Browsing by Author "Dasgupta, Sunil"

Now showing 1 - 20 of 146
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    The Absolute Disaster of Retail Energy Choice
    (I Hate Politics Podcasts, 2023-06-16) Dasgupta, Sunil; Peltier, Laurel
    The two promises of utility deregulation in Maryland and several other states–lower prices and green energy–have not come to fruition. How energy trading firms can exploit competitive advantage to lower prices is hard to see and they have used Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), not necessarily new generation, to claim they are selling green energy. Instead, energy trading firms have been accused of deceptive marketing and overcharging customers especially low-income and minority households. Sunil Dasgupta talks with Baltimore-based energy activist Laurel Peltier to find out how things went this wrong. Music from Arlington-based roots music singer-songwriter Valeria Stewart and her band Crooked Sparrow: youtube.com/@valeriastewartmusic. Peltier’s Help Desk: https://t.ly/6QtrL MD Public Service Commission complaint link: https://t.ly/c_da
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    All Local Music Yule Log
    (I Hate Politics Podcast, 2021-12-24) Dasgupta, Sunil
    Christmas Special with all local music from the Washington DC region: In order of appearance, Kara Levchenko, Sic ‘Em Buster, Bad Robot Jones, Doogie Whittaker, Two Truths, Soul Witness, Premila Mistry and Laura Guli, Emily Hall, Seth Kibel, Damon Foreman, King Soul, The Treading Lemmings, and The Airport 77s, Arlington Presbyterian Church Choir and Abby Madden.
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    The American Dream
    (I Hate Politics Podcast, 2021-11-12) Dasgupta, Sunil; English, Mike
    This week we bring you a special voice-acted episode with unfiltered words and arguments from the frontlines of the zoning wars. These are real excerpts from thousands of social media posts across several platforms including Nextdoor, Facebook, Twitter, and neighborhood listservs. The language is not always appropriate for young children. Guest produced by Mike English. Voice actors: Adam Bobrow, Biz Duval, Mike English, Elana Mintz, Eric Saul, and Lisa Winston.
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    Anthony Brown and Katie O’Malley for MD Attorney General IHP Candidate Interview
    (I Hate Politics Podcast, 2022-04-08) Dasgupta, Sunil; Brown, Anthony; O’Malley, Katie Curran
    The Maryland Attorney General’s race in 2022 features two heavyweights on the Democratic side. Sunil Dasgupta talks with Congressman Anthony Brown, who served as lieutenant governor before and ran to be governor; and with Judge Katie Curran O’Malley, former first lady of the state and longtime circuit court judge in Baltimore. They talk about public safety, civil rights, and rethinking the office. Music for this episode comes from DC-based singer-songwriter Emily Hall.
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    Are School Ratings Meaningful?
    (I Hate Politics Podcast, 2022-12-02) Dasgupta, Sunil; Wattenberg, Ruth
    With Washington DC’s education leadership working to revise the city government’s School Report Card, Sunil Dasgupta talks with DC Board of Education member Ruth Wattenberg who has been fighting a long battle against test score-driven school evaluations. As the conversation dug deeper, Wattenberg opened up about charter schools, private foundation money, and mayoral control of DC’s public schools. Music from Silver Spring’s own power pop band, The Airport 77s. Local area nonprofits tell their stories and pitch for your support: Miriam’s Kitchen UpCounty Prevention Network Last week’s community organizations Woman to Woman Mentoring The Civic Circle Linus Project Montgomery County Chapter Action Committee for Transit Urban Adventure Squad The Senior Connection of Montgomery County
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    Baba Cissé and Arvin Kim for SMOB IHP Candidate Interview
    (I Hate Politics Podcast, 2022-03-31) Dasgupta, Sunil; Cissé, Baba; Kim, Arvin
    Sunil Dasgupta speaks with Albert Einstein High School junior Baba Cissé and Walt Whitman High School junior Arvin Kim, the two finalists for the Student Member of the Montgomery County Board of Education in 2022. The SMOB is one of the eight members of the county school board, nearly co-equal with other generally elected members of the Board, but voted for only by secondary school students in the county. Music for this episode comes from DC-based singer-songwriter Emily Hall.
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    Brandy Brooks for Montgomery County Council At-Large IHP Candidate Interview
    (I Hate Politics Podcast, 2021-08-06) Dasgupta, Sunil; Brooks, Brandy
    I Hate Politics Candidate Interview with organizer and activist Brandy Brooks, who is running at-large for Montgomery County, MD, County Council. Brooks talks with Sunil Dasgupta about participatory policymaking, emphasizing groups and individuals historically excluded from policymaking and power-sharing. Music for this episode comes from Kara Levchenko, an Arlington singer-songwriter, who is the choir director in Centerville High School in Fairfax County Virginia.
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    Bringing the Band Back Together
    (I Hate Politics Podcast, 2023-01-13) Dasgupta, Sunil; Finster
    Twenty-five years after releasing their first album, Finster, a band originally formed in 1990s in State College, PA, release their second album, Crosswinds, on this episode. Listen to their music, how they came back together during the pandemic, and about the tough economics of local music. Kate Johnson on vocals and guitar, Doogie Whittaker on guitars, Howard Rabach on bass, and Matt Zelenz on drums. Streaming at https://finster96.bandcamp.com/ and your favorite music platform. Local news on bike lanes and Washington DC’s plan to bring back residents after the pandemic.
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    Brooke Lierman for Maryland Comptroller IHP Candidate Interview
    (I Hate Politics Podcast, 2021-09-03) Dasgupta, Sunil; Lierman, Brooke
    I Hate Politics Candidate Interview with Brooke Lierman for Maryland Comptroller. Lierman, who presents District 46 (Baltimore City) in Maryland General Assembly, talks to Sunil Dasgupta about her expansive view of the job of the state comptroller. Music for this episode comes from Kara Levchenko, an Arlington singer-songwriter, who is the choir director in Centreville High School in Fairfax County Virginia.
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    Budgeting! Redistricting! Exciting!
    (I Hate Politics Podcast, 2021-05-07) Dasgupta, Sunil; Meyers, Roy; Stein, David
    Sunil Dasgupta talks with UMBC budget expert Roy Meyers as Maryland and its counties find their coffers surprisingly full from unexpectedly strong tax revenues and federal pandemic recovery funds. Montgomery Blair High School statistics teacher David Stein on lessons from his classroom for electoral redistricting, now waiting for census data to be released. DC singer-songwriter Emily Hall with new music.
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    Can Deep Pockets Revive Local Media?
    (I Hate Politics Podcasts, 2023-09-29) Dasgupta, Sunil; Copeland, Scott
    Two and a half years after he bought the Bethesda Magazine and Bethesda Beat, Rockville-based real-estate developer Scott Copeland speaks with Sunil Dasgupta about the media business, rebranding Bethesda Beat as MoCo360, his own political education, and the troubles with housing and public education in the county. Local news re Safe Streets Act, the ban on gas-powered leaf blowers, a possible new housing moratorium in Frederick County, and the growing prospect of a strike at Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic. Music from local Southern soul band, King Soul: kingsoulband.com. Safe Streets Act: https://t.ly/pZeL5. Gas leaf blower ban: https://t.ly/Y9sXO.
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    Can Government Become Business-Friendly?
    (I Hate Politics Podcast, 2022-07-15) Dasgupta, Sunil; Verrati, Julie
    Montgomery County, Md, has long had a reputation for being tough for business and compared unfavorably with Northern Virginia. In this episode, Sunil Dasgupta talks with Julie Verrati, co-founder of Denizens Brewing Company in Silver Spring, about the business climate in the county and neighboring jurisdictions. Verrati also served in the federal Small Business Administration during the Biden presidency and, in the episode, announces her choice in the County Executive race. Music by Rockville-based rock and roll band, The Treading Lemmings.
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    Can Incremental Change Fix Road Safety?
    (I Hate Politics Podcast, 2023-07-14) Dasgupta, Sunil; Schoenbaum, Miriam
    Montgomery County is about to pass a Safe Streets Bill. Traffic deaths and collisions are up. Distracted driving is rampant. Everyone wants safer roads but the only way to get there, it seems, is through small steps taken in the face of institutional and cultural barriers. Sunil Dasgupta talks with pedestrian and bike safety activist Miriam Schoenbaum about the bill and its implications. Local news re DC’s tough crime bill expanding pretrial detention for adults and juveniles. Music from the band Finster.
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    Can Maryland Reduce Gun Violence?
    (I HATE POLITICS PODCAST, 2023-02-17) Dasgupta, Sunil
    With the Maryland General Assembly weighing several new gun-related bills, Sunil Dasgupta talks with State Senator Jeff Waldstreicher, vice-chair of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, about how Maryland can beat back the Bruen case, respond to a right-wing Supreme Court, and reduce gun violence. Local news on cannabis infrastructure. Music for this episode comes from Baltimore-based electronic music composer Shanika Freeman: neekofreeman.bandcamp.com Maryland state legislation search: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Search/Legislation. State Cannabis Workgroup materials: https://bit.ly/3I6J2Lj. #gunsense #momsdemandaction #guncontrolnow
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    Can Outdoor Learning Save Education?
    (I Hate Politics Podcast, 2021-05-28) Dasgupta, Sunil; Mintz, Elana; Allen, Carol
    In time for Memorial Day 2021, Sunil Dasgupta talks with Elana Mintz, founder and executive director of Washington DC nonprofit Urban Adventure Squad, about learning outdoors safely, equitably, and inexpensively. Insect and plant expert Carol Allen of Washington Gardener Magazine on variations in cicada densities. Music from Washington DC area band, Bad Robot Jones. Very local news and more.
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    Car Culture and Bike Lanes
    (I Hate Politics Podcast, 2023-02-24) Dasgupta, Sunil; Friedson, Andrew; Chasen, Laura
    After the Maryland State Highway Administration took away two driving lanes to install new bike lanes following the deaths of two teenaged bicyclists on Old Georgetown Road, communities along the street have been up in arms. Sunil Dasgupta talks with Montgomery County Council Member Andrew Friedson and local resident Laura Chasen about rebalancing road safety and driving efficiency. Local news: apartment fire, bus shooting, and the Proud Boys hit Silver Spring. Music for this episode comes from Baltimore-based electronic music composer Shanika Freeman: neekofreeman.bandcamp.com. State Highway Analysis: https://bit.ly/3YXbdDE WABA petition: https://bit.ly/3IqOR6L #bikelanes #pedestriansafety #roaddiet #sharetheroad
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    The Case Against Localism
    (I Hate Politics Podcast, 2023-06-30) Dasgupta, Sunil; Latimer, Trevor
    This year’s Fourth of July episode explores the ideology of localism, a foundational tenet of American political philosophy. Sunil Dasgupta talks with political theorist and author Trevor Latimer about his new book. Small Isn’t Beautiful, where he takes on the widespread presumption that the government closest to us is necessarily the best. Local news re LGBTQ+ book protests, Maryland opens to marijuana, and the Anacostia River opens to swimming after a half-century. Music from the band Finster. Their 2023 album, Crosswinds, now on vinyl: https://t.ly/-bAF. Latimer’s book: https://t.ly/YRjS. MD marijuana FAQ: ​​https://t.ly/-CI6. Anacostia swim event: https://t.ly/KBDf.
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    The Case for Ending Judicial Review
    (I Hate Politics Podcast, 2022-07-01) Dasgupta, Sunil; Statland, Julie; Stewart, Vaughn; Nolan, Andrew
    As the country deals with the upending of the landmark abortion rights case, Roe v Wade, Sunil Dasgupta talks with Julie Statland of Riveting Women about the importance of having more women in local and state political positions and to Maryland Delegate Vaughn Stewart and UMBC History Professor Andrew Nolan about a moment in time when protections against the tyranny of the majority, including the venerated judicial review, look like anti-democratic measures that need to be jettisoned if the American experiment is to survive. Music by Rockville-based rock and roll band, The Treading Lemmings.
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    The Case of the Missing MoU
    (I Hate Politics Podcast, 2021-10-01) Dasgupta, Sunil; Dublisnke, Heather
    For 18 months since the start of the pandemic, Heather Dublisnke has been the COVID-19 coordinator for Montgomery County Public Schools. Sunil Dasgupta talks with Dublinske about her role and the challenges and the frustrations of working in a large school system. Very local news about zoning wars and staff shortage in schools. Music from Two Truths, an electronic Americana band from Rochester, NY, with DMV roots.
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    Choosing Your Advocacy Style
    (I Hate Politics Podcast, 2021-02-19) Dasgupta, Sunil; Schoenbaum, Miriam; Adelson, Bruce
    In this episode, Sunil Dasgupta explores two contrasting styles of local government advocacy with pedestrian safety activist Miriam Schoenbaum and former Winston Churchill High School President Bruce Adelson.