I Hate Politics Podcast

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Where Do Taxes Come From? Aug 09, 2024

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No one likes to pay taxes. We do because we must. Governments raise taxes in infinite ways to meet seemingly unending demands from the people. With many states and local governments headed toward a few years of fiscal imbalance, Sunil Dasgupta asks Michael Sanderson, Executive Director of the Maryland Association of Counties, about where local and state taxes come from? Music for this episode comes from Alexandria, Virginia, alt-rock band, Jackie and The Treehorns.

I Hate the News Aug 6 Aug 06, 2024

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The weekly news analysis from I Hate Politics: Persistent dry spell leads to drought watch in the Washington DMV area. Local governments ask residents to conserve water. Fortune Magazine declares Silver Spring In Montgomery County, MD, to be the best place for families to live in all of the United States. Wallet Hub declares Maryland to have the third best public education system in the country. Sunil Dasgupta talks with Laurie Halverson of Potomac, Cara Fletcher of Germantown, and Eric Weissman of Takoma Park about community and community-building from three different perspectives. Music from Silver Spring band The Airport 77s.

Ben The Innocent Aug 02, 2024

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In 1988, Benjamine Spencer, a young black man in Dallas, TX, was wrongfully convicted of the murder of Jeffrey young, a young white man, the son of a prominent Ross Perot supporter, by prosecutors trained by Henry Wade, the Wade in Roe v Wade. Washington DC journalist and author Barbara Bradley Hagerty, whose 2018 reporting led to Spencer's release has now written a book, Bringing Ben Home, (https://a.co/d/6w5uHll) and talks with Sunil Dasgupta about the case and its implications. Music by Alexandria alt-rock band Jackie and the Treehorns.

I Hate the News July 30 Jul 30, 2024

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Maryland and Washington DC are reporting high levels of Covid in wastewater but not Pennsylvania and New York. Montgomery County expands a subsidy program for companies renting office space in the county. Frederick City to become the second locality in Maryland to adopt ranked choice voting. Quince Orchard High School to ban smartphones, but how will this be enforced? And more. Music from Silver Spring band The Airport 77s.

Unboxing Government Procurement Jul 26, 2024

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The government from city and county to state and federal is one of the biggest buyers of goods and services in any modern economy, but government procurement is often accused of being corrupt and wasteful. Sunil Dasgupta asks former chief procurement officer of Baltimore City, Erin Sher Smyth, to unbox the vast, byzantine, and changing world of government buying from police body cameras to cybersecurity. Music by Alexandria alt-rock band Jackie and the Treehorns.

I Hate the News July 23 Jul 23, 2024

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The weekly news analysis from I Hate Politics: Biden withdraws reelection bid; endorses Harris. What does it mean for Blue State Democrats who would win regardless? Montgomery County school board members work full-time but are paid for part-time work. Former MCPS Superintendent Josh Starr weighs in on the role of the board. UMD pays $500K to settle a federal complaint that it did not disclose foreign grants from Chinese telecom firm Huawei. Baltimore sues progressive group over a ballot question to give parents $1,000 for every newborn/adoption Laid off DCist employees start a new local news website, The 51st. Music from Silver Spring band The Airport 77s.

Balancing Development and Infrastructure Jul 19, 2024

Show notes

If zoning laws tell you what to build where, the Adequate Public Facilities Ordnance tells you when you can build. Sunil Dasgupta talks with Montgomery County Planning Department's Lisa Govoni, who is leading the county's 2024 reevaluation of adequacy measures of school and transportation needs and capacity. Lots of impact taxes, exemptions for impact taxes, and the impact on housing affordability. Music by Alexandria alt-rock band Jackie and the Treehorns.

I Hate the News July 16 Jul 16, 2024

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Washington Metro rationalizes its bus network, but at what tradeoff? MD looks at holding back third graders who don't read at grade level. VA Governor Youngkin orders new rules in place to remove cell phones from classrooms by Jan 2025. NEA, the country's largest union, locks out its own staff union. Music from Silver Spring band The Airport 77s.

New Teachers Union Prez Says Budget Transparency Can Blunt Cuts Jul 12, 2024

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After a tumultuous few years, Montgomery County Public Schools is going through big leadership changes and the general elections in November may bring more. Among them is the new president of the teachers' union, MCEA: David Stein, a veteran math and statistics teacher in Montgomery Blair High School's famed STEM program. Sunil Dasgupta talks with Stein about how he sees the challenges ahead for MCPS and for public education. Music by Alexandria alt-rock band Jackie and the Treehorns.

I Hate the News July 9 Jul 09, 2024

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The weekly news analysis from I Hate Politics: What do the responses to a new community survey from MCPS tell us? Harford County, MD, withdraws an AP African American studies course. A crowded field of candidates seeks to replace former Prince George's County Councilmember Mel Franklin; illegal fireworks destroys Aspen Hill home; he really short water boil advisory in DC and Arlington; a glut on pianos on local listservs and Buy Nothing groups. And more. Music from Silver Spring band Airport 77s.

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