The Front Page Authority with David Smith & Armstrong Williams

White House correspondent and Baltimore native April Ryan said public confrontations with President Donald Trump brought death threats, security concerns and emotional trauma. She described the personal cost of becoming the story during an appearance on “The Front Page Authority” podcast with host Armstrong Williams. Discussing her book, “Notes on a Blacklash: When a Black Woman Goes Viral,” Ryan said increased visibility created professional opportunities while exposing her to harassment she believes reflected racism and misogyny.

Ryan said threats prompted her to employ security and brought the FBI and a bomb squad to her home. She went into people watching her residence and the fear she experienced while trying to protect her children. Williams challenged her on whether criticism of her work necessarily reflected prejudice and whether her exchanges with Trump crossed into political advocacy. Ryan defended her questions about voter suppression and other public policy issues, saying her experiences had made her an advocate for press freedoms.

Ryan, a Morgan State University graduate who has covered five presidents, credited her Baltimore upbringing, parents, children and faith with helping her persevere. She also discussed social media’s tendency to reward performance over substance and urged journalists to explain complex issues clearly, collaborate and acknowledge mistakes. Reflecting on her career, Ryan said she wanted readers to understand the experiences behind her reporting. “I’m not a victim. I’m a victor,” she said.

Video games can help students learn, improve financial literacy and give more people a way to tell their stories, Breshna founder Mariam Nusrat said during an appearance on “The Front Page Authority” podcast with host Armstrong Williams. Raised in Pakistan, Nusrat said her platform allows users to create games without coding or design skills, reducing the cost, time and technical barriers that have traditionally limited game development.

Nusrat described how teachers could incorporate games into lessons while maintaining classroom instruction and personal interaction. Students could create games based on subjects such as math, then exchange them with classmates to reinforce learning through play, she said. She also discussed a collaboration with SAFE to develop 10 financial literacy games covering topics including saving, earning money, distinguishing needs from wants and investing.

On The Front Page Authority, podcast host Armstrong Williams speaks with former Trump White House adviser Peter Navarro about the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and Navarro’s confrontations with Dr. Anthony Fauci. Drawing from his experience inside the White House and more than 1,000 pages of Fauci’s pandemic-era diaries, Navarro alleges that Fauci’s public statements often concealed the uncertainty and disagreements taking place behind closed doors.

On this episode of The Front Page Authority, host Armstrong Williams sits down with Dr. Bryan Donahue to discuss emerging cancer treatments, early detection, prevention and the everyday choices that can improve long-term health. They also explore diabetes, measles, mental health and the powerful role faith can play in healing and well-being.

NASCAR driver and team owner Jesse Iwuji joined host Armstrong Williams on The Front Page Authority to discuss his journey from the U.S. Naval Academy and military service to professional racing and entrepreneurship. Iwuji said the discipline, teamwork and leadership skills he developed as a football player and naval officer prepared him to overcome adversity and pursue a racing career despite starting later than most drivers.

Iwuji described the financial risks of owning a NASCAR organization, including operating costs that once reached as much as $150,000 per race weekend. He said a partnership with DGM Racing has helped reduce expenses and strengthen the team. Iwuji also explained that the team selected No. 34 to honor Wendell Scott, the first Black driver to win a race in NASCAR’s top series. His long-term goal is to compete in the NASCAR Cup Series.

In this epsiode of “The Front Page Authority” host Armstrong Willaims sits down with Cathy Hughes, founder and chairperson of Urban One Inc, for a thoughtful conversation on leadership, entrepreneurship, and ownership.

From financial hardship and sleeping on the floor of her radio station to building one of America’s most consequential Black-owned media enterprises, this discussion delves into the person behind the success story, and the journey she’s been on to get there.

On The Front Page Authority podcast, hosts Armstrong Williams and David Smith speak with contemporary artist and photographer Ron Agam about his creative journey. Agam reflects on growing up as the son of renowned kinetic-art pioneer Yaacov Agam, discovering photography as a child and eventually developing his own identity as a painter and artist.

Agam shares stories from his career involving world leaders, celebrities and historic events while discussing art’s ability to inspire people, challenge antisemitism and influence society. The conversation also examines artificial intelligence, changes in photography and the art world, and Agam’s perspective on creativity, technology and life in Israel.

In this episode of The Front Page Authority, hosts Armstrong Williams and David Smith bring together two influential voices from different backgrounds—Dr. Ben Carson and civil rights attorney Ben Crump—for a thoughtful conversation about the future of America.

From the American Dream and education to public safety, media trust, voting rights, the economy and the growing cost of living, the discussion explores where the nation is making progress, where it is falling short, and how Americans can find common ground despite political differences. It's a candid exchange of ideas centered on leadership, opportunity, accountability and the enduring promise of the American experiment.

Can political opponents still have an honest conversation? In the inaugural episode of "Front Page Authority," Baltimore Sun owners David Smith and Armstrong Williams sit down with Congressman Kweisi Mfume for a wide-ranging discussion that doesn't shy away from the issues dividing Baltimore and the nation.

From crime and education to the Democratic Party, President Donald Trump, socialism, social media and the public's trust in journalism, the three men challenge one another's assumptions while searching for common ground. It's a candid conversation marked by moments of disagreement, personal reflection and an ongoing debate over the future of Baltimore — and America.

You can watch the podcast weekly on baltimoresun.com. It will also post on Thursdays on YouTube.  You also can listen on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, and iHeart.