After years of debate, the Virginia General Assembly finally gave the green light to controversial legislation allowing developers to build a casino in Tysons. Some local officials are vehemently against the proposal, including Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chair Jeff McKay. He got behind the mic to explain his opposition and what could happen next.

The Maryland General Assembly this week hit its midpoint, known as "Crossover Day," when bills must move to the other chamber or be shelved. Lawmakers are considering bills to lower utility costs, expand Medicaid to include obesity treatment, and ban cell phones in schools. House Majority Whip and Prince George's County delegate Ashanti Martinez joined us from Annapolis to explain what's next on the docket for lawmakers. Plus, we ask about the House's late push to revive redistricting efforts against Senate President Bill Ferguson's wishes.

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This week marked a key milestone in the 2026 D.C. election season: The deadline for candidates to submit signatures to qualify for the June primary ballot. WAMU's Senior D.C. Politics reporter Alex Koma gave us the latest on the city's big elections, including the first open seats in years for mayor and D.C. delegate. Plus, we discussed another attempt by Congress to undermine D.C.'s ability to self-govern.

This week, the U.S. House Oversight Committee advanced a proposal to ban D.C. traffic cameras. While the measure still needs to be passed by the full House and Senate, Koma said eliminating traffic would be “catastrophic” for the city’s budget and would require a complete rethinking of how D.C. controls traffic. “The impact can’t be overstated," he said.

The Virginia General Assembly gaveled out of its 2026 session without a budget deal, leaving a plan to eliminate data center tax breaks in limbo. Virginia state Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell got behind the mic to explain the hang-up.

The state senate is pushing to eliminate a data center tax exemption that costs the state nearly $2 billion in revenue. But the House left the exemption in, arguing the industry brings in significant tax revenue, putting the chambers at odds. Surovell said the state needs the money but cited the importance of data centers to Northern Virginia’s economy.

"They have a massive impact on the electrical grid, but they also create many jobs. They create a lot of investment. They create this local tax revenue. We have to figure out the right balance to achieve," he said.

The General Assembly will aim to resolve the issue in a special budget session on April 23.

The General Assembly also passed a slew of legislation that now heads to the governor's desk, including bills addressing affordability, a ban on assault-style firearms, and a mechanism to establish a legal marijuana marketplace. Virginia state Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell discussed it all, as well as his push for a Fairfax County casino.

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We took the Politics Hour on the road this week, broadcasting our Montgomery County Executive forum, featuring Democratic primary candidates, from the Silver Spring Civic Building.

Kojo and WAMU Maryland reporter Jenny Abamu were joined by Andrew Friedson, Evan Glass, and Will Jawando, all Montgomery County councilmembers. We asked them for their takes on a range of topics, including housing, federal immigration enforcement, and data centers, as the candidates made their cases to voters ahead of the Democratic primary on June 23.

Sorting political fact from fiction, and having fun while we’re at it. Join us for our weekly review of the politics, policies, and personalities of the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland, live from the Silver Spring Civic Building in Montgomery County!

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