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

Trad wives, short for &ldquo;traditional wives,&rdquo; 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:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/jessica-grose">Jessica Grose</a>, opinion writer, The New York Times</li>
<li><a href="https://www.smith.edu/people/carrie-n-baker">Carrie Baker</a>, professor of the Study of Women &amp; Gender, Smith College</li>
<li><a href="https://politicalscience.yale.edu/people/micah-english">Micah English</a>, fifth year Ph.D. candidate, Yale University</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

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

A plan sponsored by President Donald Trump to overhaul national voting laws ahead of the 2026 midterms is back in Congress.

U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) called the SAVE America Act and its recent passage in the U.S. House a “critical step toward restoring election integrity.” But detractors, like U.S. Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.), said the plan would make it harder for millions of Americans to vote.

Today on The Wheelhouse, the impact on voters, if the SAVE America Act passes. Also on the show, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) responds to Trump’s State of the Union address and gives the latest on the ongoing debate about government funding and immigration reform.

GUESTS:
U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.)
Bilal Sekou, Hillyer College associate professor of political science, University of Hartford
Archon Fung, Professor of citizenship and self-government, Harvard University

A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/02/19/nx-s1-5719252/trump-voting-save-america-act-explainer">plan&nbsp;</a>sponsored by President Donald Trump to overhaul national voting laws ahead of the 2026 midterms is back in Congress.
U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) called the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7296/text">SAVE America Act</a>&nbsp;and its recent passage in the U.S. House a &ldquo;<a href="https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-roys-save-america-act-passes-house-representatives">critical step toward restoring election integrity</a>.&rdquo; But detractors, like U.S. Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/reel/842967615444505/">John Larson</a>&nbsp;(D-Conn.), said the plan would make it harder for millions of Americans to vote.
Today on The Wheelhouse, the impact on voters, if the SAVE America Act passes. Also on the show, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) responds to Trump&rsquo;s State of the Union address and gives the latest on the ongoing debate about government funding and immigration reform.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://delauro.house.gov/">U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.hartford.edu/directory/hillyer/sekou-bilal.aspx">Bilal Sekou</a>,&nbsp;Hillyer College associate professor of political science, University of Hartford</li>
<li><a href="https://www.hks.harvard.edu/faculty/archon-fung">Archon Fung</a>, Professor of citizenship and self-government, Harvard University</li>
</ul>

The debate over a plan to ‘SAVE America’ is heating up

B Segment

C Segment

A panel of civic-minded individuals answer questions at the University of Connecticut’s Hartford campus about engagement and the connective tissue of politics.

A panel of civic-minded individuals answer questions at the University of Connecticut&rsquo;s Hartford campus about engagement and the connective tissue of politics.

CT civic leaders ask: Can engagement help overcome political differences?

Connecticut lawmakers want to reduce kids’ screentime in 2026, arguing that it protects children.

Gov. Ned Lamont has proposed banning cell phones from “bell to bell” in Connecticut classrooms.

But not all lawmakers are onboard with the idea, including a Republican lawmaker who’s accusing members of her legislative chamber of trying to “co-parent” Connecticut’s children.

Today on The Wheelhouse, we explore “Phone Free CT” and what it means for children.

GUESTS:
Rep. Jennifer Leeper, CT House of Representatives, D-Fairfield, Southport
Rep. Gale Mastrofrancesco, CT House of Representatives, R-Southington, Wolcott
Gail Jordan, president, Bloomfield Teachers Union
John Murphy, professor of digital media business strategies, University of Connecticut 
Lisa Hagen, federal policy reporter, Connecticut Public and CT Mirror 

Connecticut lawmakers want to reduce kids&rsquo; screentime in 2026, arguing that it&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wtnh.com/news/connecticut/some-educators-parents-support-push-to-ban-cellphones-in-connecticut-classrooms/">protects</a>&nbsp;children.
Gov. Ned Lamont has proposed banning cell phones from &ldquo;bell to bell&rdquo; in Connecticut classrooms.
But not all lawmakers are onboard with the idea, including a Republican lawmaker who&rsquo;s accusing members of her legislative chamber of trying to &ldquo;<a href="https://ctmirror.org/2025/05/14/ct-social-media-bill-kids-online-safety/">co-parent</a>&rdquo; Connecticut&rsquo;s children.
Today on The Wheelhouse, we explore &ldquo;Phone Free CT&rdquo; and what it means for children.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.housedems.ct.gov/Leeper">Rep. Jennifer Leeper</a>,&nbsp;CT House of Representatives, D-Fairfield, Southport</li>
<li><a href="https://www.cthousegop.com/mastrofrancesco">Rep. Gale Mastrofrancesco</a>, CT House of Representatives, R-Southington, Wolcott</li>
<li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/people/Bloomfield-Education-Association/61557591103541/">Gail Jordan,</a>&nbsp;president, Bloomfield Teachers Union</li>
<li><a href="https://dmd.uconn.edu/person/john-murphy/">John Murphy</a>, professor of digital media business strategies, University of Connecticut&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/people/lisa-hagen-1">Lisa Hagen</a>, federal policy reporter, Connecticut Public and CT Mirror&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

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

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