Maryland, past the first brutal heat wave, settles down to a typical post-Fourth summer -- that long but always-too-short span until Labor Day. As Progressive Maryland's executive director, Larry Stafford, points out in a blog post today, the results of primary elections around the state (many just certified) reflect an electorate looking for change and dissatisfied with the same-old performance, including from establishment Democrats in this Business Blue state. Civic activists once dismissed as too "radical" and on the margin are now stepping up into the close-in public sphere -- and winning. As the news has related (and mainstream news agonized over) such candidates are winning around the country, from New York to Colorado to Maine. Much of it is a fight-back sensibility responding to Trump's increasingly shameless looting and grifting. The outcome of his increasing turn to Mussolini-style self aggrandizement (and plummeting approval ratings) may be more consequential than imagined. A whole framework of oligarchic top-down governance could be rejected -- for the long term. And, it may be, not only for the errant Executive Branch. The increasingly off-base Supreme Court might find itself in the bind described by the columnist Finley Peter Dunne's caricature Mr. Dooley, the mock-sage who opined "No matter whether th' constitution follows th' flag or not, th' Supreme Court follows th' iliction returns." 

We should not be surprised by the public's reaction to Trump's zany hatred of wind power and other renewables, his ruinous (and judicially rejected) tariffs or his wacky decision to follow Israel's right-wing leadership into war on Iran. It boils down very nicely to "affordability," which the public appears to understand more completely than (certainly) the MAGA gang as well as some of the mainstream Democratic Party leadership. Who comes to their senses first will be knowable in November. Somehow we doubt it will be the MAGA faithful under the thumb of an increasingly dotty Trump.

It's News You Can Use for this week. Read on.

HERE IN MARYLAND

*Summaries from Maryland Reporter

BGE To Resume Power Shutoffs This Summer After Hiatus: Baltimore Gas & Electric plans to resume power shutoffs this month for residential customers behind on their bills. The company had been barred from conducting shut-offs over the last six months, due to issues with its customer service call center. But now, BGE has warned customers that shut-off notices are resuming, and could arrive in the mail this week, coinciding with a blistering heat wave. Maryland Matters. *

BGE Seeks $8 Monthly Rate Increase: BGE residential customers would pay $8 more on average each month under a proposal to boost electric distribution rates starting early next year. The utility filed a plan with state regulators Thursday, calling it a “bare-bones” strategy to keep bills affordable by investing only in essential maintenance and immediate risks to the electric system serving 1.3 million people. Baltimore Sun*

State Commission Returns To Monitor Insurance Coverage Under Trump Administration: The 25-member group will combat impact of federal policies on affordable and accessible healthcare coverage
Almost 10 years ago, Maryland lawmakers pulled together a watchdog group of state officials, representatives for insurance companies and healthcare advocates to monitor health insurance coverage under President Donald Trump’s first term. The group disbanded during President Joe Biden’s term, but now as the second Trump administration pushes policies that could shake thousands of Marylanders off their insurance plans and increase healthcare costs, the Maryland Health Insurance Coverage Protection Commission is back. Maryland Matters

Board Rules State Violated Bargaining Agreement with Union: The Maryland Public Employee Relations Board said the Department of Budget and Management failed to bargain in good faith with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 3 when it denied access to information about telework eligibility. Maryland Matters*

New $109M Voting System Delayed Due To Transparency Concerns: The Maryland Board of Public Works has delayed approving a $109 million voting system overhaul after advocates and state lawmakers brought up concerns around the contract’s transparency and price tag. WYPR-FM*

MCPS Support Staff Union Advances Grievance Against District: SEIU Local 500, the union representing support staff in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), filed a grievance with the district Friday over concerns with the school system’s involuntary transfer process after the union said the district isn’t providing summer work for employees according to its collective bargaining agreement. Bethesda Today *

Bay Blue Crab Population Sees Long-Term Decline: A newly released assessment of the Chesapeake Bay blue crab population found the species has experienced significant long-term declines over the past two decades, raising concerns among fisheries managers and conservation groups about the health of the Bay’s signature species. Baltimore Fishbowl*

Schools Must Set Up AI Guidelines for Their Classrooms: Maryland schools have a summer homework assignment: Establish artificial intelligence policies for their classrooms. They do have a cheat sheet of sorts to go by — the Maryland State Department of Education’s recently released AI guidance. The department has been working on its guidelines since fall of 2025, said Richard Kincaid, assistant state superintendent for MSDE’s Division of College and Career Pathways. Maryland Matters.*

PRIVACY: Maryland’s tougher standards stay rare. Lawmakers in Alabama, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Vermont joined 19 other states in approving data privacy protection laws this year, reigniting clashes between privacy advocates and business interests. Laws passed this year largely align with an industry-backed template first adopted in Virginia in 2021, while broader data minimization language first adopted in Maryland in 2024 has struggled to gain traction in other states. (Pluribus News) (paywalled)

Moore’s July 4 Speech Contrasts Patriotism and Nationalism: Gov. Wes Moore delivered a Fourth of July speech Saturday from the Maryland State House. It was titled The Work of Patriotism. Moore says nationalism and patriotism are not interchangeable and are not related. “Patriotism is not simply pride in what America has been. ... patriotism asks you to fight for values and an ideal; nationalism asks you to fight for a person or group.” Video/C-SPAN*

THE REGION AND THE OTHER 49

Data Centers Next Door: Delaware lawmakers approved legislation to require data centers to provide their own energy. Another bill would prevent large load energy users from applying for state tax incentives, and a third would require data centers to earn approval from the state public service commission. (Delaware Public Media) via Pluribus

Virginia passes budget, nicks data centers: Risking a government shutdown, Virginia lawmakers debated for weeks about how to make data centers “pay for their fair share” before finally passing a budget last week that counts on $1.2 billion in tax revenue from the industry. In other moves, Virginians will see energy bill credits as the state re-joins the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, and long-awaited menhaden research received last minute funding. Bay Journal

Colorado: In one of the largest shifts to gun purchasing laws, residents who want to buy some of the most popular types of semiautomatic firearms will soon need to complete training through a new permit-to-purchase program. State officials say they are nearly ready to implement the new law, which goes into effect Aug. 1. News from the States

Maryland cities are among those nationwide that have revived teen curfews amid summer crowds: As communities prepared for crowded July Fourth celebrations, cities and towns across the country have revived juvenile curfews and increased police patrols in response to an apparent uptick in large teen gatherings and fights organized through social media. Communities in states including California, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia have announced or expanded curfews for minors this year, while others have tightened enforcement in downtown entertainment districts, parks and shopping centers where officials say “teen takeovers” have become more common. In Laurel, Maryland, a summer curfew took effect in June as part of what Mayor Keith R. Sydnor described as a broader effort to keep young people safe while encouraging them to take part in recreation programs and community events. Maryland Matters

Democrats And Republicans Alike Focus on State’s Rights As A Way Out Of Nation’s Political Woes: Democrats are seizing the mantle of states’ rights to oppose the agenda of President Donald Trump, who has sought to reset Washington’s relationship with the states. While the party out of federal power has always pushed its agenda in statehouses, Democrats across the country have recently demanded more autonomy for governors and state lawmakers. Liberals, longtime proponents of a stronger central government, are now championing an ideology that evokes odious memories of slavery and segregation. Many state leaders hope that a renewed focus on federalism could help lower the national political temperature. States Newsroom via Maryland Matters

American carnage? 1,374: The number of homicides reported in California in 2025, down 18.6% from 2024 to the lowest level on record. (Sacramento Bee) via Pluribus By The Numbers.

Florida: Under a new law, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that he has received a recommendation to designate the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) Florida, the Muslim Brotherhood and Antifa as domestic terrorist organizations.  News from the States -- Does DeSantis actually believe there is a phone number for Antifa?

GLOBAL, NATIONAL AND THE FEDS

America’s 250th birthday is now on sale (limited time opportunity!). Where’s all that merch money going? -- What’s more American than apple pie? Capitalism. And an array of merchandise and influence has gone on sale for the 250th birthday of the United States. An America250 $275 Liberty Lux American Prosperity decorative throw pillow, anyone? How about a $25 Freedom 250 youth tee? America250, a commission created by Congress a decade ago, and Freedom 250, President Donald Trump’s entity formed last year, each operate on their own respective tracks as a nonprofit and as a limited liability company. Both are employing staff, soliciting corporate donors and spending taxpayer funds. That means people, businesses and nonprofits are getting a slice of the semiquincentennial pie, some bigger than others. But there is no clear accounting of which entities are getting the bigger shares and no one associated with either organization offered a full explanation to States Newsroom. Reports also show at least $10 million in taxpayer money flowing from America250 to Freedom 250, and some Democratic lawmakers claim more has been redirected. States Newsroom via Maryland Matters

Global distaff dump? “Women have made extraordinary gains in the past few decades across the rich world. They now outnumber men on university campuses in virtually every wealthy country. Their representation among the highest-paying professions, including doctors and lawyers, has nearly tripled in America since 1980. Last year the number of female physicians exceeded those of men for the first time, according to Britain’s General Medical Council, a public body. Recently, however, this most highly qualified cohort of women in human history is falling back. In 2024 a study by S&P Global, a compiler of indices, found that women’s share of executive positions in listed American companies fell for the first time in 2023 after nearly 20 years of uninterrupted growth. In 2025 women secured 38% of new board seats at companies in the S&P 500 index of large American firms, down from 42% the previous year and prolonging a retreat from their peak in 2020. University-educated American women with young families appear to be leading the retreat. Their labour-force participation rate took a turn in 2023 after decades of improvement, and has fallen every year since. Last year marked the sharpest drop in participation by mothers with young children in four decades.” The Economist

From Semafor: “About 20% of US household food waste is driven by [sell date] label confusion, according to government figures, and globally food waste causes up to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. California will now require manufacturers to use “best if used by” for peak quality and “use by” for safety.” The size of California’s market and its history of being copycatted by other states means this move might spread.