I Hate Politics Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Can Maryland Preempt Local Zoning? Feb 09, 2024

Show notes

To address worsening housing unaffordability, the Moore Administration in Maryland has proposed a set of housing bills, opening the possibility of preempting land-use and zoning law long seen in the assembly and in the counties as the preserve of local government. Sunil Dasgupta talks with Delegate Vaughn Stewart, Chair of the Land-Use and Ethics Subcommittee in the state house, about whether the "Housing Session" of the General Assembly will deliver. Local news about the aftermath of the Beidleman scandal in MCPS and an update on state bills from MD Legislative Coalition. Housing Bills: https://t.ly/tX-VV, https://t.ly/FUyYO, https://t.ly/3Co_Y. Music from Washington DC power pop band, Dear Daria's brand new EP, Solastalgia: deardariaband.com.

Will Takoma Park Finally Build Affordable Housing? Feb 02, 2024

Show notes

For 50 years, the famously liberal City of Takoma Park has not built multifamily housing and remained unchanged in population even as the region has grown dramatically. Could a new plan to redevelop a former hospital site be the lever which finally ends the block on affordable housing in the Washington DC suburb? Sunil Dasgupta talks with Takoma Park Mayor Talisha Searcy about the Minor Master Plan passed by the city and now up for vote in the Montgomery County Council: https://t.ly/23V4F. Local news: MCPS, firefighter/EMS short staffing woes, state bills update from MD Legislative Coalition. Music from Washington DC power pop band, Dear Daria's brand new EP, Solastalgia: deardariaband.com.

New FAFSA Form Delays College Aid Decisions Jan 26, 2024

Show notes

Confused about the new changes to FAFSA–Free Application for Federal Student Aid–which is undergoing its biggest overhaul in four decades? Sunil Dasgupta spoke with UMBC's Financial Aid Director Andrea Cipolla to find out about the changes and their impact on financial aid decisions. Local news Montgomery County school board seeks to oust superintendent for mishandling sexual harassment scandal. State bills update from MD Legislative Coalition. Music from Washington DC power pop band, Dear Daria's brand new EP, Solastalgia: deardariaband.com.

Can Government Alone Create Housing Affordability? Jan 19, 2024

Show notes

Montgomery County, MD, has fashioned a $100 million housing production fund to intervene in the local housing market with low-cost capital to rescue market-rate projects that are stuck and then using the equity to extract more low-income units. Sunil Dasgupta finds out how Zach Marks, who manages the fund on behalf of the county's Housing Opportunities Commission, cracked the affordability problem. State news: budget drop and upcoming bills with MD Legislative Coalition. Music for this episode comes from 1923; sound recordings from that year just entered the public domain. National Jukebox: https://t.ly/DDGgx.

Local Scientist Takes Disability Claim to Court Jan 12, 2024

Show notes

In December 2023, a Montgomery County jury heard a disability discrimination case against one of the world's largest medical science philanthropies, the Chevy Chase-based Howard Hughes Medical Institute, in a lawsuit brought by one of its former research scientists, Vivian Cheung. Sunil Dasgupta asked Cheung about the case and its implications for scientific rigor, peer review, and disability accommodation. Local news: new statewide housing legislation shapes up. Music for this episode comes from 1923; sound recordings from that year just entered the public domain. National Jukebox: https://t.ly/DDGgx.

90 Days, 800 Bills, and A Budget Jan 05, 2024

Show notes

The 2024 session of the Maryland General Assembly starts January 10 with a difficult revenue situation, big spending needs in education and transportation, and a reticent governor. Sunil Dasgupta talks with Aileen Alex and Jimmy Tarlau of the Maryland Legislative Coalition and Monica O'Connor of the Climate Justice Wing for a preview of what is coming up in the state legislature. Music for this episode comes from 1923; sound recordings from that year just entered the public domain. National Jukebox: https://t.ly/DDGgx MD Legislative Coalition signup: https://t.ly/HSeB4 Climate Justice Wing Summit Jan 6-7: https://t.ly/gCEV1.

Story of the Year: Muslim Book Protests Revisited Dec 29, 2023

Show notes

One of the biggest local stories of 2023 were the Muslim protests demanding the right to opt out students from reading LGBTQ-themed books in public elementary schools. In Montgomery County, this was not just a fight between conservatives and liberals. The controversy frayed the Democratic coalition itself. Sunil Dasgupta's interview with protest leader Wael Elkoshairi was the most downloaded episode (#121) of the year. We rerun the interview and update the story with the latest news. Music from Arlington roots music singer-songwriter Valeria Stewart and her band Crooked Sparrow: youtube.com/@valeriastewartmusic. Episodes 141 looked at coverage of the coverage and several shows between #130 and #141 carried student reviews of the controversial books. Don't forget to check them out.

2023 Holiday Yule Log with Local Music and Nonprofits Dec 22, 2023

Show notes

2023 Holiday Weekend Special with local music featured on the podcast and local nonprofit stories: Artists and bands in order of appearance: Shanika Freeman, Adam Bobrow, Finster, Kara Levchenko, Reggie Right-Eye, Gabrielle Zwi, Ammonite, Catscan!, Jackie and the Treehorns, Grey Swift, Collide, Drew Pictures, Steven Gellman, Oren Levine, Valeria Stewart and the Crooked Sparrow, Seth Kibel, Rockambo. Nonprofit orgs: Martha's Table, Community Farmshare, Asian American LEAD, MoCoPAAN, Friendship Place, Montgomery County Special Olympics, The Civic Circle, and Urban Adventure Squad. Links at ihppod.org.

Can a Long-Awaited Data Dashboard Deliver Equity in MCPS? Dec 15, 2023

Show notes

Following ten years of advocacy, Montgomery County Public Schools' have launched a new web-based district-wide school-profile data dashboard (https://t.ly/Bsbi1) with information on enrollment, demographics, class size, learning, assessment, and more. Sunil Dasgupta talks with local education activists Laura Stewart, Audra Dove, Cathy Stocker, and Jill Ortman Fouse (Board of Education member 2014-18) to find out if they got what they wanted. Data dashboard feedback: https://t.ly/z6gB3. Music from Rockville singer-songwriter Andrew Glor and his band Drew Pictures: drewpicturesmusic.com. Local area nonprofits tell their stories and pitch for your support:

Montgomery County Special Olympics

MoCoPAAN

Urban Adventure Squad

The Divided House of Democratic Politics Dec 08, 2023

Show notes

In deep blue Maryland, pro-Palestinian tweets from immigrant rights group CASA led to widespread condemnation from elected leaders and exposed divisions within the state and local Democratic Party. Sunil Dasgupta talks with Josh Kurtz, editor of Maryland Matters, to find out about the progressive-centrist division in Maryland Democrats and what it means state and local politics. Music from Rockville singer-songwriter Andrew Glor and his band Drew Pictures: drewpicturesmusic.com. Local area nonprofits tell their stories and pitch for your support:

Montgomery County Special Olympics

MoCoPAAN

Urban Adventure Squad