In the grand theater of Maryland politics, a curious subplot has emerged: a small band of Republican legislators calling themselves the Maryland Freedom Caucus, led by Del. Matt Morgan and Del. Kathy Szeliga, ,have taken center stage. Not because they pass legislation (they don’t), or wield influence in Annapolis (they can’t), but because they’ve been handed a megaphone by none other than media mogul David Smith, chairman of Sinclair Broadcast Group and co-owner of both Fox 45 and the Baltimore Sun.
📺 Manufactured Relevance: The Smith Strategy
Smith’s outlets have turned this caucus of rhetorical warriors into recurring characters on the nightly news. Fox 45’s Mikenzie Frost gave them a glowing rollout in January, complete with Congressman Andy Harris invoking “anti-woke policies” and “fiscal sanity” as their raison d’être. Never mind that the caucus has yet to pass meaningful legislation or shift budget priorities—they’ve got airtime, and in Smith’s world, that’s currency.
📰 The Sun Also Rises (for the Right)
The Baltimore Sun, once a bastion of centrist editorialism, now echoes Fox 45’s framing thanks to Smith’s dual ownership. The Freedom Caucus gets op-eds, coverage, and amplification that far exceeds their legislative footprint. It’s a classic case of media manufacturing relevance: give a microphone to a fringe group, and suddenly they’re “key voices” in the debate.
💰 Smith’s Broader Agenda
This isn’t just about the Freedom Caucus. Smith’s political playbook includes:
- Funding failed mayoral bids: He poured hundreds of thousands into Sheila Dixon’s campaign, only to see her lose decisively to Brandon Scott.
- Ballot meddling: Smith bankrolled Question H, a failed attempt to shrink Baltimore’s City Council and dilute representation. Voters saw through it, rejecting the measure in a historic rebuke.
- Super PAC theatrics: His Better Baltimore PAC ran ads portraying Scott as a “nice guy, bad mayor”—a tagline that backfired spectacularly.
🧠 Manufactured Outrage, Minimal Impact
The Freedom Caucus thrives on performative outrage: anti-tax rants, anti-immigrant soundbites, and anti-“woke” declarations. But when it comes to actual governance, they’re spectators. Smith’s media empire gives them the illusion of power, while the real legislative work happens elsewhere—often in bipartisan committees or under the radar of Fox 45’s cameras.
🗣️ Final Thought
David Smith isn’t just giving the Freedom Caucus a platform—he’s giving them a stage, a script, and a spotlight. But Marylanders aren’t buying tickets to this show. The voters who rejected Dixon, Question H, and the PAC-backed narratives are sending a clear message: we see the production, and we’re not impressed.