Episodios

  • Phil Mendelson Talks Budget, and the Tricky CFO Relationship

    Phil Mendelson Talks Budget, and the Tricky CFO Relationship
    Mar 23 2026
    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.
    Más Menos
    36 m
  • Getting to Know Doni Crawford

    Getting to Know Doni Crawford
    Mar 11 2026
    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.
    Más Menos
    39 m
  • Brianne Nadeau Talks Potential Human Rights Violations During Federal Surge

    Brianne Nadeau Talks Potential Human Rights Violations During Federal Surge
    Nov 17 2025
    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.
    Más Menos
    33 m
  • Getting to Know Wendell Felder

    Getting to Know Wendell Felder
    Nov 14 2025
    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.
    Más Menos
    36 m
  • Janeese Lewis George Talks About Her Local News Funding Act

    Janeese Lewis George Talks About Her Local News Funding Act
    Oct 16 2025
    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.
    Más Menos
    32 m
  • Matthew Frumin Talks Budget---The Standoff with the Hill, Plus Mayor/Council/CFO Dynamics

    Matthew Frumin Talks Budget---The Standoff with the Hill, Plus Mayor/Council/CFO Dynamics
    Jun 22 2025
    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."
    Más Menos
    35 m
  • Zachary Parker Talks Budget Standoff, Committee Chairmanship, and Youth Rehabilitation

    Zachary Parker Talks Budget Standoff, Committee Chairmanship, and Youth Rehabilitation
    Apr 2 2025
    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.
    Más Menos
    29 m
  • Matthew Frumin Talks DC Fighting Back, Becoming a Committee Chair, and the Challenge of Homelessness

    Matthew Frumin Talks DC Fighting Back, Becoming a Committee Chair, and the Challenge of Homelessness
    Mar 27 2025
    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.
    Más Menos
    43 m