Today on Newstalk, Jennifer Donelan spoke with Politico Senior Editor David Mark about the latest on the debt debate. Jennifer was also joined by the Vice President of the Chevy Chase branch of Coldwell Banker, Darrin Friedman.  Mr. Friedman provided a look at what the debt crisis means for the Washington region's real estate market.

Also, Jennifer spoke with two leaders from the Washington Council of Government's child welfare services division about the need for foster parents. Agnes Leshner and Kamilah Bunn described how there are less children in the system but the children still there, have significant needs.

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Today on NewsTalk, Jennifer Donelan talked to Buddy Roogow of DC Lottery. Last week, DC activist Marie Drisell had some harsh words about the online gambling law in the district.

Next Mark Kowalewski from Discover Prince William & Manassas talked about the planning and organization of this past weekend's Civil War reenactment and the 150th Anniversary of the war. NewsChannel 8/ABC 7 reporter Mike Conneen joined the conversation and discussed attending and reporting on the event.

full video after the jump...

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Today on NewsTalk we looked at whether DC Councilman Harry “Tommy” Thomas, Jr. should resign following his settlement with the DC Attorney General. Thomas (D-Ward 5), who was accused of misusing government funds, has agreed to reimburse the city $300,000. That has led to calls for him to step down. Today we spoke with Washington Post reporter Tim Craig, Dorothy Brizill of DC Watch and Bob Kabel, head of the DC Republican Party.

Later in the hour, we spoke with John Ayala of the local chapter of the Guardian Angels. Then, Mark Ein, owner of the Washington Kastles, discussed his team’s win in this weekend’s World Team Tennis championships – the culmination of the first perfect season the league’s 36-year history.

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Today on NewsTalk, Rep. Gerry Connolly expressed disappointment with negotiations between the White House and Congress to end the crisis over the nation’s debt. While he accused House Speaker John Boehner and the Republican caucus of having hard-line views on new revenue, Connolly (D-Va.) said “everyone” is at fault for “playing politics” with the issue.

We also talked about the FAA furloughs and the extension of Metro to Dulles.

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Today on NewsTalk, Maryland Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown talked about the plan to build a new teaching hospital in central Prince George's. Although many details need to be worked out, the agreement represents a significant health-care breakthrough, as it follows years of inaction by county and state leaders.

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Today on NewsTalk, Del. Tony O’Donnell, the top Republican in the Maryland House, discussed the robo-calls case involving former aides to Bob Ehrlich, the tuition referendum, the legislature’s upcoming special session and more. O’Donnell said the Democrats who control the legislature are certain to discuss tax hikes when they meet this fall. He said now is not the time to be raising gas or other taxes on Maryland families.

James Zogby, head of the Arab American Institute, discussed a new poll showing that Arab attitudes toward the U.S. are in decline. Disappointment with President Obama, and a sense he hasn’t delivered on his promises, is driving the numbers, Dr. Zogby said.

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Today on NewsTalk, political analyst and former state Senator David Harrington discussed the trial of two men who worked on former Governor Bob Ehrlich’s re-election campaign. Julius Henson and Paul Schurick are accused of suppressing the African-American vote last fall by orchestrating robo-calls to Prince George’s County and Baltimore households, allegations Harrington called “really horrible.” We also discussed the possibility that ballot questions will become more commonplace in Maryland. Until now they’ve been rare – occurring once or twice every 20 years – but a group that recently gathered signatures for a controversial tuition law may have ushered in a new era though their use of the Internet. 

Video of Thursday's show after the jump...

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Odd man out. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Cwallen)

Today on NewsTalk, DC Councilman Tommy Wells criticized the decision by Chairman Kwame Brown to remove him from his post atop the panel’s Public Works and Transportation, and the Metro board, though he pledged to continue his push to make the District a more “livable, walkable” city. He said if his Brown’s changes were intended to punish him for his report on the Chairman’s pursuit of a “fully-loaded”, taxpayer-funded SUV – and/or his leadership role in the vote on municipal bonds – it speaks poorly of the panel. Wells said he has no regrets, nor will he step back from his pursuit of “accountability” in government.

Wells said he hopes the Council repeals legislation legalizing online gambling. And he said his committed to make the most of his new post as chairman of the Committee on Libraries, Parks and Recreation.

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Today on NewsTalk, Washington City Paper reporter Alan Suderman talked about the many controversies swirling around City Hall, ESPN 980’s J.I Halsell discussed the potential for a deal between NFL owners and players, real estate expert John Heithaus offered an update on the local housing numbers, and soccer coach Richard Broad provided analysis of this weekend’s women’s World Cup finals.

The link to today’s show is after the jump...

Tuesday at 10am: DC Councilman Tommy Wells

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Today on NewsTalk, DC police chief Cathy Lanier defended the decision to have firefighters positioned throughout the city on the days teens in the summer jobs program get paid. And she rejected suggestions from the police union that firefighters are untrained for such work – or that the move is proof MPD is short-staffed.

Lanier also provided candid assessments of the Inspector General’s report on the controversial Charlie Sheen escort, which she said wasn’t as broad as the review she has ordered, and she admitted that the report contradicted testimony she provided the Council. She offered an update on efforts to help a local gun-dealer find a new location, and commented on the arrest of an officer accused of forcing himself on sex workers.

Later in the hour, Councilman Phil Mendelson also endorsed the decision to have firefighters help prevent robberies. And he spoke disapprovingly of the committee changes ordered up this week by Council Chairman Kwame Brown.

The link to today’s show is here:

Monday at 10am: City Paper reporter Alan Suderman and local real estate expert John Heithaus

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Delroy Burton of D.C.'s police union.

Today on NewsTalk, reporter Sam Ford offered post-game analysis of our Wednesday interview with DC Council Chairman Kwame Brown. Brown denies that this week’s committee shuffle was an act of retribution against a colleague, saying that the changes were expected. Ford, who has covered city hall for years, told us flatly “nobody believes that.”

Brown is also seeing to draw a distinction between his 2008 re-election campaign, whose actions have been called potentially criminal, and himself. Sam expressed skepticism that Brown can make that work – legally or with the public.

We also talked about the use of firefighters to safeguard young people in the DC summer jobs program and the Inspector General’s report on the Charlie Sheen escort controversy. Joining us for that: Delroy Burton of the DC police union.

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Today on NewsTalk, DC Council Chairman Kwame Brown denied that his decision to reassign keep committee posts was payback for a hard-hitting report on his pursuit of a “fully loaded” SUV. Brown defended the moves, announced yesterday, saying they were part of a long-promised reorganization and that the new arrangement would result in more cohesive oversight. The decision to oust Ward 6 Democrat Tommy Wells from the WMATA board has been widely perceived as a punishment for his report on Brown’s desire for a taxpayer-funded SUV as nice as the mayor’s.

The first segment of the show with Chairman Brown is here:

Brown also denied that he misled reporters about the investigating his 2008 campaign, and he downplayed comments from the chairman of the Board of Elections and Ethics, Togo West, who referred the inquiry to the U.S. Attorney because he thinks there may have been criminal wrongdoing. And he sought to distance himself from his own campaign, saying the Committee to Re-Elect Kwame Brown is different from Kwame Brown the man. He said that the committee (who he didn’t identify) is paying attorney/lobbyist Fred Cooke Jr. his normal fee, though he didn’t say what that rate is. Cooke represents firms that do business with the DC government.

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Today on NewsTalk, Rep. Jim Moran said a handshake agreement between President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner fell apart when Eric Cantor, the GOP leader in the House, nixed the deal. Moran (D) said the current stalemate is the result of “ideologues” who refuse to compromise. And he repeated his belief that revenues need to be part of the budget equation going forward.

Moran argued strenuously that the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan should be more robust than the plan outlined by President Obama, and he was vocal in his criticism of Pakistan, a country that receives large amounts of American aid.

Our discussion also touched on the opening of the Mark Center in Alexandria this fall, rail to Dulles and the 2012 elections. (His view: If the elections were today, Democrats would lose the Senate and win back the House.)

You can watch our interview with Rep. Moran here:

Tuesday at 10am: Georgetown Univ. scholar Chris Metzler

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Today on NewsTalk, Prince George’s community activist Theresa Mitchell Dudley talked about the most recent fatal pedestrian accident to occur in her neighborhood. Early yesterday morning a woman was struck and killed in the 7600-block of Landover Road, the same stretch of road where a 15-year-old pedestrian was run down in January. Area residents have lobbied state and county officials to make improvements. We also discussed the scandals involving Councilwoman Leslie Johnson and her husband, former County Executive Jack Johnson.

Examiner reporter Freeman Klopott and WPFW talk show host Chuck Thies talked about the federal probe into DC Council Chairman Kwame Brown’s 2008 re-election campaign.

And National Park Service spokesman Bill Line described the campaign to educate recent immigrants about the dangers of drowning in the Potomac River.

All of today’s interviews can be seen here:

Monday at 10am: Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.)

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Today on NewsTalk, the head of the union that represents front-line Metro personnel said workers remain reluctant to discuss safety problems with superiors — despite a report that drew attention to this issue following the fatal crash on the Red Line two years ago. Jackie Jeter, head of the Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 689, also talked about Metro funding, public perceptions of WMATA and its workforce, scheduling concerns and more.

Washington Post reporter Gene Wang discussed the NFL and NBA lockouts that threaten play – and whether players and owners are showing disrespect to fans by pushing financial disputes to the point that seasons may be impacted.

And Dr. Gary Weitzman, head of the Washington Animal Rescue League, talked about the organization’s expansion plans. Already one of the nation’s premier animal welfare organizations, WARL has announced plans to buy property next to its Northeast Washington headquarters.

You can view today’s edition of NewsTalk here:

Friday at 10: Prince George’s civic and education activist Theresa Mitchell Dudley. Also, the National Park Service issues drowning warnings for summer.

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Today on NewsTalk, Examiner reporter Ben Giles talked about the tug of war between the Prince George’s Council, which wants District 6’s Leslie Johnson to resign right away, and Mrs. Johnson, who has said she’ll step aside at the end of the month.

Also with us today: Jim Dickson, an advocate for the disabled. His organization, the Equal Rights Center, sent testers into the street – some blind, some sighted – to see who cab drivers would stop for. Mr. Dickson said their experience showed that disabled persons – and African-American men – are routinely bypassed by cab drivers. He said other cities, like New York, do an excellent job ferreting out discrimination in taxi service, but DC does not. He urged the DC Taxi Commission and DC Council to focus more on this problem.

View today’s show here:

Thursday at 10am: Metro union chief Jackie Jeter and Washington Post reporter Gene Wang.

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Today on NewsTalk, we discussed the Government Accountability Office’s recommendations for Metro – specifically their conclusion that the WMATA board micromanages day-to-day operations. Our guest: WTOP reporter Adam Tuss.

Then, Dr. Amie Hsia, medical director of the Stroke Center at Washington Hospital Center, talked about a new study showing that African-Americans suffering stroke symptoms were less likely to call for help right away than whites. As a result, they are less likely to be given the one drug the FDA has approved for stroke victims. 

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That's the look of a man with a mean poker face. (Photo: Associated Press)

Today on NewsTalk, D.C. Mayor Vince Gray defended the process by which online gambling became legal in the District, saying the public had ample opportunity to participate. He voiced support for the possible elimination of the Taxicab Commission, saying D.C. is looking at how other cities regulate the cab industry — and he came out against a proposal to require cabs to have pricey medallions.

Our hour-long interview with the mayor also focused on the shooting along Georgia Avenue last week, the scandals at City Hall, youth violence prevention and Walmart.

If you missed any of today’s show, the link to the full hour is here:

Monday at 10: Dr. Anthony Fauci, the Freedom Riders, Kastles owner Mark Ein and Washington Post reporter Steve Vogel

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