WAMU 88.5 - American University Radio

12/06/2025

Interest in parties affiliated with socialism is relatively new territory for Prince George’s County. The county has traditionally elected moderate Democrats, but lately, as millennials enter the political arena, elected officials are leaning more progressive.

The Party for Socialism and Liberation has become key organizers in the movement against data centers, the massive, windowless facilities that power artificial intelligence and store cloud data.

Since taking on the issue, their meetings have grown, with one, according to organizers, attracting over 400 residents. And now some residents want them to run a candidate who will say no to data centers. https://wamu.org/story/25/12/03/this-socialist-party-is-leading-the-fight-against-data-centers-in-prince-georges-county/

12/05/2025

D.C. has one of the largest theater communities in the country, with almost 90 theaters, venues, and performing arts organizations within 30 miles of downtown D.C., and December is a fantastic time to catch a show. Sure, there are plenty of retellings of A Christmas Carol out there, but there are so many other fun, eclectic, and heartfelt shows to see across the region this holiday season.

Lucky for us, this week for Get Out There, our weekly conversation about ways to explore the Washington region, WAMU’s Matt Blitz gave us a holiday theater preview. https://wamu.org/story/25/12/04/get-out-there-2025-holiday-theater-preview/

12/04/2025

This week on The Politics Hour with Kojo Nnamdi, we ask Ward 4 D.C. councilmember Janeese Lewis George why she decided to jump into the race for mayor. New Montgomery County Council President Natali Fani-González joins to discuss her plans to protect the county's immigrant community.

You can join the conversation by commenting your questions below or calling in during the live show at (800)-433-8850.

12/03/2025

This week on The Politics Hour with Kojo Nnamdi, we ask Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George about her run for Mayor. We’re also joined by new Montgomery County council president Natali Faní-González to explain how she plans to help lead Maryland’s most populated county.

12/02/2025

We loved connecting with so many of you at The Politics Hour Live with Kojo Nnamdi!
Events like this remind us why local news matters—and why we need your support.

On this Giving Tuesday, help WAMU continue to inform, engage, and connect our community.

Give today: wamu.fm/4rDEoe0

Thank you for making WAMU a vital part of our region!

11/29/2025

Many cities have struggled to meet their Vision Zero goals, including D.C., where fatalities rose steadily every year for the past decade. But in 2025, the District has recorded more than a 50 percent drop in traffic deaths compared to the same point last year.

Many cities have struggled to meet their Vision Zero goals, including D.C., where fatalities rose steadily every year for the past decade. But in 2025, the District has recorded more than a 50…

11/28/2025

D.C. At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds may not run for re-election next year. The move could shake up a key citywide race and put an end to the career of one of the city's longest tenured politician.

Bonds, who has been a fixture of D.C. politics for the last five decades, is considering not making another bid for the at-large race and endorsing a longtime aide.

11/26/2025

Two National Guard members were shot near the White House in Washington, D.C. Wednesday afternoon, according to authorities.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wrote on X that she was praying for the two guardsmen who were shot. The Metropolitan Police Department said one suspect is in custody.

In a post on Truth Social, President Trump wrote that the two guardsmen have been “critically wounded.”

“The animal that shot the two National Guardsmen … is also severely wounded, but regardless, will pay a very steep price,” he added.

In an emailed statement, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Trump has been briefed on the incident. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters that the President requested an additional 500 National Guardmembers be sent to D.C.

“The White House is aware and actively monitoring this tragic situation,” Leavitt added.

This is a developing story.

11/26/2025

🎙️ Talk That Matters: An Evening with Jenn White

What’s it like to host a live radio show right now? How do you handle guests with passionate — or sometimes misinformed — views? And how do you balance perspectives when every decision is under a microscope?

Join Jenn White, host of 1A, and NPR’s Natalie Winston for a candid conversation about navigating tough topics and using words to build bridges in divided times.

📅 Thursday, December 4
🕕 6 p.m.
📍 Planet Word Museum
🎟️ Get tickets: wamu.org/events

WAMU 88.5 is Washington’s NPR station, featuring local news on education, transportation, politics, and more as well as programs like 1A.

11/25/2025

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser says she won’t run for reelection next year, ending months of frenzied speculation about her future and setting the stage for a wide open race to replace her.

In a video announcing her decision, Bowser said that she’d accomplished everything she set out to do since first winning the job back in 2014, calling it “the honor of my life to be your mayor.” She specifically cited the stadium deal to bring the Washington Commanders back to D.C. as one of the key accomplishments that convinced her she was ready to move on.

However, Bowser added that she still plans to “run through the tape” before leaving office in 2027. https://wamu.org/story/25/11/25/dc-mayor-muriel-bowser-wont-run-for-reelection/

11/25/2025

Non profit “So What Else” says that over seven days, November 20-26, their locations in Maryland and D.C. aim to provide 30,000 holiday meals to local families. Co-founder Dave Silbert says if they can provide a break to families in terms of the cost of food, then they can can possibly make it through a tough time, “…and they can get back up on their feet.”

11/25/2025

A proposed data center development in upper Montgomery County would use the Potomac River--which supplies over 75 percent of the region’s drinking water-- for cooling. Locals, environmental groups, and state officials consider the opportunities and risks it poses for the water and the nearby community.

It's a chilly fall morning along the C&O Canal Towpath in Upper Montgomery County as people stroll and bike through a corridor of red, yellow and green foliage. In the distance, tall cylindrical smokestacks rise from what used to be the Dickerson coal-fired power plant.

Barbara Velarde and her husband Mike Olszak walk this path at least three times a week.
“You can watch the beavers building their little dams,” Velarde says. “There is a lot of wildlife, nature, and history. This is something we should hang on to and just not spoil the rivers.”

The former coal plant is the proposed site for a data center development, those windowless buildings that store the cloud and power artificial intelligence.

The couple are worried about what it will mean for their quiet corner of the county.https://wamu.org/story/25/11/18/proposed-montgomery-county-data-center-would-use-potomac-river-water-for-cooling/