The Wheelhouse

The 2024 presidential election is in full swing. Iowa held its Republican Caucus this week, and next week, New Hampshire will hold Republican and Democratic primaries. 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 Sou...

Today, The Wheelhouse is passing the mic to another Connecticut Public talk show, Disrupted .  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 deep...

In 2021, Connecticut passed a law mandating school districts to have curricula focused on quote "the science of reading." That refers to research-backed approaches to literacy like phonics. 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 “t...

Connecticut has hundreds of miles of shoreline, extending from Greenwich in the west to Stonington in the east. 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 acce...

From the Capitol to the campaign trail: The year in politics with a powerhouse panel and a special guest. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During times of war, language can be a powerful tool. Political leaders can wield it to change hearts and minds, but also to justify the use of violence. 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...

There are some major players in American politics. But one we don’t talk about enough is Taylor Swift. 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 fro...

Back in September, federal lawmakers came up with a temporary solution to avoid a government shutdown. But the continuing resolution they agreed upon expires in two days. 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...

Tuesday was Election Day in Connecticut!   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 B...

For the past few weeks,  The Wheelhouse  has been hitting the campaign trail. The show has been featuring interviews with candidates for mayor across the state. Our final stop? Bridgeport! 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 h...

For the past few weeks,  The Wheelhouse  has been hitting the campaign trail. The show is featuring interviews with candidates for mayor across the state. Today, Waterbury! 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 spotli...

For the next few weeks,  The Wheelhouse  is hitting the campaign trail! The show will feature interviews with candidates for mayor across the state. Today, West Haven! 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 scanda...

For the next few weeks, The Wheelhouse is hitting the campaign trail! The show will feature interviews with candidates for mayor across the state. First up, Danbury. 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 ho...

Book bans. Mask requirements. What’s in our history books. 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 incidents at school board meetings that led to arrests or crimina...

There’s a deadline looming. Congress has to pass a spending package – or at least an emergency one – by the end of the federal fiscal year, which is this Friday. 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 Brid...

Can former president Donald Trump legally become president again? According to experts on both sides of the aisle, the answer isn’t exactly clear-cut. 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 do...

ITuesday was Primary Day in Connecticut! From Bridgeport to Hartford, some of the state's major cities effectively determined who would be their municipality’s next leader. This hour, we tell you who won, who lost, and why it matters. Plus, a great panel of guests will dig into some hyperlocal races and tell us what they might mean for the state at-large. GUESTS: Thomas Breen : Managing editor, Ne...

Eighty-three percent of American voters are either  very  worried or at least  somewhat  worried about the functioning of our democracy. So what does  this recent Quinnipiac poll  tell us? Why are people losing faith in our democracy? This hour, we’re asking some big questions about the future of democracy in the U.S., covering everything from political violence to voter suppression. Plus, we’ll g...

As students head back to school, there is new information about how the federal government will address federal student loan debt. The White House is  introducing a plan to reduce  student loan payments, less than two months after the Supreme Court of the United States struck down an effort by the Biden administration to wipe out billions of dollars in student loan debt. On a “back to school” edit...

From deepfakes to social media chatbots, new technologies are changing our national political landscape. Ahead of the 2024 presidential election, we’ve already seen everything from campaign ads using AI-generated images to the continued spread of misinformation on platforms like Facebook. So, how exactly are emerging technologies like AI changing how we do politics? This hour, we’ll get into the g...

You don't have to live and breathe politics to know about the NRA or Planned Parenthood. These organizations influence our democracy in big and small ways, and they’re pretty public about it. But what about those organizations that operate more in the shadows? Sometimes these organizations have just as much influence as the household names. So why don’t we know about them, and what do they mean fo...

Elections in 2023 will determine who will lead cities and towns in Connecticut like Hartford, Bridgeport, and Fairfield. Local party committees recently faced a deadline to endorse candidates ahead of the September primaries. On this episode of The Wheelhouse, our panel of political experts and reporters discuss the primaries—from the endorsed candidates to their opponents. Plus, what these munici...

All week long, Connecticut Public’s talk shows are celebrating all things nautical with its first-ever NautiWeek. So, on The Wheelhouse, we’re going big on some sea creatures getting attention at the State Capitol. In recent years, state lawmakers have put in place a number of protections for both horseshoe crabs and shellfish — including a ban on hand-harvesting horseshoe crabs just this past yea...

The U.S. Coast Guard is coming under fire for its years-long cover-up of sexual assault. Now, federal lawmakers — including members of Connecticut’s Congressional delegation — are demanding accountability. This hour, we’ll give you the latest on that. Plus, service on one of the largest commuter railroads in America  could  shut down in the coming months. What a workers strike might mean for the M...

In 2021, Connecticut passed a law mandating school districts to have curricula focused on quote "the science of reading." That refers to research-backed approaches to literacy like phonics. Initially, all 200 school districts had until July 1 of  this  year to implement an approved “science of reading” program. That deadline is now July 1,  2025 . But not all school districts are happy about this....