The Politics Hour with Kojo Nnamdi

We take the Politics Hour on the road this week, broadcasting live from the Prince George's Publick Playhouse in Hyattsville, Maryland!

The midterm elections are just over a week away, and Democrats are cautiously optimistic about the party's chances of flipping both the House and Senate. U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) has been traveling around the country campaigning for Democratic candidates. She joins Kojo and Tom on stage to talk about what's at stake in the midterms and the message she is sharing with voters. Plus, we ask her to share her thoughts on the proposed change to the state constitution that would change how congressional districts are drawn and what she is doing to help make life more affordable for Maryland.

Prince George's lawmakers are grappling with a widening controversy over the dispensing of millions of dollars in county grants to groups run by friends of council leaders.  We ask Prince George's Council Chair Krystal Oriadha what exactly happened and what comes next. Prince George's County leaders have their sights set on a Vegas-style entertainment venue as a key economic driver. In recent months, county lawmakers have advanced legislation that would allow a mini-Sphere to be built at National Harbor.l Chair Oriadha sits down to discuss why she's putting her faith in this $1.4 billion project.

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A federal judge this week temporarily blocked the Trump administration from cutting down any more trees at East Potomac Golf Links. This comes after the federal government had contractors hastily chop down hundreds of trees at the public course last weekend, claiming it was related to a 2019 rehabilitation plan. For months, President Trump has threatened to take over and close the District's largest public golf course to turn it into a "championship-level" course. Virginia Congressman Don Beyer has been at the forefront of the fight to protect the course and joins the show to discuss what's next. And we ask why he and other Democrats are calling for the FAA to stop using an AI air traffic control tool.

D.C. students, staff, and parents remain very concerned about the presence of National Guard troops and federal agents near schools. Ward 2 D.C. Councilmember Brooke Pinto held a community listening session this week where residents shared their experiences. She joins Kojo and Tom to explain what she heard and what she plans to do. Plus, we get her thoughts on possible tax hikes and why D.C. police data shows one category of violent crime is on the rise.

Sorting political fact from fiction, and having fun while we’re at it. Join us for our weekly review of the politics, policies, and personalities of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia at 12 p.m. on Friday.

Produced by Matt Blitz

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In recent months, D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb has used his office to improve housing conditions across the city, including filing lawsuits that force landlords to clean up trash and stop illegal activities. The city's top lawyer joins Kojo and Tom to explain why this is one of his top priorities. Plus, the Attorney General breaks down the settlement with Amazon over the company's discriminatory delivery practices in Wards 7 and 8, and how his office is working to reduce youth crime.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore did not promise to serve a full second term if reelected during this week's gubernatorial debate. Moore's comments have made many political experts think he might run for President in 2028. WAMU's Maryland reporter Jenny Abamu explains what the future could hold for the governor. Plus, the Prince George's County Council unanimously advanced legislation for the proposed Sphere project at National Harbor without a union labor agreement. Jenny explains how community members are reacting and what it means for the project moving forward.

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Virginia officials are scrutinizing the proposed $67 billion Dominion-NextEra merger, which would create the world's largest regulated electric utility company. Federal lawmakers this week warned the proposed merger could raise electricity prices for customers. Virginia Lieutenant Governor Ghazala Hashmi recently went on a listening tour to hear Virginia residents' thoughts on the proposed merger. She joins the show to share what she learned. Plus, we ask her about Governor Spanberger's plans to restrict data center development and the three constitutional amendments Virginians are voting on in this year's elections.

A judge has declared a mistrial in the federal bribery case of Ward 8 D.C. Councilmember Trayon White. His legal, financial, and political future remains very uncertain. The D.C. Council could expel him again, but many councilmembers are not yet commenting publicly.  D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson will play a central role in the decision. He sits down with Kojo and Tom to discuss. We also ask the Council Chair to preview an upcoming hearing on ways to raise the city's revenue, including potential tax hikes, and why he's advocating spending hundreds of millions of dollars to renovate two of D.C.'s major sports stadiums.

Montgomery County lawmakers are talking trash. More specifically, the county council is deciding what to do about its aging trash incinerator. Council President Natali Fani-González joins the show to talk about the future of the county's trash. The county's police chief abruptly resigned last week after a county report showed he misused county funds and made false statements. We ask Council President Fani-González for her thoughts, plus we talk about Maryland Governor Wes Moore's statewide data center plan and colleague Will Jawando's return to the council after a recent heart attack.

The D.C. Council returned for its first legislative hearing of the fall this week. They quickly moved to support a proposal that restricts ballot initiatives. We ask Ward 5 D.C. Councilmember Zachary Parker why he was against it. We'll also ask him his thoughts on D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser's proposed master plan for the RFK campus.

And, the jury is still deliberating in the federal bribery trial of Ward 8 D.C. Councilmember Trayon White. We get the latest on the District's trial of the year.

We want to hear from you!  Send your questions for Council President Natali Fani-González and Councilmember Parker to [email protected]. You can also call in at noon on Friday to 1-800-433-8850.

Sorting political fact from fiction, and having fun while we’re at it. Join us for our weekly review of the politics, policies, and personalities of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia at 12 p.m. on Friday. 

It's the District's trial of the year. Ward 8 D.C. Councilmember Trayon White is being tried in federal court this week on charges that he accepted tens of thousands of dollars in bribes in late 2024. The trial's outcome will have major ramifications for the D.C. Council and Ward 8 residents. The Washington Sun's Jenny Gathright explains what's at stake and gives us the latest from court.

Loudoun County lawmakers pushed forward a year-long pause on data center development this week. It's the latest sign of recent community backlash against the industry. And now federal lawmakers are getting involved. Virginia Congressman Suhas Subramanyam, who represents "data center alley," recently unveiled his plan to regulate data centers nationwide. He joins the show to discuss.

The Politics Hour is going back to school! DCPS Interim Chancellor Dr. Kim Jackson joins Kojo and Tom to talk about school renovations, new graduation requirements, public safety, cell phone policies, and chronic absenteeism. Plus, we ask her about DCPS's involvement in the ongoing federal grand jury investigation and how schools are handling a recent influx in federal immigration enforcement. 

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It’s been 25 years since 9/11. The attacks here and across the country deeply changed our region. This week on The Politics Hour, we look back on that day. Barbara Favola was an Arlington County Board member in 2001 and helped coordinate the response to the attack on the Pentagon, which is in the county. Kojo talks to the now-Virginia State Senator.

Plus, we hear from listeners who all week have sent in their own reflections and memories about what happened that day. Kojo and Tom will also share their thoughts and discuss how the region has changed in the quarter century since the terrorist attacks of 9/11.

The D.C. Council is returning to work after its summer break, and there is a lot to do. Facing an $800 million budget shortfall, the council is set to debate the best ways to raise revenue… which could mean raising taxes, even as Congress tries to stop city officials from doing that. Ward 6 D.C. Councilmember Charles Allen gets behind the mic to weigh in. Plus, Councilmember Allen explains why he believes the new football stadium needs a second Metro station, and we ask for his thoughts on the upcoming federal bribery trial of his council colleague, Trayon White.

Sorting political fact from fiction, and having fun while we’re at it. Join us for our weekly review of the politics, policies, and personalities of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia at 12 p.m. on Friday.

The Loudoun County data center debate has gone national. The growth of "Data Center Alley" - and the tax revenue that comes from it - has led to gleaming new community centers and low property taxes. But the proliferation of data centers in the region has also led to mounting resident concerns over the environmental impacts and potential health risks.

Now, county lawmakers are weighing whether to pause data center development. Loudoun County Board Chair Phyllis Randall joins the show to weigh in on the big vote later this month about halting new projects. Plus, why Loudoun is divided on how to handle federal immigration enforcement in the county.

Also ... residents across the region are concerned about local law enforcement's use of Flock cameras. District police have so far remained mum on exactly how they are using the surveillance technology. NOTUS reporter Martin Austermuhle gets behind the mic to talk about his reporting. Plus, we get the latest on  Ward 8 D.C. Councilmember Trayon White's upcoming federal trial, and the future of Hains Point.

Plus, the Maryland Supreme Court ruled this week that a question about Maryland's redistricting rules can appear on the November ballot, overturning two lower courts.  The legal decision has state and national implications. Maryland House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk joins the show to discuss the ruling and what it means for Maryland voters.

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The Politics Hour is back from summer break with another big show!

A judge's ruling this week put the Maryland Democrat-backed redistricting plan in limbo. WAMU's Maryland reporter Jenny Abamu explains the court's decision and what comes next.

Local officials are sharing their concerns about the surge in federal immigration enforcement operations across the region. In Northern Virginia, elected leaders and residents are accusing ICE agents of using particularly brutal tactics. This includes an incident in Arlington where a man suffered a brain hemorrhage. Arlington County Board Vice Chair Maureen Coffey gets behind the mic to talk about how the county is reacting to the increased federal immigration enforcement. Plus, a recent rash of drivers in cars striking pedestrians has local lawmakers looking to make roads safer.

Prince George's County leaders are celebrating a legal victory that could keep the 2023 plan to move the FBI headquarters to Greenbelt on track. However, with the White House promising to fight the decision, the FBI's move to Maryland is far from assured. Prince George's County Council Chair Krystal Oriadha weighs in and discusses what comes next. She'll also explain why thousands of Prince George's County students get left without a bus on the first day of school.

Sorting political fact from fiction, and having fun while we’re at it. Join us for our weekly review of the politics, policies, and personalities of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia at 12 p.m. on Friday.

Send us questions and comments for guests: [email protected]

Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885

All eyes are now on November's midterm elections, after this week's Virginia primaries turned out to be a "big snoozer." Could the Commonwealth be the difference in which party controls the U.S. House of Representatives? We ask Virginia Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell. Plus, Sen. Surovell explains why he agrees with President Trump's plan to overhaul Dulles Airport and whether he shares Governor Abigail Spanberger's skepticism about a potential Dominion-NextEra merger.

Maryland lawmakers greenlit a redistricting referendum this week that now heads to voters in November for approval. The move would redraw the state's congressional districts in 2028. We ask State Senator Cheryl Kagan what changed her mind on redistricting and what comes next. Plus, what's the status of her proposed special elections constitutional amendment?

It's been one year since President Trump federalized D.C. police and deployed the National Guard to the nation's capital to deal with what he called "out of control crime." What has changed in the District during that time? Has crime actually gone down? Is the hundreds of millions spent on the National Guard, and the billions budgeted to keep them in the District through 2029, worth it? D.C. Police Union President Gregg Pemberton joined us on the show last year, and he sits down with Kojo and Tom again to discuss the police officers' perspective. Plus, he gives his thoughts on the recent report about MPD's ongoing issues with reporting crime data.

Sorting political fact from fiction, and having fun while we’re at it. Join us for our weekly review of the politics, policies, and personalities of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia at 12 p.m. on Friday. 

Send us questions and comments for guests: [email protected]

Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885