Across Connecticut, some students are joining a national movement to protest federal immigration crackdowns.

Students from Classical Magnet School in Hartford poured out of the classroom and onto the streets in February, holding up signs like “ICE OUT” to passing cars.

The demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement are happening in places like Hartford, Tampa and Northern Virginia in the weeks since federal agents killed two Americans in Minneapolis.

This hour, we’re discussing student protests and other ways young people are engaging in civics. We'll also get the latest on the developing conflict in Iran and the Middle East.

Guests:

• U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.)
• Gina Chace, assistant principal, CREC Academy of Aerospace and Engineering
• Annmarie Timmins, senior reporter on youth and education, NHPR
• Chris Doyle, history teacher, Avon Old Farms

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A plan sponsored by President Donald Trump to overhaul national voting laws ahead of the 2026 midterms is back in Congress.

U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) called the SAVE America Act and its recent passage in the U.S. House a “critical step toward restoring election integrity.” But detractors, like U.S. Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.), said the plan would make it harder for millions of Americans to vote.

Today on The Wheelhouse, the impact on voters, if the SAVE America Act passes. Also on the show, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) responds to Trump’s State of the Union address and gives the latest on the ongoing debate about government funding and immigration reform.

GUESTS:

• U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.)
• Bilal Sekou, Hillyer College associate professor of political science, University of Hartford
• Archon Fung, Professor of citizenship and self-government, Harvard University

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A panel of civic-minded individuals answer questions at the University of Connecticut’s Hartford campus about engagement and the connective tissue of politics.

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Connecticut lawmakers want to reduce kids’ screentime in 2026, arguing that it protects children.

Gov. Ned Lamont has proposed banning cell phones from “bell to bell” in Connecticut classrooms.

But not all lawmakers are onboard with the idea, including a Republican lawmaker who’s accusing members of her legislative chamber of trying to “co-parent” Connecticut’s children.

Today on The Wheelhouse, we explore “Phone Free CT” and what it means for children.

GUESTS:

• Rep. Jennifer Leeper, CT House of Representatives, D-Fairfield, Southport
• Rep. Gale Mastrofrancesco, CT House of Representatives, R-Southington, Wolcott
• Gail Jordan, president, Bloomfield Teachers Union
• John Murphy, professor of digital media business strategies, University of Connecticut 
• Lisa Hagen, federal policy reporter, Connecticut Public and CT Mirror 

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State lawmakers return to Hartford Wednesday for the opening of the 2026 legislative session.

They meet as federal lawmakers argue over expiring health care subsidies and immigration enforcement operations across the country.

In Connecticut, how will these federal cuts and controversies impact the work lawmakers do this session? And with soaring energy costs continuing to hammer Connecticut customers, might there be room for bipartisan compromise?

Guests:

• Rep. Vincent Candelora, House Republican Leader, R-North Branford
• Rep. Matt Ritter, Speaker of House, D-Hartford
• Susan Raff, chief political reporter, WFSB News Channel 3
• Ebong Udoma, senior reporter, WSHU

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“Suffs,” the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical about history-making women, is coming to Hartford.

From Jan. 27 to Feb. 1, the people behind “Suffs” say they’ll highlight themes of the past that are still relevant today including grassroots activism, race, gender and class dynamics.

Producers of "Suffs" say it isn’t some “dry history lesson,” but a high-energy, rousing experience saluting the powerful American women who fought for the right to vote.

Today on The Wheelhouse, meet Danyel Fulton, the actor that plays journalist Ida B. Wells. And we'll explore the suffragist movement in Connecticut.

GUESTS:

• Danyel Fulton, actor/singer, “Suffs” 
• Rachel Sussman, creative producer, “Suffs” 
• Natalie Belanger, public programs manager, Connecticut Museum of Culture and History 

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Civilians and federal ICE agents are clashing from Hartford to Minneapolis.

Federal officials are amping up enforcement efforts – and rhetoric – in the wake of several shootings in Minnesota at the hands of federal ICE agents.

How are protesters and journalists responding?

Today on The Wheelhouse, government accountability and transparency in 2026.

GUESTS:

• Elana Bildner, staff attorney, ACLU-CT
• Gloria J. Browne-Marshall, author and professor of constitutional law, John Jay College of Criminal Justice
• Elisa Lees Muñoz, executive director, International Women’s Media Foundation
• Miles Pinsof-Berlowitz, co editor-in-chief, The Wesleyan Argus
• Thomas Lyons, co editor-in-chief, The Wesleyan Argus
• Janhavi Munde, managing editor, The Wesleyan Argus

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Visitors to U.S. national parks get in free on certain holidays.

But two days honoring Black history, Martin Luther King’s birthday – and Juneteenth – are no longer free.

As America marks 40 years of observing MLK Day, today on the Wheelhouse we’ll look at how the current Republican administration in Washington is marking King’s birthday and what that means for Black history.

GUESTS:

• 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
• Charlie Sykes, writer of “To the Contrary,” Substack 

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2026 grads seeking professional degrees face capped loans thanks to funding cuts in the federal Republican tax and spending plan

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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
• Kathy Craughwell-Varda, director of Conservation ConneCTion, Connecticut State Library
• Andrea Rapacz, chief curator of collections, Connecticut Museum of Culture and History

This episode originally aired  on Aug. 20, 2025. 

The Wheelhouse is available as a podcast 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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