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 47min

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour: Maryland Sen. Angela Alsobrooks on the local impact of the shutdown".

We talk with U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks and Clark Mercer, head of the regional leadership group known as COG, about how the federal shutdown is threatening the region’s economy.

October 17, 202550min 28sec48.45 MB

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour: D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on the District’s future".

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on her decision to not run again, her tenure, and who might be the city’s next police chief.

December 12, 202538min 2sec36.52 MB

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour: With Muriel Bowser bowing out, D.C. mayor’s race heats up".

Ward 4 D.C. Councilmember Janeese Lewis George on jumping into the D.C. mayoral race and Montgomery County Council President Natali Fani-González on her journey to leading the council.

December 5, 202549min 33sec47.57 MB

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour: U.S. Rep James Walkinshaw on what’s ahead for Virginia".

The Politics Hour is live in Fairfax, Virginia at Fair Oaks Mall with U.S. Representative James Walkinshaw and former House Delegate David Ramadan.

November 21, 202550min 29sec48.47 MB

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour: Sen. Tim Kaine voted to end the shutdown, drawing fire from some Democrats".

U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Chris Van Hollen were on opposite sides of the vote to end the federal shutdown. They join us to discuss. Plus, D.C. Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie discusses his political future.

November 14, 202550min 30sec72.61 MB

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour: Virginia Lt. Gov.-elect Ghazala Hashmi on what’s next after Democrats’ big election wins".

Virginia Lieutenant Governor-elect Ghazala Hashmi on what’s next after her historic victory and Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell on what Democrats’ “trifecta” means for redistricting.

November 7, 202550min 58sec48.93 MB

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour: Virginia’s redistricting push ahead of the election".

WAMU’s Margaret Barthel and former U.S. Rep. Tom Davis previews next week’s Virginia elections. Plus, Maryland House Majority Leader David Moon talks redistricting and funding SNAP.

October 31, 202549min 16sec47.3 MB

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour: Federal cuts are hitting Montgomery County hard".

Montgomery County Council President Kate Stewart explains how the county is dealing with federal cuts an shutdown. Plus, Ward 1 D.C. Councilmember Brianne Nadeau explains why she decided not to run for reelection.

October 24, 202550min 28sec48.45 MB

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour: Why a candidate's text messages are shaking up Virginia's elections".

U.S. Senator Tim Kaine talks about the continuing federal shutdown. Plus, D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson talks about D.C. police's continued cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

October 10, 202538min 18sec36.78 MB

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour: What a federal government shutdown means for the region".

U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey on the economic fallout of the federal shutdown and Loudoun County Board Chair Phyllis Randall on federal worker anxiety.

October 3, 202538min 42sec37.16 MB

The Politics Hour: Maryland Sen. Angela Alsobrooks on the local impact of the shutdown

October 17, 202550min 28sec

U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) joined the show to discuss the federal shutdown, as it drags on with no apparent end in sight. The Trump administration is continuing to lay off federal employees, while threatening to terminate thousands more. Maryland's and Virginia's congressional delegations gathered together this week to urge the White House to stop the federal cuts and end the government shutdown.

Democrats are holding out for a spending bill that includes a permanent extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits. As Americans begin shopping for health care coverage, Sen. Alsobrooks said time is running out for Congress to extend health care tax credits.

People can sign up for 2026 coverage through the Affordable Care Act marketplace starting November 1st. Sen Alsobrook said that’s why Democrats won’t pass a spending bill now and negotiate healthcare later, as Republicans want.

"We do not have time because those escalating costs are taking place beginning now. People are beginning to see the increase in their premiums," she said. "Many people will be getting notices about the escalating increases that will happen next year. So, those affordable care tax credits happen now."

She said premiums will nearly double for millions of Americans, and four million will lose healthcare entirely without an extension of healthcare tax credits.

Continued federal cuts have already put the region on edge. A prolonged federal shutdown has many worried that a regional economic slowdown —or even a recession —may be on the horizon. Clark Mercer, who leads the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, discusses how the shutdown is straining the local economy and budgets.

While Mercer noted some bright spots, he said the region is facing strong economic headwinds.

"This does not take an economist when the biggest company in town starts cutting tens, if not hundreds of thousands of jobs and contractors, it's gonna have a ripple effect on the economies where that company sits," he said.

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