Maryland Now

Blended Public Affairs
  • 5.0 (10)
  • NEWS COMMENTARY

Maryland Now is a podcast that goes beyond the headlines to explore the forces shaping Maryland’s politics, policy, and public life. Hosted by Dori Henry, Josh Kurtz, and David Nitkin — three veteran journalists and public‑affairs leaders with more than 60 years of combined experience — the show brings depth, context, and historical perspective to the issues facing Maryland today. Each episode blends reporting, interviews, and insider knowledge. You’ll hear directly from the people driving decisions in Annapolis and across the state: agency heads, lawmakers, advocates, strategists, and longtime policy experts. The hosts draw on their decades covering and working in Maryland government to connect past decisions to current debates — revealing how we got here, what’s been tried before, and what’s at stake now. Season One follows the 2026 General Assembly session and election cycle, with deep dives into housing, energy, the state budget, public health, and more. The conversations are smart, candid, and grounded in real reporting — not hot takes. If you want to understand Maryland — its politics, its communities, and its future — Maryland Now is for YOU

Episodes

  1. Why Maryland Can’t Build Enough Housing

    17H AGO

    Why Maryland Can’t Build Enough Housing

    Maryland is in the middle of a full‑blown housing crisis — and the consequences are showing up everywhere. For 12 straight years, more Marylanders have left the state than moved in, and the trend is accelerating. As Comptroller Brooke Lierman explains, it’s not just retirees heading south. Younger residents and middle‑income families are leaving too, taking billions in economic activity with them. “I was particularly disconcerted to see how many younger Marylanders are moving away,” she says. At the center of the problem: Maryland simply hasn’t built enough homes. The state is short roughly 100,000 units today, and needs 590,000 new homes by 2045 to meet projected demand. But for decades, a patchwork of zoning rules, local veto points, and well‑intentioned but restrictive smart‑growth policies have made it harder — not easier — to build where people actually want to live. As Housing Secretary Jake Day puts it, “We’ve done a fantastic job telling people where they can’t build… we never finished the equation.” In this episode, hosts Dori Henry, Josh Kurtz, and David Nitkin unpack how Maryland got here, why the state’s “culture of permission” makes development so difficult, and what lawmakers are proposing this session to finally break the logjam. They explore the political dynamics that allow a handful of neighbors to stall desperately needed housing, the unintended consequences of Maryland’s smart‑growth legacy, and why even high‑performing school districts use tools like adequate public facilities ordinances to keep new families out. Featuring voices from across the housing landscape — developers, preservationists, county leaders, and state officials — this episode offers a clear, grounded look at one of Maryland’s most urgent challenges, and what it will take to build a more affordable future. In This Episode Why Maryland has lost residents to other states for 12 consecutive yearsHow a shortage of 100,000 homes is driving up prices and pushing families outWhy Maryland permits far fewer homes than fast‑growing states like the Carolinas, Texas, and FloridaHow single‑family zoning and decades of layered regulations restrict what can be built — and whereThe unintended consequences of Maryland’s smart‑growth movementWhy local “permission structures” allow neighbors to block needed housingHow late vesting rules let opponents kill projects even after approvalsWhy developers say community engagement is essential — but can go too farWhat the Moore administration is proposing this session to accelerate homebuildingWhy adequate public facilities ordinances often halt development in high‑demand school zonesKey Voices Brooke Lierman — Maryland ComptrollerJake Day — Maryland Secretary of HousingTom Coale — Land Use Attorney & Housing AdvocateChris Mfume — Founder, The Civic GroupNick Redding — President & CEO, Preservation MarylandMichael Sanderson — Executive Director, Maryland Association of CountiesWhy This Episode Matters Housing shapes everything — affordability, economic mobility, school enrollment, transportation, and the long‑term competitiveness of the state. Maryland’s shortage is already driving residents away, straining local budgets, and limiting opportunities for families across income levels. Understanding how we got here — and why it’s so hard to fix — is essential to understanding the debates unfolding in Annapolis this session. Whether you’re a renter, a homeowner, a policymaker, or someone trying to understand why housing costs keep rising, this episode offers clarity, context, and a rare inside look at the forces shaping Maryland’s housing future. Connect With the Show Questions, comments, or story ideas: marylandnow@blendedpublicaffairs.com Links & Resources Maryland Now is brought to you by Blended Public Affairs and produced by Carper Cre8tive.Blended Public Affairs: https://www.blendedpublicaffairs.comCarper Cre8tive: https://www.natecarpercreative.com (00:00) - Welcome to Maryland Now + Why Housing Is a Full-Blown Crisis (01:31) - The ‘Culture of Permission’: How Public Process Slows (or Stops) Building (03:27) - Case Study: Lutherville Station, Smart Growth, and Transit-Oriented Development (06:44) - The Economic Alarm Bells: Marylanders Leaving, Revenue Loss, and Permit Shortfalls (09:17) - How We Got Here: Zoning History, Single-Family Dominance, and Smart Growth’s Missing Half (13:20) - Jake Day’s Playbook: Salisbury’s ‘Here Is Home’ Incentives and Fast-Track Permitting (15:53) - State vs. Local Power: Starter Homes, Early Vesting, and Fixing Late-Vesting Uncertainty (17:52) - When Engagement Becomes Veto Power: Tom Coale & Developers on Delays and Deal-Killers (22:34) - Can the 2026 Session Deliver? Counties, Consensus, and the Politics of Reform (24:37) - The APFO Debate: Schools, Infrastructure Backlogs, and the ‘Red Light’ on Growth (30:43) - What Else Needs to Change: Better Engagement, Parking Minimums, Upzoning, and Messaging (34:02) - Change Is Hard: A Personal NIMBY Moment + Closing Thoughts and Credits

    37 min
  2. Maryland’s State Budget: Delaying the pain, or investing in the future?

    FEB 12

    Maryland’s State Budget: Delaying the pain, or investing in the future?

    The Maryland General Assembly is back in session — and the only thing lawmakers must do each year is pass a balanced budget. And this year, an election year, there is no way that policy makers are going to raise taxes. So to fill an unexpected $1.5 billion gap between revenues and expenditures, fueled by unintended costs in healthcare and rising costs in education, Gov. Wes Moore is looking at spending cuts and untapped pots of money. Like every year, long‑term projections look increasingly grim. So how worried should Marylanders really be?   In this episode, hosts Dori Henry, Josh Kurtz, and David Nitkin break down the state budget in a way that’s clear, digestible, and grounded in decades of reporting and public‑affairs experience. They explore why the budget is never as simple as it seems, what’s driving the latest shortfall, and whether Maryland’s infamous “structural deficit” is a real crisis or a self‑inflicted accounting exercise. Featuring insights from two of the state’s most respected budget minds — Warren Deschenaux, longtime nonpartisan fiscal analyst, and Rich Madaleno, former state senator and current Montgomery County chief administrative officer — this episode explains how Maryland’s finances got to the shape they are in, what’s unique about our budgeting process, and why the next few years will be especially challenging.   In This Episode • Why Maryland suddenly faces a $1.5 billion budget gap • How federal tax changes and unexpected healthcare costs blew a hole in the budget • What the “structural deficit” actually means — and why some experts say it’s a made‑up problem • How Maryland’s budgeting rules differ from neighboring states like Virginia • The long‑term impact of Maryland’s education plan, the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, and whether it was responsible to pass without a funding source • Competing political narratives about former Governor Hogan’s fiscal record • Why Maryland’s economy is shaped by both the life sciences and the “death sciences” • What to expect as lawmakers negotiate cuts, priorities, and election‑year constraints   Key Voices • Warren Deschenaux — Former Director, Department of Legislative Services • Rich Madaleno — Former State Senator; Chief Administrative Officer, Montgomery County • Boyd Rutherford — Former Lieutenant Governor • Maggie McIntosh — Former Chair, House Appropriations Committee • Michael Sanderson — Executive Director, Maryland Association of Counties   Why This Episode Matters Maryland’s budget shapes everything from schools to healthcare to public safety. Understanding how the process works — and why it’s so often contentious — helps explain the political debates unfolding in Annapolis this session. Whether you’re a policy watcher, a state employee, or a Marylander who wants to know where your tax dollars go, this episode offers clarity, context, and a rare behind‑the‑scenes look at how the state’s most important decisions get made.   Connect With the Show Questions, comments, or story ideas: marylandnow@blendedpublicaffairs.com Links & Resources Maryland Now is brought to you by Blended Public Affairs and produced by Carper Cre8tive. Blended Public Affairs: https://www.blendedpublicaffairs.comCarper Cre8tive: https://www.natecarpercreative.com (00:00) - Introduction to Maryland's Legislative Session (00:27) - Hosts Introduce the State Budget Topic (00:43) - Importance and Complexity of the State Budget (01:33) - Memories and Insights from Budget Reporting (03:51) - Governor's Budget Proposal and Challenges (05:34) - Understanding Maryland's Structural Deficit (06:43) - Revenue Sources and Taxation Issues (09:23) - Impact of Federal Changes on Maryland's Budget (15:22) - Political Perspectives on Budget Management (21:34) - Education Funding and the Blueprint for Maryland's Future (27:59) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

    30 min
  3. Party Like It’s 1999: How One Bill Reshaped Maryland’s Energy Market

    FEB 5

    Party Like It’s 1999: How One Bill Reshaped Maryland’s Energy Market

    Maryland Now opens its debut season with a deep examination of how a single piece of legislation from 1999 reshaped Maryland’s electricity market and helped set the stage for some of the energy challenges the state faces today. Hosts Dori Henry, Josh Kurtz, and David Nitkin walk through the political forces, policy decisions, and long-term consequences that contribute to the high electric bills Marylanders are opening this winter. With energy prices rising sharply and lawmakers under pressure to respond, this episode connects the past to the present and highlights why the 2026 legislative session is so pivotal. Episode Overview Marylanders across the state are seeing unusually high utility bills after weeks of freezing temperatures. At the same time, the General Assembly has kicked off a session that will be dominated by energy policy, affordability, and the search for solutions. This episode explores why electricity prices are spiking, how data centers and the grid operator's planning failures are driving demand, why there are no short-term fixes, the political pressure of an election year, the influence of utilities, lobbyists, and major industrial players, and how consumers often get sidelined in complex policy debates. But mostly, the episode travels back to 1999, when Maryland lawmakers — under pressure from Enron, industrial giants, and legislative leaders — passed a sweeping deregulation bill that fundamentally changed how electricity is generated and sold. You’ll hear insights from three major players from that 1999 legislative debate — and from a consumer advocate who helps Marylanders struggling with their utility bills. They break down the rushed negotiations, the rate freezes, the political maneuvering, and the ripple effects that still shape Maryland’s energy landscape. Key Topics Covered The 2026 energy crisis, including why bills are rising so quickly, how data centers and grid constraints are straining supply, and the steep learning curve lawmakers face.The political landscape, including election-year urgency for the governor and General Assembly, partisan divides over renewables, regulation, and market design, and the lobbying power of BGE, Constellation, Exelon, and others.The 1999 deregulation battle, including Enron’s national push for market competition, how legislative leaders fast-tracked a complex bill, why most lawmakers didn’t fully understand the implications, and the rate freezes that delayed competition and set up future price shocks.Why This Episode Matters Maryland’s electricity system is under significant strain, and the decisions made in 1999 still influence energy debates happening in Annapolis today.  Connect With the Show Questions, comments, or story ideas: marylandnow@blendedpublicaffairs.com Links & Resources Maryland Now is brought to you by Blended Public Affairs and produced by Carper Cre8tive. Blended Public Affairs: https://www.blendedpublicaffairs.comCarper Cre8tive: https://www.natecarpercreative.com (00:00) - Introduction (02:37) - The 1999 Deregulation Debate (02:38) - (21:14) - Rate Freezes and Consequences (26:41) - Consumer Protection Issues (32:54) - Current Crisis and Lessons Learned (35:57) - Conclusion

    38 min
  4. Maryland Needs This Podcast — Now

    EPISODE 1

    Maryland Needs This Podcast — Now

    Maryland Now is a new podcast from longtime Maryland journalists and public‑affairs veterans Dori Henry, Josh Kurtz, and David Nitkin — three people who’ve spent decades reporting on, working inside, and analyzing Maryland government and politics. In this trailer, the hosts introduce themselves, share their backgrounds, and explain why this podcast fills a gap in Maryland’s media landscape. With more than 60 combined years covering state and local government, they bring historical context, institutional memory, and a reporter’s instinct for what matters beneath the headlines. You’ll hear: •  How the hosts met in the early 2000s as State House reporters•  Why so many of today’s debates — housing, budgets, energy, public health — are rooted in decisions made decades ago•  What makes this podcast different: deep reporting, not punditry•  The kinds of guests you’ll hear from: agency secretaries, committee chairs, lobbyists, policy experts, and longtime insiders•  How season one will follow the 2026 General Assembly session and election cycle•  Why Maryland’s political history is essential to understanding Maryland’s political present The hosts also share personal stories — from newsroom rivalries to being banned by a governor — and reflect on how their careers in journalism, government, and public affairs shape the conversations they want to bring to listeners.If you care about Maryland’s politics, communities, and future, this is the podcast for you. Follow the show, join the conversation, and be part of Maryland Now. Connect With the Show Questions, comments, or story ideas: marylandnow@blendedpublicaffairs.com Links & Resources Maryland Now is brought to you by Blended Public Affairs and produced by Carper Cre8tive. Blended Public Affairs: https://www.blendedpublicaffairs.comCarper Cre8tive: https://www.natecarpercreative.com

    3 min

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Maryland Now is a podcast that goes beyond the headlines to explore the forces shaping Maryland’s politics, policy, and public life. Hosted by Dori Henry, Josh Kurtz, and David Nitkin — three veteran journalists and public‑affairs leaders with more than 60 years of combined experience — the show brings depth, context, and historical perspective to the issues facing Maryland today. Each episode blends reporting, interviews, and insider knowledge. You’ll hear directly from the people driving decisions in Annapolis and across the state: agency heads, lawmakers, advocates, strategists, and longtime policy experts. The hosts draw on their decades covering and working in Maryland government to connect past decisions to current debates — revealing how we got here, what’s been tried before, and what’s at stake now. Season One follows the 2026 General Assembly session and election cycle, with deep dives into housing, energy, the state budget, public health, and more. The conversations are smart, candid, and grounded in real reporting — not hot takes. If you want to understand Maryland — its politics, its communities, and its future — Maryland Now is for YOU

Information

  • Creator
    Blended Public Affairs
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    4
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Blended Public Affairs
  • Show Website
    Maryland Now

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