In this episode, Rebecca talks with Lorenzo Bellamy of The Bellamy Genn Group about what to expect from the upcoming Maryland legislative session. They walk through major leadership changes in the General Assembly, including a new Speaker of the House, new committee structures, and shifting dynamics between the House, Senate, and governor’s office. Lorenzo breaks down key issues likely to dominate the session—budget pressures, housing, data centers, AI, energy, and public safety—and explains how these debates may affect communities, businesses, and news media. The conversation also covers how constituents can engage effectively with lawmakers and why this session, coming in an election year, carries especially high stakes.

In this episode, Rebecca talks with Melanie Kaplan about Lab Dog, her book exploring animal testing through reporting, personal experience, and moral inquiry. Melanie discusses rescuing a beagle who had been used in laboratory research and how that experience led her to investigate the systems, regulations, and ethical questions surrounding animal experimentation. They talk about how reporting intersects with empathy, what transparency looks like in scientific research, and how storytelling can illuminate hidden practices without flattening complex debates.

In this episode, Rebecca talks with Tracey DeFrancesco, executive director of the A-Mark Foundation, about the A-Mark Prize for Investigative Journalism and its rapid national expansion. Tracy explains how the prize grew from a single press club award into a multi-state effort that puts real money behind investigative reporting, rewarding both journalists and their newsrooms. They discuss why investigative journalism is so resource-intensive, how financial recognition can sustain reporters and outlets, and the real-world impact these winning investigations are already having in communities across the country.