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Through The ‘Alien’ Eye: Discovering Washington, D.C. Beyond The Halls Of Power
24htopnews | September 4, 2026 2:09 PM CST

A whirlwind weekend spent walking around Washington, D.C. reveals how its multitude of coexisting identities continually expand the meaning of being American

Driving past Washington, D.C.’s broad avenues and imposing monuments from the airport, we picture stern officials in suits behind formidable facades, making decisions about war, diplomacy, and economics that ripple across the world.

It is difficult to separate Washington from power. The city of the White House, Capitol Hill, and the Pentagon is where authorities define what it means to be American, who belongs, and who remains, officially, an “alien”.

For a nation that has long projected personal freedom as an ideal to the world, the question feels particularly urgent. How does this city treat those who are not from here?

Day 1: Who gets to dream?


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