The Deeper Dig

Bernie Sanders’ victory in the New Hampshire primary gives the Vermont senator a boost in his push to win the Democratic nomination for president. Now, some voters are wondering not only whether he’ll make it onto the ballot — but what the general election will look like if he does.

As Bernie Sanders looks ahead to the first primary elections of 2020, the Vermont senator sees a plausible path to the Democratic nomination and maybe the presidency. How Sanders’ first campaign for public office foreshadowed the sprawling political operation he runs today.

Produced by Eliza Giles for Mudseason, a podcast from the UVM Center for Research on Vermont.

The Scott administration is formalizing its plan to close the state's only juvenile detention facility. But it’s not up to them whether Woodside will close — and the legislators who will make the final call are just beginning to consider the plan.

VTDigger's Alan Keays reports on the administration's latest moves. Plus, hear from Woodside employees, who have their own proposals for the Essex campus.

A paid family leave plan that’s been in the works for more than two years has finally passed the Legislature. But its path forward largely depends not on the lawmakers who think it’s too expensive — but on the ones who say it doesn’t go far enough.

As Vermont lawmakers returned for the 2020 legislative session, election updates overshadowed the policy agenda. But that wasn't the only disruption at the Statehouse this week.

Guests: VTDigger's Xander Landen, John Walters, and Grace Elletson.

Independent doctors across Vermont are closing their practices, while major hospital systems take over a growing share of the state’s patients. What does that mean for Vermonters seeking care?

Guests: Dr. Joe Nasca (pediatrician), Katie Jickling (VTDigger)

Water quality advocates are hailing a Vermont Supreme Court decision on dam permits as a new standard for upholding environmental rules. But the case also reveals the tensions behind the state’s ongoing push to get more energy from local renewable resources.

Guests: Elizabeth Gribkoff (VTDigger), Jon Groveman (Vermont Natural Resources Council), Ken Nolan (Vermont Public Power Supply Authority).

If you’re feeling lonely, you’re not alone: data shows that a wide range of Vermonters report feeling socially isolated, particularly the elderly. Advocates for Vermont seniors are working on localized solutions — but they also say a broader cultural shift is due.

Guests: Beth Hammond (Heineberg Senior Center), Marichel Vaught (Council on Vermont Elders), Erin Petenko (VTDigger)

The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles makes millions of dollars every year selling drivers' personal data to private companies. Officials and others argue that the practice is legal, regulated, and necessary. But privacy advocates say there's evidence that giving DMVs this much discretion can lead to abuse.

Guests: Mike Smith (Vermont DMV), Joseph Cox (Motherboard/VICE), Susan Randall (VTPrivateye/Vermont Association of Investigative & Security Services), Xander Landen (VTDigger)

We sent our politics reporter Kit Norton to D.C. for the first public impeachment hearing in the House Democrats' case against President Donald Trump. Here's what he saw.