The Wheelhouse

Polling of likely voters in midterm elections indicates people aren’t happy with the way the current administration is managing the U.S. economy.

About 60% of respondents in a recent New York Times/Siena University poll say they disapprove of how Donald Trump is handling the U.S. economy.

Which party is better able to tackle a national affordability crisis?

That’s a deciding factor swaying voters. Amid that national debate, the people of Connecticut live in a reality where costs continue to swell.

The average cost for a new vehicle in Connecticut has risen 2% in the last year. The median sale price for a home in the state is rising too. Redfin, a business affiliated with Rocket Mortgage, reports that the median sale price of a home in Connecticut is $474,026.

This hour, we’re talking about affordability and the midterms and asking what can be done to lift Americans out of the current crisis.

Guests:

• Martha Gimbel, executive director and co-founder, The Budget Lab at Yale University
• Abigail Brone, housing reporter, Connecticut Public
• Meghan Holden, director of marketing and communications, The Connecticut Project

Are you thinking about 2026 midterm elections? Help shape our election coverage by filling out this survey. Please submit responses by Oct. 14. 

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Last week, climate leaders from around the world gathered in New York for Climate Week – the biggest annual conference of its kind.

We’ll hear what was discussed, where we’re making progress on clean energy, and what’s getting in the way.

The political landscape is shifting, with the Trump administration rolling back federal climate policies even as some climate indicators offer reasons for cautious optimism.

We also take stock of Connecticut’s high electric bills and ask: is relief anywhere in sight?

Guests:

• Jake Bittle, writer at Grist
• Daniel Esty, Hillhouse Professor of Environmental Law and Policy, Yale School of the Environment and Yale Law School
• John Moritz, covers energy and the environment for CT Mirror

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Before you toss the latest campaign mailer into the recycling bin, take a look.

You might notice a new buzzy campaign issue splashed across the ad: AI Data Centers.

According to NPR’s analysis of political advertising data, mentions of AI data centers in campaign materials are increasing – up from just a handful in January to 164 in August.

The research shows a bipartisan effort to warn the public about the construction of AI data centers throughout the U.S.

Today on The Wheelhouse, we explore AI data centers and their impact on the environment and the 2026 midterm elections.

Guests:

• Julia Tilton, energy and climate reporter, The Daily Yonder
• Grant Blankenship, multimedia editor and reporter, Georgia Public Broadcasting
• Kenneth Gillingham, professor of environmental and energy economics, Yale School of the Environment
• Tony Adili, zoning enforcement officer, town of Morris, Connecticut

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Two-thirds of Americans surveyed are worried about the integrity of U.S. elections.

That’s according to a Gallup Poll released in July. A total of 67% of the respondents are concerned that political leaders will attempt to pressure election officials to change outcomes in the upcoming midterm elections. That's a significant percentage of people.

President Donald Trump had ordered the U.S. Postal Service to screen ballots to ensure they comply with a new set of conditions that would have made it harder to vote by mail. The U.S. Supreme Court responded, rejecting the administration’s attempt to restrict mail ballots.

With the Supreme Court weighing in, is there still fear of federal influence on the 2026 midterms? And what’s behind the anxiety around election security right now?

Today on The Wheelhouse, what's being done to preserve the integrity of our elections?

Guests:

• Eric McDaniel, congressional reporter, NPR’s Washington Desk

• Dion Nissenbaum, senior national reporter, Votebeat

• Stephanie Thomas, Connecticut Secretary of the State

Are you thinking about 2026 midterm elections? Help shape our election coverage by filling out this survey.

The Wheelhouse is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

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John Larson, a 14-term Democratic congressman, was unable to stave off a primary challenge from former Hartford mayor Luke Bronin.

Larson wasn’t the only incumbent who lost on a primary night this year.

As Republicans in Connecticut make their case against local incumbents, they campaign in a blue state, outnumbered by Democrats.

Today on The Wheelhouse, we continue our midterm election coverage by dissecting local primary results.

Plus, amid a spate of immigration arrests in Danbury by federal law enforcement, how is Mayor Roberto Alves working to keep migrant families in his city safe?

Guests:

• Roberto Alves, mayor, city of Danbury
• Themis Klarides, former Republican state representative, Derby
• Christopher Keating, reporter, Hartford Courant

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The 2026 midterm elections are still weeks away, but voters are already sending signals about what November could look like.

Across the country, primary races are testing the strength of party establishments, the appeal of moderate candidates and the enthusiasm of Democratic and Republican voters.

This hour, we explore what’s happening in states from Maine to Michigan, and what those contests reveal about the broader political landscape.

Plus, what both parties need to do between now and November to turn primary results into general election wins.

Guests:

• Liz Goodwin, national political reporter for The Washington Post
• Alec Hernández, politics reporter, POLITICO
• Andy Sullivan, deputy editor for politics, Reuters 

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America is celebrating 250 years, but what does it mean to tell the whole story of the country?

This hour, we explore who gets to shape American history and what happens when stories that have been overlooked finally come into focus.

We learn about Black Americans who have too often been left out of the history books. And we look at how museums, historic sites and educators are navigating the question of whose version of America gets remembered.

Guests:

• John Mills, Founder & President of the Alex Breanne Corporation

• Bilal Sekou, Hillyer College associate professor of political science, University of Hartford

• Alan Spears, senior director of cultural resources in the government affairs department, National Parks Conservation Association

• Erika Slocumb, Director of interpretation and visitor’s experience, Stowe Center for Literary Activism

Are you thinking about 2026 midterm elections? Help shape our election coverage by filling out this survey.

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The August primaries in Connecticut are over and now it’s time to look ahead to the fall midterm campaign season.

It’s that time of the election cycle when politicians quickly get over the arguments they had with their primary opponents and fellow party members – and pivot to the November general election as they compete against their political adversaries on the other end of the ideological spectrum.

With all this fussing over our future – and with a lot of division in our national politics – we’re revisiting a conversation with an author who uses anthropology to understand why we engage with politics the way we do.

It turns out that we’re not actually mean. We’re just feeling vulnerable.

Today on The Wheelhouse, social psychologist and author Kurt Gray discusses his book “Outraged: Why We Fight About Morality and Politics and How to Find Common Ground.”

Guest:

• Kurt Gray, author, 'Outraged: Why We Fight About Morality and Politics and How to Find Common Ground.'

Are you thinking about 2026 midterm elections? Help shape our election coverage by filling out this survey.

The Wheelhouse is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The U.S. Department of Education has updated its federal student loan guidance as changes involving college debt policy from the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act took effect July 1.

U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has said that American taxpayers should no longer pay for other people’s student loans.

But the changes, according to NPR, will limit the amount of programs available to borrowers. And they’ll cap loans for grad students.

Today on The Wheelhouse, what borrowers should know ahead of the 2026-2027 academic year.

Guests:

• Ayelet Sheffey, senior education reporter, Business Insider 
• Betsy Mayotte, president and founder, The Institute of Student Loan Advisors
• Michelle Jarvis-Lettman, student loan ombudsperson, State of Connecticut 

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John Larson hasn’t faced a stiff challenge from a member of his own party since he was first elected to represent Connecticut’s 1st Congressional District in 1998.

Larson touts his experience as a 14-term representative, saying his seniority in Congress helps Connecticut. But his challengers say that Larson has been in Washington too long and that it’s time for a fresh perspective.

Today on The Wheelhouse, we’ll talk to Larson about his re-election effort. And we’ll meet his challengers, including former Hartford mayor Luke Bronin, who is the endorsed candidate in this race, Connecticut State Rep. Jillian Gilchrest (D-West Hartford), and Hartford attorney Ruth Fortune.

Guests:

• U.S. Rep. John Larson (D-CT)
• Luke Bronin, candidate, Connecticut’s 1st Congressional District
• Ruth Fortune, candidate, Connecticut’s 1st Congressional District
• Jillian Gilchrest, candidate, Connecticut’s 1st Congressional District

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