The Wheelhouse

How did Connecticut earn the moniker “Constitution State”?

Hint – it’s not the Constitution you learned about in history class!

We’ll travel back to the 1600s to explore how history, conflict and big aspirations helped shape the state’s identity.

GUESTS:

• Thomas Balcerski, professor of history at Eastern Connecticut State University and director of the Center for Connecticut Studies
...

Free speech is in focus at this year’s Wheelhouse LIVE event amid significant shifts in the world of broadcast media. If free press is the cornerstone of American Democracy, what do the Trump administration’s attacks on late night TV hosts – and Congress’ claw back of funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting – tell us about the future of American politics and pop culture?

Support the show: ht...

Trad wives, short for “traditional wives,” are taking social media by storm.

Clips of women, dressing up in 1950s-style dresses, homesteading and making food from scratch, are receiving a lot of likes and lots of criticism on the web.

This hour, we peek behind the apron and ask: What does social media's trad wife phenomenon tell us about politics today?

Guests:

• Jessica Grose, opinion writer, The New York Times
• Carr...

From toys to turkeys, holiday purchases and their price tags are being shaped by politics.

President Donald Trump’s tariffs and years of persistent inflation are leaving many Americans with sticker shock. Higher prices are hitting not just for big importers, but also at your favorite local shops and restaurants.

Many Americans tell Consumer Reports that they’re “very or extremely” concerned about price incre...

Connecticut lawmakers had a lot to do during the latest special session.

On top of unfinished housing business, lawmakers had only two days to authorize a $500 million dollar relief package to address federal cuts. They also voted on the purchase of a major hospital and worked to curb increased federal law enforcement efforts in Connecticut.

And what about the spectre of rising health insurance premiums in just a few week...

A recent NPR/PBS News/Marist University poll indicated Americans’ displeasure with their government.

It found 62% of Americans surveyed believed the country is heading in the wrong direction, while 79 % say the country is going too far to restrict free speech.

So, what are people doing with their frustrations?

Today on The Wheelhouse, we’re talking with community organizers and researchers who say our voices a...

It’s the morning after Election Day 2025 in Connecticut and we’re breaking down the latest results from municipal races across the state.

How did an election to name a new mayor in New Britain turn out? What races commanded local attention in your community? And what issues – from education to zoning – motivated you to get out to the polls?

Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas joins us to break down turno...

More Americans now think violence is necessary to “right” the country than they did 18 months ago. That’s according to polling from NPR, PBS News and Marist University.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has federalized and deployed national guard troops to American cities, sparking a flurry of court challenges and an outbreak of panic.

Today on The Wheelhouse, how political violence con...

New data confirms what people pushing for criminal justice reform have been saying for years – racial disparities show up during encounters with police.

Researchers at the University of Connecticut say Black people face disproportionate rates of police use-of-force in Connecticut. And that a significant share of those incidents involve someone in mental health distress.

Today on The Wheelhouse, what reforms can Connectic...

Polls show that more Americans are embracing socialism.

At the same time, politicians that call themselves Democratic Socialists are often painted by conservatives as political extremists.

What is a Democratic Socialist? And why is President Donald Trump calling a popular one in the race for New York City’s mayor a communist?

Today on the Wheelhouse, we define socialism. We’ll wade through complicated politica...

Recent political violence – and a government shutdown – have turned American politics into a mudslinging free for all.

With more attention on owning the other side – and less emphasis on civility, are there still safe spaces for debate?On college campuses a new survey says more students are self-censoring in favor of speaking freely.

Today on The Wheelhouse, a temperature check on political dialogue with a college...

The Connecticut Sun could be the latest professional franchise to pull out of Connecticut.

But a full court press of politicians is working to save the WNBA franchise and keep the team right here in Connecticut. According to CT Insider, lawmakers want to use state pension funds to buy a minority stake in the team.

Today on The Wheelhouse, what state officials are doing to “Save Our Sun” in the self-procla...

Beth Bye, a former state lawmaker and outgoing head of the Office of Early Childhood, is retiring from state service after years of work helping young children.

Bye’s retirement comes after the state legislature passed a sweeping bill last session offering free child care to many Connecticut families.

Today on The Wheelhouse, an exit interview with Beth Bye. Plus, we check in with another advocate for children, Sara...

Federal tax credits for electric vehicles will expire at the end of September.

Connecticut residents also won’t be able to access other federal incentives for heat pumps, rooftop solar and home energy audits.

Today on The Wheelhouse, how local officials can promote energy efficiency amid a federal rollback on clean energy.

Also – Connecticut’s freedom of information law turns 50 this year. We talk to rep...

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the secretary of the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, is defending his policies on Capitol Hill. He recently spoke to Congress following a brain drain at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC’s director was fired. And several other high-level officials have also left the agency. They say Kennedy is weakening the administration with what they call “unscienti...

President Donald Trump declared war on immigration from his first day in office.

Since then, the White House has vowed to protect Americans from what it’s calling an “invasion.”

U.S. Sen Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) is troubled by recent action, including a statewide sweep by immigration authorities that resulted in 65 arrests.

Murphy accuses Trump of using racist tropes on immigration to distract Americans fr...

Beginning on September 1, Congress will race to finalize the federal budget before the September 30 deadline. And Connecticut’s schools are feeling the ripple effects of funding uncertainty.

Today on The Wheelhouse, we talk with educators about the challenges and concerns heading into the new school year.

Plus, we take a close look at one Connecticut district experimenting with a year-round calendar. Tune in to hear what...

How did Connecticut earn the moniker “Constitution State”?

Hint – it’s not the Constitution you learned about in history class!

We’ll travel back to the 1600s to explore how history, conflict and big aspirations helped shape the state’s identity.

GUESTS:

• Thomas Balcerski, professor of history at Eastern Connecticut State University and director of the Center for Connecticut Studies
...

Even though some anthropologists believe humans are apex predators, a new book argues we’re actually not.

Author Kurt Gray posits understanding our vulnerabilities – coming to terms with our former reality as prey – could help us co-exist in tumultuous political times.

Today on The Wheelhouse, Gray, a social psychologist at The Ohio State University, discusses his book, “Outraged: W...