The Wheelhouse

President Joe Biden is officially running for president again. Last Tuesday, he announced his reelection campaign, saying we’re still “in a battle for the soul of America.” Ahead of 2024, we look at the Biden campaign for reelection. Plus, we get the latest on bail reform in Connecticut. GUESTS: Dr. Bilal Sekou: Hillyer College Associate Professor of Politics and Government, University of Hartford...

Last year, the state’s Board of Pardons and Paroles commuted the prison sentences of 71 people — including 44 doing time for murder. Now, the board is facing backlash from some families of victims and lawmakers. Following the outcry, Gov. Ned Lamont has removed Carleton Giles as chair of the board. This hour, we'll look at how commutations became the political issue in recent weeks. Plus, we’ll lo...

A load of trash bags are dropped off at HQ Dumpsters and Recycling in Southington on April 14, 2022. Orange and green bags, which were part of a pilot municipal food waste recycling program in the town of Meriden at the time, get sorted out of the load and then transferred to an anaerobic digester and turned into electrical power and compost. This Saturday, April 22nd, marks Earth Day. So we thoug...

Former President Donald Trump dominated cable news last week when he appeared in a Manhattan court, where he pleaded not guilty to 34 felony criminal charges. On March 30th, a Manhattan grand jury voted to indict Trump in connection to hush money payments to the adult film star Stormy Daniels during his 2016 campaign. Despite the 34 criminal charges, Trump is still very much in the running for pre...

Over the past decade, Connecticut has been able to cut its prison population in nearly half. But advocates say there’s a lot more that can be done to improve the criminal justice system. This legislative session, there have been a number of proposals aimed at doing just that — involving everything from deceptive police tactics to voting while incarcerated. This hour, we look at the state of crimin...

Following the 2014 police killing of Michael Brown, the phrase “stay woke” became a rallying cry among Black Lives Matter activists in Ferguson and beyond. In the years since, the word “woke” has been weaponized by the right. Politicians like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis are declaring a quote “war on woke,” going so far as to attempt to restrict what's being taught in schools. This hour, we’ll lo...

Last year was  the deadliest year  on Connecticut’s roadways in recent memory. More than 230 people died in motor vehicle crashes, and another 75 people who were walking or biking died in crashes. That’s according to the state Department of Transportation. In response, lawmakers are considering several bills this session with the goal of making our roads safer. This hour, we look at legislative ef...

Connecticut Public's weekly politics show is returning with new host, Frankie Graziano. If politics are in your Wheelhouse, or you wish you could keep up, we got you. We'll drop a new episode every Wednesday with perspectives on local and national issues.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today Joe Biden became the forty-sixth president of the United States.  Will America heed President  Biden’s calls to end an 'uncivil war' in political debate that spilled over into violence at the capitol two weeks ago? A vice presidential swearing-in also makes history.  Now that Donald Trump has left Washington and been kicked off Twitter, what has changed and what remains...

Two US Senate contests in Georgia will decide who controls the chamber.  Democrats are optimistic after a night of vote counting. How big of an impact will the outcome have on the direction of the country?  Meanwhile, Republicans in Congress are divided about whether to accept the electoral college vote today, or whether to continue President Donald Trump’s effort to overturn the o...

The Wheelhouse looks back at what was... Quite a year. Also a glance at the president's pardons and a very early look at some possible candidates for governor.   Guests : Kevin Rennie --  Hartford Courant Columnist and former state lawmaker ( @DailyRuctions ) Bilal Sekou  -- Associate Professor of Politics and Government at the University of Hartford ( @bilalsekou ) Colin McEnroe --...

Connecticut’s education commissioner is heading to Washington.  What sort of approach to schooling during the pandemic will Miguel Cardona bring to President-elect Joe Biden’s new administration?  He’s not the only person with ties to the state heading to the capitol.  Officials from Connecticut could have influence over environmental policy.  Back in the stat...

Connecticut’s first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine has arrived.  What does this moment represent in the battle against the virus?  Electoral college votes have been cast in the state, and around the country, again confirming Joe Biden’s presidential win.  Will Republican voters believe that Biden was victorious? Guests: Dr. Jonathan Wharton  -- Associate Professor of...

Connecticut could face a crossroads in its battle with COVID-19.  On one hand, healthcare workers are expected to get vaccinated over the next month-and-a-half.  But shots for elderly people and patients with underlying medical problems will not begin until January, and people who are not in a high-risk or critical group are expected to have to wait until June.  In the meantime, can...

More than 5,000 people have died with coronavirus in Connecticut since the start of the pandemic. Deaths have been accelerating and the number of patients hospitalized with the illness is growing. But vaccines are on the horizon. This week we look at Connecticut officials’ latest moves to counter the spread of COVID-19, and how virus response leads to disagreements in state governments aroun...

Top members of the Lamont administration go into quarantine as they also deal with a resurgence of COVID-19 in Connecticut.  How much trouble are we facing in the state, and in the nation?  And could an app on your phone help protect the people around you? Guests: Bill Curry --  Political analyst, former Democratic nominee for governor, and advisor in the Clinton White House ( @bill...

After losing the presidential election, the Trump administration has threatened to sue, and argued that maybe the Supreme Court should decide the election.  Why have the lawsuits failed to gain traction so far?  President-elect Joe Biden has begun his transition effort, naming a Yale professor as one of the leaders of his coronavirus task force.  And new leaders are asserting themse...

Election day is in the rearview mirror… Finally.  But what can we see back there?  We will consider who will lead the country for the next four years, review Congressional contests in Connecticut, and search for meaning in General Assembly races. Are you sitting on a ballot? Guests: Paul Bass --  New Haven Independent Editor ( @PaulJBass ) Charles Venator-Santiago -  Ass...

Lucy Nalpathanchil previews the upcoming election with some of the same political scientists and reporters who share their insight on the Wheelhouse. Produced as a TV/radio/streaming special Thursday, October 29. Khalilah Brown-Dean -- Political Science Professor and Senior Director for Inclusive Excellence at Quinnipiac University and author of Identity Politics in the United States and host of t...

It’s the final Wheelhouse before election day, and we’ve got a lot to talk about.  This hour, Colin McEnroe hosts as we look at the latest on the Presidential election where  younger Americans are voting early in record numbers , and panelist Leah Wright-Rigueur says the GOP is  flattering Black voters, while discouraging voter turnout .  Also, how confident should...

The percentage of COVID-19 tests coming back positive is increasing in Connecticut. A member of the state’s Congressional delegation describes what it is like to be targeted by racism.  And look out Donald Trump... Here comes the mute button!  We look ahead to tomorrow’s debate between the president and former vice president Joe Biden. Guests: Emilie Munson --  Regional...

There was no Wheelhouse this week because of live coverage of Amy Coney Barrett's Supreme Court confirmation hearing.  In place of the Wheelhouse, here is a new program on Connecticut Public Radio called Disrupted.  It's hosted by Khalilah Brown-Dean.  She's a professor at Quinnipiac University and a panelist on the Wheelhouse.  Disrupted looks at how the pandemic and the Black...

Donald Trump is back at the White House following his hospitalization with coronavirus. But did some aspects of the president's return send the wrong message about coronavirus? Given the ages of both candidates for president, maybe we should pay a little more attention to tonight’s vice presidential debate. We will also check in on the initial Fifth Congressional District debate.  After...

President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden met in the first presidential debate last night.  The two men traded personal insults, and the president repeatedly interrupted the former vice president.  Here in Connecticut state lawmakers are gearing up for a special session today.  We will have the latest on which proposals are in, and which are out. Guests: Mark Paznio...

Amid signs of public distrust in a quick vaccine release, Governor Ned Lamont says the state will review any COVID-19 innoculation for safety and effectiveness.  A member of Connecticut’s congressional delegation tests positive for coronavirus.  And how will Halloween be different during the pandemic? Guests: John McKinney --  Former Republican State Senate Minority Leader ( @...