Journey inside the mind of a lawmaker on the next Wheelhouse as we tap into the experience of a panel of politicians with more than 80 years of combined experience serving the people of Connecticut. We’ll ask about bipartisanship and the challenges or reaching across the aisle in 2026.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A bill to more closely regulate homeschooling passed the state legislature as the 2026 session came to a close this month. The proposal faced significant pushback from Republicans and parents who homeschool their children. Opponents of the new rules say they are inconsistent with the state’s civil-liberties tradition. But child advocates and lawmakers supporting the rules say they will help track and better protect kids. Today on The Wheelhouse, an interview with the newly-confirmed state child advocate on what she hopes is one piece Connecticut can improve to protect its children. Guests: Christina Ghio, child advocate, State of Connecticut Theo Peck-Suzuki, education reporter, CT Mirror Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling on Louisiana’s congressional map could have major consequences for voters across the country. Critics say the decision weakens the Voting Rights Act and could make it harder for minority communities to elect candidates of their choice. On the next Wheelhouse, who wins and who loses when lawmakers redraw political maps? How might the Supreme Court decision impact how Connecticut voting districts are drawn up? And how might the 2026 midterm elections be influenced? A Segment: Alec Hernández, a politics reporter at Politico B Segment: Kyle Evans, the assistant professor of mathematics at Assumption University, and Bilal Sekou, the associate professor of politics and government at the University of HartfordC Segment: Kyle Evans, the assistant professor of mathematics at Assumption University, and Bilal Sekou, the associate professor of politics and government at the University of Hartford 👀Find more episodes of The Wheelhouse at: ctpublic.org/wheelhouse 📌 Connecticut Public is the state’s public media source for in-depth local news, original storytelling and ideas that educate and inspire our communities. 👉 Subscribe to Connecticut Public’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ConnecticutPublic Subscribe to our Connecticut Public newsletters: https://www.ctpublic.org/newsletters Follow Connecticut Public on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ctpublic Like Connecticut Public on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ctpublic Follow Connecticut Public on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ctpublic 📍Visit our website: ctpublic.org Support public media and fund the future of free information by donating to Connecticut Public today: ctpublic.org/donate #TheWheelhouseCT #SCOTUS #VotingRightsAct #civilrights #gerrymanderingSupport the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Connecticut lawmakers in 2026 have worked on a new budget deal, debated homeschool regulation and tossed around the political football that is skyrocketing energy costs. There’s still more business to do with one more day of lawmaking at the state Capitol, followed by more business up ahead on the campaign trail. Today on The Wheelhouse, local politics and the end of the 2026 legislative session. Guests: Susan Raff, Chief political reporter, WFSB News Ch. 3 Ebong Udoma, Senior reporter, WSHU Harriet Jones, director, Connecticut Student Journalism Collaborative Bruce Putterman, publisher and CEO, CT Mirror Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At least 1,000 people lost access to gender-affirming care in Connecticut in the wake of a federal threat to strip health care providers of benefits. Pressure from the Trump administration resulted in several Connecticut hospitals winding down programs for youth gender-affirming care last summer. But in March, Connecticut and 20 other states successfully sued to block a declaration carrying out Trump’s directives. Now, Connecticut lawmakers are working on other ways to shield trans people and their health care providers. Today on The Wheelhouse, the politics of hormones and the effort to preserve gender-affirming care. Guests: Lindsey Dawson, director of LGBTQ+ policy, KFF Melissa Combs, organizer, Equality Connecticut Jona Tanguay, president, GLMA (Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality) Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re in the final days of the 2025-26 academic year. A lot has happened since the fall, including the assassination of a conservative podcaster Charlie Kirk, the rise of Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, and another U.S. conflict in the Persian Gulf. Today on The Wheelhouse, we hear how students at the University of Hartford are keeping up with the political process. Guests: Merci Payadue, politics and government student, University of Hartford Farah Suede, politics and government student, University of Hartford Bilal Sekou, associate professor of politics and government, University of Hartford Jonathan Wharton, associate professor of political science and urban affairs, Southern Connecticut State University Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recent redactions to the Epstein files have raised renewed questions about what the government does – and does not – strike from highly sensitive documents. The black pen has been used on classified materials for decades. But amid renewed calls for disclosure, more Americans are raising questions about the politics behind what stays in and what gets taken out. Today on the Wheelhouse, we’re talking about government redactions and the power of the pen. Guests: Sam Lebovic: history professor at George Mason University Barbara McQuade: former U.S. Attorney, United States Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Michigan Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Donald Trump says the U.S. conflict with Iran is “nearing completion.” He’s addressed the American people after gas prices soared and markets panicked. It’s a story America knows all too well, with a reliance on fossil fuels causing many crises including in 1973, 1979, 1999, and 2022. Today on the Wheelhouse, we’re looking at oil and how it shapes U.S. foreign policy. Guests: Tik Root, senior staff writer, Grist Jeff D. Colgan, professor of political science and international and public affairs, Brown University Áine Pennello, Report for America Environmental and Climate Change reporter, CT Public Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What you see on the internet could influence how you see one side of a political debate. Whether it was the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis woman by a federal law enforcement, – or what NPR is calling “America’s first AI-fueled war” in Iran, images generated online may distort what’s actually happening. Today on The Wheelhouse, as trust in news reaches new lows, how is artificial intelligence fueling larger media skepticism? Guests: Alyssa Appelman, associate professor in the William White School of Journalism and Mass Communications, Kansas University Renee Hobbs, professor in the Department of Communication Studies, University of Rhode Island Lisa Hagen, federal policy reporter, Connecticut Public and CT Mirror Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Connecticut has sued the federal government to keep colleges and universities from releasing race-based admissions data to the White House. Ahead of “Ivy Day,” when students will learn if they’ve gotten into some of the country’s most prestigious schools, we’re re-visiting a 2023 Supreme Court decision that effectively banned affirmative action in collegiate enrollment. We’ll hear from the president of Wesleyan University about the challenges facing higher education and ask if people of color are getting a fair shake in the college admissions process. Guests: Michael Roth, president, Wesleyan University Bilal Sekou, Hillyer College associate professor of political science, University of Hartford Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The White House and the U.S. Department of Defense are incorporating “maximum lethality” into their rhetoric about the war in Iran. It’s hyper-masculine language, tied to a misogynistic and fringe internet culture known to target women. At a time when administration officials are selling Iran airstrikes with montages of popular moments in American culture, the line between triumph and tragedy is blurring. Today on The Wheelhouse, the real life consequences of online hyper-masculinity on women around the globe. Guests: Adam Aleksic, linguist, The Etymology Nerd Jiyoun Suk, professor in the department of communications, University of Connecticut Saed Hill, president-elect, Society for the Psychology of Men and Masculinities, American Psychological Association Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Election results from 2024 have necessitated deep dives into the manosphere.These podcasts often don’t focus on political horse races – and many of the people on them say they’re not political. But, according to one data firm, 54% of votes from men aged 18 to 29 were cast for Donald Trump. And his campaign did a lot of outreach to appear on the podcasts, courting an audience demographic that once went the other way. Today on The Wheelhouse, with the midterms coming up in November we ask: Can MAGA still count on the manosphere? Guests: Elena Moore, political reporter, NPR’s Washington Desk Charlie Sabgir, director, Young Men Research Project Theodore R. Johnson, contributing columnist, The Washington Post Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.