Midday

Tom speaks with the two congressional candidates for Maryland's third district. Rob Steinberger (R) and State Senator Sarah Elfreth (D) join Midday to discuss the priorities of their campaigns. Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

How can the United States be the home of widespread, debilitating poverty while simultaneous being one of the wealthiest countries on Earth? This is the question that confronts readers early in sociologist Matthew Desmond's new book, Poverty, By America . We must look beyond the poor to answer this questions, Desmond writes. To understand the causes of poverty, Americans living lives of privilege...

Mike Scott joins Midday's Conversation with the Candidates. He is the Libertarian candidate in the race for the United States Senate. Scott is an Air Force veteran who lives in Bowie, where he is a realtor. He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and a master’s from Central Michigan University. What does it mean to be a libertarian running in Maryland for statewi...

Today marks the one-year anniversary of the terrorist attack in Israel by Hamas. On Midday we examine how Israelis have reacted to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of the crisis, and what the anniversary means to the Baltimore Jewish community. This year, Oct. 7 falls at the midpoint between the two major holidays observed by those of the Jewish faith, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Ki...

This year's ballot in Baltimore County includes proposals on council size, protecting the inspector general and high dollar bond issues. WYPR's Baltimore County Reporter John Lee joins Midday to inform listeners on the important ballot initiatives in this year's election. Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

This week's loss to the Kansas City Royals was the end of the season for the Baltimore Orioles. Danielle Allentuck, Orioles reporter for the Baltimore Banner, joins Midday to explain what happened to the team this year. Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Ukraniain classical guitarist Marko Topchii performs in a Midday-Mini concert in advance of his upcoming performance at Towson University. Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Earlier this week, the Board of Directors of the Enoch Pratt Free Library announced the appointment of  Chad Helton  as the new President & Chief Executive Officer of Baltimore city's more than 20 public libraries. His lengthy resume includes time at library systems in major cities across the county. Helton joins Midday  to discuss how he became the librarian he is today, and his vision for Ba...

The vice-presidential candidates debated last night in New York. Did they move the needle in what polls show is a very tight race for the White House? Political Science Professor Dr. Dawn Teele of the Johns Hopkins SNF Agora Institute shares her reflections on the vice-presidential debate. Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Theater critic  J. Wynn Rousuck  joins  Midday  to review the world premiere of  Oh Happy Day  at Baltimore Center Stage. The production is a new play with music that reimagines the biblical story of Noah's Ark. How well is this depiction of Noah's Ark portrayed on stage? Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. is campaigning to replace Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger and represent Maryland's second district.  Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

An underground fire in the 300 block of Charles Street in downtown Baltimore on Sunday damaged electrical and fiber optic lines, severely damaged a bookstore, disrupted traffic, and left thousands without power. Joey Henderson , the director of the Baltimore Office of Emergency Management, joins Midday to give an update on the mysterious problem. Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR,...

On Midday Healthwatch with Dr. Leana Wen , the new flu vaccine is here in time for the first months of the school year. Plus, there is a new COVID vaccine available. And, who should get an mpox vaccine? We ask Wen about a possible winter COVID surge, and new medical innovations giving her cause for hope. Wen is one of America’s most trusted and knowledgeable public health experts. She is a columni...

What happens when a predominately-white evangelical megachurch in the Midwest creates a program to address racial inequity? Dr. Hahrie Han followed the journey of Crossroads Church in Ohio, where Pastor Chuck Mingo said he felt called by God to combat racial injustice, within the church and their wider Cincinnati community. Han's book is called Undivided: The Quest for Racial Solidarity in an Amer...

Baltimore Public Media's New/Next Film Festival returns to the Charles Theatre October 3 - 6. This year's event has expanded to showcase more than 100 films from filmmakers near and far. Today on Midday we discuss the inspiration for this year's festival, review a few featured films and highlight contributions from the Maryland cinematic community. Guests for today's show include: Sam Sessa, Direc...

Midday Theater Critic J. Wynn Rousuck reviews  & Juliet , on stage at the Hippodrome through Saturday, September 28 . Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare’s great tragedies, but & Juliet adapts the story with humor and pop music. Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Baltimore is seeing a much lower rate of violent crime than before and during the pandemic. As of today, there have been 57 fewer homicides in the city of Baltimore than at this time last year. Surrounding areas however, such as Anne Arundel and Harford County, are grappling with a slight rise in gun violence. Midday begins today with a conversation about efforts at the federal level to improve pu...

The Beyond Boundaries Civic Engagement and Democracy Conference, taking place Saturday , focuses on having an impact in the elections, and in the aftermath. Kendra Nelson of the No Boundaries Coalition, Charly Carter of Step Up Maryland and the artist Ashley Esposito of Unity Hall talk tell us about their mission. Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

As a new season approaches for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, what can concert-goers look forward to? The 2024–2025 season's theme is “Music that Resonates.” Following  Jonathon Heyward ’s debut year as BSO Music Director, this year's lineup stretches from classical masterpieces to the grandeur of opera to the groundbreaking innovation of American jazz. Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @M...

Krish O'Mara Vignarajah, President and CEO of Global Refuge, joins Midday to address redirecting disinformation about the immigrant community during this year's presidential election. Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Dr. Matthew Taylor explores the explosion of the New Apostolic Reformation in America, which has come to animate millions across the country, in his new book,  The Violent Take It By Force . Taylor, a scholar of Protestantism at the Baltimore-based Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies, joins us to discuss his research.   Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call u...

April McClain Delaney is the Democratic nominee for the House of Representatives in Maryland's 6th Congressional District and is running to replace outgoing Congressman David Trone. Delaney’s husband, John Delaney, held the seat for 6 years, from 2013-2019. The 6th District encompasses the northwest part of Maryland, including all of Garrett, Allegany, Frederick, and Washington counties as well as...

Theater critic J. Wynn Rousuck joins Midday  to share another weekly review of a local theatrical production. Rousuck reviewed Machinal, at Fells Point Corner Theatre through September 29. The play leans into Expressionism, Rousuck said. How is that conveyed on stage? Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Baltimore sports teams struggled in recently weeks. But for the Orioles, maybe the magic is back. Yesterday, Anthony Santander’s two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth lifted the Orioles to a victory over the San Francisco Giants. The win snapped a three-game losing streak and was only the 4th time the O’s won in their last 12 games. The O's face the Detroit Tigers for the first installment of a...

Former Maryland Governor Parris Glendening joins Midday to discuss Keep Our Republic . This organization is a coalition of former governors working to assure the votes cast in the 2024 election are reported in accordance with the Electoral Count Reform Act of 2022. Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.