Something to watch

The governors of Maryland and Virginia both refused direct requests from Defense Secretary Mark Esper to send National Guard troops to help counter mostly peaceful protestors in Washington, D.C.

In separate calls made on Monday, Esper asked Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) and Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) to deploy troops into the District, sources with knowledge of the calls said.

Esper made the request without consulting Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), who had already declared a curfew in the nation's capital.<"When this request came in, we quickly learned it had not been made at Mayor Bower's request or coordinated with her, and we have heightened concern based on the President's remarks that the administration is looking to use the Guard to escalate — not deescalate — the situation," [Clark Mercer, Northam's chief of staff, said in a statement.]br />
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The calls came hours before members of Washington's National Guard began shoving protestors away from Lafayette Square Park, in front of the White House, firing rubber bullets, releasing tear gas and setting off flash-bang grenades to disperse what had been a mostly peaceful protest.

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Later Monday and into the early hours of Tuesday, military helicopters hovered dangerously low over protestors, using what are called "show of force" tactics to disperse the crowds.

Blackhawk helicopters buzzed low over crowds across Washington's downtown region.

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The Pentagon has requested additional National Guard troops from Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Utah, who are either already in Washington or on their way, a senior defense official told The Hill.

  The Hill