn) are very real.
NEWS: D.C. activists are proposing a new ballot initiative that, if approved by voters, would impose a two-year rent freeze in the city (and again when inflation was high), impose a stricter income cap for affordable housing, and more.
November 4, 2025 at 6:12 PM
NEWS: D.C. activists are proposing a new ballot initiative that, if approved by voters, would impose a two-year rent freeze in the city (and again when inflation was high), impose a stricter income cap for affordable housing, and more.
In her own letter to the council, @mayorbowser.dc.gov urges for the extension of the expanded juvenile curfew that was used during the summer.
November 4, 2025 at 4:04 PM
In her own letter to the council, @mayorbowser.dc.gov urges for the extension of the expanded juvenile curfew that was used during the summer.
NEWS: After disturbances in Navy Yard on Friday night, @mayorbowser.dc.gov is instituting an emergency curfew of 11 p.m. for any kid under the age of 18, from tonight through November 5. She is also empowering the police to designate special zones where the curfew is 6 p.m.
November 1, 2025 at 11:06 PM
NEWS: After disturbances in Navy Yard on Friday night, @mayorbowser.dc.gov is instituting an emergency curfew of 11 p.m. for any kid under the age of 18, from tonight through November 5. She is also empowering the police to designate special zones where the curfew is 6 p.m.
Interesting: Next Tuesday the D.C. Council will take up an emergency bill from @brianneknadeau.bsky.social clarifying a provision of existing law so that the Department of For-Hire Vehicles can continue going after ride-hail service Empower's drivers. There's *lots* of backstory here.
October 31, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Interesting: Next Tuesday the D.C. Council will take up an emergency bill from @brianneknadeau.bsky.social clarifying a provision of existing law so that the Department of For-Hire Vehicles can continue going after ride-hail service Empower's drivers. There's *lots* of backstory here.
Here’s Bowser’s statement:
October 30, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Here’s Bowser’s statement: