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12/12/2025

The holidays are just around the corner, and the D.C. region has already seen its first snowfall. This makes it the perfect time to lace up a pair of ice skates and glide (or waddle) your day away at a local ice skating rink. This week for Get Out There, our weekly conversation about ways to explore the Washington region, we’re helping you get out on the ice.
Photo: Tyrone Turner

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

12/12/2025

We have a big challenge for day one of our end of year fundraiser: if 100 listeners give during The Politics Hour, WAMU unlocks an extra $10,000. Join the challenge → wamu.org/donate

12/11/2025

The growth of AI is expanding the demand for data processing power. Our regional politics team digs into the local debate over data centers.

Across the region, local officials are debating how to manage the growth of data centers. While the tax revenue is significant, the pressure on the energy grid is also pushing up electricity costs…

12/10/2025

Scientists are warning that a new federal policy could make transgender cancer patients effectively invisible in national data. Beginning in 2026, cancer registries must classify patient s*x only as male, female or unknown. As health policy expert Kellan Baker told KFF Health News, “People get better care when we know who they are.”

Cancer registries that receive federal funding will soon be required to classify patients only as male, female, or unknown. The change is raising concerns among health researchers about cancer data…

12/08/2025

Hundreds of people live in D.C. without shelter. 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.

As hypothermia season begins, some continue to sleep outside instead of going to available congregate shelters, even as the weather grows dangerously cold, citing concerns about safety and hygiene. Others leave congregate facilities due to traumatic experiences. And for mixed-gender couples and families, entering the city’s shelter system often means having to separate.

In an effort to address those concerns, the District has recently opened new non-congregate bridge housing facilities – shelters with private or semi-private rooms for residents. With private rooms, mixed-gender couples and families don’t have to separate. Singles may be assigned a roommate, or get their own rooms.https://wamu.org/story/25/12/03/dc-new-non-congregate-homeless-shelters-e-street-aston/

12/07/2025

How will ranked choice voting change D.C.'s elections? As the District prepares to move to the new system next year, it's shaking up big races for mayor and council seats next year. Meanwhile, District officials are working to actually implement the shift.

Gary Thompson, chair of the D.C. Board of Elections is preparing for ranked choice voting to be implemented.

“We’ve been working diligently, all signs are good, everything is going according to plan, and we expect to have a successful 2026 election cycle with ranked choice voting,” Thompson said.

Monica Evans, the executive director of the elections office, is more cautious. Thompson may chair the board overseeing local elections, but Evans manages staff and runs the agency, and she worries there are bumps in the road ahead. Though Evans assured lawmakers at a hearing last week that the board would be ready to make the switch to ranked choice by June, she also fears she doesn’t have the necessary resources to adequately educate voters about the policy over the next six months.https://wamu.org/story/25/12/05/d-c-is-poised-to-use-ranked-choice-voting-next-year-its-already-reshaping-local-races/

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…