Good morning. Rain chances throughout the day today, with a high around 78. A low near 62 overnight. The Nats host the Phillies again this evening. You can find me on Bluesky, I’m @abeaujon.87 on Signal, and there’s a link to my email address below. Have you or someone you know had an affair wit h an AI chatbot? Washingtonian wants to hear from you. We’re working on a story about how AI companions and chatbots are changing modern relationships. We’d like to speak with people in the DC-area whose romantic lives have been affected by AI—whether a chatbot contributed to a breakup or divorce, led someone to realize they wanted out of relationship, became the object of an emotional or romantic affair, or otherwise complicated a real-life partnership. We’re especially interested in hearing from people who have used AI chatbots themselves, discovered a partner’s use of one, or know someone whose relationship was changed by an AI companion. To share your experience, contact Damare Baker at [email protected]. We can also discuss anonymity where appropriate. This roundup is available as a morning email newsletter. Sign up here. I can’t stop listening to: Sonido Gallo Negro feat. Grupo Kual?, “Cumbia Triste” This Mexico City band plays pleasingly lysergic music in the tradition of DJs who blast slowed-down tropical records from massive sound systems; they’ll get people dancing at Black Cat tonight alongside Bongo District and Leon City Sounds. Take Washingtonian Today with you! I keep ridiculously long playlists on Apple Music and on Spotify of this year’s music recommendations. Here are 2025’s songs (Apple, Spotify), too. Here’s some administration news you might have blocked out: Marble cinematic universe: President Trump claimed he had evidence of vandalism at the Reflecting Pool, and the administration increased the presence of law enforcement around the water feature, whose rehabilitation has become a fiasco. (WSJ) Our photographer saw members of the National Guard, the US Marshals Service, and other law-enforcement agencies down there yesterday. (Washingtonian) Administration officials claimed there had been five arrests. Trump claimed someone had used a knife to cut a 350-foot slit in the pool’s resurfaced bottom. (NBC News) A visitor reportedly got a ticket after she dipped her hand in the water. (TMZ) Trump threatened to sue ABC News over its coverage of the peeling surface. (Wrap) The President also blamed former President Obama, who left office more than nine years ago. (NYT) The pool reportedly doesn’t smell so good. (Joe Flood/Bluesky) Meanwhile: Someone sneaked a look at the front of the Kennedy Center with Trump’s name removed. (Washington Post) The Smithsonian is the next Washington institution in Trump’s sights. What are Lonnie Bunch‘s plans? (Atlantic) Uh-oh DNI: Cuts began at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which Trump placed Bill Pulte in charge of. (CNN) Pulte “ordered staff members to identify 400 employees to be fired from the National Counterterrorism Center.” (NBC News) Context: An argument against ODNI that reflects one I’ve heard from others in the intelligence community. (Bulwark) Court bouillon: A federal judge in Minnesota thwarted DOJ’s attempts to subpoena Governor Tim Walz and other officials, saying the feds were employing “investigatory powers to retaliate against state officials for not cooperating with federal efforts to crack down on illegal immigration.” (AP) An investigation into the “Broadview Six” cases in Illinois is expanding to a review of two decades’ worth of cases for one prosecutor. (Chicago Sun Times) A federal judge in DC said Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins misapplied the law when she set limits on the “unhealthy” foods SNAP recipients could buy. (Politico) Administration perambulation: The White House is “threatening to withhold tens of millions of dollars in federal homeland security funds from states unless they adopt a sweeping set of election changes.” (CNN) Republicans in the Senate will meet with Trump today. Many of them hope to convince him to abandon his push for an elections bill. (Politico) Iran said it will receive $12 billion in previously frozen funds as Secretary of State Marco Rubio heads to the region. (Bloomberg News) An outbreak of flu at an air base in Texas worsened. (Hill) The Department of Homeland Security wants to raise fees on citizenship applications by 75 percent. (ABC News) Two more people were arrested for what authorities say was a plot to attack the UFC fight on the White House grounds on June 14. (NPR) ScottsMiracle-Gro says it will put $1 million toward resodding the White House lawn. (Washington Post) The name “Donald” is losing ground among the nation’s parents: Last year, it “hit its lowest point of popularity in U.S. history.” (NOTUS) Day trip idea: A different take on Hunt Country, by Daniella Byck: Photograph courtesy of Ladew Topiary Gardens. If you’re in search of a straightforward Hunt Country experience with hounds and horses, I recommend a trip to Middleburg, Virginia. But for a more imaginative, botanical take on the equestrian vibe, drive an hour and a half away from DC to Ladew Topiary Gardens in Monkton, Maryland. Creator Harvey Ladew was a lover of topiaries and fox hunting, and his estate combines the two pursuits in whimsical fashion. Find more than 100 sculpted shrubs and trees, from a fox, horse, and hound scene rendered in leafy figures to spiraling Seussian plants. Beyond the bushes, you can learn about Ladew’s home, with its English-country aesthetic and horsey art collection, during 30-minute guided tours. The Butterfly House opens for the season on July 6. Native butterflies flit around the space—a little inspiration for the caterpillars chowing on the plant life below. Online tickets are $20 for adults, $14 for ages 13 to 18, $5 for ages two to 12, and free for children under two. Recently on Washingtonian dot com: • The Washington Post’s opinion section loves to cheerlead for data-center construction. It does not always enjoy disclosing owner Jeff Bezos‘s financial interests in them. • Fairfax County students John Poncy and Allie Blanchet competed at last night’s “High School Tony Awards.” • Photos from a vibrant Pride weekend in town. • The hotels will be booked. The airspace will be quiet. The trains will be busy. Here’s what you can expect around town on July 4 weekend. • By some measures, the USA will turn 250 this summer. Here’s our guide to festivities around town, including: Two of our writers debate: Is this really the right time for a party? How many of the celebrations will have a MAGA vibe? Things to do and see during the festivities, plus swanky hotel packages if you want to go all in, a list of hidden historic gems around the region, and new attractions in town. Local news links: • Virginia lawmakers finally agreed to a budget compromise. The two-year plan will head to Governor Abigail Spanberger now. (WTOP) • A judge in the matter of accused White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooter Cole Tomas Allen refused to boot acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche and DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro from the case. Allen’s attorneys had argued they shouldn’t be involved because they were at the dinner. (AP) • Metro hired a Spanish company to reimagine its fare machines. (WBJ) • Brooke Pinto spent more than $1 million on her unsuccessful race to succeed Eleanor Holmes Norton as the District’s nonvoting delegate to Congress—almost twice what winner Robert White spent. (WUSA9) • Arlington wants to improve its water fountains. (ARLnow) • The Old Town-docked Tall Ship Providence will suspend tours and educational programs Friday. Its executive director says there was “too much money going out and not enough going in.” (ALXnow) • Sorry to disappoint, but there was no tiger on I-270 recently. (The MoCo Show) Tuesday’s event pick: • It’s your last chance to see Jill Scott‘s “To Whom This May Concern” tour at MGM National Harbor. See more picks from Briana Thomas, who writes our Things to Do newsletter.The post Trump Blames Obama for Reflecting Pool Fiasco, Metro Wants to Zhuzh Up Its Fare Machines, and Old Town Tall Ship Will Suspend Operations first appeared on Washingtonian. ...read more read less