Trump Declares "Liberation Day" With Federal Takeover of DC Police

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Politics

Trump Declares "Liberation Day" With Federal Takeover of DC Police

What's going on: For weeks, President Donald Trump has threatened a federal takeover of Washington, DC. On Monday, he took a major step toward making that threat a reality: He activated the National Guard in the nation’s capital and will temporarily take control of the city’s police force. Trump said the crackdown would combat rising homelessness and crime in DC — pointing to the attack on a former DOGE staffer as evidence. He tapped Attorney General Pam Bondi to oversee the city’s police, and said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth would have the authority to send in the military if it’s necessary. DC Mayor Muriel Bowser called the federal takeover “unsettling and unprecedented.” Other Democrats called the move a “waste of taxpayer dollars,” given that DC's violent crime rate is at a 30-year low.

What it means: Experts say this move reflects Trump’s longtime strategy of “law and order politics,” which plays into a conservative view of the world as a battle between order and chaos. It’s also not the first time he’s used federal resources to intervene in cities: Earlier this year, the Pentagon deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles to quell anti-immigration raid protests. Now, Trump has invoked the Home Rule Act to flex his federal authority once again — the first time a president has used it in this way. The law limits his authority to federalize police to 30 days. Meanwhile, he warned that other blue cities could be next, including Chicago and LA. Notably absent from his list? Cities with higher crime rates in Republican-led states, like New Orleans and Memphis.

Related: Trump Taps Head of Conservative Think Tank As Bureau of Labor Statistics Chief (CNBC)

US News

Pete Hegseth’s Repost Has Caused Quite the Stir

What's going on: If “Signalgate” was the appetizer, then the Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s latest repost might be the main course. He faces mounting backlash after reposting a CNN interview of a pastor, Doug Wilson, a self-described Christian nationalist. In it, one of Wilson’s senior pastors argued women shouldn’t vote and husbands should go to the polls on behalf of the family — prompting many to ask, what about the 19th Amendment? Wilson, who is Hegseth’s pastor, also believes women shouldn’t join the army and should instead focus on having babies. (It might be time to pick up The Handmaid’s Tale, Doug.) Hegseth still has the repost up on his X feed with the caption “All Christ for All of Life,” racking up more than 15,000 likes.

What it means: These aren’t just ideas being shared by random men — they’re coming from people in positions of power. One expert told NPR some people want to turn these beliefs into government policy. Hegseth, for his part, isn’t doing much to distance himself from the backlash. A Pentagon spokesperson told NPR that he “appreciates many of Mr. Wilson’s writings and teachings.” Maybe that's why Hegseth is also promoting books like Wilson's “It’s Good To Be a Man?” Plus, he’s been open about how women shouldn't be in combat roles and has removed top women military leaders. As one critic put it, when someone in power like Hegseth openly shares Wilson’s views, it feels like saying women’s rights are up for debate.

Related: Hegseth Wants To Change the Way America’s Soldiers Are Educated (The Atlantic)

Business

Women Are Walking Away From Work — Willingly or Not

What's going on: A new analysis paints a stark picture of working moms, revealing that many are leaving their jobs in droves. Between January and June, the number of employed women has steadily declined — especially among those aged 25 to 44 with children under 5. The reasons for their exit vary. For many, hybrid and remote work made it easier to juggle caring for their kids or aging parents with a career. Working for the federal government also offered better stability and benefits to help offset the cost of childcare than other jobs. But those days are fading fast. Others say it’s their choice to take a step back, opting to spend more time at home with their families.

What it means: The share of women in the workforce has dropped to its lowest levels in more than three years, erasing gains made during the pandemic. Economists warn the shift could set women back even further — potentially widening the wage gap and making it harder to re-enter the workforce down the line. (As if women need something else to help.) To top it all off, the US is the only advanced economy in the world that is seeing a decline in the women labor force. Many people don’t feel like they have a financial safety net or way to offset the high cost of childcare.

Related: The “Friendship Recession” Is Hitting Employees at Work (Fast Company)

Your Political Briefing

The week in political chaos.

On the schedule: President Trump will meet with European leaders before sitting down with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin. At least Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy got an invite to this one. 

Echo chamber, meet chatbot: President Trump's Truth Social chatbot can’t help but be honest, contradicting him on everything from who’s really paying for tariffs to the 2020 election results.

Taco Tuesday came early: President Trump has pushed back his tariffs on China for another 90 days. It’ll spare consumers from higher prices for now.

What’s supp?: RFK Jr.’s new rule is coming for the supplement industry, which he’s championed. 

Settle This

Which company says it'll have to raise prices for the first time in decades due to Trump’s tariffs?

Game Time

Start your Tuesday off right with Typeshift, a fun new game that challenges you to create words from a set number of letters. Warning: It’s very addicting. Start playing.