Conduit Street Podcast
From the halls of the State House to the heart of county government, the Conduit Street Podcast breaks down the decisions shaping Marylanders’ daily lives. Produced by the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo), this weekly podcast offers smart, accessible insights on the latest state and local policy — with counties always at the center.
Explore how legislation, executive actions, and agency decisions affect essential public services like education, infrastructure, public safety, health, and other core functions that matter most to Maryland residents. With special guests from across the state and the occasional world-famous dad joke, Conduit Street keeps you informed, engaged, and ready for what’s next.
Whether you’re a policymaker, a public servant, or just policy-curious, this is your front-row seat to Maryland’s political landscape.
Conduit Street Podcast
The Briefing Room: Why Housing Costs More Than Ever
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Housing projects do not rise or fall only on land, design, or political will. They also rise or fall with the cost of capital, aka the capital stack.
In Episode 2 of The Briefing Room, Dom Butchko and Terry Hickey are joined by Brian McLaughlin, entrepreneur and Board Member of the Baltimore Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, to examine how interest rates, borrowing costs, inflation, insurance, trade policy, tariffs, and broader national economic conditions affect whether housing projects can pencil out.
The conversation connects federal and national policy decisions to the realities facing developers, lenders, local governments, and communities across Maryland, exploring why tighter financing conditions can widen funding gaps, delay projects, and make housing production more difficult even when demand remains high.
Whether you're a policymaker, housing professional, or simply interested in why housing has become more expensive to build, this episode offers valuable insight into the financial realities shaping housing development today.
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