On Wednesday night, President Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One he thinks the federal government should take over the District: "I think that we should run it strong, run it with law and order, make it absolutely, flawlessly beautiful," Trump said. Many D.C. leaders are worried about what's next for the District's ability to self-govern. Ward 2 D.C. Councilmember and chair of the city's judiciary and public safety committee, Brooke Pinto, joined the show to give us her thoughts.

Legislation making its way through the Virginia General Assembly could eventually reshape Arlington County's government. We asked Arlington County Board Chair Takis Karantonis to weigh in. Plus, why the White House's push to shrink the federal workforce leaves Arlington County with an uncertain economic future. He also discussed how the county is protecting transgender students in the wake of new federal policies.

The Maryland General Assembly continues to debate how to close the state's three billion dollar budget gap. Governor Wes Moore recently pitched changes to the massive education reform plan Blueprint for Maryland's Future, but the proposal is not sitting well with everyone. Maryland State Senator Cheryl Kagan, who represents parts of Montgomery County, got behind the mic to give us her take.

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President Trump is expected to issue an executive order focused on crime and homeless encampments in the District. Some fear this could be a first step toward the White House stripping away the District’s ability to govern itself. D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson joined the show to weigh in. 

Plus, we asked Mendelson’s thoughts on the long-term future of the RFK Stadium site. The question of using taxpayer dollars to subsidize the construction of a multi-billion dollar stadium is expected to be a major sticking point in the conversation. At Thursday’s community meeting in Ward seven, D-C Mayor Muriel Bowser alluded to the possibility of the city spending money to sweeten the deal for the team.

Mendelson disagrees with using public money andited his long standing view on the issue. “I think there are a lot of advantages to a stadium. But we also know from research in city after city after city… public dollars don’t have that return,” he said. The stadium would likely anchor a larger development including a sports and entertainment complex, retail, and housing.

A Virginia House subcommittee this week tabled the much-discussed Fairfax County casino bill. Does this mean the effort to bring a casino and entertainment complex to Tysons has gone bust? We asked WAMU’s Northern Virginia reporter Margaret Barthel. And what’s the future of the Virginia Democratic Party now that Susan Swecker is stepping down after a decade at the helm?

Maryland is one of the states suing the Trump administration over recent executive actions, from ending birthright citizenship to granting Elon Musk access to sensitive Treasury Department data. Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown joined Kojo and Tom to break down the legal strategy and why it is necessary. 

“Elon Musk is in the central payment system. Maryland gets eleven billion dollars through that system and Marylanders get fifty-one billion,” Brown said. “So, the 1.5 million to protect Marylanders and defend the interest of the state are well worth it.” 

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A federal judge paused the Trump administration's "deferred resignation" offer hours before the Thursday deadline. Many of the particulars of the offer remain unclear, including if it is even lawful. U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin (D) joined the show to weigh in on what it means for the region and what lawmakers are doing to help local federal workers.

Plus, the Congressman explained why the White House's recent immigration enforcement actions could be illegal and his thoughts on legislation that would repeal D.C.'s self-governance.

Debate is raging over a proposal in the Virginia General Assembly to bring a casino to Fairfax County. Supporters believe it will bring economic development and jobs to the county, while detractors argue it does not have the public's backing. Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay got behind the mic to weigh in on the debate.

He said he does not favor the legislation that passed the Virginia Senate earlier this week, noting it turns a potential casino into a “ATM” for Richmond with little economic benefit to the county.

"The way the bill is currently written right now, what passed the Senate, is absolutely not a good deal for Fairfax County," McKay said. "It’s a great deal for the Commonwealth of Virginia."

Plus, how the Trump administration's push to shrink the federal workforce could affect the county's economy.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore delivered his "State of the State" address this week where he focused on the growing financial challenges facing his state. He called on bipartisan compromise and the need to make "tough choices" to address the state's $3 billion budget gap. We asked Maryland Matters' founding editor and reporter Josh Kurtz to break down Governor Moore's remarks and explain Maryland lawmakers' agendas. And we said goodbye to the long-time Maryland politico, who announced this week he's moving on.

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On Wednesday night, a Blackhawk helicopter collided with a regional passenger jet over the Potomac River landing at National Airport in Arlington. There are no survivors, and 67 people are believed to be dead. U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-Virginia) discussed the latest on the deadly plane crash.

He said the crash has further heightened his concerns over air traffic control staffing. A preliminary F-A-A report confirmed staffing levels at National Airport’s air control tower were below what they should have been on Wednesday night. It’s been the case for years, with a workforce nearly a third below-targeted staffing levels per a 2023 workforce plan. 

Warner is also warning that President Trump’s push to shrink the federal workforce could further deplete staffing levels. He worried about workers taking the White House’s delayed resignation offer. 

“If a few thousand aircraft controllers say ‘we’re done with this, too much stress, too much hassle'... I don’t know how we operate airspace in America," Warner said.

Plus, we asked his warnings against adding flights at DCA.

Prince George's County is also helping with recovery and is closing sections of National Harbor as officials continue to recover debris. We asked Prince George's County Councilmember Wala Blegay about her county's role. And what does the White House's push to shrink the federal workforce mean for Prince George's County? 

The District continues to offer support in the plane crash recovery operations. But it's doing so without an ice-breaking fire boat that's been out of service since 2022. We asked D.C. Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen his thoughts. Plus, how does the confusion over the White House's federal funding freeze impact D.C?

And Allen talked about D.C. Council's vote next week on whether to expel Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White. He was arrested in August on federal bribery charges and the Council is expected to vote in favor of dismissing him from the legislative body. While Allen is saddened to have to make this choice, he said the penalty is needed.

"All of the rules of our code of conduct was violated. And I think it is clear as day and, obviously, on video," Allen said.

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President Trump issued a slew of executive actions in his first few days in office focused on federal workers. That includes requiring a return to full-time to in-person work and making it easier for the executive branch to replace civil servants with political appointees. D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson and Montgomery County Council President Kate Stewart joined us to weigh in and discuss how the president's actions may impact residents in our region.

Plus, Chair Mendelson discussed a new U.S. Attorney for D.C., the Council's pending decision on expelling Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White, and what's next for the RFK Stadium site. 

Like Virginia's suburbs, Montgomery County is devising a plan to build more affordable housing. The Attainable Housing Strategies initiative recommends zoning changes in some single-family neighborhoods to allow for more construction of duplexes, triplexes, and small apartment buildings. But not every elected county leader agrees with the plan. Council President Stewart gave us her take on the latest on the debate. Plus, we asked her to share thoughts on Maryland Governor Wes Moore's plan to bridge a three billion dollar budget gap.

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"We have to change our plan. But we can do that... We'll continue to make sure that wherever it is, however it's done, that it's done safely and without any disruption," Manger said.

Then,  D.C. Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice Lindsey Appiah got behind the mic to explain the city's preparations and provided advice for those planning to attend the events across the city.

"We always support people’s right to exercise their first amendment rights, but we can’t tolerate violence or any sort of destruction of property or any of those things. So, we say come down, participate, pack your patience, but also you understand you gotta abide by the law here," Appiah said.

Thirty-five hundred police officers from around the country will assist D-C’s police department, the Deputy Mayor noted, supplemented by drones.

President-elect Donald Trump vowed during his campaign to drastically reshape the federal workforce, including possibly relocating tens of thousands of employees and making big cuts. Many local federal workers are concerned about what the future might hold. Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D) and Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly (D) discussed how a second Trump term could impact the thousands of federal workers in the region.

Connolly and other members of the House re-introduced legislation that would guarantee some protections for federal workers. While several Republicans do support the bill, Connolly is pessimistic about it passing through a Republican-controlled House.

"I think it’s an uphill battle because all too many of my friends on the other side of the aisle, in the House anyway, have swallowed the kool-aid. It’s almost like dealing with a cult," Connolly said.

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The Maryland General Assembly reconvened for a 90-day legislative session in Annapolis this week. Dominating debate will be a nearly three billion dollar projected budget deficit over the next five years. It's the largest gap the state has faced in two decades, and it threatens investment in transportation, education, and health care. House of Delegates Majority Leader David Moon from Montgomery County joined the show to discuss current negotiations, whether tax increases are on the table, and what cuts could be coming.

Plus, Moon shared his concern about the impact of a second Trump administration could have on the state’s economy. With cuts to the federal government on the table, there will likely be less federal funding flowing to states for transit,, climate change goals, and education. In addition, Maryland is home to around 160,000 federal employees whose jobs could be at risk. Moon said the state and localities need to prepare.

“Maryland and Montgomery County are going to have to try to be a lot more self-reliant in the coming years and do everything we can to broaden and expand our local tax base so that whatever happens at the federal level, we are going to be economically competitive in growing our economy," he said. 

The Virginia General Assembly also went back into session, though lawmakers were forced to take a short recess due to a water shutoff issue in Richmond. Potential tax cuts, constitutional amendments, and data centers are among the items on lawmakers' docket. State Senate Majority Whip and Arlington's state senator Barbara Favola got behind the mic to preview the 46-day session.

One of the hottest topics this session is legislation authored Democratic state senator Scott Surovell that could lead to a Tysons Corner casino. Favola said the idea currently does not have the local support in her view, noting the handful of casinos already built around the Commonwealth did.

"All of those jurisdictions had local officials who were completely mobilized and strongly in favor of having the casino," Favola said. "And we know these jurisdictions really did need a different venue to bring in money, to employee people, and to get back on their feet. That's not the case with Fairfax County."

If passed, the bill would give voters in Fairfax the chance to decide on whether or not to build a new casino. Similar bills failed to get out of the General Assembly the last two years.

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The country is facing the threat of a government shutdown just as the holidays are approaching. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Virginia) talked with Kojo and Tom about what it would mean for federal workers in Virginia and the region.

“I did get a bill passed in 2019 that guarantees everyone back pay in the event of any shutdown, now or  in the future,” Kaine said. “So, back pay is forthcoming. But that’s not the same as getting your paycheck on payday.”

He did note back pay does not apply to federal contractors… some of whom can be laid off in the event of a shutdown. Plus, Sen. Kaine explained why he pushed for a plan to protect civil servants.

A D.C. Council committee recommended expelling Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White this week, who is also facing federal bribery charges. The unanimous vote comes after an independent investigation found “substantial evidence” White violated ethics rules by accepting tens of thousands of dollars in order to influence the granting of contracts. The committee’s chair, Kenyan McDuffie, joined the show to give his thoughts.

Plus, Congress appears to have sidelined a provision giving D.C. greater control over the RFK Stadium site. We asked Councilmember McDuffie what’s next for the District’s continued pursuit of the land and convincing the Washington Commanders to return to the city.

And with inauguration now a month away  city leaders, including Councilmember McDuffie, are concerned about what a second Trump presidency will mean for the District.

Because D.C. is not a state, President Trump and a Republican-controlled Congress can interfere with the city’s autonomy in a number of ways, from blocking local legislation to ending District self-rule. Last year, Congress struck down a major overhaul of the city’s criminal code. 

Conuncilmember McDuffie said there have been 88 separate attacks on D-C autonomy just in the last two years..

“Any interference in District of Columbia affairs is, frankly, unnecessary,” he said. “And would just serve to disenfranchise the more seven hundred thousand residents who live here and actually call the District of Columbia home.”

It’s the last Politics Hour of the year. We were joined by a panel of reporters, including WAMU’s Margaret Barthel, Maryland Matters’ Will Ford, and Washington City Paper’s Alex Koma, to talk about the year’s top stories and what to expect in 2025.

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Metro announced a return to automated trains as soon as this coming weekend, a move that will save millions. Metro General Manager Randy Clarke sat down with Kojo and Tom to discuss why the time is now to return to automation 15 years after a deadly Red Line crash ended the practice.

Clarke explained even with automated trains, an operator remains at the controls, watching the track and managing the doors. He likened the system to cruise control on a car. 

"It’s helping to reduce some human error with a good information technology solution. Gets us back to a more safer, reliable system. At the same time, it becomes cost efficient so everyone’s trip is faster as well," Clarke said.

He said automation will save the system about seven million dollars, which they will use to extend weekend service.

They also discussed his proposed budget which was released this week and Metro's efforts to curb bus fare evasion. WMATA is using plainclothes and uniformed officers as well as video monitoring and special police to issue citations. 

 More than 70% of bus riders are skipping the fare, which Clarke said is  “unacceptable.” Metro has given out more than 500 citations during the first two weeks of stepped up enforcement, according to the system's general manager. They also talked about what a return-to-office mandate for federal workers could mean for Metro.

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Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich is warning residents that a realignment of the federal workforce and cuts to federal agency could have dire consequences for the county. He joined the show to talk about what a second Trump presidency could mean for the county.

Plus, Elrich spoke about how he is preparing if Trump follows through on his promise of mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. He said while the county can’t stop the federal government from acting, they won’t assist.

“We can’t be deputized and it’s not our job to cooperate with immigration, so if they want to do raids, they are going to do raids. But they can’t compel the county government to provide police support," Elrich said.

He also talked about what he hopes to accomplish in his final two years as county executive and what his political future might be.

Justin Wilson's time as mayor of Alexandria ends next month, after nearly two decades serving on the council, as vice mayor, and mayor. Kojo and Tom talked with him about bringing Amazon HQ2 to the region, the collapse of the arena deal, and what the future will look like for the city of Alexandria.

He also spoke about the city's efforts to increase housing supply, including by eliminating single-family-only zoning. Wilson said proposed legislation from Virginia lawmakers that would prohibit large investment firms from purchasing single-family homes is only "small ball." What the region really needs are more houses. 

"When you reallocate the same limited supply, that doesn’t lower prices for folks. It doesn’t make housing more accessible. You have to create additional supply," Wilson said.

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