Also in today’s edition of ‘Regular Order’ for August 26, 2025:
A classic Trump answer: “We’re just gonna do it.”
Trump wants a new name at the Pentagon.
Mike Pence steps up to take on Trump over tariffs.
SUMMER POSTCARD FROM WASHINGTON. I took a wonderful 25 mile bicycle ride through Washington, D.C. on Monday. The August weather was great. The sights were fantastic. The nation's capital is not a crime-ridden hell hole - no matter what President Trump says about it. But it remains a beautiful city which also has neighborhoods that need extra police help.
CHANGE. On my bike ride, there were some obvious changes in how the National Guard is being used here. Guard troops are still along the National Mall and over at Union Station. But they aren't bringing their Humvees or larger vehicles with them.
THE LINCOLN. For example, at the Lincoln Memorial, members of the Border Patrol and the U.S. Park Police were stationed outside. But there were also National Guard soldiers making the rounds as well.
FIRETEAM. Most of what I saw all along the Mall on Monday were small groups of soldiers - usually 3 to 5 total. Some operated in pairs, like at the Washington Monument. All of them were basically just doing patrols outside the monuments and museums on federal land along the Mall.
WEAPONS. While I did not see anyone carrying a firearm on Monday along the National Mall, there were pictures last night of a National Guard soldier in the subway system, armed with an assault rifle.
COMMS. One other thing that I noticed was the soldiers using walkie-talkies, much like a regular police officer. It wasn't clear to me who the troops were communicating with and how that was coordinated with local police or the feds.
CRIME SCENE. I did have to chuckle as I was making my way back towards the Lincoln Memorial. Two National Guard soldiers were standing at 17th and Constitution when a guy on a scooter came flying down the street. He ran the red light. But no one flinched. Not all crime is created equal.
POLICE BLOTTER. I’ll say it again - there isn’t that much crime along the National Mall. It does happen, but it’s mainly a very safe spot for tourists and residents alike. It was that way before the National Guard arrived here.
UNION STATION. The biggest change in tactics seemed to be up at Union Station, the train and subway station which is a few blocks from the Capitol. Earlier this month, there were as many as a half dozen military vehicles stationed outside. On Monday - there were National Guard troops, but no Humvees or anything else.
SCENE. While I’ve read a lot of social media posts about how the homeless and others have been cleared out of Union Station, I still saw some unsavory characters there on Monday. There was a small detachment of National Guard soldiers near the front entrance.
REACTION. The guy in white talking to the troops in this photo was trying to get under their skin, demanding to know why they were going along with this deployment, and taking selfie videos. The troops didn’t take the bait.
TWELVE YEARS. A few minutes later, the soldiers were much happier when an older guy lavished them with praise. “This is the first time I’ve felt safe walking here in 12 years!” he exclaimed.
NARRATOR. Let’s think about that. If this is the first time in 12 years you’ve felt safe outside Union Station, then my suggestion is - maybe you aren’t cut out for city living. I’ve been walking by that spot for 45 years.
D.C. VIEW. I don’t know anyone who believes this city is properly addressing crime. But at the same time, we know large chunks of this city remain safe. We all know certain neighborhoods need help. What gets under the skin of many here is the never-ending fountain of lies from the White House. That continued on Monday.
RESTAURANTS. Obviously, someone has told Trump that restaurants are now safe - and suddenly people are dining out in Washington. That couldn’t be further from the truth, but it’s a perfect kind of line for Trump to run with.
DOOR DASH. “Washington, D.C. is a very safe city right now,” declared Trump, making it sound like Washingtonians had been cowering in fear at home on a regular basis. “They didn't go out to dinner for four years.”
CABINET. We're sure to hear more about the deployment of National Guard troops in Washington, D.C. - and maybe other cities as well - when President Trump convenes a Cabinet meeting this morning at the White House. It will be Press Pool coverage in the Cabinet Room at 11 am.
AUGUST BREAK. This is yet another example of how the Congress can't hold a candle to this White House. While Trump churns out multiple news stories every day, the Legislative Branch is on an extended summer break, basically doing nothing. They are being left in the dust by Trump.
TRUMP. I'm not sure there is one answer which better captures the mantra of President Donald Trump than one he gave on Monday to reporters in the Oval Office. Trump yesterday floated the idea of changing the official name of the Pentagon from the Department of Defense back to the War Department, the original formal name.
NAME CHANGE. That should require a vote in Congress to bring back the Department of War. But not for Trump. "We're just gonna do it," Trump told reporters. "I'm sure Congress will go along - if we need that. I don't think we even need that."
CONGRESS. But there are Trump supporters ready to offer that plan on Capitol Hill. "From the Revolution through World War II, America fought and won under that banner," said Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL). "This is 100 percent right."
FLAG BURNING. Trump also signed an executive order on Monday which tries to get around a 1989 Supreme Court decision on flag burning. That ruling said it was unconstitutional to outlaw the burning of the American flag. Many Republicans in Congress were more than happy to rally behind Trump’s move.
GOP. “Burning the American flag should not be considered free speech,” said Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA), who called it ‘an act of terrorism.’ "We should all stand for the American flag," added Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX).
MESSAGE. We all know how powerful of a symbol the American flag can be. It won’t surprise me if GOP leaders come up with some bill to make it a crime to burn an American flag - and put everyone on the record about it.
MR. NO. We already know one Republican who won’t vote for something like that - Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), who says it’s all about the First Amendment. “Neither Congress nor the President nor a Judge can make it illegal.”
OLD DAYS. I remember the day that flag burning case was decided. There were angry GOP lawmakers, but also some Republicans who felt the Supreme Court had done the right thing. Trump can’t override that decision with an executive order, but he can certainly stir the political waters.
FEDERAL RESERVE. President Trump last night said he was moving to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, accusing her of mortgage fraud. Documents have shown that Cook bought properties in Michigan and Georgia, claiming both as her primary residence.
HOUSE. "The President does not have the legal authority to fire a Fed Director except in extreme circumstances," said Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI). "She has not been convicted of any crime. This is a wannabe dictator trying to do dictator things."
PENCE. Hardly any Republicans in Congress have spoken up as President Trump has unilaterally raised tariffs by what could be trillions of dollars. So, Trump's former Vice President is taking on that role. Criticizing Trump’s tariff plans, Mike Pence on Monday cited recent layoffs by John Deere, which blamed $300 million in higher tariff costs for the move.
TAXES. "American Companies and American Consumers Pay the Cost of American Tariffs," Pence tweeted, sending out a Wall Street Journal editorial which had the sly headline, 'A Deere in the Tariff Headlights.'
TARIFFS. Democrats used the John Deere news to take aim at the White House as well. "John Deere is laying off hundreds of employees as a direct result of Donald Trump's reckless policies," said Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI).
DE MINIMIS. There is one other tariff story that I want to highlight. One Trump tariff change eliminated an $800 exemption for foreign commercial packages and parcels. That means individual Americans will have to start paying tariffs to get those items delivered.
LUFTPOST. Worried about that new tariff collection requirement, a number of postal services in foreign countries have decided to halt all 'de minimis' shipments to the United States. This also involves big shippers like DHL, which has paused business shipments to the U.S.
ELECTIONS. When we talk about elections, we often talk about how the two parties want to run them in such different ways - just look at how President Trump wants to ban voting by mail. But when Americans are asked about the administration of elections - they are in bipartisan agreement on some interesting changes according to a new Pew Research poll.
REFORMS. This data is a reminder that voters don't always march in lockstep along with their parties.
PAPER TRAIL. 84 percent want electronic voting machines to produce a paper receipt, something often pressed by Republicans.
VOTER ID. 83 percent favor voter ID at the polls, a plan long backed by Republicans.
EARLY VOTE. 80 percent want at least 2 weeks of early in-person voting, something favored by Democrats.
HOLIDAY. 74 percent want Election Day to be a holiday, an idea proposed mainly by Democrats.
MUSE OF HISTORY. August 26, 1814. This was not a high point for the United States. On this date, President James Madison was on the run after British military forces sacked the nation’s capital. After fleeing across the Potomac River, Madison was now trying to join U.S. military forces in Maryland. A violent thunderstorm had delayed his crossing north of Great Falls - and ironically put out many of the fires set by the British in the city.
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM:
The House and Senate return for votes on September 2.
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Re: “We're just gonna do it," Trump told reporters. JFC. In that same briefing he said, “A lot of people are saying ‘Maybe we’d like a dictator.’”
And as he says all this batshit crazy dictator-esque stuff, he’s once against propped up behind the resolute desk, appearing increasingly immobile (he literally couldn’t walk a straight line with Putin last week) and was covering up his latest bruise with his other hand.
We had a story a day on Biden’s cognitive abilities after the debate last year but this? Next to nothing.
Which leaves us all to wonder — which will die first? Our floundering 249-year-old experiment in democracy or the Idi Amin in training currently occupying the White House.
First of all. Thank you for being the first real journalist to use the term "lies" when referencing Trump. Everyone seems to whitewash it. I believe you said "fountain of lies." Truth. (You should copywrite that.)
Suggestion: randomly call a few restaurants that know or like. See what the managers say about reservations. I gotta bet they are down. I know someone who recently visited the city and said the place seemed very quiet.
Oh, and Release the Epstein Files!