The Wheelhouse

After losing the presidential election, the Trump administration has threatened to sue, and argued that maybe the Supreme Court should decide the election.  Why have the lawsuits failed to gain traction so far? 

President-elect Joe Biden has begun his transition effort, naming a Yale professor as one of the leaders of his coronavirus task force. 

And new leaders are asserting themselves at the General Assembly.

Guests:

Renny Fulco -- Director of Public Policy and Law at Trinity College

Mark Pazniokas -- Capitol Bureau Chief for the Connecticut Mirror (@CTMirrorPaz)

Colin McEnroe -- Host of The Colin McEnroe show, and a columnist at Hearst Connecticut. (@ColinMcEnroe)

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Election day is in the rearview mirror… Finally.  But what can we see back there?  We will consider who will lead the country for the next four years, review Congressional contests in Connecticut, and search for meaning in General Assembly races.

Are you sitting on a ballot?

Guests:

Paul Bass -- New Haven Independent Editor (@PaulJBass)

Charles Venator-Santiago - Associate professor of political science at UConn

Colin McEnroe -- Host of The Colin McEnroe show, and a columnist at Hearst Connecticut. (@ColinMcEnroe)

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Lucy Nalpathanchil previews the upcoming election with some of the same political scientists and reporters who share their insight on the Wheelhouse. Produced as a TV/radio/streaming special Thursday, October 29.

Khalilah Brown-Dean -- Political Science Professor and Senior Director for Inclusive Excellence at Quinnipiac University and author of Identity Politics in the United States and host of the Connecticut Public Radio show Disrupted 

Dan Haar -- Columnist and associate editor at Hearst Connecticut 

Jonathan Wharton -- Political Science and Urban Affairs Associate Professor and Interim Associate Graduate School Dean at Southern Connecticut State University 

Christine Stuart -- (At the State Capitol) Connecticut News Junkie Editor in Chief and NBC Connecticut Reporter.

Emilie Munson -- (In Washington, D.C.) Hearst Newspapers Washington, D.C. Regional correspondent

In collaboration with Hearst Connecticut Newspapers.

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It’s the final Wheelhouse before election day, and we’ve got a lot to talk about.  This hour, Colin McEnroe hosts as we look at the latest on the Presidential election where younger Americans are voting early in record numbers, and panelist Leah Wright-Rigueur says the GOP is flattering Black voters, while discouraging voter turnout. 

Also, how confident should we feel about absentee voting here in Connecticut? Why doesn't Connecticut have early voting? 

And as COVID positivity rates increase in our state, Halloween is looking a little different this year.  

GUESTS: 

• Leah Wright-Rigueur -  Harry Truman Professor of American History at Brandeis University, Author of The Loneliness of the Black Republican  (@LeahRigueur) 
• Kevin Rennie - Hartford Courant Columnist and former state lawmaker, co-host of Face The State on NBC Connecticut (@DailyRuctions)
• Russell Blair - Content Editor at the Hartford Courant (@RussellBlairCT)

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The percentage of COVID-19 tests coming back positive is increasing in Connecticut. A member of the state’s Congressional delegation describes what it is like to be targeted by racism.  And look out Donald Trump... Here comes the mute button!  We look ahead to tomorrow’s debate between the president and former vice president Joe Biden.

Guests:

Emilie Munson -- Regional correspondent for Hearst newspapers based in Washington, D.C. (@emiliemunson)

Bilal Sekou -- Associate Professor of Politics and Government at the University of Hartford (@bilalsekou)

Colin McEnroe -- Host of The Colin McEnroe show, and a columnist at Hearst Connecticut. (@ColinMcEnroe)

Join us on Twitter @wnprwheelhouse.

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There was no Wheelhouse this week because of live coverage of Amy Coney Barrett's Supreme Court confirmation hearing.  In place of the Wheelhouse, here is a new program on Connecticut Public Radio called Disrupted.  It's hosted by Khalilah Brown-Dean.  She's a professor at Quinnipiac University and a panelist on the Wheelhouse.  Disrupted looks at how the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement have changed the United States.  Khalilah and her guests make sense of it all.  Check out Disrupted's web page!

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Donald Trump is back at the White House following his hospitalization with coronavirus. But did some aspects of the president's return send the wrong message about coronavirus?

Given the ages of both candidates for president, maybe we should pay a little more attention to tonight’s vice presidential debate.

We will also check in on the initial Fifth Congressional District debate.  After recovering from COVID-19, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes faced off with former prosecutor David Sullivan.

Guests:

Daniela Altimari - state government and politics reporter at the Hartford Courant (@capitolwatch)

Dr. Jonathan Wharton -- Associate Professor of Political Science and Urban Affairs at  Southern Connecticut State University and Interim Associate Graduate School Dean (@PreppyProf)

Colin McEnroe -- Host of The Colin McEnroe show, and a columnist at Hearst Connecticut. (@ColinMcEnroe)

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President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden met in the first presidential debate last night.  The two men traded personal insults, and the president repeatedly interrupted the former vice president.  Here in Connecticut state lawmakers are gearing up for a special session today.  We will have the latest on which proposals are in, and which are out.

Guests:

Mark Pazniokas -- Capitol Bureau Chief for the Connecticut Mirror (@CTMirrorPaz)

Charles Venator-Santiago - Associate professor of political science at UConn

Colin McEnroe -- Host of The Colin McEnroe show, and a columnist at Hearst Connecticut. (@ColinMcEnroe)

Join us on Twitter @wnprwheelhouse.

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Amid signs of public distrust in a quick vaccine release, Governor Ned Lamont says the state will review any COVID-19 innoculation for safety and effectiveness.  A member of Connecticut’s congressional delegation tests positive for coronavirus.  And how will Halloween be different during the pandemic?

Guests:

John McKinney -- Former Republican State Senate Minority Leader (@SenatorMcKinney)

Christine Stuart -- Owner and editor in chief of Connecticut News Junkie and a reporter for NBC Connecticut. (@ctnewsjunkie)

Join us on Twitter! (@wnprwheelhouse)

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There are developments in two unrelated federal investigations that involve Connecticut and the world of politics.

One inquiry resulted in the arrest of Bridgeport’s police chief and the city’s personnel director. 

There was a high-ranking resignation from the other probe, amid concerns about political pressure from the Trump administration.  That investigation is run by the US attorney from Connecticut, and targets the federal officials who investigated possible connections between the president and Russia. 

Also, COVID-19 may be sticking its nose back under the tent in Connecticut.

...And Khalilah Brown-Dean gets Disruptive!

Dan Haar -- Columnist and associate editor at Hearst Connecticut (@DanHaarColumns)

Khalilah Brown-Dean -- Quinnipiac University Political Science Professor and Senior Director for Inclusive Excellence at the university and author of Identity Politics in the United States and host of the upcoming Connecticut Public Radio show Disrupted. (@KBDPHD)

Colin McEnroe -- Host of The Colin McEnroe show, and a columnist at Hearst Connecticut. (@ColinMcEnroe)

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