Top Stories
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D.C. and Virginia sue to block Trump’s planned arch near Arlington cemetery
The suit against the Park Service and Interior Department follows a hearing where a federal judge questioned the administration’s case for the…
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Arlington board, legislators spar over who should pay rising Metro costs
Legislators asked why Northern Virginia hasn’t used a new sales-tax option; board members warned of an $80 million transit bill.
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Labor Department finalizes rule requiring pharmacy benefit managers to disclose fees to large employer plans
The rule, issued under a Trump executive order on drug prices, covers about 131,000 self-insured plans and applies to plan years starting…
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Bipartisan House bill would revive Congress’s technology office
Reps. Takano, Casten, Foster, Beyer and Obernolte introduced a bill to create a Congressional Office of Technology, nearly three decades after the…
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Judge orders administration to stop pressing California officials over disputed ballots
A federal judge in San Francisco barred the Justice Department and DHS through Nov. 16 from pressuring California election officials to set aside ballots the administration says were cast by noncitizens.
Latest Headlines
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Maryland’s early vote jumped 58% from 2022. Charles and Prince George’s nearly doubled.
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Army picks Lockheed Martin for $1.08 billion Future Interceptor development deal
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Vote yes on Question 1 and put reproductive freedom in Virginia’s Bill of Rights
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Man charged with murder in Minnesota Avenue bus-stop killing, police say
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Trump delegates Western Balkans sanctions authority to Treasury and State
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Final weekend: Nearly 50 million have voted as Senate control hinges on five toss-ups
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Judge orders inquiry into whether Justice Department lawyers misled court on East Potomac golf plan
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Bipartisan House bill would revive Congress’s technology office
Reps. Takano, Casten, Foster, Beyer and Obernolte introduced a bill to create a Congressional Office of Technology, nearly three decades after the original OTA was defunded.
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Senate-passed satellite cybersecurity bill waits at House desk
The Peters-Cornyn bill passed by unanimous consent Sept. 23 and creates voluntary guidance, not new regulation.
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Pentagon watchdog faces Nov. 1 deadline from bipartisan senators on Ukraine Starshield disruptions
Nine senators led by Shaheen and Tillis want a briefing by Nov. 1; the U.S. denies cutting intelligence sharing.
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K&L Gates’ lobbying revenue slips 2% as its Jones Act client raises spending by half
K&L Gates reported $15.55 million in federal lobbying revenue through September 2026, down 2%, while the American Maritime Partnership, which defends the Jones Act, paid it…
The Administration & the Campaign
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D.C. and Virginia sue to block Trump’s planned arch near Arlington cemetery
The suit against the Park Service and Interior Department follows a hearing where a federal judge questioned the administration’s case for the 250-foot arch.
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Judge orders administration to stop pressing California officials over disputed ballots
A federal judge in San Francisco barred the Justice Department and DHS through Nov. 16 from pressuring California election officials to set aside ballots the administration…
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Judge to rule on next steps in DOJ bid to set aside 20,000 California ballots
U.S. District Judge David O. Carter said he would appoint a special master to examine how the Justice Department compiled its list of alleged noncitizen voters…
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Fed expected to hold rates steady as inflation runs near 4%
The Federal Reserve is expected to keep its benchmark rate at 3.75% to 4% at 2 p.m., a month after its first hike since 2023, with…
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Trump finds robotics imports threaten national security and orders trade talks as companies lobby on the probe
The proclamation orders negotiations with trading partners and a progress report within 180 days. Honda, ABB, Subaru, Denso and Germany’s machinery makers lobbied on the investigation.
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K&L Gates’ lobbying revenue slips 2% as its Jones Act client raises spending by half
K&L Gates reported $15.55 million in federal lobbying revenue through September 2026, down 2%, while the American Maritime Partnership, which defends the Jones Act, paid it…
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Crossroads Strategies’ lobbying revenue rises 14% as Coupang and TikTok’s U.S. venture join its clients
Crossroads Strategies, home to former Sens. John Breaux and Trent Lott, reported $23.86 million in federal lobbying revenue through September 2026, up 14%, with Coupang its…
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Invariant’s lobbying revenue rises 6% as defense-tech clients increase their spending
Invariant reported $37.23 million in federal lobbying revenue through September 2026, up 6%, with Hadrian Automation nearly doubling its fees and new clients including Super Micro…
Security & the World
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Labor Department finalizes rule requiring pharmacy benefit managers to disclose fees to large employer plans
The rule, issued under a Trump executive order on drug prices, covers about 131,000 self-insured plans and applies to plan years starting July 1, 2027.
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Holland & Knight’s lobbying revenue dips 2% as an offshore oil company becomes its top client
The law firm reported $40.58 million in federal lobbying revenue through September 2026. Sable Offshore, which is seeking approvals for oil production off California, paid it…
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DHS rejection of automatic body-camera activation for ICE remains in dispute two weeks after GAO audit
GAO made seven recommendations on CBP and ICE body-worn camera programs. DHS agreed to six but rejected automatic activation for ICE, citing privacy and operational risks.…
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Energy Department adds helium to its Critical Material List
DOE cited helium’s role in semiconductor manufacturing, pipeline leak testing and quantum computing, tying the designation to the administration’s AI Action Plan. The U.S. is the…
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Who paid for House members’ 199 privately sponsored trips this year
House members disclosed 199 privately sponsored trips in 2026. The Aspen Institute paid for 43 and the Republican Main Street Partnership for 23. A review of…
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Two Treasury nominees agree to sell bank, crypto and gold holdings if confirmed
Treasury general counsel nominee Robert Stebbins agreed to sell 77 financial holdings, from JPMorgan to Coinbase, and domestic finance nominee Francis Browne agreed to sell gold,…
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Ashley Hinson’s financial disclosure lists $2.3 million to $8.8 million in family assets
Rep. Ashley Hinson, Iowa’s Republican Senate nominee, reported family assets of $2.3 million to $8.8 million on her 2025 House disclosure, led by her husband’s insurance…
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House members disclosed 868 trades from July to September, and three accounted for more than half
Forty-eight House members reported 868 trades dated July through September 2026, valued at $27.5 million to $73.9 million. Reps. Gil Cisneros, Kevin Hern and April McClain…
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Georgetown’s Ted Leonsis to receive hockey’s Lester Patrick Trophy in Washington
The Capitals owner (C’77), newly elected chairman of the NHL Board of Governors, will be honored Nov. 30 at the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame celebration.
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Georgetown alumnus Rasheed Newson takes his Hollywood noir on a November festival tour
The Bel-Air co-developer (B’01) heads to West Hollywood, Palm Springs and the Miami Book Fair with his bestselling second novel.
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Murkowski, a Georgetown alumna, endorses Democrat Kreiss-Tomkins for Alaska governor
The Alaska Republican, a 1980 Georgetown economics graduate, backed Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins over three Republicans, including Trump-endorsed Bernadette Wilson.
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Maria Shriver says she is walking the Camino de Santiago alone, away from ‘the noise’
In her weekly column, the Georgetown alumna and former first lady of California writes that the pilgrimage is ‘not a vacation, and it’s not exercise.’
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Man charged with murder in Minnesota Avenue bus-stop killing, police say
Police say the same man fired toward a bystander a block away about 20 minutes later and was shot by an officer.
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Halloween crime in D.C. tracks an ordinary October day, three years of police data show
Reports on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 averaged at or below each year’s October daily average from 2023 to 2025.
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Two men charged with murder in April killing of boys, 12 and 14, on Kenilworth Avenue NE
Antonio Terry, 18, and Markell Woodings, 20, are held without bond; police allege the boys were targeted at random in a neighborhood dispute.
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Violent crime near D.C. Metro stations up 25% this year as overall crime falls, police data show
Reported crime within 250 meters of the District’s 40 Metro stations fell 10.9% through Oct. 25, but violent offenses near stations rose to 318 from 255,…
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Judge orders inquiry into whether Justice Department lawyers misled court on East Potomac golf plan
Judge Ana Reyes ordered an inquiry into DOJ lawyers’ statements about the administration’s plans for East Potomac Golf Links, which the administration says it is renovating.
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Man charged with murder in 2025 death of woman on Rhode Island Avenue NE
Robert Bellamy, 62, is charged under a grand jury indictment in the death of Thameka Harvell, 54, police said.
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Judge strikes new obstruction charge against former FBI officials; hearing on false-statements case continues
A magistrate judge struck an unsigned superseding complaint; an FBI agent testified about how the investigation of Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides began.
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Stafford man faces federal charges in damage to Iwo Jima memorial near Quantico
Prosecutors say Miguel Alonso Maldonado Soriano, 27, was found damaging the memorial with a sledgehammer Oct. 21. He faces two federal counts; DHS says he is…
The Capital After Hours
Life in Washington
Latest News
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Who paid for House members’ 199 privately sponsored trips this year
House members disclosed 199 privately sponsored trips in 2026. The Aspen Institute paid for 43 and the Republican Main Street Partnership for 23. A review of sponsors, destinations,…
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Man charged with murder in 2025 death of woman on Rhode Island Avenue NE
Robert Bellamy, 62, is charged under a grand jury indictment in the death of Thameka Harvell, 54, police said.
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Democratic Senate candidates outraise GOP rivals nearly 4 to 1 in key races
Democratic nominees in the 10 most competitive Senate races have raised about $565 million to Republicans’ $149 million, but cash on hand is closer in several contests.
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Virginia and Maryland lawmakers received $810,000 from defense contractor PACs, led by Wittman
Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.) received $120,000 from 12 defense contractor PACs, the most of any candidate nationally, FEC records show.
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Inquisitor Data: House Homeland Security Committee lists 22 hearings and markups in 2026, down from 35
The committee’s calendar shows one event since June 30. The House returns Nov. 9.
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Revised tariffs on Canadian goods take effect Thursday
A proclamation President Trump signed Oct. 23 adds 100 products to the 50% Section 338 tariff list and removes 22, effective 12:01 a.m. Oct. 30.
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Walkinshaw holds a wide cash lead over Republican Arthur Purves in Virginia’s 11th District
Rep. James Walkinshaw had raised $3.27 million and had $1.14 million on hand through Oct. 14. Republican Arthur G. Purves had raised $38,665. Green Party candidate Dianne Blais…
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Crossroads Strategies’ lobbying revenue rises 14% as Coupang and TikTok’s U.S. venture join its clients
Crossroads Strategies, home to former Sens. John Breaux and Trent Lott, reported $23.86 million in federal lobbying revenue through September 2026, up 14%, with Coupang its largest account.
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Alexandria names Florence Finkle, OIR Group interim policing auditor
City Council voted 7-0; the oversight team starts Thursday and reports directly to the council.
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Tariffs on our best friend are a tax on American families
Opinion | Adrian Sterling-Foss: The Section 338 tariff changes taking effect Thursday raise prices on everyday goods and damage trust in North American trade.
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GAO rejects four small-business protests of Army, Navy and Air Force contracts
GAO denied three protests and dismissed a fourth as untimely, finding the services followed the terms of their solicitations.
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Two Treasury nominees agree to sell bank, crypto and gold holdings if confirmed
Treasury general counsel nominee Robert Stebbins agreed to sell 77 financial holdings, from JPMorgan to Coinbase, and domestic finance nominee Francis Browne agreed to sell gold, silver and…
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Violent crime up most in Wards 2 and 3 as total crime falls in every D.C. ward, police data show
An Inquisitor analysis of MPD data through Oct. 25 shows total crime down 11.7 percent and violent crime up 12 percent citywide.
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Khanna makes the case for California’s billionaire tax
On “Conversate with Killer Mike,” Rep. Ro Khanna, a likely 2028 contender, defended Proposition 40’s one-time 5% tax on about 200 billionaires to fund health care.
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The DMV delegation’s leadership PACs: $17.5 million raised, and Hoyer’s AmeriPAC is nearly half
FEC records show 15 leadership PACs tied to Washington-area lawmakers reported $17.5 million in receipts this cycle. Hoyer’s AmeriPAC raised $8.3 million and put $600,000 behind Adrian Boafo…
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Prince George’s council restores site plan review for data centers
CB-019-2026 passed 10-0 with one abstention, repealing a 2021 exemption; an amendment requiring council approval failed.
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House GOP sets Nov. 10 leadership elections as Johnson seeks to stay on
Candidates must declare by noon Nov. 6. Speaker Mike Johnson says he expects colleagues to keep him; Jim Jordan is widely expected to seek a post.
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Invariant’s lobbying revenue rises 6% as defense-tech clients increase their spending
Invariant reported $37.23 million in federal lobbying revenue through September 2026, up 6%, with Hadrian Automation nearly doubling its fees and new clients including Super Micro and Vulcan…
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Defense contractor PACs gave $10.4 million to federal candidates this cycle, FEC records show
PACs of 12 major defense contractors gave to 431 candidates in both parties, with about 59% going to Republicans, who hold majorities in both chambers.
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Man shot by immigration officer in Austin pleads not guilty as Democrats press DHS for evidence
Federal prosecutors say Wilber Rafael Garcés-Pérez tried to strike an officer with his car; local investigators say DHS has not shared evidence.
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Advocates back domestic violence bills at D.C. Council hearing but question pretrial detention
Bills from Council member Brooke Pinto and Mayor Muriel Bowser drew support and concerns; MPD cited staffing for a proposed unit.
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Outside groups have spent $1.55 billion on 10 key Senate races, FEC data show
A Washington Inquisitor analysis of FEC filings finds Republican-aligned groups outspending Democratic-aligned ones about 3 to 2, led by $380 million in Texas.
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Ashley Hinson’s financial disclosure lists $2.3 million to $8.8 million in family assets
Rep. Ashley Hinson, Iowa’s Republican Senate nominee, reported family assets of $2.3 million to $8.8 million on her 2025 House disclosure, led by her husband’s insurance brokerage stake,…
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Georgetown alumnus Rasheed Newson takes his Hollywood noir on a November festival tour
The Bel-Air co-developer (B’01) heads to West Hollywood, Palm Springs and the Miami Book Fair with his bestselling second novel.
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Raskin-Spartz bill to put Thomas Paine memorial in the National Mall’s core awaits House vote
H.R. 9600, the Common Sense 250 Act, would approve placing the privately funded Paine memorial in Area I of the National Mall. The Natural Resources Committee advanced it…
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Alexandria cancels Flock license plate reader contract; cameras to go dark Friday
Police Chief Tarrick McGuire told City Council the city’s 61 readers should be deactivated by Friday and removed by year’s end.
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Trump rallies in Ohio for Husted in toss-up Senate race
President Trump makes his third Ohio visit of the month Wednesday evening in Chillicothe, with Sen. Jon Husted and Vivek Ramaswamy, as Sherrod Brown and Amy Acton counter-program…
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Pentagon awards $3.7 billion in medical supply contracts to Cardinal Health, McKesson and Concordance
The Defense Logistics Agency’s medical-surgical prime vendor awards made up most of about $4.6 billion in contract actions the Pentagon announced Oct. 27.
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Bipartisan senators urge swift government formation in Serbia after Student List wins majority
Shaheen, Grassley, Durbin, Coons and Tillis cite record turnout and welcome the ruling party’s acceptance of the results.
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Two men charged with murder in April killing of boys, 12 and 14, on Kenilworth Avenue NE
Antonio Terry, 18, and Markell Woodings, 20, are held without bond; police allege the boys were targeted at random in a neighborhood dispute.
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Fuel relief should go to farm families, not acreage
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Farmers need lower fuel costs, not another emergency check
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Vote no on Question 9 and let Massachusetts write a better gun law
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Massachusetts should keep its gun law and fix what needs fixing
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The answer to the Acton ad is more speech, not less
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Ramaswamy should pull the Acton ad, not just shorten it
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Senate Must Reject the Bill That Guts America’s Preservation Law for the AI Power Rush
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Washington and Sacramento should check the ballot list together before the count is final