Claim OwnershipHearing the Council
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We’re the District’s legislature, responsible for crafting laws. On Twitter, our goal is to engage with residents in an informative and conversational way.
If you think you already know all about our councilmembers, or the topics they tackle, then you clearly haven’t listened to our “Hearing the Council” radio show and podcast. Even Wilson Building staffers and journalists get whole new insight into councilmembers from our “getting to know you” episodes, and our deep dives on policy topics give members 30+ minutes to discuss and face questions on a single topic of interest to them. A must-listen for reporters, advocates, and political junkies.
If you think you already know all about our councilmembers, or the topics they tackle, then you clearly haven’t listened to our “Hearing the Council” radio show and podcast. Even Wilson Building staffers and journalists get whole new insight into councilmembers from our “getting to know you” episodes, and our deep dives on policy topics give members 30+ minutes to discuss and face questions on a single topic of interest to them. A must-listen for reporters, advocates, and political junkies.
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In our most recent Hearing the Council interview, Ward One Councilmember Brianne Nadeau discussed her committee's late October hearing into potential human rights violations during the federal surge of law enforcement into the District in recent months.
We discuss the powerful testimony she received from residents, experts, advocates, and ANC Commissioners. Plus, her insights into why no DC government witnesses appeared at the hearing, and her thoughts on how to reconcile differing accounts by the mayor and police chief on whether cooperation with federal immigration enforcement officials is still ongoing.
In our latest Hearing the Council episode, we get to know Ward 7's Wendell Felder. Elected in November of 2024, and serving since January, we tackle the obligatory biographical deep dive that Hearing the Council always undertakes with our newest Councilmembers. We learn about Councilmember Felder's origins as a fourth generation native Washingtonian, how running footraces in track led to political races for student government, and how initial setbacks in both school and District government informed his later successes. We discuss one key mentor in local government and business, plus how he followed childhood hydrant hijinks with an eventual seat on the DC Water board. And finally, as is traditional in our first interviews with Councilmembers, we have him rank his favorite desserts.
In our latest Hearing the Council interview, Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George discusses her proposed Local News Funding Act. At a time when local news outlets are vanishing but the need for quality local journalism has never been greater, Councilmember Lewis George touts her legislation to square this circle. Her proposal: setting aside 0.1% of the District budget to be distributed by DC voters to accredited local journalism outlets. We analyze the bill and its prospects. Plus, for the fun round, she picks which of her colleagues are best suited to join her for a dance lesson, camping trip, or heated customer service phone call.
In a May 2025 visit to "Hearing the Council" to continue talking about DC's budget standoff, Ward 3 Councilmember Matt Frumin walks us through every detail of this year's budget limbo. From the Congressional Continuing Resolution that put us back on our heels to the coordinated effort by DC officials and the public to get it undone, and from past efforts to pin the mayor down on a budget transmittal date to other potential stumbling blocks that could still impact the Council's summer budget deliberations, we leave no stone unturned. It's a discussion so meaty, we didn't even have time for the "fun round."
In the latest Hearing the Council video interview, Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker discusses the District government's ongoing budget standoff. He talks about the importance of avoiding a perilous mid-year, $1 billion cut to our previously-approved balanced budget for the ongoing fiscal year. He also discusses his new responsibilities as a committee chair, and the immense importance of the District government getting youth rehabilitation right. Plus, which colleagues he thinks could best shoulder snow shoveling responsibilities, and who "tends to be pretty fly," so might be a good clothes shopping companion.
In his latest Hearing the Council interview, Ward 3 Councilmember Matthew Frumin discusses how DC residents and civil society came together to combat the unexpected mid-year budget cut recently faced by the District. Plus, he provides insight into the benefits and challenges of becoming a Council committee chair. Specifically, he outlines his new committee's early performance oversight work on the topic of homelessness, thornier than ever in the current political climate. And in the "fun round," he opines on which of his colleagues would be best suited to odd jobs like shoveling snow and putting on a puppet show.
In our latest Hearing the Council interview, we chat with At-Large Councilmember Robert White about the complicated moment we are all living through currently, plus his policy priorities for 2025. We talk about challenges facing both housing development and affordability, including the dry pipeline of future multifamily housing permits in the District. We discuss the great promise held by vocational education, but why it remains an underutilized tool. And we talk about what if anything can bring DC together during these challenging times. Plus, for the fun round, he picks which of his colleagues he would choose to help with miscellaneous tasks, like clothes shopping and putting on a puppet show.
In the first Hearing the Council interview of 2025, Ward One Councilmember Brianne Nadeau discusses two of her initial legislative priorities for the New Year: her soon-to-be-introduced bottle deposit and Neighborhood Management Entities bills.
Councilmember Nadeau discusses how the bottle (and can) deposit bill would aim to greatly reduce the amount of these items in our rivers and woods, as well as on our streets. Every resident and business would be empowered to tackle the dual goals of environmental protection and neighborhood beautification through this proposed measure.
Additionally, she discusses how her proposed Neighborhood Management Entities bill would allow dense mixed use communities like Ward 1's U Street and Columbia Heights neighborhoods to better and more collaboratively tackle issues and projects, from cleanliness to safety to event planning.
Plus, as always, we had the "fun round," where Councilmember Nadeau selected which of her colleagues would be best suited to join her in tackling a range of tasks, from putting on a puppet show to meeting with the Trump Administration.
In the latest Hearing the Council podcast interview, Ward Six Councilmember Charles Allen discusses his landmark STEER (Strengthening Traffic Enforcement, Education, and Responsibility) Act, which was recently passed by the Council with key elements having become effective on October 1. The bill is the latest demonstration of the Council's ongoing vigilance and an essential effort to reverse troubling trends in the District's struggling Vision Zero transportation safety efforts. We examine the various elements of the bill, including efforts to target the worst ticket scofflaws in the name of safety. We also discuss the Councilmember's work to shine a light on a new practice of apartment management companies: charging an additional fee to tenants for utilities and other costs in building common areas. Plus, his desert island TV show favorites.
In our latest Hearing the Council interview, At-Large Councilmember Christina Henderson discusses three key policy areas. First, we update our prior conversation on the opioid crisis in the District with the welcome news that opioid deaths are now on the decline. Second, we discuss how her Certified Nurse Aide Amendment Act, recently passed by the Council, would eliminate barriers to home health aide certification, expand eligibility for the role, and establish a new minimum wage for these crucial workers. And third, we talk about the STEER Act, and how its recently enacted provisions will help get dangerous drivers off the streets. Plus, which TV shows she turns to when seeking a momentary escape from Council business.
In our latest Hearing the Council interview, Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker takes a deep dive into development on Rhode Island Avenue. We discuss how a now-funded economic development study of the crucial corridor will build upon the avenue's existing strengths and help it better meet its current untapped potential, all while respecting and protecting the longtime residents and businesses who call the corridor home. We also talk about other Ward 5 wins in the most recent budget cycle., plus which positive traits from Councilmembers past and present he would draw from to create the perfect composite colleague.
In our latest #HearingTheCouncil interview, Ward One Councilmember Brianne Nadeau talks about the much-discussed redevelopment at the 17th/U intersection. A compromise rezoning--less than what was initially proposed, but more than critics hoped for--recently received its first approval. We talk impacts on affordable housing, the police and fire department facilities currently and subsequently to be housed on the site, and the hint of potential library services in a potential eventual redevelopment project.
Plus: the travails of a Councilmember attempting to go phone-less to Girl Scout camp, or when honeymooning
In a July 1 interview, Council Chairman Phil Mendelson talks about this year's quirky budget process: the mayor's blown budget deadline, the stumbling block created by the Chief Financial Officer but ultimately resolved by the Council, and how even the Attorney General got involved this time around. Plus, the elaborate interplay between these four public officials historically and more recently in the context of this year's budget. The Chairman does not mince words in this frank discussion. (Although he does "dispute my premise" several times, par for the course given what some on social media have described as the "Between Two Ferns vibe" of my interviews with the Chairman.)
In his latest Hearing the Council video interview, Ward 3 Councilmember Matthew Frumin emphasizes the importance of out-of-school time to District youth. He discusses the legislation he introduced on the topic, its prognosis, and how even just the increased attention he has brought to the topic has moved the needle administratively.
We also talk about the pros and cons of school funding by formula, and the few exceptions that prove the rule. Plus, which councilmember might actually have a Rolodex, if it's worth purloining, and who he'd appreciate taking a walk in the woods with.
In his latest Hearing the Council video interview, At-Large Councilmember Robert White discusses three youth crime prevention bills he recently introduced: his Vocational Education for a New Generation Act, his Youth Mentorship through Community Engagement Act, and his Truancy Reduction for Student Success Act. Through analysis of vocational education needs and impacts, monthly truancy trends, and the pairing of youth experiencing adverse childhood experiences with DC government employees who provide mentorship during one weekly hour of paid community service leave, the thought is some future youth violence could be cut off at the pass before it ever occurs. Plus, which traits he’d borrow from past and present colleagues to craft a perfect Councilmember.
In his latest Hearing the Council video interview, Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker discusses three bills he introduced. His “Water is Life” bill would prevent residential water service shutoffs for nonpayment and facilitate access by tenants to programs meant to help avoiding such shutoffs. His Pay Our Youth a Fair Wage bill would increase wages for participants in the Summer Youth Employment Program. And his Environmental Justice Act would look at the cumulative impacts of environmentally detrimental projects in a single community. Plus we discuss how to formulate the perfect councilmember out of the best traits of his colleagues.
In his latest Hearing the Council video interview, Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen discusses three critical environmental measures his committee has recently tackled: Healthy Homes, e-bike incentives, and electric vehicles. In each case, he discusses how he brought an equity lens to broaden voluntary environmental incentives (not requirements!) that otherwise might have excluded lower-income individuals. Plus, for the “fun round,” he suggests how he’d craft a perfect councilmember out of successful traits of past and present colleagues.
In her latest Hearing the Council video interview, At-Large Councilmember Christina Henderson talked about three policy areas close to her heart. First, we discussed her "Sense of the Council" bill encouraging the Mayor to declare the opioid crisis in the District (and its resultant 400 deaths a year) a public health emergency. Second, we talked about her bill from last year giving SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) recipients a boost in their monthly food allotment. And third, we discussed her proposed bill to provide all District public school students with free school lunch. Plus, we closed out discussing Halloween, and her advice on how to build a "Good Frankenstein Councilmember" and a " Bad Frankenstein Councilmember" by combining the best and worst traits of her Council colleagues. Don't miss it!
In his sophomore Hearing the Council interview, Ward 3 Councilmember Matthew Frumin discusses his signature "Ward 3 for All" initiative. Ward Three has a reputation as a land of plenty, but Councilmember Frumin discusses how he plans to make it more welcoming to all the District's residents. From affordable housing and neighborhood schools to accessible transit and recreation opportunities, he talks about recent budget successes and plans for the future. But what is Ward 3's place in the District's broader social services network? We discuss that too. Plus, in the fun round, Councilmember Frumin talks IKEA furniture, driving cross-country, and fighting off barbarians.
In her latest "Hearing the Council" interview, At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds discusses the essential role the return-to-office movement plays in reinvigorating the District's downtown and to keeping our local budget balanced.
In advance of a committee hearing on the topic, we discuss the stark economic realities that underlie the need for an accelerated return to the office, and the complex balance of these facts with the profound quality of life impacts that reduced work-from-home entails.
And in the "fun round" at the end of the interview, Councilmember Bonds makes her personal picks for which of her colleagues she would match with which hypothetical tasks, such as camping, sharing their Rolodex/contacts, and writing poetry worth reading.
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