Joe Biden’s final day in office is January 20.

In the weeks since Vice President Kamala Harris lost the election to Donald Trump, President Biden has focused on criminal justice, foreign policy, and clean energy.

This hour, we look at what’s left for Biden to tackle on his way out of the White House, and what legacy he leaves behind.

GUESTS:

• Brakkton Booker: National political correspondent, Politico
• Lisa Hagen: Federal policy reporter, CT Mirror and CT Public

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Connecticut’s 2025 legislative session is underway.

Over the next six months, lawmakers will convene to address some of the state’s most pressing issues. This hour, we’ll explore the top priorities for this session, including affordable housing, funding for public education and more.

We’ll walk through the bills you should be following and how they may impact you and your pocketbook.

GUESTS:

• Susan Raff, Chief political reporter, WFSB Eyewitness News Ch. 3
• Bilal Sekou, Hillyer College Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Hartford
• Ebong Udoma, Senior Reporter, WSHU

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When stressful conversations about politics are “on the table” this holiday season, how can we stay engaged with family members who have totally different views from our own? This week on The Wheelhouse, Professor Irshad Manji talks with us about how people can apply her "Five Skills of Moral Courage" to build trust and respect with people we want to have positive relationships with, regardless of politics.

Irshad Manji is the founder of Moral Courage College and author of three books: Allah, Liberty and Love and The Trouble with Islam Today, and her latest book is Don’t Label Me: An Incredible Conversation for Divided Times.

This episode originally aired on November 27, 2024. 

GUEST: 

Irshad Manji: Professor and founder of Moral Courage College and author of Don’t Label Me: An Incredible Conversation for Divided Times.

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.

Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health insurance is expensive. The average American spent $13,493 per person in 2022, according to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. And according to national health policy researcher KFF, most insured Americans have experienced a problem using their insurance.

That may explain the complete lack of empathy some people showed online in reaction to the targeted killing of Brian Thompson, CEO of America’s largest private health insurer, UnitedHealthcare.

Lawmakers sprouted into action when Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield considered capping their coverage of anesthesia services for patients during surgeries.

Today on a special Wheelhouse, we’re examining the intersection of politics and the healthcare insurance industry. Plus, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont is in-studio to address the insurance issue, as well as concerns related to reproductive rights and the funding of public education in advance of January’s convening of the 2025 legislative session in Connecticut.

GUESTS:

• Ned Lamont: Governor, State of Connecticut
• Alex Putterman: Reporter, Hearst Connecticut Media
• Katy Golvala: Health reporter, CT Mirror
• Lisa Hagen: Federal policy reporter, CT Public and CT Mirror

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In the past few years, lawmakers in Connecticut have gotten closer to meaningful legislation that would lower a vehicle’s carbon footprint. They’ve also introduced a pilot program targeting food scraps in an effort to reduce waste.

Their job may get harder.

President-elect Donald Trump's record on climate change is already forcing state lawmakers to re-think local policy changes. A week after the election, Gov. Ned Lamont said he’s no longer pursuing a mandate that would’ve phased out sales of new gas-powered vehicles in the state by 2035.

Today on the Wheelhouse, how initiatives seeking to curb climate change will be impacted by the 2024 election.

GUESTS:

• Michayla Savitt: State government reporter, Connecticut Public
• Shannon Osaka: Climate zeitgeist reporter, The Washington Post
• Miriam Wasser: Senior climate and environment reporter, WBUR

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Prior to Election Day, advocates were worried about a national abortion ban and further local restrictions on reproductive care. And then, Donald Trump was elected president, with Republicans alongside him taking over the U.S. Congress.

Reporters covering reproductive rights are analyzing what comes next under Trump, someone who’s taken credit for the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Today on the Wheelhouse, what happens when the federal government begins to prioritize certain state laws over a patient’s right to receive medical care?

We’ll also examine local efforts to combat potential restrictions on reproductive care, including the launching of a 24/7 service called the Connecticut Abortion Legal Hotline.

GUESTS:

• William Tong (D): Attorney General, State of Connecticut
• Shefali Luthra: Reproductive health reporter, The 19th
• Rachel Rebouché: Professor of Law, Temple University

Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When stressful conversations about politics are “on the table” this holiday season, how can we stay engaged with family members who have totally different views from our own? This week on The Wheelhouse, Professor Irshad Manji talks with us about how people can apply her "Five Skills of Moral Courage" to build trust and respect with people we want to have positive relationships with, regardless of politics.

Irshad Manji is the founder of Moral Courage College and author of three books: Allah, Liberty and Love and The Trouble with Islam Today, and her latest book is Don’t Label Me: An Incredible Conversation for Divided Times.

GUEST:
Irshad Manji: Professor and founder of Moral Courage College and author of Don’t Label Me: An Incredible Conversation for Divided Times.

This episode was produced by Frankie Graziano, Chloe Wynne and Robyn Doyon-Aitken

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.

Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election marked a better showing for the former president than the last time he ran back in 2020.

So far in Connecticut–even though he didn’t capture the state’s seven electoral votes–Trump has collected 21,253 more votes than he did four years ago. That’s according to the Connecticut Secretary of the State’s office.

Today on the Wheelhouse, a panel of experts analyze Trump’s gains in Connecticut.

GUESTS:

• Jim Haddadin: Investigative editor, Connecticut Public’s The Accountability Project
• Maysoon Khan: Investigative reporter, Connecticut Public’s The Accountability Project
• Ebong Udoma: Senior reporter, WSHU
• John Moritz: State reporter, Hearst Connecticut Media
• Alex Putterman: Reporter, Hearst Connecticut Media

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Last year, 46,728 people were killed in firearm deaths. For parents and families grieving children lost to the Sandy Hook School shooting, there’s no escaping the trauma associated with that loss, and the rhetoric surrounding gun violence.

Today on the Wheelhouse, how the national gun policy discourse affects survivors of gun violence.

It’s a timely conversation, given the recent election of Donald Trump as president. Recently on The Wheelhouse, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) questioned whether Trump could put aside his relationship with the NRA to enact meaningful legislation protecting Americans from gun violence.

Also featured in the conversation will be Connecticut Public senior health reporter Sujata Srinivasan, who’s covering how gun violence is a public health epidemic.

GUESTS:

• Francine Wheeler: Founder, Ben’s Lighthouse
• Nelba Marquez-Greene: Activist in residence, Yale School of Public Health
• Sujata Srinivasan: Senior health reporter, Connecticut Public

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The polls have closed and votes are still being counted.

As the 2024 elections come and go, a powerhouse panel of experts will be there for Connecticut residents to take stock in what’s left to determine our political future.

Today on the Wheelhouse, analysis of what we know so far. Plus, hear from some winners in races that were already decided.

GUESTS:

• Mark Pazniokas, Capitol bureau chief and a co-founder, CT Mirror
• Susan Raff, Chief political reporter, WFSB Eyewitness News Ch. 3
• Bilal Sekou: Hillyer College Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Hartford

Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.