I Hate Politics Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Two Families Rethink Their Housing Choices May 12, 2023

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Housing is a highly individual choice, but how does it relate to larger trends in the market, loosening commutes due to work from home, interest rates, and politics? Sunil Dasgupta speaks with recently former College Park-resident Alaina Pitt and soon to be ex-Silver Spring resident Paul Meyer about how they rethought their family housing choices. Local news about the teacher's union disrupting Montgomery County Council proceedings and a recusal motion in the Montgomery County Democratic Party. Music from Alexandria, Va, alt-rock band, Jackie and The Treehorns: jackieandthetreehorns.com MCDCC Handbook: https://bit.ly/3pz5nMh

Why Are There 20 Coffee Shops in Downtown Silver Spring? May 05, 2023

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Downtown Silver Spring is a half square mile area and it has 20 coffee shops. It has had roughly 20 coffee shops since 2017, but the list keeps changing with closings and openings. Why do new coffee shop owners believe they can make this difficult business work for them? Sunil Dasgupta talks with David Fogel, owner of longtime DTSS coffeeshop, Bump 'n' Grind, about the economics of coffeeshops in Silver Spring. Music from Alexandria, Va, alt-rock band, Jackie and The Treehorns: jackieandthetreehorns.com Dan Reed's DTSS Coffeeshop Roll Call: https://bit.ly/3NCuOX2 MCAP info: https://bit.ly/3LV91IT

Does Ag Land Preservation Work? Apr 28, 2023

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Agricultural land preservation is a longstanding policy tool against the threat of sprawl and a particular issue in Frederick County, Maryland's fastest-growing jurisdiction. Sunil Dasgupta talks about how things are going in Frederick with Anne Bradley, the county's land preservation programs manager, and with Katie Stevens, who runs the county's agriculture business support. Local news about machine gun access, 529 reform, and Maryland's new workforce shortage student grants. Music from Alexandria, Va, alt-rock band, Jackie and The Treehorns: jackieandthetreehorns.com Frederick Ag Land Preservation: https://bit.ly/3oPMrID Frederick Ag Business Support: https://bit.ly/3oSfmvt MD Workforce Shortage Student Grants: https://bit.ly/41KPArR

How Corruption Built Trash Collection Apr 21, 2023

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We take trash collection for granted today, but like housing and climate action today, garbage collection was once a controversial idea and tough ask. Sunil Dasgupta talks with political scientists Patricia Strach of the University of Albany and Kathleen Sullivan of Ohio University about their new book, The Politics of Trash, where they write about how corruption rather than good governance motivated 19th century American city leaders to set up municipal garbage collection. The implications of their work apply to modern problems of pandemic and climate policymaking. Music for this episode comes from Catscan! a Washington DC band who play art pop music with satirical lyrics: https://bit.ly/3KEpfFF The Politics of Trash: https://amzn.to/3N5RXAK Strach: https://bit.ly/3mMj1KK Sullivan: https://bit.ly/41oAN5N

De Tokeville: Maryland Rolls Out Legal Weed Apr 14, 2023

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The 445th session of the Maryland General Assembly was billed as the cannabis session. Based on a referendum that was supported overwhelmingly by Maryland voters, the body had to build an entire framework for growing, processing, and selling recreational marijuana in the state before July 2023. What came of it? Sunil Dasgupta talks to Maryland Delegate David Moon, vice chair of the House Judiciary Committee and a longtime advocate for legalized marijuana. Music from Catscan! a Washington DC band who play art pop music with satirical lyrics: https://bit.ly/3KEpfFF. More info on adult-use recreational marijuana in MD: https://bit.ly/3nZfDML Legislation: https://bit.ly/3KXv0yw

Former MCPS Superintendent Josh Starr: "In a Race to be Second" Apr 07, 2023

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With school budget politics heating up, Sunil Dasgupta talks with former MCPS superintendent, continuing MCPS parent, and education consultant Josh Starr about losing his contract, his book on school leadership, and education challenges in a post-pandemic world. Music for this episode comes from Catscan! a Washington DC band who play art pop music with satirical lyrics: https://bit.ly/3KEpfFF. MCPS operating budget: https://bit.ly/3nTwYH7 Montgomery County budget document: https://bit.ly/2IGNnod Mink/Jawando tax bill: https://bit.ly/3KF7lmk.

Yoseph Zerihun and Sami Saeed for SMOB: IHP Candidate Interviews Mar 31, 2023

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Sunil Dasgupta talks with MCPS juniors Yoseph Zerihun of Springbrook High School and Sami Saeed of Richard Montgomery High School, the two finalists for the Student Member of the Montgomery County Board of Education in 2023. The SMOB is one of the eight members of the county school board, nearly co-equal with other generally elected members of the Board, but voted in by MCPS secondary school students only. Music for this episode are two debut piano compositions by Kensington resident Adam Bobrow. Sami Saeed website: sami4smob.com. Yoseph Zerihun website: yoseph4smob.com.

To Look for America Mar 24, 2023

Show notes

Former Wall Street Journal reporter Neil King Jr. walked 26 days covering 330 miles from his home on Capitol Hill in Washington DC to Manhattan and chronicled the journey in a new book, American Ramble: A Walk of Memory and Renewal. Sunil Dasgupta talks with King about his walk, what made him go, and what he learned. Local news re Arlington's new zoning law and corruption, as a former aide to the previous Maryland governor, Larry Hogan, skips a court date and becomes a fugitive. Music for this episode comes from DC area rock trio Ammonite at ammoniteband.bandcamp.com. American Ramble available at https://a.co/d/7pvc723. Arlington's new zoning law: https://bit.ly/409VqSR.

The Rise and Rise of Pickleball Mar 17, 2023

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America's fastest-growing sport comes not from the youth but from the aging. The rapid spread of pickleball has reinvigorated underused neighborhood rec centers and parks but also brought to the fore conflicts with tennis and complaints about noise and travelers crowding local streets. Sunil Dasgupta talks with Emer Daly, local pickleball coach and a founder of MoCo Pickleball Facebook group, and Chuck Kines, pickleball planner for Montgomery County, MD, Parks Department. Local news re highway and transit options. Music for this episode comes from DC area rock trio Ammonite. MoCo Pickleball: https://bit.ly/3Fwk4EL Pickleball in Montgomery Parks: https://bit.ly/3llp6NG Montgomery County Rec Pickleball: https://bit.ly/3ZQoApX

Hard to Grow Agriculture Education Mar 10, 2023

Show notes

Nearly all 25 high schools in Montgomery County, MD, have greenhouses, but there is only one agriculture program and two programs on agriculture, sustainability, and the environment. Sunil Dasgupta talks with Lori Mayhew of Damascus High School and Glenn Miller of Sherwood High School about the rhetoric and reality of agriculture education programs, which are themselves part of the larger push outward career and technical education (CTE) in the school district and the state. CTE programs must generate their own money for materials and their courses generally count as electives. Music for this episode comes from DC area rock trio Ammonite. Other links: Damascus High School Ag Program, Sherwood High School C.A.S.E Program, MTA Progress Report on Purple Line 2023-03.

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