The Wheelhouse

Visitors to U.S. national parks get in free on certain holidays. 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...

2026 grads seeking professional degrees face capped loans thanks to funding cuts in the federal Republican tax and spending plan Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How did Connecticut earn the moniker “Constitution State”? 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...

Free speech is in focus at this year’s Wheelhouse LIVE event amid significant shifts in the world of broadcast media. If free press is the cornerstone of American Democracy, what do the Trump administration’s attacks on late night TV hosts – and Congress’ claw back of funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting – tell us about the future of American politics a...

Trad wives, short for “traditional wives,” are taking social media by storm. 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...

From toys to turkeys, holiday purchases and their price tags are being shaped by politics. 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...

Connecticut lawmakers had a lot to do during the latest special session. 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...

A recent  NPR/PBS News/Marist University  poll indicated Americans’ displeasure with their government. 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...

It’s the morning after Election Day 2025 in Connecticut and we’re breaking down the latest results from municipal races across the state. 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...

More Americans now think violence is necessary to “right” the country than they did 18 months ago. That’s according to polling from NPR, PBS News and Marist University. 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 vio...

New data  confirms what people pushing for criminal justice reform have been saying for years – racial disparities show up during encounters with police. 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 Wh...

Polls  show that more Americans are embracing socialism. 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&rsqu...

Recent political violence – and a government shutdown – have turned American politics into a mudslinging free for all. 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...

The Connecticut Sun could be the latest professional franchise  to pull out of Connecticut . 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 &ldquo...

Beth Bye, a former state lawmaker and outgoing head of the Office of Early Childhood, is retiring from state service after years of work helping young children. 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 wit...

Federal tax credits for electric vehicles will expire at the end of September. 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 l...

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the secretary of the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services,  is defending his policies on Capitol Hill . He recently spoke to Congress following a brain drain at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC’s director was  fired . And several other high-level officials have also  left the agency . They say Kennedy is weakening the administra...

President Donald Trump declared war on immigration from his first  day in office. 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...

Beginning on September 1, Congress will race to finalize the federal budget before the September 30 deadline. And Connecticut’s schools are feeling the ripple effects of funding uncertainty. 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...

How did Connecticut earn the moniker “Constitution State”? 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...

Even though some anthropologists believe humans are apex predators, a new book argues we’re actually not. 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, “ O...

It’s 2025 and next year’s congressional races are already heating up. 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...

Gen Z has grown up in an age of school shootings, climate anxiety, the pandemic and the algorithm. 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 m...

Legislation seeking to address Connecticut’s affordable housing crisis was vetoed earlier this year by Gov. Ned Lamont. But, the proposal could soon come back in a special session.  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 ci...

President Donald Trump’s massive tax-and-spending package is officially the law. 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 &nb...