Logo for The Politics Hour with Kojo Nnamdi

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.

© 2021 WAMU

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.

© 2021 WAMU
8hr 17min
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

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

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour: D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson discusses Trayon White’s arrest".
August 23, 202450min 30sec

The FBI arrested Ward 8 D.C. Councilmember Trayon White on bribery charges this past weekend. The shocking turn of events had many in the District reacting and dealing with the fallout. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson got behind the mic to weigh in on the allegations against his council colleague and to explain what comes next.

Earlier in the week, the Chairman said he was forming a council committee to determine what action the council will take after White's arrest.

On Friday's show, he announced At-Large Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie would head the group. The committee will include the entire council, minus White. Council rules say there are three possible sanctions that could be levied against White: reprimand, censure, or expulsion. The committee has until December 16th to make its recommendation.

Mendelson suggested on Friday a recommendation could come sooner.

"This is not just a criminal matter, but a political problem," he said. "And, for the politics, we’d like this to be resolved as quickly as possible."

Mendelson also said that the council does not have to wait for the federal judicial process to play out to take their own action.

Plus, what can the D.C. Council do to prevent more tech problems at D.C.'s 911 call center?

Local leaders converged in Chicago for the Democratic National Convention. Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chair Deshundra Jefferson was there as a Virginia delegate. She joined the show to tell us what she saw and heard on the convention floor.

Plus, she talked about a new poll showing Harris now holding a slim lead over former President Donald Trump in the race for the White House. Jefferson said she believes reproductive rights will continue to be an issue driving voters to the ballot box.

"Virginia is the vanguard of the South," Jefferson said. "We have clinics that have waitlists, that have delays because we have people coming from other Southern states here to seek reproductive care."

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