What happens in Claremont doesn't stay in Claremont - and instead impacts all of us. In this teaser (with a full episode coming soon!), Liz talks to Rep. Hope Damon about the school funding crisis in Claremont...and beyond.

Full episode coming soon. New episodes on Tuesdays.

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Have an idea for an upcoming episode? Email Liz: [email protected]

Links:

• Claremont school board meeting turns heated as district makes budget cuts in face of deficit (WMUR)
• Claremont schools terminate 19 new hires amid budget crisis (Valley News)
• 8/25/25 School Board Meeting (CCTV)
• 8/20/25 School Board Meeting (CCTV)
• 8/14/25 School Board Meeting (CCTV)

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Don't be fooled: a Medicaid by any other name would smell as sweet - because it's health insurance! 

In this episode, Liz and Kristine Stoddard (health care super nerd/wonk) cover what Medicaid really is (health insurance!) and what the impacts will be on *all* of Granite Staters...due to a majority of New Hampshire lawmakers' actions. 

Liz uses many analogies in this episode (including A Christmas Carol) and Kristine asks Liz what a "wall ball" is.

New episodes on Tuesdays.

Become a supporter of the show

Have an idea for an upcoming episode? Email Liz: [email protected]

Links:

• Medicaid Matters: New Hampshire Needs Medicaid
• New Hampshire DHHS Medicaid website
• Health Insurance Marketplace
• One in Eight Granite Staters Enrolled in Medicaid in 2024, One in Thirteen Adults Enrolled in Medicaid Expansion (NH Fiscal Policy Institute)
• The Effects of Medicaid Expansion in New Hampshire (NH Fiscal Policy Institute)
• New report shows Medicaid coverage decreased slightly in New Hampshire in 2024 (NHPR)
• Opinion: We all benefit when families can access care: Why Medicaid premiums threaten more than just budgets (Concord Monitor)
• Access to NH Medicaid coverage is changing. Here's what you need to know. (NHPR)
• State leaders brace for ‘heavy lift’ from Medicaid, food stamp changes (Stateline)

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Is there really an issue of homelessness in New Hampshire? Like...everywhere in New Hampshire?

Yes, yes there is. Liz is joined by Erica Diamond and Lauren Bombardier from Families In Transition to talk about homelessness, which is affecting so many of our community members. 

Erica and Lauren explain to Liz that homelessness is a result of a lack of affordable housing and a lack of social support systems. Liz identifies one acronym correctly.

This episode pairs well with the episode Where have all the (affordable) houses gone? with Nick Taylor

Are you or someone you know homeless or experiencing a housing crisis?

To learn about available social services within your community, including housing and shelter resources, call 2-1-1 or contact your local city or town welfare office. 

New episodes on Tuesdays.

Become a supporter of the show

Have an idea for an upcoming episode? Email Liz: [email protected]

Links:

• Families in Transition
• Waypoint New Hampshire: Homeless Youth & Young Adult Department
• New Hampshire Coalition to End Homelessness
• National Alliance to End Homelessness
• NH has taken a ‘housing first’ approach to homelessness. A new executive order could change that. (NHPR)
• City prepares to clear, clean longstanding encampments in Healy Park (Concord Monitor)
• Funding for Manchester homeless shelter set to expire next month (WMUR)
• Trump's purge of Washington's homeless encampments escalates (NHPR)
• In Manchester, an urgent call to address NH's rising youth homelessness: ‘See our faces.’ (NHPR)
• NH Homeless Data Hub (NH DHHS)

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Comments about immigration are all over social media, in politicians' speeches, and in politicians' social media...but what is actually happening?

In this episode, Liz talks with Grace Kindeke about some of the myths circulating about immigration, including crime, social services, and higher education. 

New episodes every Tuesday.

Become a supporter of the show.

Have an idea for an upcoming episode? Email Liz: [email protected]

 Links:

• AFSC New Hampshire
• Know Your Rights: Immigrants' Rights (ACLU NH)
• Immigrants in NH Data (American Immigration Council)
• Protesters slam ICE flights at Pease: 'This just has to stop' (Seacoast Online)
• ACLU NH seeks answers on Berlin prison expansion into ICE detention center (Concord Monitor)
• A new law will require local police departments in NH to work with federal immigration enforcement (NHPR)
• Four of New Hampshire’s 10 counties now deputized to work with ICE (Concord Monitor)
• Hillsborough County convention approves large budget increase, removes funding for ICE agreement (Manchester InkLink)
• Hillsborough County delegation rejects funding to hold ICE detainees at Valley St. Jail (NHPR)
• Two proposed bills could limit driver’s licenses for immigrants in New Hampshire (NHPR)
• Immigration officials are going after people seeking asylum (NPR)
• Immigration crackdowns pose problems to businesses reliant on those in U.S. illegally (NPR)
• What’s behind recent false claims about immigrants and crime? (PolitiFact)
• Tax Payments by Undocumented Immigrants (Institute of Taxation and Economic Policy)

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We can all agree: New Hampshire has issues, but...do Maine and Vermont also have issues? What is it like to be the CEO of a Planned Parenthood affiliate across three (somewhat) different states? 

Liz talks to Nicole Clegg, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, about the "defunding" of Planned Parenthood, what the words "budget reconciliation" mean, and some signs it might be time to start thinking about perimenopause. They also welcome men in to the conversation - hello, men!

New episodes every Tuesday.

Become a supporter of the show.

Have an idea for an upcoming episode? Email Liz: [email protected]

Links:

• Donate directly to Planned Parenthood of Northern New England
• Menopause and Perimenopause Services Available at Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (The Montpelier Bridge)
• Head of Planned Parenthood Northern New England testifies against Medicaid cuts (WGME)
• Vermont Conversation: Planned Parenthood’s Nicole Clegg on reproductive rights without clinics (Vermont Digger)
• Planned Parenthood in Maine seeking more state funding to offset budget cuts (Portland Press Herald)
• Planned Parenthood wins partial victory in legal fight with Trump administration over funding cuts (AP)
• Most Americans support legal access to abortions in most cases: Survey (The Hill)
• The new strategy to restrict abortion nationwide — without saying ‘ban’ (The 19th)
• Advocates Decry Senate Confirmation of 'Anti-Abortion Extremist' to Lifetime Federal Court Seat (Common Dreams)
• America’s Healthcare Crisis Is Coming for All Women (Ms.)

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In Part 1, Liz and Phil Sletten (NH Fiscal Policy Institute) talked about the intentional cuts lawmakers made when it comes to revenues - and now, in part 2, they cover the choices New Hampshire lawmakers made in how money will (and will not) be spent.

Links:

• Committee of Conference Budget Nearly Matches Senate Version on Spending, Trims Retirement and University System Appropriations (NHFPI)
• NHFPI’s Budget landing page
• NHFPI’s “Uncharted” Podcast
• Who is Experiencing Poverty in the Granite State? (NHFPI)
• YDC Abuse Victims Say Ayotte Breaking Settlement Agreement (InDepth NH)
• Business Tax Rate Reductions Led to Between $795 Million and $1.17 Billion in Forgone Revenue for Public Services Since 2015 (NHFPI)
• Households with High Incomes Disproportionately Benefit from Interest and Dividends Tax Repeal (NHFPI)
• New Hampshire’s interest and dividends tax – and why it’s a hot campaign issue – explained (NH Bulletin)
• Average Cost of College by State (Education Data Initiative) – New Hampshire has the second highest in-state tuition cost

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Is everyone talking about the New Hampshire state budget? Well, if they aren't, they should be, as the budget impacts literally everyone in New Hampshire.

In this part 1 episode, Liz and Phil Sletten (Research Director at the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute) talk about what the heck a state budget is, how it is similar to - and very different from - a household budget, and how state revenues have decreased due to choices by lawmakers (not magic).

Liz asks Phil whether he's a robot and Phil asks Liz to show their work in a math problem.

New episodes every Tuesday.

Become a supporter of the show

Have an idea for an upcoming episode? Email Liz: [email protected]

Links:

• NHFPI’s Budget landing page
• NHFPI’s “Uncharted” Podcast
• Who is Experiencing Poverty in the Granite State? (NHFPI)
• Business Tax Rate Reductions Led to Between $795 Million and $1.17 Billion in Forgone Revenue for Public Services Since 2015 (NHFPI)
• Households with High Incomes Disproportionately Benefit from Interest and Dividends Tax Repeal (NHFPI)
• New Hampshire’s interest and dividends tax – and why it’s a hot campaign issue – explained (NH Bulletin)
• Average Cost of College by State (Education Data Initiative) – New Hampshire has the second highest in-state tuition cost

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Why are people “suddenly” talking about transgender people? And books? And bathrooms? What does this have to do with New Hampshire?

In this episode, Liz and Heidi Carrington Heath (Executive Director of New Hampshire Outright) cover some of the frequently asked questions they've gotten about LGBTQ+ folks, especially transgender individuals and young people.  

Liz asks Heidi her favorite coming out story. Heidi, in turn, gives a big shout out to her mom (hi, mom!).

New episodes every Tuesday.

Become a supporter of the show.

Have an idea for an upcoming episode? Email Liz: [email protected]

Links:

• New Hampshire Outright
• Heidi's three actions:
  • Call Gov. Ayotte at 603-271-2121 and/or use ACLU-NH's tool to contact her
  • Donate to New Hampshire Outright's mutual aid fund
  • Read Abi Maxwell's book One Day I'll Grow Up and Be a Beautiful Woman: A Mother's Story
• NH lawmakers give final OK to bills banning transgender health care for minors (NHPR)
• N.H. Senate passes bathroom bill, sending it to Ayotte’s desk (Concord Monitor)
• After Supreme Court ruling on trans healthcare, some in NH prepare for more restrictions (NHPR)
• New Hampshire teenagers challenge Trump’s ban on transgender girls in girls’ sports (NH Bulletin)

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The Democratic Leader of the NH Senate, Rebecca Perkins Kwoka, joins Liz to talk about the choices the NH Senate made this year (and lawmakers have made over the past ~decade), and how they will impact everyday Granite Staters...and the benefits given to those who have something called "portfolios." 

Liz asks RPK if she watches Severance and RPK asks Liz to remind her not to burn the salmon.

New episodes in July.

Become a supporter of the show

Have an idea for an upcoming episode? Email Liz: [email protected] 

Links:

• Democratic Leader of the Senate Rebecca Perkins Kwoka on Instagram
• Committee of Conference Budget Nearly Matches Senate Version on Spending, Trims Retirement and University System Appropriations (NH Fiscal Policy Institute)
• Concord became a Housing Champion. Now, state lawmakers could eliminate the funding. (Concord Monitor)
• Lawmakers pass sweeping zoning reform bills, but some say housing funding is lacking (NH Bulletin)
• First responders warn of exodus if lawmakers approve retirement benefit changes (Union Leader)
• Find your NH Senator
• Guest Opinion: Interest and Dividends Tax repeal benefits wealthy NH households (Keene Sentinel)
• NH Senate Committees
• Sign in to support/oppose a bill with a public hearing in the Senate
• NH Senate schedule
• NH Senate YouTube channel (yes, a YouTube channel!)

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How free are Education Freedom Accounts in New Hampshire? Why do some people call them school vouchers? 

Liz asks Christina why this funding is being prioritized when other services are needed, and Christina asks Liz for a little time to draft a tagline.

Become a supporter of the show

Have an idea for an upcoming episode? Email Liz: [email protected]

This episode pairs well with the School Funding episode with Zack Sheehan.

Links:

• Inside EFAs: A quarter of all Education Freedom Account tuition dollars went to five Christian schools, Monitor analysis finds (Concord Monitor)
• Report on Qualifying EFA Families Shows Errors in a Quarter of Applications (InDepthNH)
• Democrats call for deeper audit of New Hampshire Education Freedom Account after initial review (NH Bulletin)
• Ayotte signs bills to eliminate school voucher income cap and codify parental rights (NHPR)
• Universal voucher program signed into law despite concerns (Reaching Higher NH)
• Universal EFA program sees 500 applications in day one of expansion (Concord Monitor)
• Official in charge of NH school voucher program attends Trump ceremony dismantling US Department of Education (Granite Post)
• School Vouchers Were Supposed to Save Taxpayer Money. Instead They Blew a Massive Hole in Arizona’s Budget. (ProPublica)
• Understanding the Cost of Universal School Vouchers: An Analysis of Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account Program (Learning Policy Institute)
• Florida Continues to Drain Much-Needed Funds Away from Public Schools to Private and Home-School Students (Florida Policy Institute)

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