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Journey inside the mind of a lawmaker on the next Wheelhouse as we tap into the experience of a panel of politicians with more than 80 years of combined experience serving the people of Connecticut. We’ll ask about bipartisanship and the challenges or reaching across the aisle in 2026.

Journey inside the mind of a lawmaker on the next Wheelhouse as we tap into the experience of a panel of politicians with more than 80 years of combined experience serving the people of Connecticut. We&rsquo;ll ask about bipartisanship and the challenges or reaching across the aisle in 2026.

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.

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.

Connecticut's best journalists come out of the political trenches every Wednesday to join us on WNPR's weekly news roundtable The Wheelhouse.

The Wheelhouse

3 CT lawmakers on how to reach a bipartisan compromise in 2026

Artificial intelligence is rapidly making its way into Connecticut’s classrooms.

Connecticut lawmakers recently passed Senate Bill 5, a sweeping new law that includes investments in computer science education and the creation of a statewide AI Academy.

Supporters say it prepares students for the future, while educators are also grappling with questions about ethics, academic integrity, and AI literacy.

This hour, we learn what Connecticut's new approach to AI could mean for the next generation of learners.

GUESTS:
Sen. James Maroney, Democrat representing Milford, Orange, West Haven, and Woodbridge
Irene Parisi, chief academic officer, Connecticut State Department of Education
David Bergman, associate dean for faculty and research, University of Connecticut School of Business 
Adam Nemeroff, assistant provost for innovations in learning, teaching and technology, Quinnipiac University

Artificial intelligence is rapidly making its way into Connecticut&rsquo;s classrooms.
Connecticut lawmakers recently passed&nbsp;<a href="https://legiscan.com/CT/text/SB00005/id/3375876">Senate Bill 5</a>, a sweeping new law that includes investments in computer science education and the creation of a statewide&nbsp;<a href="https://www.charteroak.edu/ai-academy/">AI Academy</a>.
Supporters say it prepares students for the future, while educators are also grappling with questions about ethics, academic integrity, and AI literacy.
This hour, we learn what Connecticut's new approach to AI could mean for the next generation of learners.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.senatedems.ct.gov/senator/james-maroney">Sen. James Maroney</a>, Democrat representing Milford, Orange, West Haven, and Woodbridge</li>
<li><a href="https://portal.ct.gov/SDE">Irene Parisi,</a>&nbsp;chief academic officer, Connecticut State Department of Education</li>
<li><a href="https://www.business.uconn.edu/person/david-bergman/">David Bergman</a>, associate dean for faculty and research, University of Connecticut School of Business&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.qu.edu/faculty-and-staff/adam-nemeroff/">Adam Nemeroff</a>, assistant provost for innovations in learning, teaching and technology, Quinnipiac University</li>
</ul>

AI is already being used in schools. Now, CT lawmakers hope to regulate it.

As America celebrates its 250th birthday, many of the ideas at the heart of the nation's founding — from freedom and representation to checks and balances — remain subjects of fierce public debate.

This hour, we explore America's official time capsule and the artifacts Connecticut is sending into the future.

What story are we telling about who we are in 2026? And what does that story reveal about who we hope to become?

GUESTS:
Tom Medema, special advisor to America 250 and project manager for America’s Time Capsule
Cyndi Tolosa, Director of Advancement, CT Humanities, project manager for America 250 Connecticut Commission
Sarah Atwell, Durham’s America 250 Committee leader 
Jason Hayes, First Selectman of East Granby

As America celebrates its 250th birthday, many of the ideas at the heart of the nation's founding &mdash; from freedom and representation to checks and balances &mdash; remain subjects of fierce public debate.
This hour, we explore America's official time capsule and the artifacts Connecticut is sending into the future.
What story are we telling about who we are in 2026? And what does that story reveal about who we hope to become?
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>Tom Medema, special advisor to&nbsp;<a href="https://america250.org/">America 250</a>&nbsp;and project manager for America&rsquo;s Time Capsule</li>
<li>Cyndi Tolosa, Director of Advancement,&nbsp;<a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cthumanities.org%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7Ccwynne%40ctpublic.org%7C032d825a808648dbad6a08ded1f9e982%7C46f93d87c3a048d2834be99a572ddf32%7C0%7C0%7C639179068530145078%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=6cLwH%2FA7XyXAlFjRh5wXaHX3DS7wV1zjPXukj%2BsobIc%3D&amp;reserved=0">CT Humanities</a>,&nbsp;project manager for&nbsp;<a href="https://ct250.org/">America 250 Connecticut</a>&nbsp;Commission</li>
<li>Sarah Atwell, Durham&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.townofdurhamct.org/entities/america-250-committee">America 250 Committee</a>&nbsp;leader&nbsp;</li>
<li>Jason Hayes, First Selectman of East Granby</li>
</ul>

What belongs in America's time capsule?

From Hurricane Maria through this year’s Super Bowl, Bad Bunny, the “King of Latin Trap” continues to weave politics into his lyrics.

From Hurricane Maria through this year&rsquo;s Super Bowl, Bad Bunny, the &ldquo;King of Latin Trap&rdquo; continues to weave politics into his lyrics.

3 CT lawmakers on how to reach a bipartisan compromise in 2026

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