The Politics Hour with Kojo Nnamdi

U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) joined the show to discuss the Trump administration's threat to withhold back pay from furloughed federal workers, despite 2019 legislation guaranteeing pay in the event of a shutdown. We also asked Sen. Kaine to weigh in on this week's Virginia gubernatorial debate which pitted Democrat Abigail Spanberger against Republican Winsome Earle-Sears.He said the differences between the two candidates were stark as they sparred over transgender rights, political violence, and immigration."For those who haven't made their minds up, I think the temperament issue will really tip them Abigail's way," Kaine said. "For those who have made their minds up, their minds probably didn't change."Plus, violent text messages sent by the Democratic candidate for Attorney General in 2022 continue to shake up Virginia's statewide elections. Sen. Kaine gave his thoughts.Protestors rallied on Wednesday, calling for D.C. police to stop collaborating with federal immigration enforcement agents. D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson joined the show and said MPD's continued cooperation with ICE is eroding public trust.He noted that District law bars police from cooperating with federal immigration authorities. A recent video shows D.C. police officers and federal agents detaining several individuals and threatening several bystanders with arrest for interfering in a possible immigration arrest."Our MPD needs to respect what our law is. More than that, they need to respect ordinary citizens of the District," he said.Also, the council debated emergency legislation this week that would have extended the youth curfew. Despite some drama, the lawmakers ultimately put off a final decision. We asked Chair Phil Mendelson why the vote became so controversial.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.orgFollow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885Follow us on Bluesky: bsky.app/wamu.org

The federal government partially shut down for the first time since 2018. The shutdown puts the D.C. region in a particularly perilous position, considering the area's close relationship with the federal government. Additionally, President Trump is again threatening to fire more civil servants and further slash federal programs. Maryland Congressman Glenn Ivey joined the show to discuss how the shutdown will affect area residents. Plus, he explained why Democrats are holding out for a permanent extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits and why this poses a significant concern for many residents living in Prince George's County.More than 60,000 Loudoun County residents have jobs tied to the federal government, according to a county estimate. We spoke with Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chair Phyllis Randall about what a federal shutdown means for her residents. Plus, the U.S. Department of Education is alleging Loudoun County Public Schools violated Title IX when the school system suspended two male students earlier this year. We asked Chair Randall what it might mean for the schools' ability to receive federal funding, and we discussed what's next in the fight over data centers.Send us questions and comments for guests: kojo@wamu.orgFollow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885Follow us on Bluesky: bsky.app/wamu.org

Virginia's statewide elections are now in the home stretch, with both sides pouring money into the races. The lieutenant governor contest might be the most competitive, with the race earning national attention and unexpected endorsements. The Democratic candidate joined us last week; now, Republican candidate John Reid took the mic and discussed the campaign and the issues, including reproductive rights and school gender policies. Plus, we asked Reid about turning down the temperature on political rhetoric.Protests earlier this month prompted Prince George's County leaders to pause all data center development, with a promise to assess the impacts and gather more input from residents. The move comes four years after the Prince George's County Council voted unanimously to allow data centers to be built 'by right,' meaning for most sites, developers wouldn't need council approval. Now, leaders are reconsidering that process. We asked Prince George's County Councilmember Wanika Fisher for her thoughts. Plus, we discussed the long-delayed Purple Line and how it could accelerate economic development in the county.Send us questions and comments for guests: kojo@wamu.orgFollow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885Follow us on Bluesky: bsky.app/wamu.org

After some last-minute negotiations, the D.C. Council gave its final approval to a $3.7 billion deal to build a football complex at the RFK Stadium site and bring the Washington Commanders back to the District. Supporters hailed it as a transformative project for the city, one that will bring a domed stadium, retail, housing, and green space to a site along the Anacostia River currently occupied by what's left of the old RFK stadium. Ward 7 D.C. Councilmember Wendell Felder represents the area, and he joined the show to discuss the vote and what comes next.We talked about the several changes councilmembers proposed before Wednesday's vote, though only minor tweaks were made in the end. Those included stricter environmental standards and stiffer penalties for missing development deadlines. Felder was able to secure an additional $60 million over the next thirty years for a community reinvestment fund. The money, he said, will help Ward 7 residents. "The fund will go towards housing displacement prevention, revitalization of blighted and vacant units, health programs, and create more opportunities for small and local businesses."  Felder also said the stadium will serve as an anchor development for attracting investment. Plus, we also asked him about the council passing the RENTAL Act, which proponents hope will attract more investment in housing, and extending the city's youth curfew.The Virginia statewide elections are heating up, with early voting getting underway this week. The lieutenant governor's race could be the most competitive, with both sides now pouring money into the campaign. Virginia state Senator and Democratic candidate Ghazala Hashmi joined the show to discuss the race, data centers, and advocating for public schools.The Department of Education is threatening to withhold millions of dollars in federal funding from Northern Virginia schools due to the districts’ policies of allowing students to use bathrooms corresponding with their gender identity. Hashmi said the federal government should not be interfering. We are very clear in Virginia that we have local authority over our school districts," she said. "And I trust our local school boards, our local administration to be making the decisions that are best for their communities." She called the “federal overreach” a distraction from the schools’ mission of student learning.

Fairfax voters this week overwhelmingly elected Democrat James Walkinshaw to succeed the late Gerry Connolly in Congress in Virginia's 11th district. Walkinshaw, who was sworn in on Wednesday, takes over for his mentor during a particularly tumultuous time for Northern Virginia. Congressman Walkinshaw joined the show to discuss the 51,000 civilian federal workers who live in the district, a potential regional recession, and the possibility of a federal shutdown. Plus, we asked him to weigh in on Virginia's upcoming statewide elections.The House Oversight Committee advanced a series of bills this week that threaten to further undermine D.C.'s autonomy, including legislation replacing the locally elected D.C. attorney general with a presidential appointee, allowing youth 14 years or older to be tried for certain offenses, and ending cashless bail in the District. Introduced amendments also called for revoking the city's ban on right turns on red and prohibiting automatic traffic enforcement cameras. Also, this week, the federal takeover of D.C. police expired. Ward 6 D.C. Councilmember Charles Allen took the mic to discuss what comes next and why he believes the legislation would make the District less safe. We'll also asked about the upcoming second RFK stadium vote.Send us questions and comments for guests: kojo@wamu.orgFollow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885Follow us on Bluesky: bsky.app/wamu.org

With students across the region returning to class, local school superintendents discussed student safety, cell phone policies, and concerns over immigration enforcement.In Prince George's County, schools continue to deal with the fallout from the federal government freezing and then unfreezing millions of dollars in education funds. While funds are expected to be dispersed by next month, more federal cuts could be on the horizon. Interim Prince George's County Public Schools Superintendent Shawn Joseph joined the show to discuss the potential implications for Prince George's County schools. Plus, we discussed bus driver shortages, cell phone policies, test scores, and how schools are preparing for a possible increase in federal immigration enforcement.Joseph said the county experienced a decline in school attendance last year, and officials believe it’s at least in part due to concerns about immigration enforcement. "43% percent of our students were out of school eighteen days or more, and it's significant within our immigrant population, and we think it's because of the fear of ICE and things happening," he said.Joseph said they are monitoring school attendance and want to send the message to the county’s immigrant population that school remains a safe place.Fairfax County Public Schools, Virginia's largest school district, is also dealing with concerns over immigration enforcement. Superintendent Michelle Reid got behind the mic to talk about how Fairfax County schools are supporting students, families, and staff. Plus, FCPS is suing the U.S. Education Department in an effort to prevent the agency from freezing federal funding due to the district's gender policies. Superintendent Reid said the school system's current policy of allowing students to use bathrooms that match their gender identity is both legal and in the best interest of students."We felt and still feel strongly that our policy is in accordance both with Virginia and federal law. And it still is aligned with the Title IX principles currently on the books," she said. Reid said the millions the federal government is threatening to withhold go in part to fund free and reduced-price lunches. Send us questions and comments for guests: kojo@wamu.orgFollow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885Follow us on Bluesky: bsky.app/wamu.org

The federal takeover of D.C. police is now in its third week, and we were joined on this week’s show by guests with different perspectives on the federal law enforcement surge in the District.Maryland Governor Wes Moore joined the show to weigh in. He has called the federal police takeover “disrespectful” and unconstitutional. Additionally, the Governor discussed his recent public spat with President Trump, with the White House hinting at the possibility of sending National Guard troops to Baltimore and potentially clawing back federal funding for rebuilding the Key Bridge.D.C. Police Union Chairman Gregg Pemberton joined the show to explain why he welcomes the federal law enforcement surge in the District, which he says has helped the MPD bring down crime and improve morale among local police. Plus, Pemberton discussed why he believes the D.C. Council should go further and repeal a 2022 police reform act, which limited certain uses of police force and increased police transparency. Congress voted to block certain aspects of the bill. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said this week she appreciates the additional federal resources, and she shared numbers showing violent crime, and specifically carjackings, have decreased significantly in the city since the surge began.However, several D.C. Councilmembers have come out strongly against the federal law enforcement surge. Ward 4 D.C. Councilmember Janeese Lewis George got behind the mic to weigh in on the federal takeover of local police and what she’s heard from residents. Send us questions and comments for guests: kojo@wamu.orgFollow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885Follow us on Bluesky: bsky.app/wamu.org

President Trump announced this week he was federalizing the D.C. police and sending in the National Guard to curb what he calls "out of control" crime in the District. The move comes as violent crime in D.C. is down 26% compared to this time last year, according to Metropolitan Police Department data. Hundreds of federal law enforcement officials and the National Guard have already been brought in, and have been seen patrolling D.C. streets.Residents across the region have lots of questions and thoughts about what D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is calling an "unprecedented" move by the administration.So, we talked about it.Host Kojo Nnamdi, analyst Tom Sherwood, WAMU's Senior D.C. Politics reporter Alex Koma, and D.C. Auditor Kathy Patterson joined for a WAMU News call-in special. They answered your questions and heard your thoughts about what it all means for your community.Send us questions and comments for guests: kojo@wamu.orgFollow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885Follow us on Bluesky: bsky.app/wamu.org

It's likely that the Washington Commanders will be leaving their current home in Prince George's County for a new stadium in the District. What would happen to the Northwest Stadium site? How about the land currently home to Six Flags, which is closing close to the end of the year? Prince George's County Executive Aisha Braveboy weighed in, saying the county is already preparing for the team’s departure from the 200-acre-site. Redeveloping the land, Braveboy said, could be a boon. “We didn't really get to yield the kind of revenue that, let's say a National Harbor, yields for us. I mean, we make about 70 million off National Harbor and 14 million off the Commanders," she said.Braveboy also noted the redevelopment of the soon-to-be-closed Six Flags, which sits on 500 acres, could also provide additional tax revenue for the county. Arlington County was the first local jurisdiction in the region to end single-family-only zoning, but the county is now embroiled in a lawsuit over the change. As other counties and cities make similar moves, Arlington County Board member Maureen Coffey joined the show to share lessons learned and the challenges that lie ahead. The D.C. area is feeling the effects of the federal cuts and job losses as unemployment claims rise and layoffs increase. We asked County Board member Coffey what it means for local budgets and how Arlington County is preparing for an uncertain financial future.We also discussed the Arlington Housing Commission potentially asking the Virginia General Assembly to make it easier for houses of worship to build affordable housing on their land.Coffey said the legislation could be a win-win. "I think it's reasonable to look at these properties. Faith communities own a lot of property," Coffey said. "Faith attendance is down, and a lot of these congregations are really struggling to even keep up the properties that they do have." However, Coffey noted the bill would mandate all Virginia jurisdictions to allow for this type of development. Plus, we discussed President Trump's renewed threats for the federal government to take over policing the District.Send us questions and comments for guests: kojo@wamu.orgFollow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885Follow us on Bluesky: bsky.app/wamu.org

After two days of hearings, the D.C. Council took a first vote on the much-anticipated multi-billion-dollar RFK Stadium deal. WAMU's Senior D.C. Politics reporter Alex Koma joined us live from the Wilson building to give us the latest. He also broke down this week's final vote on the budget, which included a controversial compromise on the future of the tipped minimum wage.The Trump administration has opened multiple investigations into George Mason University over alleged discriminatory policies, including into actions by the school's faculty. We asked Virginia Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell to weigh in. Sen. Surovell also explained why the General Assembly is mulling a return to Richmond for a special session next month, and we got his thoughts on Virginia's 11th Congressional District race to replace Rep. Gerry Connolly, who passed away unexpectedly this spring.  The Montgomery County Council recently approved a "missing middle" housing plan. It's drawn backlash from some residents, as well as from County Executive Marc Elrich. He shared his take on the zoning change that will allow developers to build more types of housing in certain areas of the county.County Executive Elrich also discussed the county's efforts to manage the increasing instances of flash flooding. Maryland has had 51 flash food warnings to date this year, already the most since 2020. Elrich warned that current systems won’t be adequate for what’s coming, and the county is researching fixes, including stormwater retention areas. "This, for us, is going to be challenging because these are capital expenses that no one thought we were going to be making," he said. "So this, in my mind, alters the trajectory of future budgets."Elrich said the county has already installed dozens of flood sensors to help warn when water is rising. Send us questions and comments for guests: kojo@wamu.orgFollow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885Follow us on Bluesky: bsky.app/wamu.org

On Thursday, D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson announced a revised deal with the Washington Commanders for a new stadium at RFK, which he says gives the city a better deal. Is the deal good enough for the council to approve it when they vote August 1? We dove into the details with Ward 5 D.C. Councilmember Zachary Parker.The changes call for redirecting parking fees and sales tax revenue to the city. It also includes money for transportation improvements and to help nearby neighborhoods. It could amount to an additional $700 million in revenue for the District. But Parker said he’d like to see more benefits for the city in a final deal.  "Members still have issues and priorities that we are pressing on," he said. "Making sure that there is adequate language and accountability for transportation investments and environmental protections."The council is set for a first vote on the stadium deal next Friday, with a final vote planned for September. Plus, we previewed with Parker the D.C. Council budget vote next week.Metro recently overhauled its bus system for the first time in 50 years.  The changes, including renaming all routes and eliminating hundreds of stops, have led to some rider confusion and frustration. Metro General Manager Randy Clarke explained why the changes were needed and how the revamp is meeting its goals, despite a few hiccups."From a community point of view, more people get better service, more reliable, more frequent service, and it was done through an equity lens specifically around low-income individuals and people trying to get them to places like jobs and the doctor and things of that nature," said Clarke.Clarke said Metro is listening to rider feedback and will continue to make tweaks to the system. Additionally, he discussed how Metro plans to fund its future.

The D.C. Council advanced a budget this week with deep cuts to social services, no tax increases, and $500 million to help build a new football stadium at the RFK site. It also includes funding to implement ranked choice voting in the District next year. D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson got behind the mic to break down the budget negotiations.. Plus, Mendelson discussed why his tipped minimum wage proposal failed, why ranked choice voting succeeded, and we asked about the Ward 8 special election, and whether he and his council colleagues will expel Councilmember-elect Trayon White again now that he’s won his seat back.WAMU’s new reporter covering Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, Jenny Abamu, got behind the mic to weigh in on what federal cuts and layoffs mean for Maryland residents. She also discussed how Maryland Governor Wes Moore is addressing a looming budget crisis as he prepares for a re-election campaign and illegal house parties in Montgomery County.Send us questions and comments for guests: kojo@wamu.orgFollow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885Follow us on Bluesky: bsky.app/wamu.org

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 with slashing the federal workforce. We ask Rep. Ivey what is being done for locals who might be at risk of losing their jobs.President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law late last week, which includes significant cuts to Medicaid coverage. In Virginia, one estimate suggests that 332,000 residents will lose their health insurance. Virginia Congressman Suhas Subramanyam, who represents a large portion of Loudoun County, gets behind the mic to discuss what he heard from his constituents at a recent townhall. We’ll also ask about immigration; Virginia has seen one of the sharpest spikes in ICE arrests in the country.D.C.’s Ward 8 residents are heading to the polls for a special election to fill the seat on the D.C. Council. Despite federal bribery charges and expulsion by his colleagues, former councilmember Trayon White is the frontrunner for his old seat. WAMU’s Senior D.C. Politics reporter Alex Koma joins Kojo and Tom to break down the race. He’ll also share the latest updates on the D.C. Council budget, expected to be released early next week, and the debate over the RFK Stadium.Send us questions and comments for guests: kojo@wamu.orgFollow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885Follow us on Bluesky: bsky.app/wamu.org

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 concerning. However, Lierman said the state is working to diversify into the private sector instead of an overreliance on the federal government."All of these folks have chosen to go into public service, but would also do incredibly well and be very successful in other fields," Lierman said. "We have an incredible biotech industry in Maryland. We have cyber, we have quantum, and more."D.C. councilmembers broadly agree that the city's violence interruption programs are in need of changes, following public criticism of the programs and multiple bribery scandals. However, councilmembers are not in agreement on what exactly do to about it.  This week, Ward 2 D.C. Councilmember Brooke Pinto proposed major reforms as part of the ongoing budget debate. It was met with significant pushback, leading her to pitch a whole new plan. Councilmember Pinto got the behind the mic to explain what happened and what comes next.Finally, Montgomery County councilmembers are pushing a package of bills for more workforce housing, particularly allowing construction of residences along transit corridors. The package also includes tax breaks for some developers. District 6 Montgomery County Councilmember Natali Fani-González and co-sponsor of the somewhat controversial legislative package weighed in. Plus, why county officials are pressing Marriott to sign an agreement to not retaliate against union members and why the Trump administration's ramp up of federal immigration enforcement efforts throughout the D-C region is deeply personal for her.Send us questions and comments for guests: kojo@wamu.orgFollow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885Follow us on Bluesky: bsky.app/wamu.org

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 Jason Miyares in November. WAMU's Northern Virginia reporter Margaret Barthel got behind the mic to break down the results. Plus, she set the stage for the widely-anticipated governor's race in the fall. Margaret also previewed the Democratic firehouse primary set for later this month to fill Virginia's 11th Congressional District seat after the death of longtime Congressman Gerry Connolly.The D.C. Council is deep into budget hearings, with hundreds of residents coming out to express their views on proposed cuts, the deal to build a new football stadium, and a pitch to repeal the tipped minimum wage increase. Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen joined Kojo and Tom to discuss his priorities in a tight budget year. Plus, Allen weighs in on D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser's push for stricter youth curfew laws.The bill calls for an 11 p.m. citywide summer curfew for 17-year-olds or younger. Currently, the curfew starts at midnight and applies to those 16 or younger. The proposal also would allow D.C. police to create special zones where the curfew could be set as early as 7 p.m. for 15 consecutive days. However, Councilmember Allen questioned the strategy."Are we pulling away MPD resources to go enforce a curfew that we need them in other places,?" he asked.Allen also said a tougher curfew shouldn’t be passed as emergency legislation and without public hearings. The Council is expected to consider it early next month.Send us questions and comments for guests: kojo@wamu.orgFollow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885Follow us on Bluesky: bsky.app/wamu.org

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 wanting more time to approve the RFK stadium deal. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser included a billion dollars for a new Washington Commanders football stadium in her proposed budget, which she unveiled late last month. The Mayor has said the Council needs to approve the deal and the budget by July 15, or the city risks the team backing out.But some councilmembers, including Henderson, wants to deal with RFK stadium separately. She said six weeks isn't enough time to review the complex deal."We need the opportunity to do due diligence. And what I would say to the Commanders, if they're listening, is that I would say the vast majority of my colleagues have not said no," Henderson said, "And it is in your best interest that we get this right."Last week, Prince George's County elected Aisha Braveboy in a special election for county executive. The county's former State's Attorney got behind the mic to discuss her top priorities, including the need to unify the county government. She said she’s in alignment with the council and has an excellent relationship with the school board. Another focus of her administration will be getting local government agencies on the same page, especially when it comes to telework policies."You know, it's very different from agency to agency, which I think creates a morale issue. It also creates a productivity issue," Braveboy said. "And I want people to be more oriented to come into the office to work collaboratively with their colleagues and also serve the public a little bit more efficiently."Plus, Braveboy discussed the resignation of Prince George's County Schools Superintendent Millard House and her naming Shawn Joseph as the interim as a nationwide search gets under way.Send us questions and comments for guests: kojo@wamu.orgFollow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885Follow us on Bluesky: bsky.app/wamu.org

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 relying on a federal workforce, and why she's betting big on sports and entertainment.She noted that some 40,000 people in the District could experience a job change because of massive federal cuts, which means shifting the city's economy."If our Chief Financial Officer is right, we think it's up to us to bend the curve in terms of job growth," she said.Mayor Bowser also discussed safety during World Pride, including the closure of Dupont Circle, historically the center of Pride celebrations."As we speak, we’re working on an alternative to that site," she said, noting that celebrations beyond one side, with plans for events across all eight wards.  Asked about ongoing preparations for Trump's military parade later this month, she said the event is now a national special security event, which means the federal government will take the lead on security,  logistics, and will handle the upfront costs, similar to inauguration events.She also discussed her proposal for a public-private partnership to build a new D.C. jail, which she says will help speed the construction of a new facility. 

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 Maryland Governor Wes Moore's recent veto of a reparations bill.D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser released her long-awaited 2026 budget this week. She cited a tough economic forecast in slashing safety net programs and providing tax cuts and incentives to businesses in an effort to grow the city's economy. WAMU's Senior D.C. Politics reporter Alex Koma sat down with Kojo and Tom to break down what is - and isn't - in the Mayor's proposed budget. Plus, he provided the latest on Trump's military parade set to roll through D.C. streets June 14.The D.C. Policy Center's Executive Director Yesim Sayin provided an analysis of the mayor's proposed budget. Mayor Bowser says the city needs to reduce spending and grow and diversify D.C.'s economy in the wake of drastic cuts to the federal government. Her budget includes a billion-dollar proposal to help build a new football complex on the old RFK stadium site and a repeal of the tipped minimum wage. Send us questions and comments for guests: kojo@wamu.orgFollow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885Follow us on Bluesky: bsky.app/wamu.org

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 representing Virginia's largest county in Congress. Virginia State Sen. Dave Marsden, representing parts of Fairfax County, joined the show to discuss Connolly's legacy. Plus, he talked about the commonwealth's financial future amid massive federal cuts and after the U.S. House passed a huge tax and spending bill. He'll also discussed what might be on the docket for next year's legislative session.A shooting on Wednesday night in front of the Capital Jewish Museum has many community members concerned. Ward 5 D.C. Councilmember Zachary Parker discussed how the District is keeping the public safe. Plus, we asked him to weigh in on the RFK stadium deal, the mayor's budget proposal, how the city will prepare for President Trump's massive military parade, and World Pride, which starts this week.Send us questions and comments for guests: kojo@wamu.orgFollow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885Follow us on Bluesky: bsky.app/wamu.org

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 the nickname "Data Center Alley." Residents and elected officials have recently looked to limit data center construction. The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors voted in March to eliminate by-right data center development. Vice Chair Michael Turner got behind the mic to explain what this means, how it impacts future development, and why the board felt it was necessary.Plus, he weighed in on recent investigations into Loudoun County schools and the financial burden of the President visiting his Loudoun County golf club.Montgomery County appears to be moving forward with a plan to nearly fully fund schools without raising taxes. Council President Kate Stewart explained how it will work and why it's a better solution than hiking the county's income or property tax. Plus, she weighed in on the recent Supreme Court case that looks likely to change school policy around allowing students to opt-out of lessons for religious reasons, as well as how the county is managing increased federal immigration enforcement efforts.Send us questions and comments for guests: kojo@wamu.orgFollow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885Follow us on Bluesky: bsky.app/wamu.org