Advertise on podcast: Hearing the Council

In our latest Hearing the Council interview, Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen discusses two newsy topics he has recently tackled—the regulation of entertainment ticket resales, and the future of transportation at the new RFK stadium. In regards to the RESALE Act, we dig into the mechanics of the proposed legislation, including the bill’s price caps, the ban on speculative and surveillance pricing, the required registration of ticket resellers, and mandatory all-in pricing. On the RFK transportation front, we discuss what is planned to get the District ready for game day in 2030. We focus especially on the Gold Line, the proposed, dedicated bus line serving the stadium via H Street, and how it could be the prototype for streamlined bus service elsewhere in the District. For the “fun round,” we have Councilmember Allen once again try to match past/present colleagues with a range of hypothetical tasks, from teaching a kindergarten class to clothes shopping to putting on a puppet show.

In the latest Hearing the Council interview, we talk with our most frequent guest, Ward One Councilmember Brianne Nadeau. Having announced that she is not seeking reelection, she has just under nine months remaining in her Council service. In our interview, we talk about her legislative priorities for the remainder of 2026. We discuss her proposed reinvention of the Housing Production Trust Fund, how initial battle lines are forming over her bottle bill, the recent passage of the One Front Door Act, and the dynamics of the Council's upcoming rewrite of the Comp Plan. All that, plus some "fun round" this-and-that debates over coffee vs. tea, untoasted vs. toasted bagels, minimalist vs. maximalist decor, and much more!

In the latest Hearing the Council video interview (our gala 100th episode!) from early March, Chairman Phil Mendelson talks about this year's budget situation. And, as seems to be the case pretty much every year recently, it's a complex budget year for reasons that are both unexpected and beyond the Council's control. We take a long look at the tricky relationship with the District's Chief Financial Officer. The role is independent by design, but absent any external controls or authority structure, what if anything limits the CFO's decisions and their impact? We take a deep dive into this question, and how it's playing out in larger-than-life ways in this year's budget process. Plus, as always, all Hearing the Council interviews have a "fun round." In the latest interview, we ask the Chairman which of his past or present colleagues he'd choose to partner with on hypothetical odd tasks, from shoveling a sidewalk to going clothes shopping to putting on a puppet show.

In our latest Hearing the Council interview, we get to know our newest At-Large Councilmember, Doni Crawford. Appointed to the Council, by the Council, she has been serving since January 20, 2026. We hear about her unsuccessful first stint in DC, returning home jobless and dejected to live with her family in Pittsburgh, before returning triumphantly to DC for an ascending career arc culminating in her Council appointment. We discuss the origin of her name, the family tragedy that informed her Council swearing-in, plus whether any of her Council colleagues are fellow Spanish language learners or tennis players. Also: pondering parliamentary piercing protocols, how exciting it is to be Sofia the First, if hot breakfast eggs taste as good as we had hoped...and--as is traditional with inaugural Hearing the Council interviewees--dessert rankings.

In our most recent Hearing the Council interview, Ward One Councilmember Brianne Nadeau discussed her committee's late October hearing into potential human rights violations during the federal surge of law enforcement into the District in recent months. We discuss the powerful testimony she received from residents, experts, advocates, and ANC Commissioners. Plus, her insights into why no DC government witnesses appeared at the hearing, and her thoughts on how to reconcile differing accounts by the mayor and police chief on whether cooperation with federal immigration enforcement officials is still ongoing.

In our latest Hearing the Council episode, we get to know Ward 7's Wendell Felder. Elected in November of 2024, and serving since January, we tackle the obligatory biographical deep dive that Hearing the Council always undertakes with our newest Councilmembers. We learn about Councilmember Felder's origins as a fourth generation native Washingtonian, how running footraces in track led to political races for student government, and how initial setbacks in both school and District government informed his later successes. We discuss one key mentor in local government and business, plus how he followed childhood hydrant hijinks with an eventual seat on the DC Water board. And finally, as is traditional in our first interviews with Councilmembers, we have him rank his favorite desserts.

In our latest Hearing the Council interview, Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George discusses her proposed Local News Funding Act. At a time when local news outlets are vanishing but the need for quality local journalism has never been greater, Councilmember Lewis George touts her legislation to square this circle. Her proposal: setting aside 0.1% of the District budget to be distributed by DC voters to accredited local journalism outlets. We analyze the bill and its prospects. Plus, for the fun round, she picks which of her colleagues are best suited to join her for a dance lesson, camping trip, or heated customer service phone call.

In a May 2025 visit to "Hearing the Council" to continue talking about DC's budget standoff, Ward 3 Councilmember Matt Frumin walks us through every detail of this year's budget limbo. From the Congressional Continuing Resolution that put us back on our heels to the coordinated effort by DC officials and the public to get it undone, and from past efforts to pin the mayor down on a budget transmittal date to other potential stumbling blocks that could still impact the Council's summer budget deliberations, we leave no stone unturned. It's a discussion so meaty, we didn't even have time for the "fun round."

In the latest Hearing the Council video interview, Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker discusses the District government's ongoing budget standoff. He talks about the importance of avoiding a perilous mid-year, $1 billion cut to our previously-approved balanced budget for the ongoing fiscal year. He also discusses his new responsibilities as a committee chair, and the immense importance of the District government getting youth rehabilitation right. Plus, which colleagues he thinks could best shoulder snow shoveling responsibilities, and who "tends to be pretty fly," so might be a good clothes shopping companion.

In his latest Hearing the Council interview, Ward 3 Councilmember Matthew Frumin discusses how DC residents and civil society came together to combat the unexpected mid-year budget cut recently faced by the District. Plus, he provides insight into the benefits and challenges of becoming a Council committee chair. Specifically, he outlines his new committee's early performance oversight work on the topic of homelessness, thornier than ever in the current political climate. And in the "fun round," he opines on which of his colleagues would be best suited to odd jobs like shoveling snow and putting on a puppet show.

In our latest Hearing the Council interview, we chat with At-Large Councilmember Robert White about the complicated moment we are all living through currently, plus his policy priorities for 2025. We talk about challenges facing both housing development and affordability, including the dry pipeline of future multifamily housing permits in the District. We discuss the great promise held by vocational education, but why it remains an underutilized tool. And we talk about what if anything can bring DC together during these challenging times. Plus, for the fun round, he picks which of his colleagues he would choose to help with miscellaneous tasks, like clothes shopping and putting on a puppet show.

In the first Hearing the Council interview of 2025, Ward One Councilmember Brianne Nadeau discusses two of her initial legislative priorities for the New Year: her soon-to-be-introduced bottle deposit and Neighborhood Management Entities bills. Councilmember Nadeau discusses how the bottle (and can) deposit bill would aim to greatly reduce the amount of these items in our rivers and woods, as well as on our streets. Every resident and business would be empowered to tackle the dual goals of environmental protection and neighborhood beautification through this proposed measure. Additionally, she discusses how her proposed Neighborhood Management Entities bill would allow dense mixed use communities like Ward 1's U Street and Columbia Heights neighborhoods to better and more collaboratively tackle issues and projects, from cleanliness to safety to event planning. Plus, as always, we had the "fun round," where Councilmember Nadeau selected which of her colleagues would be best suited to join her in tackling a range of tasks, from putting on a puppet show to meeting with the Trump Administration.

In the latest Hearing the Council podcast interview, Ward Six Councilmember Charles Allen discusses his landmark STEER (Strengthening Traffic Enforcement, Education, and Responsibility) Act, which was recently passed by the Council with key elements having become effective on October 1. The bill is the latest demonstration of the Council's ongoing vigilance and an essential effort to reverse troubling trends in the District's struggling Vision Zero transportation safety efforts. We examine the various elements of the bill, including efforts to target the worst ticket scofflaws in the name of safety. We also discuss the Councilmember's work to shine a light on a new practice of apartment management companies: charging an additional fee to tenants for utilities and other costs in building common areas. Plus, his desert island TV show favorites.

In our latest Hearing the Council interview, At-Large Councilmember Christina Henderson discusses three key policy areas. First, we update our prior conversation on the opioid crisis in the District with the welcome news that opioid deaths are now on the decline. Second, we discuss how her Certified Nurse Aide Amendment Act, recently passed by the Council, would eliminate barriers to home health aide certification, expand eligibility for the role, and establish a new minimum wage for these crucial workers. And third, we talk about the STEER Act, and how its recently enacted provisions will help get dangerous drivers off the streets. Plus, which TV shows she turns to when seeking a momentary escape from Council business.

In our latest Hearing the Council interview, Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker takes a deep dive into development on Rhode Island Avenue. We discuss how a now-funded economic development study of the crucial corridor will build upon the avenue's existing strengths and help it better meet its current untapped potential, all while respecting and protecting the longtime residents and businesses who call the corridor home. We also talk about other Ward 5 wins in the most recent budget cycle., plus which positive traits from Councilmembers past and present he would draw from to create the perfect composite colleague.