We’re thrilled to share that our blog has been ranked among the Top 100 Liberal Political Blogs in the country by FeedSpot! This recognition places us alongside powerhouse platforms like Daily Kos, ACLU, HuffPost Politics, The New Yorker, and the Democratic National Committee—a huge honor for our work amplifying progressive issues in Maryland. Even more exciting, only three other statewide blogs made this list, highlighting the unique impact of our organizing and advocacy. Check out the full list here.

Struggle on two fronts goes on here in Maryland. We have one of the biggest populations of federal workers, per capita, as many states, so we get hit hardest by the Trump/Musk purge. At the same time, these struggles are worsening our already-imposing state budget deficit, giving the General Assembly desperate problems as the legislative session draws to a close (and as the GOP-led Congress aims to stick working families with the downside of a new spending and tax plan that would make the rich richer).

That's a lot on the peoples' plate. As we see, the Democratic state attorneys general are in the forefront of taking Trump, Musk and the rest of the MAGA gangsters to court, where they have to come up with better answers than "I just felt like it." Meanwhile the lower prices, lower inflation and other benefits promised by Trump before the election are turning out to be their opposites. We've seen Trump's movie before and are not surprised, alas.

So the struggle goes on. News You Can Use tries to keep you up on significant stuff happening here, in other states and at the national level. Usually, the news requires action on our part to keep the bad people from gaining. No excuses, lets get to work and keep on working.

As a longtime resident of Cherry Hill, a South Baltimore community shadowed by the towering smokestack of the BRESCO trash incinerator, I’ve spent years breathing in the toxic air that plagues our neighborhoods. My name is Martina Wilson, and I am not a scientist, lobbyist, or policymaker. I am a Maryland utility customer, a member of the Progressive Maryland Environmental Justice Task Force, and a woman fighting for her health and her community’s future. Today, I’m urging our lawmakers to pass the Reclaim Renewable Energy Act of 2025 and finally remove the subsidies propping up this dangerous incinerator.

As we step into March, we also step into Women’s History Month—a time to honor the generations of women, femmes, and non-binary people whose contributions have shaped history, movements, and everyday life. Their leadership, resilience, and impact deserve recognition not just this month, but always. Check out our Women’s History Month section later in this memo, where we’ll be highlighting powerful stories and change-makers.

Meanwhile, we’re hitting a major stretch in the legislative session with several critical bill hearings happening this week. Check out our Legislative Updates section for important updates on all of our legislative priorities.

And in exciting news, Progressive Maryland has once again been ranked in the Top 100 Liberal Political Blogs across the country by FeedSpot! We’re joined by other popular blogs like Daily Kos, ACLU, HuffPost Politics, The New Yorker, and Democratic National Committee. Plus, there are only 3 other statewide blogs to make this list so we are thrilled and grateful for this cool recognition. Click here to see the full list.

Read on for updates on our issue campaigns and news you can use!

In solidarity,

The Progressive Maryland Team

It’s been six rather amazing and disheartening weeks since the Orange Menace was inaugurated president, and the AP has a big take on that, Trump’s moves test the limits of presidential power and the resilience of US democracy. Watch to see if AP mentions the Gulf of Mexico.

As we see below, the reverberations in Maryland are many and varied, showing how intimately the state’s workforce (and budget) is related to federal agencies – and not just in D.C.

And a consolidated pushback has begun at the level of many Blue states as the Dem AGs continue their sustained court battles with TrumpWorld. In Red states, GOP legislators wallow in the violation of constitutional and human rights under the cover of the (so far) overbearing MAGA hegemony.

By Wendy Murphey, Member of the Huntington Tenant Association and Montgomery County resident

In Montgomery County, where my partner and I built our life and raised our children, the stability of having a secure home feels increasingly uncertain. I’ve lived in my apartment at the Huntington complex for several years. It’s not perfect, but it’s home. Yet every year, when my lease comes up for renewal, I hold my breath, wondering if my landlord will let me stay or decide that I have to leave for no justifying reason.

As a resident of Westport, living just steps away from the Baltimore trash incinerator for many years, I am compelled to share my story and advocate for a future free from the burdens of toxic emissions. My name is Mary Randall and I am a Maryland utility customer, a member of the Progressive Maryland EJ Task Force and I am deeply concerned about the environment.

Yesterday, Progressive Maryland members gathered in Annapolis to make one thing clear: This is the year. At our midpoint rally, our members—tenants, healthcare advocates, and environmental justice leaders—stood alongside lawmakers to push for key legislation that will protect renters, expand healthcare access, and stop subsidizing polluters. We’re less than a month away from Crossover Day, and the fight is only ramping up from here. If you missed the rally, you can watch the livestream here.

Right after the rally, our members took that same energy into Lobby Night, meeting directly with legislators from both chambers and both parties. They boldly shared their stories, making sure lawmakers heard firsthand how these policies will impact their lives. Check out our Legislative Updates section to follow the status of our key priority bills.

Read on for important updates, ways to get involved, and news you can use.

In solidarity,

The Progressive Maryland Team

If you got Elon Musk’s outrageous DOG-Email demanding five bullet points about what you, as a federal employee, did last week – and IF your agency hasn’t told you to ignore it --  here are a few framing ideas:

• Accomplished my regular duties, including (two or three specific bullet points)
• Spent time in meetings with my remaining co-workers about how to keep accomplishing the tasks and duties of those in our office who have already been fired without cause or bullied into resigning. (examples)
• Tried to plan in the face of current extreme uncertainty how important functions of the US government in my or my agency’s purview could continue to serve the US public as more RIFs take place erratically, without consideration for the departmental structure and skills array that those important functions require.

FYI Kash Patel (!) told the FBI folks to ignore the email and “A White House official clarified to Semafor that DOGE doesn’t have the authority to fire federal workers and that it’s up to agency managers to determine their workers’ productivity, as well as any consequences for missing Musk’s deadline.”

Splitsville on the horizon?

Read more about how resistance may be slowly developing, among places and people that could surprise you.

Advocates and Community Leaders Rally in Annapolis to Demand Passage of the Reclaim Renewable Energy Act

Senate President Ferguson & Delegate Vaughn Stewart Join Frontline Communities in Calling for an End to Incineration Subsidies

Annapolis, MD – Advocates and community leaders rallied today in Annapolis, sending a strong message to lawmakers and WIN Waste Incinerator: this is the year Maryland will finally stop subsidizing toxic trash incineration. Demonstrators, including residents from South Baltimore, Senate President Bill Ferguson, and Delegate Vaughn Stewart, gathered in front of the State House ahead of the Senate hearing on the Reclaim Renewable Energy Act (RREA). In a direct response to WIN Waste’s recent claims that incineration should continue receiving subsidies because of their nonprofit donations, advocates clapped back, calling out the company for profiting off pollution while harming the communities they claim to help. At the same time, demonstrators symbolically wore gas masks to represent the devastating effects of air pollution in Baltimore.

"Year after year, we tell folks we’re tired of Marylanders subsidizing asthma. We’re tired of paying extra on our utility bills every month just so a super-profitable corporation can get even richer—choking us, ruining our planet, and destroying our air quality. This is finally our year. We’re going to get it done.” said Delegate Vaughn Stewart. 

The rally, hosted by Progressive Maryland, South Baltimore Community Land Trust, Coal Free Curtis Bay, Clean Water Action, and Food & Water Watch, highlighted how the incinerator continues to disproportionately harm Black and working-class communities, burning 800,000 tons of trash each year, while raking in millions in subsidies meant for clean energy like wind and solar. 

Senate President Bill Ferguson, the lead sponsor of the bill, underscored why Maryland must end these subsidies: "This is a bill that’s been a long time coming. At a time when we need truly green, truly renewable energy in Maryland, we should not be incentivizing incineration. This year, we’re going to move forward, and we’re going to get it done."

Senate President Bill Ferguson speaking at rally

Advocates also called out WIN Waste’s attempt to justify its existence with charity donations.

"WIN Waste gets millions in subsidies meant for clean energy, while Marylanders pay the price in higher bills and worse health," said SirJames, Progressive Maryland’s Environmental Justice Task Force organizer, leading chants of "WIN Waste, we’re saying it to your face!"

South Baltimore residents, who live in the direct shadow of the incinerator, spoke about the devastating health and financial toll the facility has had on their neighborhoods.

"Win Waste tries to mislead the public, but my community has never benefited from them. Their negligence has led to cancer-related deaths, including my own battle with cancer after living near the incinerator." said Mary Randall, a Progressive Maryland environmental advocate.

"For 39 years, this incinerator has polluted my community. To classify trash incineration as renewable energy is fundamentally misleading," said Shenae Thomas, a member of Progressive Maryland’s Environmental Justice Task Force. ‘We must redirect our money toward real clean energy like solar and wind—not corporate polluters”

With Senate President Ferguson’s leadership, growing public support, and a renewed push for climate justice, advocates say the time is now. Marylanders will no longer accept the false choice between pollution and progress. 

###