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@wamu885

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We are the public radio station for the nation's capital! Peek behind the scenes in the WAMU newsroom, 1A and The Politics Hour.

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Baltimore-based hardcore band Turnstile (@turnstileluvconnection) played a free benefit concert on the National Mall on Saturday afternoon, filling the show to capacity and drawing thousands more to watch from the base of the Washington Monument. The band has raised over $177,000 for humanitarian relief to families in Gaza, Sudan and Lebanon, with over 2,200 individual donors, according to the fundraiser's web page.

"This is the most beautiful thing I've ever been a part of," vocalist Brendan Yates told the crowd.

For @wamu885

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October is wrapping up, and November is bringing a little bit of everything to the Library! From a celebration of E. Lynn Harris to a look at America’s history and the story of a barrier-breaking illustrator, check out what’s coming up:

📚 Oct. 27: Invisible Life: A Celebration of E. Lynn Harris
🇺🇸 Nov. 5: The Flag Was Still There author talk
🎨 Nov. 7: The Creative Journey of Illustrator Carol Stuart Watson

Three events, three unique perspectives. Learn more at dclibrary.org Poster for "Invisible Life: From Page to Stage" featuring a silver mask and three people. Includes text: "E. Lynn Harris - Behind the Mask," with conversation and live performances, original music by Ashford & Simpson, on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, 6:30 - 8:30 pm, at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. Logos for Gilead and DC Public Library are present.

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Refugees. Survivors of violence. Interpreters who helped servicemembers in Afghanistan. These are many of the immigrants with legal status who've lost access to Medicaid since October 1.

For those who depend on Medicaid, like the immigrants we serve at Ayuda, this loss is much bigger than insurance. It means no annual checkups, no prescriptions, and delaying care for medical emergencies.

Ayuda's Senior Case Manager Rachelle Nieto recently spoke to KFF Health News / WAMU to explain how these changes are putting healthcare further out of reach.

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@longdarkhouse is a new bookstore where readers can get spooky with horror and sci-fi.

Owner Chanthal Harris gave us five books from her TBR (To Be Read) List that she's excited to read in case you're looking for something that both unsettles and entertains you.

#horror #booksbooksbooks

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When 65 years of legends, history, community, and GROOVE come together!
Join Sylver Logan Sharp & The GROOVEMENT as we help celebrate 65 years of WAMU with Kojo Nnamdi at the Publick Playhouse!

We’re bringing the LIVE music, and you’re invited to be part of this special celebration!

🎤 Friday, October 23 | 11 AM

🎟️ FREE admission — registration required!

Registration link below!
https://donate.wamu.org/page/102764/event/1?ea.tracking.id=homepage
#SylverLoganSharp #TheGroovement #KojoNnamdi #WAMU #LiveMusicDC

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📢 Want to help fix @uber fake wheelchair van option, make @lyft offer one, and make transit more accessible? Tonight at 5:30pm is the deadline to sign up to testify Monday 10/19 at DC Council’s hearing on a new bill to improve taxi, uber, and Lyft accessibility for wheeelchair users and other disabled people! I will testify in-person and would love for you to join me! (Virtual is an option too.) link to sign up is below. #disability #accessibility #wheelchairs #wheelchairtravel #dc https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Hearings/hearings/2440?link_id=3&can_id=92b4589ec0dab974c703225b12be4a08&source=email-testify-to-support-transportation-accessibility&email_referrer=email_3448249&email_subject=reminder-testify-to-support-transportation-accessibility&&

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Thank you to @wamu885 @sinnenberg_reports @tamikanews for the Red Brick Weekend feature on All Things Considered last week 🧱

🎟️ Tickets still available for both Main Shows and Saturday Matinee

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As we’re always pointing out — and finding out ourselves — D.C. is a place where history lurks around every corner. In this case it’s the corner of 15th and Pennsylvania: The Occidental, a super-fancy power-lunch nexus across the street from the White House. Sixty-four years ago, a reporter and a secret agent sat here over lunch and, not to put too fine a point on it, possibly saved the world from nuclear annihilation.

To get a better handle on how the “Pork Chop That Saved the World” episode really fits into this story — and whether the claim really holds water at all — we highly recommend Harvard University historian Serhii Plokhy’s readable “Nuclear Folly: A History of the Cuban Missile Crisis” (W.W. Norton, 2021). Not every critic has agreed with every one of Plokhy’s theses in this book but they seem to universally love its scholarly depth and page-turner storytelling. We sure did.

And for a bit more information and a better look at the place, including the commemorative plaque at the table, have a look at the One Minute blog post:

https://oneminuteatatime.beehiiv.com/p/the-pork-chop-that-saved-the-world

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Congratulations, Amit! Your podcast ‘What Happens to Memories’ was selected by NPR as the Grand Prize winner in the high school category of this year’s Student Podcast Challenge, chosen from 1,500+ entries nationwide!

What I admire most isn’t the win. It’s who you are - kind, patient, and thoughtful in everything you do. You cared about getting the science right and about telling the story with honesty and heart. In times like these, when so much feels rushed, I’m proud that you slowed down to create something with care and made an impact at the same time.

This podcast is also a perfect homage to my grandpa. His memory is at the center of this story, and I know how much he would have loved hearing you share him with the world.

Thank you @npr, Janet, Cory, and @taliaherman1, for this opportunity, the thoughtful interview, and the beautiful photos.

Amit, you make us so proud. Keep being you!

NPR article, interview and podcast:
https://www.npr.org/2026/10/09/nx-s1-5986352/memory-family-burger-king-grandfather

#nprstudentpodcastchallenge #memories #neuroscience #studentvoices #cityofsanjose

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DC emcee @letthedirtsayamen (aka Tim Hicks of the band The Cornel West Theory named after @brothercornelwest ) has a new album with Germany-based producer @superior27

I sat down with him to learn more about the album but first I wanted to know how he chose the name Let The Dirt Say Amen.

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Looking to make a difference this Thanksgiving? Help over 1,000 families in need celebrate the holiday. Sign up at our in bio

We need volunteers to help prepare, package, and deliver meals throughout November, as well as on Thanksgiving Day

Thank you to our generous Thanksgiving sponsor @wegmans for helping us make 5,175 holiday meals and for volunteering each year!

#thanksgiving #community #volunteer #dc

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