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: 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 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: 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: 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: 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: Rep. Jamie Raskin on President Trump’s push to shrink the federal workforce

February 7, 202549min 37sec

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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