On the campaign trail, President Donald Trump promised to shut down the U.S. Department of Education. But can he actually eliminate the federal agency? And if not, how else could he overhaul it?

This hour, we hear from educators about the potential ripple effects in Connecticut, including funding cuts.

Teachers are not only preparing for that, but also potential visits from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This week, the Trump administration threw out policies limiting where arrests can take place.

Are you a student, parent, or teacher? What are your thoughts on Trump’s promise?

GUESTS:

• Mark Lieberman: School Finance Reporter for Education Week
• Dr. Leslie Torres-Rodriguez: Superintendent of Hartford Public Schools
• Joslyn DeLancey: Vice President of Connecticut Education Association and President of Connecticut Education Foundation
• Alex Putterman: Reporter for Connecticut Insider

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President Donald Trump was sworn in yesterday.

On the campaign trail, he promised to sign several executive orders once he took office, including sweeping changes to immigration laws.

This hour, we’ll break down what we’ve seen so far, and what executive orders we could expect in the weeks to come. Later, we hear from immigration experts in our state, to learn how Connecticut residents could be affected.

Do you, or a loved one, have questions about your rights as immigrants?

GUESTS:

• Tabitha Sookdeo: Executive Director of CT Students for a Dream
• Caroline Sennett: Director of Immigration Legal Service, Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants
• Ximena Bustillo: DHS and Immigration policy reporter at National Public Radio.

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Every four years on January 20th, Washington, D.C. braces for the start of a new presidency. Inauguration days date back to 1789 when George Washington was the first American president sworn into office.

This hour, we’re joined by a member of the White House Historical Association and a history professor from Eastern Connecticut State University to walk through Inaugural history.

And this year, Inauguration Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day observances fall on the same date for the first time in 28 years. Our guests explain how this overlap may impact the day’s processions.

GUESTS:

• Thomas Balcerski, Presidential Historian, Eastern Connecticut State University
• Matthew Costello, Chief Education Officer, White House Historical Association 

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Trump has vowed to end birthright citizenship in the first month of his presidency. Connecticut Attorney General Tong is the son of immigrants and he says if that happens, he will be the first to sue.

Today, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong joins us in the studio for the hour.

We’ll discuss his top priorities for 2025, including holding tech companies accountable, protecting reproductive care in our state and a plan to challenge some policies proposed by President-Elect Donald Trump.

It’s a conversation you won’t want to miss.

GUESTS:

• Connecticut Attorney General William Tong
• Lisa Hagen: Federal policy reporter for Connecticut Public and CT Mirror

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Dry January is a month-long campaign that revolves around cutting out alcohol or reducing alcohol intake for the month of January.

Today’s guests say that life without alcohol can be joyous, and they’re creating spaces for the sober and sober curious to try it out.

We talk to two owners of sober spaces in our state, and try out some mocktails they’ll bring to share.

We also hear how our relationship with alcohol is changing overall. Research shows that Gen Z is becoming the sober generation.

GUESTS:

• Dr. J Craig Allen MD: Medical Director at Rushford and Vice President of Addiction Services at Hartford Healthcare
• Frances McGrath: Founder of Reframe: A Dry Spot in Willimantic
• Bobbi Malateseta: Creator of 3-2-1 No Kidding Sober Space and Bottle Shop in Naugatuck

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Students with disabilities can experience many challenges in the classroom, from discrimination to a lack of accommodations.

So, how can schools help these students feel like they belong?

That question was the focus of a special summit hosted by the state’s Department of Education in November.

The event brought together students, educators, parents, and more to highlight the experiences of students with disabilities and how we can better support them.

Watch the full panel discussion on CT-N.

Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

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Author Scott Shigeoka has spent a lot of time being curious about curiosity. It started with a trip across the country, meeting people with very different views than him and finding ways to build connections across political lines.

In his book Seek: How Curiosity can Transform Your Life and Change the World, Scott describes ways to bring curiosity to our lives and our relationships.

There’s many ways to build curiosity. It may even be contagious! But there are also several deterrents to curiosity, or curiosity killers. But becoming more curious could start with challenging our own thinking.

GUEST:

• Scott Shigeoka: author of Seek: How Curiosity can Transform Your Life and Change the World

Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

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Today, we’re celebrating the New Year. Are you making New Year’s Resolutions this year?

New Year's Resolutions come in all shapes, sizes, and themes. New Year's resolutions are often about making drastic changes, but they don’t have to be.

From fitness and health to relationships, friendships and spirituality, there’s no one resolution that will help you make the most out of 2025.

We’ll share some of our intentions going into the New Year, and reflect on 2024. And we want to hear from you too!

GUESTS:

• Chion Wolf: host of Audacious with Chion Wolf

• Robyn Doyon-Aitken: Deputy Director of Audio Storytelling and Talk Shows

Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

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Poet laureates do a lot more than write poetry.

Since 1985, Connecticut state poet laureates have worked to promote the literary arts and poetry throughout the Nutmeg state, visiting schools, performing spoken word and passing on poetry to the next generation of writers.

There is no straight path to this position. Some of our guests today have been writing poetry all their lives. Others got bitten by the poetry bug a little later.

Today, three poet laureates from around our state join us in the studio.

GUESTS:

• Antoinette Brim Bell: Connecticut State Poet Laureate

• Nadia Sims: Manchester Poet Laureate

• Frederick-Douglass Knowles II: Hartford Poet laureate

Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

This show originally aired on August 13, 2024.

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Why do we revisit the things we loved as kids? What’s the lasting power of our favorite TV shows and movies? A new podcast from Connecticut Public looks for answers in a big, purple dinosaur. It’s called Generation Barney. 

This hour, we listen to episode 3 of the podcast – “Love 2 Hate.” 

And later, we’re joined by an expert in anti-fandom, Emily Contois, who explains why people connect over shared hatred. 

GUESTS:

Emily Contois, Media studies professor and faculty in residence, University of Tulsa

 

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