Conduit Street Podcast

Maryland Association of Counties
  • 4.9 (33)
  • Politics
  • Updated Semiweekly

From the halls of the State House to the heart of county government, the Conduit Street Podcast breaks down the decisions shaping Marylanders’ daily lives. Produced by the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo), this weekly podcast offers smart, accessible insights on the latest state and local policy — with counties always at the center. Explore how legislation, executive actions, and agency decisions affect essential public services like education, infrastructure, public safety, health, and other core functions that matter most to Maryland residents. With special guests from across the state and the occasional world-famous dad joke, Conduit Street keeps you informed, engaged, and ready for what’s next. Whether you’re a policymaker, a public servant, or just policy-curious, this is your front-row seat to Maryland’s political landscape.

  1. 12h ago

    The Briefing Room: The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act

    Send us Fan Mail For much of this series, the housing conversation has centered on what states, counties, developers, and lenders can do to make projects work. But this summer, the federal government reentered the debate in a significant way.  In Episode 12, Dom and Terry sit down with Congressman Johnny “Johnny O” Olszewski, Jr. to unpack the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act and what a renewed federal focus on housing could mean for counties. Drawing on Johnny O’s experience at the local, state, and now federal levels, the conversation looks at the legislation through a distinctly county lens: what tools it could provide, what it means for local authority, and how Washington fits into a housing challenge that ultimately plays out community by community. Listen in to learn what’s in the bill, what it could mean for Maryland’s counties, and where the federal government fits into the housing solutions ahead.  This episode of The Briefing Room is brought to you with support from Local Government Insurance Trust (LGIT). Learn more about LGIT at Local Government Insurance Trust, MD | Official Website Follow us on Socials! MACo on Twitter MACo on Facebook

    The Briefing Room: The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act

  2. 4d ago

    News or Noise? What Matters Now, What Comes Next

    Send us Fan Mail The Conduit Street monthly roundup of “News or Noise?” is back, as we dig into the headlines from recent weeks, looking for the real takeaways. The Governor takes action on AI and data centers. The State adjusts its revenue forecast. The Family Leave program prepares for its launch. Voters will get a tricky new ballot question. And the MACo team tackles all that and more, in a jam-packed look at September’s top stories. Learn More: This Week: Local Revenue Task Force Reconvenes Follow us on Socials! MACo on Twitter MACo on Facebook

  3. 6d ago

    The Briefing Room: A Ton of Talk About TIFs

    Send us Fan Mail Tax Increment Financing (TIF) can be a powerful tool for supporting development, but it can also be one of the more misunderstood pieces of local economic and housing policy.  In Episode 11, Dom and Terry break down how TIF works, why jurisdictions use it, and how future tax revenue can help finance infrastructure and other improvements needed to enable development. The conversation also examines the concerns that often surround TIF, including questions about risk, public benefit, and whether these deals deliver enough value for communities.  The episode covers both the mechanics and the debate, giving listeners a clearer picture of where TIF can be effective, where the tradeoffs emerge, and why the tool continues to spark strong opinions. This episode of The Briefing Room is brought to you with support from Local Government Insurance Trust (LGIT). Learn more about LGIT at Local Government Insurance Trust, MD | Official Website Follow us on Socials! MACo on Twitter MACo on Facebook

    The Briefing Room: A Ton of Talk About TIFs

  4. Sep 25

    Blueprint Check-In: The Educators’ View

    Send us Fan Mail Five years into implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, how is Maryland’s sweeping education reform plan affecting the people responsible for bringing it to life in classrooms and schools across the state? Sarah Sample continues her Conduit Street Podcast series examining the Blueprint from different perspectives across Maryland’s education community. This week, she is joined by Sean Johnson, Executive Director of the Maryland State Education Association (MSEA), which represents 77,000 educators statewide. The conversation explores what the Blueprint has meant for Maryland’s education workforce, from the new $60,000 starting salary and efforts to recruit and retain educators to alternative pathways into the profession and expanded support for school employees. Sean also weighs in on where the Blueprint is showing progress, why meaningful education reform takes time, and the challenge of maintaining the state’s commitments as Maryland faces a difficult budget environment. With the Blueprint’s five-year evaluation approaching and lawmakers preparing for the 2027 legislative session, Sarah and Sean discuss where measured changes may make sense, how funding and policy decisions should work together, and what it will take to keep Maryland’s education reforms moving forward. Follow us on Socials! MACo on Twitter MACo on Facebook

  5. Sep 22

    The Briefing Room: Baltimore City’s War on Vacancy

    Send us Fan Mail For decades, vacant and abandoned properties have been one of Baltimore City’s most persistent challenges. Now, the numbers are moving in a different direction.  Vacant homes have fallen from more than 16,000 to fewer than 12,000 during Mayor Brandon Scott’s time in office, while census estimates show Baltimore gaining residents for the first time in a decade. In episode 10, Dom and Terry sit down with Mayor Scott to discuss what is driving that progress, what it takes to return long-vacant properties to productive use, and how the effort fits into Baltimore’s broader strategy to strengthen neighborhoods and attract and retain residents.  The conversation explores the momentum behind a challenge, generations in the making, and what comes next.  Follow us on Socials! MACo on Twitter MACo on Facebook

    The Briefing Room: Baltimore City’s War on Vacancy

  6. Sep 18

    Blueprint Check-In: The Superintendents’ View

    Send us Fan Mail Five years into implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, Maryland’s sweeping education reform plan is approaching a pivotal moment. On this episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Sarah Sample kicks off a new series examining how the Blueprint is playing out on the ground and what could come next as lawmakers prepare for the 2027 legislative session. Her first guest is Mary Pat Fannon, Executive Director of the Public School Superintendents Association of Maryland (PSSAM), who brings the perspective of the school system leaders charged with putting the ambitious reform plan into practice. The conversation looks at where the Blueprint is delivering results, including expanded pre-K, dual enrollment, career-focused opportunities, community schools, and greater access to programs in historically under-resourced districts. But five years of implementation have also brought significant challenges, from rising special education costs and competing education priorities to inflation, school construction needs, and mounting pressure on state and local budgets. With the Blueprint’s interim evaluation due later this year and major budget decisions awaiting lawmakers in Annapolis, Sarah and Mary Pat discuss what superintendents want policymakers to understand about implementation, where adjustments may be needed, and why Mary Pat says the biggest takeaway for the years ahead is to “stay the course.” Follow us on Socials! MACo on Twitter MACo on Facebook

  7. Sep 15

    The Briefing Room: All Bangers, No Mash

    Send us Fan Mail Housing’s biggest challenges rarely have a single solution. What happens when you stop talking about the housing problem and start kicking the tires on possible solutions?  In Episode 9, Dom and Terry are joined by Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day for a rapid-fire look at some of the ideas gaining attention in the housing conversation. From new approaches to financing and building design to questions about public input, downsizing, and making development easier for smaller builders, the group digs into where there may be real opportunity and where the details get complicated.  It is a wide-ranging conversation about which ideas might actually help Maryland build more housing, which still need some work, and which may be destined for a few more workgroups before they are ready for prime time. Follow us on Socials! MACo on Twitter MACo on Facebook

    The Briefing Room: All Bangers, No Mash

  8. Sep 4

    Local Revenue Flexibility Takes Center Stage

    Send us Fan Mail This week on the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson break down the latest from Maryland’s Local Revenue Task Force and the options on the table as it considers how to modernize county and municipal revenue structures. They dig into property tax flexibility, commercial property rates, land value taxation, data centers, municipal tax setoffs, and what greater local flexibility could actually look like. The conversation also takes a closer look at the State’s fiscal outlook and what counts as “aid” to local governments, even as nearly all of the recent growth goes to education and retirement costs. Plus, Kevin and Michael preview the Task Force’s September 14 public hearing, where counties can weigh in before recommendations take shape ahead of the 2027 legislative session. Previous Conduit Street Coverage: Local Revenue Task Force Sets Public Hearing: Here’s How To Testify Previous Conduit Street Coverage: Revenue Task Force Weighs Options for Modernizing Local Revenues Previous Conduit Street Coverage: Revenue Task Force Convenes: Counties Shoulder 96% of Local Spending, But Revenue Tools Haven’t Kept Pace

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4.9
out of 5
33 Ratings

About

From the halls of the State House to the heart of county government, the Conduit Street Podcast breaks down the decisions shaping Marylanders’ daily lives. Produced by the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo), this weekly podcast offers smart, accessible insights on the latest state and local policy — with counties always at the center. Explore how legislation, executive actions, and agency decisions affect essential public services like education, infrastructure, public safety, health, and other core functions that matter most to Maryland residents. With special guests from across the state and the occasional world-famous dad joke, Conduit Street keeps you informed, engaged, and ready for what’s next. Whether you’re a policymaker, a public servant, or just policy-curious, this is your front-row seat to Maryland’s political landscape.

Information

  • Creator
    Maryland Association of Counties
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    386
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Conduit Street Podcast
  • Show Website
    Conduit Street Podcast

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