WASHINGTON — Six more weeks of winter, and six more months of political gridlock.
That’s the word from Dupont Circle, where D.C.’s most stoic of pundits, Potomac Phil, saw his shadow while holding court in his seventh-annual Groundhog Day appearance Friday morning.
This year’s appearance was especially fraught, amid allegations of collusion with his much-more-animated cousin in Pennsylvania. (The very wiggly Punxsutawney Phil issued a similar weather forecast on Friday.)
Amid this media firestorm, Potomac Phil stood tall, maintained his distinctive poker face, and stuck to the talking points — which were issued through a spokesman, D.C. Councilmember Jack Evans.
“In Phil we trust,” Evans proclaimed after sharing the bad news. A chant from supporters ensued.
Phil declined to comment about who’ll win Sunday’s Super Bowl.
WTOP’s John Domen contributed to this report.
Potomac Phil and Groundhog Day 2018
![Dozens gathered for the seventh-annual Potomac Phil Groundhog Day celebration in Dupont Circle. (WTOP/John Domen)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_7913-1672x1254.jpg)
![Councilman Jack Evans announced Friday that Potomac Phil had seen his shadow. That means six more weeks of winter and six more months of political gridlock. (WTOP/John Domen)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_7920-1672x1254.jpg)
![Potomac Phil stuck to his talking points Friday.
(WTOP, Neal Augenstein, file)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/phil.jpg)
![Potomac Phil predicted not only more winter, but also more political gridlock, too. (WTOP/John Domen)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_7915-1672x1254.jpg)
Waking up from my hibernation—with a stiff neck still—and heading out for some drannnnnnnnnnks before my big day. R U in town?!?! pic.twitter.com/EiYPpVh2vb
— Potomac Phil (@PotomacPhil) January 31, 2018
![Dozens gathered for the seventh-annual Potomac Phil Groundhog Day celebration in Dupont Circle. (WTOP/John Domen)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_7913-260x174.jpg)
![Councilman Jack Evans announced Friday that Potomac Phil had seen his shadow. That means six more weeks of winter and six more months of political gridlock. (WTOP/John Domen)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_7920-260x174.jpg)
![Potomac Phil stuck to his talking points Friday.
(WTOP, Neal Augenstein, file)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/phil-260x174.jpg)
![Potomac Phil predicted not only more winter, but also more political gridlock, too. (WTOP/John Domen)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_7915-260x174.jpg)