Season 2 opens with a deep dive into the results of the newest Maryland Now poll, conducted by Blended Public Affairs and Perry Jacobson in partnership with Zenith Research. Hosts Dori Henry, Josh Kurtz, and David Nitkin sit down with Adam Carlson, Founding Partner of Zenith Research, to break down what 800 likely Maryland voters are saying about the state of their finances, their government, and their governor — and the numbers paint a clear picture: affordability, not politics as usual, is driving the conversation heading into the midterms.
In this episode:
- Why 51% of Marylanders say they're just getting by or struggling — and why utility bills, not jobs or the economy, are the #1 policy priority
- How Marylanders want the state to raise revenue
- Data centers: why 75% of Marylanders are concerned, and why it's one of the fastest opinion shifts Adam has seen in his career
- Governor Moore's approval numbers
- Bipartisan appetite for nuclear power and keeping gas plants online longer
- A candid look at the state of polling itself
- (00:00) - Welcome and Guest Intro
- (00:55) - Marylanders Feeling the Squeeze
- (02:12) - Utility Bills Top Priority
- (03:46) - Poll Methodology Breakdown
- (04:27) - Why Solutions Feel Hard
- (06:58) - Nuclear and Gas Options
- (08:47) - Budget Gap and Revenue Ideas
- (11:05) - Tax the Wealthy Debate
- (16:52) - Utility Bills as Political Issue
- (19:15) - Data Centers Spark Backlash
- (22:55) - What Data Centers Really Mean
- (25:27) - Business Climate and Climate Change
- (28:06) - Climate vs Pocketbook Priorities
- (28:54) - Housing Supply Messaging
- (29:23) - Utility Bills Dominate Issues
- (30:34) - Do We Get What We Pay
- (32:21) - Staying Put in Maryland
- (34:55) - Moore vs Cox Snapshot
- (35:49) - Governor Moore Approval Map
- (38:06) - Party Brands vs Moore
- (40:01) - Rise of Democratic Socialists
- (42:07) - How Polling Works Now
- (44:47) - Response Rates and Methods
- (46:46) - Polling as Art and Science
- (49:12) - Wrap Up and Thanks
What is Maryland Now?
Maryland Now is a podcast that goes beyond the headlines to explore the forces shaping Maryland’s politics, policy, and public life. Hosted by Dori Henry, Josh Kurtz, and David Nitkin — three veteran journalists and public‑affairs leaders with more than 60 years of combined experience — the show brings depth, context, and historical perspective to the issues facing Maryland today.
Each episode blends reporting, interviews, and insider knowledge. You’ll hear directly from the people driving decisions in Annapolis and across the state: agency heads, lawmakers, advocates, strategists, and longtime policy experts. The hosts draw on their decades covering and working in Maryland government to connect past decisions to current debates — revealing how we got here, what’s been tried before, and what’s at stake now.
Season One follows the 2026 General Assembly session and election cycle, with deep dives into housing, energy, the state budget, public health, and more. The conversations are smart, candid, and grounded in real reporting — not hot takes.
If you want to understand Maryland — its politics, its communities, and its future — Maryland Now is for YOU