WAMU 88.5 - American University Radio

06/19/2026

What does home rule mean to D.C.’s music community?
It’s a question were asking on this week’s Get Out There, our weekly conversation about ways to explore the Washington region. Saturday is the fifth anniversary of the Home Rule Music Festival, which celebrates the Black American Music, from hip-hop to jazz to go-go, that is deeply intertwined in the District’s history.

Charvis Campbell, founder of HR Records and the Home Rule Music Festival, speaks to WAMU about the fifth anniversary of the Home Rule Music Festival this weekend and honoring the legacy of D.C. music.

06/19/2026

Friday on the Politics Hour with Kojo Nnamdi, we break down D.C. primary elections with Democratic nominee for D.C. Delegate Robert White, At-Large Councilmember-elect Elissa Silverman, and WAMU's D.C. politics reporter Alex Koma. Plus, we preview Maryland's primaries with WAMU's Maryland reporter Jenny Abamu.

06/18/2026

At-large D.C. Councilmember Robert White won Tuesday’s primary election for the District’s congressional delegate. D.C. used ranked-choice voting for the first time in this primary. White won 63 percent of the vote while his closest opponent, colleague Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto had 22 percent.

The non-voting seat has been held by Eleanor Holmes Norton, who is retiring after more than three decades. White worked for Holmes Norton before taking a seat on the council and is confident he can continue her legacy, especially in the renewed push for statehood.

White will face Republican nominee Denise Rosado in November. White is favored to win, as D.C. has routinely supported Democratic nominees for delegate. He spoke with WAMU’s Morning Edition host Esther Ciammachilli about his vision for the seat.

06/18/2026

The Juneteenth holiday a day when we celebrate the end of slavery for Black Americans in the United States – but also a time to reflect on the history and progress that has been made since then. We have a few ways for you to mark the occasion.

The Juneteenth holiday a day when we celebrate the end of slavery for Black Americans in the United States - but also a time to reflect on the history and progress that has been made since then. We…

06/17/2026

Coming up on The Politics Hour this Friday, we break down a historic primary day in the District. We are joined by Democratic nominee for D.C. Delegate to Congress Robert White and others. Plus, WAMU's Maryland reporter Jenny Abamu previews next week's Maryland's primaries, including Montgomery County Executive and local Congressional seats.

06/17/2026

Progressive candidates appear to have managed decisive victories in the top races on the ballot in D.C.’s Democratic primary, setting the stage for a political sea change in the District government.

While many races remain too close to call, particularly given the uncertainties surrounding the city’s new ranked choice voting system, two left-leaning candidates declared victory Tuesday night: Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George in the race for mayor and At-Large Councilmember Robert White in the contest for D.C. delegate. As of midnight, Lewis George led former Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie 52 to 36 percent vote share, while White was up 63 to 21 percent vote share over Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto, who conceded the race.

“Frederick Douglass said that power concedes nothing without a demand…and tonight D.C. made its demand,” Lewis George said Tuesday, addressing a crowd of supporters at the Howard Theatre in Shaw. “People are tired of hearing what government can’t do. Let’s show them what government can do.” https://wamu.org/story/26/06/17/lewis-george-leads-in-dc-mayoral-primary-vote-count/

06/17/2026

Early D.C. democratic primary election results: Robert White won the nomination in the race for D.C. delegate to Congress. Janeese Lewis George leads in race for mayor. Winners in down ballot races will take longer to determine, as ranked choice ballots come into play.
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06/16/2026

It’s primary day in D.C.! Voters across the District are heading to the polls today to vote for several positions in the city’s government. Among them this morning was mayoral candidate Kenyan McDuffie. Janeese Lewis George, also running for mayor, came out to greet supporters.

Photographs by Tyrone Turer

06/16/2026

It’s Monday so WAMU is looking ahead at stories we’re covering this week. This week the big story is the D.C. primary elections! Look for our news team to cover races up and down the ballot. Plus we’ll look at ways to celebrate Juneteenth and Pride this weekend!

06/15/2026

The citywide races for D.C. mayor and delegate are sucking up most of the oxygen ahead of the June 16 primary. Who else is on the ballot, and where do they stand on the issues?

Four years ago, D.C.’s citywide elections took a back seat to bruising battles for council seats in wards 1, 3 and 5. With open races for mayor, D.C.