Violent crime in D.C. continues to increase at a rate the city hasn’t seen in decades. It’s left locals shaken and officials looking for answers. Because of the District’s unique status, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Matthew Graves is the one who prosecutes most adult crimes in the city. He joins Kojo and Tom to discuss how his office manages prosecutions, why they chose not to prosecute many who’ve been arrested, and what else can be done.

Plus, the D.C. Council is back this month with a hefty legislative session on its docket. WAMU/DCist reporter Colleen Grablick joins the show to break down a number of the major bills the Council is taking up this session. Those include legislation addressing public safety, increasing penalties for dangerous drivers, and improving the availability of affordable housing.

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The Politics Hour is returning to class as we check in with several local school officials as the new year begins.

As enrollment at Arlington public schools continues to increase, there’s pressure to build more schools in the county. Superintendent Francisco Durán joins the show to discuss how he’s managing that. Plus, earlier this summer, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin released guidelines on how to treat transgender and nonbinary students. We ask how the district is responding to the state-issued policies.

COVID rates are again ticking up in the region, with positive cases leading some schools to return to mask mandates. Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Monifa McKnight sits down with Kojo and Tom to talk about it. Keeping students safe from on-campus violence is also at the top of many locals’ minds, particularly in light of a fight that broke out after a football game at a Montgomery County high school this past weekend. We ask McKnight what the county is doing about that.

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Multi-million-dollar development along Metro’s Blue Line. The possible arrival of the FBI headquarters. FedEx Field’s future as the home of the Washington Commanders. Prince George’s County could see a lot of change in the coming years. County Executive Angela Alsobrooks joins the show to talk about the future of Prince George’s County, as well as her own.

After protracted negotiations, there appears to finally be a deal on Virginia’s budget. Both sides are claiming victory in a process that was somewhat secretive. Virginia Mercury’s Sarah Vogelsong breaks down the deal for us, what we know and don’t know about what’s in the budget, and how it might impact our region.

An unusual dry spell may force the District to pull drinking water from backup reservoirs for the first time in over a decade. WAMU’s environment reporter Jacob Fenston talks with Kojo and Tom about what this means, how local government might manage this potential crisis, and how climate change plays into the current situation. Plus, Fenston tells us about what it was like to be one of the first to taste the lab-grown chicken that is currently being served at one local restaurant.

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Gun violence continues to claim more lives in the District. In 2023, 161 people have been murdered in the city – a 28% increase over this time last year. It’s prompted Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White to call for the National Guard to be potentially brought in. He joins the show to talk about the violence that has wreaked havoc in his ward and why he thinks the National Guard might be the answer.

Just three months ago, Representative Gerry Connolly’s staff members were attacked in his office. He talks to Kojo and Tom about how he and his staff are recovering and have dealt with the trauma of that day. Before becoming a Congressman, Connolly was Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. He discusses how a lack of a state budget can severely impact a county’s budget.

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It’s been an eventful first seven months in office for Maryland Governor Wes Moore. Cannabis became legal in the state. The Washington Commanders were finally sold and are exploring the possibility of moving from FedEx Field. A decision appears to be coming soon on where the new FBI headquarters might go. Education reform is being implemented across the state. Governor Wes Moore joins Kojo and Tom to discuss all of that and more.

While Moore is early in his political career, Virginia State Senator Dick Saslaw is set to retire at the end of the year from his post as Virginia State Senate majority leader after more than five decades. But before that happens, the long-time state senator remains in the middle of tense state budget negotiations. We talk to Senator Saslaw about those negotiations, reaching across the aisle, and his long career.

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On Thursday, a new bipartisan bill was introduced in the House that could be the next play in bringing football back to the District. The D.C. Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act would extend the land lease between D.C. and the federal government for another 99 years while also allowing the construction of a new stadium on the site. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has continued to be a fan of any effort to bring the team back to the District, while Council Chair Phil Mendelson has remained more skeptical. Both will join us on the show to weigh in on this bill and what comes next.

The Montgomery County Council has approved a 6% rent cap increase after plenty of debate and compromise. The lead author of the legislation was Councilmember Natali Fani-González. She sits down with Kojo and our guest analyst Morgan Baskin to discuss how this compromise came to be, what it means for residents, and the next steps. Plus, a public hearing was held this week about pedestrian safety in the county. We ask Fani-González what can be done to keep locals safe while walking and biking in their communities.

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Metro is facing unprecedented challenges. A serious drop in ridership, infrastructure issues, and lack of dedicated funding have pushed the region’s public transportation system toward a fiscal cliff. A $750 million budget gap could lead to dramatic service cuts. Metro General Manager Randy Clarke joins us to discuss potential solutions, what’s needed, and his visions for the future. Plus, there are plans to potentially embark on the biggest rail expansion in decades. What could that mean for the region?

It’s a momentous time for many fans: After years of speculation and turmoil, the Washington Commanders finally have new owners. The NFL approved longtime owner Dan Snyder’s sale of the football team to a group led by Montgomery County native Josh Harris for just over $6 billion. Washington Post sports columnist and author John Feinstein comes on the show to talk about what this means for fans, his years writing about the team, and what could come next for the football franchise.

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The D.C. Council passed an emergency public safety bill this week, legislation some think will help stem the increase in violent crime across the city. Others disagree. Councilmember Zachary Parker voted for the bill, despite some backlash due to his support. He joins Kojo and Tom to explain why he gave his vote to this legislation. Plus, the Council voted unanimously to have the city's inspector general review the recent sexual harassment investigation into former deputy mayor John Falcicchio. We ask Parker what it means and when the review might take place.

With marijuana now legal in Maryland, a new bill is circulating in Prince George's County that would restrict where dispensaries can go. We talk to Councilmember Krystal Oriadha about why she introduced the legislation and her concerns about cannabis legalization. Plus, Prince George's County Schools are introducing new safety measures that will take effect when students return in the fall. We get Oriadha's take on the new rules, including requiring clear backpacks and installing metal detectors.

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Hans Riemer, a Democratic candidate for Montgomery County executive and current councilmember, talks about his vision for the county. And D.C. Councilmember Mary Cheh discusses Metro woes and how she made it onto Putin's "enemy list."

Alexandria City Councilman Canek Aguirre (D) talks about WMATA's woes of the week, including train operators' safety re-certification lapses and General Manager Paul Wiedefeld's early departure. And David Blair, a Democratic candidate for Montgomery County Executive, joins us to talk about his campaign and how he would address the county's issues, like affordable housing and business growth.