Center Maryland

Howard Libit is the Executive Director of the Baltimore Jewish Council. In this episode of The Lobby, Howard talks about the 25th anniversary of the Hon. Elijah Cummings Youth Program in Israel, along with the powerful success of Maryland / Israel relations and cooperative business development. In addition, Damian and Howard discuss the terrorist atrocities committed against Israeli families and the war with the terrorist organization Hamas. Howard Libit is a former spokesperson and strategist for Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. He was previously a top editor at The Baltimore Sun, co-founded the news site Center Maryland, and was a principal at KO Public Affairs leading high intensity campaigns and delivering media strategy.

Candace Dodson-Reed joins Center Maryland’s The Lobby podcast to discuss her work with heralded UMBC President Valerie Sheares Ashby, life in Downtown Columbia, Maryland, and serving as the chair of Merriweather Arts and Culture Center (MACC owns Merriweather Post Pavilion).

Maryland State Senator Cheryl Kagan joins The Lobby to discuss her efforts to update Maryland's 911 system. She also talks about being the first elected official outside of Baltimore to endorse Gov. Wes Moore when he was at 1% in the polls. Senator Kagan represents District 17 in the Maryland General Assembly, serves as Vice Chair of the Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee, is active in the music community, and a nationally ranked Scrabble player.

Maryland business development expert Melanie Miller returns to The Lobby to discuss MACO2023, Maryland economic development, Maryland Politics & more. Melanie is the daughter of former Senate President Mike Miller, and Founder of Miller Partnership Consultants, LLC.

Tom Coale is an attorney with the law firm of Talkin & Oh LLP. His practice concentrates on affordable housing, land use, and zoning.

In episode 30 of The Lobby, Damian speaks with Bretta Grinsteinner, a vice-president at EPIC pharmacy, and Scott Pace, an independent pharmacy owner and go-to voice on the relationship between Pharmaceutical Services Administrative Organizations (PSAOs) and pharmacies for the Maryland legislature. Legislation to differentiate between PSAOs and Pharmacy Benefit Managers is moving on for the Governor's signature. Listen as they discuss the bills' paths to victory, independent pharmacies during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the importance of Pharmaceutical Services Administrative Organizations.

Nearly a month into the emergence of omicron, much more is known about how omicron behaves in the real world—thanks to the work of scientists like South Africa’s Dr. Glenda Gray, president and CEO of the South African Medical Research Council, the equivalent of the US’s National Institutes of Health. Dr. Josh Sharfstein talks with Dr. Gray and with Hopkins epidemiologist Dr. Chris Beyrer about how omicron was discovered, what we know about it now, and what it means for South Africa and the world. They also discuss the importance of protecting people who are immunocompromised—including those with HIV— to help get the pandemic under control.

Ben Jealous discusses the current political landscape in Maryland and his thoughts on the race for the next Governor of Maryland.

Clyde Boatwright, President of the Maryland State Fraternal Order of Police, joins C4 and Bryan Nehman on WBAL radio to discuss the Defund movement, recent statements by a Baltimore City Council Member, and the way forward for Maryland policing. Listen in for a discussion of good policing, attrition, hiring, and the atmosphere of policing.