On Thursday, D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson announced a revised deal with the Washington Commanders for a new stadium at RFK, which he says gives the city a better deal. Is the deal good enough for the council to approve it when they vote August 1? We dove into the details with Ward 5 D.C. Councilmember Zachary Parker.

The changes call for redirecting parking fees and sales tax revenue to the city. It also includes money for transportation improvements and to help nearby neighborhoods. It could amount to an additional $700 million in revenue for the District. But Parker said he’d like to see more benefits for the city in a final deal.

"Members still have issues and priorities that we are pressing on," he said. "Making sure that there is adequate language and accountability for transportation investments and environmental protections."

The council is set for a first vote on the stadium deal next Friday, with a final vote planned for September. Plus, we previewed with Parker the D.C. Council budget vote next week.

Metro recently overhauled its bus system for the first time in 50 years. The changes, including renaming all routes and eliminating hundreds of stops, have led to some rider confusion and frustration. Metro General Manager Randy Clarke explained why the changes were needed and how the revamp is meeting its goals, despite a few hiccups.

"From a community point of view, more people get better service, more reliable, more frequent service, and it was done through an equity lens specifically around low-income individuals and people trying to get them to places like jobs and the doctor and things of that nature," said Clarke.

Clarke said Metro is listening to rider feedback and will continue to make tweaks to the system. Additionally, he discussed how Metro plans to fund its future.

The D.C. Council advanced a budget this week with deep cuts to social services, no tax increases, and $500 million to help build a new football stadium at the RFK site. It also includes funding to implement ranked choice voting in the District next year. D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson got behind the mic to break down the budget negotiations.. Plus, Mendelson discussed why his tipped minimum wage proposal failed, why ranked choice voting succeeded, and we asked about the Ward 8 special election, and whether he and his council colleagues will expel Councilmember-elect Trayon White again now that he’s won his seat back.

WAMU’s new reporter covering Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, Jenny Abamu, got behind the mic to weigh in on what federal cuts and layoffs mean for Maryland residents. She also discussed how Maryland Governor Wes Moore is addressing a looming budget crisis as he prepares for a re-election campaign and illegal house parties in Montgomery County.

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The Trump administration recently announced a plan to keep the FBI headquarters in the District, reversing a decision made by the Biden administration in 2023 to move it to a new building in Prince George’s County. Maryland lawmakers are now considering next steps to fight the abrupt turnaround. U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey, who represents a large portion of Prince George’s County, joins the show to discuss. Plus, the U.S. Supreme Court this week cleared the way for the White House to move forward with slashing the federal workforce. We ask Rep. Ivey what is being done for locals who might be at risk of losing their jobs.

President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law late last week, which includes significant cuts to Medicaid coverage. In Virginia, one estimate suggests that 332,000 residents will lose their health insurance. Virginia Congressman Suhas Subramanyam, who represents a large portion of Loudoun County, gets behind the mic to discuss what he heard from his constituents at a recent townhall. We’ll also ask about immigration; Virginia has seen one of the sharpest spikes in ICE arrests in the country.

D.C.’s Ward 8 residents are heading to the polls for a special election to fill the seat on the D.C. Council. Despite federal bribery charges and expulsion by his colleagues, former councilmember Trayon White is the frontrunner for his old seat. WAMU’s Senior D.C. Politics reporter Alex Koma joins Kojo and Tom to break down the race. He’ll also share the latest updates on the D.C. Council budget, expected to be released early next week, and the debate over the RFK Stadium.

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