State lawmakers return to Hartford Wednesday for the opening of the 2026 legislative session.

They meet as federal lawmakers argue over expiring health care subsidies and immigration enforcement operations across the country.

In Connecticut, how will these federal cuts and controversies impact the work lawmakers do this session? And with soaring energy costs continuing to hammer Connecticut customers, might there be room for bipartisan compromise?

Guests:
Rep. Vincent Candelora, House Republican Leader, R-North Branford
Rep. Matt Ritter, Speaker of House, D-Hartford
Susan Raff, chief political reporter, WFSB News Channel 3
Ebong Udoma, senior reporter, WSHU

State lawmakers return to Hartford Wednesday for the opening of the 2026 legislative session.
They meet as federal lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/30/government-shutdown-senate-vote-dhs.html">argue over</a> expiring health care subsidies and immigration enforcement operations across the country.
In Connecticut, how will these federal cuts and controversies impact the work lawmakers do this session? And with soaring energy costs continuing to hammer Connecticut customers, might there be room for bipartisan compromise?
Guests:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.cthousegop.com/candelora">Rep. Vincent Candelora,</a>&nbsp;House Republican Leader, R-North Branford</li>
<li><a href="https://www.housedems.ct.gov/Ritter">Rep. Matt Ritter</a>, Speaker of House, D-Hartford</li>
<li><a href="https://www.wfsb.com/authors/Susan-Raff/">Susan Raff</a>, chief political reporter, WFSB News Channel 3</li>
<li><a href="https://www.wshu.org/people/ebong-udoma">Ebong Udoma</a>, senior reporter, WSHU</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

Is compromise possible? CT lawmakers hopeful as 2026 session begins

Across Connecticut, some students are joining a national movement to protest federal immigration crackdowns.

Students from Classical Magnet School in Hartford poured out of the classroom and onto the streets in February, holding up signs like “ICE OUT” to passing cars.

The demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement are happening in places like Hartford, Tampa and Northern Virginia in the weeks since federal agents killed two Americans in Minneapolis.

This hour, we’re discussing student protests and other ways young people are engaging in civics. We'll also get the latest on the developing conflict in Iran and the Middle East.

Guests:
U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.)
Gina Chace, assistant principal, CREC Academy of Aerospace and Engineering
Annmarie Timmins, senior reporter on youth and education, NHPR
Chris Doyle, history teacher, Avon Old Farms

Across Connecticut, some students are joining&nbsp;<a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/education/5745489-ice-out-student-protests-texas-florida-oklahoma/">a national movement to protest federal immigration crackdowns</a>.
Students from Classical Magnet School in Hartford poured out of the classroom and onto the streets in February,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/5TvIo4qZits">holding up signs</a>&nbsp;like &ldquo;ICE OUT&rdquo; to passing cars.
The demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement are happening in places like Hartford, Tampa and Northern Virginia in the weeks since federal agents killed two Americans in Minneapolis.
This hour, we&rsquo;re discussing student protests and other ways young people are engaging in civics. We'll also get the latest on the developing conflict in Iran and the Middle East.
Guests:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://courtney.house.gov/">U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.)</a></li>
<li>Gina Chace, assistant principal, CREC Academy of Aerospace and Engineering</li>
<li><a href="https://www.nhpr.org/people/annmarie-timmins">Annmarie Timmins</a>, senior reporter on youth and education, NHPR</li>
<li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-doyle-4a232836/">Chris Doyle</a>,&nbsp;history teacher, Avon Old Farms</li>
</ul>

The latest on Iran and why CT student protests matter

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.

Is compromise possible? CT lawmakers hopeful as 2026 session begins

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