Roughly Speaking

Baltimore Sun reporter Justin Fenton spent the last year reporting on the inner-workings of the corrupt Gun Trace Task Force members and their leader, Sgt. Wayne Jenkins. What exactly did he spend his time doing? Hear more about his reporting process and his fight to obtain records.

On the surface, former Baltimore Police Sgt. Wayne Jenkins appeared to have earned his reputation as a rising star in the department for his unparalleled ability to get guns off the streets. But a deep dive into Jenkins and the force in which he operated reveals how the well-regarded cop — and the elite Gun Trace Task Force squad he led — manipulated the criminal justice system to rob and steal with impunity over the course of several years. On this episode, Justin Fenton joins Newsroom Edition host Pamela Wood to review key takeaways from the series, explain his reporting process and provide an overview of the road ahead for the Baltimore Police Department.

Despite increased awareness of the opioid epidemic, the public health crisis continues to ravage communities across the nation each year. This holds true especially in states such as Maryland, where the number of opioid overdose deaths per year has escalated into the thousands. Gov. Larry Hogan even declared a state of emergency in March 2017, becoming the first governor in the nation to take such a step.A new book published by two Baltimore-based experts in addiction medicine and public health suggests that a connection may exist between opioids’ continued havoc and a general misunderstanding of the pandemic — from the language utilized to describe those afflicted with substance-use disorders to the distribution of funds meant to decrease the death toll.Together, married couple Yngvild Olson and Joshua Sharfstein wrote “The Opioid Epidemic: What Everyone Needs to Know,” to discuss the misconceptions about the opioid crisis and what lawmakers, physicians and citizens can do to address it. They sit down with B

In the wake of the Mueller report, a new CNN poll shows an increase among Democrats for Donald Trump's impeachment while Republicans remain adamant in their support of the president, evidence of what presidential historian Richard Striner describes as tribalism -- fierce political loyalty beyond ideology and mere partisanship.Meanwhile, former vice-president Joe Biden is the current front-runner among Democrats seeking their party's nomination. But Biden's status is starting to take a hit from the party's progressive wing.On the show: Mileah Kromer is associate professor of political science and the director of the Sarah T. Hughes Field Politics Center at Goucher College; she oversees the Goucher Poll. Richard Striner is a professor of history at Washington College and an author of books on American presidents, film and architecture.

In 2016, historic Ellicott City experienced a record flood that tore lives, businesses and the county apart. In 2018, it happened again —\u160\uanother devastating flood, perhaps even more egregious\u160\uthan the first.A year after the 2018 storm, Howard County has put forth a massive plan to reduce future flooding in the town. But after experiencing so much loss, how confident are residents and business owners in their government to keep them safe?In this episode, Howard County Times reporter Erin B. Logan joins Newsroom Edition host Pamela Wood to detail the town’s recovery in the wake of two deadly floods.

Welcome to summer in Maryland, where crab is king. Last year, the state’s popular crustacean industry suffered as nearly half of Maryland’s crab houses were unable to secure enough H2-B visas for foreign workers, whom they rely on to pick the meat sold at restaurants and supermarkets. Some reported revenue decreases of 50 percent or more.But this year’s crab market appears to be in better shape, as the Trump administration made 30,000 additional visas available for the temporary labor program. While Maryland’s crab proprietors say they feel confident about this summer’s crab yield, they’re concerned about what the future holds for their businesses, as the demand for temporary worker visas continues to surge.On today’s episode: Baltimore Sun weather, science and environment reporter Scott Dance joins Newsroom Edition host Pamela Wood for a wide-ranging discussion about the future of Maryland crabs, the state of their habitat in the Chesapeake Bay and what you need to know before hosting your own cookout.

When you’ve devoted nearly 46 years to teaching political science and a good part of that time to being a pundit, you get to have an exit interview when retirement grows nigh. This spring’s semester at McDaniel College in Westminster was Herb Smith’s last as a professor of political science. For many years, he was a regular go-to political commentator for Maryland reporters, and his keenest skill was bringing historical perspective, and much-needed humor, to current affairs. Smith and former state secretary of state John Willis literally wrote the book on Maryland politics --- published by the University of Nebraska Press in 2012, and titled, ----Maryland Politics and Government: Democratic Dominance.---- On this show: Herb Smith reflects on American politics from the time of Eisenhower to Trump.

The battle over keeping the Preakness in Baltimore has ignited a divisive political conflict that’s quietly been brewing, mostly out of public view, for years. For nearly 150 years, the second jewel of the triple crown has hosted names like Seabiscuit, Secretariat and dozens of two-legged celebrities for the Preakness, including models, athletes, and actors. The race attracts hundreds of thousands of fans to the area on Preakness weekend.But despite its historic roots, the millions of dollars it generates, and a state requirement that Baltimore must host the Preakness barring an extreme disaster or emergency, its owners have expressed more interest in investing its future in its Laurel Park facility, some 30 miles away.Baltimore Sun reporting revealed this year that the Canadian-based Stronach group, the owner of the track and the race, has spent most of the state aid it receives for track improvements on Laurel Park since 2013. Though track in Laurel hosts significantly more horse racing events than its Balt

Call it beginner’s luck, but rookie Lamar Jackson’s record-breaking 2018 season left the Ravens management wanting more. So much more, in fact, that they traded veteran quarterback Joe Flacco for a fourth-round NFL draft pick and did not play him after he recovered from his week 9 hip injury — a decision that many criticized during the infamous Wild Card Round playoff game against the Los Angeles Chargers, which ended in a 23-17 defeat. With Flacco’s departure, the team has vowed to head in a “new direction,” with Jackson at the helm. Outside of the Ravens’ administration, not everyone is as confident in this rebranding effort or Jackson’s ability to carry an offense — much less get through a game without fumbling. However, the team’s management, now headed by new general manager Eric DeCosta, is sticking by its decision.Ravens beat reporter Jonas Shaffer joins Roughly Speaking host Pamela Wood to discuss the Ravens’ big gamble on Lamar Jackson and other important decisions that the team has made as it enters

How will history remember Pugh? Baltimore Sun reporters Luke Broadwater and Ian Duncan join Pamela Wood to discuss the many shades of Pugh’s legacy. Then, editorial page editor Andy Green joins to comment on the kind of leader the city seeks to move it forward.

Many woke up Thursday to the news that federal law enforcement agents had raided multiple locations in Baltimore with ties to Mayor Catherine Pugh, who has been on a leave of absence as mayor for the past four weeks. The raids confirmed that federal as well as state officials were investigating Pugh’s activities. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, all members of the Baltimore City Council and several other state officials have called for Pugh’s resignation. Her attorney, Steve Silverman said she was not “lucid” enough to make a decision about stepping down. But that could change by next week, he said.On this episode: Baltimore Sun politics reporters Pamela Wood and Luke Broadwater break down this week’s dramatic crescendo and what pieces of information have yet to come to light.

Two prominent Maryland figures entered the spotlight this week, albeit for very different reasons. Days after Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan's return from New Hampshire, an early-caucus state considered a ----must---- stop for potential presidential candidates, federal law enforcement agents spread out across Baltimore, raiding City Hall and other several other locations with connections to Mayor Catherine Pugh. It was the first confirmation that federal authorities, as well as state officials, were investigating the mayor's activities, who has been on a leave of absence as she recovers from pneumonia for four weeks.On this episode, Baltimore Sun columnist Dan Rodricks discusses the high-profile moments-in-parallel with McDaniel College political science professor Herb Smith, Sun editorial page editor Andy Green and Sun State House bureau reporter Luke Broadwater.

On April 27, 2015, the day of Freddie Gray’s funeral in Baltimore, police and youth clashed near the Mondawmin metro stop in a skirmish that would thrust the city into the international spotlight. For four years, police, youth and others there that day has shared their version of events, leaving unanswered questions. Who, in reality, initiated the confrontation? And who was responsible for shutting down the transit service that day, a decision that left many high school students stranded in the center of the clashes?Baltimore Sun reporter Kevin Rector has sought to review surveillance footage from that day to paint a clearer picture. The Maryland Transit Administration continues to deny that request. But for the first time, the MTA has released records related to the April 2015 unrest that provide new insights, and revive old questions, about one of the most controversial and consequential moments in Baltimore’s history. Rector sits down with Roughly Speaking host Pamela Wood to discuss the findings and provi

In the final episode of ----Roughly Speaking: Government Edition,---- Baltimore Sun State House reporters Luke Broadwater and Pamela Wood talk with Goucher College pollster Mileah Kromer about the legacy of House of Delegates Speaker Michael Busch. He presided over a progressive agenda as speaker that included ending the death penalty, decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana, legalizing same-sex marriage and in this session raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour.----Roughly Speaking: Government Edition---- is a partnership between the Baltimore Sun and Goucher College that will run during the 90-day Maryland General Assembly session.

Overriding Gov. Hogan's vetoes, the failure of medically assisted suicide and the ----joint chiefs---- in Annapolis: In the penultimate (13th) episode of ----Roughly Speaking: Government Edition,---- Baltimore Sun State House reporter Luke Broadwater and Goucher College pollster Mileah Kromer talk about the Democratic-controlled legislature's override of Gov. Larry Hogan's vetoes, including the $15 minimum wage, and the failure of medically assisted suicide. Sun politics reporter Pamela Wood joins to discuss several gun control measures and the debate over whether school should start after Labor Day. The show's guests are two of the most influential, but little-known people in Annapolis: Alexandra M. Hughes, the chief of staff for House of Delegates Speaker Michael Busch, and Jake Weissmann, the chief of staff for Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller. Among other topics, they discuss the evolving scandal rocking the University of Maryland Medical System over allegations of ----self-dealing---- and no-bid co

The uber-musical “Hamilton” comes to Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theater in June, and in this episode of the show: Some Maryland history related to Alexander Hamilton, founder of the nation’s financial system and its first Secretary of the Treasury. In McCulloch v. Maryland, a case that went to the U.S. Supreme Court in the winter of 1819, statesman Daniel Webster defended the legitimacy of a national bank that had opened a branch in Baltimore. The Maryland General Assembly, sympathetic to struggling state bankers, had tried to tax the federal bank out of existence. Webster invoked Hamilton’s belief in the ----implied powers---- of the Constitution to broadly define the national government’s supremacy over the states. As a result, McCulloch is considered one of the most important Supreme Court decisions in history.Our guest, Kathleen Day, covers the decision in her new book of American financial history.A long-time journalist, Day is now on the faculty of the Johns Carey Business School, where she lectures on the

In the 12th episode of ----Roughly Speaking: Government Edition,---- Baltimore Sun State House reporter Luke Broadwater and Goucher College pollster Mileah Kromer talk about the evolving scandal rocking the University of Maryland Medical System over allegations of ----self-dealing---- and no-bid contracting among board members. Sun politics reporter Pamela Wood joins the discussion about the continuing battle to save the Preakness from moving to Laurel. The show's guests are the youngest lawmakers from each General Assembly chamber: Sen. Sarah Elfreth, 30, an Anne Arundel Democrat and Del. Julian Ivey, 23, a Prince George's County Democrat, who discuss everything from oysters and gun legislation to the biggest lessons they've learned from their first session in office.

In the 11th episode of ----Roughly Speaking: Government Edition,---- Baltimore Sun State House reporters Luke Broadwater and Pamela Wood talk about the intense scrutiny facing the University of Maryland Medical System over its contracting practices, including $500,000 in payments to Mayor Catherine Pugh for self-published ----Healthy Holly---- books. They also discuss the flurry of legislation moving in the General Assembly on ----crossover day---- — the deadline for most bills to pass from one chamber to the other.The show's guest is Sen. Bill Ferguson, a Baltimore Democrat who serves on the Kirwan commission to improve public schools. He says he hasn't ruled out a run for mayor.Related links:Baltimore Mayor Pugh resigns from UMMS board as 8,700 books she sold to hospital system sit in warehousehttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-pugh-resigns-umms-board-20190318-story.htmlSen. Ferguson calls on Baltimore Mayor Pugh to return $500,000 to medical system from book dealhttps://www.baltimore

Amazon, FedEx and Under Armour are the first major tenants of Tradepoint Atlantic in Baltimore County, the sprawling former site of the largest steel-making operation in the world, where more than 30,000 men and women were employed in 1959. But Bethlehem Steel is long gone, and now Tradepoint Atlantic, a private joint venture, is in the process of redeveloping the waterfront land for a hub of e-commerce and manufacturing. So far, the complex features mostly warehouse and distribution centers with 3,500 jobs. More are coming, and Tradepoint plans to redevelop the old Beth Steel shipyard into a deep-water port for bulk materials. Investors believe they will eventually bring 10,000 jobs and another 7,000 related jobs to the Point. In this episode: Aaron Tomarchio, a senior vice-president of Tradepoint Atlantic, gives a tour of the 3,300-acre complex and catches us up on the massive redevelopment project.

In the 10th episode of ----Roughly Speaking: Government Edition,---- Baltimore Sun reporter Luke Broadwater and Goucher College pollster Dr. Mileah Kromer talk about the House of Delegates' vote to legalize medically assisted suicide, the effort to repeal the Handgun Permit Review Board and how a Sun investigation is changing state policy. The show's guest is Del. Eric Luedtke, a Montgomery County Democrat who gave moving testimony on the so-called ----aid-in-dying---- bill. Sun reporters Pamela Wood and Catherine Rentz provide insight and analysis.----Roughly Speaking: Government Edition---- is a partnership between the Baltimore Sun and Goucher College that will run during the 90-day Maryland General Assembly session.