Maryland Now

Blended Public Affairs
  • 5.0 (17)
  • News Commentary
  • Updated Weekly

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

  1. 2d ago ·  Video

    Steny Hoyer & Sarah Elfreth: Passing the Baton in Congress

    Maryland Now, brought to you by Blended Public Affairs This episode, Dori Henry, Josh Kurtz, and David Nitkin head to Capitol Hill for a wide-ranging conversation with Congressman Steny Hoyer, the dean of Maryland's congressional delegation, who retires in January after more than four decades in Congress, and Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth, who first walked into his office as an intern in 2011 and now serves alongside him. Together they look at how Congress got here, what it will take to fix it, and what a mentor and his protégé have learned from each other. In this episode: How Congress has changed since Hoyer arrived in 1981, from the Tip O'Neill and Bob Michel era to the confrontational politics he traces back to Newt GingrichWhy Hoyer says Congress's problem is psychological, not structuralElfreth on the bipartisan freshman retreat where she saw glimmers of hope that opposing sides can come together to do hard thingsThe 1983 Reagan and O'Neill Social Security deal, and why reform is harder todayBoth lawmakers on Congress's failure to check the executive branchThe mentors who shaped them, from Mike Busch and Mike Miller to Hoyer's friendships across the aisleElfreth's work on the Armed Services Committee and what it means for Maryland's military installationsAdvice for the next class of new members, from Elfreth's call for curiosity to Hoyer's Edmund Burke lessonGot a question or topic you want covered this season?  Reach us at marylandnow@blendedpublicaffairs.com, and find us now on Facebook too.Technical support by Nate Carper, Carper Creative. (00:00) - Welcome and Introductions (00:12) - Hoyer and Elfreth Background (01:43) - How Congress Culture Changed (03:01) - From Gingrich to Trump Era (06:12) - Social Security and Bipartisan Hope (09:26) - Why Reform Is So Hard (12:35) - Why Congress Is Unpopular (15:31) - Culture vs Structure Fixes (16:53) - Debt Ceiling and Paying for Government (20:18) - Executive Power and Congress Role (22:19) - Congress Reclaims Power (23:09) - Executive Overreach Fears (24:33) - Tariffs And Impotence (24:53) - Mentors And Intern Days (26:59) - Committee Culture Shock (29:19) - Old School Bipartisanship (31:56) - Media And Polarization (33:25) - Retirement And Democracy (35:31) - Next Congress Priorities (39:06) - Advice For New Members (42:25) - Closing And Credits

    Steny Hoyer & Sarah Elfreth: Passing the Baton in Congress

  2. Oct 1 ·  Video

    "Walk Again": The Culture Shift for Women in Maryland Politics

    Maryland Now — brought to you by Blended Public Affairs This episode, Dori Henry sits down for a roundtable on women in Maryland politics, joined by Alex Hughes, founder and president of Blended Public Affairs and former longtime Statehouse staffer, Sophia Silbergeld, one of Maryland's top political fundraisers, and Martha McKenna, president of McKenna Media and co-founder of Emerge Maryland. The conversation covers where Maryland actually ranks on women in office, why the fundraising grind keeps talented women off the ballot, and how a shift in multi-member district culture changed the expectation that one woman in a district was "enough." Martha shares the story of how Sarah Elfreth's 2016 wake-up call helped fuel a wave of women running in 2018, Sophia makes the case that campaigns win by connecting with voters, not by running on identity, and Alex traces how Annapolis culture has shifted since the early 2000s. Dori also revisits the moment a sitting Maryland comptroller told a young intern to "walk again," and how much the culture has, and hasn't, changed since.  In this episode: Where Maryland ranks nationally on women holding legislative office, and which state is ahead of usThe "million dollar question," sustaining the pipeline of women candidates past the first waveHow Sarah Elfreth was motivated to run, and how the 2016 election helped spark the wave of women who ran and won in 2018How Annapolis's culture has changed, and hasn't, since the early 2000sWhy personal brand and storytelling matter as much as a resume, and what that means for women candidates specificallyAdvice for any woman considering running, volunteering, or getting more involvedGot a question or topic you want covered this season? Reach us at marylandnow@blendedpublicaffairs.com, and find us now on Facebook too. Technical support by Nate Carper, Carper Creative. (00:00) - Welcome and guest introductions (01:11) - Where Maryland ranks on women in elected office (01:58) - Building a sustainable pipeline for women candidates (03:18) - Martha McKenna: Sarah Elfreth's story and the multi-member district culture shift (09:05) - The fundraising barrier (11:40) - Alex Hughes on culture change among Annapolis leadership (16:09) - County executive seats as a stepping stone to higher office (17:05) - Why were 2026's leading gubernatorial candidates all men? (19:54) - The double standard for women in executive office (22:50) - Is there a media coverage gap for women legislators? (29:28) - Personal brand versus resume on the campaign trail (32:19) - Balancing motherhood and public office (33:17) - Dori's story: William Donald Schaefer and "walk again" (35:44) - How Annapolis culture has and hasn't changed (38:43) - Advice for women considering running or getting involved (40:12) - Closing

    "Walk Again": The Culture Shift for Women in Maryland Politics

  3. Sep 24

    [Replay] Maryland's Official State Symbols, Explained

    A quick note: Maryland Now is taking a short break this week. Enjoy this favorite episode from last season, and join us back on October 1st for a brand new episode. In this "Roundtable" edition of Maryland Now, hosts Dori Henry, Josh Kurtz, and David Nitkin dive into the quirky, surprising, and often controversial world of Maryland's official state symbols. From the 1893 Chicago World's Fair to classroom lobbying efforts by elementary school students, the group explores how 26 different icons, ranging from the iconic blue crab to the prehistoric Astrodon johnstoni, became part of the state's official identity. The episode goes behind the scenes of the legislative "sausage-making" in Annapolis, revealing why some symbols represent deep-seated heritage while others are the result of persistent student campaigns, political compromises, and even a bit of lighthearted debate over the state's official dessert. In This Episode: The World's Fair Spark: How a 19th-century disagreement over a national flower led to the "snowball effect" of state symbols across all 50 states.The "Bad Bill" of 2001: The humorous story of how a group of Allegany County students successfully lobbied for the Calico Cat, despite pushback from legislators who thought the General Assembly had "gone to the cats."The Jousting vs. Lacrosse Compromise: A look at the legislative maneuver that kept Maryland's traditional state sport intact while elevating Lacrosse to its own official status.The Smith Island Cake Crusade: How a humble multi-layered dessert from a small island community became a staple of Maryland pride (and a lesson in the power of grassroots lobbying).Repealing History: A serious look at the 2021 decision to officially repeal "Maryland, My Maryland" as the state song and the ongoing search for a replacement.Dinosaur Drama: Why a 112-million-year-old "Star Tooth" found in Prince George's County is the only dinosaur officially recognized by the Free State.Questions or Story Ideas: Email us at marylandnow@blendedpublicaffairs.com. Audio and technical support by Nate Carper of Carper Creative. Maryland Now is brought to you by Blended Public Affairs. Don't Forget to Subscribe Wherever You Get Your Podcasts! And follow us of Facebok too  (00:00) - Welcome to Maryland Now (00:23) - Origins of State Symbols (02:01) - Food Talk and Flag Pride (03:16) - New Symbols and State Song (07:04) - Square Dance Deep Dive (08:58) - Henry Ford and Big Square Dance (11:28) - Maryland Makes It Official (18:11) - Jousting State Sport Story (21:30) - Lacrosse vs Jousting Politics (24:35) - Jousting Politics Backstory (27:15) - Walking State Exercise Saga (28:55) - Ehrlich Veto and Kids March (30:22) - Smith Island Cake Becomes Law (32:34) - Cake Lobbying and Ethics (36:17) - Calico Cat Origin Story (38:22) - Student Lobbying Playbook (41:34) - Survey Data and Senate Help (43:19) - Opposition and Final Votes (46:28) - Wrap Up and Postscript

    [Replay] Maryland's Official State Symbols, Explained

  4. Sep 17 ·  Video

    Stay Off the Poller Coasters: Tom Perez on the Midterms

    Maryland Now — brought to you by Blended Public Affairs This episode, Dori Henry, Josh Kurtz, and David Nitkin sit down with Tom Perez — former U.S. Labor Secretary, former DNC Chair, former Maryland Labor Secretary, former Montgomery County Councilmember, and now a partner at Mayer Brown — for a wide-ranging conversation on the 2026 midterms, the state of American democracy, and what comes next for the Democratic Party. In this episode: Why Perez believes Democrats are favored to retake the House and are newly competitive in states like Iowa, Kansas, Ohio, and Texas — and the historical data point he says predicts midterm outcomes better than anything elseHis warning about what he hopes Democrats don't do if they retake Congress, and what he thinks the real priorities should be insteadA candid conversation about the risk to free and fair elections in NovemberPerez's reflections on his time in the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division — from working under Reagan-era officials who respected institutional norms, to what he calls the "obliteration" of those same norms todayHis firm's role representing Harvard in its funding dispute with the administration, and why he says the case matters far beyond one universityA sobering look at what a return to normalcy might cost the U.S. with its allies abroad, and why he thinks trust, once broken twice, is much harder to rebuildGot a question or topic you want covered this season? Reach us at marylandnow@blendedpublicaffairs.com, and find us now on Facebook too. Technical support by Nate Carper, Carper Creative.

    Stay Off the Poller Coasters: Tom Perez on the Midterms

  5. Sep 10 ·  Video

    Today’s Maryland Media: What We’ve Lost And What We’ve Gained

    Maryland Now — brought to you by Blended Public Affairs This episode, Dori Henry, Josh Kurtz, and David Nitkin turn the mic on their own industry, sitting down with TJ Smith — until days ago the host of a talk radio show on WBAL, and before that spokesperson for Baltimore City Police and then-County Executive Johnny Olszewski — and Miranda Spivack, a former Washington Post editor, former top editor at the Gazette newspapers, and author of Backroom Deals in Our Backyards. Together they take stock of Maryland's media landscape today: what's been lost as newsrooms shrink and outlets close, but also what's emerging to try to fill the gap, from nonprofit journalism to a generation that may be starting to crave something deeper than a headline. In this episode: How Pew Research shows the share of Americans following local news closely has dropped from 37% in 2016 to 21% in 2025 — and what that decline actually looks like on the ground, from WBAL cutting local programming to the Washington Post scaling back Maryland coverageTJ Smith on the erosion of local news bureaus, the blurred line between "journalist" and "influencer," and how he tried to bridge the gap by recording his own press conference footage for outlets that could no longer send anyoneMiranda Spivack on the economics of local news, why subscription and philanthropic models are gaining ground, and what it was like watching ownership change at the Washington PostThe bright spots: the Baltimore Banner's Pulitzer Prize and its expansion into Montgomery and Prince George's counties, and TJ's case for cautious optimism that younger generations may be circling back toward wanting real depth over quick hitsA candid look at what's still missing even where new outlets are succeeding — the group's take on the loss of the editing function, and where the Baltimore Sun's shift under new ownership fits into the bigger pictureNew models worth watching: bundling news subscriptions like streaming services, cross-promotion between outlets, and the case for local journalists becoming trusted community voices in their own rightA frank conversation about media distrust, "flooding the zone," and what it takes to rebuild credibility in an information environment that's radically different from the one this group started their careers inGot a question or topic you want covered this season? Reach us at marylandnow@blendedpublicaffairs.com, and find us now on Facebook too. Technical support by Nate Carper, Carper Creative.

    Today’s Maryland Media: What We’ve Lost And What We’ve Gained

  6. Sep 3 ·  Video

    The Third Rail: Inside Maryland's Healthcare Model

    Maryland Now — brought to you by Blended Public Affairs This episode, host David Nitkin takes on healthcare — an industry so big and so personal that he almost didn't tackle it, given his own history working inside the Johns Hopkins system. Drawing on interviews with seven leaders across Maryland's hospitals, physicians, regulators, and insurers, David traces the 50-year history of the "Maryland Model" — the state's unique all-payer healthcare system — from its 1970s origins through today's uncertain future, as a new federal agreement threatens to unwind the very thing that's made Maryland's healthcare financing unlike anywhere else in the country. In this episode: How a 1977 deal with the federal government created Maryland's all-payer waiver — and why it's been called "a third rail" that no one in Annapolis wants to touchThe 2014 shift to global hospital budgets under Governor O'Malley, and how it changed hospitals' incentives from volume to valueThe real numbers: reduced hospital readmissions, fewer hospital-acquired infections, and why Maryland hasn't lost a single rural hospital while nearly 200 have closed nationwideThe new AHEAD model, and why it may mean the end of the "all-payer" system as Medicare and commercial insurers start paying different rates for the first time in 50 yearsA stark warning from a CareFirst executive describing a "game of chicken" between hospitals, insurers, and the state Got a question or topic you want covered this season? Reach us at marylandnow@blendedpublicaffairs.com, and find us now on Facebook too. Technical support by Nate Carper, Carper Creative. (00:00) - Cold Open (04:32) - Healthcare By The Numbers (06:49) - David's Story: A Personal Stake (08:08) - Origins: Hospitals On The Brink, 1960s (09:14) - The Waiver And The All-Payer System (10:40) - "A Third Rail": Why No One Touches It (12:29) - Cracks Begin To Show, 2011 (14:47) - 2014: The Shift To Global Budgets (16:45) - How Hospitals Adapted (19:53) - The Old System's Weaknesses (21:32) - 2019: Total Cost Of Care (22:22) - Where Doctors Fit In (24:49) - The Numbers: What Actually Improved (28:49) - Why Rural Hospitals Haven't Closed (29:23) - The CareFirst Monopoly Problem (32:38) - 2024: Enter The AHEAD Model (35:05) - The End Of All-Payer? (36:17) - Who Pays For The Gap (38:39) - Hospitals: Running Out Of Easy Fixes (40:22) - Beyond Hospitals: Drugs, Behavioral Health, Aging (42:18) - Nursing Homes And The Capacity Crunch (43:05) - "A Game Of Chicken" (45:07) - The Maryland Model Goes National (45:56) - Closing Thoughts (48:41) - Team Roundtable: History And What's Next

    The Third Rail: Inside Maryland's Healthcare Model

  7. Aug 27 ·  Video

    Swimming Halfway: Maryland's Blueprint for Education Reform

    Maryland Now — brought to you by Blended Public Affairs This episode, Josh Kurtz takes a deep dive into the Blueprint for Maryland's Future — the state's roughly $4 billion, 10-year education reform plan — now about halfway through its run, with a formal progress report due out by the end of the year. Drawing on interviews with eight educators and political leaders, Josh traces the Blueprint's roots back to a 1990s ACLU lawsuit over underfunded Baltimore City schools, through the Thornton and Kirwan Commissions, Governor Hogan's 2020 veto and the legislature's override, and into where the plan stands today — including a look at what's working, what isn't, and the funding fight that's about to define its next chapter. In this episode: How Maryland's decline in national education ratings alarmed policymakers and educators and prompted bold but complicated actionThe five "pillars" of the Blueprint, and why the law also created an unusual new oversight agency, the Accountability and Implementation BoardAll 24 Maryland school districts have now hit $60,000 starting teacher salaries — but neighboring states are catching up fast, and some districts had to sacrifice other priorities to get thereWhy a court ruling striking down Maryland's digital advertising tax has frozen over $535 million earmarked for the BlueprintThe push from advocacy groups and the teachers' union for progressive revenue measures — and the pushback from counties already stretched thinA candid, skeptical take from a former Baltimore City school board member on whether the Blueprint tried to do too much, too fastA powerful official's case for staying the course, told through two sports metaphors — a college athletic program still waiting to win games, and a swimmer who covers 26 miles without ever completing the crossingGot a question or topic you want covered this season? Reach us at marylandnow@blendedpublicaffairs.com, and find us now on Facebook too. Technical support by Nate Carper, Carper Creative. (00:00) - Welcome and Setup (00:44) - Why the Blueprint Matters (04:15) - New School Year Stakes (07:18) - Blueprint Goals and Players (08:31) - Early Results and Patience (10:01) - Origins Thornton to Kirwan (14:08) - Passing the Blueprint (16:17) - Accountability Board Explained (23:30) - Teacher Pay and Tradeoffs (30:43) - Other Pillars PreK Careers (33:33) - Funding Fights State and Local (39:42) - Worcester County Case Study (41:18) - Inflation and Bigger Questions (42:45) - Will Leaders Stay Committed (45:49) - Wrap Up and Credits

    Swimming Halfway: Maryland's Blueprint for Education Reform

  8. Aug 20

    Downy Ocean: Inside MACo Week with Maryland's Power Players

    Maryland Now — brought to you by Blended Public Affairs This episode, Maryland Now hits the road. Hosts Dori Henry, Josh Kurtz, and David Nitkin traveled to Ocean City for the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) conference — the annual gathering where most of Maryland's state and local government establishment spends a few days mixing official business with a packed circuit of evening receptions. Rather than one long-form interview, this episode features brief interviews with elected officials, agency heads, and the private-sector players navigating Maryland's biggest policy fights, all tied together with Dori, Josh, and David's own reporting and reactions from the ground.   We cover everything from Maryland's energy challenges with PSC Chair Kumar Barve and State Sen. J.B. Jennings, to the state's fiscal picture with Budget Secretary Jake Weissman and Comptroller Brooke Lierman, and the major reduction in violent crime in Baltimore City with Mayor Brandon Scott…and more.   In this episode: PSC Chair Kumar Barve on Maryland's role in a 13-state regional power grid, and why data centers need to "bring their own new generation"State Sen. J.B. Jennings on what's really driving Maryland's high electric bills, and why he's skeptical the legislature will fix it this sessionBudget Secretary Jake Weissman on formulating next year's budget amid a structural deficitComptroller Brooke Lierman on why she calls Maryland's housing regulations "the Smith Island Cake effect"Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott on six years of falling homicide rates, the group violence reduction strategy behind it, and $7 billion in new downtown investmentCFG Bank Arena GM Frank Remesch on turning Baltimore into a top touring market – including the story of the night SZA and Queen swapped 57 trucks in and out in under an hourConversations with Howard County executive nominee Vanessa Atterbeary, Baltimore County CAO D'Andrea Walker, and Reps. Johnny Olszewski and April Delaney on affordability, redistricting, and what's ahead in our counties and in CongressState Administrator of Elections Jared DeMarinis on rebuilding public trust in the vote count ahead of NovemberGot a question or topic you want covered this season? Reach us at marylandnow@blendedpublicaffairs.com, and find us now on Facebook too. Technical support by Nate Carper, Carper Cre8tive. (00:00) - Welcome to Maryland Now (00:18) - Inside the MACO Scene (01:08) - Conference vs Receptions (04:45) - Why Host a Reception (07:40) - Budget and Policy Outlook (09:04) - Energy Bills and Regulation (13:51) - Data Centers and New Power (16:44) - Senator Jennings on Energy (22:26) - Structural Deficit Explained (23:44) - Budget Secretary at MACO (30:07) - Comptroller Role and Priorities (33:38) - Housing Affordability Push (36:25) - Workforce Housing Challenges (39:35) - Mayor Scott on Crime Drop (45:26) - 2026 Focus And 2028 (46:34) - Maryland Redistricting Lines (48:11) - Arena Glow Up Explained (49:31) - Booking And Logistics Wins (53:39) - Downtown Revival And Gaps (54:54) - WinWaste Energy And Emissions (57:20) - Atterbeary Transition Priorities (01:03:45) - Baltimore County Transition Playbook (01:08:36) - Olszewski Costs Housing And Pardons (01:19:04) - Delaney Tech Rural And Maps (01:25:41) - Election Trust And Misinformation (01:31:09) - MACO Takeaways And Wrap

    Downy Ocean: Inside MACo Week with Maryland's Power Players
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
17 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
    2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Blended Public Affairs
  • Show Website
    Maryland Now

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