I Hate Politics Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Fixing the Teacher Shortage Aug 05, 2022

Show notes

As a nationwide teacher and staff shortage threatens to disrupt fall school reopening, Sunil Dasgupta talks with Maryland State Education Association president Cheryl Bost about steps to address teacher recruitment and retention in the state and to MCPS instructional specialist Miriam Plotinsky about her new book, "Teach More, Hover Less," which offers a pedagogical approach that could allow teachers to be more effective following the pandemic disruption. Music by Montgomery County climate band, The Sunshiners.

Get Outdoors, Maryland! Jul 29, 2022

Show notes

Sunil Dasgupta talks with Nishant Trivedi and Pallav Thakkar, members of a local Indian-American fitness group, about their 184.5 mile bike ride from Cumberland, in Western Maryland, to Washington DC; and to Maryland state house majority leader Eric Luedtke about a new law expanding and revitalizing state parks. Listen to the end for Luedtke's top 10 list. This is a how-to-get-outdoors episode. Music by Rockville-based rock and roll band, The Treading Lemmings.

A PAC Rides into Town Jul 22, 2022

Show notes

The 2022 Maryland primary elections are over and the state is waiting for results. Sunil Dasgupta talks with Adam Jentleson, a former staffer for Senator Harry Reid, who together with like-minded friends created a PAC that spent close to a million dollars on television ads attacking incumbent Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich's housing record. Whether they succeed or not, the entry of PAC-spending in local elections has been a big bone of contention and brings to the suburbs a hardball national political style on behalf of pro-housing policies. Music by Rockville-based rock and roll band, The Treading Lemmings.

Maryland Prepares to be Abortion Safe Haven Jul 15, 2022

Show notes

With 26 US states set to impose degrees of abortion bans following the Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v Wade, Maryland is likely to become the southern-most state on the Eastern seaboard to offer fully legal abortions and the state's providers are expecting women from abortion-banned states to travel to Maryland for services. Sunil Dasgupta talks with Maryland Delegate Ariana Kelly about how the state is preparing. Kelly has been one of the leading voices pushing to expand reproductive health services for Marylanders and out-of-state patients. Music by Rockville-based rock and roll band, The Treading Lemmings.

Can Government Become Business-Friendly? Jul 08, 2022

Show notes

Montgomery County, Md, has long had a reputation for being tough for business and compared unfavorably with Northern Virginia. In this episode, Sunil Dasgupta talks with Julie Verrati, co-founder of Denizens Brewing Company in Silver Spring, about the business climate in the county and neighboring jurisdictions. Verrati also served in the federal Small Business Administration during the Biden presidency and, in the episode, announces her choice in the County Executive race. Music by Rockville-based rock and roll band, The Treading Lemmings.

The Case for Ending Judicial Review Jul 01, 2022

Show notes

As the country deals with the upending of the landmark abortion rights case, Roe v Wade, Sunil Dasgupta talks with Julie Statland of Riveting Women about the importance of having more women in local and state political positions and to Maryland Delegate Vaughn Stewart and UMBC History Professor Andrew Nolan about a moment in time when protections against the tyranny of the majority, including the venerated judicial review, look like anti-democratic measures that need to be jettisoned if the American experiment is to survive. Music by Rockville-based rock and roll band, The Treading Lemmings.

How Carroll County Schools Banned Pride Flags Jun 24, 2022

Show notes

In June 2022, Carroll County Board of Education (in Maryland) banned Pride flags from schools. Carroll is a conservative jurisdiction whose changing demographics have put it at the forefront of the culture war over education policy. Sunil Dasgupta speaks with county resident Stephanie Brown, who found herself in the middle of a political fight as she sought to defend the rights of her 13-year-old who goes to a county public school. Music by Montgomery County percussionist Pete Chauvette.

Montgomery County Council District 5 IHP Candidate Interview Jun 17, 2022

Show notes

Montgomery County Council District 5 is a newly created seat in the eastern part of the county covering Burtonsville, White Oak, and Four Corners. Sunil Dasgupta spoke with five candidates running for the seat: Planning Department employee Brian Anleu (3:45), county business liaison officer Daniel Koroma (26:46), political operative Jeremiah Pope (49:13), immigration lawyer Fatmata Barrie (1:10:40), and community organizer Kristin Mink (1:34:09) about housing, economic development, education, and healthcare. Music for this episode comes from DC-based singer-songwriter Emily Hall.

Montgomery County Council Districts 2 and 4 IHP Candidate Interviews Jun 10, 2022

Show notes

In this episode, Sunil Dasgupta talks with Montgomery County Council District 2 candidates community activist Lorna Forde (4:28) and former Jamie Raskin-staffer Will Roberts (23:46). A belated addition is former Maryland delegate Al Carr (52:32) who is now running for Council District 4. Look back in the archives for interviews with other D2 and D4 candidates: Marilyn Balcombe, Kate Stewart, Amy Ginsburg, and John Zittrauer. Links on Twitter @ihppod. Music by Emily Hall.

Montgomery County Council At-Large Race IHP Candidate Interview Jun 03, 2022

Show notes

The Montgomery County Council is expanding to 7 members elected from demarcated districts and keeping 4 members who are elected countywide or at-large. In this episode Sunil Dasgupta talks with four at-large candidates, former Gaithersburg city council member Laurie-Anne Sayles (4:27), past council president Tom Hucker (26:27), Montgomery County Democratic Party leader Scott Goldberg (52:51), and incumbent at-large council member Evan Glass (1:12:10) about education, climate action, housing, and transportation. Look back in the archives for interviews with other at-large candidates: Brandy Brooks, Will Jawando, and Gabe Albornoz. See links on Twitter @ihppod. Music by Emily Hall.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected