The Wheelhouse

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...

In April, a group of owners of National Hockey League teams approved the relocation of the Arizona Coyotes to Utah. 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 l...

Student-led protests of the Israel-Hamas War are growing as the fighting continues. Students camp out and call on their educational institutions to divest from companies they say support the killing of civilians – while the world reacts. 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...

Why does political dysfunction happen? What are the systems that enable it? A new four-part podcast from Connecticut Public looks for answers in Bridgeport, where corruption charges, allegations of absentee ballot misconduct, and machine politics have left some residents wondering if their vote even matters. Today on The Wheelhouse, catch the first episode of  In Absentia . The podcast offers list...

Connecticut’s affordable housing crisis has taken center stage during the state’s 2023 and 2024 legislative sessions. 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 An...

Presidential election years are an emotional rollercoaster. And if you’ve been feeling anxious about the state of the country, there’s a good chance the children in your life have picked up on that. This hour, how should we talk to kids about the election? Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Connecticut’s 2024 presidential preference primary represented several things for state residents. 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...

Early polls suggest that voters want more options than just Donald Trump or Joe Biden in the upcoming presidential election. This hour, we look beyond the two-party system and ask what a non-Democrat or Republican candidate could mean for the race to the White House.   Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Threats against women and threats against democracy are inextricably linked,  according to experts  who study and track gendered political violence. 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 America...

In the upcoming presidential election, democracy hangs in the balance. So, newsrooms across the country should hold up a mirror and ask: is our reporting shaping the race to the White House? Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve heard buzz about the Oscars for months – the drama, the snubs, the countless interviews. Pretty soon we’ll finally get to watch it all unfold. 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 wa...

Political tension is growing in America and beyond. And with the 2024 United States presidential election on the horizon, there’s concern that increased political tension will lead to violence. 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 l...

A recent poll suggests that fewer Black Americans will vote for President Joe Biden this time around. On the next Wheelhouse, we dig deeper than the numbers – and look at why issues like global conflicts are upending the way we think about how people vote. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2024 is shaping up to be an unprecedented year. From  record levels of disinformation  to a presidential candidate spending more time in court than on the campaign trail, democracy hangs in the balance. 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 C...

Connecticut’s 2024 legislative session begins Wednesday. 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...

A federal court has revived a lawsuit over a Connecticut policy that allows transgender girls to compete on girls’ sports teams. Meanwhile, the town of Enfield, Connecticut passed a new policy banning the Pride flag from being flown on town property. 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...

Governor Ned Lamont says child care is a top priority for Connecticut’s 2024 legislative session. He tasked a panel of experts with proposing a plan to overhaul what many consider to be a broken system. In a few weeks, Lamont will present his proposal for the Blue Ribbon Panel’s first year of a five year plan to the Connecticut General Assembly. Families and child care providers are hoping to see...