//podcastplus.net/feed/maryland-chatters~aec4ac8d Maryland Chatters is the new podcast from the nonprofit, nonpartisan journalists at Maryland Matters. Sat, 11 Apr 2026 08:57:31 +0000 https://feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/1018734580-marylandchatters-ep-06-mike-millers-chiefs-of-staff.mp3 The late Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D) was one of the most consequential figures in Maryland political history. Love him or hate him, his record-breaking tenure as a presiding officer in the General Assembly — a stunning 33 years — means he was central player in every significant political fight and policy debate over the past several decades. His knowledge of history and his political skills were unparalleled. He had strong personal beliefs, but he also had an innate sense of where his caucus, and the Senate, and the entire state were moving — and adjusted accordingly.He was of course a powerhouse in Annapolis, but he also had enormous influence in Prince George's County (where he grew up and came of age politically), throughout all of Southern Maryland, and in the judiciary and criminal justice system. Governors came and went, but Mike Miller was always there. He served with eight governors, beginning with Marvin Mandel.The tributes to Miller really began in January of 2019, when he f... Mon, 29 Mar 2021 22:18:01 +0000 https://feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/1018734580-marylandchatters-ep-06-mike-millers-chiefs-of-staff.mp3 https://feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/1018734580-marylandchatters-ep-06-mike-millers-chiefs-of-staff.mp3 The late Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D) was one of the most consequential figures in Maryland political history. Love him or hate him, his record-breaking tenure as a presiding officer in the General Assembly — a stunning 33 years — means he was central player in every significant political fight and policy debate over the past several decades. His knowledge of history and his political skills were unparalleled. He had strong personal beliefs, but he also had an innate sense of where his caucus, and the Senate, and the entire state were moving — and adjusted accordingly.He was of course a powerhouse in Annapolis, but he also had enormous influence in Prince George's County (where he grew up and came of age politically), throughout all of Southern Maryland, and in the judiciary and criminal justice system. Governors came and went, but Mike Miller was always there. He served with eight governors, beginning with Marvin Mandel.The tributes to Miller really began in January of 2019, when he f... Mon, 29 Mar 2021 22:18:01 +0000 https://feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/1018734580-marylandchatters-ep-06-mike-millers-chiefs-of-staff.mp3 https://feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/1018734580-marylandchatters-ep-06-mike-millers-chiefs-of-staff.mp3 The late Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D) was one of the most consequential figures in Maryland political history. Love him or hate him, his record-breaking tenure as a presiding officer in the General Assembly — a stunning 33 years — means he was central player in every significant political fight and policy debate over the past several decades. His knowledge of history and his political skills were unparalleled. He had strong personal beliefs, but he also had an innate sense of where his caucus, and the Senate, and the entire state were moving — and adjusted accordingly.He was of course a powerhouse in Annapolis, but he also had enormous influence in Prince George's County (where he grew up and came of age politically), throughout all of Southern Maryland, and in the judiciary and criminal justice system. Governors came and went, but Mike Miller was always there. He served with eight governors, beginning with Marvin Mandel.The tributes to Miller really began in January of 2019, when he f... Mon, 29 Mar 2021 22:18:01 +0000 https://feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/1018734580-marylandchatters-ep-06-mike-millers-chiefs-of-staff.mp3 https://feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/963974893-marylandchatters-ep-05-us-sen-chris-van-hollen-and-a-general-assembly-preview.mp3 The world is a much different place than it was last week, when we first started preparing for this episode. On Wednesday, a violent mob breached the U.S. Capitol in a deadly attempt to stop the certification of Joe Biden’s election as America’s 46th president. The attack occurred one day after two Democrats won runoff elections in Georgia, giving their party a majority in the U.S. Senate. We talked this week with Maryland’s junior senator, Chris Van Hollen, about the violence at the capitol, the new congress, the new administration, and the impact of COVID-19 on Maryland.Later this week, the Maryland General Assembly will convene for an extraordinary session ― with desks surrounded by plexiglass, a House chamber annex, empty hallways and virtual bill hearings. Maryland Matters editor Josh Kurtz discusses what can be expected this session – from the logistics to the legislation. Tue, 12 Jan 2021 05:05:38 +0000 https://feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/963974893-marylandchatters-ep-05-us-sen-chris-van-hollen-and-a-general-assembly-preview.mp3 https://feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/963974893-marylandchatters-ep-05-us-sen-chris-van-hollen-and-a-general-assembly-preview.mp3 The world is a much different place than it was last week, when we first started preparing for this episode. On Wednesday, a violent mob breached the U.S. Capitol in a deadly attempt to stop the certification of Joe Biden’s election as America’s 46th president. The attack occurred one day after two Democrats won runoff elections in Georgia, giving their party a majority in the U.S. Senate. We talked this week with Maryland’s junior senator, Chris Van Hollen, about the violence at the capitol, the new congress, the new administration, and the impact of COVID-19 on Maryland.Later this week, the Maryland General Assembly will convene for an extraordinary session ― with desks surrounded by plexiglass, a House chamber annex, empty hallways and virtual bill hearings. Maryland Matters editor Josh Kurtz discusses what can be expected this session – from the logistics to the legislation. Tue, 12 Jan 2021 05:05:38 +0000 https://feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/963974893-marylandchatters-ep-05-us-sen-chris-van-hollen-and-a-general-assembly-preview.mp3 https://feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/963974893-marylandchatters-ep-05-us-sen-chris-van-hollen-and-a-general-assembly-preview.mp3 The world is a much different place than it was last week, when we first started preparing for this episode. On Wednesday, a violent mob breached the U.S. Capitol in a deadly attempt to stop the certification of Joe Biden’s election as America’s 46th president. The attack occurred one day after two Democrats won runoff elections in Georgia, giving their party a majority in the U.S. Senate. We talked this week with Maryland’s junior senator, Chris Van Hollen, about the violence at the capitol, the new congress, the new administration, and the impact of COVID-19 on Maryland.Later this week, the Maryland General Assembly will convene for an extraordinary session ― with desks surrounded by plexiglass, a House chamber annex, empty hallways and virtual bill hearings. Maryland Matters editor Josh Kurtz discusses what can be expected this session – from the logistics to the legislation. Tue, 12 Jan 2021 05:05:38 +0000 https://feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/963974893-marylandchatters-ep-05-us-sen-chris-van-hollen-and-a-general-assembly-preview.mp3 https://feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/963974893-marylandchatters-ep-05-us-sen-chris-van-hollen-and-a-general-assembly-preview.mp3 The world is a much different place than it was last week, when we first started preparing for this episode. On Wednesday, a violent mob breached the U.S. Capitol in a deadly attempt to stop the certification of Joe Biden’s election as America’s 46th president. The attack occurred one day after two Democrats won runoff elections in Georgia, giving their party a majority in the U.S. Senate. We talked this week with Maryland’s junior senator, Chris Van Hollen, about the violence at the capitol, the new congress, the new administration, and the impact of COVID-19 on Maryland.Later this week, the Maryland General Assembly will convene for an extraordinary session ― with desks surrounded by plexiglass, a House chamber annex, empty hallways and virtual bill hearings. Maryland Matters editor Josh Kurtz discusses what can be expected this session – from the logistics to the legislation. Tue, 12 Jan 2021 05:05:38 +0000 https://feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/963974893-marylandchatters-ep-05-us-sen-chris-van-hollen-and-a-general-assembly-preview.mp3 https://feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/952609033-marylandchatters-maryland-chatters-ep-04-tom-perez-and-mac-middleton.mp3 Marylander Tom Perez has been the head of the Democratic National Committee since 2017 and his term will soon expire. After the party united to elect Joe Biden this fall, we talk to Perez about the party’s future, its successes during his term – and the ground Democrats lost in the U.S. House and other down-ballot races in 2020.In an interview with Maryland Matters reporter Bennett Leckrone last week, Perez said he’s taking a “long view” of how the Democratic Party is doing. And the election of Biden, coupled with the Democratic governors elected during his term, means the party has a bright future.We also talk to Perez about his own future plans once his term at the DNC expires in a couple of months. Later in the podcast, Maryland Matters reporter Elizabeth Shwe ventures out to southern Maryland to catch up with Thomas McLain – “Mac” – Middleton, who represented Charles County in the Maryland Senate for 24 years. Middleton was the only full-time farmer left in the General Assembly when he w... Wed, 23 Dec 2020 01:17:25 +0000 https://feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/952609033-marylandchatters-maryland-chatters-ep-04-tom-perez-and-mac-middleton.mp3 https://feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/952609033-marylandchatters-maryland-chatters-ep-04-tom-perez-and-mac-middleton.mp3 Marylander Tom Perez has been the head of the Democratic National Committee since 2017 and his term will soon expire. After the party united to elect Joe Biden this fall, we talk to Perez about the party’s future, its successes during his term – and the ground Democrats lost in the U.S. House and other down-ballot races in 2020.In an interview with Maryland Matters reporter Bennett Leckrone last week, Perez said he’s taking a “long view” of how the Democratic Party is doing. And the election of Biden, coupled with the Democratic governors elected during his term, means the party has a bright future.We also talk to Perez about his own future plans once his term at the DNC expires in a couple of months. Later in the podcast, Maryland Matters reporter Elizabeth Shwe ventures out to southern Maryland to catch up with Thomas McLain – “Mac” – Middleton, who represented Charles County in the Maryland Senate for 24 years. Middleton was the only full-time farmer left in the General Assembly when he w... Wed, 23 Dec 2020 01:17:25 +0000 https://feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/952609033-marylandchatters-maryland-chatters-ep-04-tom-perez-and-mac-middleton.mp3 https://feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/952609033-marylandchatters-maryland-chatters-ep-04-tom-perez-and-mac-middleton.mp3 Marylander Tom Perez has been the head of the Democratic National Committee since 2017 and his term will soon expire. After the party united to elect Joe Biden this fall, we talk to Perez about the party’s future, its successes during his term – and the ground Democrats lost in the U.S. House and other down-ballot races in 2020.In an interview with Maryland Matters reporter Bennett Leckrone last week, Perez said he’s taking a “long view” of how the Democratic Party is doing. And the election of Biden, coupled with the Democratic governors elected during his term, means the party has a bright future.We also talk to Perez about his own future plans once his term at the DNC expires in a couple of months. Later in the podcast, Maryland Matters reporter Elizabeth Shwe ventures out to southern Maryland to catch up with Thomas McLain – “Mac” – Middleton, who represented Charles County in the Maryland Senate for 24 years. Middleton was the only full-time farmer left in the General Assembly when he w... Wed, 23 Dec 2020 01:17:25 +0000 https://feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/952609033-marylandchatters-maryland-chatters-ep-04-tom-perez-and-mac-middleton.mp3