Washington correspondent and sports business reporter

Jeff Barker

Jeff Barker is a Washington correspondent and sports business reporter for The Baltimore Sun. Specialties include Washington enterprise and sports betting and casino stories. A University of Pennsylvania graduate, he formerly worked for The Associated Press and as the Arizona Republic’s Washington reporter. He has covered politics and Terps basketball and football for The Sun. He is co-director of a documentary on the development of baseball in China. Email him at jebarker@baltsun.com.

Federal workers are conflicted about the deal to reopen the federal government.

Federal workers move to pick up the pieces after Democrats fold on shutdown

November 11, 2025 at 6:32 p.m.

Many Democratic lawmakers, too, were ambivalent about a bipartisan, Senate-passed measure to fund the government through Jan. 30.

Maryland Congressmen Sarah Elfreth, Steny Hoyer, Johnny Olszewski, and April McClain Delaney will not support the current bill to end the shutdown. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)

‘I’m a No!’: Maryland Democrats balk at shutdown deal missing health subsidies

November 10, 2025 at 5:58 p.m.

Frustrated Maryland congressional Democrats said Monday they won’t vote for a U.S. Senate plan to end the record-long government shutdown because it doesn’t address the health care issue that was...

Pelosi throws punchlines, Trump calls ‘sissy football,’ and ‘No Kings’ becomes big business

November 9, 2025 at 5:03 a.m.

Trump attended one game of the 2019 World Series (Washington vs. Houston) and another in the 2021 series (Atlanta vs. Houston). That puts him ahead of his predecessor, Joe Biden,...

Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano is facing scrutiny over a possible conflict of interest with the debit card contract. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

Senators demand answers about Social Security chief’s former role and question ‘his ability to serve’

November 7, 2025 at 5:19 p.m.

The leading Democrats on two U.S. Senate committees are asking Social Security chief Frank Bisignano’s company about a huge contract it received to manage a debit card program serving millions...

Congressman Andy Harris has called Gov. Moore's commission on redistricting 'rigged.'

Is history repeating itself in Maryland Dems approach to redistricting?

November 7, 2025 at 6:35 p.m.

Maryland General Assembly Democrats’ objective was clear following the 2020 census: to redraw U.S. House district maps so the party could more easily defeat conservative Rep. Andy Harris, the only...

Former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan calls out Gov. Wes Moore and the the redistricting panel. (Lloyd Fox/Staff)

Hogan says Gov. Moore catered to ‘national ambitions’ with ‘partisan’ redistricting panel

November 6, 2025 at 5:41 p.m.

Former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan accused his successor, Gov. Wes Moore, on Wednesday of succumbing to “his national ambitions” by launching a redrawing of congressional district maps with a commission...

U.S. Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Ranking Member of the U.S. House Oversight Subcommittee on Government Operations is calling for a 'full and honest' review of ties with the SSA chief and debit card contract. (Kim Hairston/Staff)

Mfume demands full probe into Social Security chief’s ties to firm behind massive federal contract

November 3, 2025 at 6:15 p.m.

Baltimore Rep. Kweisi Mfume called Monday for a “full and honest” congressional review of how Social Security Administration Commissioner Frank Bisignano’s former company won a huge contract overseeing a debit...

A worker walks through debris at a largely demolished part of the East Wing of the White House, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, in Washington, before construction of a new ballroom. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

White House demolition with dirt, drama, and DIY capitalism

November 3, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

A particular fascination surrounds what happened to the items from the demolished White House East Wing — even the dirt and debris.

Wires, rebar and debris are seen as work continues on a largely demolished part of the East Wing of the White House last week. (JACQUELYN MARTIN/AP)

Maryland demolition company under fire for possible safety failures in Trump White House project

October 31, 2025 at 2:40 p.m.

A senior U.S. senator says Aceco, a Silver Spring demolition company, has refused to answer basic questions about whether it "cut health and safety corners" in tearing down the White...

State Attorney General Anthony Brown’s office in 2023 pushed for legislative changes to make it a felony to operate an unassisted living facility.

Crypto powerhouse Coinbase launches Maryland lobbying campaign, records show

October 31, 2025 at 6:41 p.m.

Coinbase, the global cryptocurrency powerhouse, has launched a Maryland lobbying campaign to counter an order by state Attorney General Anthony Brown restricting it from offering investors a rewards program that...

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