Saying Goodbye To The Kojo Nnamdi Show
On this last episode, we look back on 23 years of joyous, difficult and always informative conversation.
A D.C. lawmaker goes to bat for the rights of raccoons and bats. A U.S. Senator from Maryland prods state officials to clean up the Chesapeake. And political candidates in Virginia go hunting and gathering for votes in the final stretch of the fall election. We go “into the wild” in our weekly review of the politics, policies, and personalities of the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.
Guests
- Tom Sherwood Resident Analyst; NBC 4 reporter; and Columnist for the Current Newspapers
- Bill Bolling Lieutenant Governor of Virginia (R); Republican Candidate for Re-Election
- Mary Cheh Member, D.C. Council (D-Ward 3); Chair, Committee on Government Operations and the Environment
- Steny Hoyer Majority Leader, U.S. House of Representatives (D-Md)
Politics Hour Extra
D.C. Voting Rights Update This week, reports emergerged that House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md) was considering a new strategy to bring DC voting rights to the floor– attaching a bill to a defense appropriation bill. Republicans– including Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) criticized Hoyer for “playing politics” with men and women in harm’s way.
Kojo asked Congressman Hoyer about about his strategy for bringing voting rights to the District:
Tom asked Rep. Hoyer about attempts to link voting rights with gun legislation:
When does a friend become a crony? City law requires that the Council approve all contracts above $1 million. But DC Councilmembers say they’re being circumvented by the Fenty Administration, which has awarded $82 million through the D.C. Housing Authority.
Councilmember Mary Cheh (D- Ward 3) criticizes the Fenty administration for lack of its contracting practices:
Update on Hate-Crimes Legislation The U.S. Senate yesterday approved new federal protections for people who are victims of violent crime because of their sex or sexual orientation. The new hate-crime bill was attached to a defense spending measure. On Thursday, October 15th, Kojo spoke with Tom Perez, head of the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice about hate-crimes.(link to video)
Most Recent Shows
Author Briana Thomas On ‘Black Broadway In Washington D.C.’ And The History Of D.C.’s Black Culture
Kojo talks with author Briana Thomas about her book “Black Broadway In Washington D.C.,” and the District’s rich Black history.
Kevin Young Takes The Helm Of Smithsonian African American Museum
Poet, essayist and editor Kevin Young is the second director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture. He joins Kojo to talk about his vision for the museum and how it can help us make sense of this moment in history.
A Conversation With PBS NewsHour’s Judy Woodruff
Ms. Woodruff joins us to talk about her successful career in broadcasting, how the field of journalism has changed over the decades and why she chose to make D.C. home.