During a recent speech given by former President Donald Trump, he promised that, if elected, he would cut federal funding for any schools with a vaccine or mask mandate.

His promises highlight the continued politicization of CDC-recommended public health best-practices.

This hour, we look at anti-vaccine rhetoric and how it impacts communities in Connecticut and beyond.

During a <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/trump-vows-to-defund-schools-requiring-vaccines-for-students-if-hes-reelected" data-cms-ai="0">recent speech</a> given by former President Donald Trump, he promised that, if elected, he would cut federal funding for any schools with a vaccine or mask mandate.
His promises highlight the continued politicization of CDC-recommended public health best-practices.
This hour, we look at anti-vaccine rhetoric and how it impacts communities in Connecticut and beyond.

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

Connecticut Public's Talk shows help you navigate all the issues and candidates during election season.

From your weekly dose of politics on The Wheelhouse to deep dives on the issues on shows like The Colin McEnroe Show and Disrupted we've got you covered. 

Connecticut Public's Talk shows help you navigate all the issues and candidates during election season.
From your weekly dose of politics on The Wheelhouse to deep dives on the issues on shows like The Colin McEnroe Show and Disrupted we've got you covered.

Election 2024 playlist that HITS...on the issues

Anti-vaccine rhetoric has hit the campaign trail

The race for Connecticut’s third congressional district is underway. This hour, we ask candidates Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and challenger, Michael Massey, a Republican, where they stand on the issues.

For the next few weeks, The Wheelhouse will feature a series of candidate interviews. We’ll be talking with Republicans and Democrats, incumbents and challengers, in Connecticut's congressional districts. Each candidate will have an equal amount of time to talk one-on-one with host Frankie Graziano, followed by some analysis from our guest panelists.

GUESTS:
Rep. Rosa DeLauro, (D-Conn.)
Michael Massey, Candidate for Connecticut’s 3rd congressional district
Bilal Sekou: Hillyer College Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Hartford
Mercy Quaye:Founder and President at The Narrative Project; Columnist for CT Mirror and Editor of CT Mirror's Community Editorial Board

The race for Connecticut’s third congressional district is underway. This hour, we ask candidates Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and challenger, Michael Massey, a Republican, where they stand on the issues.
For the next few weeks, The Wheelhouse will feature a series of candidate interviews. We’ll be talking with Republicans and Democrats, incumbents and challengers, in Connecticut's congressional districts. Each candidate will have an equal amount of time to talk one-on-one with host Frankie Graziano, followed by some analysis from our guest panelists.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://delauro.house.gov/">Rep. Rosa DeLauro</a>, (D-Conn.)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.masseyforcongress.com/">Michael Massey</a>, Candidate for Connecticut’s 3rd congressional district</li>
<li><a href="https://www.hartford.edu/directory/hillyer/sekou-bilal.aspx">Bilal Sekou</a><a href="https://www.wfsb.com/authors/Susan-Raff/">:</a> Hillyer College Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Hartford</li>
<li><a href="https://ctmirror.org/author/mquaye/">Mercy Quaye</a>: Founder and President at The Narrative Project; Columnist for CT Mirror and Editor of CT Mirror's Community Editorial Board</li>
</ul>

Election 2024: Connecticut’s 3rd Congressional District

We’re kicking off a series of candidate interviews today on The Wheelhouse. 

For the next few weeks, we'll be talking with Republicans and Democrats, incumbents and challengers, in Connecticut's congressional districts. Each candidate will have an equal amount of time to talk one-on-one with host Frankie Graziano, followed by some analysis from our guest panelists.

This hour, we ask candidates for Connecticut’s 1st congressional district where they stand on the issues: Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.) and challenger, Republican Jim Griffin.

GUESTS:
Rep. John Larson, (D-Conn.)
Jim Griffin, seeking election for Connecticut’s 1st congressional district
Mark Pazniokas, Capitol bureau chief and a co-founder of CT Mirror
Susan Raff, Chief political reporter, WFSB Eyewitness News Ch. 3

We’re kicking off a series of candidate interviews today on The Wheelhouse. 
For the next few weeks, we'll be talking with Republicans and Democrats, incumbents and challengers, in Connecticut's congressional districts. Each candidate will have an equal amount of time to talk one-on-one with host Frankie Graziano, followed by some analysis from our guest panelists.
This hour, we ask candidates for Connecticut’s 1st congressional district where they stand on the issues: Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.) and challenger, Republican Jim Griffin.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://larson.house.gov/">Rep. John Larson</a>, (D-Conn.)</li>
<li><a href="https://ballotpedia.org/James_P._Griffin_(Connecticut)">Jim Griffin</a>, seeking election for Connecticut’s 1st congressional district</li>
<li><a href="https://ctmirror.org/author/mpazniokas/">Mark Pazniokas</a>, Capitol bureau chief and a co-founder of CT Mirror</li>
<li><a href="https://www.wfsb.com/authors/Susan-Raff/">Susan Raff</a>, Chief political reporter, WFSB Eyewitness News Ch. 3</li>
</ul>

Election 2024: Connecticut's 1st Congressional District

The 2024 U.S. Presidential Debate between vice president Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump highlighted how immigration is being sensationalized to score votes.

Trump says that “dangerous” migrants are contributing to an overall spike in crime in the United States. But, the FBI reports that violent crime has decreased. He also says that 21 million people have recently entered the country illegally, despite federal law enforcement reporting a smaller number.

Today on the Wheelhouse, the use of immigration misinformation on the campaign trail.

Also, an increase in public benefits charges has many Connecticut residents complaining about their electric bills. We’ll discuss what state politicians are saying about the rate increases.

GUESTS:
Charles Venator-Santiago, Associate professor of political science and El Instituto, University of Connecticut
Maria Sacchetti, reporter covering immigrant communities, The Washington Post
Dan Haar, Senior editor and columnist, Hearst Connecticut Media Group

The 2024 U.S. Presidential Debate between vice president Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump highlighted how immigration is being <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/trump-pushes-baseless-claim-immigrants-eating-pets-rcna170537">sensationalized</a> to score votes.
Trump says that “dangerous” migrants are contributing to an overall spike in crime in the United States. But, the FBI reports that <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-merrick-b-garland-statement-fbis-quarterly-uniform-crime-report">violent crime has decreased</a>. He also says that 21 million people have recently entered the country illegally, <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/fact-checking-the-harris-trump-debate">despite federal law enforcement reporting a smaller number</a>.
Today on the Wheelhouse, the use of immigration misinformation on the campaign trail.
Also, an increase in <a href="https://www.ctinsider.com/business/article/eversource-ui-july-electric-bills-ct-19609007.php">public benefits charges</a> has many Connecticut residents complaining about their electric bills. We’ll discuss what state politicians are saying about the rate increases.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://polisci.uconn.edu/person/charles-venator-santiago/">Charles Venator-Santiago</a>, Associate professor of political science and El Instituto, University of Connecticut</li>
<li><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/maria-sacchetti/">Maria Sacchetti</a>, reporter covering immigrant communities, The Washington Post</li>
<li><a href="https://www.ctinsider.com/author/dan-haar/">Dan Haar</a>, Senior editor and columnist, Hearst Connecticut Media Group</li>
</ul>

Anti-vaccine rhetoric has hit the campaign trail

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