Podcasts about WAMU

Summer in D.C. is a great time for ticks. This year, you may want to be especially vigilant about protecting yourself from the diseases they carry.

Tens of millions in taxpayer dollars have been spent overhauling parks and monuments across Washington, D.C. A New York Times investigation explores how expensive no-bid contracts are key to the Trump administration's restoration work.

This week WAMU will be checking in on the D.C. Council's first vote for the FY2027 budget, responses from health officials to increased tick bites across the D.C. region and the politics at play this summer around streateries.

Popular local social media account Barred in D.C. got answers to the question everyone has been asking... what are the D.C. mayoral hopefuls favorite places to eat?

The summer in D.C. offers a great chance to get out and explore the city's jazz scene, whether you bask in the sounds of trumpets on a park blanket or enjoy a cool piano trio in an air-conditioned club.

Earlybirds Dance Parties is a women-led nationwide movement to create a safe and inclusive space for women, transgender, and nonbinary people to enjoy a night out and still get home at a reasonable hour.

WAMU speaks with documentary filmmaker Jeff Krulik about the 40th anniversary of his documentary "Heavy Metal Parking Lot" - which focuses on Judas Priest fans outside a concert at the Capitol Centre in 1986.

This week, WAMU checks in on Maryland primaries following a significant mail-in ballot error, a memo seeks to have all federal employees sign NDAs and a look at jazz concerts to enjoy this summer.

A proposal by the Office of Personnel Management to push federal workers to sign nondisclosure agreements, or NDAs, is facing a fierce backlash. Max Stier joined us to discuss how this plan impacts federal workers – and everyone else.

WGTS is one of the most fascinating success stories in Washington radio. It's a 23,000 watt non-commercial station, yet in the latest Nielsen ratings it pulled a 5.7 share, landing in the number three spot behind only WTOP and WAMU.So how does a Christian music station compete with some of the biggest brands in radio?On this episode, Rob Conway takes us behind the scenes at WGTS to break down the station's secret sauce.  Rob explains what WGTS is doing differently than many other stations in the market, including investing heavily in audience research, keeping live and local DJs on the air from 5 a.m. until midnight, and building a strong connection with listeners both on-air and in the community.We also talk about the history of the station, including the transition from classical music to contemporary Christian music in 1997, and how that decision completely changed the trajectory of the station.We dive into how WGTS raises money without commercials, who they see as their real competition in the DC market, and why the station has been able to grow while so many other radio stations are struggling.More from DCRTV:DCRTV.comNewsletter signup: https://dcrtv.com/newsletterFollow DCRTV on FacebookSupport DCRTV on PatreonBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dcrtv-washington-radio-and-tv-podcast--6152954/support.

If you missed this spring's porchfest in Adams Morgan or the one just over the city's border in Takoma Park, you're not out of luck - you've got a chance to catch another one this weekend in Petworth. 

The Politics Hour goes on the road this week, broadcasting our D.C. Delegate Democratic primary forum live from the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library in Northwest D.C.!Kojo and Tom are joined on stage by all five candidates running in the Democratic primary to represent the District in Congress. We ask the big questions.. and get answers... about public safety, D.C.'s economy, protecting the District from federal intrusion, and so much more. Listen to learn about the candidates vying to succeed Eleanor Holmes Norton before heading to the polls for the Democratic primary on June 16.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, Virginia, and Maryland, live from the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, D.C.!Send us questions and comments for guests: kojo@wamu.orgFollow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885Follow us on Bluesky: bsky.app/wamu.org

This episode was originally released on 1/1/2022. While new episodes of Breaking Walls are on hiatus I'll be going back and posting the older episodes. ____________ In Breaking Walls episode 123 we open 2022 with a six-part mini-series on radio business and programming in 1954. We'll begin with January, in a radio half-season that was for many, the end of the line. —————————— Highlights: • Ringing in the New Year with Fibber McGee and Molly • Gunsmoke's Stage Holdup • People Are Funny is Radio's Top-Rated Show • January 1954 with Ozzie, Harriet, David, and Ricky • Jack Benny's Face is Familiar on Suspense • Smog and Other Current Events • Beulah • The Death of Edward Howard Armstrong • Looking Ahead to February 1954 —————————— The WallBreakers: thewallbreakers.com Subscribe to Breaking Walls everywhere you get your podcasts. To support the show: patreon.com/TheWallBreakers —————————— The reading material used in today's episode was: •The General: David Sarnoff & The Rise of the Communications Industry - by Kenneth Bilby • On the Air — By John Dunning • Network Radio Ratings — by Jim Ramsburg As well as articles from • Broadcasting Magazine • LIFE Magazine • Time Magazine —————————— On the interview front: • John Guedel, Phil Leslie, and Don Wilson spoke to Chuck Schaden. Hear their full chats at SpeakingOfRadio.com. • Norman MacDonnell and George Walsh spoke to John Hickman, the longtime host of WAMU's Recollections. Today, this program is heard each Sunday evening as The Big Broadcast. For more information, please go to WAMU.org • Art Linkletter spoke to John Gassman. • Ozzie Nelson was with James Day. • Jack Benny spoke for Great Radio Comedians. • Jack Benny and Don Wilson spoke with Jack Carney. —————————— Selected music featured in today's episode was: • Auld Lang Syne — By The Manhattan Strings • January Stars — By George Winston • The Klezmer's Wedding — By André Moisan • Love in Bloom — By Bing Crosby • Seance on a Wet Afternoon — By John Barry • Danse Macabre — By Camille Saint-Saëns

Hau Chu, Prince George's County food and culture reporter for The Baltimore Banner, speaks to WAMU about why there are so few independent sit-down restaurants in Prince George's County and how residents are hoping that changes.

This week on Get Out There, we hit the road for quirky, short summer day trips!

WAMU speaks to the Antidefamation League's Tali Cohen on the anniversary of the shooting at the Capital Jewish Museum about the current state of antisemitism in the D.C. region.

Virginia recorded one of the steepest declines in overdose deaths nationwide over the past year. But spending reductions in Medicaid, one of the largest payers for addiction and mental health treatment in the U.S., could significantly disrupt substance use treatment programs nationwide.

City lawmakers have been debating whether to implement more stringent youth curfews in D.C., following so-called “teen takeovers” that have prompted concerns about public safety. Some young people feel proponents are missing the bigger picture. 

Montgomery County Delegate Marc Korman speaks to WAMU about a recent milestone for the construction of the Purple Line and how a soon-to-be law in Maryland will help spur development around the light rail's stations.

WAMU arts and culture reporter Darryl C. Murphy tried five of the year's new restaurants - ones that are helping to keep D.C.'s dining scene alive. 

After months as the main roadblock, it appears Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson is softening his position on redistricting. The recent Supreme Court decision weakening the Voting Rights Act and Maryland Governor Wes Moore notably leaving Ferguson off his list of political endorsements appear to be two big factors. WAMU's Maryland reporter Jenny Abamu gets behind the mic to tell us about what she's hearing from lawmakers about Maryland redistricting.Virginia Democrats are throwing a Hail Mary in hopes of saving their redistricting efforts. On Monday, they asked the U.S. Supreme Court for an emergency injunction and for an order overturning the Virginia Supreme Court's decision to throw out redrawn congressional maps. We ask Virginia Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell where the last-ditch effort stands, what comes next, and why Democrats remain optimistic about the midterms.  Plus, we get the Virginia Democratic leader's thoughts on Governor Abigail Spanberger's veto of a collective bargaining bill.Homelessness is on the rise in the District, according to a new city report, with advocates blaming human services program cuts and the aggressive clearing of encampments. Some fear that further slashing proposed in this year's budget could lead to an even greater increase in homelessness. We ask Ward 3 D.C. Councilmember and chair of the Human Services Committee Matt Frumin what the council is doing to help city residents most at-risk. Plus, we talk with him about how his ward could decide the city's mayoral race and the deepening crisis in the Metropolitan Police Department.Send us questions and comments for guests: kojo@wamu.orgFollow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885Follow us on Bluesky: bsky.app/wamu.org

Researcher Crystal Foretia joins WAMU to discuss her work looking into the abuse at the House of Reformation and Instruction in Prince George's County and shares thoughts on how the state can work through this dark legacy.

ICE arrests in the D.C. region have quadrupled since the Biden administration. For families with children, that surge is raising urgent questions about what happens when a parent gets picked up.

This week for Get Out There, we're exploring D.C.'s best spots for kids with Austin Graff.

The Mystics start 2026 with a crop of fresh players, two of whom are current NCAA champions. But the team is also without a permanent GM.

The Virginia Supreme Court blocked the voter-passed redistricting amendment on Friday, sending shockwaves through the Commonwealth and the nation. The ruling dramatically alters Democrats' plans to take back the U.S. House of Representatives. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, who represents Virginia's 10th Congressional District, joins the show to give us his take on the ruling and what comes next for his party.Maryland's own redistricting push appeared to be dead, but could recent rulings revive it? We ask WAMU's Maryland reporter Jenny Abamu what she's heard. Plus, the race to replace retiring Prince George's County Congressman Steny Hoyer is heating up. Nearly two dozen candidates are vying for the seat, including state legislators, county councilmembers, and former county executives. Jenny breaks down the huge field of candidates for us.A scandal has erupted in the Metropolitan Police Department over alleged crime data manipulation. Interim Police Chief Jeffrey Carroll has informed 13 MPD leaders that they are on administrative leave and are likely to be terminated for their alleged role in altering crime reports to classify them as lower-level offenses. WAMU's Senior D.C. Politics reporter Alex Koma gets behind the mic to break down what happened, the fallout, and its political implications.Montgomery County lawmakers are at odds over a proposed property tax hike to help fund schools. This week, the Montgomery County Council expressed its opposition to County Executive Marc Elrich's plan to raise property taxes by more than 6%. Instead, Council President Natali Fani-González is leading the charge for a progressive income tax as she explained recently on The Politics Hour. County Executive Elrich joins us to explain why he thinks the council's tax pitch is a "con job." Plus, we get Elrich's take on Councilmember (and candidate for County Executive) Evan Glass's proposal for a six-month moratorium on data center permitting.Send us questions and comments for guests: kojo@wamu.orgFollow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885Follow us on Bluesky: bsky.app/wamu.org

Weekend Edition host Scott Simon is a lover of all pets. In his new book, "Ulysses S. Cat and Other Animals I've Known" Simon shares the stories and lessons learned from his pet friends.

Maryland Secretary of Health Meena Seshamani explains changes to Maryland's vaccine policies under the recently adopted Vax Act.

This week WAMU will be checking in on the state of a couple of primary elections in the D.C.-region: The race for Mayor in D.C. and the push to succeed retiring Congressman Steny Hoyer in Maryland's fifth District. Plus we look ahead at the opening weekend for the Washington Mystics.

A new exhibition in Southeast D.C. features artwork made with found objects. Plastic bags, buried debris, or almost any discarded item is fair game for creativity at Finders Keepers, currently on display at the Eye Street Gallery. 

The Trump administration is seeking unprecedented access to the health records of federal workers — including their prescriptions, diagnoses, and doctor visits — raising alarms among legal experts and health executives about privacy and HIPAA compliance.

Just blocks away from Howard University, Oscar-award winning filmmaker Spike Lee will screen his 1988 HBCU inspired film School Daze at the Lincoln Theatre this Friday. He spoke to WAMU about the film's relevance, and his ties to the District.

This episode was originally released on 11/1/2021. While new episodes of Breaking Walls are on hiatus I'll be going back and posting the older episodes. ____________ In Breaking Walls episode 121, we finish our Americana mini-series by coming home for November's festivities. We'll cheer for the home team, taste the best turkey dressing, and remember what's most important with some of radio's best. —————————— Highlights: • What Can We Be Thankful For? • Thanksgiving with The Answer Man and Radio's Origin • Ken Carpenter and One Man's Family • The Columbia Workshop Relaunches • Hearts in Harmony • Damon Runyon's Football Homecoming • John Brown's Communist Troubles • Thanksgiving with Miss Brooks • Bob Bailey and Let George Do It • Thanksgiving with Ozzie and Harriet • Checking in With Bob and Ray • Have Gun Will Travel • Ending with Jean Shepherd • Looking ahead to December —————————— The WallBreakers: thewallbreakers.com Subscribe to Breaking Walls everywhere you get your podcasts. To support the show: patreon.com/TheWallBreakers —————————— The reading material used in today's episode was: • On the Air - By John Dunning • Network Radio Ratings — By Jim Ramsburg —————————— On the interview front: • Eve Arden, Ken Carpenter, Norman Corwin, Gale Gordon, Virginia Gregg, Gloria McMillan, Carlton E. Morse and Janet Waldo spoke to Chuck Schaden. Hear their full chats at SpeakingOfRadio.com. • Eve Arden, Roberta Bailey-Goodwin and Dick Joy, spoke with John Dunning for his 71KNUS program from Denver. • John Dehner spoke to SPERDVAC. For more information, go to SPERDVAC.com. • John Dehner also spoke with Neil Ross for KMPC and John Hickman of WAMU. • Ozzie Nelson spoke with Johnny Carson and James Day. • Frank Stanton spoke with CBS for their 50th Anniversary in 1977 • William Paley spoke while receiving an award on November 20th, 1958. —————————— Selected music featured in today's episode was: • Thanksgiving and Joy — By George Winston • The Holly and the Ivy — By Velvet & Voices • Simple Gifts, Pachelbel's Canon, and Autumn Stars — By Michael Silverman • The Pavane — By Steve Erquiaga

WAMU's Maryland reporter Jenny Abamu and visuals editor Tyrone Turner recall what it was like to be in the ballroom when chaos erupted during the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

Mac N' Toss, part of a new era of feminist punk known as riot grrrl (which has roots in D.C.) says they organized the festival to be a place for women and queer people to have the freedom to express their feelings about the trauma of sexual violence.

District Sounds is a family friendly event where students perform with established recording artists from multiple music genres. 

Montgomery County-based record producer Zev Feldman, the "Jazz Detective," speaks to WAMU about his local roots in the record industry and some of the albums he is putting out for Record Store Day, 2026.

Montgomery County Delegate Lorig Charkoudian joined WAMU to discuss a new bill to limit dynamic pricing in Maryland and how it fits into state Democrats' political concerns for the future.

The quarterly publication is back after a brief hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In December, the Trump administration terminated the 50-year lease with the nonprofit National Links Trust to run D.C.'s three public golf courses. No one knows for sure what they are planning to do next.

Drummer Brendan Canty and guitarist Anthony Pirog of the Messthetics speak with WAMU about their new jazz album with saxophonist James Brandon Lewis, "Deface the Currency."

This week WAMU will be checking in on the major cuts and spending choices in D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser's Fiscal Year 2027 budget, the end of the 2026 legislative session in the Maryland General Assembly and a preview of Record Store Day with one of Montgomery County's most enthusiastic vinyl lovers.

WAMU's Alex Koma on the D.C. budget, VA Rep. Suhas Subramanyam on the latest on the Iran War, and Prince George's County Council Vice Chair Eric Olson talks anti-ICE legislation.

Tension is testing the unsteady ceasefire in the Iran War. The D.C. region is feeling the impacts on public safety, gas prices, and the local Iranian community. U.S. Representative Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA), who sits on the House Oversight Subcommittee on Military and Foreign Affairs, talked with Kojo and Tom about how the overseas conflict is affecting area residents. Plus, we get his take on Virginia's redistricting referendum heading into the midterms and his push for a national data center strategy.This week, the Prince George's County Council unanimously passed a series of emergency measures aimed at limiting ICE in the county. It comes as immigration enforcement expands nationwide. Council Vice Chair Eric Olson joined the show to discuss why he thinks the bills are needed and why they will stand up in court. Plus, we discussed a buyer for the former Six Flags property and the state budget's limits on how the county can spend park money.After a delay, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is getting ready to submit her budget to the Council. Many are expecting big cuts, particularly as city leaders argue over whether to include $180 million in additional tax revenue. WAMU's Senior D.C. Politics reporter Alex Koma called in live from the Mayor's budget presentation to give us the highlights. Plus, he explained why Trump's immigration policies are reshaping the Ward 1 race.Send us questions and comments for guests: kojo@wamu.orgFollow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885Follow us on Bluesky: bsky.app/wamu.org

Candidates vying to replace outgoing Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne Nadeau are newly focused on issues impacting the Latino community as Trump's actions have inspired fear in neighborhoods like Columbia Heights and Mount Pleasant.

Prince George's County Council Chair Krystal Oriadha speaks to WAMU about a slate of bills the council passed this week attempting to rein in Immigration and Customs Enforcement and possible legal challenges to those bills.

Laura Grubb, legislative director for the Maryland School Psychologists Association, joins WAMU to discuss the shortage of school psychologists in Maryland and a lifeline in the form of the School Psychologists Interstate Compact.

The early learning centers, operated by the United Planning Organization, provide subsidized care for lower-income families, many of them in Southeast D.C. In March, UPO announced it was closing four of its 15 centers in early April, three of them in Wards 7 and 8. Parents had just about a month to find new places, and some are still searching.

In January, 240 million gallons of raw sewage spilled into the Potomac River. The aging sewage pipeline was an object of concern for years.

This episode was originally released on 9/1/2021. While new episodes of Breaking Walls are on hiatus I'll be going back and posting the older episodes. ____________ In Breaking Walls episode 119 we continue our Americana mini-series by bringing our appetites to the diner. We'll hear stories from some of radio's best and center ourselves around shows taking place in establishments. —————————— Highlights: • What Exactly is a Diner? • Lux Presents Hollywood • Suspense At the End of World War II • The Diner After World War II • Bill Conrad, Burt Lancaster, and The Killers • ABC Takes Friday Nights With This Is Your FBI • Frank Sinatra and His Rocky Fortune • Going Back to Gunsmoke • James Earl Jones and Theater Five —————————— The WallBreakers: thewallbreakers.com Subscribe to Breaking Walls everywhere you get your podcasts. To support the show: patreon.com/TheWallBreakers —————————— The reading material used in today's episode was: • On the Air - By John Dunning • Network Radio Ratings — By Jim Ramsburg As well as: • From Hash House to Family Restaurant: The Transformation of the Diner and Post-World War II Consumer Culture — By Andrew Hurley from The March 1997 Journal of American History. And other articles from: • Paste Magazine • Smithsonian Magazine —————————— On the interview front: • Parley Baer, Conrad Binyon, Norman Corwin, and Lurene Tuttle spoke to Chuck Schaden. Hear their full chats at SpeakingOfRadio.com. • Parley Baer, Jerry Devine, Lawrence Dobkin, Fred Foy, and Bob Maxwell, were with SPERDVAC. For more information, go to SPERDVAC.com. • William Spier spoke with Dick Bertel and Ed Corcoran for WTIC's The Golden Age of Radio. Hear this full interview at Goldenage-WTIC.org. • John Dehner was with Neil Ross for KMPC. • Frank Sinatra spoke with Arlene Francis, Walter Cronkite, and Larry King. • William Conrad with Chris Lambesis. • Norman Macdonnell with John Hickman of WAMU for his Gunsmoke documentary. —————————— Selected music featured in today's episode was: • Theme From A Summer Place — By Percy Faith • I've Got The World on a String and Why Try To Change Me Now — By Frank Sinatra • The Venice Dreamer Pt1 and 2 — By George Winston • Across the Alley from the Alamo — By The Mills Brothers