The Politics Hour with Kojo Nnamdi

WAMU 88.5
  • 4.8 (44)
  • Politics
  • Updated Weekly

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.

  1. 4d ago

    The Politics Hour: The D.C. Council returns from summer break… and remembering 9/11, 25 years later

    It’s been 25 years since 9/11. The attacks here and across the country deeply changed our region. This week on The Politics Hour, we look back on that day. Barbara Favola was an Arlington County Board member in 2001 and helped coordinate the response to the attack on the Pentagon, which is in the county. Kojo talks to the now-Virginia State Senator. Plus, we hear from listeners who all week have sent in their own reflections and memories about what happened that day. Kojo and Tom will also share their thoughts and discuss how the region has changed in the quarter century since the terrorist attacks of 9/11. The D.C. Council is returning to work after its summer break, and there is a lot to do. Facing an $800 million budget shortfall, the council is set to debate the best ways to raise revenue… which could mean raising taxes, even as Congress tries to stop city officials from doing that. Ward 6 D.C. Councilmember Charles Allen gets behind the mic to weigh in. Plus, Councilmember Allen explains why he believes the new football stadium needs a second Metro station, and we ask for his thoughts on the upcoming federal bribery trial of his council colleague, Trayon White. Sorting political fact from fiction, and having fun while we’re at it. Join us for our weekly review of the politics, policies, and personalities of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia at 12 p.m. on Friday.

  2. Sep 4

    The Politics Hour: Will Loudoun County push pause on data center development?

    The Loudoun County data center debate has gone national. The growth of "Data Center Alley" - and the tax revenue that comes from it - has led to gleaming new community centers and low property taxes. But the proliferation of data centers in the region has also led to mounting resident concerns over the environmental impacts and potential health risks. Now, county lawmakers are weighing whether to pause data center development. Loudoun County Board Chair Phyllis Randall joins the show to weigh in on the big vote later this month about halting new projects. Plus, why Loudoun is divided on how to handle federal immigration enforcement in the county. Also ... residents across the region are concerned about local law enforcement's use of Flock cameras. District police have so far remained mum on exactly how they are using the surveillance technology. NOTUS reporter Martin Austermuhle gets behind the mic to talk about his reporting. Plus, we get the latest on  Ward 8 D.C. Councilmember Trayon White's upcoming federal trial, and the future of Hains Point. Plus, the Maryland Supreme Court ruled this week that a question about Maryland's redistricting rules can appear on the November ballot, overturning two lower courts.  The legal decision has state and national implications. Maryland House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk joins the show to discuss the ruling and what it means for Maryland voters. Send us questions and comments for guests: kojo@wamu.org Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885

  3. Aug 28

    The Politics Hour: Maryland redistricting in limbo and reactions to accusations of ICE agent brutality

    The Politics Hour is back from summer break with another big show! A judge's ruling this week put the Maryland Democrat-backed redistricting plan in limbo. WAMU's Maryland reporter Jenny Abamu explains the court's decision and what comes next. Local officials are sharing their concerns about the surge in federal immigration enforcement operations across the region. In Northern Virginia, elected leaders and residents are accusing ICE agents of using particularly brutal tactics. This includes an incident in Arlington where a man suffered a brain hemorrhage. Arlington County Board Vice Chair Maureen Coffey gets behind the mic to talk about how the county is reacting to the increased federal immigration enforcement. Plus, a recent rash of drivers in cars striking pedestrians has local lawmakers looking to make roads safer. Prince George's County leaders are celebrating a legal victory that could keep the 2023 plan to move the FBI headquarters to Greenbelt on track. However, with the White House promising to fight the decision, the FBI's move to Maryland is far from assured. Prince George's County Council Chair Krystal Oriadha weighs in and discusses what comes next. She'll also explain why thousands of Prince George's County students get left without a bus on the first day of school. Sorting political fact from fiction, and having fun while we’re at it. Join us for our weekly review of the politics, policies, and personalities of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia at 12 p.m. on Friday. Send us questions and comments for guests: kojo@wamu.org Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885

  4. Aug 7

    The Politics Hour: MD redistricting, VA primaries, and one year since Trump's MPD takeover

    All eyes are now on November's midterm elections, after this week's Virginia primaries turned out to be a "big snoozer." Could the Commonwealth be the difference in which party controls the U.S. House of Representatives? We ask Virginia Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell. Plus, Sen. Surovell explains why he agrees with President Trump's plan to overhaul Dulles Airport and whether he shares Governor Abigail Spanberger's skepticism about a potential Dominion-NextEra merger. Maryland lawmakers greenlit a redistricting referendum this week that now heads to voters in November for approval. The move would redraw the state's congressional districts in 2028. We ask State Senator Cheryl Kagan what changed her mind on redistricting and what comes next. Plus, what's the status of her proposed special elections constitutional amendment? It's been one year since President Trump federalized D.C. police and deployed the National Guard to the nation's capital to deal with what he called "out of control crime." What has changed in the District during that time? Has crime actually gone down? Is the hundreds of millions spent on the National Guard, and the billions budgeted to keep them in the District through 2029, worth it? D.C. Police Union President Gregg Pemberton joined us on the show last year, and he sits down with Kojo and Tom again to discuss the police officers' perspective. Plus, he gives his thoughts on the recent report about MPD's ongoing issues with reporting crime data. Sorting political fact from fiction, and having fun while we’re at it. Join us for our weekly review of the politics, policies, and personalities of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia at 12 p.m. on Friday.  Send us questions and comments for guests: kojo@wamu.org Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885

  5. Jul 31

    The Politics Hour: Montgomery County pauses data centers and D.C.’s likely new councilmember Oye Owolewa

    D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced this week she will not sign the Council-approved budget, saying it sets up a nearly $900 million fiscal cliff for the city’s next mayor. It’s a move that some believe will invite Congress to intrude again in District affairs. D.C.’s Shadow Representative Oye Owolewa gets behind the mic to share what kind of message he thinks it sends. Owolewa also talks about his recent Democratic primary win in the D.C. Council At-Large race and his big plans if voters decide to give him the keys to the Wilson Building come November. The Montgomery County Council this week unanimously passed an 18-month moratorium on data center development. The county’s move is just the most recent example of localities pushing back on data center growth in their communities.  At-Large Councilmember Shebra Evans joins us to discuss why this is needed. Plus, she discusses why county lawmakers may revise their recently passed laws prohibiting county employees from cooperating with ICE. A D.C. inspector general report released this week describes “prolonged, systemic breakdown” of how city police reviewed and verified crime stats over the last decade. The report adds to the growing criticism over accusations that some at MPD were manipulating crime data. D.C. reporter Alex Koma joins Kojo and Tom to discuss. Plus, the Mubadala D.C. Open kicked off recently at the Rock Creek Tennis Center. What’s next for the historic, aging venue? Sorting political fact from fiction, and having fun while we’re at it. Join us for our weekly review of the politics, policies, and personalities of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia.

  6. Jul 24

    The Politics Hour: House Republicans take aim at D.C. taxes and the Smithsonian

    House Republicans are pushing a bill aimed at restricting D.C.'s ability to decrease or increase local taxes. D.C. lawmakers are calling it an egregious attack on Home Rule. Council Chair Phil Mendelson joins the show to discuss why not allowing the District to change the tax code could "paralyze" the city. Plus, Kojo and Tom ask him his thoughts on driverless vehicles, potential renovations to Audi Field, and having Elissa Silverman back on the Council. The White House released a report earlier this month accusing the Smithsonian museums of "undermining faith in American institutions." This week, House Republicans followed the Trump administration's lead with a subcommittee hearing focused on sharply questioning the Director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. Virginia Congressman James Walkinshaw defended the Smithsonian throughout the hearing and joins the show to take us behind the scenes. Plus, he weighs in on proposed historic preservation changes that would make it easier for President Trump to remake the District. Maryland communities, like many others around the country, are pushing back on data center development. This week, Montgomery County moved closer to extending its data center permit pause to 18 months, and a Maryland state senator is looking to introduce legislation for a statewide moratorium. But tech companies are now fighting back. WAMU's Maryland reporter Jenny Abamu explains what's at stake. Send us questions and comments for guests: kojo@wamu.org Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885

  7. Jul 17

    The Politics Hour: D.C.’s likely next mayor Janeese Lewis George

    Ward 4 D.C. Councilmember Janeese Lewis George secured the Democratic nomination last month to be the city’s next mayor. Her win, plus other progressive candidates’ victories, sets the stage for a new era in D.C. politics. She’s now poised to become the city’s first Democratic socialist mayor. Lewis George joins Kojo and Tom in the studio for an exclusive hour-long conversation about what her win means for District residents, why she thinks her brand of politics dominated, her plan to execute on campaign promises, and what it will take to establish a working relationship with President Donald Trump. Plus, as the current Ward 4 Councilmember, we get her take on the potential tax increases, RESALE Act, and Audi Field renovations.  Sorting political fact from fiction, and having fun while we’re at it. Join us for our weekly review of the politics, policies, and personalities of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. Send us questions and comments for guests: kojo@wamu.org Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885

  8. Jul 10

    The Politics Hour: Metro GM Randy Clarke talks ridership records, RFK stadium transit plans, and red line shutdowns

    Metro is having a moment. The agency set ridership records over the July 4th weekend, riders are buying up Metro merch, and the agency is a key player in the city's biggest development project in decades. Yes, Metro is cool again, but challenges remain, including an uncertain financial future, extended shutdowns, and fare evaders. Metro General Manager Randy Clarke takes a ride into our studio to discuss it all. Virginia's primary elections are less than a month away, but early voting is already underway. It's been a chaotic election season, with Virginia voters passing a redistricting referendum in April only for courts to halt the effort a month later. The verdict left the district boundaries created in 2021 intact. Locally, the decision also means most primaries are unlikely to be competitive. But that doesn't mean there isn't intrigue statewide. UVA's Center for Politics Larry Sabato joins us to break down what to watch for in next month's primaries and what implications they could have nationwide. Send us questions and comments for guests: kojo@wamu.org Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885

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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.

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