The Wheelhouse

The polls have closed and votes are still being counted. 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...

You voted — and now it’s time to find out. 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, Th...

In one week, voters across America will go to the polls. 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 :...

The race for Connecticut’s 4th congressional district is underway. This hour, we ask candidates Jim Himes (D-Conn.)–and two challengers, Republican Michael Goldstein and Independent Benjamin Wesley–where they stand on the issues. 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 Conn...

This hour, we talk with the candidates for Connecticut’s fifth congressional district: Congresswoman Jahana Hayes and challenger George Logan. And later, our panel of guests share their insights on what the candidates had to say. GUESTS : Congresswoman Jahana Hayes , (D-Conn.) George Logan , Republican candidate for Connecticut’s 5th congressional district Livi Stanford , Reporter for Republican-A...

Every four years, we’re reminded of the power of the Electoral College. But according to a recent poll by Pew Research Center , more than 6 out of 10 Americans would prefer to see the winner of the presidential election be the person who wins the most votes nationally. 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 difficul...

The race for Connecticut’s third congressional district is underway. This hour, we ask candidates Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and challenger, Michael Massey, a Republican, where they stand on the issues. 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 distric...

We’re kicking off a series of candidate interviews today on The Wheelhouse.  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...

The 2024 U.S. Presidential Debate between vice president Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump highlighted how immigration is being sensationalized to score votes. 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 cou...

In advance of the presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, there were negotiations over live microphones and arguments over who could attend . There was even a debate over what network it should be put on . Historically, debates offer an opportunity for political candidates to provide substantive details about their platforms. But in 2024, more attention is paid to spectacle. No...

Public safety and the sanctity of the ballot are top of mind for election officials during the lead up to November. 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 Support the s...

During a  recent speech  given by former President Donald Trump, he promised that, if elected, he would cut federal funding for any schools with a vaccine or mask mandate. 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. Support the show: http://...

After a whirlwind few weeks, Democrats are gathering in Chicago to formally nominate Vice President Kamala Harris as their presidential candidate. 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...

We asked our listeners what issues are on their minds, and they answered the call! The week on The Wheelhouse, what exactly is Project 2025? And why is Donald Trump distancing himself from it? Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on The Wheelhouse, we’re exploring politics and generational theory. That’s the belief that every generation has a unique set of shared beliefs. 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,...

Federal COVID relief dollars have boosted education in recent years. But now, money allocated from the American Rescue Plan Act is going away. What will state governments do now for students and teachers?  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This weekend, Joe Biden announced he’s dropping out of the presidential race. We’ll talk about what this means for November on a special edition of The Wheelhouse. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the country witnesses yet another act of political violence, its citizens wonder about the impact words and weapons have on our lives. On the next Wheelhouse, we try to make sense of an assassination attempt in 2024. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Wheelhouse, lawmakers are taking “reasonable measures” to protect children online through the “Kids Online Safety Act.” But does this act encroach on free speech? And is a TikTok ban really in our future? Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Election coverage in 2024 has portrayed individual members of latino communities as a collective bloc. As coverage of polling sacrifices nuance over numbers, an opportunity is missed to delve into issues that a  large percentage of Americans  care about. 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...

Reproductive rights aren’t just at stake in states like Louisiana and Texas. They’re targeted— even in a so-called safe harbor Connecticut –by some lawmakers. 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 : P...

More and more states are restricting access to gender-affirming care. It’s an issue that some politicians are centering in their political campaigns. 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 rh...

The way we view cannabis has changed, particularly since states began decriminalizing its use and allowing residents to buy it. 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 canna...

Connecticut’s aging population is growing. Lawmakers are looking for solutions as complaints from elder care residents and advocates increase in the state. On the next Wheelhouse, how is the state addressing this problem? Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Connecticut General Assembly has adjourned for the year. 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 loo...