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.

8hr 19min

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour: Rep. Jamie Raskin on the presidential race; D.C. Councilmember Brooke Pinto talks truancy".

MD Congressman Jamie Raskin on Project 2025, President Biden, and the Maryland Senate race. Plus, Democratic nominee for Alexandria mayor Alyia Gaskins and D.C. Councilmember Brooke Pinto weighs in on declining carjacking rates.

July 12, 202450min 28sec121.16 MB

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour: Chairman Jeff McKay on Fairfax County’s data center debate".

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay talks data center regulations, schools, crime, and Metro. Plus, Washington Informer’s Richard Elliott breaks down next week’s special election in Prince George’s County.

August 2, 202450min 9sec48.16 MB

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour: D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on what it would mean to have a woman of color in the White House".

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on Biden bowing out and Harris jumping into the presidential race. Plus, what a second Trump presidency could mean for the District and Chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia Susan Swecker on if Virginia is truly a swing state.

July 26, 202449min 19sec47.35 MB

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour: Maryland Governor Wes Moore on the need for cooler rhetoric".

Maryland Governor Wes Moore's gives us his take on the presidential race. Plus, Prince George's County Councilmember Wala Blegay talks rent stabilization legislation and VA-10 Republican nominee Mike Clancy.

July 19, 202449min 7sec47.15 MB

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour: Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker on the Falcicchio investigation".

JD Spain, Sr. on his win in the Democratic primary for Arlington County Board. Plus, the Mayor’s Office of Legal Counsel’s Vanessa Natale and Ward 5 D.C. Councilmember Zachary Parker weighing in on the John Falcicchio investigation.

June 28, 202449min 35sec47.6 MB

$Thumbnail for "A fractious Virginia primary election season wraps up; Prince George’s County debates rent control".$

State Senator Suhas Subramanyam on his big win in the Democratic primary in Virginia’s 10th Congressional District. Plus, WAMU’s Margaret Barthel on the rest of Virginia’s primary results and Prince George’s County Chair Jolene Ivey talks rent control.

June 21, 202448min 58sec47.01 MB

Thumbnail for "Virginia votes in primary elections; D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb on Ticketmaster lawsuit".

D.C. AG Brian Schwalb on joining the lawsuit against Ticketmaster and his legislation to revamp the youth services agency. Plus, the Washington Post’s Teo Armus on what to expect in Virginia’s primary elections next week.

June 14, 202450min 27sec121.11 MB

Thumbnail for "Incumbents sweep and tight Ward 7 race finally called in D.C. primary elections".

D.C. Board of Elections Executive Director explains counting votes. Plus, the Washington Post's Michael Brice-Saddler breaks down the D.C. primary elections and Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando talks school funding.

June 7, 202450min 28sec121.14 MB

Thumbnail for "Will the District raise taxes to avoid budget cuts?".

Prince George’s County Councilmember Wanika Fisher on why the council is prioritizing public safety and D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson explains the need to hike taxes for some District residents.

May 31, 202450min 29sec121.17 MB

Thumbnail for "Data center fight intensifies in Loudoun County; D.C. primary day nears".

Loudoun County Vice Chair Juli Briskman on data centers and schools. Plus, Republican nominee for Maryland’s Congressional District 6 seat Neil Parrott talks the general election and Washington Informer reporter Sam P.K. Collins breaks down D.C.’s biggest primary races.

May 24, 202450min 27sec121.1 MB

The Politics Hour: Rep. Jamie Raskin on the presidential race; D.C. Councilmember Brooke Pinto talks truancy

July 12, 202450min 28sec

The Republican-proposed "Project 2025" plan calls for replacing over fifty thousand civil servants with political appointees. While presidential candidate Donald Trump has tried to distance himself from it, many believe he'll enact much of the plan if elected. Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin joined the show to discuss the impact Project 2025 could have on the local workforce. Plus, local lawmakers are debating whether President Biden should step aside. We asked Rep. Raskin to weigh in.

Last month, Alexandria voters chose Alyia Gaskins as their Democratic mayoral candidate. If elected in the fall, she will be the first Black woman to serve as the city's mayor. Gaskins got behind the mic to talk about her top agenda items should she win in November.

The D.C. Council passed emergency truancy legislation at its last meeting before the summer recess on Tuesday. The measure aims to lower truancy rates at District high schools by sending frequently absent teens to social service programs instead of court. Ward 2 D.C. Councilmember Brooke Pinto explained how the new program will work and what comes next. Plus, why have carjackings dropped by nearly 50%?

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