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Five Dubs Podcast

Five Dubs Podcast

Written by: MDDC Press Association
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About this listen

Five Dubs focuses on the who, what, when, where and why of local news media in Maryland, Delaware and D.C. We’ll talk with the journalists about stories behind the news. Five Dubs is a project of the MDDC Press Association and is hosted by Rebecca Snyder and Kevin Berrier.

2025 MDDC Press Association
Politics & Government
Episodes
  • E151: Erosion of Press Freedoms
    Jan 21 2026

    In this episode, Rebecca talks with Max Mishkin of Ballard Spahr about the growing erosion of press freedoms and the legal challenges confronting journalists today. Max explains how changes in law, court decisions, and government practices are affecting public records access, source protection, and reporters’ ability to do their jobs. They discuss why these issues often fly under the radar, how local newsrooms are especially vulnerable, and what journalists should know about their rights as legal pressures continue to increase.

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    48 mins
  • E149: MD Legislative Preview
    Jan 14 2026

    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.

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    48 mins
  • E148: Lab Dog
    Jan 7 2026

    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.

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    47 mins
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