But, according to one data firm, 54% of votes from men aged 18 to 29 were cast for Donald Trump. And his campaign did a lot of outreach to appear on the podcasts, courting an audience demographic that once went the other way.

Today on The Wheelhouse, with the midterms coming up in November we ask: Can MAGA still count on the manosphere?

Guests:

• Elena Moore, political reporter, NPR’s Washington Desk
• Charlie Sabgir, director, Young Men Research Project
• Theodore R. Johnson, contributing columnist, The Washington Post

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Students from Classical Magnet School in Hartford poured out of the classroom and onto the streets in February, holding up signs like “ICE OUT” to passing cars.

The demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement are happening in places like Hartford, Tampa and Northern Virginia in the weeks since federal agents killed two Americans in Minneapolis.

This hour, we’re discussing student protests and other ways young people are engaging in civics. We'll also get the latest on the developing conflict in Iran and the Middle East.

Guests:

• U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.)
• Gina Chace, assistant principal, CREC Academy of Aerospace and Engineering
• Annmarie Timmins, senior reporter on youth and education, NHPR
• Chris Doyle, history teacher, Avon Old Farms

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U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) called the SAVE America Act and its recent passage in the U.S. House a “critical step toward restoring election integrity.” But detractors, like U.S. Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.), said the plan would make it harder for millions of Americans to vote.

Today on The Wheelhouse, the impact on voters, if the SAVE America Act passes. Also on the show, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) responds to Trump’s State of the Union address and gives the latest on the ongoing debate about government funding and immigration reform.

GUESTS:

• U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.)
• Bilal Sekou, Hillyer College associate professor of political science, University of Hartford
• Archon Fung, Professor of citizenship and self-government, Harvard University

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Gov. Ned Lamont has proposed banning cell phones from “bell to bell” in Connecticut classrooms.

But not all lawmakers are onboard with the idea, including a Republican lawmaker who’s accusing members of her legislative chamber of trying to “co-parent” Connecticut’s children.

Today on The Wheelhouse, we explore “Phone Free CT” and what it means for children.

GUESTS:

• Rep. Jennifer Leeper, CT House of Representatives, D-Fairfield, Southport
• Rep. Gale Mastrofrancesco, CT House of Representatives, R-Southington, Wolcott
• Gail Jordan, president, Bloomfield Teachers Union
• John Murphy, professor of digital media business strategies, University of Connecticut 
• Lisa Hagen, federal policy reporter, Connecticut Public and CT Mirror 

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They meet as federal lawmakers argue over expiring health care subsidies and immigration enforcement operations across the country.

In Connecticut, how will these federal cuts and controversies impact the work lawmakers do this session? And with soaring energy costs continuing to hammer Connecticut customers, might there be room for bipartisan compromise?

Guests:

• Rep. Vincent Candelora, House Republican Leader, R-North Branford
• Rep. Matt Ritter, Speaker of House, D-Hartford
• Susan Raff, chief political reporter, WFSB News Channel 3
• Ebong Udoma, senior reporter, WSHU

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From Jan. 27 to Feb. 1, the people behind “Suffs” say they’ll highlight themes of the past that are still relevant today including grassroots activism, race, gender and class dynamics.

Producers of "Suffs" say it isn’t some “dry history lesson,” but a high-energy, rousing experience saluting the powerful American women who fought for the right to vote.

Today on The Wheelhouse, meet Danyel Fulton, the actor that plays journalist Ida B. Wells. And we'll explore the suffragist movement in Connecticut.

GUESTS:

• Danyel Fulton, actor/singer, “Suffs” 
• Rachel Sussman, creative producer, “Suffs” 
• Natalie Belanger, public programs manager, Connecticut Museum of Culture and History 

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Federal officials are amping up enforcement efforts – and rhetoric – in the wake of several shootings in Minnesota at the hands of federal ICE agents.

How are protesters and journalists responding?

Today on The Wheelhouse, government accountability and transparency in 2026.

GUESTS:

• Elana Bildner, staff attorney, ACLU-CT
• Gloria J. Browne-Marshall, author and professor of constitutional law, John Jay College of Criminal Justice
• Elisa Lees Muñoz, executive director, International Women’s Media Foundation
• Miles Pinsof-Berlowitz, co editor-in-chief, The Wesleyan Argus
• Thomas Lyons, co editor-in-chief, The Wesleyan Argus
• Janhavi Munde, managing editor, The Wesleyan Argus

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But two days honoring Black history, Martin Luther King’s birthday – and Juneteenth – are no longer free.

As America marks 40 years of observing MLK Day, today on the Wheelhouse we’ll look at how the current Republican administration in Washington is marking King’s birthday and what that means for Black history.

GUESTS:

• Bilal Sekou, Hillyer College associate professor of political science, University of Hartford
• Alan Spears, senior director of cultural resources in the government affairs department, National Parks Conservation Association
• Charlie Sykes, writer of “To the Contrary,” Substack 

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Hint – it’s not the Constitution you learned about in history class!

We’ll travel back to the 1600s to explore how history, conflict and big aspirations helped shape the state’s identity.

GUESTS:

• Thomas Balcerski, professor of history at Eastern Connecticut State University and director of the Center for Connecticut Studies
• Kathy Craughwell-Varda, director of Conservation ConneCTion, Connecticut State Library
• Andrea Rapacz, chief curator of collections, Connecticut Museum of Culture and History

This episode originally aired  on Aug. 20, 2025. 

The Wheelhouse is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

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Clips of women, dressing up in 1950s-style dresses, homesteading and making food from scratch, are receiving a lot of likes and lots of criticism on the web.

This hour, we peek behind the apron and ask: What does social media's trad wife phenomenon tell us about politics today?

Guests:

• Jessica Grose, opinion writer, The New York Times
• Carrie Baker, professor of the Study of Women & Gender, Smith College
• Micah English, fifth year Ph.D. candidate, Yale University

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President Donald Trump’s tariffs and years of persistent inflation are leaving many Americans with sticker shock. Higher prices are hitting not just for big importers, but also at your favorite local shops and restaurants.

Many Americans tell Consumer Reports that they’re “very or extremely” concerned about price increases – with three-quarters of respondents pointing to tariffs as a big reason why.

This hour, we’re exploring the impact of the economy on holiday shopping here in Connecticut.

GUESTS:

• Daniel Desrochers, international trade reporter, Politico
• Chris Raymond, home and tech editor, Consumer Reports
• Daniela Doncel, Latino communities reporter, Connecticut Public

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On top of unfinished housing business, lawmakers had only two days to authorize a $500 million dollar relief package to address federal cuts. They also voted on the purchase of a major hospital and worked to curb increased federal law enforcement efforts in Connecticut.

And what about the spectre of rising health insurance premiums in just a few weeks?

Today on The Wheelhouse, the skinny on what state lawmakers were able to accomplish in a special session. We’ll also ask what’s next following the longest federal shutdown in US history.

GUESTS:

• Michayla Savitt, state government reporter, Connecticut Public
• Lisa Hagen, federal policy reporter, Connecticut Public and CT Mirror
• Abby Brone, housing reporter, Connecticut Public
• Ginny Monk, children's issues and housing reporter, Connecticut Mirror

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It found 62% of Americans surveyed believed the country is heading in the wrong direction, while 79 % say the country is going too far to restrict free speech.

So, what are people doing with their frustrations?

Today on The Wheelhouse, we’re talking with community organizers and researchers who say our voices are stronger than we think.

GUESTS:

• Kerry Ellington, Connecticut-based community organizer
• Hahrie Han, professor of political science, Johns Hopkins University

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How did an election to name a new mayor in New Britain turn out? What races commanded local attention in your community? And what issues – from education to zoning – motivated you to get out to the polls?

Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas joins us to break down turnout and assess how voting went across Connecticut.

And in neighboring New York City, a high-profile race for mayor is reshaping the city. What are the local impacts here in Connecticut?

Today on The Wheelhouse, those questions will be tackled as our reporters analyze the 2025 election.

GUESTS:

• Mark Pazniokas, capitol bureau chief and a co-founder, CT Mirror
• Susan Raff, chief political reporter, WFSB News Ch. 3
• Stephanie Thomas, Secretary of the State, State of Connecticut

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Meanwhile, the Trump administration has federalized and deployed national guard troops to American cities, sparking a flurry of court challenges and an outbreak of panic.

Today on The Wheelhouse, how political violence continues to reverberate throughout the United States.

And why, in a country born from a revolution and torn by a Civil War, it’s nothing new.

GUESTS:

• William Tong, attorney general, state of Connecticut

• State Rep. Corey Paris (D) - Stamford

• Amilcar Shabazz, professor of African American Studies, University of Massachusetts Amherst

• Bilal Sekou, Associate professor of political science, University of Hartford

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Researchers at the University of Connecticut say Black people face disproportionate rates of police use-of-force in Connecticut. And that a significant share of those incidents involve someone in mental health distress.

Today on The Wheelhouse, what reforms can Connecticut lawmakers take to ensure better policing?

Plus, as a government shutdown drags on, we ask how are local families doing?

GUESTS:

• Lisa Hagen, federal policy reporter, Connecticut Public and CT Mirror
• Ken Barone, project manager, the University of Connecticut’s Institute for Municipal and Regional Policy
• Jim Haddadin, investigative editor, Connecticut Public

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At the same time, politicians that call themselves Democratic Socialists are often painted by conservatives as political extremists.

What is a Democratic Socialist? And why is President Donald Trump calling a popular one in the race for New York City’s mayor a communist?

Today on the Wheelhouse, we define socialism. We’ll wade through complicated political waters to examine its history and complex ideology.

GUESTS:

• Dan Haar, senior columnist and editor, CT Insider
• Christopher Vials, professor of English, University of Connecticut

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With more attention on owning the other side – and less emphasis on civility, are there still safe spaces for debate?On college campuses a new survey says more students are self-censoring in favor of speaking freely.

Today on The Wheelhouse, a temperature check on political dialogue with a college Democrat and a college Republican. How are these Connecticut students charting a path forward?

GUESTS:

• Geoffrey Medeiros, president of College Democrats, University of Connecticut
• Ryan Rosario, president of College Democrats, University of Connecticut
• Bilal Sekou, Associate professor of political science, University of Hartford
• Jonathan Wharton, Associate professor of political science and urban affairs, Southern Connecticut State University

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But a full court press of politicians is working to save the WNBA franchise and keep the team right here in Connecticut. According to CT Insider, lawmakers want to use state pension funds to buy a minority stake in the team.

Today on The Wheelhouse, what state officials are doing to “Save Our Sun” in the self-proclaimed the “Basketball Capital of the World.”

GUESTS:

• Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.
• Kurt Badenhausen, sports valuations reporter, Sportico
• P.R. Lockhart, economic development reporter, CT Mirror

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Bye’s retirement comes after the state legislature passed a sweeping bill last session offering free child care to many Connecticut families.

Today on The Wheelhouse, an exit interview with Beth Bye. Plus, we check in with another advocate for children, Sarah Eagan, about her concern for the state’s social safety net.

GUESTS:

• Beth Bye, commissioner, Connecticut Office of Early Childhood
• Sarah Eagan, executive director, Center for Children’s Advocacy
• Georgia Goldburn, executive director, Hope for New Haven, Inc. 
• Michayla Savitt, state government reporter, Connecticut Public

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Connecticut residents also won’t be able to access other federal incentives for heat pumps, rooftop solar and home energy audits.

Today on The Wheelhouse, how local officials can promote energy efficiency amid a federal rollback on clean energy.

Also – Connecticut’s freedom of information law turns 50 this year. We talk to reporters about continued efforts to hold officials accountable in 2025.

GUESTS:

• Katie Dykes, commissioner, Connecticut Department. of Energy and Environmental Protection
• Áine Pennello, Report for America corps member environmental and climate change reporter at Connecticut Public
• Chris Harto, senior policy analyst for transportation and energy, Consumer Reports
• Jacqueline Rabe Thomas, investigative reporter, CT Insider
• Jim Haddadin, investigative editor, Connecticut Public

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The CDC’s director was fired. And several other high-level officials have also left the agency. They say Kennedy is weakening the administration with what they call “unscientific views.”

Today on The Wheelhouse, we ask public health officials in Connecticut how they’re preparing for the next pandemic and their thoughts on the future of health policy amid a nationwide movement to “Make America Healthy Again.”

GUESTS:

• Apoorva Mandavilli, science and global health reporter, The New York Times
• Lynn Sosa, Infectious Diseases Director, CT Department of Public Health
• Sujata Srinivasan, senior health reporter, Connecticut Public

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Since then, the White House has vowed to protect Americans from what it’s calling an “invasion.”

U.S. Sen Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) is troubled by recent action, including a statewide sweep by immigration authorities that resulted in 65 arrests.

Murphy accuses Trump of using racist tropes on immigration to distract Americans from his “corruption and lawlessness.”

Today on The Wheelhouse, we talk to Murphy about the White House’s domestic policy agenda.

You’ll also hear from Daniela Doncel and Maysoon Khan, two Connecticut Public reporters, about a special immigration status reserved for abused migrant youth – and how it’s being rolled back.

GUESTS:

• U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy
• Archon Fung, professor of citizenship and self-government, Harvard University
• Mark Hugo Lopez, director of race and ethnicity research, Pew Research Center
• Daniela Doncel, Latino communities reporter, Connecticut Public
• Maysoon Khan, investigative reporter, Connecticut Public

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Today on The Wheelhouse, we talk with educators about the challenges and concerns heading into the new school year.

Plus, we take a close look at one Connecticut district experimenting with a year-round calendar. Tune in to hear what this means for students, families, and teachers alike!

GUESTS:

• Kate Dias, president of the Connecticut Education Association
• Fran Rabinowitz, executive director, Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents
• Lisa Hagan, federal policy reporter, CT Mirror and CT Public
• Cynthia Ritchie, superintendent of schools, New London Public Schools 

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Hint – it’s not the Constitution you learned about in history class!

We’ll travel back to the 1600s to explore how history, conflict and big aspirations helped shape the state’s identity.

GUESTS:

• Thomas Balcerski, professor of history at Eastern Connecticut State University and director of the Center for Connecticut Studies
• Kathy Craughwell-Varda, director of Conservation ConneCTion, Connecticut State Library
• Andrea Rapacz, chief curator of collections, Connecticut Museum of Culture and History

Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate

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Author Kurt Gray posits understanding our vulnerabilities – coming to terms with our former reality as prey – could help us co-exist in tumultuous political times.

Today on The Wheelhouse, Gray, a social psychologist at The Ohio State University, discusses his book, “Outraged: Why We Fight About Morality and Politics… and How to Find Common Ground.”

GUESTS:

• Kurt Gray, author, “Outraged: Why We Fight About Morality and Politics and How to Find Common Ground”

The Wheelhouse is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

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We’re learning more about U.S. Rep. John Larson’s seat in Connecticut’s First Congressional District. Columnist Dan Haar says the 2026 re-election bid will be Larson’s “toughest challenge” yet.

Are Larson’s age and health a primary factor in a prospective close race?

Today on The Wheelhouse, Dan Haar and constitutional scholar Akhil Reed Amar tackle that question and explore why the U.S. doesn’t have term limits for Congress.

Also, do you know if there’s lead in your home’s drinking water? We talk to the reporters behind a CT Mirror investigation that found lead in the water lines of thousands of Connecticut homes.

GUESTS:

• Akhil Reed Amar, professor of law and political science, Yale University
• Dan Haar, senior editor and columnist, CT Insider
• Colin McEnroe, host, "The Colin McEnroe Show"
• Andrew Brown, investigative reporter, CT Mirror
• Jenna Carlesso, investigative reporter, CT Mirror

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With all that they’ve gone through, how is Gen Z engaging with media and with politics?

Today on The Wheelhouse, we’re looking at the forces shaping Gen Z in Connecticut and across the nation. We’ll explore how this generation votes at the ballot box and ask what their future role may be in American democracy.

GUESTS:

• Rachel Janfaza, associate writer, CNN Politics
• Elena Moore, reporter, NPR’s Washington desk
• Christian Paz, senior politics reporter, Vox

Coco Cooley and Isaac Moss assisted in the production of this episode.

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If it does, state lawmakers face a question: can they craft an affordable housing plan that satisfies both the governor and local leaders? 

Opponents of the original bill say it was pushing quotas on cities and towns. Local leaders said it hampered their ability to make planning and zoning decisions.

But supporters say the law was a “meaningful step” forward in a state plagued by high rents and too little housing. 

Today on The Wheelhouse, what’s next for affordable housing legislation in Connecticut?

GUESTS:

• Rep. Jason Rojas, majority leader, CT House Democrats
• Sen. Tony Hwang, Republican representing Easton, Fairfield, Newtown
• Abby Brone, housing reporter, Connecticut Public
• Ginny Monk, children's issues and housing reporter, Connecticut Mirror
• Jacqueline Rabe Thomas, investigative reporter, CT Insider

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The legislation provides tax cuts for some Americans. But it could raise costs for some of the country’s poorest households. That’s due to reductions in Medicaid and food assistance. The legislation Republicans are calling the “big beautiful bill" seeks to cut Medicaid and food stamps by more than $1 trillion.

Today on The Wheelhouse, we’ll dig deeper into how the bill will impact SNAP and Medicaid benefits in Connecticut.

GUESTS:

• Andrea Barton Reeves, commissioner, Connecticut Department of Social Services
• Sujata Srinivasan, senior health reporter, Connecticut Public
• Amari Brantley, policy coordinator, End Hunger Connecticut!

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But then, Gov. Ned Lamont vetoed it.

The Democrat is now inviting lawmakers to make a new proposal, which he hopes to pass it later this year in a special session.

Today on The Wheelhouse, we’ll speak to the governor live in-studio, asking about that veto. We’ll also get his thoughts on running for a third term.

GUESTS:

• Ned Lamont, governor, state of Connecticut
• Mark Pazniokas, capitol bureau chief and a co-founder, CT Mirror
• Liz Kurantowicz, Republican analyst and co-owner, The Drury Group
• Bilal Sekou, associate professor of political science, University of Hartford

The Wheelhouse is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, A

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Bad Bunny, born on the island of Puerto Rico as Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, isn’t the first Latino musician to weave activism into his work. Regarding the Yale class, Bad Bunny told Rolling Stone magazine “I have in the back of my mind that I want to do big things and make a difference, but I do it for myself.”

“I don’t do it hoping that at some point, they’ll offer classes about me at universities,” he said.

Today on The Wheelhouse, how politics and music intersect on the island next door.

GUESTS:

• Albert Laguna, Associate professor of American Studies, Yale University
• Rachel Iacovone, Puerto Rican communities reporter, CT Public
• Petra Rivera-Rideau, Associate Professor of American Studies, Wellesley College
• La Gata, Multimedia Artist and Historian
• Charles Venator Santiago, Associate professor in the departments of political science and El Instituto, University of Connecticut

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Many of these coastal communities have found ways to exclude certain people. There’s actually a long history of segregation on our shores, dating back decades.

This hour, we’ll look at past and present beach access in Connecticut.

Plus, we’ll look at who does — and does not — get access to quality public spaces like parks.

GUESTS:

• Andrew Kahrl: Professor of history and African American Studies at the University of Virginia and author of Free the Beaches: The Story of Ned Coll and the Battle for America’s Most Exclusive Shoreline

• Dr. KangJae Lee: Associate professor in the Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism, University of Utah

Hear more from Andrew Kahrl in this episode of Disrupted.

This episode originally aired on July 5, 2023 and was produced by Meg Dalton. Our technical producers were Catie Talarski and Cat Pastor. Robyn Doyon-Aitken edited the audio.

The Wheelhouse is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

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At the end of the 2025 legislative session, they were able to find money for Medicaid programs and invest in our children’s future, especially young children.

But some – mainly the minority in the state legislature – say that it comes at too high of a cost.

Today on the Wheelhouse, the “fiscal guardrails” have been breached and lawmakers will press forward amid a foggy federal funding landscape.

GUESTS:

• Rep. Jason Rojas, Majority leader, CT House Democrats
• Rep. Vin Candelora, Minority leader, CT House Republicans
• Alex Putterman, Reporter, CT Insider
• Michayla Savitt, State government reporter, CT Public

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The end of the session is nigh in Connecticut.

Amid these murky days, we know that local lawmakers have taken drastic measures to shore up state Medicaid funding. But how far are they willing to go to secure a new two-year budget deal?

Today on the Wheelhouse, a preview of the last day of regular lawmaking in Connecticut.

GUESTS:

• Mark Pazniokas, Capitol bureau chief, CT Mirror
• Susan Raff, Chief political reporter, WFSB News Ch. 3
• Ebong Udoma, Senior reporter, WSHU
• Beth Bye, Commissioner, CT Office of Early Childhood
• Eva Bermudez-Zimmerman, Coalition director, Child Care for CT

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But with Medicaid relying on two primary funding sources–and U.S. lawmakers poised to pass President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill”--the future of low-income healthcare programs is uncertain.

Today on The Wheelhouse, America’s brittle social safety net hangs in the balance.

GUESTS:

• Lisa Hagan, Federal Policy Reporter, CT Mirror and CT Public
• Joan Alker, Reporter, Georgetown University
• John Henry Smith, Host, All Things Considered, CT Public

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Five years ago this week, Americans took to the streets amid a global pandemic to protest Floyd’s murder.

Chants of “Black Lives Matter” reverberated throughout Connecticut. And then, two months after Floyd’s death, Connecticut was one of the first states in the nation to enact police reform legislation.

“I don’t think this day happens without the connection between what’s going on on the streets and why the people are in the building fighting the way they are,” Democratic lawmaker Gary Winfield said after the bill passed through his state senate chamber on July 29, 2020.

Today on the Wheelhouse, an update on police reform – what stuck, and what still needs to be done to protect Black lives…five years after George Floyd.

GUESTS:

• Jeffrey A. Fletcher, Owner and Collector, Ruby and Calvin Fletcher African American History Museum
• Brakkton Booker, National Political Correspondent, Politico 
• Lorenzo Boyd, Professor of Criminal Justice and Community Policing, University of New Haven
• Elizabeth Hinton, Professor of African American Studies, History, and Law, Yale University

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In 2022, college enrollment was 14.8% below peak enrollment in 2010. That’s according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Is a post-pandemic rebound even possible?

Factors like declining enrollment, shifting perceptions of value, and rising financial strain have college and universities in Connecticut and beyond ringing the alarm bell.

This hour, we look at how the future of higher education will impact the state’s economy, workforce, and the country’s ability to compete on a global level.

GUESTS:

• Susan Raff, Chief political reporter, WFSB Eyewitness News Ch. 3
• Jacqueline Rabe Thomas, Investigative reporter, Hearst Connecticut Media
• Brian Rosenberg, Visiting Professor at Harvard Graduate School of Education, author of Whatever It Is, I’m Against It
• Jon Marcus, Senior higher education reporter for The Hechinger Report and co-host of the podcast, “College Uncovered” 

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While there have been “modest” gains in support, factors like age, race, employment status, educational experience, and more impact how we view our federal institutions.

Today on the Wheelhouse, we journey through age groups, consider experiences, and offer a bit of a U.S. history lesson to shed some light on how Americans have formed their views about the government from the late 1950s to the present.

Plus, how can Gen Alpha engage with politics? How can adults help with kids’ civic development?

GUESTS:

• Mercy Quaye, Founder and President at The Narrative Project; Columnist for CT Mirror and Editor of CT Mirror's Community Editorial Board
• Jonathan Wharton, Associate professor of political science and urban affairs, Southern Connecticut State University
• J. Baxter Oliphant, Senior researcher, Pew Research Center
• Sally Friedman, Associate professor of political science, University at Albany
• Jean Twenge, Professor of psychology, San Diego State University
• Elena Moore, Reporter, Washington desk, NPR
• Deborah Rivas-Drake, Ph.D., Professor of Education and Professor of Psychology, University of Michigan
• Christia Spears Brown, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Inclusive Excellence and Professor of Developmental, Social, and Health Psychology, University of Kentucky
• Rikesha L. Fry Brown, Ph.D., co-founder and Executive Director of the African American Honors Collective and Adjunct Professor, Clark Atlanta University
• Melissa Santos. Ph.D., Division Head, Pediatric Psychology, Connecticut Children’s

This show was edited together to feature thoughts and perspectives from people of various backgrounds. You will hear past interviews, including discussions from the April 10, 2024, “How to Talk to Kids about the 2024 Presidential Election” and the August 7, 2024, “Politics Across the Generations”. 

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Since Day 1, the Trump administration has chipped away at the rights of Transgender Americans.

Today on the Wheelhouse, we examine the policies aimed towards erasure.

Plus, gender-affirming care. How anti-trans legislation impacts transgender and cisgender healthcare.

GUESTS:

• Orion Rummler, LGBTQ+ reporter, The 19th
• Evan Urquhart, Journalist and founder of Assigned Media
• Ricardo Martinez, Executive Director, GLAD Law

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Yet with energy bills being so high for Connecticut residents and an administration in Washington that’s prioritizing fossil fuel production, state officials may have to punt on their net zero-carbon goals in order to produce more juice.

Today on the Wheelhouse, the pursuit of climate resiliency in a moment when green energy investment isn’t a top priority.

Plus, it’s time to bring the bird feeders and lock up the coconut cupcakes! We’ll have the latest on policy initiatives meant to protect humans in Connecticut from bears.

GUESTS:

• Michayla Savitt, State government reporter, Connecticut Public
• Jacqueline Rabe Thomas, Investigative reporter, Hearst Connecticut Media
• Charles Venator-Santiago, Associate professor in the departments of political science and El Instituto, University of Connecticut
• John Moritz, Energy and environment reporter, CT Mirror

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There were 2,085 protests like this in the U.S. in February alone, according to the Guardian.

Today on the Wheelhouse, why Americans are speaking out against the Trump administration – and the potential consequences of resistance.

GUESTS:

• Archon Fung, Professor of citizenship and self-government, Harvard University
• Liz Kurantowicz, Republican analyst and owner, The Drury Group
• Bilal Sekou, Associate professor of political science, University of Hartford

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In Connecticut, they say the Trump administration is cuttinge $150 million in federal grants allocated to the state –for disease surveillance, childhood immunizations, and more.

Those funds were allocated at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. But COVID is still with us. And there’s also cases of bird flu, measles, and other infections in the U.S.

This week on the Wheelhouse, what the federal government’s cuts mean for public health here in Connecticut.

GUESTS:

• Michayla Savitt, State government reporter, Connecticut Public
• Sujata Srinivasan, Senior health reporter, Connecticut Public
• Julie Rovner, Chief Washington correspondent, KFF Health News
• Amy Maxmen, National public health correspondent, KFF Health News

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Top Republicans are pushing to extend the program.

But, experts from the liberal think tank The Center for American Progress, meanwhile, say the tax cuts actually hurt the economy over the long haul. This week on the Wheelhouse, why 2025 is a watershed year for American tax policy.

Also, as tax day approaches, we’ll discuss the state of the IRS and whether workforce cuts there could impact the delivery of your refund check.

GUESTS:

• Nancy Qian, Professor of Managerial Economics and Decision Sciences, Northwestern University
• Dan Haar, Senior editor and columnist, Hearst Connecticut Media
• Ebong Udoma, Senior reporter, WSHU

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State lawmakers are tasked with funding their priorities while anticipating cuts coming from the federal government.

Medicaid costs are one line item the state may have to adjust on the fly.

Today on the Wheelhouse, how the state could step in to support vulnerable communities if the federal government pulls their support for Medicaid.

GUESTS:

• Rep. Vincent Candelora, State House Republican leader, North Branford
• Sean Scanlon, Comptroller, State of Connecticut
• Katy Golvala, Health reporter, CT Mirror
• Keith Phaneuf, State budget reporter, CT Mirror 

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Connecticut is seeing decreases in housing availability, the price of rent skyrocketing, and more.

Today on the Wheelhouse, proposals state lawmakers are considering to make more affordable housing a reality in Connecticut.

Plus, Congressman John Larson has gone viral. Larson stops by the Wheelhouse to discuss his impassioned demand for transparency from DOGE leader Elon Musk over the future of Social Security.

GUESTS:

• Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.), Connecticut’s first congressional district
• Alex Putterman, Reporter, Hearst Connecticut Media
• Abby Brone, Housing reporter, Connecticut Public
• Ginny Monk, Children's issues and housing reporter, Connecticut Mirror

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This has big-time ramifications for Connecticut…and the roughly 19,000 federal workers living here.

Many recently laid off people are speaking out, including a Marine Corps veteran from Vernon named Gabriel D’Alatri.

This hour, how federal workers who’ve been let go are processing massive job cuts as government agencies are dismantled.

GUESTS:

• Lisa Hagen, Federal policy reporter, CT Mirror and CT Public
• Eddy Martinez, General assignment reporter, Connecticut Public
• Mark Zaretsky, Reporter, Hearst Connecticut Media
• Jory Heckman, Reporter, Federal News Network

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This hour, what’s Connecticut’s level of commitment to reforming its criminal justice system? What could lawmakers do in 2025 to fix these issues?

Plus, an update on the state’s budget in the midst of this year’s legislative session.

GUESTS:

• Jacqueline Rabe Thomas, Investigative reporter, Hearst Connecticut Media 
• Mark Pazniokas, Capitol bureau chief, CT Mirror
• Mercy Quaye, Founder and President at The Narrative Project; Columnist for CT Mirror and Editor of CT Mirror's Community Editorial Board
• Susan Raff, Chief political reporter, WFSB Eyewitness News Ch. 3

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Rackley’s murder eventually led to what some call “one of the most significant political trials of the century.” In 1970, the New Haven Black Panther trials became the focus of national attention — and what happened then reverberates loudly into the present.

This hour, we’ll unpack everything from how the federal government targeted Black Panther Party leaders to the legacy of the trials in the Elm City.

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This hour, we’ll hear how local nonprofits are providing services amid the uncertainty.

And later, Governor Ned Lamont wants to bring free preschool to many families across the state.

But how many children and their families will reap the benefits? Is it truly “universal”?

GUESTS:

• Alex Putterman, Reporter, Hearst Connecticut Media 
• David Fahrenthold, Investigative reporter, The New York Times
• Michayla Savitt, State government reporter, Connecticut Public

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He’s said “cosmetic changes”, like shifting payments from energy customers to taxpayers, won’t solve the problem of using more electricity than the state can muster.

Today on the Wheelhouse, we’ll check in with reporters on what lawmakers are doing this year to make energy consumers whole.

Plus, how are local lawmakers preparing for a future that may come with less federal dollars to support local education? We’ll analyze another funding priority of Gov. Ned Lamont in this year’s legislative session: finding more dollars in support of students with disabilities.

GUESTS:

• John Moritz, Energy and environment reporter, CT Mirror
• Ebong Udoma, Senior political reporter, WSHU
• Erik Katovich, Assistant Professor of Environmental and Resource Economics, University of Connecticut
• Jessika Harkay, Education reporter, CT Mirror

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New federal Department of Homeland Security Secretary says Immigration and Customs Enforcement sweeps following an executive order signed by President Donald Trump are “making our streets safe.”

At the same time, Trump ordered the release of people convicted of seditious conspiracy following their participation in the Jan. 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol breach.

This week on the Wheelhouse, we analyze criminal justice policy in the early days of the new Trump administration and how the people of Connecticut will be impacted by these executive actions.

GUESTS:

• Andrew Brown: Investigative Reporter from CT Mirror
• Bilal Sekou: Hillyer College Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Hartford
• Beatriz Aldana Marquez: Assistant Professor of Sociology and Core Faculty Member of the El Instituto
• Charles Venator-Santiago: Associate professor in the departments of political science and El Instituto, University of Connecticut

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AI is growing rapidly and lawmakers in Connecticut and beyond are attempting to regulate the harmful impacts of artificial intelligence without stymieing innovation.

Meanwhile, billionaire CEOs were front and center at the inauguration of President Donald Trump. Tesla Motors CEO and X executive chairman, Elon Musk, even has a role in President Trump’s administration. Will this relationship impact the government’s ability to keep big tech’s power in check?

GUESTS:

• Sigal Samuel: Senior reporter and host of the Future Perfect podcast, Vox
• Meredith Broussard: Data journalist and associate professor at the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute, New York University
• Kathryn Hulick: Science journalist, Science News Explores
• Brian Zahn: Reporter, New Haven Register 

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In the weeks since Vice President Kamala Harris lost the election to Donald Trump, President Biden has focused on criminal justice, foreign policy, and clean energy.

This hour, we look at what’s left for Biden to tackle on his way out of the White House, and what legacy he leaves behind.

GUESTS:

• Brakkton Booker: National political correspondent, Politico
• Lisa Hagen: Federal policy reporter, CT Mirror and CT Public

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Over the next six months, lawmakers will convene to address some of the state’s most pressing issues. This hour, we’ll explore the top priorities for this session, including affordable housing, funding for public education and more.

We’ll walk through the bills you should be following and how they may impact you and your pocketbook.

GUESTS:

• Susan Raff, Chief political reporter, WFSB Eyewitness News Ch. 3
• Bilal Sekou, Hillyer College Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Hartford
• Ebong Udoma, Senior Reporter, WSHU

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Irshad Manji is the founder of Moral Courage College and author of three books: Allah, Liberty and Love and The Trouble with Islam Today, and her latest book is Don’t Label Me: An Incredible Conversation for Divided Times.

This episode originally aired on November 27, 2024. 

GUEST: 

Irshad Manji: Professor and founder of Moral Courage College and author of Don’t Label Me: An Incredible Conversation for Divided Times.

The Wheelhouse is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

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That may explain the complete lack of empathy some people showed online in reaction to the targeted killing of Brian Thompson, CEO of America’s largest private health insurer, UnitedHealthcare.

Lawmakers sprouted into action when Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield considered capping their coverage of anesthesia services for patients during surgeries.

Today on a special Wheelhouse, we’re examining the intersection of politics and the healthcare insurance industry. Plus, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont is in-studio to address the insurance issue, as well as concerns related to reproductive rights and the funding of public education in advance of January’s convening of the 2025 legislative session in Connecticut.

GUESTS:

• Ned Lamont: Governor, State of Connecticut
• Alex Putterman: Reporter, Hearst Connecticut Media
• Katy Golvala: Health reporter, CT Mirror
• Lisa Hagen: Federal policy reporter, CT Public and CT Mirror

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Their job may get harder.

President-elect Donald Trump's record on climate change is already forcing state lawmakers to re-think local policy changes. A week after the election, Gov. Ned Lamont said he’s no longer pursuing a mandate that would’ve phased out sales of new gas-powered vehicles in the state by 2035.

Today on the Wheelhouse, how initiatives seeking to curb climate change will be impacted by the 2024 election.

GUESTS:

• Michayla Savitt: State government reporter, Connecticut Public
• Shannon Osaka: Climate zeitgeist reporter, The Washington Post
• Miriam Wasser: Senior climate and environment reporter, WBUR

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Reporters covering reproductive rights are analyzing what comes next under Trump, someone who’s taken credit for the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Today on the Wheelhouse, what happens when the federal government begins to prioritize certain state laws over a patient’s right to receive medical care?

We’ll also examine local efforts to combat potential restrictions on reproductive care, including the launching of a 24/7 service called the Connecticut Abortion Legal Hotline.

GUESTS:

• William Tong (D): Attorney General, State of Connecticut
• Shefali Luthra: Reproductive health reporter, The 19th
• Rachel Rebouché: Professor of Law, Temple University

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Irshad Manji is the founder of Moral Courage College and author of three books: Allah, Liberty and Love and The Trouble with Islam Today, and her latest book is Don’t Label Me: An Incredible Conversation for Divided Times.

GUEST:
Irshad Manji: Professor and founder of Moral Courage College and author of Don’t Label Me: An Incredible Conversation for Divided Times.

This episode was produced by Frankie Graziano, Chloe Wynne and Robyn Doyon-Aitken

The Wheelhouse is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

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So far in Connecticut–even though he didn’t capture the state’s seven electoral votes–Trump has collected 21,253 more votes than he did four years ago. That’s according to the Connecticut Secretary of the State’s office.

Today on the Wheelhouse, a panel of experts analyze Trump’s gains in Connecticut.

GUESTS:

• Jim Haddadin: Investigative editor, Connecticut Public’s The Accountability Project
• Maysoon Khan: Investigative reporter, Connecticut Public’s The Accountability Project
• Ebong Udoma: Senior reporter, WSHU
• John Moritz: State reporter, Hearst Connecticut Media
• Alex Putterman: Reporter, Hearst Connecticut Media

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Today on the Wheelhouse, how the national gun policy discourse affects survivors of gun violence.

It’s a timely conversation, given the recent election of Donald Trump as president. Recently on The Wheelhouse, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) questioned whether Trump could put aside his relationship with the NRA to enact meaningful legislation protecting Americans from gun violence.

Also featured in the conversation will be Connecticut Public senior health reporter Sujata Srinivasan, who’s covering how gun violence is a public health epidemic.

GUESTS:

• Francine Wheeler: Founder, Ben’s Lighthouse
• Nelba Marquez-Greene: Activist in residence, Yale School of Public Health
• Sujata Srinivasan: Senior health reporter, Connecticut Public

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As the 2024 elections come and go, a powerhouse panel of experts will be there for Connecticut residents to take stock in what’s left to determine our political future.

Today on the Wheelhouse, analysis of what we know so far. Plus, hear from some winners in races that were already decided.

GUESTS:

• Mark Pazniokas, Capitol bureau chief and a co-founder, CT Mirror
• Susan Raff, Chief political reporter, WFSB Eyewitness News Ch. 3
• Bilal Sekou: Hillyer College Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Hartford

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Throughout 2024, the Wheelhouse team has asked Connecticut residents about the issues, interviewed candidates for Congress, unpacked the assassination attempts on Donald Trump, and watched as Democrats coalesced around Vice President Kamala Harris.

Now, it’s time to clock in on election night…and find out where state residents really stand.

Tonight, The Wheelhouse will dive into what we know and what comes next as the polls close.

GUESTS:

• Leah Wright Rigueur: Author and SNF Agora Institute associate professor of history, Johns Hopkins University
• Mercy Quaye: Founder and President at The Narrative Project; Columnist for CT Mirror and Editor of CT Mirror's Community Editorial Board
• Charles Venator-Santiago: Associate professor of political science and El Instituto, University of Connecticut
• Jonathan Wharton: Associate professor of political science and urban affairs, Southern Connecticut State University

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But before they do, voters in Connecticut’s 2nd congressional district will get to hear from two candidates running for a congressional seat.

This hour, we talk with Congressman Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) and challenger Mike France, a Republican. And after that, our panel of guests share their insights on what the candidates had to say.

GUESTS:

• Rep. Joe Courtney , (D-Conn.)
• Mike France, Candidate for Connecticut’s 2nd congressional district
• Charles Venator Santiago, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science and El Instituto, University of Connecticut
• Paul Choiniere, Retired editorial page editor, The Day

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For the next few weeks, The Wheelhouse will feature a series of candidate interviews. We’ll be talking with Republicans and Democrats, incumbents and challengers, in Connecticut's congressional districts. Each candidate will have an equal amount of time to talk one-on-one with host Frankie Graziano, followed by some analysis from our guest panelists.

GUESTS:

• Rep. Jim Himes , (D-Conn.)
• Michael Goldstein, Candidate for Connecticut’s 4th congressional district
• Benjamin Wesley, Candidate for Connecticut’s 4th congressional district
• Andy Blye, Reporter, Greenwich Time
• Ebong Udoma, Senior political reporter, WSHU

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GUESTS:

• Congresswoman Jahana Hayes, (D-Conn.)
• George Logan, Republican candidate for Connecticut’s 5th congressional district
• Livi Stanford, Reporter for Republican-American
• Lisa Hagen, Federal policy reporter for CT Mirror and CT Public

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This hour, we take a granular look at the Electoral College. We’ll ask questions like why do we have it? And why is it so difficult to get rid of?

Plus, in Connecticut, no-excuse absentee voting is on the ballot. We’ll unpack what this means for voters across the state.

GUESTS:

• Akhil Reed Amar, Sterling Professor of Law and Political Science at Yale University. He hosts the podcast “Amarica’s Constitution” and wrote the book “The Words That Made Us: America’s Constitutional Conversation, 1760-1840”
• Geoffrey Skelley, Senior Elections Analyst at FiveThirtyEight
• John Moritz, State Reporter, CT Insider/Hearst Connecticut Media

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For the next few weeks, The Wheelhouse will feature a series of candidate interviews. We’ll be talking with Republicans and Democrats, incumbents and challengers, in Connecticut's congressional districts. Each candidate will have an equal amount of time to talk one-on-one with host Frankie Graziano, followed by some analysis from our guest panelists.

GUESTS:

• Rep. Rosa DeLauro, (D-Conn.)
• Michael Massey, Candidate for Connecticut’s 3rd congressional district
• Bilal Sekou: Hillyer College Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Hartford
• Mercy Quaye: Founder and President at The Narrative Project; Columnist for CT Mirror and Editor of CT Mirror's Community Editorial Board

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For the next few weeks, we'll be talking with Republicans and Democrats, incumbents and challengers, in Connecticut's congressional districts. Each candidate will have an equal amount of time to talk one-on-one with host Frankie Graziano, followed by some analysis from our guest panelists.

This hour, we ask candidates for Connecticut’s 1st congressional district where they stand on the issues: Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.) and challenger, Republican Jim Griffin.

GUESTS:

• Rep. John Larson, (D-Conn.)
• Jim Griffin, seeking election for Connecticut’s 1st congressional district
• Mark Pazniokas, Capitol bureau chief and a co-founder of CT Mirror
• Susan Raff, Chief political reporter, WFSB Eyewitness News Ch. 3

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Trump says that “dangerous” migrants are contributing to an overall spike in crime in the United States. But, the FBI reports that violent crime has decreased. He also says that 21 million people have recently entered the country illegally, despite federal law enforcement reporting a smaller number.

Today on the Wheelhouse, the use of immigration misinformation on the campaign trail.

Also, an increase in public benefits charges has many Connecticut residents complaining about their electric bills. We’ll discuss what state politicians are saying about the rate increases.

GUESTS:

• Charles Venator-Santiago, Associate professor of political science and El Instituto, University of Connecticut
• Maria Sacchetti, reporter covering immigrant communities, The Washington Post
• Dan Haar, Senior editor and columnist, Hearst Connecticut Media Group

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Historically, debates offer an opportunity for political candidates to provide substantive details about their platforms. But in 2024, more attention is paid to spectacle.

Now that the presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump is over, is it time to focus on the importance of debates and the substance intended to be offered to the American people?

Today on The Wheelhouse, the evolution of public political discourse.

GUESTS:

• Dr. Bilal Sekou, Associate professor of politics and government, University of Hartford
• Jonathan Wharton, Associate professor of political science and urban affairs, Southern Connecticut State University
• Julian E. Zelizer, Professor of history and public affairs, Princeton University
• Kathryn Cramer Brownell, Associate professor of history, Purdue University

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This hour, we take a look at how some officials are preparing during an especially fraught election year.

GUESTS:

• Rachael Cobb, Associate Professor of Political Science & Legal Studies, Suffolk University 
• Tina Barton, Senior Elections Expert, The Elections Group

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His promises highlight the continued politicization of CDC-recommended public health best-practices.

This hour, we look at anti-vaccine rhetoric and how it impacts communities in Connecticut and beyond.

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This week on The Wheelhouse, Colin McEnroe guest-hosts a special check-in on how the Democratic National Convention is going.

GUESTS:

• Dan Haar, columnist and senior editor, Hearst Connecticut Media Group
• Leah Wright Rigueur, Associate Professor of History, John Hopkins University
• Mark Pazniokas, Capitol Bureau Chief and co-founder of CT Mirror

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As voters across all age groups get ready to head to the polls in November, what politicians and historical events have shaped the way they will cast their votes?

Pictured above are (L-R, top row) Cedar Greve, Randy Weis, Antic Cone, Preston Siroka, and Lisa Sorge. (L-R, bottom row) Shaniya Cone, Samuel Zwick-Lavinsky, Liliana Restrepo, Luanne Sforza, and Valerie Fallon.

GUESTS:

• Sally Friedman, Associate professor of political science, University at Albany
• Jean Twenge, Professor of psychology, San Diego State University
• Elena Moore, Reporter, Washington desk, NPR

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Polls are used in the media, for example, to show that President Joe Biden is behind in his campaign–and that Latinos are breaking for former president Donald Trump. But, a report from the Brookings Institute, shows that Latinos are underrepresented in most polls. And that, “national election polls are not designed for sub-group analysis.”

Today on The Wheelhouse, honing in on people and policy, and not on who prospective voters from the Hispanic Latino diaspora are going to vote for.

This episode continues Connecticut Public and The Wheelhouse's election coverage, connecting people to policy. We’ve already tackled reproductive rights, how to talk to your kids about politics, and the role of the media in presidential elections.

Help us cover local and national elections by filling out this survey online.

GUESTS:

• Charles Venator-Santiago: Associate professor of political science and El Instituto, University of Connecticut
• Christian Paz: senior politics reporter, Vox
• Maricarmen Cajahuaringa: Latino communities reporter, Connecticut Public

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Today on The Wheelhouse, what might the landscape surrounding reproductive care look like after November’s elections?

And looking back, we’ll examine Connecticut’s complicated history with reproductive rights.

GUESTS:

• Sonali Chakravarti: Professor of government, Wesleyan University
• Amanda Becker: Washington correspondent, The 19th

The Wheelhouse is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

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But a 19th News/SurveyMonkey poll from 2023 found that only 17 percent of Americans believe politicians should focus on restrictions to gender-affirming care.

So, today on the Wheelhouse, we’ll wade through misinformation to examine anti-trans rhetoric.

GUESTS:

• Joanna Wuest, Assistant professor of politics, Mount Holyoke College
• TJ Billard, Assistant professor, Northwestern University School of Communication
• Katelyn Burns, Columnist, MSNBC

The Wheelhouse is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

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Most Americans now live in a state where cannabis for recreational use is legal. As jurisdictions embrace the cannabis industry, communities are addressing people disproportionately impacted by the “war on drugs” and cracking down on the distribution of illicit cannabis.

Today on The Wheelhouse, how is the regulation of cannabis for recreational use going?

Also on this episode, a check-in with radio host Jeremy Hobson ahead of his appearance in Waterbury, Connecticut on June 3. His live call-in show “The Middle” is coming to the Palace Theater. We’ll ask Hobson what the geographical–and philosophical–middle of America thinks about widespread legalization of cannabis.

GUESTS:

• Natalie Fertig, Federal Cannabis Policy Reporter, POLITICO
• Jordan Nathaniel Fenster, Senior enterprise reporter, CT Insider
• Jeremy Hobson, Host, “The Middle”

The Wheelhouse is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

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In an election year – and an era of fiscal discipline – there was only so much that was going to be done during a short legislative session to address climate change, funding shortfalls in education and shortages in affordable housing and child care. Today on The Wheelhouse, a look back at Connecticut’s 2024 legislative session and a look ahead at how state lawmakers will handle unfinished business.

GUESTS:

• Mark Pazniokas, Capitol bureau chief and co-founder, CT Mirror
• Susan Raff, Chief capitol reporter, WFSB News Ch. 3
• Michayla Savitt, State government reporter, Connecticut Public

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The move was a disappointment for Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont. Lamont had pitched the idea of the Coyotes coming to Hartford to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman earlier this year.

Today on The Wheelhouse, what would it take for Hartford to get the NHL – and the Whalers – back?

And later, May marks 25 years since a partnership between Connecticut and the NFL’s Patriots fell apart. We’ll revisit the May 1, 1999 dissolution of the Connecticut NFL project.

GUESTS:

• Colin McEnroe, host of Connecticut Public’s The Colin McEnroe Show
• Andrew Zimbalist, professor of Economics, Smith College
• Dan Haar, columnist and senior editor, Hearst Connecticut Media Group

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This hour, we look at how the protests in support of civilians in Gaza – and the war in general – are being talked about and how that rhetoric affects the safety of Palestinian and Jewish people.

GUESTS:

• Sharon Otterman: Reporter covering education, health, other issues in New York City, New York Times
• Eddy Martinez: Breaking News Reporter, CT Public
• Jason Stanley: Professor of Philosophy, Yale University
• Gregg Gonsalves: Associate Professor at Yale School of Public Health and Associate Professor at Yale Law School

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Today on The Wheelhouse, catch the first episode of In Absentia. The podcast offers listeners a deep dive into the history of political dysfunction in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Plus, we’ll hear from Connecticut Public’s Lisa Hagen about Connecticut's federal delegation ahead of general elections in November.

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This hour, are meaningful reforms on the horizon for state residents? And how have zoning ordinances, a lack of transit-oriented development, and “opt-in” programs contributed to the crisis at hand?

• Jacqueline Rabe Thomas: Investigative reporter, Hearst Connecticut Media Group
• Anika Singh Lemar: Clinical Professor of Law, Yale Law School
• Ginny Monk: Children’s issues and housing reporter, Connecticut Mirror
• Abigail Brone: Housing reporter, Connecticut Public

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It was a shot at relevancy, a chance to demonstrate against Democrats, and an inaugural crack at early in-person voting.

This hour, we explore how Tuesday’s presidential nominating contest in the Nutmeg State shook out.

• Stephanie Thomas: Secretary of the State of Connecticut
• Susan Raff: Chief political reporter, WFSB News Ch. 3
• Mark Pazniokas: Capitol bureau chief, CT Mirror
• Dr. Bilal Sekou: Hillyer College associate professor of politics and government, University of Hartford

The Wheelhouse is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

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Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate

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While threats to American democracy have manifested in events like the January 6 Capitol Riot, threats against women in politics have come in the form of harmful rhetoric and even targeted attacks.

This hour, we explore how women are faring in American politics.

• Kellie Carter Jackson: Chair of the Africana Studies department, Wellesley College
• Sarah Sobieraj: Professor and Chair of Sociology, Tufts University
• Shefali Luthra: Health Reporter, The 19th

The Wheelhouse is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

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But before we do, join us this hour as we explore how today’s most popular TV shows and movies reflect our political landscape.

We’ll dive into how the horror genre has drawn inspiration from the world around us and how comedians are wrestling with ways to bring levity to real-life horrors.

• Jeffrey Dudas: Professor of Political Science, University of Connecticut
• Eric Deggans: TV critic, NPR

The Wheelhouse is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode

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A recent national survey by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) reported that nearly a quarter of Americans support political violence – 23%. That’s an increase from 15% in 2021.

This hour, we look at how the threat of violence impacts domestic and foreign politics.

• Katie Reisner: Senior Counsel for States United Democracy Center
• Archon Fung: Director of the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, Harvard Kennedy School
• Kevin Boyle: William Smith Mason Professor of American History, Northwestern University
• Chris Doyle: American History teacher at Miss Porter’s School in Farmington, Connecticut and Ph.D. in History
• Bria Lloyd: Investigative Reporter, Connecticut Public

The Wheelhouse is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

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This hour, we’re holding up a mirror and asking: how should the press cover the upcoming presidential election.

• Jaden Edison: Justice Reporter, The Connecticut Mirror
• David Folkenflik: Media Correspondent, NPR News
• Errin Haines: Editor-at-large, The 19th. 

The Wheelhouse is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

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For the next three months, lawmakers will work to address some of the state’s most pressing issues. This hour, we’ll explore those issues, which include zero-emission vehicles, a lack of affordable housing, and traffic stop reform.

And did you know that you have a stake in the outcome of the Super Bowl this year? Should the betting favorite win, sports betting operators in Connecticut would have to pay out a lot of bets. On this week’s episode, we’ll try and identify this year’s Super Bowl betting favorite.

• Susan Raff: Chief Political Reporter, WFSB
• Mark Pazniokas: Capitol bureau chief, CT Mirror
• Jaden Edison: Justice Reporter, The Connecticut Mirror
• Jacqueline Rabe Thomas: Investigative Reporter, Hearst Connecticut Media Group

The Wheelhouse is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

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This week on The Wheelhouse, we explore how recent policy changes in Connecticut mirror those in the rest of the nation, and how towns are responding to a growing number of restrictions.

GUESTS:

• Orion Rummler: LGBTQ+ Reporter, The 19th
• Katie Barnes: Writer/Reporter, ESPN.com

The Wheelhouse is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

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Families and child care providers are hoping to see major changes, like higher wages for child care providers and an increase in parent subsidies. But some wonder if the proposed plan will go far enough.

This hour, we’ll explore the reforms needed to fix an industry in crisis and what the future holds if changes aren’t made.

Plus, Bridgeport’s Democratic primary election results were overturned last Fall due to allegations of fraud. After yesterday’s court-ordered re-vote, do we finally have a winner?

GUESTS:

• Bria Lloyd: Investigative Reporter, Connecticut Public
• Erica Phillips: Economic Development Reporter, Connecticut Mirror 
• Melissa Boteach: Vice President for Income Security and Child Care/Early Learning, National Women’s Law Center
• Karen List: developer and Project Director of the Neag PK3 Leadership Program, UConn

The Wheelhouse is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

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These states traditionally go first, but because at least 90 percent of the people living in Iowa and New Hampshire are white, that may change. The Democratic National Committee has proposed a reordering of the calendar, tapping South Carolina to send their voters to the polls first.

This hour, we’ll unpack how meaningful a first-in-the-nation primary truly is.

Plus, Trump’s ability to stay on the ballot in Colorado and Maine hangs in the balance. Will the Supreme Court rule in Trump’s favor? And what would that mean for democracy?

GUESTS:

• Maya King: Politics Reporter, New York Times
• Dan Barrick: News Director, New Hampshire Public Radio
• Bruce Ackerman: Sterling Professor of Law and Political Science at Yale Law School and Yale University and the author of the book Revolutionary Constitutions

The Wheelhouse is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

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This hour, we learn about the State Elections Enforcement Commission which oversees voter fraud allegations and campaign finance. We'll also examine America's youngest voters, Generation Z. Ruby Belle Booth will provide insight on Gen Z's voting impact followed by a Gen Z roundtable.

Looking to dive deeper in today's discussion? Here are some resource links from the show.

• Register to vote

• Check your registration status and find your polling place

• Absentee ballot request

• Your Town Clerk and election officials

• Municipal town ballots

• State Elections Enforcement Commission - eCRIS (Campaign Reporting Information System)

GUESTS:

• Joshua Foley: Senior Attorney and Spokesman, State Elections Enforcement Commission

• Ruby Belle Booth: Elections Coordinator, Tisch College Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning & Engagement on the campus of Tufts University

• Samuel Weinmann: University of New Haven Senior majoring in International Affairs. Executive Editor of Horseshoe Magazine

• Cristian Corza: Graduate, UConn Hartford. Campaign manager to Hartford Mayoral candidate Arunan Arulampalam

• Yesenia Rodriguez: Graduate, Claremont McKenna College. Works for a non-profit back in her hometown of Philadelphia

Special thanks to former interns Lateshia Peters and Joey Morgan for hosting the Gen Z roundtable.

This episode originally aired on Disrupted on November 1, 2023. 

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Initially, all school districts had until July 1, 2023 to implement an approved “science of reading” program. That deadline is now July 1, 2025. But not all school districts are happy about this.

So, why is “the science of reading” facing so much pushback? This hour, we’ll break down the past and present of the so-called “reading wars” in Connecticut and beyond.

GUESTS:

• Emily Hanford: Senior producer and correspondent at American Public Media; host of the award-winning podcast Sold a Story: How Teaching Kids to Read Went So Wrong

• Louise Spear-Swerling: Professor emerita in the department of special education at Southern Connecticut State University

• Dr. Margie Gillis: Founder and president of Connecticut-based nonprofit, Literacy How

This episode originally aired on July 19, 2023.

This episode originally aired on July 19, 2023.

This episode originally aired on July 19, 2023.

The Wheelhouse is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

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But many of these coastal communities have found ways to exclude certain people. In fact, there's a long history of segregation on our shores, dating back decades. This hour, we’ll unpack past and present beach access in Connecticut.

Plus, we’ll look at who does — and does not — get access to quality public spaces like parks.

GUESTS:

• Andrew Kahrl: Professor of history and African American Studies at the University of Virginia and author of Free the Beaches: The Story of Ned Coll and the Battle for America’s Most Exclusive Shoreline

• Dr. KangJae Lee: Assistant professor in the Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management, North Carolina State University

Hear more from Andrew Kahrl in this episode of Disrupted.

This episode originally aired on July 5, 2023.

The Wheelhouse is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Right now, political rhetoric is everywhere as the war between Israel and Palestine continues to unfold. So how does what we hear from politicians inform how we think about conflict?

Today, we’ll examine the role of rhetoric in our politics — and how it can contribute to violence at home and abroad.

GUESTS:

• Paul Achter: Associate professor of rhetoric, University of Richmond
• Ned O'Gorman: Professor of communication, University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign
• Jason Stanley: Professor of philosophy, Yale University; co-author of The Politics of Language

The Wheelhouse is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate

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In September, Swift urged her fans on Instagram to register to vote. Vote.org reported a surge of 35,000 registrations after her post.

Not only that, but the pop singer has had a political awakening in recent years. She’s gone from largely silent on politics to being outspoken on everything from her support for LGBTQ+ rights to her endorsement of Joe Biden in 2020.

This hour, we’ll look at Swift’s political power — and the limits of it. Plus, is the MAGA movement still popular with voters? We’ll look at how Trump-style politicians are faring up and down the ballot.

GUESTS:

• Maya King: Politics Reporter, New York Times
• Amy Walter: Publisher & Editor-in-Chief, The Cook Political Report
• Jeffrey Dudas: Professor of political science at the University of Connecticut and co-host of the UConn PopCast

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Is Congress close to a spending agreement? This hour, we get the latest on that.

Plus, Connecticut has set a goal to curb vehicle emissions to zero by 2035. But not everybody's happy about it. We'll talk about that, and also hear about the school board shakeup in Killingly.

GUESTS:

• Ginny Monk:Children's issues and housing reporter, Connecticut Mirror
• Mark Pazniokas: Capitol bureau chief, Connecticut Mirror
• Lisa Hagen: Federal policy reporter, Connecticut Public and Connecticut Mirror

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From Bridgeport to Hartford, some of the state's big, and small, municipalities elected their next mayor.

This hour, we tell you who won, who lost, and why it matters. Plus, a great panel of guests will dig into some of the races and tell us what they might mean for the state at-large.

GUESTS:

• Livi Stanford: Reporter, Waterbury Republican-American
• Bria Lloyd: Investigative Reporter, Connecticut Public
• Robert Storace: Reporter, Connecticut Examiner
• Kay Perkins: Reporter, Connecticut Public
• John Craven:Political Reporter, News 12 Connecticut
• Susan Raff: Chief Capitol Reporter, WFSB
• Jonathan Wharton: Associate professor of political science and urban affairs, Southern Connecticut State University

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Bridgeport’s past two mayoral elections have been shrouded in controversy. In 2019 and in 2023, the word out of the Park City was all about absentee ballots, and whether or not the ballot count was right.

This hour, hear from the four candidates in Bridgeport's mayoral race who will get into that — and the issues that matter most to residents. Plus, hear from a reporter following this race.

GUESTS:

• Mayor Joe Ganim: Democratic nominee
• David Herz: Republican nominee
• John Gomes: Petitioning candidate
• Lamond Daniels: Petitioning candidate
• Bria Lloyd: Investigative reporter, Connecticut Public

FaithActs for Education has put together nonpartisan voter guides presented in English and Spanish for Bridgeport's upcoming mayoral election.

The Wheelhouse is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

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Waterbury has long been known as the “Brass City.” In the early 20th century, it was a global leader in manufacturing — producing everything from brassware to watches and clocks.

In the early aughts, Waterbury was in the spotlight thanks to some dicey political scandals — involving former Governor John Rowland, Waterbury’s “wonderboy," and former Mayor Philip Giordano.

Things have looked up since, and with incumbent Mayor Neil O’Leary not seeking reelection, the race for mayor is wide open this November.

This hour, hear from three of the four candidates in Waterbury's mayoral race: Paul Pernerewski, the Democratic candidate, and Karen Jackson and Keisha Gilliams, both petitioning candidates.

The fourth candidate, Republican Dawn Maiorano, declined our request for an interview.

Plus, hear from a reporter following this race.

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There are a lot of great things in West Haven, like Ed McCarthy’s Blue Devils, Savin Rock Park, and Zuppardi’s Apizza. But lately, those things have been overshadowed by turmoil at city hall – including a financial crisis and scandal involving COVID relief dollars. So what will this mean for November's open mayoral election?

This hour, hear from both candidates in West Haven's mayoral race: Democrat Dorinda Borer and Republican Barry Lee Cohen

Plus, hear from experts following this race.

GUESTS:

• Dorinda Borer: Democratic nominee for mayor
• Barry Lee Cohen: Republican nominee for mayor
• Christine Stuart: Editor, CT News Junkie
• Jonathan Wharton: Associate professor of political science and urban affairs, Southern Connecticut State University

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Danbury was historically known for its hats and hat makers. But now you might think of the city for its diversity. According to the US Census, 30 percent of the 87,000 people that live in Danbury were born outside the country.

This hour, hear from both candidates in Danbury's mayoral race: Democrat Roberto Alves and Republican Mayor Dean Esposito.

Plus, hear from reporters and bloggers covering this race.

GUESTS:

• Roberto Alves: Democratic Candidate

• Mayor Dean Esposito: Republican Candidate

• Alfonso Robinson: Writer, MyLeftNutmeg.com

• Ebong Udoma: Senior Political Reporter, WSHU

The Wheelhouse is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

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These are just some of the issues that have divided school boards since the early days of the pandemic.

School boards haven’t always been political battlegrounds. But these days, things are getting pretty heated.

The non-profit news organization, ProPublica, found nearly 60 incidentsat school board meetings that led to arrests or criminal charges, since spring 2021.

This hour, we’re going big on the politics — and power — of school boards in Connecticut and across the country.

GUESTS:

• Jonathan Collins: Assistant Professor of Political Science, Public Policy, and Education, Brown University
• Nicole Carr: Reporter, ProPublica
• Adam Harris: Staff Writer, The Atlantic; Author, The State Must Provide: Why America's Colleges Have Always Been Unequal — And How To Set Them Right
• Jessika Harkay: Education Reporter, CT Mirror

The Wheelhouse is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate

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Could a fight among Republicans in the U.S. House cause the government to shut down? How could that trickle down to Connecticut?

This hour, we look at a fractured federal government. Plus, we give you the latest on what's going on in Bridgeport. Could another election be in question over absentee ballots?

GUESTS:

• Lisa Hagen: Federal Policy Reporter, The Connecticut Mirror and Connecticut Public
• Andrew Brown: Investigative Reporter, Connecticut Mirror
• Susan Raff: Chief Capitol Reporter, WFSB

The Wheelhouse is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate

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From Colorado to Connecticut, there are efforts right now to bar Trump from the ballot in 2024. The legal argument against his candidacy comes down to one little-known provision in the 14 Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. This hour, we'll break down the constitutional case against Trump.

Plus, we’ll check in on voting equipment in Connecticut and look at efforts to give incarcerated people the right to vote.

GUESTS:

• Bruce Ackerman: Sterling Professor of Law and Political Science at Yale Law School and Yale University and the author of the book Revolutionary Constitutions
• Ariel White: Associate Professor of Political Science, MIT
• Andrew Brown: Investigative Reporter, Connecticut Mirror

The Wheelhouse is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.