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Today is the hottest day of the week—95 with heat index values at around 100. We’re at peak swamp. A heat emergency is in effect in D.C. Be a good Samaritan if you see someone out there who might have heat exhaustion.

Also, happy birthday to City Paper contributor Tom Sherwood!

THE NEWS: 

Tonight kicks off the second round of Democratic presidential debates, and every candidate on team blue supports making D.C. the 51st state in the union. The District does have a larger population than Wyoming and Vermont and yet lacks voting members in Congress. 

But for local activists, it’s not enough for candidates to simply say they support D.C. statehood, which is why they are asking if candidates support changing the Senate rules and advancing statehood legislation with a simple majority vote. Only 11 Democratic candidates support abolishing the filibuster—the procedural rule requiring 60 Senate votes—at least temporarily, according to the 51 For 51 campaign: New York Mayor Bill de Blasio; Montana Gov. Steve Bullock; South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg; Former Rep. John Delaney (MD); former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julián Castro; Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (NY); former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper; Washington Gov. Jay Inslee; Rep. Tim Ryan (OH); Sen. Elizabeth Warren (MA); and entrepreneur Andrew Yang. 

City Paper asked every Democratic candidate about the path to statehood, and learned Rep. Seth Moulton (MA) also supports passing legislation with 51 Senate votes. Spokespeople with the Kamala Harris and Wayne Messam campaigns were quick to say their candidates support D.C. statehood, but did not answer the question of how we get there.

The Joe Sestak campaign told City Paper he doesn’t support pushing D.C. statehood through the Senate with 51 votes. “In general I am not in favor of changing the rules when Democrats are in power,” Sestak says. 

Sen. Michael Bennet (CO) is the only candidate to tell 51 For 51 that he doesn’t support D.C. statehood with 51 votes. “It requires us to get rid of the filibuster rule and I’m not ready to do that,” says Bennet. 

Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (TX) has expressed willingness to abolish the filibuster, while other candidates like Sen. Cory Booker (NJ) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (VT) are skeptical. Also, it’s unclear what the president thinks about the issue. 

Please let us know what we can do to make District Line Daily more useful to you by replying to this email. (Or email me at agomez@washingtoncitypaper.com with tips and unrelated music recommendations.) —Amanda Michelle Gomez  

MORE NEWS YOU CAN USE: 

  • Nine homicides in the District were deemed justifiable last year, including the shooting of a robber by a security guard. [Post] 

  • Children’s National Medical Center on 111 Michigan Ave. NW ranked sixth best children’s hospital in the nation. [U.S. News]

  • Do not swim in Rock Creek. [DCist]

LOOSE LIPS LINKS, by Mitch Ryals (tips? mryals@washingtoncitypaper.com) 

  • Watch a video of Chairman Phil Mendelson rolling through the grass. It ends with a little pose. [Twitter]

  • A 46-unit family homeless shelter in Brookland to open in August. [Curbed]

  • Statehood hearing rescheduled for September 19. [Roll Call]

  • Police believe an armed robber is targeting transgender women. [WUSA9]

YOUNG & HUNGRY LINKS, by Laura Hayes (tips? lhayes@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • Small balls make Sorellina‘s St. Juice’s Polpette di Parmi stand out. [WCP]

  • Chef Amy Brandwein opens her second restaurant, Piccolina. [Washingtonian]

  • The story behind why “bottled in bond” spirits are still relevant today. [Post]

ARTS LINKS, by Kayla Randall (tips? krandall@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • Get a behind-the-scenes look at the builders of America in Vibrant Matter, Social Constructs. [WCP] 

  • Open piano nights have brought immense joy to Mount Pleasant’s Purple Patch. [Post] 

  • Here are a few lesser-known parks to visit in the region. [Washingtonian]

SPORTS LINKS, by Kelyn Soong (tips? ksoong@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • The Mystics return to D.C. tonight after the All-Star break to face Brittney Griner and the Phoenix Mercury. [Bullets Forever]

  • Decision time nears for the Washington football team to choose the home of its next stadium. Sites near Dulles International Airport, the National Harbor, and RFK Stadium are leading candidates, according to the Associated Press. Team president Bruce Allen said in a recent radio interview the stadium announcement could come “within a year.” 

  • Bradley Beal could be the last NBA star to make a move this summer. [The Ringer]

MAKE PLANS, by Emma Sarappo (Love this section? Get the full To Do This Week newsletter here. Tips? esarappo@washingtoncitypaper.com)

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