Maryland Now

About Maryland Now

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

Publisher

Blended Public Affairs

Category

news · news

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

23 Jan 2026

Latest episode

8 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

22 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   8 Oct 2026

   Steny Hoyer & Sarah Elfreth: Passing the Baton in Congress

   Maryland Now, brought to you by Blended Public Affairs (https://blendedpublicaffairs.com/) 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 Gingrich Why Hoyer says Congress's problem is psychological, not structural Elfreth on the bipartisan freshman retreat where she saw glimmers of hope that opposing sides can come together to do hard things The 1983 Reagan and O'Neill Social Security deal, and why reform is harder today Both lawmakers on Congress's failure to check the executive branch The mentors who shaped them, from Mike Busch and Mike Miller to Hoyer's friendships across the aisle Elfreth's work on the Armed Services Committee and what it means for Maryland's military installations Advice for the next class of new members, from Elfreth's call for curiosity to Hoyer's Edmund Burke lesson Got a question or topic you want covered this season? Reach us at marylandnow@blendedpublicaffairs.com (mailto:marylandnow@blendedpublicaffairs.com), and find us now on Facebook too. Technical support by Nate Carper, Carper Creative. (https://carpercreative.studio/) (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

2. 

   1 Oct 2026

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

   Maryland Now — brought to you by Blended Public Affairs (https://blendedpublicaffairs.com/) This episode, Dori Henry sits down without her regular co-hosts for a special 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, credited in part to Comptroller Brooke Lierman, 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 a personal story from her reporting days, the moment a sitting Maryland comptroller told a young intern to "walk again," and what it says about how far the culture has, and hasn't, come. In this episode: Where Maryland ranks nationally on women holding legislative office, and which state is ahead of us Martha McKenna on the "million dollar question," sustaining the pipeline of women candidates past the first wave The Sarah Elfreth story, and how the 2016 election helped spark the wave of women who ran and won in 2018 How a shift in multi-member district culture, credited to Brooke Lierman's support for Robin Lewis, changed expectations for the whole state Why fundraising, not ambition, is often the real barrier keeping women from running Alex Hughes on how Annapolis's culture has changed, and hasn't, since the early 2000s Dori's own story from covering the Statehouse: the moment Comptroller William Donald Schaefer told a young intern to "walk again" Why personal brand and storytelling matter as much as a resume, and what that means for women candidates specifically Advice from Martha and Sophia for any woman considering running, volunteering, or getting more involved Got a question or topic you want covered this season? Reach us at marylandnow@blendedpublicaffairs.com (mailto:marylandnow@blendedpublicaffairs.com), and find us now on Facebook too. Technical support by Nate Carper, Carper Creative. (https://carpercreative.studio/) (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

3. 

   24 Sept 2026

   [Replay] Maryland's Official State Symbols, Explained

   A quick note: Maryland Now is taking a short break this week. We'll be back next Thursday with a brand new episode. Thanks for listening, and be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and find us on Facebook too. 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 (mailto:marylandnow@blendedpublicaffairs.com). Audio and technical support by Nate Carper of Carper Creative. (https://carpercreative.studio/) Maryland Now is brought to you by Blended Public Affairs. (https://blendedpublicaffairs.com/) 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 Thanks for tuning in. A new episode of Maryland Now will return next Thursday. Got a question or topic you want covered this season? Reach us at marylandnow@blendedpublicaffairs.com (mailto:marylandnow@blendedpublicaffairs.com), and find us on Facebook too.

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Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

16 ratings

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Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.