In this episode of “Across the Aisle,” former Maryland state Sen. Bobby Zirkin explores issues shaping political debates in Maryland and beyond, from juvenile justice and the death penalty to a contentious U.S. Senate race and unrest in France.

In this solo episode nicknamed "The Riff," Zirkin reflects on his trip to Brazil to watch the Ravens play the Dallas Cowboys, reflecting on the atmosphere at the game and the Brazilian fans’ display of national pride. He then turns to Baltimore, questioning whether Maryland’s juvenile justice laws leave the state without adequate ways to hold young offenders accountable or connect them with services after serious incidents.

The conversation shifts to the death penalty after Zirkin discusses a reported proposal to livestream a federal execution. Drawing on his experience in the Maryland Senate, where he voted to repeal the state’s death penalty, Zirkin revisits the difficult questions surrounding capital punishment, including the risk of executing an innocent person and the limits of making executions a public spectacle.

Zirkin also weighs in on the Michigan Senate race, focusing on a debate between Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed.

As part of “The Riff,” Zirkin moves across local, national and international issues, offering his perspective on the debates he believes deserve closer attention.

You can watch the podcast weekly, every Tuesday on YouTube and The Baltimore Sun, and listen on Spotify, Apple, Amazon and iHeart.