Capitol Closeup Paul Hodes

Paul and Peggo reprise the second of their Holiday  Specials for Paul's last Capitol Close Up broadcast. It's time for change and transition in 2023. Peggo has conducted Songweavers, the women's Community Chorus at the Concord Community Music School for 11 years. On January 24, the Songweavers will have an open sing for folks to sign up. Songweavers is a folk ensemble, no reading music necessary.  All songs are learned by ear. Today's show features songs written by  Peggo and Paul around the theme of "Joy".  We're wishing you a Joyful  New year for 2023.

Paul speaks with Rob Werner, NH state director for the League if Conservation voters. In a wide ranging discussion, they cover the recent election cycle's lack of focus on climate change despite recent landmark federal climate change legislation representing  historic investments in the nation's infrastructure and green economy. They talk about prospects for NH to join its neighbors progressive climate change agendas. Rob recently returned from the annual COP27 UN climate conference in Egypt and they discuss "the good, the bad and the ugly" in the global effort to deal with our fast warming planet.

Paul speaks with Betty Lent, the Director of the Concord Community Player's show "Murder on the Orient Express". The show is the kickoff for the Community Player's 95th anniversary season. In a highly regarded adaptation by Tony Award winning playwright Ken Ludwig. Agatha Christie's

1934 novel comes to the stage with a glamorous international cast. Murder, mystery, intrigue, wit and humor abound in this whodunit as Hercule Poirot, Belgium's gift to the word of great detectives must discover who murdered an American tycoon inside his train compartment locked from the inside!

Performance details:

Friday and Saturday, November 18 and 19 at 7:30 pm, Sunday, November 20 at 2:00 pm

Performances at Concord City Auditorium, 2 Prince Street, Concord, NH

Tickets $20 (or $16 with purchase of tickets to this and at least one other Players show this season)

Purchase online at www.communityplayersofconcord.org, or at the box office

Paul interviews Democratic leader Carlos Cardona of Laconia. A rising star in New Hampshire Politics, Cardona talks about growing up in a poor village in Puerto Rico without electricity or running water. After moving to New Hampshire and graduating from Laconia High School, Cardona has devoted himself to political action. As a gay Latino, Cardona has been a powerful advocate for fairness, equity and justice, facing down white supremacists and breaking through political prejudice. He believes the New Hampshire Democratic Party has changed, expanding and accepting a new generation of leaders ready to meet today's challenging times.

Paul speaks with Zandra Rice Hawkins and Sarah Robinson of Granite State progress about Women's Reproductive rights, the Right Wing attempt by NH Education commissioner Frank Edelblut and his cronies to pit parents against teachers and school boards with the purported "Parental Rights" push, designed to limit what schools can offer to LGBTQ+ and transgender students, and the landmark health care legislation passed by President Biden and Democrats in Congress which will help thousands of Granite Staters pay for medication and health care.

NBA superfan and analytics nerd Matt Robison joins legendary radio host and sportscasting icon Ken Cail on Cail and Company to break down the Celtics and the NBA season.