by WAMU 88.5
<p>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.</p>
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April 25, 2025
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Washington Commanders are reportedly close to striking <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/04/16/dc-rfk-stadium-deal-close/">a $3 billion deal to build a new football stadium</a> anchoring a massive mixed-use development at the old RFK site. It's believed to include at least $850 million from the District for parking and preparing the site, with the team paying to build the stadium itself. And the price tag could raise with <a href="https://wamu.org/story/25/04/24/dc-rfk-stadium-deal-commanders/">an addition of a Metro station</a>. However, not all city officials support using taxpayers' dollars to help finance a home for the Commanders. Ward 6 D.C. Councilmember Charles Allen joined the show to explain <a href="https://www.hillrag.com/2018/12/17/allen-starts-petition-opposing-nfl-at-rfk/">his long-time opposition</a> to building a new sports venue at the RFK site. He said the city doesn’t need to subsidize a stadium to attract development. "The public investment on this is going to be more than a billion dollars already and I don't think that's a good deal for DC," he said. Allen also said the deal should include moving its headquarters from Virginia to the District. Plus, what could be on the chopping block as <a href="https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/president-trump-politics/dc-mayor-bowser-government-hiring-spending-freezes/3892825/">D.C. grapples with Congressionally-mandated budget cuts</a>? The U.S. Supreme Court considered a Montgomery County case this week that would allow <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/04/22/supreme-court-lgbtq-books-storytime-montgomery-maryland/">religious families to opt their kids out of public school lessons</a> with LGBTQ-themed books. It's a case with national implications. Montgomery County Council Vice President and chair of the county's education committee, Will Jawando, got behind the mic to weigh in. He also weighed in on County Executive Marc Elrich's <a href="https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/04/23/elrich-income-tax-proposal/">proposal raise income taxes rather than property tax rates</a>. The county-level income tax increase was made possible by a <a href="https://marylandmatters.org/2025/04/04/house-senate-quickly-come-to-agreement-on-spending-and-tax-plan/">change in the tax structure</a> by the Maryland General Assembly earlier this month. Jawando said he supports the income tax bump. "I make $150,000 a year. I'll pay $150 more in income tax next year if this passes. It's $100 per $100,000 in taxable income is the increase. It's a very small amount, but it'll allow us to fully fund our schools and our teachers," he said. Send us questions and comments for guests: <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a> Follow us on Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/wamu885/">instagram.com/wamu885</a> Follow us on Bluesky: <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/wamu.org">bsky.app/wamu.org</a>
April 18, 2025
D.C. and the Washington Commanders are reportedly <a href="https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/sports/washington-commanders/dc-commanders-deal-stadium-rfk-site/3893651/">closing in on a $3 billion deal to build a new stadium</a> on the old RFK stadium site, which would bring the NFL franchise back to the District. While numbers reportedly are not finalized yet, the framework has the team paying a majority of the costs associated with building the new stadium. NBC 4's Mark Segraves first broke the story and he joined the show to break down what's in the deal and what may happen next. Metro has recently experienced some of <a href="https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/transportation/metro-ridership-nears-5-year-high-as-federal-workers-return-to-offices/3852751/">its highest ridership in years</a>, spurred by return-to-office mandates and the spring tourist season. Plus, last week, the local public transportation system announced it was again increasing service, including <a href="https://wtop.com/dc-transit/2025/04/metro-approves-nearly-5b-budget-that-extends-weekend-hours-starting-in-june/">expanding weekend hours</a>. Despite all the good news, Metro's future is uncertain. A <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/03/15/nx-s1-5328721/reduction-in-force-rif-federal-workers-job-cuts-musk-doge-layoffs">shrinking federal workforce</a>, worrisome <a href="https://wtop.com/prince-georges-county/2025/03/prince-georges-co-releases-difficult-budget-proposal/">budget challenges</a> for localities across the region, and <a href="https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/local-news/washington-dc/u-s-transportation-secretary-requests-reports-on-metros-crime-and-fare-evasion-efforts/">increasing federal oversight</a> are threatening to knock Metro off the rails of its <a href="https://www.washingtonian.com/2024/11/14/dcs-metro-made-a-comeback-meet-the-man-behind-it/">much-publicized comeback</a>. General Manager Randy Clarke got behind the mic with Kojo and Tom to weigh in on the future of the Metro. Plus, we asked about the upcoming <a href="https://www.wusa9.com/article/traffic/mission-metro/dc-bus-stops-are-going-away-metro/65-f0332ce0-dd71-43c0-979d-ccbe360c5caf">overhaul of Metro's bus system</a>. Become a member of WAMU: <a href="https://donate.wamu.org/page/15696/donate/1">wamu.org/donate</a> Send us questions and comments for guests: <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a> Follow us on Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/wamu885/">instagram.com/wamu885</a> Follow us on Bluesky: <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/wamu.org">bsky.app/wamu.org</a>
April 11, 2025
Alexandria is dealing with the impacts of a shrinking federal workforce on <a href="https://www.alxnow.com/2025/03/26/federal-workforce-cuts-could-severely-impact-alexandrias-economy-officials-warn/">its economy</a>, tax base, and ability to fund <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/03/03/northern-virginia-taxes-local-government-budget/">even some basic services</a>. Mayor Alyia Gaskins sat down with Kojo and Tom to discuss the local challenges that come with cutting thousands of federal positions. Plus, Mayor Gaskins explained why Alexandria is <a href="https://www.alexandriava.gov/Immigration">not a sanctuary city.</a> Washington Capitals legend Alexander Ovechkin <a href="https://wamu.org/story/25/04/07/dc-alex-ovechkin-washington-capitals-fan/">broke the long-held NHL scoring record</a> this past weekend. The hockey superstar has played his entire 20-year career in the District, and <a href="https://wamu.org/story/25/04/07/dc-alex-ovechkin-washington-capitals-fan/">local fans</a> have bonded with the Russian-born athlete. Washington Post columnist Marc Fisher got behind the mic to talk about <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/04/04/ovi-ovechkin-capitals-hockey-record/">the city's special relationship with "Ovi,</a>" despite the superstar's <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/alex-ovechkin-putin-1.6726430">uncomfortable relationship</a> with Russian President Vladimir Putin. And the Maryland General Assembly <a href="https://marylandmatters.org/2025/04/08/sine-done-on-final-day-of-session-lawmakers-toggle-between-the-serious-and-the-silly/">wrapped its 90-day session</a> earlier this week with compromises on <a href="https://marylandmatters.org/2025/04/07/house-senate-ratify-budget-compromise-on-final-day/">the budget</a>, <a href="https://marylandmatters.org/2025/04/08/lawmakers-pass-watered-down-immigrant-protections-bill-in-final-minutes-of-2025-session/">immigrant protections</a>, and cuts to the <a href="https://marylandmatters.org/2025/04/08/blueprint-gets-a-trim-after-session-that-threatened-major-cuts/">state's massive education reform plan</a>. Maryland Matters' reporter Will Ford broke down what passed - and what didn't - during the General Assembly's final chaotic days of its 2025 session. Become a member of WAMU: <a href="https://donate.wamu.org/page/15696/donate/1">wamu.org/donate</a> Send us questions and comments for guests: <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a> Follow us on Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/wamu885/">instagram.com/wamu885</a> Follow us on Bluesky: <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/wamu.org">bsky.app/wamu.org</a>
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