As Maryland heads into a challenging budget year and an election cycle legislative session, Professor Todd Eberly of St. Mary’s College of Maryland joins the Conduit Street Podcast to unpack the forces shaping the state’s political and economic landscape.

Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson talk with Prof. Eberly about the ripple effects of federal government shutdowns, trade and tariff policy, disaster aid, Medicaid funding, and the growing strain on Maryland’s budget outlook. The conversation also explores Maryland’s $1.4 billion projected budget shortfall, the pressure on education and healthcare funding, and how election year dynamics complicate tough fiscal decisions.

Listen in for a wide-ranging, practical look at what’s ahead for Maryland and its counties.

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Housing will take center stage in the 2026 legislative session, and counties are ready. This week, Kevin Kinnally, Michael Sanderson, and Dom Butchko walk through MACo's major legislative initiative, the BAMBY Act (Build Affordably in My Backyard).

Together they trace the recent history of housing policy in Maryland, unpack the 2025 session, and outline the solutions counties are bringing to the table this year - including zoning flexibility, infrastructure alignment, regulatory certainty, and strategic tools to support affordability across the state.

Tying everything together, Dom explains how counties spent time gathering input from all 24 jurisdictions and why 2026 could be the year meaningful housing reforms move forward. A must-listen for anyone tracking housing, smart growth, infrastructure, land use, and county–state collaboration in Annapolis. 

See the accompanying Policy Deep Dive: Solutions to Address Maryland’s Housing Crisis

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In this week's episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Karrington Anderson talks with Sarah Sample to break down the rapidly evolving world of Public Information Act (PIA) requests in Maryland and why counties are feeling the pressure. They talk through the effects of the rise of automated and anonymous AI-generated PIA requests, cybersecurity threats entering through the request funnel, and how counties are navigating challenges the law never anticipated.

Sarah breaks down the recent recommendations from the Public Information Act Compliance Board, the expanded role of the Public Access Ombudsman, and how technology - from cloud storage to body-worn camera footage - has drastically reshaped the request and fulfillment process. With the 2026 Maryland Legislative Session fast approaching, this timely conversation explores where policy, transparency, and technological realities collide.

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This week on the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally, Michael Sanderson, and Karrington Anderson debut a new recurring segment – Conduit Street Podcast Hot Takes, where our hosts break down what’s “news” and what’s just… “noise” in Maryland policy and politics.

In this episode, the trio tackles the ongoing federal government shutdown, exploring how it’s straining Maryland’s economy, threatening food assistance programs like SNAP, and testing the resilience of counties caught in the crossfire. From back pay for federal workers to state-level stopgaps and county-level ripple effects, our hosts give their candid takes on the headlines everyone’s talking about.

It’s Maryland politics meets sports radio – sharp, insightful, a dash of quick takes, and a sprinkle of friendly banter. 

Was it "fire" or just "chopped"? Either way, here are notes from the show:
‘SNL’ parodies ‘fire’ Maryland teen podcasters and their veggie-hating vibes

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This week on the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson sit down with Congressman Johnny Olszewski, Jr., a former Maryland Delegate, Baltimore County Executive, and 2025 MACo President, now serving Maryland’s Second Congressional District.

Congressman Olszewski discusses the federal shutdown and the strain it places on Maryland communities, particularly those where federal pay and services are a significant anchor to local economies. He emphasizes the need for practical, bipartisan work when residents feel the pressure in real time.

We discuss the transition from local executive leadership to Congress, the contrast between county governance and Washington, DC, and how hands-on service back home influences decision-making in a polarized federal environment.

The discussion explores the "shock factor" of DC politics, the pace and tone shift from county governance, and the importance of staying grounded and focused on residents during uncertain times.

Contact Congressman Johnny Olszewski, Jr.

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This week on the Conduit Street Podcast, Michael Sanderson...goes solo? Just kidding! He does set the stage, however, for a special recording from St. Mary’s County, where MACo President and Queen Anne’s County Commissioner Jack Wilson joins Michael for a briefing with St. Mary’s County leaders to talk all things local governance. 

It’s a lively, conversation that hits the big levers counties are wrestling with right now: the State’s recent cost shifts (from tens of millions in teacher pensions to new assessment admin bills and even wrongful-conviction settlements), housing reform prospects that could realign local permitting and narrow public-input windows, and energy siting fights where Public Service Commission preemption leaves counties with a “weak hand” on large solar projects. 

They also touch on the federal shutdown’s local ripple effects. If you want a real-world snapshot of budgets, Blueprint pressures, housing, and energy, all through a county lens, this field episode is for you.

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This week on the Conduit Street Podcast, Dominic Butchko sits down with Jason Stanek of PJM Interconnection for a deep dive into Maryland’s evolving energy landscape. From the state’s growing dependence on imported electricity to the backlog of clean energy projects waiting to connect to the grid, Jason breaks down the challenges and opportunities shaping Maryland’s energy future. The conversation explores how PJM keeps the lights on across 13 states and D.C., and what counties need to know about transmission planning and siting. Tune in to learn how local governments fit into this complex puzzle and what reforms are on the horizon to speed up renewable energy deployment and strengthen the grid.

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This week on the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson unpack Maryland’s fiscal outlook. They break down the State’s year-end budget results, the new revenue forecast, and looming structural deficits. They also dig into the crunch in transportation funding — with local road dollars set to plunge off a fiscal cliff — the threat of a federal shutdown, and the squeeze these pressures put on county budgets and the services residents rely on.

Previous Conduit Street Coverage:

State Revenue Update: Tepid Growth, Outlook Weakens

Maryland’s FY25 Surplus Sets Stage for Deficit Years Ahead

State Highway Administration Shifted $359M to Conceal Transportation Fund Shortfall, Audit Finds

MD Comptroller: OBBB Triggers Volatility in State, Local Revenues

Federal Government Shutdown Odds Rise, Maryland Faces Big Risks

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From literacy programs to telehealth pods, Maryland’s libraries are evolving far beyond bookshelves. Join this week's Conduit Street host, Sarah Sample, as she sits down with Maryland State Librarian Morgan Lehr Miller to explore how local libraries serve as community hubs, connect residents to vital resources, and adapt to funding challenges at the state and federal levels. Hear how Maryland libraries are strengthening communities, expanding access, and shaping the future of education and equity statewide. 

Show Notes:

The Highest Calling: Conversations on the American Presidency

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On this episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, host Michael Sanderson sits down with Zachary Markovits, Vice President & Local Practice Lead at Results for America, to explore how data and evidence can transform government decision-making. From Maryland’s efforts in using evidence-based budgeting and grantmaking to success stories from across the country, the conversation highlights how local leaders can maximize every public dollar for better community outcomes. 

Tune in for a real look at how results-based practices help counties move beyond box-checking to real accountability, smarter investments, and stronger resident trust.

Learn More: Homepage - Results for America

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