Public safety and the sanctity of the ballot are top of mind for election officials during the lead up to November.

This hour, we take a look at how some officials are preparing during an especially fraught election year.

GUESTS:
Rachael Cobb, Associate Professor of Political Science & Legal Studies, Suffolk University 
Tina Barton, Senior Elections Expert, The Elections Group

Public safety and the sanctity of the ballot are top of mind for election officials during the lead up to November.
This hour, we take a look at how some officials are preparing during an especially fraught election year.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.suffolk.edu/academics/faculty/c/o/rachael-cobb">Rachael Cobb</a>, Associate Professor of Political Science &amp; Legal Studies, Suffolk University </li>
<li><a href="https://safeelections.org/tina-barton/">Tina Barton</a>, Senior Elections Expert, The Elections Group</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

How election officials are preparing for November

Health insurance is expensive. The average American spent $13,493 per person in 2022, according to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. And according to national health policy researcher KFF, most insured Americans have experienced a problem using their insurance.

That may explain the complete lack of empathy some people showed online in reaction to the targeted killing of Brian Thompson, CEO of America’s largest private health insurer, UnitedHealthcare.

Lawmakers sprouted into action when Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield considered capping their coverage of anesthesia services for patients during surgeries.

Today on a special Wheelhouse, we’re examining the intersection of politics and the healthcare insurance industry. Plus, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont is in-studio to address the insurance issue, as well as concerns related to reproductive rights and the funding of public education in advance of January’s convening of the 2025 legislative session in Connecticut.

GUESTS:
Ned Lamont: Governor, State ofConnecticut
Alex Putterman: Reporter, Hearst Connecticut Media
Katy Golvala: Health reporter, CT Mirror
Lisa Hagen: Federal policy reporter, CT Public and CT Mirror

Health insurance is expensive. The average American spent $13,493 per person in 2022, according to the <a href="https://www.cms.gov/data-research/statistics-trends-and-reports/national-health-expenditure-data/historical">federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services</a>. And according to <a href="https://www.kff.org/private-insurance/poll-finding/kff-survey-of-consumer-experiences-with-health-insurance/#:~:text=Overall%2C%20about%20eight%20in%20ten,%2C%20and%20Medicaid%20(83%25)">national health policy researcher KFF</a>, most insured Americans have experienced a problem using their insurance.
That may explain the complete lack of empathy some people showed online in reaction to the targeted killing of Brian Thompson, CEO of America&rsquo;s largest private health insurer, UnitedHealthcare.
Lawmakers sprouted into action when Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield considered capping their coverage of anesthesia services for patients during surgeries.
Today on a special Wheelhouse, we&rsquo;re examining the intersection of politics and the healthcare insurance industry. Plus, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont is in-studio to address the insurance issue, as well as concerns related to reproductive rights and the funding of public education in advance of January&rsquo;s convening of the 2025 legislative session in Connecticut.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://portal.ct.gov/governor?language=en_US">Ned Lamont</a>: Governor, State of Connecticut</li>
<li><a href="https://www.ctinsider.com/author/alex-putterman/">Alex Putterman</a>: Reporter, Hearst Connecticut Media</li>
<li><a href="https://ctmirror.org/author/kgolvala/">Katy Golvala</a>: Health reporter, CT Mirror</li>
<li><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/people/lisa-hagen-1">Lisa Hagen</a>: Federal policy reporter, CT Public and CT Mirror</li>
</ul>

The politics of health: Can lawmakers force a reckoning in the insurance industry?   

Out B Clean

Out C Clean

In the past few years, lawmakers in Connecticut have gotten closer to meaningful legislation that would lower a vehicle’s carbon footprint. They’ve also introduced a pilot program targeting food scraps in an effort to reduce waste.

Their job may get harder.

President-elect Donald Trump's record on climate change is already forcing state lawmakers to re-think local policy changes. A week after the election, Gov. Ned Lamont said he’s no longer pursuing a mandate that would’ve phased out sales of new gas-powered vehicles in the state by 2035.

Today on the Wheelhouse, how initiatives seeking to curb climate change will be impacted by the 2024 election.

GUESTS:
Michayla Savitt: State government reporter, Connecticut Public
Shannon Osaka: Climate zeitgeist reporter, The Washington Post
Miriam Wasser: Senior climate and environment reporter, WBUR

In the past few years, lawmakers in Connecticut have gotten closer to meaningful legislation that would lower a vehicle&rsquo;s carbon footprint. They&rsquo;ve also introduced a <a href="https://portal.ct.gov/deep/business-and-financial-assistance/grants-financial-assistance/sustainable-materials-management-grant-program">pilot program</a> targeting food scraps in an effort to reduce waste.
Their job may get harder.
President-elect Donald Trump's record on climate change is already forcing state lawmakers to re-think local policy changes. A week after the election, Gov. Ned Lamont said he&rsquo;s no longer pursuing a mandate that would&rsquo;ve phased out sales of new gas-powered vehicles in the state by 2035.
Today on the Wheelhouse, how initiatives seeking to curb climate change will be impacted by the 2024 election.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/people/michayla-savitt">Michayla Savitt</a>: State government reporter, Connecticut Public</li>
<li><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/shannon-osaka/">Shannon Osaka</a>: Climate zeitgeist reporter, The Washington Post</li>
<li><a href="https://www.wbur.org/inside/staff/miriam-wasser">Miriam Wasser</a>: Senior climate and environment reporter, WBUR</li>
</ul>

How might lawmakers prioritize the climate with skeptics in power? 

Prior to Election Day, advocates were worried about a national abortion ban and further local restrictions on reproductive care. And then, Donald Trump was elected president, with Republicans alongside him taking over the U.S. Congress.

Reporters covering reproductive rights are analyzing what comes next under Trump, someone who’s taken credit for the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Today on the Wheelhouse, what happens when the federal government begins to prioritize certain state laws over a patient’s right to receive medical care?

We’ll also examine local efforts to combat potential restrictions on reproductive care, including the launching of a 24/7 service called the Connecticut Abortion Legal Hotline.

GUESTS:
William Tong (D): Attorney General, State of Connecticut
Shefali Luthra: Reproductive health reporter, The 19th
Rachel Rebouché: Professor of Law, Temple University

Prior to Election Day, advocates were worried about a national abortion ban and further local restrictions on reproductive care. And then, Donald Trump was elected president, with Republicans alongside him taking over the U.S. Congress.
Reporters covering reproductive rights <a href="https://19thnews.org/2024/11/abortion-rights-won-seven-states-vulnerable-trump-presidency/">are analyzing what comes next under Trump</a>, someone who’s taken credit for the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Today on the Wheelhouse, what happens when the federal government begins to prioritize certain state laws over a patient’s right to receive medical care?
We’ll also examine local efforts to combat potential restrictions on reproductive care, including the launching of a 24/7 service called the <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/news/2024-11-08/on-heels-of-trump-reelection-ct-reproductive-rights-advocates-announce-new-abortion-care-hotline">Connecticut Abortion Legal Hotline</a>.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://portal.ct.gov/ag/about-the-ag/william-tong-biography-page">William Tong (D)</a>: Attorney General, State of Connecticut</li>
<li><a href="https://19thnews.org/author/shefali-luthra/">Shefali Luthra</a>: Reproductive health reporter, The 19th</li>
<li><a href="https://law.temple.edu/contact/rachel-rebouche/">Rachel Rebouché</a>: Professor of Law, Temple University</li>
</ul>

How election officials are preparing for November

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