I Hate Politics Podcast
By Sunil Dasgupta
Categories: News, Politics, Government
Exploring a human activity we love to hate. A podcast about politics close to our home, schools, streets, businesses, and local government. Hosted by Sunil Dasgupta. More at ihppod.org.
421 episodes indexed on podsearch.
Recent episodes
- Would You Go to Prison for Your Beliefs? Tim Martin Did
Raleigh, NC, architect and climate activist Tim Martin recently returned to society after completing a yearlong sentence for defacing in 2023 the case of Degas' Little Dancer sculpture in the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC as an act of climate protest. Sunil Dasgupta talks with Martin…
- Data Center Lessons from Loudoun County, Va
Like most economic activity, data centers promise much and impose costs. Loudoun County, Va, is the Data Center capital of the world with 253 already running and more on the way. Why did Loudoun become Data Center Alley? What impacts have they had? How are they moving forward? What can others…
- Primary Day, Medicaid Work Requirements, Pepco Rate Increase Proposal, Invasive Plants
Primary Day in Maryland. The federal government has issued new rules for work requirements for Medicaid enrollees and thrown states in another tizzy. Maryland's Office of People's Counsel is asking the state's public service commission to reject all but $15 million out of Pepco's $120 million rate…
- What Do the Woes at Penn State Tell Us about the Future of Higher Education?
Penn State University announced the closure of seven satellite campuses even as it adds more capacity to its flagship campus at University Park in State College, PA. The university is now looking at closing programs. All of this led the Penn State faculty to vote 3-1 in favor of unionization…
- Prior Restraint for Student Newspapers, Data Center Pause, Replacement Ballot
Montgomery County, MD, pauses the processing of data centers permits for six months, Student journalists in MCPS protest a new rule that requires prior review of all school-sponsored publications. We have crowd-sourced data on MCPS schools affected by HVAC failures. And Delegate Kris Fair from…
- Homelessness and Hidden Spaces in Montgomery County, MD
Unlike in cities, suburban unhoused tend to hide in forgotten spaces in the folds of modern architecture, between transportation infrastructure and housing developments, in the no-man's land between state and county administrations, between private and public property. Glenn Fellman, the publisher…
- Early Voting Starts June 11, Student Mental Health Support Cut, RealPage Lawsuit
Voter information for the Maryland primary election on June 23. For polling place, early voting centers, and to register: https://voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/PollingPlaceSearch. Governor Moore finally decides lto endorse Councilmember Will Jawando for County Executive in Montgomery. We…
- What Your Third-Party Choice Looks Like
Maryland Primary Day is June 23. Only Democrats and Republicans can participate in the primary elections, leaving out the fastest growing group, independent voters. The state-funded and state-organized primary ballot leaves out third parties while officials are elected only by 20-25 percent of…
- Attack Ad in County Race, School Psychologists Cuts, UMD Admissions Debrief
Affordable Maryland PAC's ad attacking Will Jawando's record on education leads to push back. PAC Chair Jonathan Robinson joins us. The Montgomery County Board of Education is going to vote on a long list of position cuts this week and MCPS school psychologist Alli Jacobus and parent Rachel Singer…
- Grassroots Organizing in Montgomery County, Maryland
In the run-up to the Maryland primary on June 23, Sunil Dasgupta talks with Dee Clarkin, Executive Director of the progressive group Indivisible Montgomery, and Chris Pickett, the founder of the group who has just published a memoir on local organized called The People United…
- MD-VA Disparity in Immigration Enforcement, MCPS Budget Cut Impacts, Open Lunch at High Schools
Immigration court data reveals dramatically different treatment of enforcement cases in Maryland and Virginia. Montgomery County Council passed its 2027 operating budget and MCPS announced its proposed cuts at a Board of Education meeting. The school district wanted to end open lunch, which is the…
- Building a Rational Regulatory Regime for Data Centers
Despite offering tax incentives for data centers since 2020, Maryland has seen limited build out of the power and water guzzling industry, but now several hyperscale projects want to locate in the state as electricity rates rise and communities rise in opposition. Sunil Dasgupta speaks to Maryland…
- "Chicom" Slur, Ozempic Price Control, Emotional Straw Votes, Back STRIDE
Maryland GOP delegates Mark Fisher and Biran Chisholm call Chinese American and Democratic state delegate Chao Wu a Chinese spy. Maryland puts Ozempic under upper payment limits for state and local entities. Montgomery County Council took emotional straw votes last week on next year's capital and…
- Evan Glass for Montgomery County Executive: Candidate Interview
Maryland is holding primary elections on June 23, 2026. Mail-in ballots start going out May 9. In the state's largest jurisdiction, Montgomery, the overwhelming numbers of registered Democrats makes the primary more important than the general elections in determining who will take office but the…
- Progressive Income Taxes, Electricity Transmission Cost Allocation, Industrial Stormwater Permit
The County Council is trying to balance new progressive income tax brackets by removing the flat homestead tax credit of $692 that goes to county homeowners when they live in the house they own. Maryland People' Counsel David Lapp explains his complaint against the regional electricity grid…
- Will Jawando for Montgomery County Executive: Candidate Interview
Maryland is holding primary elections on June 23, 2026. Mail-in ballots start going out May 9. In the state's largest jurisdiction, Montgomery, the overwhelming numbers of registered Democrats makes the primary more important than the general elections in determining who will take office but the…
- Wootton Complaint to MSDE, MCPS Math Curriculum, AI Facial Recognition Gone Wrong
Wootton High School cluster parents Elisa and Pavel Sukhobok file a complaint with MSDE alleging wrongful decision moving Wootton High school from Rockville to Gaithersburg. Coming changes to Math education. Did you know about the case of the Oklahoma woman arrested on a Montgomery County warrant…
- Andrew Friedson for Montgomery County Executive: Candidate Interview
Maryland is holding primary elections on June 23, 2026. Mail-in ballots start going out May 9. In the state's largest jurisdiction, Montgomery, the overwhelming numbers of registered Democrats makes the primary more important than the general elections in determining who will take office. Among…
- How Long Before Maryland Regulates Internet Gaming and Prediction Markets?
The Maryland General Assembly did not move on gaming bills this year. This week Sunil Dasgupta talks with State Senator Jeff Waldstriecher about state-level regulation of gaming, internet gaming, and the thinking about hot hot prediction markets. Music by Silver Spring rock musician MYSTR Treefrog.
- Data Centers, Electricity Rates, Net Metering, and More in the Utility Relief Act of 2026
In a series debriefing the 2026 Maryland General Assembly session, Sunil Dasgupta talks with state Senator Brian Feldman, Chair of the Education, Energy, and Environment Committee about the omnibus energy bill to come of this year's legislative session. Music by Silver Spring rock musician MYSTR…
- MoCo Taxes, MCPS 2026-27 Calendar, Local ICE Arrest Data, Solar Net Metering
Montgomery County Council President Natali Fani-Gonzalez offers an alternative budget proposal to County Executive Marc Elrich. Montgomery County Public Schools propose to start the next school year five days earlier than usual. We have data on local ICE arrests. And Maryland Senator Brian Feldman…
- What Did the New Health Committee Do This Session?
We are breaking down key policy areas and legislation now that the 2026 Maryland General Assembly session has ended. First up, healthcare, which saw a new standalone committee this year. Sunil Dasgupta talks with the new Health Committee Chair Heather Bagnall from Anne Arundel County to chair the…
- 2026 MD General Assembly, AI pricing at grocery stores, MoCo Budget Breakdown
The 2026 session of the Maryland General Assembly ended yesterday. The Governor got 2 out of his 3 housing bills. The Special Elections bill rose and then fell again. A bill sought to address AI-led grocery store pricing. Delegate Pam Queen explains. In Montgomery County, the Council staff breaks…
- Double-header: Leul Dawit for MCPS SMOB 2026-27
Guest host Tula Dasgupta of Rockville High School interviews Northwood High School sophomore Leul Dawit, one of two finalists for the Student Member of the Montgomery County Board of Education for 2026-27. The SMOB is one of eight on the county school board, nearly co-equal with other generally…
- Double-header: Reemey Ghermay for MCPS SMOB 2026-27
Double-header: Reemey Ghermay for MCPS SMOB (2026-04-10) Guest host Tula Dasgupta of Rockville High School interviews Walter Johnson High School junior Reemey Ghermay, one of two finalists for the Student Member of the Montgomery County Board of Education for 2026-27. The SMOB is one of eight on…
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