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Brenda Wintrode

Brenda

Brenda Wintrode covers Maryland politics and government, focusing on Maryland's congressional delegation. She has been with The Baltimore Banner since its launch in 2022 and has taken on a wide range of topics, including the governor, the state legislature, elections, cannabis policy and the youth legal system. Before coming to The Banner, she completed a fellowship with Wisconsin Watch, writing a series of investigations into wrongful child abuse allegations made in multiple states by the same pediatrician. Wintrode has a bachelor's of science in business administration from Bryant University in Rhode Island. After a career switch, she earned a graduate degree from the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism where she was named outstanding master’s student in December 2020.

The latest from Brenda Wintrode

Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen stepped up to Trump — and into the national spotlight
The Trump administration has so far denied a unanimous U.S Supreme Court order to facilitate Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s return, and the president has called Chris Van Hollen a “fake” and a “grandstander” for confronting his administration’s sweeping deportation efforts with a congressional fact-finding mission.
Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen speaks to the press in La Libertad, El Salvador, where he arrived regarding Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen who was living in Maryland and deported to El Salvador by the Trump administration, Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Van Hollen says US faces constitutional crisis as Trump defies courts
The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the Trump administration must facilitate Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s return.
U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, in a portrait in Baltimore on Thursday, March 20, 2025.
Van Hollen says improperly deported man ‘traumatized’ by time in dangerous prison
Sen. Van Hollen is the first person Kilmar Abrego Garcia has spoken to see being unlawfully deported and imprisoned in El Salvador. He told the senator he wants to talk to his wife.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., speaks during a news conference upon his arrival from meeting with Kilmar Abrego Garcia in El Salvador, at Washington Dulles International Airport, in Chantilly, Va., Friday, April 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
El Salvador won’t let Sen. Van Hollen visit Kilmar Abrego Garcia
The vice president of El Salvador denied Sen. Chris Van Hollen a face-to-face visit with a Maryland man wrongly deported last month.
Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen speaks to the press in La Libertad, El Salvador, where he arrived regarding Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen who was living in Maryland and deported to El Salvador by the Trump administration, Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Salvador Melendez)
Van Hollen lands in El Salvador, hopes to see Maryland dad wrongly deported
The senator said he plans to meet with government officials to discuss Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s release.
Sen Chris Van Hollen posted a video to social media from the airport before boarding a flight to El Salvador on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
How the relationship between Gov. Wes Moore and lawmakers was tested in year 3
Gov. Wes Moore had smooth sailing his first two years in Annapolis. This year has been different.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore speaks during a press conference in Annapolis in February.
Who is happy — and who is not — after this year’s General Assembly session?
Here’s The Baltimore Banner’s attempt to sort out who might be thrilled, and who might be disappointed, as they leave the State House.
Jeanie Ferretti with the Speaker’s Office celebrates in the House Chamber after midnight on Sine Die.
General Assembly settles on reforms to education ‘blueprint’ as session ends
Maryland’s state lawmakers began wrapping up their work for the year on Monday, tying up loose ends on the state budget, education reforms and energy policy.
Senate President Bill Ferguson prepares for a press conference in the Senate chamber at the Maryland State House during the final day of the 2025 Maryland General Assembly session on Monday.
Republicans target Gov. Moore’s fundraiser attendance with new bills
Republican lawmakers proposed new campaign fundraising restrictions Wednesday, targeting Gov. Wes Moore on the same day he planned to attend an event for his federal political action committee.
Republicans are using Gov. Wes Moore’s attendance at a PAC fundraiser to spark a conversation about changing state law.
Maryland lawmakers adjust planned tax increase after Trump auto tariffs
The swift pivot marks yet another Trump-induced change in course for lawmakers navigating a tough budget squeeze.
New cars at the Dundalk Marine Terminal. Maryland lawmakers are changing plans for a proposed vehicle sales tax increase.
Andy Harris hears out frustrated callers at tele-town hall
U.S. Rep. Andy Harris didn’t back down from his support for President Donald Trump and cutting government.
U.S. Rep. Andy Harris took calls from frustrated voters, but conceded little ground during a telephone town hall Tuesday.
Maryland Senate committee approves Republican elections board nominee
Senators on the Executive Nominations Committee unanimously approved James Shalleck’s candidacy on Monday.
Jim Shalleck of Montgomery County testifies before a Senate committee reviewing his candidacy for a state elections board seat on March 24, 2025.
Raskin slams no-show Harris at packed town hall: ‘Your face should not be on the milk carton’
Failing to attract the attention of Republican Congressman Andy Harris, hundreds of people flocked to a middle school gymnasium on Maryland’s Eastern Shore to hear from a willing Democratic stand-in — U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin.
Hundreds of people flocked to a town hall featuring Rep. Jamie Raskin at Mace's Lane Middle School in Dorchester County on Saturday, March 22, 2025.
Van Hollen calls for new ‘approach’ by Senate Dems after Schumer helps GOP avert shutdown
As national Democrats remain fractured about their focus and strategy, U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen inched closer to calling for a change in leadership in the Senate.
U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, in a portrait in Baltimore on Thursday, March 20, 2025.
Moore nixes idea of ‘broad’ business, drink taxes in budget talks
Administration officials said that the business services tax as introduced — a 2.5% tax on services that business entities sell to one another — is off the table.
Gov. Wes Moore said Monday he couldn’t support two tax ideas proposed to close the state’s $3 billion budget hole.
FBI HQ move, Towson Univ. targeted: What Trump’s latest moves could mean for Maryland
We’re here to help you understand what went down recently and how it may impact Maryland.
Lawmakers vow to stop Trump’s attempt to halt FBI HQ move to ‘liberal state’ of Maryland
President Donald Trump said Friday that he’ll block the planned move of the FBI headquarters from the nation’s capital to Prince George’s County.
The FBI is currently headquartered in Washington, D.C., at the J. Edgar Hoover Building. President Donald Trump says he’ll block a plan to move the FBI to Maryland.
Federal judge rules election activists can access Maryland voter rolls
A federal judge ruled a Maryland State Board of Elections regulation violated election law, giving a win to election activists suing for unrestricted access.
A voting booth in Oakland Mills High School in Columbia in November.
Maryland attorney general sues to get fired federal workers reinstated
Maryland AG Anthony Brown is leading a new lawsuit that attempts to halt the Trump administration's mass firings of probationary federal employees.
For the first time, Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown is taking the lead on a multi-state lawsuit against the Trump administration.
How some of Maryland’s congressional delegation reacted to Trump’s speech
Democratic members of Maryland’s majority-blue federal delegation silently protested, rejected or outright skipped President Donald Trump’s remarks Tuesday.
President Donald Trump, in a dark suit, stands in front of members of Congress and guests in the U.S. House chamber.
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