Despite White House pressure, Rep. Lauren Boebert stands firm on effort to release Epstein files cpr.org/2025/11/12/boe… #copolitics

Government shutdown ended with a whimper. Among the losers? ‘Common sense’ baltimoresun.com/2025/11/14/gov…

BACKCHANNEL: Turkey pardon is just weird; Wes Moore’s 'IDGAF' initialism; is Washington joyless? baltimoresun.com/2025/11/17/tur…

Good morning. Here’s a teasing, free preview of my political notebook column called Backchannel containing the first item.

Exclusive: MLB cautioned Maryland about ’risky’ bet now at center of Cleveland Guardians scandal baltimoresun.com/2025/11/19/mlb…

Does it seem risky to allow bettors to wager on whether a pitch will be a ball or strike? It's not just me asking, it was Major League Baseball raising the issue to Maryland regulators in 2021. The bet can be rigged more easily than others and is at center of Guardians case.

West Virmaryland? C-SPAN freezes in place, and still no bets on Gatorade colors — latest edition of my weekly column. baltimoresun.com/2025/11/24/bac…

Good morning. Here’s a teasing, free preview of my weekly political notebook column called Backchannel containing the first item, which is about a congressional district with two souls.

Backchannel column: Trump-Epstein statue disappears, may reappear in mystery location; what if Trump had a dog? baltimoresun.com/2025/12/01/tru…

The wire, wood and plastic statue of President Donald Trump holding hands with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has gone on hiatus. But it could reappear. Here’s what we learned: baltimoresun.com/2025/12/01/tru…

It was hours after President Trump signed an order to protect the American flag from “desecration,” and Jan Carey, an Army combat veteran, decided he wanted to immediately make a point about First Amendment protections. baltimoresun.com/2025/12/02/us-…

Five years after the VA launched a new computer system in Spokane, Desmond Butler and I found the $10 billion Oracle EHR is still beset with problems, as the Trump administration gears up to launch it at 13 more hospitals in 2026. 1/ washingtonpost.com/investigations…

admits? I reported it!

BACKCHANNEL: inside Maryland politics: —-This week: The government’s oddly specific intel on Santa Claus; Maryland’s unpretentious House speakers baltimoresun.com/2025/12/08/the…

The Orioles have signed slugger Pete Alonso to a five-year, $155 million contract, source confirms. Jeff Passan was first. The Orioles land the big bat. It is one of the most significant offseason signings in franchise history.

Largest contracts in Orioles history: 1. Chris Davis -- 7 years, $161 million (2016) *2. Pete Alonso -- 5 years, $155 million (2025)* 3. Adam Jones -- 6 years, $85.5 million (2012) 4. Miguel Tejada -- 6 years, $72 million (2003) 5. Samuel Basallo -- 8 years, $67 million (2025)

Judge orders Kilmar Abrego Garcia to be immediately released from immigration detention baltimoresun.com/2025/12/11/jud…

Pete Alonso was moved by this comparison made by David Rubenstein. “I really want to thank you as well, Mr. Rubenstein, for bringing me on and trusting me.”

From Adams to Trump: Presidents push the boundaries of the First Amendment. We asked scholars to compare and contrast the Trump era with other presidential terms. baltimoresun.com/2025/12/13/fir…

Weekly Backchannel politics column; —Why are politicians increasingly using swear words? —A Baltimore girls school launched two congressional powerhouses baltimoresun.com/2025/12/15/pol…