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 54min

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour: Trump's new executive order aimed at D.C. and Maryland Governor Wes Moore on new taxes".

Kojo and Tom weighs in on President Trump signing an executive order aimed at reducing crime and increasing immigration enforcement in the District. Maryland Governor Wes Moore on the state budget deal and Virginia Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell on what to expect out of budget debates next week. Plus, Prince George's County Council Vice Chair Krystal Oriadha on the sudden shake-up in county leadership.

March 28, 202549min 16sec47.31 MB

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour: Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins talks Old Town tourism and Washington Post's Marc Fisher on Ovechkin".

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins on what a shrinking federal workforce means for the city's economy. Plus, Washington Post columnist Marc Fisher on Alexander Ovechkin's special relationship with the District and Maryland Matters' reporter Will Ford breaks down what happened during the Maryland General Assembly session.

April 11, 202550min 28sec48.46 MB

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour: Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich on federal health agency firings".

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich on the Trump administration firing thousands at the National Institutes of Health. Plus, D.C. Councilmember Brooke Pinto on President Trump's executive order aimed at the District.

April 4, 202549min 26sec47.46 MB

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour with Kojo Nnamdi: A House vote worth $1B to D.C., and Maryland's plan to close a shortfall".

Maryland state Sen. Will Smith and D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson joined the show.

March 21, 202536min 44sec35.28 MB

Thumbnail for "Why a federal spending bill could blow a billion dollar hole in D.C.’s budget".

U.S. Senator Tim Kaine explains why he plans to vote no on the federal spending bill, even if it means a government shutdown. Plus, D.C. Councilmember Christina Henderson and WAMU’s D.C. politics reporter Alex Koma break down why the legislation could force the District to make a billion dollar in cuts.

March 14, 202537min 42sec36.2 MB

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour: Could the D.C. region be headed into a recession?".

Chair of the Virginia Democratic party Susan Swecker on the ups and downs of Virginia politics. Plus, Clark Mercer, head of the regional leadership group known as COG, on the economic fallout of the shrinking of the federal government.

March 7, 202550min 29sec72.59 MB

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour: D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb on the dangers of the federal government taking over D.C.".

D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb on President Trump wanting to take over the District and the lawsuits his office has filed against the White House. Plus, Washington Informer's Richard Elliott breaks down the Prince George's County Executive race.

February 28, 202550min 29sec48.47 MB

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour: D.C. leaders on President Trump’s threat to take over the District".

D.C. Councilmember Brooke Pinto on President Trump wanting the federal government to take over the District. Plus, Arlington County Board Chair Takis Karantonis on how the county is protecting transgender students and Maryland State Senator Cheryl Kagan talks bridging the state’s $3 billion budget gap.

February 21, 202549min 26sec47.46 MB

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour: What recent White House moves mean for D.C. and Maryland".

D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson on threats to D.C.'s autonomy. Plus, Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown on suing the Trump administration, and WAMU's Margaret Barthel discusses the failed Fairfax County casino bill.

February 15, 202550min 28sec48.46 MB

Thumbnail for "The Politics Hour: Rep. Jamie Raskin on President Trump’s push to shrink the federal workforce".

A federal judge paused the Trump administration's "deferred resignation" offer hours before the Thursday deadline. What does it mean for the region and what are lawmakers doing to help local federal workers.

February 7, 202549min 37sec47.64 MB

The Politics Hour: Trump's new executive order aimed at D.C. and Maryland Governor Wes Moore on new taxes

March 28, 202549min 16sec

President Trump signed an executive order Thursday night aimed at reducing crime and increasing immigration enforcement in the District. Kojo and Tom talked about what it means for D.C. and what might happen next.

Maryland is on the verge of approving its state budget, but it came with contentious debate over tax increases, cuts, and changes to its ambitious education plan, Blueprint for Maryland's Future. Governor Wes Moore joined Kojo and Tom to explain what is - and isn't - in the state budget this year.

And it's been a year since the Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed. We asked Governor Moore what is being done to prevent a tragic accident of this nature from happening again.

There was a sudden shake-up in Prince George's County Council leadership this week, elevating Edward Burroughs to Council Chair and Krystal Oriadha to Council Vice Chair. It's a move expected to have significant political ramifications on the county as it grapples with "difficult" budget debates, a county executive election, and the likely loss of a new FBI headquarters. Council Vice Chair Krystal Oriadha got behind the mic to talk about her priorities and what the future holds for Prince George's County.

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoed a raft of Democratic-supported legislation this week, including a proposal to increase the minimum wage and one creating a retail cannabis market. Virginia State Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell weighed in. Plus, what to expect next week when the General Assembly heads back into session to hammer out a budget.

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