The Wheelhouse

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. 

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Free speech is in focus at this year’s Wheelhouse LIVE event amid significant shifts in the world of broadcast media. If free press is the cornerstone of American Democracy, what do the Trump administration’s attacks on late night TV hosts – and Congress’ claw back of funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting – tell us about the future of American politics and pop culture?

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Trad wives, short for “traditional wives,” are taking social media by storm.

Clips of women, dressing up in 1950s-style dresses, homesteading and making food from scratch, are receiving a lot of likes and lots of criticism on the web.

This hour, we peek behind the apron and ask: What does social media's trad wife phenomenon tell us about politics today?

Guests:

• Jessica Grose, opinion writer, The New York Times
• Carrie Baker, professor of the Study of Women & Gender, Smith College
• Micah English, fifth year Ph.D. candidate, Yale University

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From toys to turkeys, holiday purchases and their price tags are being shaped by politics.

President Donald Trump’s tariffs and years of persistent inflation are leaving many Americans with sticker shock. Higher prices are hitting not just for big importers, but also at your favorite local shops and restaurants.

Many Americans tell Consumer Reports that they’re “very or extremely” concerned about price increases – with three-quarters of respondents pointing to tariffs as a big reason why.

This hour, we’re exploring the impact of the economy on holiday shopping here in Connecticut.

GUESTS:

• Daniel Desrochers, international trade reporter, Politico
• Chris Raymond, home and tech editor, Consumer Reports
• Daniela Doncel, Latino communities reporter, Connecticut Public

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Connecticut lawmakers had a lot to do during the latest special session.

On top of unfinished housing business, lawmakers had only two days to authorize a $500 million dollar relief package to address federal cuts. They also voted on the purchase of a major hospital and worked to curb increased federal law enforcement efforts in Connecticut.

And what about the spectre of rising health insurance premiums in just a few weeks?

Today on The Wheelhouse, the skinny on what state lawmakers were able to accomplish in a special session. We’ll also ask what’s next following the longest federal shutdown in US history.

GUESTS:

• Michayla Savitt, state government reporter, Connecticut Public
• Lisa Hagen, federal policy reporter, Connecticut Public and CT Mirror
• Abby Brone, housing reporter, Connecticut Public
• Ginny Monk, children's issues and housing reporter, Connecticut Mirror

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A recent NPR/PBS News/Marist University poll indicated Americans’ displeasure with their government.

It found 62% of Americans surveyed believed the country is heading in the wrong direction, while 79 % say the country is going too far to restrict free speech.

So, what are people doing with their frustrations?

Today on The Wheelhouse, we’re talking with community organizers and researchers who say our voices are stronger than we think.

GUESTS:

• Kerry Ellington, Connecticut-based community organizer
• Hahrie Han, professor of political science, Johns Hopkins University

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It’s the morning after Election Day 2025 in Connecticut and we’re breaking down the latest results from municipal races across the state.

How did an election to name a new mayor in New Britain turn out? What races commanded local attention in your community? And what issues – from education to zoning – motivated you to get out to the polls?

Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas joins us to break down turnout and assess how voting went across Connecticut.

And in neighboring New York City, a high-profile race for mayor is reshaping the city. What are the local impacts here in Connecticut?

Today on The Wheelhouse, those questions will be tackled as our reporters analyze the 2025 election.

GUESTS:

• Mark Pazniokas, capitol bureau chief and a co-founder, CT Mirror
• Susan Raff, chief political reporter, WFSB News Ch. 3
• Stephanie Thomas, Secretary of the State, State of Connecticut

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More Americans now think violence is necessary to “right” the country than they did 18 months ago. That’s according to polling from NPR, PBS News and Marist University.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has federalized and deployed national guard troops to American cities, sparking a flurry of court challenges and an outbreak of panic.

Today on The Wheelhouse, how political violence continues to reverberate throughout the United States.

And why, in a country born from a revolution and torn by a Civil War, it’s nothing new.

GUESTS:

• William Tong, attorney general, state of Connecticut

• State Rep. Corey Paris (D) - Stamford

• Amilcar Shabazz, professor of African American Studies, University of Massachusetts Amherst

• Bilal Sekou, Associate professor of political science, University of Hartford

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New data confirms what people pushing for criminal justice reform have been saying for years – racial disparities show up during encounters with police.

Researchers at the University of Connecticut say Black people face disproportionate rates of police use-of-force in Connecticut. And that a significant share of those incidents involve someone in mental health distress.

Today on The Wheelhouse, what reforms can Connecticut lawmakers take to ensure better policing?

Plus, as a government shutdown drags on, we ask how are local families doing?

GUESTS:

• Lisa Hagen, federal policy reporter, Connecticut Public and CT Mirror
• Ken Barone, project manager, the University of Connecticut’s Institute for Municipal and Regional Policy
• Jim Haddadin, investigative editor, Connecticut Public

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Polls show that more Americans are embracing socialism.

At the same time, politicians that call themselves Democratic Socialists are often painted by conservatives as political extremists.

What is a Democratic Socialist? And why is President Donald Trump calling a popular one in the race for New York City’s mayor a communist?

Today on the Wheelhouse, we define socialism. We’ll wade through complicated political waters to examine its history and complex ideology.

GUESTS:

• Dan Haar, senior columnist and editor, CT Insider
• Christopher Vials, professor of English, University of Connecticut

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