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 20min

Thumbnail for "Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Angela Alsobrooks on her big primary win; D.C. Councilmember Charles Allen talks bike lanes and crime".

Angela Alsobrooks on her win in the Democratic primary for Maryland’s U.S. Senate seat. Plus, Maryland Matters reporter Will Ford on election results and D.C. Councilmember Charles Allen on crime and bike lanes.

May 17, 202450min 27sec

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 19sec

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 7sec

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 28sec

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 35sec

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

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 58sec

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 27sec

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 28sec

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 29sec

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 27sec

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Angela Alsobrooks on her big primary win; D.C. Councilmember Charles Allen talks bike lanes and crime

May 17, 202450min 27sec

It was a big win for Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate in Maryland. She beat out three-term congressman David Trone, despite being significantly outspent. Now, she moves on to the general election, where she will take on the popular former Maryland governor, Republican Larry Hogan, in a race that’s already garnering national attention. Alsobrooks joins the show to discuss how she defied the odds, what she heard from voters on the campaign trail, and how she’s preparing for November’s face-off against Hogan.

There were other important primary races in Maryland as well. Maryland Matters reporter Will Ford gets behind the mic to break down the results in several Congressional District elections, plus more insight into what propelled Alsobrooks to a win.

Congress is once again intervening in D.C. affairs. On Wednesday, the U.S. House voted to restrict the D.C. Council from passing any legislation changing sentencing laws in the District. While the bill still needs to pass the Senate and the president has expressed opposition, it has city officials deeply concerned. Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen discusses why he thinks the legislation is a bad idea. Plus, could bike lanes be back in the plans for Connecticut Avenue?

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