February 20, 2026: Annual Town Meeting is around the corner. It's a day wrapped in traditions, stories, civic engagement, potluck lunches, and discussions about dollars and cents. But it is also an annual gathering that raises questions about how we ensure access, practice self-governance, build community, and the health of our local democracy.

Writer and educator, Susan Clark, has studied town-meeting styles of government across New England and in Europe. She returns to the show to discuss why Annual Town Meeting still matters, brain research, and Brattleboro's Representative Town Meeting. 

Clark is co-author of "Slow Democracy" with Woden Teachout, and "All Those In Favor," with University of Vermont Professor Frank Bryan. Both books are available for free download.

Slow Democracy: http://slowdemocracy.org/

All Those In Favor: https://vtinstituteforgovt.weebly.com/

Annual Town Meeting from the Vermont Secretary of State: https://sos.vermont.gov/elections/election-info-resources/town-meeting-local-elections/

Voice LIVE: Who Governs Brattleboro and How panel on Brattleboro's Representative Town Meeting (voters will consider doing away with the meeting structure): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ct8p0xb2Yk

Theme music by Red Heart the Ticker: http://rhtt.net/

January 29, 2026: In today's conversation, John Walters of the Vermont Political Observer updates listeners on Nick Deml's new job, shares his thoughts on Governor Scott's budget address, and questions the need for county sheriffs. 

As mentioned:

PAI's 2019 State of Working Vermont Report, looking at underinvestment in public needs: https://publicassets.org/research-publications/state-of-working-vermont-2019

And, in comparison, PAI's 2022 State of Working Vermont Report, looking at how more money is better for households and the economy: https://publicassets.org/research-publications/state-of-working-vermont-2022

Read John's work: https://thevpo.org/

View Artist Kent Monkman's work: https://www.kentmonkman.com/

Theme music by Red Heart the Ticker: http://www.rhtt.net/

January 23, 2026: Housing, raising more local revenues, lowering property taxes, and transportation funding are just a few of the issues facing municipalities this year. Josh Hanford, director of intergovernmental relations, updates listeners on VLCT's work on behalf of Vermont's towns.

The Vermont League of Cities and Towns: https://www.vlct.org/

VLCT's testimony on Housing, including Act 181: https://www.vlct.org/news/testimony-house-general-affairs-and-housing-committee-regarding-housing-1726

S.255 - proposed legislation establishing a pilot Law Enforcement Governance Council in Windham County: https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/S.255

Theme music by Red Heart the Ticker: http://www.rhtt.net/

January 16, 2026 (recorded on 1/15): Every year, the Public Assets Institute releases its State of Working Vermont report. The document outlines the economic landscape for working Vermonters. Unfortunately, the ratio of costs to wages is out of whack for many households. Julie Lowell, PAI's Economic Security Policy and Outreach Director, breaks down the full report. 

Read the full SWVT report here: https://publicassets.org/research-publications/state-of-working-vermont-2025

Check out the Joint Fiscal Office's Basic Needs Budget reports: https://ljfo.vermont.gov/publications/report/basic-needs-budget-reports

Julie mentioned Voices for Vermont's Children - here's their website: https://www.voicesforvtkids.org/

Theme music by Red Heart the Ticker: http://www.rhtt.net/

January 9, 2026: Welcome to a new year and the second half of the Legislature's biennium! This week, lawmakers returned to the State House. Gov. Phil Scott focused the majority of his State of the State Address on education reform and Act 73.

Journalist John Walters joins the conversation this week to reflect on the opening of the session. He shares his thoughts on campaign announcements by Molly Gray for Lieutenant Governor and Tim Ashe for State Auditor. 

Read Gov. Scott's State of the State Address: https://governor.vermont.gov/press-release/governor-phil-scott-delivers-2026-state-state-address

Check out the State Auditor's reports and audits in progress: https://auditor.vermont.gov/

Read John's work at The Vermont Political Observer: https://thevpo.org/

Theme music by Red Heart the Ticker: http://www.rhtt.net/

December 19, 2025: As we finish up 2025, Rep. Emilie Kornheiser joins the show to break down the annual "December 1st letter." In this document, the VT Department of Taxes outlines the expected education tax yields for the upcoming fiscal year. This year, the department is forecasting an average increase of 11.9 percent. 

NOTE: The number, however, is not set in stone and may change by the end of the the Legislative session. 

Find the December 1st letter here: https://tax.vermont.gov/press-release/commissioner-taxes-releases-fy2027-education-tax-rate-letter

Theme music by Red Heart the Ticker: http://rhtt.net

December 12, 2025: Overhauling Vermont's school districts and governmental structures are two options being floated to control education costs. Enter the School District Redistricting Task Force and its examination of the state's education system. Windham County State Senator Wendy Harrison served on the task force and today outlines its recommendations and report.

Read the Task Force's report here: https://aoa.vermont.gov/school-district-redistricting-task-force

Theme music by Red Heart the Ticker: http://rhtt.net

December 5, 2025: John Walters of The Vermont Political Observer is on the show this week. We discuss education, housing, and tariffs. 

View the Agency of Commerce and Community Development's Canadian visitation data: https://accd.vermont.gov/canada-research

Theme music by Red Heart the Ticker: http://rhtt.net

November 28, 2025: Randy Holhut, news editor for The Commons, joins this week's conversation with an update on local news. He shares his thoughts on high school sports, changes at Vermont Independent Media, and what the 2026 elections could mean for VGOP. 

The Commons: https://www.commonsnews.org/

The Deerfield Valley News: https://www.deerfieldvalleynews.org/

Theme music by Red Heart the Ticker: http://rhtt.net

September 12, 2025: Gov. Phil Scott surprised many when he vetoed H.91. Lawmakers designed the bill to address homelessness while phasing out what is commonly known as the emergency hotel/motel program. 

This week's episode features a reading of the bill as it passed the Vermont Legislature and is one piece of multiple conversations exploring the thoughts and decisions that go into developing legislation. Why a full read? While this bill was discussed in the press, not all its details were printed, and we wanted audience members to receive a fuller picture. Many thanks go to Journalist Leah McGrath Goodman for helping read through the bill. 

To view H.91: https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.91

Gov. Scott's veto letter: https://governor.vermont.gov/document/h91-veto-letter

Theme music by Red Heart the Ticker: http://rhtt.net