The White House and the U.S. Department of Defense are incorporating “maximum lethality” into their rhetoric about the war in Iran.

It’s hyper-masculine language, tied to a misogynistic and fringe internet culture known to target women.

At a time when administration officials are selling Iran airstrikes with montages of popular moments in American culture, the line between triumph and tragedy is blurring.

Today on The Wheelhouse, the real life consequences of online hyper-masculinity on women around the globe.

Guests:
Adam Aleksic, linguist, The Etymology Nerd
Jiyoun Suk, professor in the department of communications, University of Connecticut
Saed Hill, president-elect, Society for the Psychology of Men and Masculinities, American Psychological Association

The White House and the U.S. Department of Defense are incorporating &ldquo;maximum lethality&rdquo; into their rhetoric about the war in Iran.
It&rsquo;s hyper-masculine language, tied to a misogynistic and fringe internet culture known to target women.
At a time when administration officials are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/03/12/nfl-iran-war-white-house/">selling Iran airstrikes</a>&nbsp;with montages of popular moments in American culture, the line between triumph and tragedy is blurring.
Today on The Wheelhouse, the real life consequences of online hyper-masculinity on women around the globe.
Guests:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.etymologynerd.com/">Adam Aleksic</a>, linguist, The Etymology Nerd</li>
<li><a href="https://communication.uconn.edu/person/jiyoun-suk/">Jiyoun Suk</a>, professor in the department of communications, University of Connecticut</li>
<li><a href="https://sharecenter.yale.edu/contact-us">Saed Hill</a>, president-elect, Society for the Psychology of Men and Masculinities, American Psychological Association</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

Internet slang and the creep of dehumanizing language in politics

Connecticut lawmakers in 2026 have worked on a new budget deal, debated homeschool regulation and tossed around the political football that is skyrocketing energy costs.

There’s still more business to do with one more day of lawmaking at the state Capitol, followed by more business up ahead on the campaign trail.

Today on The Wheelhouse, local politics and the end of the 2026 legislative session.

Guests:
Susan Raff, Chief political reporter, WFSB News Ch. 3
Ebong Udoma, Senior reporter, WSHU
Harriet Jones, director, Connecticut Student Journalism Collaborative
Bruce Putterman, publisher and CEO, CT Mirror

Connecticut lawmakers in 2026 have worked on a&nbsp;<a href="https://ctmirror.org/2026/04/28/lamont-moves-quickly-to-tout-new-ct-budget-deal/">new budget deal</a>, debated&nbsp;<a href="https://ctmirror.org/2026/04/23/ct-homeschool-bill-hb-5468-approved-house/">homeschool</a>&nbsp;regulation and tossed around the political football that is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/the-wheelhouse/2026-04-08/how-fossil-fuels-shape-us-foreign-policy">skyrocketing energy costs</a>.
There&rsquo;s still more business to do with one more day of lawmaking at the state Capitol, followed by more business up ahead on the campaign trail.
Today on The Wheelhouse, local politics and the end of the 2026 legislative session.
Guests:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.wfsb.com/authors/Susan-Raff/">Susan Raff</a>, Chief political reporter, WFSB News Ch. 3</li>
<li><a href="https://www.wshu.org/people/ebong-udoma">Ebong Udoma</a>, Senior reporter, WSHU</li>
<li><a href="https://ctcommunitynews.org/our-team/">Harriet Jones</a>, director, Connecticut Student Journalism Collaborative</li>
<li><a href="https://ctmirror.org/author/bputterman/">Bruce Putterman</a>, publisher and CEO, CT Mirror</li>
</ul>

What’s left on the final day of the CT lawmaking session?

At least 1,000 people lost access to gender-affirming care in Connecticut in the wake of a federal threat to strip health care providers of benefits.

Pressure from the Trump administration resulted in several Connecticut hospitals winding down programs for youth gender-affirming care last summer. But in March, Connecticut and 20 other states successfully sued to block a declaration carrying out Trump’s directives. Now, Connecticut lawmakers are working on other ways to shield trans people and their health care providers.

Today on The Wheelhouse, the politics of hormones and the effort to preserve gender-affirming care.

Guests:
Lindsey Dawson, director of LGBTQ+ policy, KFF
Melissa Combs, organizer, Equality Connecticut
Jona Tanguay, president, GLMA (Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality)

At least 1,000 people lost access to gender-affirming care in Connecticut in the wake of a federal threat to strip health care providers of benefits.
Pressure from the Trump administration resulted in several Connecticut hospitals winding down programs for youth gender-affirming care&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/news/2025-07-25/an-abdication-ct-reacts-to-hospitals-end-to-gender-affirming-care-for-young-people">last summer</a>. But in March, Connecticut and 20 other states successfully sued to&nbsp;<a href="https://portal.ct.gov/ag/press-releases/2026-press-releases/attorney-general-tong-secures-federal-court-order-protecting-gender-affirming-care">block</a>&nbsp;a declaration carrying out Trump&rsquo;s directives. Now, Connecticut lawmakers are working on other ways to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/CGABillStatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&amp;bill_num=SB295&amp;ref=autonomynews.co">shield</a>&nbsp;trans people and their health care providers.
Today on The Wheelhouse, the politics of hormones and the effort to preserve gender-affirming care.
Guests:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.kff.org/person/lindsey-dawson/">Lindsey Dawson</a>, director of LGBTQ+ policy, KFF</li>
<li><a href="https://eqct.org/our-rights/vision-and-values/">Melissa Combs</a>, organizer, Equality Connecticut</li>
<li><a href="https://www.glma.org/about_glma.php">Jona Tanguay</a>, president, GLMA (Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality)</li>
</ul>

What’s next for gender-affirming care in CT?

We’re in the final days of the 2025-26 academic year.

A lot has happened since the fall, including the assassination of a conservative podcaster Charlie Kirk, the rise of Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, and another U.S. conflict in the Persian Gulf.

Today on The Wheelhouse, we hear how students at the University of Hartford are keeping up with the political process.

Guests:
Merci Payadue, politics and government student, University of Hartford
Farah Suede, politics and government student, University of Hartford
Bilal Sekou, associate professor of politics and government, University of Hartford
Jonathan Wharton, associate professor of political science and urban affairs, Southern Connecticut State University

We&rsquo;re in the final days of the 2025-26 academic year.
A lot has happened since the fall, including the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/09/10/nx-s1-5537068/charlie-kirk-shot-utah-university-campus">assassination</a>&nbsp;of a conservative podcaster Charlie Kirk, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/11/04/nx-s1-5597788/election-results-zohran-mamdani-new-york-city-mayor">rise</a>&nbsp;of Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/02/28/nx-s1-5730333/the-u-s-and-israel-launch-a-major-attack-on-iran">another</a>&nbsp;U.S. conflict in the Persian Gulf.
Today on The Wheelhouse, we hear how students at the University of Hartford are keeping up with the political process.
Guests:
<ul>
<li>Merci Payadue, politics and government student, University of Hartford</li>
<li>Farah Suede, politics and government student, University of Hartford</li>
<li><a href="https://www.hartford.edu/directory/hillyer/sekou-bilal.aspx">Bilal Sekou</a>, associate professor of politics and government, University of Hartford</li>
<li><a href="https://www.southernct.edu/directory/whartonj1">Jonathan Wharton</a>, associate professor of political science and urban affairs,&nbsp;Southern Connecticut State University</li>
</ul>

Internet slang and the creep of dehumanizing language in politics

In 1 playlist(s)

The Wheelhouse

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips