Hour 1: Federal Power Clashes with Local Democracy in D.C. Interview with Dr. Ranya Nehmeh on the Disadvantages of Hybrid Work.
Podcasts > Shake It Off with Mert & Lucas
Tune in each week, as an established lawyer, and a self- proclaimed “man of the people,” debate some of the hottest issues impacting our city, state and nation.
Monday, September 22, 2025
Episode #63 opens with a review of the federal intervention in Washington, D.C., where President Trump declared a public safety emergency and deployed National Guard troops—despite declining crime rates. The hosts explore the contradictions of a city that symbolizes American democracy yet lacks full democratic rights, tracing the legal foundations of federal control, the override of local justice reforms, and the tension between public perception, political strategy, and lived reality. The hour concludes with Dr. Ranya Nehmeh—global workplace strategist and co-author of In Praise of the Office—offering her critique of hybrid work and emphasizing the enduring cultural and organizational value of in-person collaboration.
