The Politics Hour with Kojo Nnamdi

WAMU 88.5

Join Kojo and resident analyst Tom Sherwood on Fridays at noon for our weekly review of the politics, policies and personalities in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. Each week Kojo and Tom help make sense of legislation, hold elected officials accountable and provide in-depth analysis of local issues and elections. The Politics Hour is also a vital forum for Washingtonians to engage directly with their local leaders.

7hr 55min

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour: Local lawmakers on what Trump's executive actions mean for the region".

D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson on President Trump's executive action requiring federal workers to return full time to the office. Plus, Montgomery County Council President Kate Stewart on how the county will manage the federal government's threat of mass deportations.

January 24, 202550min 28sec48.46 MB

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour with Kojo Nnamdi: A House vote worth $1B to D.C., and Maryland's plan to close a shortfall".

Maryland state Sen. Will Smith and D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson joined the show.

March 21, 202536min 44sec35.28 MB

Thumbnail for "Why a federal spending bill could blow a billion dollar hole in D.C.’s budget".

U.S. Senator Tim Kaine explains why he plans to vote no on the federal spending bill, even if it means a government shutdown. Plus, D.C. Councilmember Christina Henderson and WAMU’s D.C. politics reporter Alex Koma break down why the legislation could force the District to make a billion dollar in cuts.

March 14, 202537min 42sec36.2 MB

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour: Could the D.C. region be headed into a recession?".

Chair of the Virginia Democratic party Susan Swecker on the ups and downs of Virginia politics. Plus, Clark Mercer, head of the regional leadership group known as COG, on the economic fallout of the shrinking of the federal government.

March 7, 202550min 29sec72.59 MB

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour: D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb on the dangers of the federal government taking over D.C.".

D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb on President Trump wanting to take over the District and the lawsuits his office has filed against the White House. Plus, Washington Informer's Richard Elliott breaks down the Prince George's County Executive race.

February 28, 202550min 29sec48.47 MB

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour: D.C. leaders on President Trump’s threat to take over the District".

D.C. Councilmember Brooke Pinto on President Trump wanting the federal government to take over the District. Plus, Arlington County Board Chair Takis Karantonis on how the county is protecting transgender students and Maryland State Senator Cheryl Kagan talks bridging the state’s $3 billion budget gap.

February 21, 202549min 26sec47.46 MB

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour: What recent White House moves mean for D.C. and Maryland".

D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson on threats to D.C.'s autonomy. Plus, Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown on suing the Trump administration, and WAMU's Margaret Barthel discusses the failed Fairfax County casino bill.

February 15, 202550min 28sec48.46 MB

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour: Rep. Jamie Raskin on President Trump’s push to shrink the federal workforce".

A federal judge paused the Trump administration's "deferred resignation" offer hours before the Thursday deadline. What does it mean for the region and what are lawmakers doing to help local federal workers.

February 7, 202549min 37sec47.64 MB

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour: Local leaders give us the latest on the deadly plane crash at DCA".

U.S. Senator Mark Warner gives the latest updates on the deadly plane crash at National Airport. Plus, Prince George's County Councilmember Wala Blegay on the push to shrink the federal workforce and D.C. Councilmember Charles Allen on what a federal funding freeze could mean for the District.

January 31, 202549min 27sec47.48 MB

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour: Regional leaders weigh in on inauguration security and the future of local federal workers".

U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger and D.C. Deputy Mayor of Public Safety Lindsey Appiah on inauguration preparations. Plus, Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly and Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen on what a second Trump term means for local federal workers.

January 17, 202550min48.01 MB

The Politics Hour: Local lawmakers on what Trump's executive actions mean for the region

January 24, 202550min 28sec

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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