The Needle: Rioter Hired by Pentagon, Trump Spends $5 Million on Gold Leaf for Horses, National Guard Has No Impact on Violent Crime, DHS Chief Won’t Obey Court Orders, and DC Council Bans Common Area Utility Fees

The Pentagon hired Elias Irizarry, a Jan. 6 rioter, for a sensitive military unit, raising concerns. The Trump administration spent $5 million on gold leaf for Lincoln Memorial horses, while the National Guard's deployment in D.C. reduced property crime but not violent crime. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin refused to commit to following court orders, and the D.C. Council banned common area utility fees in multifamily buildings.