T.J. Smith

Join the conversation with TJ Smith. In this episode, TJ Smith opens with a conversation about bike lanes in Baltimore and the tension between traffic calming, commuter concerns, and neighborhood impact. The discussion focuses on North Dukeland Street near Gwynns Falls Parkway, where residents raised questions about parking, traffic flow, evacuation routes, and whether the community had a meaningful voice in the process. The episode then turns to broader questions about infrastructure, including whether bike lanes belong on every roadway and how connectivity, public transit, and street design shape city life. Caller reactions add another layer, highlighting concerns about congestion, emergency response access, and the need to prioritize roads that are already strained. Later in the episode, the conversation shifts to a high-profile Anne Arundel County school policy issue involving student gender identity and parental notification. The discussion examines where schools should draw the line between student privacy, counseling, family involvement, and parental rights, while also wrestling with questions about age, consent, and what schools should disclose. The episode closes with a major infrastructure warning about data centers and the electric grid, as well as an update on Pimlico, the Preakness, and Maryland racing. Across these topics, the throughline is clear: the show is focused on how public policy affects everyday people, from roads and schools to power supply and racing in Baltimore. TJ Smith is live every weekday from 10:00am-2:00pm ET on WBAL News Radio 1090, FM101.5, and the WBAL Radio App.

Join the conversation with TJ Smith. In this episode, TJ digs into a frustrating pattern of vandalism, youth disorder, and the strain it places on Baltimore’s public assets. From Lime scooters being pulled out of the Inner Harbor to repeated pool vandalism at Patterson Park and Walter P. Carter, the conversation centers on how quickly shared resources become damaged and costly to repair. The discussion also raises the question of whether enough is being done to protect facilities that are meant to give young people safe, constructive places to go. The episode also explores the idea that accountability is missing when bad behavior goes unchecked. TJ Smith and callers debate whether more cameras, security, and enforcement are needed, while also noting that not every child is involved in these incidents. The broader concern is that repeated vandalism and reckless behavior can take opportunities away from everyone else and create a cycle that Baltimore keeps paying to fix. The second half of the episode shifts to a highly charged discussion about a Montgomery County incident involving ICE, firefighters, and a rescue response in the Potomac River. TJ Smith argues that emergency responders should not hesitate when lives are at risk, even if the situation involves federal immigration enforcement. The conversation highlights the tension between local policy, public safety, and the practical realities first responders face in the moment. From there, the episode moves to a wide-ranging examination of the war in Iran, U.S. munitions shortages, and the risks of escalation. TJ Smith questions whether Iran is intentionally drawing out the conflict to drain American stockpiles and force concessions. The discussion touches on depleted precision munitions, the challenges of sustained military operations, and the consequences of mixed messaging from political leaders and defense officials. Finally, we closed the show TJ Smith is live every weekday from 10:00am-2:00pm ET on WBAL News Radio 1090, FM101.5, and the WBAL Radio App.

Join the conversation with TJ Smith. This episode opens with a deeply emotional discussion of the Baltimore County case involving the deaths of a 15-year-old girl and her 9-year-old brother. The conversation explores the shock of the announcement, the psychological toll on first responders, and the public speculation that followed before charging documents revealed more details about the suspect and the online relationship that preceded the killings. From there, the episode moves into a broader debate about juvenile accountability, social media exposure, and the warning signs that can be missed when dangerous behavior is minimized. The discussion includes caller reactions, concerns about online platforms, and a strong argument that families and communities need better tools to recognize and respond to risk. TJ Smith is live every weekday from 10:00am-2:00pm ET on WBAL News Radio 1090, FM101.5, and the WBAL Radio App.

Join the conversation with TJ Smith as he discusses the current situation with the administration requesting more funding for the Iran Conflict. Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley joined the program to discuss the dirt bike issues facing Baltimore. Also, TJ talks about the recent incident at the Morgan Wallen concert here in Baltimore.

Join the conversation with TJ Smith. This episode opens with a deep dive into what is happening in Fells Point, where city leaders, police, and business owners are trying to keep entertainment districts safe after dark. The conversation focuses on curfews, youth activity, checkpoints, and the larger question of whether security deployments are solving the problem or simply moving it elsewhere. The discussion also explores a broader cultural argument about boundaries, responsibility, and the idea that children and adults should not be treated the same. From public safety to local investment, the episode examines how disorder affects the perception of Baltimore and the city’s ability to attract residents and customers. The second half of the episode shifts to hemp vending machines, illicit THC products, and the growing concern over unregulated cannabis-like items being sold in retail spaces. The conversation highlights testing issues, contamination risks, and the concern that products marketed as legal hemp may actually be far more potent than expected. The episode closes with a sharp exchange about Iran, military escalation, and repeated claims that the country is begging for a deal. The discussion questions the logic of ongoing strikes, the lack of a clear strategy, and what prolonged conflict could mean for U.S. troops and long-term policy. TJ Smith is live every weekday from 10:00am-2:00pm ET on WBAL News Radio 1090, FM101.5, and the WBAL Radio App.

Join the conversation with TJ Smith. This episode moves from international conflict to Baltimore community concerns, opening with a hard look at the war in Iran and the question of whether the stated military goals are actually being achieved. The discussion centers on Iran’s reported ability to continue striking U.S. bases and vessels despite claims that its military capabilities were destroyed. Calls from listeners add layers to the debate, including theories about Russian support and concern that the conflict has not ended in any meaningful way. The conversation then shifts to Baltimore, where a brutal assault on a 74-year-old man in Mondawmin sparks outrage and renewed focus on juvenile crime, community safety, and how the justice system responds. Later, a mass shooting in South Baltimore leads to a broader discussion about retaliation, gun violence, and the role of violence interruption programs. Throughout, the episode examines how crime, perception, and accountability shape the city’s daily reality. TJ Smith is live every weekday from 10:00am-2:00pm ET on WBAL News Radio 1090, FM101.5, and the WBAL Radio App.

Join the conversation with TJ Smith. In this episode, TJ Smith reflects on the one-year anniversary of the Penn North mass overdose in Baltimore and asks the question that keeps coming up: what happens after the crisis passes? He argues that cleanup and visible enforcement are not enough if the neighborhood still feels unchanged, using the area around CVS and the back alley as an example of how the same conditions can keep repeating. The conversation also highlights how overdose trends have shifted statewide, while emphasizing that reduced numbers do not automatically mean the underlying problems have been solved. From community perception to neighborhood investment, the episode focuses on what meaningful change would actually look like in an area that has endured so much. TJ Smith is live every weekday from 10:00am-2:00pm ET on WBAL News Radio 1090, FM101.5, and the WBAL Radio App.

Join the conversation with TJ Smith. This episode explores how political scandals, public allegations, and patterns of behavior can reshape a campaign in real time. The conversation centers on Graham Plattner’s withdrawal from the Maine Senate race, with a broader discussion about opposition research, civil standards of proof, and whether voters and parties should continue supporting candidates when new information surfaces after a nomination. The discussion also looks at how public life exposes personal histories to scrutiny, especially in an era where headlines, social media, and depositions can quickly shift opinion. The episode considers the tension between due process and public accountability, and asks whether political parties should prioritize winning at all costs or step back when the facts become too damaging. TJ Smith is live every weekday from 10:00am-2:00pm ET on WBAL News Radio 1090, FM101.5, and the WBAL Radio App.

Join the conversation with TJ Smith. This episode examines the latest remarks from President Trump on Iran, the ceasefire, and the state of negotiations. The conversation centers on whether the conflict has truly ended, whether the MOU still matters, and what it means when Trump moves from calling Iranian leaders smart and rational to calling them scum. The discussion also explores the military and diplomatic consequences of the conflict, including the Strait of Hormuz, nuclear capabilities, sanctions, and the role of Congress. Listener calls push the conversation further, raising questions about boots on the ground, the limits of diplomacy, and whether the United States is already locked into a new phase of escalation. TJ Smith is live every weekday from 10:00am-2:00pm ET on WBAL News Radio 1090, FM101.5, and the WBAL Radio App.

Join the conversation with TJ Smith. In this episode, the conversation begins with a deadly Fourth of July house party in Falston and the bigger question it raises: when does a private gathering become something more? With online ticketing, hired armed security, and reports of around 100 attendees, the episode explores whether current law gives communities enough tools to respond when a residential event starts to look and feel commercial. The discussion also examines the tension between public safety and the rights of people to host family and friends at home. The episode then shifts to a major political story involving Graham Platner, whose campaign in Maine faces growing backlash after serious allegations and the withdrawal of endorsements from prominent Democrats. The conversation focuses on political accountability, standards, hypocrisy, and the importance of evidence and consequences in public life. From there, the show turns to Maryland education policy and the challenge of schools helping potty train children in pre-K and kindergarten, before closing with a look at why Baltimore ranks so high on the list of the most stressed cities in America. TJ Smith is live every weekday from 10:00am-2:00pm ET on WBAL News Radio 1090, FM101.5, and the WBAL Radio App