WYPR: Midday with Dan Rodricks Podcast

Incumbent Republican Roscoe Bartlett is facing a tough challenge from Democrat businessman and political newcomer John Delaney in the race for Maryland’s 6th Congressional District seat. It is one of the most hotly contested races this fall, with district lines redrawn to include more Democrats and the party hoping to chip away at the Republican majority in the House. John Delaney joins us this hour for a one-on-one interview about what he hopes to accomplish if he wins on November 6. (Rep. Bartlett declined Midday’s invitation to appear on the show.)

Midday continues its focus on the ballot questions facing Maryland voters on Election Day. We hear from both sides of the Civil Marriage Protection Act that would allow same-sex couples to marry in the state of Maryland, championed by Governor Martin O’Malley, passed by the legislature and petitioned to referendum by opponents. Our guests: Derek McCoy, leader of the Maryland Marriage Alliance, and Del. Maggie McIntosh (D-Baltimore City.)

An analysis of the latest news from the presidential campaign, and Monday night’s final debate between President Obama and Mitt Romney. Midday panelists include Max Hilaire, chair of the Department of Political Science at Morgan State University; Shawn Parry-Giles, director of the University of Maryland’s Center for Political Communication and Civic Leadership; Uri Friedman, associate editor at Foreign Policy magazine.

Kim Clark, senior writer for Money magazine, joins us for a look at the latest in consumer news concerning higher education. Are we facing a student loan sequel to the home-mortgage crisis? Are high-income professionals getting a bigger break on student loans than low-wage earners under the federal government’s new income-based repayment program? Plus: what the so-called “fiscal cliff” and Congress’ inaction might do to the stock market, and why Baltimore County’s plan to borrow money for its employee pensions might be a bad bet.

Award-winning journalist Nancy Mullane tells the story of five convicted murderers sentenced to life with the possibility of parole and how their second chance, if it comes at all, is a massive struggle for redemption. Once a murderer, always a murderer? Who do these men become during decades in prison? What does it take for a killer to be accepted back into society? Mullane is the author of “Life After Murder: Five Men in Search of Redemption” and reports and produces feature stories for Public Radio International’s This American Life, NPR, and the NPR affiliate KALW News-Crosscurrents in San Francisco.

Author Richard Faulk's 'Gross America' takes a coast-to-coast look at the ickiest things in the nation, and why we're attracted to them.

Today on the Midday Weekly Review: Fern Shen, Baltimore Brew, on the Baltimore city schools audit Luke Broadwater, Baltimore Sun, on the City Hall phone fight Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, Maryland's health commissioner, on the meningitis outbreak Kevin Naff, editor, Washington Blade, on the suspension of Gallaudet's diversity officer, and A Dawson Family Remembrance, with Reggie Scriber, Baltimore's deputy housing commissioner

With many new restaurants opening up in Harbor East, Hampden, Fells Point and Canton, Baltimore Sun restaurant critic Richard Gorelick points us to the most promising places to dine in the city

PBS news personality Gwen Ifill joins us for a conversation about politics and the twists and turns of the 2012 presidential campaign. Ifill is moderator and managing editor of “Washington Week,” and is the senior correspondent for “The PBS NewsHour.”

Baltimore Sun television critic David Zurawik offers analysis and insights on Tuesday night’s second presidential debate.

As Election Day nears, a final look at the ballot initiative that would allow table games at Maryland casinos and authorize a sixth casino in Prince George's County. Who’s for it, who’s against it, what the measure actually entails. Listeners have a last chance to weigh in with comments and questions. With WYPR reporter and analyst Karen Hosler and Baltimore Sun opinion editor Andy Green.

When Nelson Mandela became president of South Africa in 1994, the world celebrated the end of apartheid and the dawn of a new democracy with economic opportunity for all. But journalist Douglas Foster says those dreams are far from reality today. Douglas Foster is the author of “After Mandela: The Struggle for Freedom in Post-Apartheid South Africa.”

An analysis of the latest news from the presidential campaign, and tonight's debate between President Obama and Mitt Romney, with our political panel.

An exploration of the history, trends, and shifting perceptions of tattoo culture in America. While the wearing and acceptance of tattoos has grown in recent years, many still see body art as a display of deviance and rebellion. Also, from Ravens to Orioles to crabs to black-eyed susans, a look at Baltimore tattoo trends. Plus, the pains of removing something that lasts forever: an in depth discussion of laser tattoo removal. With Derek John Roberts, author of “Secret Ink: Tattoo’s Place in Contemporary American Culture,” Bill Stevenson, co-owner of the Baltimore Tattoo Museum; and Dr. Ross VanAntwerp, Medical Director of the Laser Center of Maryland.

The meningitis outbreak has turned into a major health scandal. A company based in Massachusetts shipped vials of steroids that may have been contaminated to doctors and medical facilities in 23 states, including Maryland. Health officials say 14,000 people were injected with the suspected steroid between May and September. About 1,500 of those patients were in Maryland. So far, more than 200 people in 14 states have been sickened, and 15 have died, one of them in Maryland. Up front in this hour, a look at the meningitis outbreak and the type of pharmacy at the center of it. What is a compounding lab and who keeps an eye on its operations?