I Hate Politics Podcast

Sunil Dasgupta talks with UMBC Media Studies Professor Jason Loviglio about his new book, Empathy Machines: This American Life, Podcasting, and the Public Radio Structure of Feeling, about the sociology of public radio aesthetics and the podcasting that emanated from it, as well as the political economy of a medium that burst through the American consciousness and now searching for its evolution. Music by Seth Kibel.

President Trump and Gov Wes Moore spar over jurisdiction at the sewage spill site. Dean Naujoks of the Potomac Riverkeeper Network with an update. What's happening with the housing agenda in the Maryland General Assembly? Maryland Association of Counties' Michael Sanderson explains. Montgomery County Board of Education takes the first step closing down the school district only and months-old charter school. Newly in public domain music by George Gershwin, Paul Whiteman band, and Marian Andersen.  

In 2019, Maryland became the first state in the nation to establish a Prescription Drug Affordability Board. After years of preparatory work, the agency is poised to take its first actions on two blockbuster diabetes drugs, Jardiance and Farxiga, and a year later, the Board can expand its price control mechanism to the private insurance market. Will they clear the thicket of dysfunction in the drug marketplace and help lower actual drug costs? Sunil Dasgupta talks with Andrew York, Executive Director Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board, and Vincent DeMarco, president of the Maryland Health Care for All Coalition. Newly in public domain music by George Gershwin, Paul Whiteman band, and Marian Andersen.

The Wootton High School shooting revives calls to bring SROs back to MCPS schools. MontgomeryCounty Councilmember Dawn Luedtke on why. Magruder High School in Derwood often gets overlooked in MCPS planning. PTSA President Kim Glassman wants answers. The Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee can now for the first time become involved in non-partisan Board of Education races. Chair Pam Luckett explains when. College Park Mayor Fazlul Kabir on city efforts to protect its student renters. And more. Newly in public domain music by George Gershwin, Paul Whiteman band, and Marian Andersen.

From Walkersville, MD, a purple town of 7,000 on Route 15, which connects Frederick, MD, to Gettysburg, PA, a tale of political education. Sunil Dasgupta talks with Town Commissioner Chris Ragen, a self-professed conservative, about his efforts to increase public participation in a decision that could have changed the town's police force and saved money. Newly in public domain music by George Gershwin, Paul Whiteman band, and Marian Andersen.

MCPS proposes to move Wootton High School from Rockville to Gaithersburg and causes uproar in the community. The Montgomery County Council oversight hearing on the failure of snow response comes down to coordination and communication. We read between the lines. Howard County, MD, becomes the first in the state council to revoke a building permit in Elkridge for an ICE jail. And more. Newly in public domain music by George Gershwin, Paul Whiteman band, and Marian Andersen.

A new book, Storm at the Capitol: An Oral History of January 6th, by Associated Press Congressional Reporter Mary Clare Jalonick, captures first-hand descriptions of the day of the biggest attack on the United States Capitol since 1814. Jalonick, who was trapped in the press gallery of the U.S. House of Representatives, says she wanted to create a definitive record of the day because there is now, following Trump's return to power, there is a risk of erasure of what really happened. Newly in public domain music by George Gershwin, Paul Whiteman band, and Marian Andersen.

How do other jurisdictions and past snow events compare to Snowcrete 2026? Montgomery County Councilmember Andrew Friedson weighs in prior to oversight hearings. Leaders from Republican-leaning jurisdictions oppose the 287g ICE agreement ban because they say the arrangement preempts ICE violence. MD Delegate Vaughn Stewart explores legislative ideas to limit ICE presence after the federal agency buys two warehouses in the state to serve as detention centers. In Prince Geroge's County, a Chinese Immersion Program in a Title 1 school in College Park is being cut as part of budget woes. And more. Newly in public domain music by George Gershwin, Paul Whiteman band, and Marian Andersen.

Montgomery County Public Schools, which had banned AI in classrooms in 2023, now has a draft new AI policy document out for public comment. Sunil Dasgupta talks with MCPS parent, Ed tech expert, and Stoneridge School of the Scared Heart teacher Jaime Chao Mignano to break down the document and the big AI questions that are predicted to upend education itself. Newly in public domain music by George Gershwin, Paul Whiteman band, and Marian Andersen.

The snow emergency has captured attention; hundreds of millions of raw sewage has spilled into the Potomac River from a pipe break under the American Legion Bridge, which joins Maryland and Virginia. DC Water, which runs the pipe, is working on it, but no local jurisdiction has issued a health advisory. Maryland Governor Wes Moore presented the last budget of his first term. We have takeaways. Montgomery County Board of Education has been considering a written policy on the use of AI in classrooms. We break it down. And more. Newly in public domain music by George Gershwin, Paul Whiteman band, and Marian Andersen.  

Data center demand for power is causing electricity bills to rise dramatically. The regional grid operator for the 13-state electricity market, PJM Interconnection, is under bipartisan pressure to address affordability. Meanwhile new 2026 property tax assessment notices show variation in assessed values of similar homes. Sunil Dasgupta talks with Abe Silverman, electricity lawyer at Johns Hopkins University, about electricity markets, and with Bob Yeager, Director of Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, and Adam Lewis, Supervisor in the Real property Division about how homes are evaluated for tax purposes. Music by Kara Levchenko.

MD's new House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk on the new era and its challenges. The state's  ER wait times problem. ICE action in Democratic jurisdictions leads Montgomery County, MD, to codify a 2019 immigrant protection executive order into law, says council president Natali Fani Gonzalez. A crisis call gone wrong leads to a call for police protection for mental health response. Music by Kara Levchenko.

In 2025, Governor Wes Moore's housing bills were defeated in the General Assembly, in part due to the efforts of the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo), which represents the state's 23 counties and Baltimore City. Will the state's counties be more supportive of the Governor's housing bills this year? Sunil Dasgupta talks with MACo Executive Director Michael Sanderson about housing and related questions. Music by Kara Levchenko.

Renee Good's killing in Minneapolis sparks local protests. Delegates David Moon and Adrian Boafo propose new laws to deter ICE abuse of force. Governor Moore presents new spending ideas after promising no new taxes. Pay raise proposed for Montgomery County school board. A John Harbaugh retrospective and what's next at the Baltimore Ravens. Music by Kara Levchenko.

Maryland is projecting a $1.4 billion budget shortfall, the state is under federal retrenchment, and elections are this year. Sunil Dasgupta talks with two of the most powerful leaders in the state assembly, Brian Feldman, chair of the Education, Energy, and Environment Committee in the Senate, and Marc Korman, chair of the Environment and Transportation Committee in the House of Delegates, about how they see the session ahead. Music by Kara Levchenko.

In a departure from our usual worm's eye view of the world, Sunil Dasgupta talks with Cato Institute Senior Fellow Walter Olson about the extraordinary rendition of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores to the United States on still shifting rationales that include oil, drug trafficking, and the changing nature of extraterritoriality of US law. Music by Kara Levchenko.

In this third installment of the Chocolate City Mixtape, Markus Batchelor talks with activist and award-winning filmmaker Merawi Gerima about his film Residue, a deeply personal reflection on his deep roots in Washington, D.C., the impact of gentrification on the community, the importance of D.C. is a broader fight for representation and freedom, and the role of art in social change.   Timestamps 01:00 Roots of Activism in Chocolate City 06:15 The Impact of Gentrification on Community 08:33 Creating Residue: A Personal Journey 15:14 Activism Beyond Art: A Call to Action 19:40 Rapid Fire: The Chocolate City Mixtape 22:44 End Credits

Montgomery County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association is defending its right to receive county emergency transportation funds after an IG report says they are not eligible. Rockville Councilmember Adam Van Grack and Gaithersburg Councilmember Yamil Hernandez face off over the Wootton High School solution. National Park Service has RFP out for redeveloping nearly 40 acres of Rock Creek Park to expand Carter Barron tennis complex. And  more. Music by Kara Levchenko.

In the second installment of the Chocolate City Mixtape, Markus Batchelor talks with UMBC Professor G. Derek Musgrove and the co-author of  Chocolate City, A History of Race and Democracy in the Nation's Capital to explore the history of Black culture and grassroots activism in shaping Washington DC's identity, the impact of congressional governance on local autonomy, and the ongoing struggles for representation and home rule.   Timestamps 00:00 Welcome / Intro 01:45 The Inspiration Behind 'Chocolate City' Book 03:19 Race, Democracy, and Political Empowerment in D.C. 05:32 The Historical Context of Race in D.C. 10:00 Fears and Hopes for D.C.'s Future 15:13 Lessons from History: Grassroots Movements in D.C. 19:50 The Fight for Home Rule in D.C. 21:44 Grassroots Movements and Political Advocacy 23:03 Reflections on the Black Power Resurgence 25:28 Mobilizing for Change in Today's Political Climate 27:04 Call to Action: Engaging with Local Organizations 28:39 Fun and Personal Reflections on D.C. 31:19 Final Thoughts and Take-Aways

Maryland House of Delegates elects a new speaker and overrides 19 governor vetoes. PJM, the regional electric grid operator which includes MD, VA, and DC, holds a capacity auction that predicts sharp increases in rates but is held in check by a price cap. Frederick County Council considers whether to approve an expanded area for data center building near Adamstown. Damascus and Wootton High School communities contest who will get a new building first. Montgomery County Public Schools announced its new operating budget, but we are still stuck And more. Music by Kara Levchenko.

In this first episode of a new I Hate Politics series called Chocolate City Mixtape, Markus Batchelor talks with Arrington Dixon, a pivotal figure in the march to home rule in Washington DC. With DC's self-government now contested by the federal administration, Dixon reflects on the challenges of creating a new government, the legacy of that activism, and the future of self-determination in the city.    Timestamps  00:00 Introduction to Civic Engagement and Personal History  04:21 The Role of Community Institutions in Civic Life  07:14 The Fight for Home Rule and Political Activism  07:41 Establishing a New Government: Challenges and Triumphs  14:56 Legislative Challenges and Innovations  16:40 Navigating Early Governance and Oversight  18:35 Modernizing Government through Technology  21:45 Statehood Efforts and Civic Engagement  22:20 Continuing the work through the Anacostia Coordinating Council  24:21 Legacy and Community Impact

Governor Moore calls a special legislative session to install a new speaker. The session will consider veto overrides but not redistricting. UMBC Maryland issues poll results show a clear message on what's on the minds of residents. A new affordable housing project in Montgomery County, Md, provides 98 units for $55 million. How to advocate to MCPS. The county tries to build sidewalks in the Takoma-Langley area but stranger danger is brought up. And more. Music by Kara Levchenko.

What's Wrong with Petitioning Your Local Government (2025-12-12) The right to petition your government is constitutionally protected and, as a part of the right to free speech, sacred in a democracy. But public input must be structured correctly to be effective. In two separate interviews, Sunil Dasgupta talks with former Montgomery County, Md, Planning Board Chair Casey Anderson, and parent activist Rebekah Kuschmider, about public input in development and education politics. Music by Kara Levchenko.

MCPS faces criticism for wrong calls and "gaslighting" over snow closure calls last week. Can this be done better? MCPS has announced adjustments to its ongoing boundary and program change proposals. The teacher's union announces Apple Ballot recommendations for next year's elections much earlier than the past. Montgomery County Council staff is now projecting declining revenues from property and income taxes. And more. Music by Kara Levchenko.

No other state in the US has Maryland's system of paying for hospital services despite its 50-year existence and the extra $2bn a year it brought. A new agreement between the state and the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ends the preferential arrangement in 2027. Sunil Dasgupta asks Delegate Bonnie Cullison, Vice-Chair of the Maryland House Health and Government Operations Committee, and Jon Kromm, executive director of the Health Services Cost Review Commission, the state's hospital cost regulatory body, what to expect. Music by Kara Levchenko.

New state laws and lawsuits force gunmaker Glock to redesign popular pistol to prevent easy conversion from semi-automatic to fully-automatic. Maryland public health officials worry about low flu vaccine uptake. Gov. Wes Moore announces a rental assistance program for families of students who go to community schools. The Combined Federal Campaign has paused charity registration for next year. And more. Music by Kara Levchenko.

Feeling disoriented after the 2024 election, suburban Maryland couple Christina and Adam Bobrow have hosted a weekly dinner for their neighbors and friends for most of 2025. Not a potluck. No RSVP. Just show up. Sunil Dasgupta talks with the Bobrows about how to do it sustainably and what lessons they learned in community-building. Music by Kara Levchenko.

Maryland's non-partisan Department of Legislative Services provides a bleak fiscal outlook, but two months ago the Board of Revenue Estimates reported high tax collections for last year. What's with the prediction swings? PJM membership votes down all 12 proposals on new data center connection rules. Prince George's County ends a 27-year old ban on the pit bulls in the county. The intersection of pitbull bans with race and class politics. And more. Music by Kara Levchenko.

Two interviews demonstrate the political problem of expectation-setting. Sunil Dasgupta talks to Byron Johns of the Montgomery County, Md, NAACP Parents Council, and the Black and Brown Coalition for Educational Excellence, about MCPS' proposal for six new programmatic regions and 30 magnet and special programs. And to Christine Condon, environment reporter for Maryland Matters, about the renewal draft of the interstate Chesapeake Watershed Agreement. Music by Kara Levchenko.

Who is MD Gov Moore targeting with his new political slate? The legality of creating an 8-0 Democratic advantage in the Congressional District map in Maryland. Regional grid operator members vote on new rules for adding. Half of NIH institutes have short two-week director searches open. And more. Music by Kara Levchenko.

Two interviews that speak to what happens when the Abundance agenda meets local politics. Yesim Sayin of DC Policy Center on creating a research and advocacy ecosystem to push state-level policy to enable more housing construction. Their report: https://t.ly/jhuaF. And Declan Cullen of George Washington University on how cities deal with tech disrupters like Uber and self-driving car companies Waymo, and Zoox. Music by Kara Levchenko.

MD Attorney General Brown has filed or is participating in over 100 lawsuits maintained against the Trump Administration. State Senate President Ferguson under pressure to allow mid-term redistricting, but is it feasible? MCPS issues  detailed FAQ on Immigration Response Protocol. As Silver Spring International Middle School moves toward closing, teachers and staff feel dislocated. Washington County Humane Society is offering a $10,000 reward for information on the cat-killer of Boonsboro. And more. Music by Kara Levchenko.

On August 25, 2022, Sarah Langenkamp, 42, a diplomat and mother, was struck and killed by a driver on River Road in Bethesda, MD, while she was riding her bike. In the three years since, her husband, Dan, has devoted much of his life to improving road safety especially for bicyclists and pedestrians. With the fourth annual bike ride in Sarah's memory coming up November 16 (rideforyourlife.org), Dan Langenkamp reflects on the challenges of fighting the car brain. Music by Kara Levchenko.

The cities of Gaithersburg and College Park vote today.  After days of persuasion, MD Gov Moore approves $62 million in state funds to make up for the SNAP shortfall. District 16 Delegate Marc Korman on how MDOT uses a road design manual to say no. Prince George's County Planning Board does not have enough members to constitute a quorum. MCPS faces continued resistance against planned programming changes. Music by Dear Daria.

MCPS' plans to expand magnet education and change school boundaries potentially turns the nation's 14th largest school system toward becoming six mini-districts. Sunil Dasgupta talks with MCPS officials leading the program changes, Jeannie Franklin and Angela McLane, about their plans, the challenges, and the possible consequences of the reorganization. Music by Seth Kibel and Flo Anito.

Maryland cuts off SNAP funding without federal reassurances of reimbursements; state eliminates 502 jobs to save $27m. Protests gather steam against deportation flight company Avelo Airlines, Silver Spring demolition firm ACECO, and Maryland Israel Development Center, a state investment agency. Montgomery County Planning Staff report survey results on why developers with preliminary approvals are not building. With MCPS wanting to repurpose the new Crown High School building, competing petitions. A young, refugee, immigrant county council candidate proposes a cricket fundraiser. Music by Dear Daria.

The City of Gaithersburg in Montgomery County, MD, is holding elections November 4. Two candidates are running for mayor: incumbent Jud Ashman and challenger Tiffany Kelly. In accompanying double-header episodes, Sunil Dasgupta talks with community activist Kelly about need gaps in the city. tiffanyisrunning.com Music By Adam Bobrow.

The City of Gaithersburg in Montgomery County, MD, is holding elections November 4. Two candidates are running for mayor: incumbent Jud Ashman and challenger Tiffany Kelly. In accompanying double-header episodes, Sunil Dasgupta talks with Ashman about rent stabilization. votejud.com Music By Adam Bobrow.

Montgomery County Public Schools in MD proposes a whopping 6-year $2.7 billion capital plan that includes a countywide elementary school boundary study as enrollment numbers head downward. A school board meeting revisits a recent I Hate Politics episode with MD House of Delegates Majority Leader David Moon who proposed the state not funding school construction projects where there are open seats in nearby schools. In College Park, MD, Mayor Fazlul Kabir wants more police services from Prince George's County for the taxes his residents pay. And more. Music by Dear Daria.

College admissions season is here and to help you to through the home stretch, think through the dilemmas of whether your child should go test optional or submit score, the difference between early action and early decision, and much more, Sunil Dasupta talks with UMBC's director of financial aid and scholarship, Andrea Cipolla. External scholarships: https://scholarships.umbc.edu/searching-the-web-2/. International student resources:  https://financialaid.umbc.edu/eligibility/international/ Music by Drew Pictures and the Lead Extras.

An 11-year old on a bike coming home after school dies in a collision with a MCPS school bus. We look at how pedestrian safety is seldom preventive. MCPS is proposing new boundary changes that leave two schools in the richest part of the county untouched while increasing the poverty rate at schools with high poverty rates. A county executive candidate forum showcases debate over rent stabilization. And more. Music by Dear Daria.

The Conowingo Dam in northern Maryland is the state's largest hydroelectric project and the Susquehanna River it controls is the largest tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. As part of renewing its federal license to operate, the dam's private owner, Constellation Energy and the state of Maryland have finally come to an agreement on improving water quality in the river, fish lifts, and dredging the dam's 9000-acre reservoir. Ted Evgeniadis of the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper and Robin Broder of Waterkeepers Chesapeake, were also parties to the negotiations and the agreement and joined Sunil Dasgupta to explain why the Conowingo Settlement was a big deal. Music by Drew Pictures and the Lead Extras.

Gov Moore says MD will continue federal assistance programs. MCPS' only charter school, Mecca Business Learning Institute, is teetering as families withdraw. Natali Fani-Gonzalez is the first elected official critical of MCPS' program reorganization plan. Maryland Public Service Commission solicits battery storage and nuclear power projects for expedited approval. And more. Music by Dear Daria.

Montgomery County Public Schools is proposing to expand its magnet programs to build on a pedagogical method seen as highly successful over four decades, but faces criticism that their actual plans are unlikely to provide the necessary resources and support. Sunil Dasgupta asks former longtime coordinators of two of the most successful MCPS magnet programs,  Eileen Steinkraus, at Montgomery Blair High School Math and Science magnet, and Mark Curran, at coordinator of the Poolesville High School, about what make those programs work and what it might take to replicate them. Music by Drew Pictures and the Lead Extras.

MD Board of Revenue Estimates issues surprisingly strong tax outlook, but state leaders highlight caution. DC Council okayed the RFK stadium deal and almost immediately project leaders say there might be delays. As MD considers a VA proposal to put toll lanes on the Wilson Bridge, an 18-minute drive on I-66 cost $66. New MD law hikes to speed camera tickets take effect Oct 1. And more. Music by Dear Daria.

School construction money is never enough and Maryland has reported 80 percent of its school buildings are unreliable and or in need of repair. Sunil Dasgupta talks with the state's House Majority Leader David Moon about his plan to link state aid for school construction to how efficiently counties use existing school capacity, encouraging school boards to change attendance boundaries before they build new. Music by Drew Pictures and the Lead Extras.

The 7-state Chesapeake Bay Watershed agreement is up for renewal, but environmental activists are unhappy with the new text.The federal takeover of DC has lapsed, but 14 Congressional bills still pose threats to home rule. The plight of H-1B schoolteachers who were recruited with promises of green cards. Not on your fall bingo: a lice report. And more. Music by Dear Daria.

MCPS is reorganizing its high school specialty programs, ending countywide recruitment for its marquee magnets, and introducing 30 separate programs and 84 pathways across 6 regions. Sunil Dasgupta talks with parent volunteers Rebekah Kuschmider and Audra Dove, members of the Opportunity Design Team organized by MCPS to engage the community, about whether MCPS can really deliver on its promises on equity and learning. Plan details: https://t.ly/TirIX Music by Drew Pictures and the Lead Extras.

School district security chief Marcus Jones on swatting. Eyewitness accounts of ICE action near Eastern Middle School in Silver Spring and over 450 people signed a letter to MCPS asking for help defining protocols in case of ICE action immediately outside of schools. MCPS school administrators and PTAs are flummoxed by changes in rules and fees for PTA use of school space. And more. Music by Dear Daria.

As the fall local government budget season comes up, Sunil Dasgupta talks with author Celina Su, professor of political science at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, and Brooklyn College, about her new book Budget Justice: On Building Grassroots Politics and Solidarities (https://a.co/d/7uX3b0R), where she uses the experience of participatory budgeting in New York, Barcelona, and Porto Alegre, Brazil, to create a different vision of the budget process and of democracy itself. Music by Drew Pictures and the Lead Extras.

Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and Attorney General Brian Schwalb have responded differently to the Trump takeover. MD Governor Wes Moore orders creation of new county level housing targets and opening of state land to housing. MD Department of Transportation issues its new 2026 capital budget plan. In Montgomery County, a viral story about ICE turns out to be false. And more. Music by Dear Daria.