Matt Blitz

Six months after the DCA plane crash, D.C. first responders still need help Members of the D.C. Fire and EMS Marine rescue unit were among the first to respond to the aircraft that crashed in the Potomac River. Some are still struggling with what they saw and experienced that...

Yesterday marked the 6 month anniversary of the mid-air aircraft collision near DCA that tragically claimed 67 lives.

The first responders that were out on the Potomac that night are still struggling.

wamu.org/story/25/07/...

Just saw Superman, a movie about an alien who comes to Earth and protects humans from other aliens.

Yet, the most unrealistic part of the movie is when an editor looks at a 1st draft of a hastily written newspaper story and yells “Perfect!”

The Politics Hour: What's in the revised RFK stadium deal; plus, Metro GM Randy Clarke on the bus overhaul The D.C. Council is planning to vote on the revised RFK stadium deal with the Washington Commanders Aug. 1. Also, we speak with Metro General Manager Randy Clarke about the new bus routes.

Got a great and very newsworthy Politics Hour this week (I mean, that’s the case every week).

Come join @alexkoma.bsky.social , @cmzparker5.bsky.social , & @wmatagm.bsky.social … and, of course, Kojo Nnamdi.

Tune into WAMU 88.5 at noon!

wamu.org/story/25/07/...

A D.C. cemetery's 'Gay Corner' is a final resting place for trailblazing LGBTQ+ icons The Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C., includes a section of graves of LGBTQ Americans. We take a pride month tour.

On the last day of June, visit D.C.’s Congressional Cemetery… home to perhaps the only community-created LGBTQ+ section in the world. Listen and read!

www.npr.org/2025/06/18/n...

A year ago, went to the Orlando Public Library & requested files from the Disney Collection (just for fun, I’m a nerd)… including from #MuppetVision3D… truly a one-of-a-kind piece of multimedia art & Henson’s last project. Hope there’s new life for it somewhere someplace.

First stop on Around the World Embassy Tour day… Thailand. Food, dancing, music, and Thai massages.

Get Out There: Saturday, May 3 is D.C.'s event-topia! This week on Get Out There, we help you plan your perfect D.C. day, minute by minute.

Don’t know what to do tomorrow? Well, now you do!

wamu.org/story/25/05/...

Petworth Porchfest is always great and a ton of fun.

Attended a fancy dinner last night & wore a bowtie.

Also, went sans glasses but couldn’t see so put them back on. Lesson learned.

Breaking Montgomery County tax news: County Executive Marc Elrich is pulling his proposal to increase property taxes by 3.5% and is instead now proposing to raise the county income tax rate by .01% to 3.3%.

A fantastic vintage find… a silver Capital Centre 10th anniversary jacket. The Landover, MD arena was home to Washington Bullets & Capitals for 30 years. Plus, where WWF (now WWE) got its start.

The arena was demolished in 2002.

Didn’t quite fit me, but already regretting not just getting it.

Get Out There: Nerding out at Awesome Con This week on Get Out There, we get geeky previewing this weekend's Awesome Con

Goonies reunion! Cosplay meet-ups! Tabletop gaming fun! Speed puzzling championship! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! John Rhys-Davies!

Here’s my preview of this weekend’s Awesome Con… Heading there now, so come say hello!

wamu.org/story/25/04/...

Very interesting Instagram video from Trayon White yesterday: He challenges Phil Mendelson directly, seeming to say that the chair promised him the Council wouldn't vote to expel him a second time if he wins. "I hope you ain't lying to me," he added. Here's a full transcript:

‘We are here to keep you safe:’ In Arlington, ICE raids renew a debate over policing County leaders recently raised the bar for police cooperation with immigration officials, but advocates say more protection is needed.

ICE raids in Northern Virginia have resurfaced a long-running debate in Arlington over the handful of exceptions where the county police can alert ICE after they arrest someone.

wamu.org/story/25/04/...

There will never be another Stumpy, but…

Find yourself an ice cream spot that has movie props from Mission Impossible 3 and a signed photo on the wall of James Cromwell holding Babe, Pig in the City.

At the Black Lives Matter Plaza in D.C. The District is starting removal of the plaza today. In the summer of 2020, Mayor Bowser had the plaza painted over - a symbolic act of defiance against President Trump @wamu.org

Every Home Depot should have a stand in the parking lot that sells Philly Cheesesteaks & plays Jamiroquai. Had the chicken & cheese, actually quite good.

'It was just deathly quiet:' First responders to the D.C. plane crash say the work takes a toll Crisis counselors and peer support groups are helping emergency personnel cope with the trauma of their recovery work at the crash site.

Members of the region’s only 24/7 marine recuse unit were among the first emergency personnel at the scene of Jan’s plane crash near DCA.

Now, they are coming to terms with what they saw and experienced.

Very much appreciate them for sharing their story.

wamu.org/story/25/03/...

Same goes for Shayla Adams-Stafford... now with a near 400 vote lead.

Braveboy's lead holds as more results are posted... a 3,000 vote lead over now second place former county executive Rushern Baker.

Not sure how many votes are left to count, but Braveboy's lead will be hard to surmont.

elections.maryland.gov/elections/20...

In the District 5 race, former Board of Education member Shayla Adams-Stafford currently holds a rather large lead... securing nearly half of the votes counted so far in the six-candidate Democratic primary race.

As soon as I hit send... mail in ballots and some in-person votes are posted for County Executive... State's Attorney Aisha Braveboy currently holds close to a 3,000 vote lead over second place Jolene Ivey.. who is no longer running.

elections.maryland.gov/elections/20...

A small Prince George's County special primary elections update... 5 (out of 9) polling sites remain open because they are still people in line waiting to vote, per the county board of elections.

So, may not get results any time soon in the County Executive and District 5 races.

Legacy on Ice at Capital One Arena, honoring the 67 lives lost in Jan’s DCA plane crash and the D.C. & Fire EMS first responders who worked that night. Lots of families and young athletes in attendance. Quite emotional.

Date night in Rockville… went to Teso Life, a Japanese department store where I mostly hung out in the snack aisles. And Meow Claw… a claw machine arcade. Won a pink dinosaur.

Meet the Washington Capitals fan with fifty years worth of hockey memorabilia Steve Freedman has collected memorabilia from every Washington Capitals game he's attended over the last five decades. He's donated some of his collection to the D.C. Public Library.

Steve Freedman doesn't call himself a collector. And yet he's amassed -- his word -- 50+ years worth of @wshcapitals.bsky.social and other D.C. sports memorabilia. He's donated most of his collection to the @dcpubliclibrary.bsky.social. Hear my latest.
wamu.org/story/25/02/...

E Street Cinema, the beloved movie house in downtown D.C., announced it will close its doors later this year.

The movie theater's owner, Landmark Theaters, confirmed the closure to The Washington Post but did not provide a specific date for final closure.

Local USAID workers are ‘in survival mode’ Thousands of local international development workers and contractors have been thrown into turmoil as the Trump administration pulls back on foreign aid. Some are considering leaving D.C.

One of the superpowers of local public radio is to have the ability to turn the mic over and listen, giving others time and space to talk.

That's what we did with this story.

As the Federal government dismantles USAID, this is what its workers are thinking about:

wamu.org/story/25/02/...

Pretty busy late afternoon at the D.C. Record Fair at 9:30 Club. Scored a highly coveted (at least to me) record of the “First Lady of Musical Comedy.”