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

“Suffs,” the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical about history-making women, is coming to Hartford.

From Jan. 27 to Feb. 1, the people behind “Suffs” say they’ll highlight themes of the past that are still relevant today including grassroots activism, race, gender and class dynamics.

Producers of "Suffs" say it isn’t some “dry history lesson,” but a high-energy, rousing experience saluting the powerful American women who fought for the right to vote.

Today on The Wheelhouse, meet Danyel Fulton, the actor that plays journalist Ida B. Wells. And we'll explore the suffragist movement in Connecticut.

GUESTS:
Danyel Fulton, actor/singer, “Suffs” 
Rachel Sussman, creative producer, “Suffs” 
Natalie Belanger, public programs manager, Connecticut Museum of Culture and History 

&ldquo;Suffs,&rdquo; the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical about history-making women, is coming to Hartford.
From Jan. 27 to Feb. 1, the people behind &ldquo;Suffs&rdquo; say they&rsquo;ll highlight themes of the past that are still relevant today including grassroots activism, race, gender and class dynamics.
Producers of "Suffs" say it isn&rsquo;t some &ldquo;dry history lesson,&rdquo; but a high-energy, rousing experience saluting the powerful American women who fought for the right to vote.
Today on The Wheelhouse, meet Danyel Fulton, the actor that plays journalist Ida B. Wells. And we'll explore the suffragist movement in Connecticut.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.danyelfulton.com/">Danyel Fulton</a>, actor/singer, &ldquo;Suffs&rdquo;&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.rachel-sussman.com/">Rachel Sussman</a>, creative producer, &ldquo;Suffs&rdquo;&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.connecticutmuseum.org/about/staff/">Natalie Belanger</a>, public programs manager, Connecticut Museum of Culture and History&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

In Tony Award-winning 'Suffs,' fight for the 19th Amendment sings

Civilians and federal ICE agents are clashing from Hartford to Minneapolis.

Federal officials are amping up enforcement efforts – and rhetoric – in the wake of several shootings in Minnesota at the hands of federal ICE agents.

How are protesters and journalists responding?

Today on The Wheelhouse, government accountability and transparency in 2026.

GUESTS:
Elana Bildner, staff attorney, ACLU-CT
Gloria J. Browne-Marshall, author and professor of constitutional law, John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Elisa Lees Muñoz, executive director, International Women’s Media Foundation
Miles Pinsof-Berlowitz, co editor-in-chief, The Wesleyan Argus
Thomas Lyons, co editor-in-chief, The Wesleyan Argus
Janhavi Munde, managing editor, The Wesleyan Argus

Civilians and federal ICE agents are clashing from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/news/2026-01-09/ct-public-reporter-describes-chaotic-scene-at-ice-killing-protest-in-hartford">Hartford</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/01/10/nx-s1-5673229/ice-protests-minneapolis-portland-renee-good">Minneapolis</a>.
Federal officials are amping up enforcement efforts &ndash; and rhetoric &ndash; in the wake of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/14/us/minneapolis-federal-agent-shooting-immigration.html">several</a>&nbsp;shootings in Minnesota at the hands of federal ICE agents.
How are protesters and journalists responding?
Today on The Wheelhouse, government accountability and transparency in 2026.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.acluct.org/news/meet-elana-bildner-aclu-connecticuts-new-staff-attorney/">Elana Bildner</a>, staff attorney, ACLU-CT</li>
<li><a href="https://www.jjay.cuny.edu/faculty/gloria-j-browne-marshall">Gloria J. Browne-Marshall</a>, author and professor of constitutional law, John Jay College of Criminal Justice</li>
<li><a href="https://www.iwmf.org/people/elisa-lees-munoz/">Elisa Lees Mu&ntilde;oz</a>, executive director, International Women&rsquo;s Media Foundation</li>
<li><a href="https://wesleyanargus.com/author/mpinsofberlo/">Miles Pinsof-Berlowitz</a>, co editor-in-chief, The Wesleyan Argus</li>
<li><a href="https://wesleyanargus.com/author/tlyons/">Thomas Lyons</a>, co editor-in-chief, The Wesleyan Argus</li>
<li><a href="https://wesleyanargus.com/author/jmunde/">Janhavi Munde</a>, managing editor, The Wesleyan Argus</li>
</ul>

ICE enforcement and how the people are responding in 2026

Visitors to U.S. national parks get in free on certain holidays.

But two days honoring Black history, Martin Luther King’s birthday – and Juneteenth – are no longer free.

As America marks 40 years of observing MLK Day, today on the Wheelhouse we’ll look at how the current Republican administration in Washington is marking King’s birthday and what that means for Black history.

GUESTS:
Bilal Sekou, Hillyer College associate professor of political science, University of Hartford
Alan Spears, senior director of cultural resources in the government affairs department, National Parks Conservation Association
Charlie Sykes, writer of “To the Contrary,” Substack 

Visitors to U.S. national parks get in free on certain holidays.
But two days honoring Black history, Martin Luther King&rsquo;s birthday &ndash; and Juneteenth &ndash; are no longer free.
As America marks 40 years of observing MLK Day, today on the Wheelhouse we&rsquo;ll look at how the current Republican administration in Washington is marking King&rsquo;s birthday and what that means for Black history.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<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.npca.org/people/alan-spears">Alan Spears</a>, senior director of cultural resources in the government affairs department, National Parks Conservation Association</li>
<li><a href="https://charliesykes.substack.com/">Charlie Sykes</a>, writer of &ldquo;To the Contrary,&rdquo; Substack&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Is compromise possible? CT lawmakers hopeful as 2026 session begins

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