Conduit Street Podcast

In this special crossover episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Dominic Butchko of the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) teams up with Joe Lerch of the Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) to explore how Maryland and Virginia are tackling the complex challenges of clean energy policy at the local level. 

Together, they unpack the parallels and contrasts between Maryland’s Climate Solutions Now Act and Virginia’s Clean Econ...

On this episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, host Michael Sanderson is joined by Peter Claggett, a research geographer with the U.S. Geological Survey and the Chesapeake Bay Program, to discuss how cutting-edge land use data is shaping Maryland’s environmental and planning future.

From award-winning modeling work to newly released hyper-resolution data, Claggett explains how decades of research are helping counties better understa...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson are joined by Chair of the House Environment and Transportation Committee, Delegate Marc Korman, for a deep dive into the inner workings of legislative committees in the Maryland General Assembly — how they function, why they matter, and what changes when one takes on the role of chair.

In addition to unpacking the committee process, the discus...

This week on the Conduit Street Podcast, hosts Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson unpack Maryland's recent credit downgrade and what it signals for the state's fiscal future. From the mechanics of bond ratings and investor behavior to the broader implications of federal uncertainty, this episode tackles a complex issue with clarity and context. With echoes of national trends—like the federal government's own rating...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Ben Yelin joins Kevin Kinnally to break down the seismic shifts in federal emergency management, including recent leadership changes at FEMA, the termination of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, and the ripple effects for local governments. 

As Maryland counties contend with rising threats — from extreme weather to infrastructure vulnerabilities...

In this episode, Karrington Anderson is joined by longtime public health advocate Vinny DeMarco to discuss prescription drug affordability and Maryland’s groundbreaking efforts to address it. They break down the "Lowering Prescription Drug Costs for All Marylanders Now Act," explore how it builds on earlier reforms, and talk about what’s next for the Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB). Hear how this major new la...

In this episode of the Conduit Street podcast, we welcome Cathy Muse - a procurement ace who's helping the NACo EDGE program deliver cost saving options to county leaders. Through the Public Promise Procurement program, NACo has brought together public sector lead agencies to issue contracts with an eye toward being available to governments across the country. One latest endeavor, offering counties expertise in the professiona...

In this episode, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson break down the whole budget plan from the 2025 session. In a year with an unmatched amount of fiscal pressure and federal angst, State fiscal leaders assembled a complex budget plan to resolve a major shortfall in the one-year budget, and to make gains on the longer-term forecast. Counties will feel some of these changes in their own bottom line, making their own budget passage ...

The clock is ticking in Annapolis! With just a few weeks left in Maryland’s legislative session, all eyes are on the budget—how will lawmakers navigate looming shortfalls, tax debates, and rising costs? This week on the Conduit Street Podcast, Michael Sanderson and special guest Pamela Wood of The Baltimore Banner break down the biggest fiscal battles, the forecast for the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, and what it's like co...

With crossover week in full swing, housing policy takes center stage in Annapolis. This week on the Conduit Street Podcast, hosts Kevin Kinnally and Dominic Butchko break down Maryland’s housing challenges and the debate surrounding the Housing for Jobs Act — a proposal with far-reaching implications for zoning, infrastructure, and local decision-making.

As Maryland navigates affordable housing shortages, infrastructure demands, and...

As Maryland counties build their budgets, uncertainty from both Washington and Annapolis creates major challenges. In this episode, Kevin Kinnally, Michael Sanderson, and Sarah Sample break down the key fiscal debates shaping the future of local government funding. 

Hold tight as they dive into the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act ("Big" BRFA) hearings, where state leaders are debating cost shifts that could push hu...

Veteran Maryland political journalist Josh Kurtz, founder of Maryland Matters, joins Conduit Street Podcast host Michael Sanderson to "talk shop.” Kurtz has a decades-long career covering state politics and policy and brings much to the table as they talk about the evolution of Maryland’s media landscape, the decline of in-depth State House reporting, and the challenges of sustaining independent political journalism.

Don’t miss...

Maryland's energy future is at a crossroads. In this episode, Kevin Kinnally, Michael Sanderson, and Dominic Butchko break down the latest energy legislation making waves in Annapolis. From rate hikes and grid reliability to renewable energy expansion and land use conflicts, they explore what’s driving the debate and how counties are navigating complex policy decisions.

Tune in for an in-depth discussion on the balancing act be...

This week on the Conduit Street Podcast, MACo's Director, Michael Sanderson, welcomes his counterpart from the Nebraska Association of Counties, Jon Cannon. They discuss policy issues facing the "cornhusker state," which (as is so often true) have some resonance here in Maryland. Also, digging into Mr. Cannon's background in tax and revenue administration, talk through the practical implementation of property ta...

This week on the Conduit Street Podcast, hosts Michael Sanderson and Sarah Sample are joined by Mary Pat Fannon, Executive Director of the Public School Superintendents Association of Maryland. With numerous bills aimed at education policy and the Blueprint for Maryland's Future this legislative session, Mary Pat shares how local superintendents focus on policies prioritizing student outcomes and setting clear expectations for...

This week on the Conduit Street Podcast, hosts Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson head to the MACo office for a chat with Commissioner Paul Edwards of Garrett County, geographically Maryland’s westernmost and second-largest county. As the westernmost member of MACo, Commissioner Edwards shares his unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing the rural Appalachian county.

In this episode, they delve into Garrett Co...

The Governor's FY26 budget has arrived, bringing with it a $3 billion gap, $2 billion in proposed cuts, and a host of decisions that directly affect Maryland’s counties. In this episode, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson dive into the big-picture fiscal plan, unpacking its implications for local governments. From income tax changes and pension cost shifts to funding reductions and the elimination of key programs like Enterp...