The Wheelhouse

4.4 (47)
NEWS
UPDATED WEEKLY

If you’re a news junkie — or maybe just news curious, we’ve got your weekly dose of Connecticut politics, tackling everything from tax cuts to human composting. Amplifying important local and national voices, The Wheelhouse walks listeners through the most important political stories of the week. You’ll hear from well-known political reporters, academics, and local journalists across Connecticut’s 169 cities and towns.

6D AGO

ICE enforcement and how the people are responding in 2026

Civilians and federal ICE agents are clashing from Hartford to Minneapolis. Federal officials are amping up enforcement efforts – and rhetoric – in the wake of several shootings in Minnesota at the hands of federal ICE agents. How are protesters and journalists responding? Today on The Wheelhouse, government accountability and transparency in 2026. GUESTS: Elana Bildner, staff attorney, ACLU-CT Gloria J. Browne-Marshall, author and professor of constitutional law, John Jay College of Criminal Justice Elisa Lees Muñoz, executive director, International Women’s Media Foundation Miles Pinsof-Berlowitz, co editor-in-chief, The Wesleyan Argus Thomas Lyons, co editor-in-chief, The Wesleyan Argus Janhavi Munde, managing editor, The Wesleyan Argus Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

49 min
JAN 14

Americans honored MLK Day for 40 years. Is 2026 different?

Visitors to U.S. national parks get in free on certain holidays. But two days honoring Black history, Martin Luther King’s birthday – and Juneteenth – are no longer free. As America marks 40 years of observing MLK Day, today on the Wheelhouse we’ll look at how the current Republican administration in Washington is marking King’s birthday and what that means for Black history. GUESTS: Bilal Sekou, Hillyer College associate professor of political science, University of Hartford Alan Spears, senior director of cultural resources in the government affairs department, National Parks Conservation Association Charlie Sykes, writer of “To the Contrary,” Substack Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

49 min
JAN 7

Blumenthal calls federal loan caps for prospective nurse practitioners and doctors ‘stupid’

2026 grads seeking professional degrees face capped loans thanks to funding cuts in the federal Republican tax and spending plan Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

49 min
12/24/2025

Why is Connecticut called the ‘Constitution State?’

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. 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.

49 min
12/17/2025

The Wheelhouse LIVE: The Year Political Satire Became Too Hot for TV

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? Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

47 min
12/10/2025

Behind the apron: What social media's 'trad wife' trend says about today's politics

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

49 min
12/03/2025

Tariffs and sticker shock: exploring how politics are hitting your shopping cart

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

49 min
11/19/2025

All in 2 days work: CT lawmakers clock in for busy special session

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 Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

49 min

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TRAILER

The Wheelhouse Podcast Trailer

Connecticut Public's weekly politics show is returning with new host, Frankie Graziano. If politics are in your Wheelhouse, or you wish you could keep up, we got you. We'll drop a new episode every Wednesday with perspectives on local and national issues. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

03/15/2023

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1 min

4.4

out of 5

47 Ratings

Great podcast

10/13/2016

BenW6

This app provides very informative, nonpartisan news with a Connecticut focus. It's worth it to subscribe.
Best political Podcast

11/11/2025

Col5181

Frankie is such a great host. He always gives us great / honest information that keeps me informed on latest political issues
Used to be worth listening to

01/17/2024

BrianMulhall

This show has managed to go from a must listen to to just awful in a matter of a few years. It’s sad it’s gone
Thank you

12/23/2020

Katie Redhead

I am so saddened that the Wheelhouse format is another casualty of 2020. This show has been the closest thing I have to a “must listen” either live or via the pod. I appreciate all the insight and analysis, and the blend of hyper local with national politics and hope that you consider at least occasionally bringing back the format even if it’s no longer a regular weekly feature of where you live. Thanks for the good times! You’ll be missed

If you’re a news junkie — or maybe just news curious, we’ve got your weekly dose of Connecticut politics, tackling everything from tax cuts to human composting. Amplifying important local and national voices, The Wheelhouse walks listeners through the most important political stories of the week. You’ll hear from well-known political reporters, academics, and local journalists across Connecticut’s 169 cities and towns.