The Politics Hour with Kojo Nnamdi

WAMU 88.5•wamu.org

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.

Last refreshed: July 17th, 2025 at 9:13 PM ⓘ

Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.

Follow on

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

RSS

Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app

Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

The Politics Hour: Md. Rep. Glenn Ivey and Va. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam on the latest federal moves

The Trump administration recently announced a plan to keep the FBI headquarters in the District , reversing a decision made by the Biden administration in 2023 to move it to a new building in Prince George’s County . Maryland lawmakers are now considering next steps to fight the abrupt turnaround. U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey, who represents a large portion of Prince George’s County, joins the show to discuss. Plus, the U.S. Supreme Court this week cleared the way for the White House to move forward wit...

Jul 11, 2025•50 min

The Politics Hour: D.C. Councilmember Brooke Pinto on controversial changes to the city's violence interruption programs

The Trump administration's continued shrinking of the federal government continues to have immense ramifications on the region, including jobs, public safety , and the economy. A recent report from Maryland's Comptroller's office shows how deeply tied Maryland's economy is to the federal government, drawing more than $150 billion from federal government jobs, grants, contracts, and payments annually. The state's comptroller Brooke Lierman joined the show, saying the pace of the cuts is concernin...

Jun 27, 2025•49 min

The Politics Hour: Democratic nominee for Virginia Lieutenant Governor Ghazala Hashmi on her primary win

This week, Virginia Democrats went to the polls for primaries, choosing state Senator Ghazala Hashmi as their candidate for Lieutenant Governor this fall. Sen. Hashmi joined the show to discuss her primary win, what it means for Northern Virginia residents, and how she will approach November's general election, where she will face Republican radio talk show host John Reid . Virginia voters selected Jay Jones as the Democratic nominee for Attorney General; he'll go up against incumbent Republican...

Jun 20, 2025•49 min

The Politics Hour: What this weekend’s big military parade means for local residents

The District is preparing for the military parade celebrating the Army's 250th anniversary and falls on President Trump's 79th birthday. The procession features thousands of soldiers and 70-ton tanks and will require roads to close around the city as well as DCA airport . City officials are worried about what all of this heavy machinery could mean for local streets and infrastructure . At-Large D.C. Councilmember Christina Henderson joined the show to weigh in. Plus, she discussed the Council wa...

Jun 13, 2025•50 min

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser breaks down her proposed $22 billion budget

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser unveiled her proposed $22 billion budget last week. Faced with a tough financial outlook, her spending proposal includes cuts to social safety net programs and some business-friendly tax incentives. There's also a billion dollars to help the Washington Commanders build a new football complex and redevelop the old RFK stadium site and a proposal to repeal a tipped minimum wage increase. Mayor Bowser joined the show to discuss, including how the city is moving away from re...

Jun 06, 2025•49 min

The Politics Hour: How local leaders hope to navigate tough economic times ahead

As Metro wrestles with a murky financial future, local leaders making up the DMV Moves task force are debating what a dedicated, predictable funding model might look like for the region's public transportation. Options on the table include a regional sales tax, higher vehicle registration fees, and increasing income taxes. Maryland State Delegate Marc Korman is a member of the 20-member task force and he joined the show to give his thoughts on the best approach. Plus, Korman weighed in on Maryla...

May 30, 2025•50 min

The Politics Hour: Remembering Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly, and D.C. prepares for a military parade

Long-time Virginia Congressman Gerry Connolly passed away unexpectedly this week. He was a fierce advocate for federal workers, a former chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and a frequent guest on The Politics Hour . Former U.S. Representative Tom Davis - and the man who held the 11th congressional district seat before Connolly was elected - shared his memories of the congressman. Connolly had an outsized impact on Fairfax County, from his work on the Board of Supervisors to repres...

May 23, 2025•50 min

The Politics Hour: The politics of data centers and funding schools without raising taxes

Virginia's primary races are heating up, most notably the lieutenant governor's race . While the Republicans have a presumptive nominee, six Democratic candidates are vying for the post. WAMU's Northern Virginia Reporter Margaret Barthel broke down the lieutenant governor's race, as well as the Democratic candidates for attorney general . She also shared why the governor's race is also being closely watched. Loudoun County has more data centers than anywhere else in the world, earning the county...

May 16, 2025•49 min

The Politics Hour: What’s next for Prince George’s County if the Washington Commanders leave?

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser proposed repealing Initiative 82 earlier this week, reigniting the fight over D.C.'s tipped minimum wage law. But given that voters passed the measure twice, the mayor could have trouble getting support from the D.C. Council. Chairman Phil Mendelson got behind the mic to give his thoughts. He said overturning Initiative 82 again is politically difficult for the council. "I have to see where the members are going to be," Mendelson said. "And at the moment, I don't think t...

May 09, 2025•49 min

The Politics Hour: D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on the RFK stadium deal

On Monday, the District announced the city had struck a nearly $4 billion deal with the Washington Commanders to build a new football stadium and a massive mixed-use development at the old RFK site. The city is chipping in about $1 billion in infrastructure improvements to the site, including two parking facilities. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser joined the show to share how the agreement came together and why she thinks it's a good deal for the District. The deal still needs approval from the D.C. Co...

May 02, 2025•50 min

For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android