I Hate Politics Podcast

Raleigh, NC, architect and climate activist Tim Martin recently returned to society after completing a yearlong sentence for defacing in 2023 the case of Degas' Little Dancer sculpture in the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC as an act of climate protest. Sunil Dasgupta talks with Martin about what drove his act of civil disobedience, the experience in DC jail and in a federal prison camp,...

Like most economic activity, data centers promise much and impose costs. Loudoun County, Va, is the Data Center capital of the world with 253 already running and more on the way. Why did Loudoun become Data Center Alley? What impacts have they had? How are they moving forward? What can others learn from Loudoun? Sunil Dasgupta asks Mike Turner, Vice-chair of the county's Board of Supervisors, who...

Primary Day in Maryland. The federal government has issued new rules for work requirements for Medicaid enrollees and thrown states in another tizzy. Maryland's Office of People's Counsel is asking the state's public service commission to reject all but $15 million out of Pepco's $120 million rate increase proposal. And as we begin summer, we have a reminder about Maryland's lists of noxious weeds...

Penn State University announced the closure of seven satellite campuses even as it adds more capacity to its flagship campus at University Park in State College, PA. The university is now looking at closing programs. All of this led the Penn State faculty to vote 3-1 in favor of unionization. Sunil Dasgupta speaks to Penn State, Berks, Political Science Professor Randy Newnham about the reorganiza...

Montgomery County, MD, pauses the processing of data centers permits for six months, Student journalists in MCPS protest a new rule that requires prior review of all school-sponsored publications. We have crowd-sourced data on MCPS schools affected by HVAC failures. And Delegate Kris Fair from Frederick County has an explainer for what happens with the replacement ballots Maryland had to send out....

Unlike in cities, suburban unhoused tend to hide in forgotten spaces in the folds of modern architecture, between transportation infrastructure and housing developments, in the no-man's land between state and county administrations, between private and public property. Glenn Fellman, the publisher of the online local news and advocacy website Montgomery Fix ( www.montgomeryfix.com ) has for the la...

Voter information for the Maryland primary election on June 23. For polling place, early voting centers, and to register: https://voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/PollingPlaceSearch . Governor Moore finally decides lto endorse Councilmember Will Jawando for County Executive in Montgomery. We have updates on the other races as well. The Montgomery County Board of Education approves final budget...

Maryland Primary Day is June 23. Only Democrats and Republicans can participate in the primary elections, leaving out the fastest growing group, independent voters. The state-funded and state-organized primary ballot leaves out third parties while officials are elected only by 20-25 percent of voters. But three third parties are expected to be on the ballot in the November general elections. How d...

Affordable Maryland PAC's ad attacking Will Jawando's record on education leads to push back. PAC Chair Jonathan Robinson joins us. The Montgomery County Board of Education is going to vote on a long list of position cuts this week and MCPS school psychologist Alli Jacobus and parent Rachel Singer join to talk about the impact in one department. MCPS College and Career Navigator Sarah Kessler (who...

In the run-up to the Maryland primary on June 23, Sunil Dasgupta talks with Dee Clarkin, Executive Director of the progressive group Indivisible Montgomery, and Chris Pickett, the founder of the group who has just published a memoir on local organized called The People United ( https://a.co/d/08qqpizt ) about the challenges grassroots political action including wading into purely primary elections...

Immigration court data reveals dramatically different treatment of enforcement cases in Maryland and Virginia. Montgomery County Council passed its 2027 operating budget and MCPS announced its proposed cuts at a Board of Education meeting. The school district wanted to end open lunch, which is the practice of allowing students to leave the school campus during lunch time, with procedural argument....

Despite offering tax incentives for data centers since 2020, Maryland has seen limited build out of the power and water guzzling industry, but now several hyperscale projects want to locate in the state as electricity rates rise and communities rise in opposition. Sunil Dasgupta speaks to Maryland Senator Katie Fry Hester about what rational data center regulation looks like. Music by Silver Sprin...

Maryland GOP delegates Mark Fisher and Biran Chisholm call Chinese American and Democratic state delegate Chao Wu a Chinese spy. Maryland puts Ozempic under upper payment limits for state and local entities. Montgomery County Council took emotional straw votes last week on next year's capital and operating budgets. Maryland Public Service Commission steps back from its plan to curb excessive inves...

Maryland is holding primary elections on June 23, 2026. Mail-in ballots start going out May 9. In the state's largest jurisdiction, Montgomery, the overwhelming numbers of registered Democrats makes the primary more important than the general elections in determining who will take office but the voter turnout can be abysmally low. Among the most competitive races is the contest to be the next coun...

The County Council is trying to balance new progressive income tax brackets by removing the flat homestead tax credit of $692 that goes to county homeowners when they live in the house they own. Maryland People' Counsel David Lapp explains his complaint against the regional electricity grid operator, PJM, for unlawfully allocating the cost of new transmission projects to Maryland ratepayers. And a...

Maryland is holding primary elections on June 23, 2026. Mail-in ballots start going out May 9. In the state's largest jurisdiction, Montgomery, the overwhelming numbers of registered Democrats makes the primary more important than the general elections in determining who will take office but the voter turnout can be abysmally low. Among the most competitive races is the contest to be the next coun...

Wootton High School cluster parents Elisa and Pavel Sukhobok file a complaint with MSDE alleging wrongful decision moving Wootton High school from Rockville to Gaithersburg. Coming changes to Math education. Did you know about the case of the Oklahoma woman arrested on a Montgomery County warrant and held in Maryland for 5 months based on an incorrect facial recognition match? ACLU has filed compl...

Maryland is holding primary elections on June 23, 2026. Mail-in ballots start going out May 9. In the state's largest jurisdiction, Montgomery, the overwhelming numbers of registered Democrats makes the primary more important than the general elections in determining who will take office. Among the most competitive races is the contest to be the next county executive. In this episode, guest host A...

The Maryland General Assembly did not move on gaming bills this year. This week Sunil Dasgupta talks with State Senator Jeff Waldstriecher about state-level regulation of gaming, internet gaming, and the thinking about hot hot prediction markets. Music by Silver Spring rock musician MYSTR Treefrog.

In a series debriefing the 2026 Maryland General Assembly session, Sunil Dasgupta talks with state Senator Brian Feldman, Chair of the Education, Energy, and Environment Committee about the omnibus energy bill to come of this year's legislative session. Music by Silver Spring rock musician MYSTR Treefrog.

Montgomery County Council President Natali Fani-Gonzalez offers an alternative budget proposal to County Executive Marc Elrich. Montgomery County Public Schools propose to start the next school year five days earlier than usual. We have data on local ICE arrests. And Maryland Senator Brian Feldman on coming changes to solar net metering. The full interview will follow. Music by Silver Spring rock...

We are breaking down key policy areas and legislation now that the 2026 Maryland General Assembly session has ended. First up, healthcare, which saw a new standalone committee this year. Sunil Dasgupta talks with the new Health Committee Chair Heather Bagnall from Anne Arundel County to chair the Health Committee. Music by Silver Spring rock musician MYSTR Treefrog.

The 2026 session of the Maryland General Assembly ended yesterday. The Governor got 2 out of his 3 housing bills. The Special Elections bill rose and then fell again. A bill sought to address AI-led grocery store pricing. Delegate Pam Queen explains. In Montgomery County, the Council staff breaks down the County Executive's budget including tax proposals. And is MCPS looking to make a big push for...

Guest host Tula Dasgupta of Rockville High School interviews Northwood High School sophomore Leul Dawit, one of two finalists for the Student Member of the Montgomery County Board of Education for 2026-27. The SMOB is one of eight on the county school board, nearly co-equal with other generally elected members, but voted in by MCPS secondary school students only. Music for this episode comes from...

Double-header: Reemey Ghermay for MCPS SMOB (2026-04-10) Guest host Tula Dasgupta of Rockville High School interviews Walter Johnson High School junior Reemey Ghermay, one of two finalists for the Student Member of the Montgomery County Board of Education for 2026-27. The SMOB is one of eight on the county school board, nearly co-equal with other generally elected members, but voted in by MCPS sec...