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December 5, 2025

Talbot Spy

Nonpartisan Education-based News for Talbot County Community

00 Post to Chestertown Spy Point of View From and Fuller Spy Highlights

From & Fuller: Unpacking Trump’s Attacks on Alleged Venezuelan Drug Boats

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Every Thursday, The Spy hosts a conversation with Al From and Craig Fuller on the most topical political news of the moment. 

This week, From and Fuller discuss the Trump administration’s military strikes on vessels near Venezuela that Trump and senior officials claim are smuggling narcotics.

Kat Engst is guest-hosting this week while Dave Wheelan is on assignment.

This video podcast is approximately twenty-one minutes in length.

Background

While the Spy’s public affairs mission has always been hyper-local, it has never limited us from covering national, or even international issues, that impact the communities we serve. With that in mind, we were delighted that Al From and Craig Fuller, both highly respected Washington insiders, have agreed to a new Spy video project called “The Analysis of From and Fuller” over the next year.

The Spy and our region are very lucky to have such an accomplished duo volunteer for this experiment. While one is a devoted Democrat and the other a lifetime Republican, both had long careers that sought out the middle ground of the American political spectrum.

Al From, the genius behind the Democratic Leadership Council’s moderate agenda which would eventually lead to the election of Bill Clinton, has never compromised from this middle-of-the-road philosophy. This did not go unnoticed in a party that was moving quickly to the left in the 1980s. Including progressive Howard Dean saying that From’s DLC was the Republican wing of the Democratic Party.

From’s boss, Bill Clinton, had a different perspective. He said it would be hard to think of a single American citizen who, as a private citizen, has had a more positive impact on the progress of American life in the last 25 years than Al From.”

Al now lives in Annapolis and spends his semi-retirement as a board member of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University (his alma mater) and authoring New Democrats and the Return to Power. He also is an adjunct faculty member at Johns Hopkins’ Krieger School and recently agreed to serve on the Annapolis Spy’s Board of Visitors. He is the author of “New Democrats and the Return to Power.”

For Craig Fuller, his moderation in the Republican party was a rare phenomenon. With deep roots in California’s GOP culture of centralism, Fuller, starting with a long history with Ronald Reagan, leading to his appointment as Reagan’s cabinet secretary at the White House, and later as George Bush’s chief-of-staff and presidential campaign manager was known for his instincts to find the middle ground. Even more noted was his reputation of being a nice guy in Washington, a rare characteristic for a successful tenure in the White House.

Craig has called Easton his permanent home for the last eight years, where he now chairs the board of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and is a former board member of the Academy Art Museum and Benedictine. He also serves on the Spy’s Board of Visitors and writes an e-newsletter available by clicking on DECADE SEVEN.

With their rich experience and long history of friendship, now joined by their love of the Chesapeake Bay, they have agreed through the magic of Zoom, to talk inside politics and policy with the Spy every Thursday.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Chicken Scratch: The Subtitle of Life — by Elizabeth Beggins

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It started with the lady in the red pickup.

White hair like a full-fledged dandelion, or maybe a freshly groomed poodle, head just peeking over the steering wheel. She was zipping down the road like she had a coupon about to expire. For a second I thought I was seeing things. But no. She was absolutely real, probably on her way to meet someone exciting, and I suddenly understood that it was my worldview that needed adjusting.

Turns out, things are almost never what they seem. The subtitle of life.

A red pickup truck moving down a highway

Photo by Dan Williams on Unsplash

Her hair and determination somehow reminded me of Buffy, the patriarch of my childhood’s two-toy-poodle dynasty. Late one night, in the twilight of his life, Buffy didn’t get up from his usual spot by the patio door. Distraught, mom found dad in the bedroom, in a T-shirt and boxers. What is it with dads and underwear in times of crisis? Anyway, he was a big man whose anger could scare the stripes off a zebra. With my whimpering mother behind him, he loomed over the dog.

“BUFFY!” he thundered, stamping his foot.

The dog shot up like a furry Lazarus—clearly no longer dead. We still say he left the Pearly Gates behind in fear of my father.

Miracles aside, often it’s the details of existence that bedevil us most. The other night, my husband spent extra minutes scrubbing a takeout lid that refused to come clean. Baffled by the laws of grease and physics, he laughed when he realized he’d been washing two tops stuck together. He was working twice as hard to accomplish nothing. Welcome to the domestic version of modern life.

Like the time he came home complaining that either his jeans had shrunk or his body had expanded. Neither was true. The jeans were mine. He’d worn them all day, never processing that the zipper was on the scenic route and the waistband was cutting him in half. At the time, I questioned both his powers of observation and the realities of my mom-body. Years later, it feels like a reminder of how uncomfortable it is when we try to squeeze our lives into proverbial pants never meant for us. Confusion, apparently, is our love language.

Then there was the duel I fought at a weekend beach house. Each time I used the bathroom, the toilet paper roll was running the wrong way, so I flipped it around. Someone else clearly disagreed, because every time I returned, it was reversed again. Three days of silent combat, two invisible opponents waging war over the orientation of the two-ply. I never discovered my challenger, but I’m sure we both walked away feeling victorious.

If I can get that riled up about toilet paper, no wonder the rest of the world can’t agree on anything. Perhaps that’s why I’ve grown wary of ever thinking I have the final answer. We live in a time when every argument escalates quickly. The distance between deciding there’s a right way to hang toilet paper and believing there’s a correct way to think at all is surprisingly short. And oh, how quickly we dig in when someone rolls the other way!

That stubborn need to be right seeps into every nook like spilled milk. I sit down meaning to write about love, or laughter, or aging, and somehow end up in the thicket of politics. It’s strange to live in a country where truth depends on the channel, and outrage feels like the national pastime.

A wild violet plant with small purple flowers grows in the corner of a cement step

Photo by Brian Stalter on Unsplash

I’m not a political writer, and I have no appetite for shouting matches. But I do know this much: I’m tired of watching decency get filibustered. I believe in the rule of law. I think money should never outweigh morality, and that cruelty is not a governing strategy. Both major parties—and the movement convinced it’s purer than either—fail us in ways that go deeper than policy. We’ve allowed a few people with deep pockets and deeper insecurities to convince us we are small, fragile, and owned. But we aren’t. We’re the Wi-Fi that works in the basement, the wool sweater that’s survived a lifetime of winters, the wildflowers growing in concrete.

One thing that keeps me going is the conviction that there’s more to humanity than the people in power. When the systems meant to support us fall short, we show up for each other. It’s messy, inefficient, and it doesn’t reach everyone, but it’s all we have to offer. So we do.

Sometimes a reassessment, an attitude adjustment inspired by dandelion hair, is the best place to start. Which brings me to Ireland.

Seven months after my father died, my mother took me there. It would have been their 59th anniversary, and she wanted something else to think about. A seasoned traveler at 82, she booked a bus tour—no logistics, no stress, just along for the ride. The guide, by his own accounting, didn’t drink, didn’t swear, but regularly summoned his pals.

“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!” he’d exclaim at roads too narrow for either a bus or a confession.

I was not yet 50 and, except for one couple with a teenage son, I was the youngest on the bus. From the looks of them, Leslie and Betty were closer in age to my mother. They sat in the front seats, fingers entwined. When we stopped to explore Yeats’s grave, Donegal Castle, and the Cliffs of Moher, they held hands, whispered, and smiled at each other.

A smiling older couple sit close together on a bus

The real Betty and Leslie. He went by Les.

I admired them and found myself hoping my husband and I would be like that someday, if we were lucky enough to live that long.

On the last day of the trip, I squatted down in the aisle beside them and said, “I just have to tell you—you two are adorable. How long have you been married?”

They giggled, looked at each other, and said in unison, “Six months.”

Of course. Of course the people I envied for their years of devotion had barely figured out whose turn it was to do the laundry. The universe cracks itself up, doesn’t it?

Somebody’s always scrubbing the wrong lid, wearing the wrong jeans, fighting silent toilet paper wars, electing people who promise more than they deliver. And yet, amid the swirl of daily personal mishaps and colossal political betrayals, I keep finding reasons to be hopeful.

Recently, the Northern Lights were visible where I live and all the way around the globe. Light pollution in my town kept them from my view, but the camera saw what I couldn’t. Meanwhile, friends from near and far shared pictures in a group chat, all of us on a device that can be as problematic as it is purposeful. One wrote: “How miraculous to instantly see, on this magic little box in my hand, the Aurora Australis from a friend’s yard on the other side of a giant ball we are flying on around the sun and our home galaxy. One of billions.”

Life is rarely just as it seems. It’s always more—so much more.

An audio version of this essay, read by the author, is available here.

Elizabeth Beggins is a communications and outreach specialist focused on regional agriculture. She is a former farmer, recovering sailor, and committed over-thinker who appreciates opportunities to kindle conversation and invite connection. On “Chicken Scratch,” a reader-supported publication hosted by Substack, she writes non-fiction essays rooted in realistic optimism. To receive her weekly posts and support her work, become a free or paid subscriber here.

The night sky with stars and the pink glow of the Northern Lights

 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

From & Fuller: Epstein Files Fallout and the Future of the GOP

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Every Thursday, The Spy hosts a conversation with Al From and Craig Fuller on the most topical political news of the moment. 

This week, From and Fuller discuss Congress’s decision to direct the Justice Department to release all files related to its investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as well as the implications for a Republican Party that seems increasingly divided. 

Kat Engst is guest-hosting this week while Dave Wheelan is on assignment.

This video podcast is approximately twenty-one minutes in length.

Background

While the Spy’s public affairs mission has always been hyper-local, it has never limited us from covering national, or even international issues, that impact the communities we serve. With that in mind, we were delighted that Al From and Craig Fuller, both highly respected Washington insiders, have agreed to a new Spy video project called “The Analysis of From and Fuller” over the next year.

The Spy and our region are very lucky to have such an accomplished duo volunteer for this experiment. While one is a devoted Democrat and the other a lifetime Republican, both had long careers that sought out the middle ground of the American political spectrum.

Al From, the genius behind the Democratic Leadership Council’s moderate agenda which would eventually lead to the election of Bill Clinton, has never compromised from this middle-of-the-road philosophy. This did not go unnoticed in a party that was moving quickly to the left in the 1980s. Including progressive Howard Dean saying that From’s DLC was the Republican wing of the Democratic Party.

From’s boss, Bill Clinton, had a different perspective. He said it would be hard to think of a single American citizen who, as a private citizen, has had a more positive impact on the progress of American life in the last 25 years than Al From.”

Al now lives in Annapolis and spends his semi-retirement as a board member of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University (his alma mater) and authoring New Democrats and the Return to Power. He also is an adjunct faculty member at Johns Hopkins’ Krieger School and recently agreed to serve on the Annapolis Spy’s Board of Visitors. He is the author of “New Democrats and the Return to Power.”

For Craig Fuller, his moderation in the Republican party was a rare phenomenon. With deep roots in California’s GOP culture of centralism, Fuller, starting with a long history with Ronald Reagan, leading to his appointment as Reagan’s cabinet secretary at the White House, and later as George Bush’s chief-of-staff and presidential campaign manager was known for his instincts to find the middle ground. Even more noted was his reputation of being a nice guy in Washington, a rare characteristic for a successful tenure in the White House.

Craig has called Easton his permanent home for the last eight years, where he now chairs the board of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and is a former board member of the Academy Art Museum and Benedictine. He also serves on the Spy’s Board of Visitors and writes an e-newsletter available by clicking on DECADE SEVEN.

With their rich experience and long history of friendship, now joined by their love of the Chesapeake Bay, they have agreed through the magic of Zoom, to talk inside politics and policy with the Spy every Thursday.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

The Maryland Caucus: Maryland’s Budget Crisis + Redistricting Plans Set in Motion

by

Every Wednesday, Maryland political analysts Len Foxwell and Clayton Mitchell discuss the politics and personalities of the state and region.

This week, Len and Clayton discuss the state’s nearly $1.5 billion budget deficit projected for the upcoming fiscal year, along with the continuation of Governor Wes Moore’s redistricting plan, which could eliminate the state’s only Republican congressional district. 

This video is approximately 20 minutes in length.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

From & Fuller: What Was Lost During The Government Shutdown?

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Every Thursday, The Spy hosts a conversation with Al From and Craig Fuller on the most topical political news of the moment.

This week, From and Fuller discuss the winners and losers of the Senate-backed deal to end the government shutdown.

Kat Engst is guest-hosting this week and next while Dave Wheelan is on assignment.

This video podcast is approximately fifteen minutes in length.

Background

While the Spy’s public affairs mission has always been hyper-local, it has never limited us from covering national, or even international issues, that impact the communities we serve. With that in mind, we were delighted that Al From and Craig Fuller, both highly respected Washington insiders, have agreed to a new Spy video project called “The Analysis of From and Fuller” over the next year.

The Spy and our region are very lucky to have such an accomplished duo volunteer for this experiment. While one is a devoted Democrat and the other a lifetime Republican, both had long careers that sought out the middle ground of the American political spectrum.

Al From, the genius behind the Democratic Leadership Council’s moderate agenda which would eventually lead to the election of Bill Clinton, has never compromised from this middle-of-the-road philosophy. This did not go unnoticed in a party that was moving quickly to the left in the 1980s. Including progressive Howard Dean saying that From’s DLC was the Republican wing of the Democratic Party.

From’s boss, Bill Clinton, had a different perspective. He said it would be hard to think of a single American citizen who, as a private citizen, has had a more positive impact on the progress of American life in the last 25 years than Al From.”

Al now lives in Annapolis and spends his semi-retirement as a board member of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University (his alma mater) and authoring New Democrats and the Return to Power. He also is an adjunct faculty member at Johns Hopkins’ Krieger School and recently agreed to serve on the Annapolis Spy’s Board of Visitors. He is the author of “New Democrats and the Return to Power.”

For Craig Fuller, his moderation in the Republican party was a rare phenomenon. With deep roots in California’s GOP culture of centralism, Fuller, starting with a long history with Ronald Reagan, leading to his appointment as Reagan’s cabinet secretary at the White House, and later as George Bush’s chief-of-staff and presidential campaign manager was known for his instincts to find the middle ground. Even more noted was his reputation of being a nice guy in Washington, a rare characteristic for a successful tenure in the White House.

Craig has called Easton his permanent home for the last eight years, where he now chairs the board of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and is a former board member of the Academy Art Museum and Benedictine. He also serves on the Spy’s Board of Visitors and writes an e-newsletter available by clicking on DECADE SEVEN.

With their rich experience and long history of friendship, now joined by their love of the Chesapeake Bay, they have agreed through the magic of Zoom, to talk inside politics and policy with the Spy every Thursday.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Maryland Caucus with Foxwell and Mitchell: Maryland Redistricting Gets Serious and How the 1st District Could be Cut Up

by

Every Wednesday, Maryland political analysts Len Foxwell and Clayton Mitchell discuss the politics and personalities of the state and region.

This week, Len and Clayton discuss the increasing pressure on Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson to change his opposition to Governor Wes Moore’s plan to eliminate the state’s only Republican congressional district and what that might mean for the 1st District on the Eastern Shore.

This video is approximately 16 minutes in length.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

From and Fuller: The Real Impact of the Big Democrat Election Victories

by

Every Thursday, the Spy hosts a conversation with Al From and Craig Fuller on the most topical political news of the moment.

This week, From and Fuller discuss the stunning Democratic wins in elections held in New York City, New Jersey, Georgia, and California, and their impact on President Donald Trump’s administrative goals.

This video podcast is approximately 20 minutes in length.

To listen to the audio podcast version, please use this link:

Background

While the Spy’s public affairs mission has always been hyper-local, it has never limited us from covering national, or even international issues, that impact the communities we serve. With that in mind, we were delighted that Al From and Craig Fuller, both highly respected Washington insiders, have agreed to a new Spy video project called “The Analysis of From and Fuller” over the next year.

The Spy and our region are very lucky to have such an accomplished duo volunteer for this experiment. While one is a devoted Democrat and the other a lifetime Republican, both had long careers that sought out the middle ground of the American political spectrum.

Al From, the genius behind the Democratic Leadership Council’s moderate agenda which would eventually lead to the election of Bill Clinton, has never compromised from this middle-of-the-road philosophy. This did not go unnoticed in a party that was moving quickly to the left in the 1980s. Including progressive Howard Dean saying that From’s DLC was the Republican wing of the Democratic Party.

From’s boss, Bill Clinton, had a different perspective. He said it would be hard to think of a single American citizen who, as a private citizen, has had a more positive impact on the progress of American life in the last 25 years than Al From.”

Al now lives in Annapolis and spends his semi-retirement as a board member of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University (his alma mater) and authoring New Democrats and the Return to Power. He also is an adjunct faculty member at Johns Hopkins’ Krieger School and recently agreed to serve on the Annapolis Spy’s Board of Visitors. He is the author of “New Democrats and the Return to Power.”

For Craig Fuller, his moderation in the Republican party was a rare phenomenon. With deep roots in California’s GOP culture of centralism, Fuller, starting with a long history with Ronald Reagan, leading to his appointment as Reagan’s cabinet secretary at the White House, and later as George Bush’s chief-of-staff and presidential campaign manager was known for his instincts to find the middle ground. Even more noted was his reputation of being a nice guy in Washington, a rare characteristic for a successful tenure in the White House.

Craig has called Easton his permanent home for the last eight years, where he now chairs the board of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and is a former board member of the Academy Art Museum and Benedictine.  He also serves on the Spy’s Board of Visitors and writes an e-newsletter available by clicking on DECADE SEVEN.

With their rich experience and long history of friendship, now joined by their love of the Chesapeake Bay, they have agreed through the magic of Zoom, to talk inside politics and policy with the Spy every Thursday.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Maryland Caucus with Foxwell and Mitchell: Moore and Ferguson Not Eye-to-Eye on Redistricting

by

Every Wednesday, Maryland political consultant Len Foxwell and advisor to the Republican Ed Hale campaign Clayton Mitchell discuss the politics and personalities of the state and region.

This week, Len and Clay discuss a rare and potentially significant division between Governor Wes Moore and Bill Ferguson, the Senate President, regarding the governor’s plans to push for redistricting of congressional districts that would likely result in the ouster of the only Republican, Andy Harris, who represents the 1st District. They also offer their weekly hot takes.

This video is approximately 16 minutes in length.

 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Giving and Growing: Robbin Hill Reflects on 24 Years at Mid-Shore Community Foundation

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 Each year, Robbin Hill asks her two adult sons, “Where should we give this year?”

It’s a question she’s spent nearly 24 years asking on behalf of a region. Now the Mid-Shore Community Foundations’ first employee has retired from the organization.

Hill joined MSCF in 2001, at a time when the organization had no permanent staff and operated entirely through volunteer leadership. Her interview for the position took place on Sept. 12, 2001, the day after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. At the time, she said she sensed that something meaningful was underway.

“If this is real, it could be really great,” Hill recalled telling her husband that evening.

Hired alongside MSCF’s first president, Hill was part of the organization’s shift from an all-volunteer board to a staffed philanthropic foundation. Over the course of her tenure, MSCF grew significantly in both scope and scale, increasing its assets by more than $150 million and expanding its services to donors and nonprofits across the Mid-Shore region.

In the early years, MSCF operated without a dedicated office. Hill’s interview was held in the lobby of the Tidewater Inn in Easton. A few years later, the organization received the gift of the Bullitt House, which became its permanent home.

“At the time, we were so poor we weren’t sure whether to sell it or mortgage it,” Hill said. “But it was a game-changer.”

Hill held the title “foundation manager,” a role that encompassed a wide range of responsibilities in the absence of clearly defined job descriptions. Over time, she took on leadership of MSCF’s grants and scholarship programs and helped modernize the organization’s operations.

“We were doing everything manually in the beginning,” she said. “Eventually we moved to an electronic system, and it changed everything.”

Hill led the transition to a fully online scholarship platform, allowing students to apply digitally and match with relevant opportunities based on eligibility, county of residence, academic record, and other criteria.

“We were hesitant to do it, but the kids were so ready,” she said. “They didn’t skip a beat. They applied instantly.”

Hill said she was particularly proud of the growth of the scholarship program during her time at MSCF. Among the major milestones was the expansion of the Roberta Holt Scholarship Fund, which provides more than $1 million annually to students in Caroline County.

“It’s amazing what that does for a rural county,” she said.

Hill was also involved in MSCF’s response during the COVID-19 pandemic, helping design an expedited grant process to distribute emergency relief funds to nonprofits and small businesses. She said that while other organizations were pausing or reorganizing, MSCF focused on moving resources as quickly as possible.

“We were meeting every week, reviewing applications, and getting funds out,” Hill said. “That’s what we’re here for.”

In addition to emergency response, she worked on several long-term community initiatives during her time at the foundation. She helped MSCF incubate new nonprofit organizations, such as Talbot Interfaith Shelter, and supported major regional investments, including a multi-year hospital grant and the expansion of the Chesapeake Multicultural Resource Center.

“The founders always wanted MSCF to be in a position to make significant lead gifts for projects that benefit the broader community,” Hill said. “I think they would be proud.”

In retirement, Hill said she looks forward to spending time with her grandchildren and supporting local efforts as a volunteer. She currently serves on the board of the Chesapeake Culinary Center in Caroline County.

“I told myself I wouldn’t join anything for a while,” she said. “But some projects are just worth doing.”

Hill also maintains a personal connection to MSCF through a family fund she created during her tenure. Each year, she invites her two adult sons to recommend where the fund’s grants should go. She said the process gives them an opportunity to think about equity and need across the region.

“If you create a charitable fund and leave your kids as advisors, then you’ve given them a gift — a way to be good people,” she said. “Even if they don’t have the money themselves, they can still give.”

MSCF Board Chair Moorhead Vermilye reflected on Hill’s legacy and influence. “She was involved with the organization from the beginning, and I can say without question, the successes of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation are a direct result of her work,” he said.

Hill’s final months at MSCF included the implementation of a new internal software system — a project she said was essential to help the organization manage its growing number of funds and automate routine tasks.

“I knew it was time,” she said. “Part of stepping aside is letting others take it forward.”

Reflecting on her time at the foundation, Hill said she felt fortunate to have been part of its growth and credited the board, staff, and donors for MSCF’s success.

“It was an honor to do this work,” she said. “And a privilege to be associated with the people who made it happen.”

MSCF recently welcomed three new staff members. Upon hearing about their enthusiasm for their work, Hill said she understood that joy: “It’s a great place to be.”

Mary Windsor joined MSCF in March after a long tenure with the Memorial Hospital Foundation. With decades of nonprofit accounting experience, she brings deep financial expertise and a love for strategy. Mary supports both the finance and investment committees and has played a key role in refining internal workflows and strengthening separation of duties. She said this is a dream role.

Lucretia Greene-Adams came on board in April after 18 years in federal government service, including her last role as a finance analyst at the Department of Homeland Security. Now she manages scholarship disbursements, student communications, and aspects of the online application system. Part of her work is ensuring students receive their awards on time, and she said she enjoys sending out their funds.

Liz LaCorte joined in August with 25 years in nonprofit leadership and a background that includes serving as the first executive director of the Key Biscayne Community Foundation. Most recently, she oversaw advancement at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. Now at MSCF, she’s focused on donor and nonprofit relationships. She said she is excited to help strengthen community connections on the Mid-Shore.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

From and Fuller: The Government Shutdown and a Dangerous Political Game of Chicken

by

Every Thursday, the Spy hosts a conversation with Al From and Craig Fuller on the most topical political news of the moment.

This week, From and Fuller discuss the dangerous game of chicken that President Trump and Republicans in Congress are playing during the federal government shutdown as pressure builds on both sides as hundreds of thousands of federal employees are furloughed or forced to work without pay, impacting food safety and airport security, among other services, and and programs like SNAP (food stamps) face funding interruptions.

This video podcast is approximately 13 minutes in length.

To listen to the audio podcast version, please use this link:

Background

While the Spy’s public affairs mission has always been hyper-local, it has never limited us from covering national, or even international issues, that impact the communities we serve. With that in mind, we were delighted that Al From and Craig Fuller, both highly respected Washington insiders, have agreed to a new Spy video project called “The Analysis of From and Fuller” over the next year.

The Spy and our region are very lucky to have such an accomplished duo volunteer for this experiment. While one is a devoted Democrat and the other a lifetime Republican, both had long careers that sought out the middle ground of the American political spectrum.

Al From, the genius behind the Democratic Leadership Council’s moderate agenda which would eventually lead to the election of Bill Clinton, has never compromised from this middle-of-the-road philosophy. This did not go unnoticed in a party that was moving quickly to the left in the 1980s. Including progressive Howard Dean saying that From’s DLC was the Republican wing of the Democratic Party.

From’s boss, Bill Clinton, had a different perspective. He said it would be hard to think of a single American citizen who, as a private citizen, has had a more positive impact on the progress of American life in the last 25 years than Al From.”

Al now lives in Annapolis and spends his semi-retirement as a board member of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University (his alma mater) and authoring New Democrats and the Return to Power. He also is an adjunct faculty member at Johns Hopkins’ Krieger School and recently agreed to serve on the Annapolis Spy’s Board of Visitors. He is the author of “New Democrats and the Return to Power.”

For Craig Fuller, his moderation in the Republican party was a rare phenomenon. With deep roots in California’s GOP culture of centralism, Fuller, starting with a long history with Ronald Reagan, leading to his appointment as Reagan’s cabinet secretary at the White House, and later as George Bush’s chief-of-staff and presidential campaign manager was known for his instincts to find the middle ground. Even more noted was his reputation of being a nice guy in Washington, a rare characteristic for a successful tenure in the White House.

Craig has called Easton his permanent home for the last eight years, where he now chairs the board of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and is a former board member of the Academy Art Museum and Benedictine.  He also serves on the Spy’s Board of Visitors and writes an e-newsletter available by clicking on DECADE SEVEN.

With their rich experience and long history of friendship, now joined by their love of the Chesapeake Bay, they have agreed through the magic of Zoom, to talk inside politics and policy with the Spy every Thursday.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.