Podcasts about WAMU

WAMU's Alex Koma joins the team to talk Trump shutting down the Kennedy Center for two years, snow removal's effect on the mayoral race, and D.C's bill from the National Guard.  Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can text us or leave a voicemail at: (202) 642-2654. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month.  Learn more about the sponsors of this February 3rd episode: Library of Congress South by Southwest Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

To mark a year since the tragedy over the Potomac occured, WAMU spoke with some of those who lost loved ones in the crash - partners, family members and children. 

Norton's campaign raised just $2,520 during the last three months of 2025. Her campaign hasn't yet announced a formal decision on her future.

In Wards 7 and 8, most students go to public school - but a small number have the opportunity to attend the Washington School for Girls, an independent catholic school that offers full scholarships to its students. This year, with a new campus at the heart of the Southeast community, the girls are looking forward to the start of a new chapter.

We're joined by Alex Koma of WAMU and Jessica Sidman from Washingtonian to chat about our newest councilmember, the priciest traffic cameras in the area, and DC's 100 very best restaurants!  And, in a members only fourth segment, we're gonna go deep on the Las Vegas style-sphere coming to National Harbor in Maryland.  Want some more DC news? Then make sure to⁠ sign up⁠ for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can text us or leave a voicemail at: ⁠(202) 642-2654⁠. You can⁠ also become a member⁠, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month.  Learn more about the sponsors of this January 23rd episode: ⁠Folger Shakespeare Library⁠ Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info⁠ HERE⁠

Maryland Governor Wes Moore is pitching a plan to close the state's $1.4 billion budget without tax hikes. Instead, he's proposing spending cuts, budget shifts, and drawing from a clean energy fund. The governor joined the show to break down his budget proposal. Plus, what's next in the redistricting battle.Maryland House Democrats introduced a bill Friday that would redraw the state's eight congressional districts. The changes could give Democrats the ability to flip Maryland's lone Republican District. This comes only days after the state's redistricting commission recommended a "concept map" favoring Democrats in Congress.Governor Moore said Maryland can't sit on their hands while President Trump pushes for redistricting in other states, like Texas. "This is going to end up being essentially the largest attack on black political leadership that we have seen in generations inside of this country," he said.However, Moore faces opposition in his own party. Senate President Bill Ferguson has so far opposed mid-cycle redistricting. But Moore's not deterred."Bill Ferguson is one vote, and Democracy doesn't stop because of one person," he said. The House is expected to vote on the bill next week. If passed, it would then head to the Senate for a vote.The D.C. Council this week selected Doni Crawford to take former At-Large Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie's job on the council. The former McDuffie staffer and Ward 5 resident is somewhat of an unknown to the general public, though well-regarded in the Wilson Building for her experience in negotiating housing policy and budget matters. Councilmember Crawford got behind the mic to give us her stance on some of the city's biggest issues, including MPD's relationship with federal immigration agents and RFK Stadium. New Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger this week pressed for legislation addressing affordability and signaled her support for redistricting in her first address to lawmakers. WAMU's Northern Virginia reporter Margaret Barthel broke down Gov. Spanberger's first week in office.Send us questions and comments for guests: kojo@wamu.orgFollow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885Follow us on Bluesky: bsky.app/wamu.org

A single mom with serious health challenges saw her benefits drop after federal cuts. She and her 10-year-old son recently went grocery shopping, aiming to stretch their shrinking monthly food budget.

"We're really wanting to trouble, in many ways, that narrative of our founding," says The 1619 Project creator Nikole Hannah-Jones.

Healthcare worker shortages are straining hospitals and clinics nationwide, including in the D.C. region. A local student health conference with middle and high school students is focused on getting early exposure to careers that could help fill those gaps.

This week on Get Out There, we preview three concerts from local artists you will not want to miss this winter.

With the explosion of AI, data centers have proliferated. And the DC metro area is the focal point of it all, with Northern Virginia leading the way. Prince George's County lawmakers are debating whether to build a data center amid rising water use and electricity costs.  Jenny Abamu from WAMU joins us to explain how these centers became so popular, and what it means for the locals who live near them. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month.  Learn more about the sponsors of this January 15th episode: Folger Shakespeare Library Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Armon, Miss2Bees and Will kick off 2026 with WHAT'S BUZZIN - Fetty Wap's release from prison (10:05) and news that Lil Durk has been in solitary confinement for four and a half months over an illegal Apple Watch (14:39) - before diving into the LUNCH BREAK (20:16) - end of year recaps on social media and when it is too late to wish someone a Happy New Year. For the CHAT, the crew discusses French Montana and Max B's ‘Coke Wave 3.5: Narcos' (31:51), Jaymin's “Wamu” (38:41), and Bruno Mars announcing his next album (41:19). This week's BOARD MEETING is a responsible revisit of Rihanna's ‘ANTI' ahead of its ten-year anniversary and what to expect from her musically going forward (58:44). Stay Busy with Armon Sadler⁠ https://www.instagram.com/staybusypod/⁠⁠ https://twitter.com/staybusypod⁠⁠ https://www.tiktok.com/@staybusypod⁠ Armon⁠ https://www.instagram.com/armonsadler/⁠⁠ https://x.com/armonsadler Will Foster https://www.instagram.com/wxllxxm/ https://x.com/WxLLxxM Miss2Bees https://www.instagram.com/miss2bees/ https://x.com/miss2bees Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

D.C. is set to receive more than 80 million dollars in opioid settlement money over the coming years. Survivors and their families say it's difficult to follow how it is actually spent.

Legislative session begin in both Maryland and Virginia this week, and lawmakers are tackling a big budget shortfall in Maryland and a slew of constitutional amendments in Virginia.

This week WAMU will be previewing the start of the legislative sessions in the Virginia and Maryland General Assemblies, plus we're taking a look at some not to miss concerts by D.C. area artists this winter.

In 1985, D.C. punks sought to reset the politics and music of the D.C. punk scene. 40 years later, punks carry Revolution Summer into middle age.

WAMU arts and culture reporter Darryl C. Murphy paid a visit to some of the region's top record stores to find out what new albums from 2025 topped their favorites list, as well as some local acts to look out for in 2026. 

WAMU's arts and culture reporter Darryl C. Murphy searched the region for some of the finest chocolatey sips, and put together a short list of the best!

Prince George's County Council Chair Krystal Oriadha has a lot on her plate as she starts her one-year term. She's looking to make child care more affordable, housing more obtainable, and the county safer. The council's new leader will try to do all of this while navigating a growing budget gap. Chair Oriadha joined Kojo and Tom to discuss her priorities and whether data centers could be an answer to the county's money challenges.2025 was certainly an eventful year in national and local politics. We were joined for the last Politics Hour of the year by WAMU's Regional Politics reporters Jenny Abamu, Margaret Barthel, and Alex Koma to talk about the year's top stories and what's ahead in 2026.Send us questions and comments for guests: kojo@wamu.orgFollow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885Follow us on Bluesky: bsky.app/wamu.org

In WAMU's series Hidden City, we uncover the stories behind the history, people, and places in our region.

Dr. Glenn Wortmann, Medical Director of Infection Prevention at the MedStar Institute of Quality and Safety, joins WAMU to discuss how to prepare for the upcoming flu season, which he and other medical experts warn will be a "tough one."

This week on Get Out There, we're getting out on the ice.

We already know Mayor Bowser isn't running for another term, but both Councilmember Anita Bonds and MPD Chief Pamela Smith also just announced their retirements, meaning a real shakeup is coming for the DC government. WAMU's Alex Koma is here to explain what all of these resignations mean for the city and why the 2026 field is looking so crowded. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can text us or leave a voicemail at: (202) 642-2654. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month. Learn more about the sponsors of this December 9th episode: Babbel - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

This week WAMU will be taking a region-wide look at critical issues surrounding data centers, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser will be our guest on The Politics Hour, and a guide to top ice skating spots this winter.

This week on Get Out There, we celebrate the season with a holiday theater preview.

The local chapter of a socialist party has drawn hundreds of people to protests and meetings opposing data centers, sparking action by the county council.

Hundreds of people live in D.C. without shelter, despite available beds. As winter sets in, the city's bridge housing programs may be critical to keeping homeless people safe and indoors, but they have limited capacity.

Muriel Bowser has announced that she's going to hang it up after 12 years in office. What happens now? And what should we make of the decade-plus that Herronner has spent dominating DC politics? City Cast's Michael Schaffer, Bridget Todd and WAMU's Alex Koma explain every juicy detail.  Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can text us or leave a voicemail at: (202) 642-2654. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month.  Learn more about the sponsors of this November 26th episode: District Bridges Nace Law Group Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

This week on Get Out There, we're getting ready for Thanksgiving with some of the best places to enjoy a meal away from home.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser faces the difficult task of appeasing the interests of a President her city voted overwhelmingly against. Washington Post investigative reporter Jonathan O'Connell shares how she has she fared one year into his term.

Stories WAMU is following this week include a data center project in Montgomery County generating controversy, a vote on Metro funding, and The Politics Hour hitting the road.

They don't cut cleanly along party lines, but data centers, and where they get built, became an election issue in Virginia. With so many more data centers to build, are we looking at a new trend?  Guest: Margaret Barthel, reporter covering northern Virginia for WAMU.  Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen. Podcast production by Evan Campbell, and Patrick Fort. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

They don't cut cleanly along party lines, but data centers, and where they get built, became an election issue in Virginia. With so many more data centers to build, are we looking at a new trend?  Guest: Margaret Barthel, reporter covering northern Virginia for WAMU.  Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen. Podcast production by Evan Campbell, and Patrick Fort. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

They don't cut cleanly along party lines, but data centers, and where they get built, became an election issue in Virginia. With so many more data centers to build, are we looking at a new trend?  Guest: Margaret Barthel, reporter covering northern Virginia for WAMU.  Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen. Podcast production by Evan Campbell, and Patrick Fort. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

They don't cut cleanly along party lines, but data centers, and where they get built, became an election issue in Virginia. With so many more data centers to build, are we looking at a new trend?  Guest: Margaret Barthel, reporter covering northern Virginia for WAMU.  Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen. Podcast production by Evan Campbell, and Patrick Fort. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

They don't cut cleanly along party lines, but data centers, and where they get built, became an election issue in Virginia. With so many more data centers to build, are we looking at a new trend?  Guest: Margaret Barthel, reporter covering northern Virginia for WAMU.  Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen. Podcast production by Evan Campbell, and Patrick Fort. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

They don't cut cleanly along party lines, but data centers, and where they get built, became an election issue in Virginia. With so many more data centers to build, are we looking at a new trend?  Guest: Margaret Barthel, reporter covering northern Virginia for WAMU.  Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen. Podcast production by Evan Campbell, and Patrick Fort. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

City agencies overspent their budgets by more than $300 million last year. Strong revenue in past years helped blunt the impact, but recently it's becoming more difficult for lawmakers to cover the gaps.

Federal cutbacks to the social safety net and a flagging Northern Virginia economy will be major challenges for Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger and the Virginia General Assembly in January.

Stories we are following this week include an outlook on the challenges facing the victorious Virginia Democrats, possible changes coming to consumer credit scores vis-a-vis medical debt and a look at Thanksgiving catering options in the D.C. region.

Three Arlington public schools are offering free dinners to families every weekday during the ongoing government shutdown.

Virginia Democrats had a big night in Tuesday's elections, sweeping all the statewide races and winning a supermajority in the House of Delegates. We broke down the historic election from all angles. We dove into the results with WAMU's Northern Virginia reporter, Margaret Barthel, and David Poole, founder of the Virginia Public Access Project.We were then joined by one of the big winners, Lieutenant Governor-elect Ghazala Hashmi, to discuss what it means for Virginians and her historic election victory as the first Muslim woman to win statewide office in the U.S.During the campaign, Hashmi dealt with comments about her background, including from her Republican opponent, John Reid, who suggested she was supported by "radical Islamists." Hashmi said voters made clear they disagreed with that rhetoric. "It was Virginians who made their choice known, and the ugliness of the bigotry that my opponent was targeting me with was soundly rejected on Tuesday night," she said.Hashmi said that, as Lieutenant Governor, she plans to focus on housing affordability, energy concerns, and healthcare. Finally, Virginia Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell took the mic to discuss what the Democrats' "trifecta" means for governing, constitutional amendments, and the much-discussed redistricting plan. He cautioned that Democrats will need to navigate significant budget challenges, which could hamper the party's agenda."A lot of these new policies require money in order to implement," he said. "And given our budget situation, we're gonna have to figure out what we can afford and what we can prioritize."At the top of the agenda when the General Assembly reconvenes in January will be raising the minimum wage, banning assault weapons, and paid family leave.Send us questions and comments for guests: kojo@wamu.orgFollow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885Follow us on Bluesky: bsky.app/wamu.org

November 1 marked the start of open enrollment for 2026 health plans bought from Affordable Care Act marketplaces in most states. But this sign-up season is like no other in the health law's 15-year history. It remains unclear, even at this late date, whether expanded tax credits launched during the pandemic in 2021 will be continued or allowed to expire, exposing millions of Americans to much higher out-of-pocket costs. In this special episode of “What the Health?” from KFF Health News and WAMU, host Julie Rovner interviews KFF vice president Cynthia Cox about the past, present, and possible future of the health law and how those who purchase ACA coverage should proceed during this time of uncertainty. 

Fairfax Democrat Dan Helmer led the campaign to expand his party's majority in the Virginia House of Delegates. He speaks with WAMU about Democrats' big wins in Virginia.

In WAMU's new series Hidden City, we uncover the stories behind the history, people, and places in our region.

Stories we are following this week include the Virginia general election, changes this year to open enrollment in the Affordable Care Act and WAMU's new series "Hidden City."

This week on Get Out There, we're going leaf peeping!

All eyes are on Virginia ahead of next week's statewide elections. Recent polls continue to show Democrat Abigail Spanberger leading Republican Winsome Earle-Sears, while both the Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General races are in virtual dead heats. We previewed Virginia's upcoming elections with WAMU's Northern Virginia reporter Margaret Barthel and former U.S. Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA). A split ticket remains a possibility, said Davis, meaning that members of different parties could be elected to the three statewide offices. "Divided government can work very well when you have adults at the helm," he said. "When you don't, it just makes gridlock even worse."Plus, we discussed Virginia Democrats' push for redistricting.Maryland Governor Wes Moore is also considering supporting plans to redraw Maryland's eight congressional districts, but some Democratic leaders are considering blocking the move. House Majority Leader David Moon (D-MD), who represents Montgomery County, joined the show to discuss why he also supports redistricting efforts. On late Friday afternoon, a federal judge ruled the Trump administration must continue to fund SNAP benefits during the shutdown, giving the administration a deadline of Monday to respond. In the meantime, states like Maryland have been debating how to help those who could lose food assistance starting Saturday. Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced Thursday he's allocating $10 million in state funds to local food banks. But many Maryland lawmakers wanted the governor to do more, including stepping in to fully fund federal SNAP benefits. Del. Moon said leadership is considering tapping into the state's rainy day fund.“To get people through Thanksgiving and the winter holidays, I think that's really the question, whether we can do a little bit more to at least keep some of the benefits,” he said.Moon said funding uninterrupted food assistance would cost Maryland $130 million per month. Send us questions and comments for guests: kojo@wamu.orgFollow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885Follow us on Bluesky: bsky.app/wamu.org

Voters in New Jersey and Virginia are casting their ballots in their states' gubernatorial elections. We discuss the major issues at play and whether federal politics are affecting the races.This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political correspondent Ashley Lopez, WNYC senior reporter Nancy Solomon, and WAMU reporter Margaret Barthel.This podcast was produced by Casey Morell & Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

After nearly a month of federal law enforcement and military personnel patrolling the streets of Washington, D.C., President Trump says the District is a “crime-free zone.” We discuss what's really going on in the city, as well as the pressures on the majority Democratic city's Democratic mayor.This episode: politics correspondent Sarah McCammon, national justice correspondent Ryan Lucas, and WAMU senior politics reporter Alex Koma. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell & Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy