Matt Blitz
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Journalist | Friend to cats & dogs | he/him |Reporter/Producer @WAMU885’s The Politics Hour
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Articles by Matt Blitz
Get Out There: Behind the scenes at Markoff's Haunted Forest
Markoff’s Haunted Forest in upper Montgomery County, Md., is one of the region’s most popular haunted attractions and often one of the best-reviewed in the country. For this week’s Get Out There, our weekly series exploring the Washington D.C. region, we sent WAMU’s Matt Blitz out into the forest to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into this well-known local spooky spot.
D.C. is spending billions on sports venues. Experts say the financial return isn’t guaranteed
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8th District Q&A: Don Beyer, Tony Sabio, Tim Sharman
Ahead of the 2026 general election, Virginia’s public media stations — VPM, WAMU, WHRO, WMRA and Radio IQ — asked candidates for US Congress a series of questions about policy stances, how they’d prioritize their district’s needs in Washington, DC, and their opinions as Virginians on the constitutional amendment referendums. Campaigns were provided a deadline and the opportunity to provide clarification, as needed.
Some of the voices behind Loudoun County's data center debate
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'No drama' in Northern Virginia’s 2026 primary elections
November’s midterm match-ups are now set in Northern Virginia after Tuesday’s primary elections. Most of the region’s Democratic incumbents did not face a challenger from their own party, so the Republican primaries took center stage in Northern Virginia on Tuesday. Every House seat, plus one in the Senate, is on the ballot this year. The primary races across the Commonwealth played out as expected, says Larry Sabato, political prognosticator with the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics.
This man keeps Glen Echo Park's 100-year-old band organ playing
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Get Out There: Celebrating America 250
America is marking its 250th birthday on Saturday. And there are plenty of events, festivals, and celebrations of the country’s semiquincentennial across the region this weekend. For this week’s Get Out There, our weekly series exploring the Washington D.C. region, WAMU’s Matt Blitz joined us to talk about some of those major celebrations. Let’s start with all of the action on the National Mall, including the Great American State Fair.
10 Wonderfully Weird Day Trips Around Washington
This post was updated in June 2026. 1. Dinosaur Land Miles from DC: 66.5 Time has nearly forgotten these three acres on Stonewall Jackson Highway in White Post, Virginia. Featuring no animatronics or CGI, Dinosaur Land still entertains as it has since 1963: with 56 fiberglass dinosaurs, a King Kong, and a 60-foot-long shark. In one concession to modernity, the gift shop—once named Rebel Korn’r—has been renamed for the park. 2.
Barred in D.C. on mayoral candidates' views on tipped minimum wage, streateries, and favorite restaurants
Monday is the first day of early voting for the D.C. primaries. In the lead-up to election day, the popular social media account Barred in DC sent out a questionnaire to mayoral hopefuls and D.C. council candidates to find out where they stand on issues affecting the city’s restaurant and nightlife industry. The questions ranged from their thoughts on the tipped minimum wage to their favorite watering hole.
Barred in D.C. on mayoral candidates' views on tipped minimum wage, streateries, and favorite restaurants
Washington Metro Area 6 hours ago 1 dead, 1 arrested after crash near White House NBC4 Washington - By Andrea Swalec and NBC Washington Staff • 6h U.S. Park Police said the crash occurred at Constitution Avenue and 17th Street NW.
Get Out There: Perfect, quirky, short summer road trips
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The Secret Origins of America’s First Aerial Spy Program
The Secret Origins of America’s First Aerial Spy Program How Thaddeus Lowe took the skies and invented aerial reconnaissance before the age of airplanes
The Secret Origins of America’s First Aerial Spy Program—And the Strange Man in the Balloon Who Started It Original
As the moon hung high in the morning Cincinnati sky, an eccentric aeronaut blasts one last puff of coal gas into his balloon, the "Enterprise." It is April 20, 1861, and just eight days earlier the first shots had rang out at Fort Sumter and ignited the Civil War, a conflict that would eventually claim nearly 625,000 American lives. But on this day, dressed in a fancy silk hat and a black long frock coat, Prof. Thaddeus Lowe prepares for his latest and most important test flight.
The Shocking Death of the First Man in Space—And the Soviet Cover-Up That Hid the Truth for 45 Years Original
On April 12, 1961, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin launched into the great beyond, becoming the first human in space. When he came back to Earth, Gagarin was looked upon as not just a hero, but the very embodiment of the Soviet Union’s power. Streets were named after him. Monuments were erected. Khrushchev called him the Russian Christopher Columbus. And then he was gone. “It was not their fault.
He Said He Discovered the North Pole—Then His Rival Literally Buried the Proof Under a Rock. Did Both Men Lie? Original
The wind was howling, the sun blinding, and the temperature cold enough to chill your bones when the six made their final march towards the North Pole. It was the morning of April 6, 1909. American Commander Robert Peary, his assistant Matthew Henson, and four Inuit men arrived at what was, according to Peary's reading of his sextant, exactly 90 degrees north latitude. “My life work is accomplished,” Peary wrote later in his diary.
Get Out There: Cherry blossom treats
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Get Out There: Where in the D.C. region to train to become a local Olympian...or just have fun!
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Santa Claus’ bone fragment is at a Northern Virginia Catholic church
It’s an early December day, and Epiphany of Our Lord Byzantine Catholic Church in Annandale, Virginia, is quiet. “I’ll bring it out now,” Deacon Elmer Pekarik says as he walks behind the altar. Deacon Elmer emerges moments later, holding an ornamental brass case. Inside is a relic from St. Nicholas, the church’s patron saint and the inspiration for Santa Claus. It’s accompanied by a very small label that reads in Latin “Episcopus Nicolai.” Bishop Nicholas.
Santa Claus's bone fragment is in an Annandale Church
It’s an early December day, and Epiphany of Our Lord Byzantine Catholic Church in Annandale, Virginia, is quiet. “I’ll bring it out now,” Deacon Elmer Pekarik says as he walks behind the altar. Deacon Elmer emerges moments later, holding an ornamental brass case. Inside is a relic from St. Nicholas, the church’s patron saint and the inspiration for Santa Claus. It’s accompanied by a very small label that reads in Latin “Episcopus Nicolai.” Bishop Nicholas.
Get Out There: 2025 Holiday theater preview
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Get Out There: Explore a fall festival
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Get Out There: It's pawpaw season
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WAMU News Call-In Special
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6 months after DCA plane crash, first responders still need help
This week marks the six-month anniversary of the deadly mid-air collision at Washington Reagan National Airport, a tragedy that claimed 67 lives. 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. WAMU’s Matt Blitz revisited D.C. Fire and EMS Fireboat headquarters on the Southwest waterfront to check in with technician Chris Finelli and rescue diver Jeff Mathias.
Get Out There: Summer Cool Down
It’s hot out there, with high temperatures and heavy humidity. However, don’t worry; this week on Get Out There, our weekly conversation about ways to explore the Washington area, we’re here to help you cool off with some ideas for classic summer fun and ways to beat the heat. Let’s start with local public pools, many of which are open late.
Metro needs billions to stay on track, but local leaders say a regional tax is not the answer
It’s a Tuesday morning in May, and every seat is taken on Metro’s Red Line heading east toward Gallery Place. Rachel Barkan takes the Metro every day from her Capitol Hill home, and she’s noticed trains are more crowded. “Honestly, I think it’s nice,” Barkan says. “I feel like it’s more community building to see people going in every day.” Numbers back what Rachel is seeing.
Get Out There: Exploring LGBTQ+ history at Congressional Cemetery
June is pride month, and there is no better time to learn about the District’s LGBTQ+ history. Congressional Cemetery in Southeast is home to perhaps the only community-created LGBTQ+ section in the world. In what is affectionately called “Gay Corner,” a number of famed, trailblazing icons are laid to rest. There they share their eternal messages of love and unity while still standing up for their rights.
U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger discusses retirement and protecting the Capitol
U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger is retiring (again) this week after nearly 50 years in law enforcement. In 2021 he was asked to come out of retirement to lead the U.S. Capitol Police following the January 6th attack. The long-time local police chief’s mission was to restore stability and trust to the beleaguered force by increasing recruiting efforts, establishing an intelligence operation, and improving communication.
Get Out There: Saturday, May 3 is D.C.'s event-topia!
The weather is warm, the calendar has flipped to May, and far too many fun events are going on in D.C. this Saturday. So, how do you decide what to do? How do you cram as much as possible into one day? Luckily, we are here to help you schedule that jam-packed weekend and plan your perfect D.C. event-topia day minute by minute. First up, get your rest Friday night because it’s an early Saturday morning. The day starts at 8 am sharp at Malcolm X/Meridian Hill Park for – Warblerplaooza.
Where to See the Fabled Fabergé Imperial Easter Eggs
Remnants of a vanished past, Fabergé Easter eggs live on in museums and collections across the world Most people get chocolate bunnies or plastic candy-filled eggs as presents on Easter, but for Russian czars at the turn of the 20th century, gifts were lot more expensive—and much less edible. In 1885, Czar Alexander III commissioned 38-year-old Carl Faberge and his St. Petersburg family jewelry business to produce a surprise Easter gift for his wife, Empress Marie Fedorovna.
Alexandria is dealing with the impacts of a shrinking federal workforce on its economy, tax base, and ability to fund even some basic services. Mayor Alyia Gaskins sat down with Kojo and Tom to discuss the local challenges that come with cutting thousands of federal positions. About 20% of Alexandria’s workforce are full-time federal employees, according to a recent Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments presentation to the City Council.
‘It was just deathly quiet:’ First responders to the D.C. plane crash say the work takes a toll
We’re inside D.C. Fire and EMS Fireboat headquarters on the Southwest waterfront, looking out over the Potomac River. Washington National Airport’s air traffic control tower is visible through the trees. It’s a familiar view for fireboat pilot C.J. Isbell, diver Jeff Mathias, and technician Chris Finelli. They’re all longtime D.C. Fire and EMS veterans and members of the region’s only 24/7 marine rescue unit. Just over a month has passed since the midair collision near DCA claimed sixty-seven lives.
Washington D.C.'s restaurant community braces for promised ICE raids
Washington D.C.'s restaurant community braces for promised ICE raids Fear and uncertainty plague Washington D.C.'s restaurant community as the Trump administration plans to conduct large-scale deportations of migrants in the U.S. who don't have legal status. Matt Blitz of WAMU reports. This segment airs on March 3, 2025. Audio will be available after the broadcast.
Get Out There: Taking those dance moves to the next level
Everyone loves to dance like nobody’s watching. But if you want to take those moves to the next level, you may have to take lessons. Luckily, the D.C. region is full of studios and instructors teaching a plethora of dance styles.
The Politics Hour: D.C. leaders on President Trump’s threat to take over the District
On Wednesday night, President Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One he thinks the federal government should take over the District: “I think that we should run it strong, run it with law and order, make it absolutely, flawlessly beautiful,” Trump said. Many D.C. leaders are worried about what’s next for the District’s ability to self-govern. Ward 2 D.C. Councilmember and chair of the city’s judiciary and public safety committee, Brooke Pinto, joins the show to give us her thoughts.
The Politics Hour: Tune in to hear what recent White House moves mean for D.C. and Maryland
President Trump is expected to issue an executive order focused on crime and homeless encampments in the District. Some fear this could be a first step toward the White House stripping away the District’s ability to govern itself. D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson joins the show to weigh in. Plus, we ask Mendelson’s thoughts on the long-term future of the RFK Stadium site and what would happen if former D.C. Councilmember Trayon White decides to run again for the Ward 8 seat.
The Politics Hour: Rep. Jamie Raskin on President Trump’s push to shrink the federal workforce
A federal judge paused the Trump administration’s “deferred resignation” offer hours before the Thursday deadline. Many of the particulars of the offer remain unclear, including if it is even lawful. U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin (D) joins the show to weigh in on what it means for the region and what lawmakers are doing to help local federal workers.
Threats of mass deportation put local restaurant industry on edge
It’s difficult to know how many people without legal status work in D.C.-area restaurants. A 2022 report from the Center of Migration Studies estimates there are about 11,500 persons without legal status employed in the District; some of those work in the food service industry. It’s a week before the presidential inauguration, and I’m at the Central American Resource Center (CARCEN) in Columbia Heights speaking with Escidoro, a food runner at a local D.C. restaurant.
Get Out There: Winter Restaurant Week
It may be frigid out there… but next week D.C.-area restaurants are giving us all a reason to leave the house. Monday marks the beginning of the Winter Restaurant Week. For this week’s Get Out There, our weekly conversation about ways to explore the Washington region, WAMU’s Matt Blitz joined All Thing’s Considered host Tamika Smith to make us hungry with a preview of what’s to come.
Outgoing U.S. Attorney for D.C. Matthew Graves reflects on his tenure
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Matthew Graves has been the top federal prosecutor in the District for just over three years. It’s a wide-ranging job which includes prosecuting most adult crimes in D.C., as well as federal crimes that take place in the city. Graves will step down this week, ahead of the inauguration of the President-elect Donald Trump.
Get Out There: A Perfect D.C. Holiday Day
Christmas and Hanukkah are almost here. So, it’s the perfect time to throw on an ugly holiday sweater, chug a mug of eggnog and get out there for all the holiday festivities our region has to offer. But navigating all of those events can be quite the chore… This week for Get Out There, our weekly conversation about ways to explore the Washington region, WAMU’s Matt Blitz helped All Thing’s Considered host Tamika Smith plan a perfect holiday itinerary for her and her entire family.
Get Out There: Turkey Trots
For some, Thanksgiving means not only eating turkey but trotting like one, too. This week for Get Out There, our weekly conversation about ways to explore the Washington region, WAMU’s Matt Blitz shared some of the best turkey trots taking place around the region, plus other family-friendly outdoor excursions. Turkey trots are community fun runs that take place on or around Thanksgiving and are often organized to raise money for a cause.
Get Out There: Screaming your head off at the D.C. region's haunted attractions
The D.C. region is filled with plenty of haunted houses and frightening attractions to get your skin crawling. To help us scream, The Politics Hour producer Matt Blitz joined WAMU’s Tamika Smith to hear about some of the best haunted attractions and events this Halloween season. Markoff’s Haunted Forest in Montgomery County has been providing frights since 1992.
Get Out There: HFStival makes its big comeback in D.C. this weekend
On Saturday, the once wildly popular HFStival returns to the District after a 13-year hiatus. Throughout the day, 11 bands will take the stage for a nostalgia-filled concert at Nationals Park including Death Cab for Cutie, Lit, Girl Talk, and more. WHFS 99.1 launched the festival back in 1990. The popular radio station, known for playing progressive and alt-rock hits, broadcasted for about four decades throughout D.C. and Baltimore.
D.C.'s Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White arrested on bribery charges
The FBI arrested D.C. Councilmember Trayon White Sr. Sunday afternoon on charges of bribery. FBI officials and the U.S.’s Attorney Office for the District of Columbia announced the charges Monday. The criminal complaint alleges the Ward 8 Councilmember accepted more than $150,000 in cash payments in June, July, and August of this year in exchange for pressuring D.C. government employees to extend contracts with local organizations.
Get Out There: Fairs and festivals around the D.C. region
August is here! That means it’s fair season. The next two months will be packed with fairs and festivals in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. WAMU’s Matt Blitz joined us this week on Get Out There to break down all the upcoming action. Matt is a Fairfax native, producer of the The Politics Hour with Kojo Nnamdi and WAMU’s resident fair enthusiast. “My favorite has to be the Arlington County Fair, which markets itself as the largest free fair on the East Coast,” he told WAMU’s Tamika Smith.
Washington Wizards, Capitals to stay in D.C., abandoning Alexandria arena
It appears to be game over for the Northern Virginia arena — with the Washington Wizards and Capitals now poised to stay in the District. This story was reported and written by our media partners VPM News and WAMU The City of Alexandria announced Wednesday afternoon that it had "ended negotiations" on the development deal, which was anchored by a pro sports arena for D.C.’s professional basketball and hockey teams in the Potomac Yard neighborhood.
What we know about the Herndon TikToker who is tunneling under her home
Read the original story on WAMU/DCist's website. It’s only a few days into 2024 and we’ve already got “Northern Virginia woman builds likely illegal underground tunnel system under her home” on our bingo card. The amateur engineer going by “Kala” on her engineer.everything TikTok account has become known as TikTok tunnel girl for her videos showcasing the construction of a series of tunnels underneath her home (she’s posted more than 200 dating back to October 2022).
Virginia officials announce a major deal to bring Capitals and Wizards to Potomac Yard
Read the original story on WAMU/DCist's website. Monumental Sports and Entertainment and Virginia officials gathered at a press conference Wednesday morning to announce a deal that to move the Washington Wizards and Capitals from D.C.’s Capital One Arena to a new complex to be built in Alexandria’s Potomac Yard. Virginia Gov.
Virginia officials announce a major deal to bring Capitals and Wizards to Potomac Yard
Read the original story on WAMU/DCist's website. This is a developing story and will be updated. Monumental Sports and Entertainment and Virginia officials gathered at a press conference Wednesday morning to announce a deal that to move the Washington Wizards and Capitals from D.C.’s Capital One Arena to a new complex to be built in Alexandria’s Potomac Yard. Virginia Gov.
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