Chris Papst

-National Emmy-winning investigative journalist
-Author of #1 bestsellers Failure Factory/Capital Murder
-Host: Hidden Limits Outdoors

[Chris Papst @chrispapst]

BREAKING:

My next book comes out Tuesday!

Failure Factory: How Baltimore City Public Schools Deprive Taxpayers and Students of a Future

In 2024, a $1.7 BILLION budget & 10% of students tested proficient in math. How can that happen?

Pre-order on Amazon
https://t.co/GGNVfzpsh2

[Chris Papst @chrispapst]

Candid QUESTION:

Georgia’s governor recently signed legislation LOWERING the state’s income tax to 4.99%.

Maryland’s governor recently signed an executive order CREATING an Immigrant Rights Protection Task Force.

Which priority will help their respective states more?

[Chris Papst @chrispapst]

Full Episode: https://t.co/rCeYADcLAV

[Chris Papst @chrispapst]

Wknds on the Water:

Surf fishing in a STRONG wind - use a sputnik sinker.

WATCH/SUBSCRIBE: Hidden Limits Outdoors on YouTube

https://t.co/eHdpwRKJmG via @YouTube

[Chris Papst @chrispapst]

NEW contract for Baltimore Schools' CEO Dr. Jermaine Dawson. What stands out most?

[Chris Papst @chrispapst]

ANY thoughts?

Annual contract for new Baltimore Schools' CEO Dr. Jermaine Dawson.

-Salary: $345,000
-Retirement/Deferred Comp: $48,300
-Performance $$ eligible
-Term life policy $750k
-25 vacation days
-3 personal days
-18 sick days
-Unused leave paid out
-$9,600 car allowance

[Chris Papst @chrispapst]

Full Report: https://t.co/7tpHzUboJx

[Chris Papst @chrispapst]

“The tactic worked.”

A Maryland teachers’ union is publicly encouraging members to switch political parties to impact Republican primary election results.

A Fmr county executive says a similar tactic was used against her in May, 2024. She lost by 907 votes.⬇️

Link in comments:

[Chris Papst @chrispapst]

How far is too far?

A Maryland teachers’ union is urging its Democratic members to "Flip" their voter registration to Republican to impact the upcoming primary election.

Does this tactic violate the spirit of the teachers' union's nonprofit mission of helping students?

[Chris Papst @chrispapst]

EDUCATION QUESTION:

Graduation rates in Baltimore County Schools are at a 15-YEAR LOW. Dropout rates are at a 15-YEAR HIGH.

Many believe the reason is schools focus more on social issues than learning.

Is this post an example of that? Is this being inclusive or distracted?

[Chris Papst @chrispapst]

The LIST now includes another credit concern:

Credit agency S&P lowers Maryland’s outlook for existing debt from stable to negative. Moody’s did something similar in 2024 before downgrading Maryland’s credit rating in 2025.

UPDATED LIST of what has happened to Maryland residents in 2026 (followed by 2025).

2026:
-S&P lowers Maryland’s outlook for existing debt from stable to negative
-WalletHub ranks Baltimore as 5th worst city in U.S. to raise a family
- Maryland reissues 400,000 mail-in primary ballots after errors reported
-Declining water quality at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor becomes “growing crisis“ (Blue Water Baltimore)
-USDA plans to relocate Agricultural Research Services out of Maryland (~1,000 jobs)
-Key Bridge builder contract cancelled. No new timeline given for rebuild
-Maryland lost Preakness Stakes trademark rights to Churchill Downs
-Potomac River ranked nation’s “most endangered river” (American Rivers)
-2nd most expensive state to raise a child (lendingtree)
-Paint fee enacted/$2.25 up to 5 gallons
-Unemployment rate jumps to 4.3%
-$1.4 Billion budget defect
-Massive Sheraton Hotel closes in downtown Baltimore
-WalletHub names Maryland 2nd worst U.S. state to start a business in 2026
-Proposed U.S. Congressional map introduced to eliminate bipartisan state representation
-High School graduation rate falls 1.2% to 86.4%, despite massive funding spike
-12,127 residents lost to domestic migration (6th most in US, per Census)
-Maryland named 6th worst state for tax competitiveness (per: Tax Foundation)

2025:
-$3 Billion budget deficit
-$1.6 Billion tax/fee hike
-Moody’s credit downgrade
-vehicle emissions/registration fee spike
-state hiring freeze/job cuts
-soaring utility prices (highest in America according to Doxo)
-Lost IonQ’s quantum computing hub
-Lost FBI headquarters
-Lost Washington Commanders
-Six Flags America closed
-New 3% IT tax
-Vending machine tax 6%
-Vehicle excise tax up to 6.5%
-$5 tire purchase fee
-Sports betting tax hike (15% to 20%)
-Cannabis tax increase (9% to 12%)
-Car title fee increase ($100 to $200)
-3.5% car rental tax
-Fishing license increase ($25.50 to $52)
-Boating and Title Registration Fee ($24 to $70)
-Speed Camera Ticket increases
-Historic car registration changed from 20 years to model year 1999 or older
-Public school enrollment falls 11,322 students (1.3%)

[Chris Papst @chrispapst]

⬇️⬇️

Maryland teachers’ union urges Democratic members to "Flip" their voter registration to Republican to impact elections.

“Citizens can change their political affiliation… in the primary election and then change it right back after, if they choose.”

https://t.co/pLL6a9Ka6b

[Chris Papst @chrispapst]

LOOK!

Georgia
Population: 11.4 million
State budget: $76 Billion
Cost per resident: ~$6,700

Maryland
Population: 6.3 million
State budget: $70 Billion
Cost per resident: ~$11,000

~$17k taxpayer diff. for family of 4.

(Census) GA has gown 5.5% since 2020.
MD has grown 1.4%.

[Chris Papst @chrispapst]

Wknds on the Water: Don’t buy expensive oysters, tong your own. Here’s how.

WATCH/SUBSCRIBE: Hidden Limits Outdoors.

HLO XII: Tonging your own oysters - here's how it's done #oysters #oyste... https://t.co/ainSS82H5s via @YouTube

[Chris Papst @chrispapst]

Wknds on the Water: HOW TO... catch shark from a pier. It's all about timing and approach.

WATCH/SUBSCRIBE: Hidden Limits Outdoors

HLO XIII: Slamming March Shark in the OBX. https://t.co/fmhmeBdiFU via @YouTube

[Chris Papst @chrispapst]

Wknds on the Water:

Want to learn how to catch trout? Lures. Bait. Reading current/water. Rods. Reels. Tackle.

WATCH/SUBSCRIBE: Hidden Limits Outdoors

HLO XIV: Opening Day Trout Traditions - nothing else like it. #trout #tr... https://t.co/fGRRdHe1Es via @YouTube

[Chris Papst @chrispapst]

Wknds on the Water:

Check out these puffed & non-puffed PUFFER FISH. How you can catch them on your next beach vacation.

WATCH/SUBSCRIBE: Hidden Limits Outdoors

HLO XV: Overcoming powerful beach winds to land fish #fishing #fishingvi... https://t.co/E8qjCayHsk via @YouTube

[Chris Papst @chrispapst]

I'm not sure how to respond to this...

[Chris Papst @chrispapst]

COMMENT!

A Maryland teachers’ union is urging its Democratic members to "Flip" their voter registration to Republican to impact the upcoming primary election.

Does this tactic violate the spirit of the teachers' union's nonprofit mission to help students?

[Chris Papst @chrispapst]

@elonmusk Does this violate the teachers' union's nonprofit mission?

[Chris Papst @chrispapst]

BREAKING:

A Maryland teachers’ union is urging its Democratic members to "Flip" their voter registration to Republican to impact the upcoming primary election.

Some say this tactic violates the spirit of the teachers' union's nonprofit mission?

Link: https://t.co/JyUmRSWzGn