The Wheelhouse

The way we view cannabis has changed, particularly since states began decriminalizing its use and allowing residents to buy it.

Most Americans now live in a state where cannabis for recreational use is legal. As jurisdictions embrace the cannabis industry, communities are addressing people disproportionately impacted by the “war on drugs” and cracking down on the distribution of illicit cannabis.

Today on The Wheelhouse, how is the regulation of cannabis for recreational use going?

Also on this episode, a check-in with radio host Jeremy Hobson ahead of his appearance in Waterbury, Connecticut on June 3. His live call-in show “The Middle” is coming to the Palace Theater. We’ll ask Hobson what the geographical–and philosophical–middle of America thinks about widespread legalization of cannabis.

GUESTS:

• Natalie Fertig, Federal Cannabis Policy Reporter, POLITICO
• Jordan Nathaniel Fenster, Senior enterprise reporter, CT Insider
• Jeremy Hobson, Host, “The Middle”

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Connecticut’s aging population is growing. Lawmakers are looking for solutions as complaints from elder care residents and advocates increase in the state. On the next Wheelhouse, how is the state addressing this problem?

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The Connecticut General Assembly has adjourned for the year.

In an election year – and an era of fiscal discipline – there was only so much that was going to be done during a short legislative session to address climate change, funding shortfalls in education and shortages in affordable housing and child care. Today on The Wheelhouse, a look back at Connecticut’s 2024 legislative session and a look ahead at how state lawmakers will handle unfinished business.

GUESTS:

• Mark Pazniokas, Capitol bureau chief and co-founder, CT Mirror
• Susan Raff, Chief capitol reporter, WFSB News Ch. 3
• Michayla Savitt, State government reporter, Connecticut Public

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In April, a group of owners of National Hockey League teams approved the relocation of the Arizona Coyotes to Utah.

The move was a disappointment for Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont. Lamont had pitched the idea of the Coyotes coming to Hartford to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman earlier this year.

Today on The Wheelhouse, what would it take for Hartford to get the NHL – and the Whalers – back?

And later, May marks 25 years since a partnership between Connecticut and the NFL’s Patriots fell apart. We’ll revisit the May 1, 1999 dissolution of the Connecticut NFL project.

GUESTS:

• Colin McEnroe, host of Connecticut Public’s The Colin McEnroe Show
• Andrew Zimbalist, professor of Economics, Smith College
• Dan Haar, columnist and senior editor, Hearst Connecticut Media Group

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Student-led protests of the Israel-Hamas War are growing as the fighting continues. Students camp out and call on their educational institutions to divest from companies they say support the killing of civilians – while the world reacts.

This hour, we look at how the protests in support of civilians in Gaza – and the war in general – are being talked about and how that rhetoric affects the safety of Palestinian and Jewish people.

GUESTS:

• Sharon Otterman: Reporter covering education, health, other issues in New York City, New York Times
• Eddy Martinez: Breaking News Reporter, CT Public
• Jason Stanley: Professor of Philosophy, Yale University
• Gregg Gonsalves: Associate Professor at Yale School of Public Health and Associate Professor at Yale Law School

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Why does political dysfunction happen? What are the systems that enable it? A new four-part podcast from Connecticut Public looks for answers in Bridgeport, where corruption charges, allegations of absentee ballot misconduct, and machine politics have left some residents wondering if their vote even matters.

Today on The Wheelhouse, catch the first episode of In Absentia. The podcast offers listeners a deep dive into the history of political dysfunction in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Plus, we’ll hear from Connecticut Public’s Lisa Hagen about Connecticut's federal delegation ahead of general elections in November.

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Connecticut’s affordable housing crisis has taken center stage during the state’s 2023 and 2024 legislative sessions.

This hour, are meaningful reforms on the horizon for state residents? And how have zoning ordinances, a lack of transit-oriented development, and “opt-in” programs contributed to the crisis at hand?

• Jacqueline Rabe Thomas: Investigative reporter, Hearst Connecticut Media Group
• Anika Singh Lemar: Clinical Professor of Law, Yale Law School
• Ginny Monk: Children’s issues and housing reporter, Connecticut Mirror
• Abigail Brone: Housing reporter, Connecticut Public

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Presidential election years are an emotional rollercoaster. And if you’ve been feeling anxious about the state of the country, there’s a good chance the children in your life have picked up on that. This hour, how should we talk to kids about the election?

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Connecticut’s 2024 presidential preference primary represented several things for state residents.

It was a shot at relevancy, a chance to demonstrate against Democrats, and an inaugural crack at early in-person voting.

This hour, we explore how Tuesday’s presidential nominating contest in the Nutmeg State shook out.

• Stephanie Thomas: Secretary of the State of Connecticut
• Susan Raff: Chief political reporter, WFSB News Ch. 3
• Mark Pazniokas: Capitol bureau chief, CT Mirror
• Dr. Bilal Sekou: Hillyer College associate professor of politics and government, University of Hartford

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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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Early polls suggest that voters want more options than just Donald Trump or Joe Biden in the upcoming presidential election. This hour, we look beyond the two-party system and ask what a non-Democrat or Republican candidate could mean for the race to the White House.  

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