Is This the Year D.C. Becomes a State?

05/12/21 • 36 min

3 Listeners

The District of Columbia can almost taste statehood. Last month, House Democrats passed a bill that would make it the 51st state. This is the second time in history that such a legislation has been passed in the House. But it’s not only a question of representation: Making D.C. a state would add two probably Democratic senators and one Democratic representative, at a time when Democrats could use all the votes they can get. And Republicans aren’t willing to give in that easily.

This week, we’re debating the future of D.C. and the trade-offs of potential statehood. Dan McLaughlin is senior writer for National Review and a former attorney. George Derek Musgrove is an associate professor of history at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and a co-author of “Chocolate City: A History of Race and Democracy in the Nation’s Capital.”

Mentioned in this episode:

“The District of Columbia Should Not Be a State,” by Dan McLaughlin in National Review

“The 51st State America Needs,” by George Derek Musgrove and Chris Myers Asch in The New York Times

“The 51st State?” on the “Today, Explained” podcast by Vox.

Mentioned in this episode:

“The District of Columbia Should Not Be a State,” by Dan McLaughlin in National Review

“The 51st State America Needs,” by George Derek Musgrove and Chris Myers Asch in The New York Times

“The 51st State?” on the “Today, Explained” podcast by Vox.

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This week, Jane Coaston talks to two progressives who have different takeaways: Anand Giridharadas, author of The Ink newsletter and “Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World,” and Osita Nwanevu, writer at The New Republic.

Mentioned in this episode:

“Joe Biden Isn’t Close to Being a Historic President Yet,” by Osita Nwanevu in The New Republic.

“Welcome to the New Progressive Era,” by Anand Giridharadas in The Atlantic.

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Mentioned in this episode:

“Why the Right Loves Public School Culture Wars” and “The Campaign to Cancel Wokeness” by Michelle Goldberg in The New York Times.

“How the N-Word Became Unsayable” by John McWhorter in The New York Times.

“Critical Race Theory: An Introduction” by Richard Delgado and Jean Stefancic, published in 2001.

“Faces at the Bottom of the Well” by Derrick Bell, published in 1992.