More Americans now think violence is necessary to “right” the country than they did 18 months ago. That’s according to polling from NPR, PBS News and Marist University.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has federalized and deployed national guard troops to American cities, sparking a flurry of court challenges and an outbreak of panic.

Today on The Wheelhouse, how political violence continues to reverberate throughout the United States.

And why, in a country born from a revolution and torn by a Civil War, it’s nothing new.

GUESTS:


William Tong, attorney general, state of Connecticut


State Rep. Corey Paris (D) - Stamford


Amilcar Shabazz, professor of African American Studies, University of Massachusetts Amherst


Bilal Sekou, Associate professor of political science, University of Hartford

More Americans now think violence is <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/10/01/nx-s1-5558304/poll-political-violence-free-speech-vaccines-national-guard-epstein-trump">necessary</a> to &ldquo;right&rdquo; the country than they did 18 months ago. That&rsquo;s according to polling from NPR, PBS News and Marist University.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has federalized and deployed national guard troops to American cities, sparking a flurry of court challenges and an outbreak of panic.
Today on The Wheelhouse, how political violence continues to reverberate throughout the United States.
And why, in a country born from a revolution and torn by a Civil War, it&rsquo;s nothing new.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://portal.ct.gov/ag/about-the-ag/william-tong-biography-page">William Tong</a>, attorney general, state of Connecticut
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.housedems.ct.gov/Paris">State Rep. Corey Paris (D)</a> - Stamford
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.umass.edu/afro-am/about/directory/amilcar-shabazz">Amilcar Shabazz</a>, professor of African American Studies, University of Massachusetts Amherst
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.hartford.edu/directory/hillyer/sekou-bilal.aspx">Bilal Sekou</a>, Associate professor of political science, University of Hartford
</li>
</ul>

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

As more Americans embrace political violence, what can be done to avoid it?

Start B

Start C

2026 grads seeking professional degrees face capped loans thanks to funding cuts in the federal Republican tax and spending plan

2026 grads seeking professional degrees face capped loans thanks to funding cuts in the federal Republican tax and spending plan

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

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.

How did Connecticut earn the moniker &ldquo;Constitution State&rdquo;?
Hint &ndash; it&rsquo;s not the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript">Constitution</a>&nbsp;you learned about in history class!
We&rsquo;ll travel back to the 1600s to explore how history, conflict and big aspirations helped shape the state&rsquo;s identity.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.easternct.edu/faculty-directory/balcerski.html">Thomas Balcerski</a>, professor of history at Eastern Connecticut State University and director of the Center for Connecticut Studies</li>
<li><a href="https://clho.org/makeover">Kathy Craughwell-Varda</a>, director of Conservation ConneCTion, Connecticut State Library</li>
<li><a href="https://www.connecticutmuseum.org/about/staff/">Andrea Rapacz</a>, chief curator of collections, Connecticut Museum of Culture and History</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
This episode originally aired&nbsp; on Aug. 20, 2025.&nbsp;
The Wheelhouse is available as a podcast on&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/the-wheelhouse/id1123069986">Apple Podcasts,</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0rdTqFfVu8e6TKMa5lWXsI">Spotify</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cub21ueWNvbnRlbnQuY29tL2QvcGxheWxpc3QvYWMwYmU5NjktZDdkZi00NjBjLWE2NmMtYTZmOTAwZTFlYmQxLzI1M2YwNjY4LTA0NjMtNGFiNC04ZWIzLWE5ZmIwMDRjOTdlNy8wOTUwNDBkZS1hZjMyLTQ1Y2UtOTkwZi1hOWZiMDA0Yzk3ZjUvcG9kY2FzdC5yc3M">Google Podcasts</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/dd73c297-450d-4ea5-bb0b-64131d617ee0/the-wheelhouse">Amazon Music</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://tunein.com/podcasts/Government/The-Wheelhouse-p1207903/?topicId=264709829">TuneIn</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-wheelhouse-connecticut-public-radio-mxksbjc_iJI/">Listen Notes</a>, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

Why is Connecticut called the ‘Constitution State?’

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?

Free speech is in focus at this year&rsquo;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&rsquo;s <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115256938634035559">attacks</a> on late night TV hosts &ndash; and Congress&rsquo; claw back of funding for the <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/npr-public-editor/2025/09/04/g-s1-86954/how-does-the-end-of-the-cpb-change-npr">Corporation for Public Broadcasting</a> &ndash; tell us about the future of American politics and pop culture?

As more Americans embrace political violence, what can be done to avoid it?

In 1 playlist(s)

The Wheelhouse

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips