I Hate Politics Podcast

Raleigh, NC, architect and climate activist Tim Martin recently returned to society after completing a yearlong sentence for defacing in 2023 the case of Degas' Little Dancer sculpture in the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC as an act of climate protest. Sunil Dasgupta talks with Martin about what drove his act of civil disobedience, the experience in DC jail and in a federal prison camp, and the future of climate action.Music from Seth Kibel's brand new album, Clarinet Without A Net.

Like most economic activity, data centers promise much and impose costs. Loudoun County, Va, is the Data Center capital of the world with 253 already running and more on the way. Why did Loudoun become Data Center Alley? What impacts have they had? How are they moving forward? What can others learn from Loudoun? Sunil Dasgupta asks Mike Turner, Vice-chair of the county's Board of Supervisors, who has a white paper on the subject: https://t.ly/ui7EO. Music from Seth Kibel's brand new album, Clarinet Without A Net.

Primary Day in Maryland. The federal government has issued new rules for work requirements for Medicaid enrollees and thrown states in another tizzy. Maryland's Office of People's Counsel is asking the state's public service commission to reject all but $15 million out of Pepco's $120 million rate increase proposal. And as we begin summer, we have a reminder about Maryland's lists of noxious weeds and invasive plants. And more. Music from Seth Kibel's brand new album, Clarinet Without A Net.

Penn State University announced the closure of seven satellite campuses even as it adds more capacity to its flagship campus at University Park in State College, PA. The university is now looking at closing programs. All of this led the Penn State faculty to vote 3-1 in favor of unionization. Sunil Dasgupta speaks to Penn State, Berks, Political Science Professor Randy Newnham about the reorganization at the university, unionization, and what it means for the future of higher education. Music from Seth Kibel's brand new album, Clarinet Without A Net.

Montgomery County, MD, pauses the processing of data centers permits for six months, Student journalists in MCPS protest a new rule that requires prior review of all school-sponsored publications. We have crowd-sourced data on MCPS schools affected by HVAC failures. And Delegate Kris Fair from Frederick County has an explainer for what happens with the replacement ballots Maryland had to send out. And more. Music from Seth Kibel's brand new album, Clarinet Without A Net.

Unlike in cities, suburban unhoused tend to hide in forgotten spaces in the folds of modern architecture, between transportation infrastructure and housing developments, in the no-man's land between state and county administrations, between private and public property. Glenn Fellman, the publisher of the online local news and advocacy website Montgomery Fix (www.montgomeryfix.com) has for the last several months been reporting on homelessness in Montgomery County, MD. He joins Sunil Dasgupta to talk about the nature of the problem and the inadequacy of county policy. Music from Seth Kibel's brand new album, Clarinet Without A Net.

Voter information for the Maryland primary election on June 23. For polling place, early voting centers, and to register: https://voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/PollingPlaceSearch. Governor Moore finally decides lto endorse Councilmember Will Jawando for County Executive in Montgomery. We have updates on the other races as well. The Montgomery County Board of Education approves final budget adjustments after the county council does not fully fund the school district's ask. We look at the impact on student mental health support in schools. Maryland Attorney General adds four more apartment building owners to lawsuit against the rental real-estate platform RealPage and eight other companies. And more. Music from Seth Kibel's brand new album, Clarinet Without A Net.

Maryland Primary Day is June 23. Only Democrats and Republicans can participate in the primary elections, leaving out the fastest growing group, independent voters. The state-funded and state-organized primary ballot leaves out third parties while officials are elected only by 20-25 percent of voters. But three third parties are expected to be on the ballot in the November general elections. How do they see the state's politics? Sunil Dasgupta finds out from Andy Ellis, the Green Party's candidate for Maryland Governor. Music from Seth Kibel's brand new album, Clarinet Without A Net.

Affordable Maryland PAC's ad attacking Will Jawando's record on education leads to push back. PAC Chair Jonathan Robinson joins us. The Montgomery County Board of Education is going to vote on a long list of position cuts this week and MCPS school psychologist Alli Jacobus and parent Rachel Singer join to talk about the impact in one department. MCPS College and Career Navigator Sarah Kessler (whose position is also on the chopping block) joins to talk about University of Maryland's Fall 2026 admission numbers and clear up some common misconceptions about who is admitted and who is not. Music by Silver Spring rock musician MYSTR Treefrog.

In the run-up to the Maryland primary on June 23, Sunil Dasgupta talks with Dee Clarkin, Executive Director of the progressive group Indivisible Montgomery, and Chris Pickett, the founder of the group who has just published a memoir on local organized called The People United (https://a.co/d/08qqpizt) about the challenges grassroots political action including wading into purely primary elections and managing volunteers. Music by Silver Spring rock musician MYSTR Treefrog.