D.C. and Virginia sue to block planned 250-foot arch

D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb and Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones sued Saturday in federal court in Washington to stop construction of a roughly 250-foot arch planned for Memorial Circle, the grass circle at the D.C. end of the bridge to Arlington National Cemetery. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan combined their case with the earlier suit by three Vietnam War veterans and a historian that she heard Friday, set a joint briefing schedule, and has not yet ruled; the two jurisdictions also asked for a temporary restraining order.

Context  What is new since Friday's hearing is that two governments have joined the challenge. Their suit argues the project lacks approval from Congress, breaks D.C.'s building height limits, skipped required federal reviews, and would disrupt traffic and emergency services and send runoff into the Potomac River. D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, who sits on the National Capital Planning Commission, the federal body that reviews building plans in the capital, filed a declaration backing the suit and said the dispute is about following the law, not about whether people like the arch. White House spokesman Davis Ingle said the arch will be one of the world's most iconic landmarks, and President Trump has said it is important militarily for Washington and the country. The administration plans to seek the commission's final approval at its meeting Thursday, Nov. 5, and could begin work that day. Arlington County has filed a separate suit over the project's environmental reviews.

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An Associated Press review of satellite imagery, published Saturday, counted more than 115 drone or missile strikes, claimed by Iran or groups it backs, that damaged or destroyed structures at 26 U.S. military bases and other sites in the Middle East through August. AP found the attacks first hit radar and early-warning systems and then aircraft, hangars, warehouses and troop housing, with equipment losses in the billions of dollars.

Context  The United States and Iran have been at war for about eight months; the deadliest known strike on U.S. troops killed six soldiers at Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, on March 1. Kuwait took the most attacks, and a strike at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia damaged an E-3 surveillance plane and several refueling tankers. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said U.S. forces and bases are well protected, and U.S. Central Command declined to detail the damage, citing operational security. AP said some satellite imagery companies delayed or blocked images at U.S. officials' request, and two regional officials told AP the U.S. has moved many aircraft and air defense systems out of the Persian Gulf.

FBI agents have contacted donors to Dan J. Sullivan, a Senate candidate who shares a name with Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, in Petersburg and Sitka, Alaska, and in Massachusetts, asking whether their contributions went to the candidate they intended. Alaska's U.S. Attorney, Michael Heyman, confirmed a criminal investigation he said has run for months, and on Friday the Justice Department asked a court to order certain Alaska ballots set aside over possible voter confusion.

Context  Alaska elects its senator by ranked-choice voting on Tuesday, and the incumbent's main opponent is Democrat Mary Peltola, a former congresswoman. Heyman said a New York Times report that Peltola's campaign appeared to be involved in recruiting Dan J. Sullivan led to a surge of law enforcement resources in the state. Peltola denied any involvement, called the allegations "garbage" and said they were a smear meant to hold down turnout. President Trump called the matter "voter fraud at the highest level." Donors who were contacted said they did not feel misled. The reports include no response from Dan J. Sullivan, and no ruling on the ballot request had been reported.

AP via ABC News  ·  Alaska Public Media

U.S. District Judge Darrin Gayles in Miami on Saturday dismissed President Trump's defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, its corporate owners and Rupert Murdoch with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled. He found Trump had not shown the defendants acted with actual malice and wrote that the suit was "grasping at straws."

Context  The suit concerned a 2025 Journal story about a sexually suggestive letter bearing Trump's name in a 2003 birthday album for Jeffrey Epstein; Trump denies writing it and called the story false. Under the Supreme Court's 1964 New York Times v. Sullivan decision, a public figure suing for defamation must show a publisher knew a statement was false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth. Gayles dismissed an earlier version in April and let Trump refile. A spokesperson for Trump's legal team said he will keep pressing the case, and a source told CBS News an appeal is likely; neither report includes a response from the Journal. The reports differ on the damages sought: $10 billion according to AP, $20 billion according to CBS News.

AP via ABC News  ·  CBS News

Sunday, 8:30 a.m.  ·  Early vote centers across D.C.

In-person early voting is open from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. today, the last day before Election Day on Tuesday.

Sunday, 3 p.m.  ·  Politics and Prose, 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW

The comedian discusses his book, a humorous guide to Native American history and culture, with Caty Borum and Mato Wayuhi.

Sunday, 5 p.m.  ·  Politics and Prose, 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW

The author discusses a book that combines drawings and a personal essay about sketching a newborn in the early weeks of motherhood, with Matthew Klam.