The city's chances at statehood have improved in 2021, but there’s still one big obstacle: the filibuster.This is a special bonus episode of 51st, from WAMU's What's With Washington. To support the show, visit wamu.org/supportwhatswith.
Join Mikaela for another night of virtual trivia on November 19th! Test your knowledge of the Washington region along with special guest Rachel Kurzius of DCist. You’ll also get a chance to win a pair of What’s With Washington argyle socks.The trivia event is on Thursday, Nov. 19 from 7:30-8:30 p.m. ET. It’s free and... more
What does Washington, D.C.'s future hold? We take a trip to 2030 to find out. Plus, Kojo Nnamdi and Tom Sherwood explore why D.C. statehood is so personal for local journalists like them. This is the sixth and final episode of 51st, from WAMU's What's With Washington. To support the show, visit wamu.org/supportwhatswit... more
D.C.'s status as a district has drastically altered the lives of some residents, including people convicted of felonies and medical marijuana patients. Formerly incarcerated Washingtonian Jameon Gray and marijuana legalization advocate Adam Eidinger share their stories, and D.C.'s attorney general offers up solutions. ... more
Should D.C. become its own state, combine with Maryland or stay the way it is? Most local activists say 51st statehood is the only way to go, but opponents believe it violates the U.S. Constitution — among other issues. Who’s right here? This is the fourth episode of 51st, from WAMU’s What’s With Washington.To suppor... more
The civil rights movement is reshaping D.C.'s push for representation and local control. Will local leaders like Walter Fauntroy and Marion Barry be able to get the city on solid ground? This is the third episode of 51st, from WAMU's What's With Washington.To support the show, visit wamu.org/supportwhatswith.
A Philadelphia mutiny. A secret dinner meeting with three Founding Fathers. A controversial political boss's citywide reorganization plan. To understand Washingtonians' voting rights today, we dive into the city's past. This is the second episode of 51st, from WAMU's What's With Washington.
Three major events in 2020 bring D.C.'s lack of representation into the spotlight: the coronavirus pandemic, protests near the White House against police brutality, and a historic statehood vote in Congress. This is the first episode of 51st, from WAMU's What's With Washington.
51st is a series about Washingtonians’ fight for representation. D.C.'s 700,000 residents don't get to elect a voting representative to Congress, and the federal government can block their laws. 51st will trace how racism, party politics, and even an attempted mutiny in Pennsylvania have stood in the way of the city’s ... more
Join Mikaela for another night of What’s With Washington Virtual Trivia on October 1st! Test your knowledge of the Washington region’s history, geography, culture and ...hint hint... D.C.’s push for statehood during this live Zoom event. You’ll also get a chance to win a pair of What’s With Washington socks.The event... more
Calling all D.C. trivia nerds! We had so much fun at our first virtual trivia event in May so we're doing it again!Join Mikaela Lefrak on Thursday, July 23, from 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. for live, local trivia. Test your knowledge of D.C. area history, geography and culture in this free, community-building event that’s open ... more
Calling all D.C. trivia nerds! It’s time to test your knowledge and face off in WAMU’s first-ever virtual trivia event!Join Mikaela Lefrak on Thursday, May 14 from 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. for live, D.C.-themed trivia. Test your knowledge of D.C. history, sports, culture and quirks in this free, community-building event that... more
To see the latest coronavirus coverage, visit WAMU.org and DCist.com. We're updating our stories around the clock. We've also created a Facebook group. To join, search for "D.C. Area Coronavirus Updates" on Facebook.The reporters behind What's With Washington have been hustling to cover COVID-19 in every way they can... more
The former Iranian Embassy and ambassador's residence on D.C.'s Embassy Row have been boarded up for decades. But recently, a listener noticed construction outside one of them, and asked us to investigate. The story of the mansions involves wild '70s parties, the Iranian Revolution, and a landlord you wouldn't expect: ... more
A few weeks ago, What’s With Washington went on the road (to NPR’s D.C. headquarters, that is) for our first ever live event. We talked about what makes a good What’s With Washington question! There was a muralist! And there was a Washington-region trivia quiz! Host Mikaela Lefrak grilled WAMU and DCist reporters on th... more
You've seen the terrible drivers and empty store shelves. But is there a deeper reason why Washingtonians can't handle the snow? Or are we just wimps about winter weather? WAMU editor and Midwesterner Letese' Clark joins Mikaela to figure out the basis for our snow panic. Then Mikaela finds some real winter joy with ph... more
What’s with the height limit on D.C. buildings? And if there were no limit, would the city be more affordable? Mikaela Lefrak gets a view from the top…of the Washington National Cathedral! Then, WAMU's chief zoning nerd Martin Austermuhle shares the history of this complicated rule and how it impacts affordable housing... more
Stymied by dating in the District, a listener wonders if her chances will improve when Amazon brings new jobs -- and perhaps an influx of dating prospects -- to the DMV. Business and Development reporter Ally Schweitzer speculates about whether the gender ratio will change and Mikaela phones a friend in Seattle to unde... more
Not everyone in D.C. is a white collar square, but nonetheless, ill-fitting navy suits and Ann Taylor Loft dresses are what come to mind when you imagine a “D.C. uniform.” Where does this stereotype come from, and is it even true? Mikaela Lefrak and 1A producer Jonquilyn Hill hit the streets to check out local fashion ... more
What does it mean to "buy seasonal" in the D.C. area? A listener seeks a guide to the region's local produce, and to answer, reporter Esther Ciammachilli takes us on a tour of the region’s agricultural economy, from a Virginia farm to a D.C. restaurant that uses only ingredients they can buy directly from farmers.If ... more
As far as neighborhoods go, Georgetown has a bad rap...for public transit. The usual refrain? Georgetown residents didn't want a Metro station because they thought it would introduce crime to their community. Transportation reporter Jordan Pascale takes several field trips and joins Mikaela to explain the REAL reasons ... more
A listener asks whether D.C. has any "iconic" foods -- since Maryland's got the blue crab and Virginia has ham. Dish City hosts Ruth Tam and Patrick Fort join Mikaela to deconstruct the idea that our city has no iconic foods. Then, the group shares some crabs and learns why the ham is so important to the state of Virgi... more
As a musical genre, go-go is hard to capture with words. But walking through D.C., its beats are instantly recognizable. Mikaela and All Things Considered Host Jonathan Wilson dig into go-go's history and legacy, and DCist Senior Editor Rachel Kurzius talks about recent efforts to suppress go-go and the resounding "nop... more
Despite its name, this once-popular dessert doesn't include a single vegetable. It does, however, share its name with one of D.C.'s most famous buildings. In this mini episode, Mikaela and editor Gabe Bullard dive into the retro delicacy's history and explore how it got its distinctive name. There's also a taste test (... more
Daycare is so expensive some parents are postponing their plans to have kids. Elly Yu and Martin Austermuhle join Mikaela to demystify the hidden costs of childcare in the DMV.To submit a question, visit wamu.org/whatswith.The What’s With Washington podcast is made possible by our listeners. To support the show, vi... more