This episode, Dori Henry, Josh Kurtz, and David Nitkin head to Capitol Hill for a wide-ranging conversation with Congressman Steny Hoyer, the dean of Maryland's congressional delegation, who retires in January after more than four decades in Congress, and Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth, who first walked into his office as an intern in 2011 and now serves alongside him. Together they look at how Congress got here, what it will take to fix it, and what a mentor and his protégé have learned from each other.
In this episode:
- How Congress has changed since Hoyer arrived in 1981, from the Tip O'Neill and Bob Michel era to the confrontational politics he traces back to Newt Gingrich
- Why Hoyer says Congress's problem is psychological, not structural
- Elfreth on the bipartisan freshman retreat where she saw glimmers of hope that opposing sides can come together to do hard things
- The 1983 Reagan and O'Neill Social Security deal, and why reform is harder today
- Both lawmakers on Congress's failure to check the executive branch
- The mentors who shaped them, from Mike Busch and Mike Miller to Hoyer's friendships across the aisle
- Elfreth's work on the Armed Services Committee and what it means for Maryland's military installations
- Advice for the next class of new members, from Elfreth's call for curiosity to Hoyer's Edmund Burke lesson
Got a question or topic you want covered this season?
- (00:00) - Welcome and Introductions
- (00:12) - Hoyer and Elfreth Background
- (01:43) - How Congress Culture Changed
- (03:01) - From Gingrich to Trump Era
- (06:12) - Social Security and Bipartisan Hope
- (09:26) - Why Reform Is So Hard
- (12:35) - Why Congress Is Unpopular
- (15:31) - Culture vs Structure Fixes
- (16:53) - Debt Ceiling and Paying for Government
- (20:18) - Executive Power and Congress Role
- (22:19) - Congress Reclaims Power
- (23:09) - Executive Overreach Fears
- (24:33) - Tariffs And Impotence
- (24:53) - Mentors And Intern Days
- (26:59) - Committee Culture Shock
- (29:19) - Old School Bipartisanship
- (31:56) - Media And Polarization
- (33:25) - Retirement And Democracy
- (35:31) - Next Congress Priorities
- (39:06) - Advice For New Members
- (42:25) - Closing And Credits
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