Latest news with #Washingtonians
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Opinion - Don't know what DC club to join? Ask Groucho.
These are tough times in Washington. Federal employees don't know from one day to the next whether they'll still have a job. Reporters fear their editors won't back them up if they're too hard on reporting the truth about President Trump. Lobbyists scan their client list to make sure none can be blackballed as 'DEI.' Republican politicians worry about being primaried. Democrats worry about being dismissed as irrelevant. All that angst! But, according to a recent survey in the New York Times, that stress is minor compared to the biggest existential crisis facing younger, political and socially-ambitious Washingtonians today: What private club shall I join to further my career and, maybe, have fun along the way? Let's be honest. The choices are not great, starting with what is probably still Washington's most prestigious private club, the Metropolitan Club, nestled in a drab high rise near the White House. It has a roster of famous Washington establishment names — I once chatted up Vice President Dick Cheney there — but if you're looking for signs of life, you'd be better off at Congressional Cemetery. Next up, the Cosmos Club, located in a beautiful Beaux-Arts mansion on Massachusetts Avenue, near Dupont Circle. Like San Francisco's Bohemian Club, the Cosmos Club is home to artists, writers and intellectuals. Its walls are covered with photos of members who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize. But, again, it's atmosphere is quiet, if not moribund. But now there are two alternatives. Ned's Club, which opened in late January, across from the Treasury Department, with a $5,000 initiation fee plus an annual $5,000 membership fee. Aiming to attract younger professionals from both parties, Ned's has already signed up 1,500 major players in the current and past administrations, as well as several big-name journalists. If that's your idea of a good time, 'half the lobbyists in town are always there,' one unnamed member told the Times. The Executive Branch, opening this month, is Washington's most exclusive private club, created by a group of investors led by Donald Trump Jr. in an subterranean cavern under a Georgetown shopping mall. With a membership fee of $500,000, the Executive Branch is clearly a place where MAGA moguls and government officials — and maybe even POTUS himself — can hoist a drink without fear of rubbing elbows with someone not wearing a MAGA hat. If you're not sure what club to join, here's the obvious answer: Don't join any of them. To make it in Washington, you don't really have to. There are plenty of power pits in DC you can get into for just the price of a meal. No place speaks Washington politics and power like The Palm restaurant, where caricatures of past and present big shots stare down at you from the walls. Legendary lobbyists like Tommy Boggs and Chuck Manatt had their own tables here. At Friday lunch, chances are you'll see former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) holding court. Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak and Stone Crab, in a renovated bank at the corner of 15th and H, NW, a block from Lafayette Park, is another favorite for Republican and Democratic operatives. Dinner at the Capitol Grill, near the Capitol, is like dinner in the House GOP Caucus: swap stories with House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.). Or join Trump insiders led by frequent diner Steve Bannon at Butterworth's, on Capitol Hill. Trattorio Alberto, on Barracks Row, once former House Speaker John Boehner's (R-Ohio) hideaway, nightly hosts Congress members and staffers from both sides of the aisle. The Tune Inn remains Washington's classic, no-frills, grungy bar. And there's still no better place to see and be seen by the politically powerful than Georgetown's Café Milano. The point is: With so many free alternatives, there's no need to join a private club to help you climb the political, professional and social ladder. In fact, when it comes to joining clubs, the leading authority is the great Groucho Marx. He once applied for membership in the Los Angeles chapter of the Friars Club. But, once accepted, he declined the invitation, citing a busy schedule. Club managers objected, insisting there must be something else. 'I do have another reason,' Groucho wrote back promptly. 'I didn't want to tell you, but since you've forced the issue: I just don't want to belong to any club that would have me as a member.' That Groucho philosophy of not joining any club has enabled me to survive and thrive in the highly-competitive worlds of San Francisco, Los Angeles and Washington. I highly recommend it. Bill Press is host of 'The Bill Press Pod.' He is the author of 'From the Left: A Life in the Crossfire.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
a day ago
- Business
- The Hill
Don't know what DC club to join? Ask Groucho.
These are tough times in Washington. Federal employees don't know from one day to the next whether they'll still have a job. Reporters fear their editors won't back them up if they're too hard on reporting the truth about President Trump. Lobbyists scan their client list to make sure none can be blackballed as 'DEI.' Republican politicians worry about being primaried. Democrats worry about being dismissed as irrelevant. All that angst! But, according to a recent survey in the New York Times, that stress is minor compared to the biggest existential crisis facing younger, political and socially-ambitious Washingtonians today: What private club shall I join to further my career and, maybe, have fun along the way? Let's be honest. The choices are not great, starting with what is probably still Washington's most prestigious private club, the Metropolitan Club, nestled in a drab high rise near the White House. It has a roster of famous Washington establishment names — I once chatted up Vice President Dick Cheney there — but if you're looking for signs of life, you'd be better off at Congressional Cemetery. Next up, the Cosmos Club, located in a beautiful Beaux-Arts mansion on Massachusetts Avenue, near Dupont Circle. Like San Francisco's Bohemian Club, the Cosmos Club is home to artists, writers and intellectuals. Its walls are covered with photos of members who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize. But, again, it's atmosphere is quiet, if not moribund. But now there are two alternatives. Ned's Club, which opened in late January, across from the Treasury Department, with a $5,000 initiation fee plus an annual $5,000 membership fee. Aiming to attract younger professionals from both parties, Ned's has already signed up 1,500 major players in the current and past administrations, as well as several big-name journalists. If that's your idea of a good time, 'half the lobbyists in town are always there,' one unnamed member told the Times. The Executive Branch, opening this month, is Washington's most exclusive private club, created by a group of investors led by Donald Trump Jr. in an subterranean cavern under a Georgetown shopping mall. With a membership fee of $500,000, the Executive Branch is clearly a place where MAGA moguls and government officials — and maybe even POTUS himself — can hoist a drink without fear of rubbing elbows with someone not wearing a MAGA hat. If you're not sure what club to join, here's the obvious answer: Don't join any of them. To make it in Washington, you don't really have to. There are plenty of power pits in DC you can get into for just the price of a meal. No place speaks Washington politics and power like The Palm restaurant, where caricatures of past and present big shots stare down at you from the walls. Legendary lobbyists like Tommy Boggs and Chuck Manatt had their own tables here. At Friday lunch, chances are you'll see former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) holding court. Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak and Stone Crab, in a renovated bank at the corner of 15th and H, NW, a block from Lafayette Park, is another favorite for Republican and Democratic operatives. Dinner at the Capitol Grill, near the Capitol, is like dinner in the House GOP Caucus: swap stories with House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.). Or join Trump insiders led by frequent diner Steve Bannon at Butterworth's, on Capitol Hill. Trattorio Alberto, on Barracks Row, once former House Speaker John Boehner's (R-Ohio) hideaway, nightly hosts Congress members and staffers from both sides of the aisle. The Tune Inn remains Washington's classic, no-frills, grungy bar. And there's still no better place to see and be seen by the politically powerful than Georgetown's Café Milano. The point is: With so many free alternatives, there's no need to join a private club to help you climb the political, professional and social ladder. In fact, when it comes to joining clubs, the leading authority is the great Groucho Marx. He once applied for membership in the Los Angeles chapter of the Friars Club. But, once accepted, he declined the invitation, citing a busy schedule. Club managers objected, insisting there must be something else. 'I do have another reason,' Groucho wrote back promptly. 'I didn't want to tell you, but since you've forced the issue: I just don't want to belong to any club that would have me as a member.' That Groucho philosophy of not joining any club has enabled me to survive and thrive in the highly-competitive worlds of San Francisco, Los Angeles and Washington. I highly recommend it. Bill Press is host of 'The Bill Press Pod.' He is the author of 'From the Left: A Life in the Crossfire.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Thousands in WA at risk of losing food benefits under GOP bill in Congress
(Getty Images) Tens of thousands of low-income Washingtonians could lose federal food assistance if Republicans move ahead with plans in a bill the U.S. House passed last month. That's according to estimates from the state and researchers at a left-leaning think tank. The cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps, stem from a tax cut and spending package Republicans call their 'big, beautiful bill.' This legislation passed the U.S. House on May 22 and still needs approval from the Senate before it can reach President Donald Trump's desk. If more stringent work requirements in the bill take effect, about 79,000 people in Washington would be at risk of losing their benefits entirely, and 149,000 would be at risk of losing some SNAP benefits, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a liberal think tank. The majority of those people live in eastern Washington or the Olympic Peninsula. The state's Department of Social and Health Services estimates more than 900,000 people in Washington could see benefits reduced or eliminated if the bill is approved as written. 'The expanded work requirements provision alone would risk more than 198,000 Washingtonians losing access to critical food benefits statewide,' said Adolfo Capestany, a spokesperson for the department. Around 10% of the state's population receives SNAP benefits according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The majority of people affected by the cuts would be children, older adults, and people with disabilities. 'The bill would decrease the average monthly SNAP benefit for households by $55.95, from $331.58 per month to $275.63,' said Capestany. What's proposed in the Republican bill is the largest cut in the program's history, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Nationwide, the program would see a $300 billion, or roughly 30%, reduction. Since SNAP was introduced, the federal government has fully funded the cost of the food benefits, while states are responsible for screening for eligibility and issuing benefits. States have paid roughly half the cost of administering the program. The bill would require additional work requirement screening and would try to shift more costs to states. Studies have shown that work requirements do not boost employment, but do pose challenges for people trying to access benefits. At minimum under the Republican proposal, states would be required to pay 5% of SNAP benefits starting in 2028. States that exceed certain thresholds in making errors distributing SNAP payments would have to pay more. 'Washington would be required to backfill hundreds of millions of dollars in reduced federal funding annually,' Capestany said. State error rates vary from year to year, which could create challenges in the state's annual budget process. The addition of the work requirement would increase states' administrative burden and increase the risk of errors, according to the report. Capestany noted that the SNAP cuts Republicans are considering would trickle down to the economy and could decrease the amount flowing to Washington businesses, like grocers and retailers, by an estimated $360 million a year.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
First 9 pm sunset of 2025 in Seattle, WA
SEATTLE - For the first time in 2025, the sun will set at 9 p.m. for western Washingtonians. A long way from the Big Dark, we now march closer to the longest day of the year later this month. On June 2, the sun will officially set at precisely 9 p.m. The good news? The sun will continue setting later and later all month. On June 20, the sun will not set until 9:10 p.m. and the twilight hours will not wane completely until 9:51 p.m. Following the solstice, the sun will continue to set at either 9:10 p.m. or 9:11 p.m. through the rest of the month. On July 3, we will start to see the sunset time begin to revert for the first time, gradually inching up until the earliest sunsets happen at 4:17 p.m. in December. In 2025, the winter solstice is on Dec. 21. This will mark the shortest day of the year for the Northern Hemisphere. The Source Information for this story came from Wenatchee dad, 3 young girls unreachable, missing person alert activated 'Shut your legs' comment, rating female staff: Snoqualmie Police Chief fired after probe DOJ to announce drug trafficking arrests in Seattle Washington state named 'sanctuary jurisdiction' by Trump admin, 35 of 39 counties listed Motorcyclist speaks out after arrest made in Auburn, WA hit-and-run nearly 2 years ago WA beekeeper working to save millions of bees involved in crash in Whatcom County FBI scrutiny puts pressure on Seattle mayor after protest clash To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
Axios
27-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
Exclusive: D.C. diners are staying in and spending less
D.C. diners are pulling back — both spending and going out less, according to a new study from Upside digital marketplace. Why it matters: A record number of D.C. restaurants closed last year, and many say business conditions are bleak between rising costs and plummeting patronage, with no end in sight. The big picture: The latest Consumer Price Index report in April revealed that restaurant prices continue to increase nationally — up 3.8% year-over-year — more than food-at-home costs (up 2% year-over-year), per Upside. Upside's recent pulse survey of over 1,400 restaurant operators nationally shows that many plan to raise prices, even as they're worried about losing customers. Zoom in: In D.C., diner spending is down 2.5% over the past two years, per Upside'ssurvey of credit card transactions from nearly 120 restaurants, open from April 2023 through April 2025. Washingtonians are also dining out less frequently. The Upside data shows foot traffic to the average D.C. restaurant is 5% lower than two years ago. What they're saying: "We're seeing a shift in both volume and value," Upside's senior research economist Thomas Weinandy tells Axios in a statement. "Consumers are migrating away from higher-cost dining experiences in favor of options that offer perceived value — whether that's lower prices or more predictable spend." Their analysis of restaurants designated with a single "$" on Yelp (under $10 per person) saw a 2% increase over the past two years. While restaurants with more dollar signs (up to $60 per person) saw a 4% decrease in the same period. Between the lines: Consumers are also spending less within the same restaurants, says Weinandy. "The data is unclear how this is happening, but I suspect it's a combination of higher use of promotions, smaller group sizes, and being more selective when ordering, such as skipping dessert and drinks." The intrigue: While D.C. considers itself a foodie town, Weinandy says "consumers appear willing to sacrifice quality for affordability." Their analysis of Yelp data revealed that foot traffic was relatively stable for D.C. restaurants with low ratings (1-3 stars), while restaurants with 3.5+ stars saw the steepest decline in visits. Zoom out: Upside's report echoes grim findings in the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington's latest member survey, which polled nearly 200 DMV businesses — almost all small and independent restaurants, and local hospitality groups. In the survey, 44% of respondents say they're 'likely to close" by the end of this year. Reality check: Restaurants continue to open, and the poll is just a sliver of the RAMW's 1,500 members. Still, it's a "snapshot of what the industry is fearing and facing," the group's president, Shawn Townsend, told Axios. What we're watching: Mayor Bowser's new, controversial proposal to help struggling restaurants by repealing Initiative 82. The law raises the minimum wage for tipped workers — and labor costs for businesses— though the city argues it's not working. They say it only adds a financial burden to restaurants while lowering wages for many employees, who are seeing fewer tips.
