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

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?

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

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

From toys to turkeys, holiday purchases and their price tags are being shaped by politics.
President Donald Trump&rsquo;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&rsquo;re &ldquo;very or extremely&rdquo; concerned about price increases &ndash; with three-quarters of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.consumerreports.org/money/consumer-reports-price-tracker-helps-you-shop-smarter-a3522354573/">respondents</a>&nbsp;pointing to tariffs as a big reason why.
This hour, we&rsquo;re exploring the impact of the economy on holiday shopping here in Connecticut.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.politico.com/staff/daniel-desrochers">Daniel Desrochers</a>, international trade reporter, Politico</li>
<li><a href="https://www.consumerreports.org/about-us/our-people/our-experts/chris-raymond/">Chris Raymond</a>, home and tech editor, Consumer Reports</li>
<li><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/people/daniela-doncel">Daniela Doncel</a>, Latino communities reporter, Connecticut Public</li>
</ul>

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

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