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A federal grand jury has declined to indict six Democratic members of Congress who published a video encouraging military personnel to refuse illegal orders. The Justice Department, under a Trump-appointed US attorney, had pursued seditious conspiracy charges that carried potential 10-year prison sentences against the lawmakers, all of whom had military or intelligence backgrounds. The video, released last November amid concerns about potentially illegal military strikes in South America, prompted President Trump to call it "seditious" and launch a federal investigation. One of the lawmakers, Senator Mark Kelly, is separately suing the government over attempts to reduce his military retirement rank in connection with the video. Critics characterized the prosecution attempt as retaliation against political opponents and an assault on free speech protections.

The Washington Informer highlights the often-overlooked contributions of Black Americans to building the nation's capital, including the White House, Capitol, and other landmarks, which were constructed with enslaved labor. As the Association for the Study of African American Life and History commemorates the 100th anniversary of Negro History Week's founding by D.C. resident Carter G. Woodson, the publication emphasizes local Black narratives in the DMV area. The newspaper spotlights the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's 50th anniversary and profiles community leaders who have shaped the District. Founded over 60 years ago by Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, The Washington Informer continues its mission to serve and empower the community through journalism that preserves and celebrates African American history.

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025 with the theme "Roots. Ready. Rising." to honor its legacy of developing African American leaders and advancing equity-focused policies. Founded in 1976 by three visionaries when the Congressional Black Caucus had only 13 members, the organization has grown alongside the caucus, which now includes 62 representatives and stands as Congress's largest branch. The anniversary celebrations include commemorative events, expanded programming across multiple cities, and new initiatives like a scholarship partnership with Zelle and Community Development Investors that provides MBA funding to students at five historically Black colleges and universities. CBCF President Nicole Austin-Hillery emphasizes that this milestone represents not merely longevity but a renewed declaration of purpose to continue transforming political representation into tangible power and opportunity for Black communities nationwide.

Washington D.C. justice leaders and community organizations are mobilizing to protect vulnerable populations from increased ICE and federal agent activities following violent enforcement operations in Minneapolis that resulted in two deaths. Local advocates are working to sever the connection between the Metropolitan Police Department and federal immigration enforcement agencies through upcoming public hearings, proposed legislation, and grassroots organizing. Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George has introduced legislation that would prohibit local law enforcement from participating in immigration enforcement without court orders and protect sensitive locations like schools and shelters. Multiple community organizations are coordinating teach-ins, protests, and solidarity efforts while emphasizing that ICE operations threaten all residents regardless of background. These groups view general strikes and nationwide shutdowns as powerful tools to challenge federal enforcement policies.

This article commemorates the 40th anniversary of Pearl B. Settles' death, a Ward 7 civic leader who fostered a clean, crime-free community in Washington D.C.'s Stoddert Terrace public housing development during the 1970s and 1980s. Her legacy lives on through her daughter Karen Settles and community members who continue her work, particularly as the ceremonial naming of Pearl B. Settles Way honors her contributions last May. The late Settles provided youth employment opportunities, affordable daycare, and community programs while serving as an advisory neighborhood commissioner and DCHA board member until her death in 1986. Today, community members face ongoing challenges including the opioid crisis and debates over public housing redevelopment, while Karen Settles advocates for resident involvement in decision-making and removal of a fence that physically and symbolically divides the community. # Key Takeaways

Four Black women educators and advocates in Washington D.C. organized a grassroots movement called "Recess at the Capitol" in response to congressional efforts to interfere with the District's local budget and tax legislation. The movement brought over 700 students, parents, and teachers to Capitol Hill to protest a continuing resolution that would have eliminated more than $1 billion from D.C.'s budget and later organized against a disapproval resolution targeting the city's child tax credit and earned income tax credit programs. The Senate is now poised to vote on this disapproval resolution, which the House already passed along party lines, threatening to disrupt the current tax season and cost the District approximately $670 million in revenue over four years. The organizers view their work as part of a broader struggle for D.C.'s autonomy and home rule, continuing their advocacy through community organizations like CARE Anacostia while inspiring young people to engage in civic activism.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore, the nation's only currently serving Black governor, was unexpectedly removed from the guest list for the annual National Governors Association dinner at the White House without explanation. The NGA's interim CEO indicated that the White House administration, not the organization, made the decision to exclude certain governors, prompting the NGA to withdraw its official recognition of the event. Moore publicly expressed concern that his exclusion from this traditionally bipartisan gathering may carry racial undertones, particularly given the timing shortly after President Trump posted and removed a racist video. While White House officials defended the decision as the president's discretionary right to invite whomever he chooses, the move has been criticized as undermining important federal-state collaboration and turning a bipartisan tradition into a partisan affair. # Key Takeaways

President Donald Trump removed a racist video from his social media account on Friday after widespread criticism from political leaders across party lines. The video, posted overnight, superimposed images of Barack and Michelle Obama onto cartoon apes while spreading false election fraud claims, imagery historically used to dehumanize Black people. The White House initially defended the post as an internet meme about "The Lion King" and dismissed concerns as "fake outrage," but Trump quietly deleted it before noon. The incident, occurring during Black History Month, drew condemnation from Democratic leaders, civil rights organizations like the NAACP, and even Republican lawmakers including Senator Tim Scott who called it "the most racist thing" from the White House. The controversy recalled Trump's earlier promotion of birther conspiracy theories questioning Obama's citizenship and sparked debate about political leadership's responsibility regarding racist imagery.

Katie Paris, founder of Red Wine & Blue, a suburban women's organization with over 600,000 members, hosted a Zoom meeting for more than 4,000 participants to support Springfield, Ohio's Haitian community facing potential immigration enforcement. The organization, which started in Ohio in 2019 and expanded to key swing states, focuses on mobilizing suburban women—a politically powerful demographic that helped determine recent elections—through grassroots, friend-to-friend organizing rather than traditional advertising campaigns. During the Tuesday night call, participants heard from local religious leaders, charity workers, and legal experts about how to support Haitian residents whose Temporary Protected Status was set to expire, despite a federal judge's temporary block. The meeting raised over $107,000 in less than an hour for local Springfield organizations assisting Haitian families, demonstrating the group's effectiveness at rapid mobilization and fundraising.

The D.C. Attorney General's Office released its 2025 Impact Report showing it generated $906.8 million in savings and benefits for the District, more than quadrupling its annual budget. Attorney General Brian Schwalb, now three years into his term as the District's second elected AG, emphasized his office's role defending residents' rights and interests amid various legal challenges. The office achieved a 98% win rate while defending over 900 cases and preserved significant federal funding for the city. Major accomplishments included securing $45.4 million for tenants, recovering $7.7 million in unpaid wages for workers, and contributing to substantial reductions in violent crime, traffic deaths, and opioid fatalities. # Key Takeaways

Howard University freshman Zahir Kalam Id-Din organized a student-led protest on January 30 in response to escalating ICE violence, including fatal shootings in Minneapolis that killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti earlier that month. Several hundred students from Howard, University of Maryland College Park, and other local schools marched through freezing conditions from Franklin Park to the White House as part of a nationwide anti-ICE shutdown. The demonstration emphasized intergenerational collaboration, with organizers seeking support from civil rights activists and the D.C.-based Black Panther Movement to provide guidance and security. Students and participants, including Black immigrants, voiced their determination to protect vulnerable communities from what they described as systemic terror and violence perpetrated by inadequately trained ICE agents.

President Donald Trump signed emergency funding legislation on Tuesday evening, ending a four-day partial government shutdown after the House narrowly approved the measure with a 217-214 vote. The bill provides full-year appropriations for five federal departments including Defense and Education, but only extends Department of Homeland Security funding until February 13th due to disagreements over immigration enforcement oversight. Democratic legislators demanded accountability measures for federal agents following controversial enforcement actions, while Republicans argued that delayed funding could harm essential services like disaster response and airport security. Following the president's signature, furloughed federal workers were immediately directed to return to their positions, though the temporary DHS funding extension ensures another legislative confrontation will occur later this month.

The D.C. Council held a February 3rd legislative meeting focused on Black History Month commemorations, approving several measures honoring African American community leaders and civil rights advocates. The Council unanimously passed a ceremonial resolution for Donna Lorraine Wright-Miller, a dedicated social worker and community organizer from Petworth who passed away in November 2025 at age 61. Additionally, the Council gave first reading approval to legislation renaming an elementary school after Gardner Bishop, a civil rights hero who led school boycotts and integration efforts in the 1940s, replacing the name of Robert Brent, a mayor associated with discriminatory "Black Codes." The Council also approved three nominations to the Historic Preservation Review Board, though concerns were raised about the lack of geographic diversity, particularly the absence of representatives from Wards 1, 4, 7, and 8. # Key Takeaways

Multiple candidates are competing to replace retiring Representative Steny Hoyer in Maryland's 5th Congressional District, with nearly a dozen individuals reportedly interested in the position. Delegate Adrian Boafo has secured significant early momentum by receiving endorsements from Hoyer himself and two state senators, drawing on his experience as Hoyer's former campaign manager and current work as a delegate. Prince George's County Councilmember Wala Blegay officially entered the race in late January, with supporters praising her advocacy background and comparing her to progressive congressional representatives. Other candidates include Alexis Solis and Delegate Nicole Williams, with each candidate emphasizing their commitment to addressing issues like healthcare access, economic opportunity, and effective federal representation for the district.

A federal lawsuit has been filed against the Trump administration's State Department for suspending immigrant visa processing for nationals from 75 countries, citing alleged public assistance concerns. The policy affects both family-based immigration cases where U.S. citizens have petitioned for relatives, as well as employment-based visas for professionals in fields like healthcare and energy whose work has already been deemed beneficial to America. The plaintiffs and advocacy organizations argue this directive effectively implements an unlawful nationality-based ban that replaces required individualized case reviews with blanket refusals based solely on country of origin. Immigration legal aid providers in Washington, D.C., and surrounding areas report receiving numerous calls from residents whose family members had completed all visa requirements only to have approvals suddenly frozen under the new policy. # Key Takeaways

Maryland's fiscal year 2025 ended with significant financial challenges, including a $1 billion decline in net position and slower economic expansion of just 1.1% in the second quarter. The state experienced substantial job losses, particularly shedding approximately 14,600 federal positions—representing 9% of its federal workforce—which contributed to an overall decline of 6,200 payroll jobs through September. The state's governmental funds balance dropped by $3.7 billion, and the general fund shifted from a surplus to a $0.9 billion deficit, while unemployment climbed to 3.8% and long-term debt obligations reached $23.8 billion. Looking forward, Maryland faces a projected $2.95 billion budget shortfall for fiscal year 2026, which officials plan to address through spending controls and tax policy changes while maintaining reserve funds.

Afeni Evans, a 29-year-old Washington D.C.-based community organizer, has transformed from a disillusioned Army recruit into a prominent abolitionist activist working against state violence and mass incarceration. After enlisting in 2017 to escape homelessness but being discharged within months due to her rejection of military values, Evans became deeply involved in D.C.'s Black liberation movement, particularly through organizations like Harriet's Wildest Dreams and Fair Budget Coalition. In August, she was violently arrested by Metro Transit Police while monitoring federal troops' interactions with Black youth during a juvenile curfew, sparking widespread protest and support that led to her release and charge dismissal. Evans now channels her experiences into multiple roles including community organizing, training formerly incarcerated individuals, and advocating for systemic change rooted in abolitionist principles that prioritize collective well-being over individualism.

President Donald Trump announced the temporary closure of the Kennedy Center for two years beginning July 4, citing needs for construction and renovation of what he called a deteriorating facility. The closure follows significant financial struggles at the venue after Trump took control in 2025, renamed it to include his name, and reshaped its board, leading to mass cancellations by artists and a dramatic drop in ticket sales from 7% unsold to 43% unsold during comparable periods. Critics suggest the closure is less about renovation and more about concealing the embarrassment of plummeting attendance and widespread artist boycotts. Trump claims financing is secured for creating a "spectacular entertainment complex," while opponents like JFK's grandson Jack Schlossberg view the closure as an attack on President Kennedy's legacy.

A coalition of 19 nonpartisan nonprofit organizations has formally opposed proposed federal legislation that would eliminate the District of Columbia's elected attorney general position and replace it with a presidential appointee. The bill, introduced by Texas Representative Pat Fallon, would allow the president to select and remove the D.C. attorney general without Senate confirmation, with terms aligned to presidential terms. The coalition argues this measure contradicts the national norm where 43 states elect their attorneys general and threatens prosecutorial independence by placing the office under direct executive control. Organizations point to the current attorney general's office success in securing over $661 million in benefits for D.C. residents in 2024 as evidence of effective local leadership.

Senate Democrats are negotiating a deal with President Trump to prevent a government shutdown by separating Department of Homeland Security funding from other spending bills and extending DHS funding for two weeks at current levels. The proposed agreement has sparked internal Democratic opposition because it maintains full ICE funding without new accountability measures like use-of-force restrictions or body camera requirements that Democrats had previously demanded. The deal also excludes extensions of Affordable Care Act premium subsidies that millions of Americans rely on for health coverage, despite earlier Republican promises to address this issue. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced progress on the deal but later discovered he lacked sufficient votes within his own caucus, exposing divisions among Democrats. With the funding deadline approaching Saturday and House Speaker Mike Johnson warning of logistical constraints, another partial government shutdown remains possible just three months after a 43-day closure ended.