PODCAST · news
Hearing the Council
by Council of the District of Columbia
We’re the District’s legislature, responsible for crafting laws. On Twitter, our goal is to engage with residents in an informative and conversational way.If you think you already know all about our councilmembers, or the topics they tackle, then you clearly haven’t listened to our “Hearing the Council” radio show and podcast. Even Wilson Building staffers and journalists get whole new insight into councilmembers from our “getting to know you” episodes, and our deep dives on policy topics give members 30+ minutes to discuss and face questions on a single topic of interest to them. A must-listen for reporters, advocates, and political junkies.
Episodes
-
Charles Allen Talks Event Ticket Resale Regulation and the Future of Transportation at RFK Stadium
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…
more -
Brianne Nadeau Talks Bottle Bill Ballyhoo, Housing Production, and the Comp Plan
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…
more -
Phil Mendelson Talks Budget, and the Tricky CFO Relationship
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...
-
Getting to Know Doni Crawford
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…
more -
Brianne Nadeau Talks Potential Human Rights Violations During Federal Surge
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...
-
Getting to Know Wendell Felder
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…
more -
Janeese Lewis George Talks About Her Local News Funding Act
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…
more -
Matthew Frumin Talks Budget---The Standoff with the Hill, Plus Mayor/Council/CFO Dynamics
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...
-
Zachary Parker Talks Budget Standoff, Committee Chairmanship, and Youth Rehabilitation
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....
-
Matthew Frumin Talks DC Fighting Back, Becoming a Committee Chair, and the Challenge of Homelessness
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...
-
Robert White Discusses 2025 Priorities, Housing, Vocational Education & What Can Bring Us Together
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…
more -
Brianne Nadeau Talks About Her Bottle Deposit Bill and Her Neighborhood Management Entities Bill
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...
-
Charles Allen Talks Strengthening Traffic Enforcement, Education, and Responsibility
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…
more -
Christina Henderson Talks Home Health Aides, the STEER Act, and Decreased Opioid Deaths
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...
-
Zachary Parker Talks Rhode Island Avenue Development and Budget Wins
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...
-
Brianne Nadeau Talks 17th and U Street Redevelopment
In our latest #HearingTheCouncil interview, Ward One Councilmember Brianne Nadeau talks about the much-discussed redevelopment at the 17th/U intersection. A compromise rezoning--less than what was initially proposed, but more than critics hoped for--recently received its first approval. We talk...
-
Phil Mendelson Talks Budget Battles Behind the Scenes
In a July 1 interview, Council Chairman Phil Mendelson talks about this year's quirky budget process: the mayor's blown budget deadline, the stumbling block created by the Chief Financial Officer but ultimately resolved by the Council, and how even the Attorney General got involved this time...
-
Matthew Frumin Talks Out-of-School Time and How to Budget for Schools
In his latest Hearing the Council video interview, Ward 3 Councilmember Matthew Frumin emphasizes the importance of out-of-school time to District youth. He discusses the legislation he introduced on the topic, its prognosis, and how even just the increased attention he has brought to the topic…
more -
Robert White Talks Public Safety via Vocational Education, Youth Mentorship, and Truancy Reduction
In his latest Hearing the Council video interview, At-Large Councilmember Robert White discusses three youth crime prevention bills he recently introduced: his Vocational Education for a New Generation Act, his Youth Mentorship through Community Engagement Act, and his Truancy Reduction for…
more -
Zachary Parker Talks “Water is Life,” Youth Fair Wages, and Environmental Justice
In his latest Hearing the Council video interview, Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker discusses three bills he introduced. His “Water is Life” bill would prevent residential water service shutoffs for nonpayment and facilitate access by tenants to programs meant to help avoiding such shutoffs.…
more -
Charles Allen Talks Healthy Homes and Electric Vehicles
In his latest Hearing the Council video interview, Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen discusses three critical environmental measures his committee has recently tackled: Healthy Homes, e-bike incentives, and electric vehicles. In each case, he discusses how he brought an equity lens to broaden...
-
Christina Henderson Talks Opioids as a Public Health Crisis, Giving SNAP a Raise & Free School Lunch
In her latest Hearing the Council video interview, At-Large Councilmember Christina Henderson talked about three policy areas close to her heart. First, we discussed her "Sense of the Council" bill encouraging the Mayor to declare the opioid crisis in the District (and its resultant 400 deaths a...
-
Matthew Frumin Talks Ward Three for All
In his sophomore Hearing the Council interview, Ward 3 Councilmember Matthew Frumin discusses his signature "Ward 3 for All" initiative. Ward Three has a reputation as a land of plenty, but Councilmember Frumin discusses how he plans to make it more welcoming to all the District's residents. From...
-
Anita Bonds Talks Return to Office and Work from Home
In her latest "Hearing the Council" interview, At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds discusses the essential role the return-to-office movement plays in reinvigorating the District's downtown and to keeping our local budget balanced. In advance of a committee hearing on the topic, we discuss the…
more -
Charles Allen Talks DC's Many Mobility Options, Plus the Fight for Vision Zero
In his latest Hearing the Council interview, Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen discusses two complementary topics: the rich canvas of mobility options available to District residents, and the fight to avoid fatalities among the participants in this system (Vision Zero). From walking to the bus,...
-
Zachary Parker Talks Tax Credits for Kids/Families, School Safety, & Firearm Industry Controls
In his latest Hearing the Council interview, Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker talks about the return of Ward 5 Day, plus the status and prognosis of four bills he introduced: the District Child Tax Credit Act, Financial Support for Families with Children Act, School Safety Enhancement Act, and...
-
Brianne Nadeau Talks Investigating Sexual Harassment, Boosting Public Safety
In her latest Hearing the Council interview, Ward One Councilmember Brianne Nadeau tackles two topics that are fresh from recent headlines: the investigation of sexual harassment in the executive branch, and public safety in the District. She discusses Council legislation to ensure not just that...
-
Phil Mendelson Talks Budget
In the latest Hearing the Council video interview (from April 21), Chairman Phil Mendelson takes a deep dive into the current year's budget. From the "Incomplete" grade possibly earned by some parts of the Mayor's budget submission this year to the complicated triangular relationship between the...
-
Brianne Nadeau Talks Public Works/Operations Committee Priorities, Parking Enforcement, and Vending
In her record tenth Hearing the Council interview, Ward One Councilmember Brianne Nadeau talks about the priorities and expansive jurisdiction of her new Committee on Public Works and Operations (which includes contracting, human rights, half of the prior Department of Consumer and Regulatory...
-
Robert White Talks Housing Committee Priorities
In this Hearing the Council interview, we sat down with At-Large Councilmember Robert White to discuss his new committee chairmanship, with the Committee on Housing. For the first time in several years, both housing and homelessness are under the jurisdiction of the same committee, so we discuss...
-
Christina Henderson Talks Out-of-School Time
In this latest Hearing the Council interview, we sat down with At-Large Councilmember Christina Henderson to discuss the critical topic of out-of-school time (OST) for our youth. We covered the topic of extended recreation center hours, the new summer camp signup lottery (goodbye,...
-
Charles Allen Talks Transportation and the Environment
In this Hearing the Council interview, we discuss Transportation and the Environment with Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen. On January 2 of this year, Councilmember Allen took the helm of the Council's Committee on Transportation and the Environment. We chat about his legislative priorities for...
-
Getting to Know Zachary Parker
In this episode of Hearing the Council, we get to know Ward 5's Zachary Parker. We appreciate him taking time out of his first three weeks in office to sit for an interview! We: - Learned how his brothers' economic and health struggles inform his perspective on policy - Discussed just how often...
-
Getting to Know Matthew Frumin
In this Hearing the Council episode, we get to know Ward 3's Matthew Frumin. Councilmember sat for his first interview just eight days after being sworn into office--a Hearing the Council record! We discuss: - How he dodged COVID through an entire campaign, but how it caught up with him at the…
more -
Janeese Lewis George Talks Green New Deal for Housing
In this Hearing the Council interview, we discuss Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George's proposed Green New Deal for Housing legislation--how social housing differs from public housing, what would make this new housing green, and the prognosis for the bill in Council Period 25 (2023-2024).…
more -
Brianne Nadeau Talks Migrant Services, Abortion Rights, and DC Statehood
In this Hearing the Council interview, we discuss the importance of providing compassionate services to recently-arrived asylum seekers, DC's protection of abortion rights, new Council legislative efforts on both fronts, and how our lack of statehood imperils each.
-
Robert White Talks About the Benefits and Challenges of Balancing Physical and Mental Health in DC
In this Hearing the Council interview, we discuss with At-Large Councilmember Robert White the importance of maintaining good physical and mental health. We talk about the ever-increasing public recognition of prioritizing mental health care, including the nationwide rollout of the 988 mental...
-
Christina Henderson Talks Abortion Rights and Early Childhood Education
In this Hearing the Council interview, we talk with At-Large Councilmember Christina Henderson about the impact that the elimination of national abortion rights (via the overturning of Roe v. Wade) will have here in the District, today and in the future. We also discuss the recent viral tweet...
-
Brooke Pinto Talks Free Access to Period Products, Downtown Economic Revival
In this Hearing the Council interview with Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto, we discuss two key legislative topics she's working to address via legislation. The first is making period products available in all schools (current law) and, in the future (pending bill), all government buildings. The...
-
Elissa Silverman Talks Census Redistricting, Acting Classes, and Ted Lasso
In this Hearing the Council interview with At-Large Councilmember Elissa Silverman, we take a deep dive into Census redistricting. While often seen as a political albatross, Councilmember Silverman clearly views it as a labor of love as well. We also discover that since COVID began, she has taken…
more -
Christina Henderson Talks Ranked-Choice Voting, Student Vaccine Mandates, and...Fighting Barbarians?
In this Hearing the Council interview with At-Large Councilmember Christina Henderson, we take a deep dive into her proposed ranked-choice voting legislation. We drill down into how such a system has worked elsewhere, how it could work here in the District, and prospects for the legislation…
more -
Robert White Talks COVID, Schools, Virtual Learning, and Child Vaccination
In this Hearing the Council interview with At-Large Councilmember Robert White, we follow up on his recent marathon hearing on COVID and facilities during Back to School season. We talk about why outdoor lunch is lagging, the gap between a work order being marked as complete and actually being...
-
Brianne Nadeau Talks COVID and Back-to-School
In this Hearing the Council interview with Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne Nadeau, we discuss the successes, struggles, mysteries, and disappointments of how COVID has impacted the 2021 Back-to-School season.
-
Robert White Talks Affordable Housing, and the Lighter Side of Council Service
In this Hearing the Council interview with At-Large Councilmember Robert White, we talk about serious matters (his newly-proposed affordable housing bill, the budget) and lighthearted (handling diaper blowouts, & the time a Zoom witness testified before him from an airport bathroom stall).…
more -
Vince Gray Talks Hospitals, Birth-to-Three, Food Deserts, and Cicadas
In this latest Hearing the Council video, Vincent Gray discusses his current budget and Health Committee priorities. We discuss the planned new hospital and urgent care centers East of the River, but also the status of the United Medical Center and the financial control board to be imposed there....
-
Brianne Nadeau Pays Tribute to Her Late Grandfather
When Councilmember Nadeau's grandfather passed away two days before our long-planned interview, she did not cancel (or allow us to). She did the opposite--she insisted we proceed, but asked at the last minute if she could talk a bit about her grandfather. In the end, we dedicated the whole...
-
Brianne Nadeau Pays Tribute to Her Late Grandfather
When Councilmember Nadeau's grandfather passed away two days before our long-planned interview, she did not cancel (or allow us to). She did the opposite--she insisted we proceed, but asked at the last minute if she could talk a bit about her grandfather. In the end, we dedicated the whole...
-
Getting to Know Janeese Lewis George
In our interview with Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George, we talk about the family debate about how to pronounce her first name, how her grandmother got her started loving vintage clothing, and whether being a "progressive prosecutor" is a contradiction in terms. Plus, as always in our...
-
Getting to Know Christina Henderson
Our first interview with each Councilmember always takes a biographical, getting-to-know-you approach, so that residents have insight into who their Councilmembers are and what makes them tick. In our conversation with At-Large Councilmember Christina Henderson, we hear about her growing up as an...
-
Elissa Silverman, Live Home Edition
Check out our latest #HearingTheCouncil interview with Councilmember Elissa Silverman! We discuss at length her work assisting District residents with Unemployment Insurance since COVID began, including training and serving as a Department of Employment Services call center volunteer staffer. We...
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
We’re the District’s legislature, responsible for crafting laws. On Twitter, our goal is to engage with residents in an informative and conversational way.If you think you already know all about our councilmembers, or the topics they tackle, then you clearly haven’t listened to our “Hearing the Council” radio show and podcast. Even Wilson Building staffers and journalists get whole new insight into councilmembers from our “getting to know you” episodes, and our deep dives on policy topics give members 30+ minutes to discuss and face questions on a single topic of interest to them. A must-listen for reporters, advocates, and political junkies.
HOSTED BY
Council of the District of Columbia
CATEGORIES
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Hearing the Council have?
Hearing the Council currently has 104 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Hearing the Council about?
We’re the District’s legislature, responsible for crafting laws. On Twitter, our goal is to engage with residents in an informative and conversational way.If you think you already know all about our councilmembers, or the topics they tackle, then you clearly haven’t listened to our “Hearing the...
How often does Hearing the Council release new episodes?
Hearing the Council publishes regularly with 104 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Hearing the Council?
You can listen to Hearing the Council on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Hearing the Council?
Hearing the Council is created and hosted by Council of the District of Columbia.
URL copied to clipboard!