In the 1939 Frank Capra film, “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” letters from citizens to Congress play a pivotal role in the story — they symbolize the voices of young people crying out for honest representation and government for the greater good. The letters arrive in stark contrast to a media campaign manufactured by a … Continue reading Writing letters to Congress: If you want to get their attention, go old school.
Two essays: Dreading the juveniles in Trump’s government, saluting an actual adult who stood up for decency
Essays in contrast: One dreads the juvenility of the Trump regime, the other salutes a true adult who took a stand for decency.
Love America Rallies: No Kings Day, October 2025
The MAGA Republican response to the second No Kings protest has been a combination of laughably extreme invective and childish hissy fit. Republican after Republican issued over-the-top criticism of the organized demonstrations against the Trump regime, calling them Soros-sponsored antifa gatherings. House Speaker Mike Johnson called them “hate America” rallies. White House press secretary Karoline … Continue reading Love America Rallies: No Kings Day, October 2025
A century-old sycamore: Pardon me while I stare
There are some old photographs, hanging in libraries and published in books, of the final days of giant trees that lived hundreds of years in the East before the pioneers and colonists arrived, before the farmers and lumberjacks, before the railroads and the highways -- way back, in the words of Gordon Lightfoot, "when the … Continue reading A century-old sycamore: Pardon me while I stare
Despite Trump’s attempt to whitewash history, five new sites are added to the Underground Railroad network
Despite recent anti-DEI efforts by the Trump administration to downplay the roles of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad in American history, five new sites in Maryland have been listed in the National Park Service’s Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program. That brings to 97 the number of Maryland sites associated with Tubman and others … Continue reading Despite Trump’s attempt to whitewash history, five new sites are added to the Underground Railroad network
Out of print: The Baltimore Sun of September 1940
Second in a series This sampling from my stash of old Baltimore newspapers comes from the Sun of Labor Day weekend, 1940, bringing news of a fatal plane crash in Virginia, with a U.S. senator (and suspected Nazi sympathizer) among the victims; Nazi Germany bombing England; a tropical storm hitting Maryland and flooding Baltimore streets; … Continue reading Out of print: The Baltimore Sun of September 1940
Noted passing: A Baltimore native who wrote the book, now banned by Trump, on white nationalists
More than 30 years ago, when the Skinheads were a thing and one of them established headquarters at a house in Baltimore, Leonard Zeskind was the expert we turned to for the full story. Who were these guys handing out leaflets in Hampden? What was their movement all about? Where did such openly racist young … Continue reading Noted passing: A Baltimore native who wrote the book, now banned by Trump, on white nationalists
Lyrics: Ballad of the Baltimore Bridge
While the lyrics to the "Ballad of the Baltimore Bridge" appear as captions in our music video, several people have asked that they be published separately. So here they are. Thanks to everyone for the interest in this song and for all the supportive comments we received on its release. If you know anyone who … Continue reading Lyrics: Ballad of the Baltimore Bridge
50th anniversary of a great book about the ‘Great War’
As a writer of non-fiction, the late Paul Fussell was one of the master distillers of the 20th Century, and by distiller I mean something like this: A writer who considers all -- not only the general history of an examined period, but the cultural, political, social and commercial environment -- and who extracts from … Continue reading 50th anniversary of a great book about the ‘Great War’
Among Maryland’s great citizens: Will Schwarz
I would nominate Will Schwarz for Marylander of the Year, and not because he's a friend of mine -- and producer of my 1990's TV show and director of my play, "Baltimore, You Have No Idea." But because of what he did to enlighten his fellow Marylanders and stir our collective conscience. Will, who had … Continue reading Among Maryland’s great citizens: Will Schwarz
Dan Rodricks 