ft. Del. Michele Guyton (D-42b). On this episode Arinze and Del. Guyton discuss the challenges of representing a purple district in Maryland. The show opens with an update on the Built to Learn Act and the Blueprint for Maryland’s future, the measures are designed to improve Maryland’s school buildings and education quality respectively (2:40). Next Del. Guyton talks about two of her bills: 1) cracking down on elder abuse and 2) a bill facilitating the creation of a master plan within the Department of Disability for adults with autism (14:30). Arinze turns the conversation to Baltimore County politics. Del. Guyton discusses the Speakership coming to the County and turnover within the delegation (17:50) and the dynamics of running in a split district (21:40). The conversation closes with a discussion about what it will take to motivate turnout among Democrats in 2020 (38:00).

ft. Del. Michele Guyton (D-42b). On this episode Arinze and Del. Guyton discuss the challenges of representing a purple district in Maryland. The show opens with an update on the Built to Learn Act and the Blueprint for Maryland’s future, the measures are designed to improve Maryland’s school buildings and education quality respectively (2:40). Next Del. Guyton talks about two of her bills: 1) cracking down on elder abuse and 2) a bill facilitating the creation of a master plan within the Department of Disability for adults with autism (14:30). Arinze turns the conversation to Baltimore County politics. Del. Guyton discusses the Speakership coming to the County and turnover within the delegation (17:50) and the dynamics of running in a split district (21:40). The conversation closes with a discussion about what it will take to motivate turnout among Democrats in 2020 (38:00).

ft. Del. Marc Korman, Del. Brooke Lierman, & Beth Osborne, Director of Transportation for America. On this episode two members of the MDGA’s Transportation Caucus and a national transportation policy expert join the podcast to talk about the transit issues and projects up for debate during Session 2020. The episode opens with an overview from Beth Osborne on what jursidictions are doing around the country to improve transportation (3:30). Del. Lierman talks about transit disparities in Baltimore and central Maryland (6:10). Del. Korman talks about Maryland’s “multi-modal” approach to transit throughout the State and the current slate of projects in Montgomery County (9:30). The conversation turns to transportation equity and how transit policy impacts urban and suburban residents differently (17:15). Del. Korman describes how his constituents rely heavily on high quality mass-transit options to live their lives (21:00). Del. Lierman talks about the needs of Western Maryland and the Shore for viable mass transit options (27:45) and the positive economic benefits that could be realized through the pursuit of solid transit choices. Arinze asks the group about commercial scooters and bikes to help with the “last mile” of a pedestrian commute (32:50). Del. Lierman says that land use decisions will play a major factor in alleviating transportation challenges in Maryland (36:10). The podcast wraps with an extended discussion on the importance of MARC train service and investment (38:40).

ft. Del. Marc Korman, Del. Brooke Lierman, & Beth Osborne, Director of Transportation for America. On this episode two members of the MDGA’s Transportation Caucus and a national transportation policy expert join the podcast to talk about the transit issues and projects up for debate during Session 2020. The episode opens with an overview from Beth Osborne on what jursidictions are doing around the country to improve transportation (3:30). Del. Lierman talks about transit disparities in Baltimore and central Maryland (6:10). Del. Korman talks about Maryland’s “multi-modal” approach to transit throughout the State and the current slate of projects in Montgomery County (9:30). The conversation turns to transportation equity and how transit policy impacts urban and suburban residents differently (17:15). Del. Korman describes how his constituents rely heavily on high quality mass-transit options to live their lives (21:00). Del. Lierman talks about the needs of Western Maryland and the Shore for viable mass transit options (27:45) and the positive economic benefits that could be realized through the pursuit of solid transit choices. Arinze asks the group about commercial scooters and bikes to help with the “last mile” of a pedestrian commute (32:50). Del. Lierman says that land use decisions will play a major factor in alleviating transportation challenges in Maryland (36:10). The podcast wraps with an extended discussion on the importance of MARC train service and investment (38:40).

Volume III of the Trump impeachment trilogy doesn't disappoint. This episode features Arinze, Michael, and Eva Lewis-- MDP's new Executive Director. Strap in folks, this is a fast paced episode recapping the madness of Trump's impeachment. The MD Dems end the episode by throwing down the gauntlet... Donald Trump WILL NOT WIN IN NOVEMBER. Mark your calendars, it's on!

Volume III of the Trump impeachment trilogy doesn't disappoint. This episode features Arinze, Michael, and Eva Lewis-- MDP's new Executive Director. Strap in folks, this is a fast paced episode recapping the madness of Trump's impeachment. The MD Dems end the episode by throwing down the gauntlet... Donald Trump WILL NOT WIN IN NOVEMBER. Mark your calendars, it's on!

ft. the Maryland State Education Association. MSEA Legislative Director Sean Johnson and MSEA President Cheryl Bost join the MD Dems Podcast to talk about the Kirwan Commission’s Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. The podcast kicks off with a basic question, “What is Kirwan?” (5:24). This explanation leads to the topic of community schools— an education model that has enjoyed significant publicity since LeBron James in Akron, Ohio in 2018. Cheryl breaks down the impact the model has on school children and the broader community (17:20). The Blueprint calls for— on average— up to $2M in additional funding per school in Maryland over the next 10 years. Cheryl and Sean talk about how customized resources for every school in Maryland would create lasting and transformational change to our educational outcomes (21:50). Arinze asks how the Blueprint recommendations will impact Maryland families across the state (28:00). Then Arinze asks Cheryl and Sean “what’s in it” for Marylanders that do not currently have school aged children. Sean addresses the fictional “Kirwan Tax Hike Commission” and other misleading talking points put forward by Governor Hogan (34:00). Arinze presses Sean about the perception that the legislature is preparing to throw good money after bad to fix underperforming schools in Maryland. Sean and Cheryl push back by talking about concentrated poverty in jurisdictions around the state and the strict accountability measures incorporated in the Blueprint’s proposals (43:00). Studies show that Americans are falling behind in education in comparison to the rest of the developed world— even when adjusted for income. Arinze asks “what are we missing out on” that other nation’s schoolchildren are enjoying when given an equivalent amount of resources (50:00). The conversation wraps with information about how residents can participate in the legislative push to pass the Blueprint during this year’s legislative session (56:00).

ft. the Maryland State Education Association. MSEA Legislative Director Sean Johnson and MSEA President Cheryl Bost join the MD Dems Podcast to talk about the Kirwan Commission’s Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. The podcast kicks off with a basic question, “What is Kirwan?” (5:24). This explanation leads to the topic of community schools— an education model that has enjoyed significant publicity since LeBron James in Akron, Ohio in 2018. Cheryl breaks down the impact the model has on school children and the broader community (17:20). The Blueprint calls for— on average— up to $2M in additional funding per school in Maryland over the next 10 years. Cheryl and Sean talk about how customized resources for every school in Maryland would create lasting and transformational change to our educational outcomes (21:50). Arinze asks how the Blueprint recommendations will impact Maryland families across the state (28:00). Then Arinze asks Cheryl and Sean “what’s in it” for Marylanders that do not currently have school aged children. Sean addresses the fictional “Kirwan Tax Hike Commission” and other misleading talking points put forward by Governor Hogan (34:00). Arinze presses Sean about the perception that the legislature is preparing to throw good money after bad to fix underperforming schools in Maryland. Sean and Cheryl push back by talking about concentrated poverty in jurisdictions around the state and the strict accountability measures incorporated in the Blueprint’s proposals (43:00). Studies show that Americans are falling behind in education in comparison to the rest of the developed world— even when adjusted for income. Arinze asks “what are we missing out on” that other nation’s schoolchildren are enjoying when given an equivalent amount of resources (50:00). The conversation wraps with information about how residents can participate in the legislative push to pass the Blueprint during this year’s legislative session (56:00).

ft. Delegate Lorig Charkoudian (D- Montgomery County). Lorig opens the discussion talking about her 2020 legislative agenda. This year she has put in bills supporting economic justice, including: wage theft protection and retaliation protection for workers. She is also working on a medical debt protection bill that supports individuals who fall into serious financial trouble over medical debt (4:20 -13:00). Lorig is also looking to address climate change and energy democracy. She talks in depth about energy democracy and explains how climate and energy policies disproportionately impact low income ‘frontline’ communities (13:30 - 20:30). Arinze asks Lorig wanted to run for office, and Lorig says she wanted to be a champion for equity (21:30 - 31:00). Lorig says that “it is expensive to be poor” which prompts an extended conversation about regressive policies that exacerbate poverty (31:00 - 35:30); the school to prison pipeline (35:50 - 43:30); and the perverse economic incentives built into the prison industrial complex that makes little effort to rehabilitate people while incarcerated (43:30 - 48:00). The conversation wraps with a discussion about what true representation means and how Marylanders benefit from a more gender balanced and diverse legislative body (48:30 - 52:25).

ft. Delegate Lorig Charkoudian (D- Montgomery County). Lorig opens the discussion talking about her 2020 legislative agenda. This year she has put in bills supporting economic justice, including: wage theft protection and retaliation protection for workers. She is also working on a medical debt protection bill that supports individuals who fall into serious financial trouble over medical debt (4:20 -13:00). Lorig is also looking to address climate change and energy democracy. She talks in depth about energy democracy and explains how climate and energy policies disproportionately impact low income ‘frontline’ communities (13:30 - 20:30). Arinze asks Lorig wanted to run for office, and Lorig says she wanted to be a champion for equity (21:30 - 31:00). Lorig says that “it is expensive to be poor” which prompts an extended conversation about regressive policies that exacerbate poverty (31:00 - 35:30); the school to prison pipeline (35:50 - 43:30); and the perverse economic incentives built into the prison industrial complex that makes little effort to rehabilitate people while incarcerated (43:30 - 48:00). The conversation wraps with a discussion about what true representation means and how Marylanders benefit from a more gender balanced and diverse legislative body (48:30 - 52:25).