Jeff Barker
Jeff Barker writes about sports business and issues, casino gambling and, occasionally, politics. Since joining The Sun from the Arizona Republic’s Washington bureau in 2000, he has covered state politics, congressional steroids hearings, the Beltway sniper attacks and Terps basketball and football. He could never decide if he should cover news or sports, so he did both and enjoys writing hybrids of the two.
Recent Articles
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Inspector General report says FBI agent called Martin O'Malley a 'douche'
Across the political spectrum, politicians – Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders, Paul Ryan – were excoriated by a pair of FBI agents whose texts were disclosed in a report on the FBI’s handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation. Former Maryland governor and Baltimore Mayor Martin O’Malley –...
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Maryland lawmakers seek relief for crab shacks from food stamps rule
Maryland Democrats in Congress asked the Trump administration on Thursday to grant crab shacks temporary relief from a new rule that is preventing many from accepting food stamps for steamed crabs. Officials warned carryout shops in the Baltimore area last year that they could no longer accept...
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House approves opioid bills, but not the one Baltimore health commissioner says 'we desperately need'
The House of Representatives, considering a legislative package to combat the opiod epidemic, won’t vote on the bill that Baltimore’s health commissioner says is “what we on the frontlines desperately need.” The bill would provide $100 billion over 10 years for services to combat substance use...
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Obama administration U.S. judge nominee is re-nominated by Trump to bench in Maryland
Magistrate Judge Stephanie Gallagher — originally an Obama administration nominee — was nominated Thursday by President Donald Trump to fill a U.S. District Court vacancy in Maryland's Northern Division in Baltimore. It is Gallagher’s second time being named to replace Judge William D. Quarles,...
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Open seat in Maryland's most competitive congressional district attracts large field of candidates
An open seat in Maryland’s most competitive congressional district has attracted a broad field of Democrats and Republicans for this month’s primaries. The politically diverse Sixth District stretches from the liberal Washington suburbs of Montgomery County to conservative Western Maryland. Democratic...
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Chelsea Manning's Twitter account says she is 'safe' after concerning photo
A poster to Chelsea Manning’s Twitter account said that the Senate candidate from Maryland was “safe” after a pair of tweets Sunday raised concerns among her followers. The tweets, since deleted, have been described by several news organizations. One read: “I'm sorry - I tried - I'm sorry I let...
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President Trump at Naval Academy graduation: 'We are not going to apologize for America'
President Donald Trump told the Naval Academy’s graduating class Friday that the nation, buoyed by increased defense spending and a favorable economy, has regained its swagger and is “respected again.” “In case you haven’t noticed, we have become a lot stronger lately. A lot,” the president told...
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Census question about citizenship status angers Maryland Rep. Cummings, Democrats during congressional hearing
Frustrated congressional Democrats accused the Trump administration Friday of politicizing the 2020 Census after a Justice Department official declined to answer questions on how the administration came to include a question asking people their citizenship status. Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, the top...