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

A bill to more closely regulate homeschooling passed the state legislature as the 2026 session came to a close this month.

The proposal faced significant pushback from Republicans and parents who homeschool their children. Opponents of the new rules say they are inconsistent with the state’s civil-liberties tradition.

But child advocates and lawmakers supporting the rules say they will help track and better protect kids.

Today on The Wheelhouse, an interview with the newly-confirmed state child advocate on what she hopes is one piece Connecticut can improve to protect its children.

Guests:
Christina Ghio, child advocate, State of Connecticut
Theo Peck-Suzuki, education reporter, CT Mirror

A&nbsp;<a href="https://cga.ct.gov/asp/CGABillStatus/CGABSSimilar.asp?bill_num=HB05468">bill</a>&nbsp;to more closely regulate homeschooling passed the state legislature as the 2026 session came to a close this month.
The proposal faced&nbsp;<a href="https://ctmirror.org/2026/05/04/homeschool-bill-passes-over-gop-objections/">significant pushback</a>&nbsp;from Republicans and parents who homeschool their children. Opponents of the new rules say they are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courant.com/2026/05/12/opinion-why-connecticuts-homeschool-bill-goes-too-far/">inconsistent with the state&rsquo;s civil-liberties tradition</a>.
But child advocates and lawmakers supporting the rules say they will help track and better protect kids.
Today on The Wheelhouse, an interview with the newly-confirmed state child advocate on what she hopes is one piece Connecticut can improve to protect its children.
Guests:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://portal.ct.gov/oca/about-oca?language=en_US">Christina Ghio</a>, child advocate, State of Connecticut</li>
<li><a href="https://ctmirror.org/author/tpecksuzuki/">Theo Peck-Suzuki</a>, education reporter, CT Mirror</li>
</ul>

Homeschooling rules come to CT. But not everyone is happy

B Seg

C Seg

The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling on Louisiana’s congressional map could have major consequences for voters across the country. 

Critics say the decision weakens the Voting Rights Act and could make it harder for minority communities to elect candidates of their choice. 

On the next Wheelhouse, who wins and who loses when lawmakers redraw political maps? How might the Supreme Court decision impact how Connecticut voting districts are drawn up? And how might the 2026 midterm elections be influenced?

A Segment: Alec Hernández, a politics reporter at Politico

B Segment: Kyle Evans, the assistant professor of mathematics at Assumption University, and Bilal Sekou, the associate professor of politics and government at the University of Hartford

C Segment: Kyle Evans, the assistant professor of mathematics at Assumption University, and Bilal Sekou, the associate professor of politics and government at the University of Hartford

👀Find more episodes of The Wheelhouse at:

ctpublic.org/wheelhouse 

📌 Connecticut Public is the state’s public media source for in-depth local news, original storytelling and ideas that educate and inspire our communities.

👉 Subscribe to Connecticut Public’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ConnecticutPublic

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ctpublic.org

Support public media and fund the future of free information by donating to Connecticut Public today: ctpublic.org/donate

#TheWheelhouseCT #SCOTUS #VotingRightsAct #civilrights #gerrymandering

The U.S. Supreme Court&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/05/03/nx-s1-5806270/in-louisiana-case-the-supreme-court-weakens-a-central-part-of-the-voting-rights-act">recent ruling on Louisiana&rsquo;s congressional map</a> could have major consequences for voters across the country.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/05/02/nx-s1-5806061/how-the-scotus-ruling-on-louisianas-map-could-impact-mississippi">Critics say</a> the decision weakens the Voting Rights Act and could make it harder for minority communities to elect candidates of their choice.&nbsp;
On the next Wheelhouse, who wins and who loses when lawmakers redraw political maps? How might the Supreme Court decision impact how Connecticut voting districts are drawn up? And how might the 2026 midterm elections be influenced?
A Segment: Alec Hern&aacute;ndez, a politics reporter at Politico
B Segment: Kyle Evans, the assistant professor of mathematics at Assumption University, and Bilal Sekou, the associate professor of politics and government at the University of Hartford C Segment: Kyle Evans, the assistant professor of mathematics at Assumption University, and Bilal Sekou, the associate professor of politics and government at the University of Hartford
👀Find more episodes of The Wheelhouse at:
<a href="http://ctpublic.org/wheelhouse">ctpublic.org/wheelhouse</a>&nbsp;
📌 Connecticut Public is the state&rsquo;s public media source for in-depth local news, original storytelling and ideas that educate and inspire our communities.
👉 Subscribe to Connecticut Public&rsquo;s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ConnecticutPublic
Subscribe to our Connecticut Public newsletters:
https://www.ctpublic.org/newsletters
Follow Connecticut Public on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ctpublic
Like Connecticut Public on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ctpublic
Follow Connecticut Public on TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@ctpublic
📍Visit our website:
<a href="http://ctpublic.org">ctpublic.org</a>
Support public media and fund the future of free information by donating to Connecticut Public today: <a href="http://ctpublic.org/donate">ctpublic.org/donate</a>
#TheWheelhouseCT #SCOTUS #VotingRightsAct #civilrights #gerrymandering

What the SCOTUS Voting Rights Act ruling means for CT 

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>

Internet slang and the creep of dehumanizing language in politics

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