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

President Donald Trump says the U.S. conflict with Iran is “nearing completion.”

He’s addressed the American people after gas prices soared and markets panicked.

It’s a story America knows all too well, with a reliance on fossil fuels causing many crises including in 1973, 1979, 1999, and 2022.

Today on the Wheelhouse, we’re looking at oil and how it shapes U.S. foreign policy.

Guests:
Tik Root, senior staff writer, Grist
Jeff D. Colgan, professor of political science and international and public affairs, Brown University
Áine Pennello, Report for America Environmental and Climate Change reporter, CT Public

President Donald Trump says the U.S. conflict with Iran is &ldquo;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/04/01/nx-s1-5770093/trump-address-iran-war">nearing completion</a>.&rdquo;
He&rsquo;s addressed the American people after gas prices soared and markets panicked.
It&rsquo;s a story America knows all too well, with a reliance on fossil fuels causing many crises including in&nbsp;<a href="https://history.state.gov/milestones/1969-1976/oil-embargo">1973</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-irans-1979-revolution-meant-for-us-and-global-oil-markets/">1979</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1999/07/07/business/the-markets-commodities-oil-price-up-as-opec-s-cuts-seem-to-hold.html">1999</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-023-02526-9">2022</a>.
Today on the Wheelhouse, we&rsquo;re looking at oil and how it shapes U.S. foreign policy.
Guests:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://grist.org/author/tik-root/">Tik Root</a>, senior staff writer, Grist</li>
<li><a href="https://polisci.brown.edu/people/jeff-colgan">Jeff D. Colgan</a>, professor of political science and international and public affairs, Brown University</li>
<li><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/people/aine-pennello-1">&Aacute;ine Pennello</a>, Report for America Environmental and Climate Change reporter, CT Public</li>
</ul>

How fossil fuels shape US foreign policy

What you see on the internet could influence how you see one side of a political debate.

Whether it was the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis woman by a federal law enforcement, – or what NPR is calling “America’s first AI-fueled war” in Iran, images generated online may distort what’s actually happening.

Today on The Wheelhouse, as trust in news reaches new lows, how is artificial intelligence fueling larger media skepticism?

Guests:
Alyssa Appelman, associate professor in the William White School of Journalism and Mass Communications, Kansas University
Renee Hobbs, professor in the Department of Communication Studies, University of Rhode Island
Lisa Hagen, federal policy reporter, Connecticut Public and CT Mirror

What you see on the internet could influence how you see one side of a political debate.
Whether it was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.startribune.com/ai-misinformation-deepfake-videos-photos-ice-agent-renee-nicole-good-minneapolis-shooting/601560361">the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis woman by a federal law enforcement,&nbsp;</a>&ndash; or what&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/03/26/nx-s1-5762019/americas-first-ai-fueled-war-is-unfolding-right-now-in-iran-this-is-how-we-got-herehttps://www.npr.org/2026/03/26/nx-s1-5762019/americas-first-ai-fueled-war-is-unfolding-right-now-in-iran-this-is-how-we-got-here">NPR is calling &ldquo;America&rsquo;s first AI-fueled war&rdquo;</a>&nbsp;in Iran, images generated online may distort what&rsquo;s actually happening.
Today on The Wheelhouse, as trust in news&nbsp;<a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/695762/trust-media-new-low.aspx">reaches new lows</a>, how is artificial intelligence fueling larger media skepticism?
Guests:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://journalism.ku.edu/people/alyssa-appelman-phd">Alyssa Appelman</a>, associate professor in the William White School of Journalism and Mass Communications, Kansas University</li>
<li><a href="https://web.uri.edu/harrington/meet/renee-hobbs/">Renee Hobbs,</a>&nbsp;professor in the Department of Communication Studies, University of Rhode Island</li>
<li><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/people/lisa-hagen-1">Lisa Hagen,</a>&nbsp;federal policy reporter, Connecticut Public and CT Mirror</li>
</ul>

How AI is distorting politics and the media

Connecticut has sued the federal government to keep colleges and universities from releasing race-based admissions data to the White House.

Ahead of “Ivy Day,” when students will learn if they’ve gotten into some of the country’s most prestigious schools, we’re re-visiting a 2023 Supreme Court decision that effectively banned affirmative action in collegiate enrollment.

We’ll hear from the president of Wesleyan University about the challenges facing higher education and ask if people of color are getting a fair shake in the college admissions process.

Guests:
Michael Roth, president, Wesleyan University
Bilal Sekou, Hillyer College associate professor of political science, University of Hartford

Connecticut has sued the federal government to keep colleges and universities from&nbsp;<a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/education/5786403-race-college-admissions/">releasing race-based admissions data</a>&nbsp;to the White House.
Ahead of &ldquo;<a href="https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/video/news/local/new-haven-teen-learns-he-has-been-accepted-to-yale/2418057/">Ivy Day</a>,&rdquo; when students will learn if they&rsquo;ve gotten into some of the country&rsquo;s most prestigious schools, we&rsquo;re re-visiting a 2023 Supreme Court decision that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/29/us/politics/supreme-court-admissions-affirmative-action-harvard-unc.html">effectively banned affirmative action</a>&nbsp;in collegiate enrollment.
We&rsquo;ll hear from the president of Wesleyan University about the challenges facing higher education and ask if people of color are getting a fair shake in the college admissions process.
Guests:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.wesleyan.edu/president/biography/">Michael Roth</a>, president, Wesleyan University</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>
</ul>

Is compromise possible? CT lawmakers hopeful as 2026 session begins

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