Mitch Ryals
@mitchryals.bsky.social
Managing editor of Washington City Paper
The jovially complicit white shirt cop in these videos appears to be Jason Bagshaw, a notorious commander with a history of aggressive tactics. He also fatally shot an armed man at the Wharf in 2022 while off duty. www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...
December 6, 2025 at 5:30 PM
The jovially complicit white shirt cop in these videos appears to be Jason Bagshaw, a notorious commander with a history of aggressive tactics. He also fatally shot an armed man at the Wharf in 2022 while off duty. www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...
Reposted by Mitch Ryals
NEW— DC Metropolitan Police just shared a tiny bit more body cam footage from the March US Institute of Peace raid in response to my FOIA lawsuit w/ @rcfp.org
One clip shows USIP President George Moose being escorted out.
Moose: You know we're gonna see you all in court.
MPD: Yea we figured that.
One clip shows USIP President George Moose being escorted out.
Moose: You know we're gonna see you all in court.
MPD: Yea we figured that.
December 5, 2025 at 10:41 PM
NEW— DC Metropolitan Police just shared a tiny bit more body cam footage from the March US Institute of Peace raid in response to my FOIA lawsuit w/ @rcfp.org
One clip shows USIP President George Moose being escorted out.
Moose: You know we're gonna see you all in court.
MPD: Yea we figured that.
One clip shows USIP President George Moose being escorted out.
Moose: You know we're gonna see you all in court.
MPD: Yea we figured that.
At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds won't run for re-election in 2026, @trsdc.bsky.social reports. Next year's campaign season is gonna be lit:
washingtoncitypaper.com/article/7754...
washingtoncitypaper.com/article/7754...
December 6, 2025 at 5:06 PM
At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds won't run for re-election in 2026, @trsdc.bsky.social reports. Next year's campaign season is gonna be lit:
washingtoncitypaper.com/article/7754...
washingtoncitypaper.com/article/7754...
It appears as if Ward 8 CM Trayon White has failed to submit required financial disclosure forms dating back to Jan. 2024. The Board of Ethics and Gov Accountability just posted the notice of violation today:
bega.dc.gov/sites/bega/f...
bega.dc.gov/sites/bega/f...
bega.dc.gov
December 5, 2025 at 12:15 AM
It appears as if Ward 8 CM Trayon White has failed to submit required financial disclosure forms dating back to Jan. 2024. The Board of Ethics and Gov Accountability just posted the notice of violation today:
bega.dc.gov/sites/bega/f...
bega.dc.gov/sites/bega/f...
Reposted by Mitch Ryals
They say never read the comments. Unless it’s three D.C. councilmembers (who are all running for higher office, two against each other) doing some debating on the merits of the expanded youth curfew on Instagram.
December 3, 2025 at 10:10 PM
They say never read the comments. Unless it’s three D.C. councilmembers (who are all running for higher office, two against each other) doing some debating on the merits of the expanded youth curfew on Instagram.
Reposted by Mitch Ryals
Zachary Parker has a notable new challenger in Ward 5: Ex-DNC delegate Bernita Carmichael.
Memorably, she led an attempted takeover of the Ward 5 Democrats' leadership a few years back...with Parker's support. This was a @mitchryals.bsky.social classic:
washingtoncitypaper.com/article/5222...
Memorably, she led an attempted takeover of the Ward 5 Democrats' leadership a few years back...with Parker's support. This was a @mitchryals.bsky.social classic:
washingtoncitypaper.com/article/5222...
December 4, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Zachary Parker has a notable new challenger in Ward 5: Ex-DNC delegate Bernita Carmichael.
Memorably, she led an attempted takeover of the Ward 5 Democrats' leadership a few years back...with Parker's support. This was a @mitchryals.bsky.social classic:
washingtoncitypaper.com/article/5222...
Memorably, she led an attempted takeover of the Ward 5 Democrats' leadership a few years back...with Parker's support. This was a @mitchryals.bsky.social classic:
washingtoncitypaper.com/article/5222...
Reposted by Mitch Ryals
After Biden commuted the sentences of 37 men on federal death row last year, the Trump administration is retaliating by sending them to the supermax. Prisoners are locked in cells smaller than a parking space 22-24 hours a day.
One prisoner told me he fears he won't make it out alive.
My latest:
One prisoner told me he fears he won't make it out alive.
My latest:
Death Row Prisoners Granted Clemency by Biden Brace for "Living Hell" Under Trump - Bolts
Trump officials are retaliating by imposing the harshest conditions in the entire federal prison system, including near total isolation.
boltsmag.org
November 25, 2025 at 4:36 PM
After Biden commuted the sentences of 37 men on federal death row last year, the Trump administration is retaliating by sending them to the supermax. Prisoners are locked in cells smaller than a parking space 22-24 hours a day.
One prisoner told me he fears he won't make it out alive.
My latest:
One prisoner told me he fears he won't make it out alive.
My latest:
Reposted by Mitch Ryals
Happy to say that Beats Me is back and there's plenty of new music coming out of DC. And in which I review a fun pop-punk EP from Truth or Dare for @wcp.bsky.social washingtoncitypaper.com/article/7747...
Beats Me Is Back With New Music From Black Fortune, Phil Adé, and Kind of Christine
Fall’s DMV releases include a debut EP from Truth or Dare, a reissue from Glo-Worm, and new tracks from Crystal Casino Band and Broke Royals.
washingtoncitypaper.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Happy to say that Beats Me is back and there's plenty of new music coming out of DC. And in which I review a fun pop-punk EP from Truth or Dare for @wcp.bsky.social washingtoncitypaper.com/article/7747...
Reposted by Mitch Ryals
Fresh off grilling elections officials at a hearing yesterday, Wendell Felder introduces a bill meant to delay the implementation of ranked-choice voting.
A similar push failed during the budget talks. And, FWIW, BOE said Monday it was on track to have RCV ready by June...
A similar push failed during the budget talks. And, FWIW, BOE said Monday it was on track to have RCV ready by June...
November 25, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Fresh off grilling elections officials at a hearing yesterday, Wendell Felder introduces a bill meant to delay the implementation of ranked-choice voting.
A similar push failed during the budget talks. And, FWIW, BOE said Monday it was on track to have RCV ready by June...
A similar push failed during the budget talks. And, FWIW, BOE said Monday it was on track to have RCV ready by June...
Reposted by Mitch Ryals
NEW: DOJ files a notice it is appealing last week's ruling against National Guard deployment in D.C. The appeal goes to the D.C. Circuit.
Coverage at Law Dork on last week's ruling: www.lawdork.com/p/federal-ju...
Coverage at Law Dork on last week's ruling: www.lawdork.com/p/federal-ju...
November 25, 2025 at 11:00 PM
NEW: DOJ files a notice it is appealing last week's ruling against National Guard deployment in D.C. The appeal goes to the D.C. Circuit.
Coverage at Law Dork on last week's ruling: www.lawdork.com/p/federal-ju...
Coverage at Law Dork on last week's ruling: www.lawdork.com/p/federal-ju...
@mayorbowser.dc.gov announced today that she will not seek a fourth term. The end of her decade as the city’s leader opens up the race to replace her. Two sitting councilmembers have already started making noise ...
washingtoncitypaper.com/article/7747...
washingtoncitypaper.com/article/7747...
Mayor Muriel Bowser Won’t Run For a Fourth Term
Two sitting D.C. councilmembers have already started making noise about running to replace her.
washingtoncitypaper.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:42 PM
@mayorbowser.dc.gov announced today that she will not seek a fourth term. The end of her decade as the city’s leader opens up the race to replace her. Two sitting councilmembers have already started making noise ...
washingtoncitypaper.com/article/7747...
washingtoncitypaper.com/article/7747...
Great reporting from Steve Thompson at the Post about two developers close to Mayor Bowser who are getting PAID off of an affordable housing project near the RFK Stadium site.
www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/int...
www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/int...
How D.C. developers made big money on a taxpayer-funded housing project
The Ethel was built on land provided by the city and benefited from a cascade of government subsidies that helped enrich its developers, a Washington Post investigation found.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Great reporting from Steve Thompson at the Post about two developers close to Mayor Bowser who are getting PAID off of an affordable housing project near the RFK Stadium site.
www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/int...
www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/int...
Reposted by Mitch Ryals
JUST IN: A federal judge says one of the Venezuelan men — illegally deported to El Salvador in March before he was swapped back to Venezuela in a prisoner exchange — is now missing, possibly a victim of the violence he was seeking asylum from. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
November 21, 2025 at 11:55 AM
JUST IN: A federal judge says one of the Venezuelan men — illegally deported to El Salvador in March before he was swapped back to Venezuela in a prisoner exchange — is now missing, possibly a victim of the violence he was seeking asylum from. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
A federal judge found the Trump administration's use of the National Guard in D.C. is illegal and granted @dcattorneygeneral.bsky.social's request for an injunction. But the order is stayed until Dec. 11 to allow time to appeal.
oag.dc.gov/sites/defaul...
oag.dc.gov/sites/defaul...
November 20, 2025 at 10:19 PM
A federal judge found the Trump administration's use of the National Guard in D.C. is illegal and granted @dcattorneygeneral.bsky.social's request for an injunction. But the order is stayed until Dec. 11 to allow time to appeal.
oag.dc.gov/sites/defaul...
oag.dc.gov/sites/defaul...
Reposted by Mitch Ryals
Two recent shootings by federal agents in D.C. have highlighted the big gaps in training, transparency, and accountability that exist between them and D.C.'s local police officers. MPD has one set of rules, federal agents another: 51st.news/federal-poli...
When federal agents shoot people in D.C., there are few details – and little accountability
D.C. police officers are held to one standard, federal agents another.
51st.news
November 20, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Two recent shootings by federal agents in D.C. have highlighted the big gaps in training, transparency, and accountability that exist between them and D.C.'s local police officers. MPD has one set of rules, federal agents another: 51st.news/federal-poli...
Department of Housing and Community Development managers learned this week that the agency had an extra $1M in first-time homebuyer funds that went unspent from fiscal year 2025, according to sources in the agency. ...
November 20, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Department of Housing and Community Development managers learned this week that the agency had an extra $1M in first-time homebuyer funds that went unspent from fiscal year 2025, according to sources in the agency. ...
DHCD forfeited $35 million in federal affordable housing funds while also bailing out well-connected developer Buwa Binitie and his troubled project at Cascade Park Apartments. 1/
November 14, 2025 at 10:35 PM
DHCD forfeited $35 million in federal affordable housing funds while also bailing out well-connected developer Buwa Binitie and his troubled project at Cascade Park Apartments. 1/
Quite the response from Chief Smith to a Post reporter's question about an officer incorrectly checking the "no" box on a public incident report for shots fired: www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...
October 31, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Quite the response from Chief Smith to a Post reporter's question about an officer incorrectly checking the "no" box on a public incident report for shots fired: www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...
Employers in D.C. are stealing millions from their employees paychecks. The issue spans several industries—from restaurants and bars to construction sites—and largely impacts hourly workers, many of whom are Black and Latine. Read @wcp.bsky.social Suzie Amanuel's latest:
How D.C. Employers Are Stealing Millions from Their Workers
From construction sites to cocktail bars, wage theft in the D.C. area has allowed some employers to cut costs by up to 48 percent while workers struggle to make ends meet.
washingtoncitypaper.com
October 31, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Employers in D.C. are stealing millions from their employees paychecks. The issue spans several industries—from restaurants and bars to construction sites—and largely impacts hourly workers, many of whom are Black and Latine. Read @wcp.bsky.social Suzie Amanuel's latest:
MPD Chief Smith objects to the reporting that an MPD officer "covered up" a shooting by a federal agent. Whether Officer Sterling was instructed to omit that detail by a supervisor or a line officer, the fact remains that he withheld it. Another way to say that might be that he covered it up.
Here's a transcript of Smith's full comments.
I get what she's saying (ie, this wasn't an order from the chief not to put the shooting in the report) but the q she's not answering: why would that officer suggest that? Wouldn't this unusual situation demand unusual transparency?
I get what she's saying (ie, this wasn't an order from the chief not to put the shooting in the report) but the q she's not answering: why would that officer suggest that? Wouldn't this unusual situation demand unusual transparency?
October 30, 2025 at 8:28 PM
MPD Chief Smith objects to the reporting that an MPD officer "covered up" a shooting by a federal agent. Whether Officer Sterling was instructed to omit that detail by a supervisor or a line officer, the fact remains that he withheld it. Another way to say that might be that he covered it up.
Reposted by Mitch Ryals
Here's the final installment of Postcards of Home, staff photographer @darrow-m.bsky.social’s trip through his early archives. Take a look back: buff.ly/Qj2pbbr
October 24, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Here's the final installment of Postcards of Home, staff photographer @darrow-m.bsky.social’s trip through his early archives. Take a look back: buff.ly/Qj2pbbr
Reposted by Mitch Ryals
A federal agent fired three times at an unarmed driver during a traffic stop in D.C. MPD officers left it out of their report.
“He thought they were trying to kill him,” his attorney says. Full story:
“He thought they were trying to kill him,” his attorney says. Full story:
A Federal Agent Shot at a Driver in D.C. An MPD Officer Was Told To Omit the Shooting from His Report.
An HSI agent fired three times into a vehicle police claimed was trying to flee. The charges were dismissed during a preliminary hearing.
washingtoncitypaper.com
October 28, 2025 at 1:11 PM
A federal agent fired three times at an unarmed driver during a traffic stop in D.C. MPD officers left it out of their report.
“He thought they were trying to kill him,” his attorney says. Full story:
“He thought they were trying to kill him,” his attorney says. Full story:
A Homeland Security Investigations agent shot at an unarmed Black man during a traffic stop on Oct. 17. But a @dcpolicedept.bsky.social officer omitted any mention of the shooting from his reports, apparently under instruction from a "team leader."
washingtoncitypaper.com/article/7732...
washingtoncitypaper.com/article/7732...
A Federal Agent Shot at a Driver in D.C. An MPD Officer Was Told To Omit the Shooting from His Report.
An HSI agent fired three times into a vehicle police claimed was trying to flee. The charges were dismissed during a preliminary hearing.
washingtoncitypaper.com
October 27, 2025 at 10:54 PM
A Homeland Security Investigations agent shot at an unarmed Black man during a traffic stop on Oct. 17. But a @dcpolicedept.bsky.social officer omitted any mention of the shooting from his reports, apparently under instruction from a "team leader."
washingtoncitypaper.com/article/7732...
washingtoncitypaper.com/article/7732...
Reposted by Mitch Ryals
Debut column about overlooked historic sites in and around DC. Let me know what you think, and do share ideas for future sites! Thanks to @mitchryals.bsky.social for the sharp edits and the COUNTLESS people across DC who helped me tell this amazing story.
There’s a 140-year-old farmhouse in Northeast D.C. known as the Sherwood Farmhouse. It’s been home to farmers, nuns, Jesuit radicals, and Howard theologians. Now vacant for a decade, its legacy is one of happy accidents, preservation efforts, and interracial activism. Tanya Paperny tells its story:
On Places: The Inhabitants of Sherwood Farmhouse Represent a Microcosm of D.C. History
Brookland’s Sherwood Farmhouse, built in 1885, has stood vacant since 2015, hidden from public view. It survives thanks to practical necessity, happy accidents, intentional preservation, and…
buff.ly
October 2, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Debut column about overlooked historic sites in and around DC. Let me know what you think, and do share ideas for future sites! Thanks to @mitchryals.bsky.social for the sharp edits and the COUNTLESS people across DC who helped me tell this amazing story.