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 17min

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour: U.S. Attorney for D.C. Matthew Graves talks dropping crime rates and prosecuting dangerous drivers".

U.S. Attorney for D.C. Matthew Graves on violent crime, the investigation into D.C. Councilmember Trayon White, and January 6th indictments. Plus, WAMU reporter Margaret Barthel is live from the polls in Northern Virginia.

September 20, 202449min 28sec47.5 MB

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour: D.C. Councilmembers Christina Henderson and Montgomery County Councilmember Natali Fani-González".

D.C. Councilmember Christina Henderson on changes to the emergency rental assistance program and the latest with the investigation into Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White. Plus, Montgomery County Councilmember Natali Fani-González weighs in on a controversial zoning change proposal.

October 4, 202449min 26sec47.46 MB

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour: Virginia’s Republican and Democratic party chairs talk early voting and local races".

The chairs of Virginia’s Republican and Democratic parties, Rich Anderson and Susan Swecker, talk early voting and congressional races. Plus, Maryland Matters reporter Will Ford on the Maryland Senate race.

September 27, 202450min 29sec48.47 MB

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour: Tune in Friday at noon for U.S. Senator Tim Kaine and D.C. Councilmember Brianne Nadeau".

Sen. Tim Kaine talks possible federal shutdown and his re-election campagin. Plus, pollster Mileah Kromer on the Maryland Senate race and D.C. Councilmember Brianne Nadeau weighs in on D.C.’s troubled 911 call center.

September 13, 202449min 53sec47.9 MB

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour: "Back to School" week with PGCPS Superintendent Millard House II & DCPS Chancellor Lewis Ferebee".

DCPS Chancellor Lewis Ferebee talks school renovations, fentanyl, and cell phone policies. Plus, PGCPS Superintendent Millard House weighs in on late buses and student safety.

September 6, 202448min 23sec46.45 MB

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour: MoCo Executive Marc Elrich talks cell phone bans in schools".

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich on the schools’ new cell phone policy and the competitive Maryland’s 6th Congressional District race. Plus, Washington City Paper’s Alex Koma on the political fallout of Councilmember Trayon White’s arrest.

August 30, 202450min 30sec48.48 MB

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour: D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson discusses Trayon White’s arrest".

D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson reacts to the arrest of Trayon White. Plus, Prince William County Board Chair Deshundra Jefferson takes us behind-the-scenes at the Democratic National Convention.

August 23, 202450min 30sec96.96 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

The Politics Hour: U.S. Attorney for D.C. Matthew Graves talks dropping crime rates and prosecuting dangerous drivers

September 20, 202449min 28sec

Violent crime rates in the District have dropped by more than a third compared to this time last year. We asked the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Matthew Graves about the reasons driving this drop. Plus, he talked about the ongoing investigation into the bribery allegations against D.C. Councilmember Trayon White and the U.S. Attorney’s role in police-officer-involved shootings, like the one that took place earlier this month.

We also asked about his office’s responsibility when it comes to going after dangerous drivers. The STEER Act goes into effect next month and is aimed at stopping reckless drivers. But tougher new laws may not mean criminal prosecutions for traffic fatalities. U.S. Attorney Graves said there’s a high standard for charging someone criminally in a traffic fatality.

“What you need to prove in a criminal prosecution is that not only the person was reckless that they knew or should have known when they were engaging in the act that they were either likely to kill someone or seriously hurt them,” he said.

In most cases, this standard is not met, Graves said, and called the majority of traffic fatalities a “tragic mistake.”

Friday marks the first day of early voting in Virginia. WAMU’s Northern Virginia reporter Margaret Barthel joins us from the polls in Prince William County. Plus, the latest in the competitive congressional races in Northern Virginia.

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