Martin Austermuhle
@maustermuhle.bsky.social
Wandering reporter with @51st.news, Switzerland and D.C. Formerly of WAMU 88.5 and DCist.
Awesome news: Trinity Rodman is staying with the Washington Spirit!
January 22, 2026 at 11:28 PM
Awesome news: Trinity Rodman is staying with the Washington Spirit!
D.C. residents know how to prepare/overreact before a snow storm, right? An employee at a local hardware store says they sold out six pallets of ice melt. And those 1,000 sleds that were ordered? He bets they’ll sell out too. “It’s like it’s Snowpocalypse 2.0,” he says.
January 22, 2026 at 9:03 PM
D.C. residents know how to prepare/overreact before a snow storm, right? An employee at a local hardware store says they sold out six pallets of ice melt. And those 1,000 sleds that were ordered? He bets they’ll sell out too. “It’s like it’s Snowpocalypse 2.0,” he says.
Reposted by Martin Austermuhle
Mayor Bowser’s recently released plans to build dozens of units of affordable housing in the Chevy Chase Civic Core have sparked widespread criticism, some of it even coming from her erstwhile allies.
More from @maustermuhle.bsky.social:
More from @maustermuhle.bsky.social:
A fight over a library and affordable housing in Chevy Chase
The debate over putting housing above a beloved public library continues.
51st.news
January 22, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Mayor Bowser’s recently released plans to build dozens of units of affordable housing in the Chevy Chase Civic Core have sparked widespread criticism, some of it even coming from her erstwhile allies.
More from @maustermuhle.bsky.social:
More from @maustermuhle.bsky.social:
I got a new Waymo tidbit in @51st.news today: Local labor unions are lobbying the D.C. Council to not quickly legalize self-driving cars. "Waymo threatens a vital source of income for thousands of D.C. residents," says one union leader. 51st.news/doni-crawfor...
A tidbit: Passenger service in Waymo and other self-driving vehicles isn't coming anytime soon in D.C. A long-delayed report from the D.C. Department of Transportation that would detail how self-driving cars could be legalized won't be done until May. The D.C. Council can't act before that's done.
January 22, 2026 at 7:39 PM
I got a new Waymo tidbit in @51st.news today: Local labor unions are lobbying the D.C. Council to not quickly legalize self-driving cars. "Waymo threatens a vital source of income for thousands of D.C. residents," says one union leader. 51st.news/doni-crawfor...
Heads up: The National Guard will patrol Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park 24/7 "for the foreseeable future," per an email from the superintendent of Rock Creek Park. The request came from U.S. Park Police, which traditionally patrols the park, due to "high levels of incidents."
January 20, 2026 at 11:47 PM
Heads up: The National Guard will patrol Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park 24/7 "for the foreseeable future," per an email from the superintendent of Rock Creek Park. The request came from U.S. Park Police, which traditionally patrols the park, due to "high levels of incidents."
Good showing in Pershing Park for the @freedcproject.bsky.social protest of the Trump administration. “Our homes, our rules,” read many of the signs.
January 20, 2026 at 6:31 PM
Good showing in Pershing Park for the @freedcproject.bsky.social protest of the Trump administration. “Our homes, our rules,” read many of the signs.
Fun fact: Crawford is a renter, thus joining the council’s small renter caucus (@cmzparker5.bsky.social is the only other member right now). More than half of D.C. residents are renters.
The D.C. Council has unanimously voted to appoint Doni Crawford as interim at-large councilmember to fill the seat once held by Kenyan McDuffie, who she worked for since 2022. Crawford will hold the seat until the June 16 special election; she hasn't said whether she will run.
January 20, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Fun fact: Crawford is a renter, thus joining the council’s small renter caucus (@cmzparker5.bsky.social is the only other member right now). More than half of D.C. residents are renters.
The D.C. Council has unanimously voted to appoint Doni Crawford as interim at-large councilmember to fill the seat once held by Kenyan McDuffie, who she worked for since 2022. Crawford will hold the seat until the June 16 special election; she hasn't said whether she will run.
January 20, 2026 at 5:36 PM
The D.C. Council has unanimously voted to appoint Doni Crawford as interim at-large councilmember to fill the seat once held by Kenyan McDuffie, who she worked for since 2022. Crawford will hold the seat until the June 16 special election; she hasn't said whether she will run.
A tidbit: Passenger service in Waymo and other self-driving vehicles isn't coming anytime soon in D.C. A long-delayed report from the D.C. Department of Transportation that would detail how self-driving cars could be legalized won't be done until May. The D.C. Council can't act before that's done.
January 20, 2026 at 4:24 PM
A tidbit: Passenger service in Waymo and other self-driving vehicles isn't coming anytime soon in D.C. A long-delayed report from the D.C. Department of Transportation that would detail how self-driving cars could be legalized won't be done until May. The D.C. Council can't act before that's done.
It's unfortunate and unsurprising that the old Ourisman VW dealership building in Tenleytown is still vacant. (It last held a bike shop, but that closed in late 2023.) It's just a huge space, and there's probably not many businesses that can use that floorspace in that location.
January 19, 2026 at 9:49 PM
It's unfortunate and unsurprising that the old Ourisman VW dealership building in Tenleytown is still vacant. (It last held a bike shop, but that closed in late 2023.) It's just a huge space, and there's probably not many businesses that can use that floorspace in that location.
A correction here: The new D.C. Council subcommittee that will be chaired by Felder will oversee small and local business development policy, business improvement districts, and stadium development at RFK (except for planning, zoning, and permitting).
That new subcommittee for Felder will have oversight over the CFO's office, the Real Property Tax Appeals Commission, and the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Community Benefits Oversight Committee.
January 19, 2026 at 9:34 PM
A correction here: The new D.C. Council subcommittee that will be chaired by Felder will oversee small and local business development policy, business improvement districts, and stadium development at RFK (except for planning, zoning, and permitting).
Shortly @chmnmendelson.bsky.social will be announcing that he's nominating Doni Crawford, a former staffer for Kenyan McDuffie and policy analyst at @dcfpi.bsky.social, to serve as interim at-large councilmember to fill the seat McDuffie once held. The full D.C. Council will vote tomorrow.
January 19, 2026 at 7:19 PM
Shortly @chmnmendelson.bsky.social will be announcing that he's nominating Doni Crawford, a former staffer for Kenyan McDuffie and policy analyst at @dcfpi.bsky.social, to serve as interim at-large councilmember to fill the seat McDuffie once held. The full D.C. Council will vote tomorrow.
Damn, the old RFK stadium is now basically completely gone. Towards the east end you can already see how they’ve dug down to slightly below where the original field probably was.
January 16, 2026 at 8:52 PM
Damn, the old RFK stadium is now basically completely gone. Towards the east end you can already see how they’ve dug down to slightly below where the original field probably was.
Interesting: In a new filing to the National Capital Planning Commission, D.C. and the Commanders indicate that two parking decks (G1 and G2) will open when the stadium does in 2030. Initial plans called for a third, but it's not included at this point. You can see the scale of the parking decks.
January 16, 2026 at 8:18 PM
Interesting: In a new filing to the National Capital Planning Commission, D.C. and the Commanders indicate that two parking decks (G1 and G2) will open when the stadium does in 2030. Initial plans called for a third, but it's not included at this point. You can see the scale of the parking decks.
NEWS: @mayorbowser.dc.gov has selected a development team to rebuild the Chevy Chase Civic Center as a new library, community center, and 177 units of market-rate and affordable housing. It will also have a public plaza, park, amphitheater, and roof terrace.
January 16, 2026 at 4:09 PM
NEWS: @mayorbowser.dc.gov has selected a development team to rebuild the Chevy Chase Civic Center as a new library, community center, and 177 units of market-rate and affordable housing. It will also have a public plaza, park, amphitheater, and roof terrace.
Interesting: For all the hate D.C.'s traffic cameras get, there seems to be some evidence drivers are responding by not speeding, running red lights and so on. Below is data on traffic camera tickets from 12/2024 to 12/2025. There was a pretty steady decline for most of 2025.
January 15, 2026 at 9:00 PM
Interesting: For all the hate D.C.'s traffic cameras get, there seems to be some evidence drivers are responding by not speeding, running red lights and so on. Below is data on traffic camera tickets from 12/2024 to 12/2025. There was a pretty steady decline for most of 2025.
SOME RCV NEWS: The D.C. Board of Elections has issued emergency rules spelling out how ranked-choice voting will work when it's first used for the June 16 election. There's details on what happens if there's an overvote, an undervote, if a voter skips a ranking, and more.
January 15, 2026 at 8:27 PM
SOME RCV NEWS: The D.C. Board of Elections has issued emergency rules spelling out how ranked-choice voting will work when it's first used for the June 16 election. There's details on what happens if there's an overvote, an undervote, if a voter skips a ranking, and more.
NEWS: Former At-Large D.C. Councilmember Elissa Silverman, who lost her re-election bid in 2022, says she'll run in the June 16 special election to finish out Kenyan McDuffie's term. (Recall it was McDuffie who beat her in 2022.) elissafordc.substack.com/p/i-have-som...
I Have Some News
Many Of You Have Asked, Here's The Answer
elissafordc.substack.com
January 15, 2026 at 7:39 PM
NEWS: Former At-Large D.C. Councilmember Elissa Silverman, who lost her re-election bid in 2022, says she'll run in the June 16 special election to finish out Kenyan McDuffie's term. (Recall it was McDuffie who beat her in 2022.) elissafordc.substack.com/p/i-have-som...
Reposted by Martin Austermuhle
For libraries, e-books are dramatically more expensive than print copies. But readers want more digital access — creating a fiscal challenge in systems like D.C.'s.
The Council is considering: Could D.C. team up with a bloc of states to negotiate a better deal? @maustermuhle.bsky.social reports:
The Council is considering: Could D.C. team up with a bloc of states to negotiate a better deal? @maustermuhle.bsky.social reports:
Libraries can't afford e-books. D.C. lawmakers have a plan.
The demand and price for e-books is up — and it’s busting the D.C. Public Library budget.
51st.news
January 15, 2026 at 7:05 PM
For libraries, e-books are dramatically more expensive than print copies. But readers want more digital access — creating a fiscal challenge in systems like D.C.'s.
The Council is considering: Could D.C. team up with a bloc of states to negotiate a better deal? @maustermuhle.bsky.social reports:
The Council is considering: Could D.C. team up with a bloc of states to negotiate a better deal? @maustermuhle.bsky.social reports:
Reposted by Martin Austermuhle
The fatal shooting of Renee Good in Minnesota intensified criticism of President Trump’s aggressive immigration crackdown, nationwide and locally.
But D.C. officials still won’t say exactly when and how local police have worked with federal agents — including ICE, @maustermuhle.bsky.social reports.
But D.C. officials still won’t say exactly when and how local police have worked with federal agents — including ICE, @maustermuhle.bsky.social reports.
MPD won't answer questions about cooperating with ICE
Mayor Muriel Bowser says inquiries from the D.C. Council are ‘ridiculous.’
51st.news
January 15, 2026 at 6:40 PM
The fatal shooting of Renee Good in Minnesota intensified criticism of President Trump’s aggressive immigration crackdown, nationwide and locally.
But D.C. officials still won’t say exactly when and how local police have worked with federal agents — including ICE, @maustermuhle.bsky.social reports.
But D.C. officials still won’t say exactly when and how local police have worked with federal agents — including ICE, @maustermuhle.bsky.social reports.
Reposted by Martin Austermuhle
Reposted by Martin Austermuhle
If they're going classical, might as well stick with the OG design
January 15, 2026 at 2:59 PM
If they're going classical, might as well stick with the OG design
I'm not sure what sends more shivers down my spine: Windy weather like what we've got today, or that email from your kid's third-grade teacher to all the parents that has "lice" as one of the headers.
January 15, 2026 at 3:07 PM
I'm not sure what sends more shivers down my spine: Windy weather like what we've got today, or that email from your kid's third-grade teacher to all the parents that has "lice" as one of the headers.
NEWS: The Washington Commanders have released initial renderings of their new stadium at RFK. And it looks like they've included columns along the exterior, likely in response to President Trump's desire for a classical look on the stadium.
January 15, 2026 at 1:08 PM
NEWS: The Washington Commanders have released initial renderings of their new stadium at RFK. And it looks like they've included columns along the exterior, likely in response to President Trump's desire for a classical look on the stadium.
Solid turnout and energy at @janeese4dc.bsky.social’s official mayoral campaign launch at the Howard Theatre tonight.
January 15, 2026 at 12:27 AM
Solid turnout and energy at @janeese4dc.bsky.social’s official mayoral campaign launch at the Howard Theatre tonight.