What makes a politician click with voters?

Is it the message? The smile? The slogan? Or that one campaign ad everyone can't stop talking about?

Today on The Wheelhouse, we go behind the scenes with political strategists to explore the making of a politician.

We'll break down the speeches, slogans, handshakes, photo ops, and yes – even the cringeworthy campaign ads.

Guests:
Jill Barkley Roy, director, Emerge Action Fund
Liz Kurantowicz, Republican analyst and owner, The Drury Group
Mercy Quaye, founder and CEO, The Narrative Project

What makes a politician click with voters?
Is it the message? The smile? The slogan? Or that one campaign ad everyone can't stop talking about?
Today on The Wheelhouse, we go behind the scenes with political strategists to explore the making of a politician.
We'll break down the speeches, slogans, handshakes, photo ops, and yes &ndash; even the cringeworthy campaign ads.
Guests:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://emergeamerica.org/staff/jill-barkley/">Jill Barkley Roy</a>, director, Emerge Action Fund</li>
<li><a href="https://www.drurygroupllc.com/leadership">Liz Kurantowicz</a>, Republican analyst and owner, The Drury Group</li>
<li><a href="https://www.narrative-project.com/about-us">Mercy Quaye</a>, founder and CEO, The Narrative Project</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

Making the candidate: How politicians can stand out in 2026

The U.S. Department of Education has updated its federal student loan guidance as changes involving college debt policy from the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act took effect July 1.

U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has said that American taxpayers should no longer pay for other people’s student loans.

But the changes, according to NPR, will limit the amount of programs available to borrowers. And they’ll cap loans for grad students.

Today on The Wheelhouse, what borrowers should know ahead of the 2026-2027 academic year.

Guests:
Ayelet Sheffey, senior education reporter, Business Insider 
Betsy Mayotte, president and founder, The Institute of Student Loan Advisors
Michelle Jarvis-Lettman, student loan ombudsperson, State of Connecticut 

The U.S. Department of Education has updated its federal student loan guidance as changes involving college debt policy from the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act took effect July 1.
U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has said that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-begin-federal-student-loan-collections-other-actions-help-borrowers-get-back-repayment">American taxpayers</a>&nbsp;should no longer pay for other people&rsquo;s student loans.
But the changes, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/06/18/nx-s1-5856432/big-changes-coming-to-student-loans-on-july-1">NPR</a>, will limit the amount of programs available to borrowers. And they&rsquo;ll cap loans for grad students.
Today on The Wheelhouse, what borrowers should know ahead of the 2026-2027 academic year.
Guests:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/ayelet-sheffey">Ayelet Sheffey</a>, senior education reporter, Business Insider&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://freestudentloanadvice.org/about_us/our-staff/">Betsy Mayotte</a>, president and founder, The Institute of Student Loan Advisors</li>
<li><a href="https://portal.ct.gov/dob/student-loan-ombudsperson/student-loan-ombudsperson-office">Michelle Jarvis-Lettman</a>, student loan ombudsperson, State of Connecticut&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

The Trump administration has changed federal student loan policy. Here’s what you should know

A - Larson

B - Bronin, Fortune

C - Gilchrest

John Larson hasn’t faced a stiff challenge from a member of his own party since he was first elected to represent Connecticut’s 1st Congressional District in 1998.

Larson touts his experience as a 14-term representative, saying his seniority in Congress helps Connecticut. But his challengers say that Larson has been in Washington too long and that it’s time for a fresh perspective.

Today on The Wheelhouse, we’ll talk to Larson about his re-election effort. And we’ll meet his challengers, including former Hartford mayor Luke Bronin, who is the endorsed candidate in this race, Connecticut State Rep. Jillian Gilchrest (D-West Hartford), and Hartford attorney Ruth Fortune.

Guests:
U.S. Rep. John Larson (D-CT)
Luke Bronin, candidate, Connecticut’s 1st Congressional District
Ruth Fortune, candidate, Connecticut’s 1st Congressional District
Jillian Gilchrest, candidate, Connecticut’s 1st Congressional District

John Larson hasn&rsquo;t faced a stiff challenge from a member of his own party since he was first elected to represent Connecticut&rsquo;s 1st Congressional District in 1998.
Larson touts his experience as a 14-term representative, saying his seniority in Congress helps Connecticut. But his challengers say that Larson has been in Washington too long and that it&rsquo;s time for a fresh perspective.
Today on The Wheelhouse, we&rsquo;ll talk to Larson about his re-election effort. And we&rsquo;ll meet his challengers, including former Hartford mayor Luke Bronin, who is the endorsed candidate in this race, Connecticut State Rep. Jillian Gilchrest (D-West Hartford), and Hartford attorney Ruth Fortune.
Guests:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://larson.house.gov/">U.S. Rep. John Larson</a>&nbsp;(D-CT)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.broninforcongress.com/">Luke Bronin</a>, candidate, Connecticut&rsquo;s 1st Congressional District</li>
<li><a href="https://www.ruthfortuneforcongress.com/">Ruth Fortune</a>, candidate, Connecticut&rsquo;s 1st Congressional District</li>
<li><a href="https://voteforjillian.com/">Jillian Gilchrest</a>, candidate, Connecticut&rsquo;s 1st Congressional District</li>
</ul>

Democratic Primary 2026: Meet the candidates for CT’s 1st Congressional District 

Children as young as 5 are being resettled in Connecticut after being picked up by federal law enforcement at the U.S. border.

Attorneys for these unaccompanied children say they’re being held for too long and in some cases, aren’t released to sponsors at all until legal action is taken.

This hour, we examine the U.S. government’s obligation to unaccompanied children.

And later in the show, we’ll discuss the Aug. 11 primary elections in Connecticut and a new federal law that could help Connecticut officials in their fight against their affordable housing crisis.

Guests:
Tess Reagan, managing attorney, Kids In Need of Defense
Sabrina Tavi, senior attorney and director, Center for Children’s Advocacy
Jacqueline Rabe Thomas, investigative reporter, Hearst Connecticut Media Group’s CT Insider
Lisa Hagen, federal policy reporter, Connecticut Public and CT Mirror
Mark Pazniokas, capitol bureau chief and a co-founder, CT Mirror

<a href="https://www.ctinsider.com/news/article/immigration-ct-habeas-unaccompanied-minors-22093788.php">Children as young as 5</a>&nbsp;are being resettled in Connecticut after being picked up by federal law enforcement at the U.S. border.
Attorneys for these unaccompanied children say they&rsquo;re being held for too long and in some cases, aren&rsquo;t released to sponsors at all until legal action is taken.
This hour, we examine the U.S. government&rsquo;s obligation to unaccompanied children.
And later in the show, we&rsquo;ll discuss the Aug. 11 primary elections in Connecticut and a new federal law that could help Connecticut officials in their fight against their affordable housing crisis.
Guests:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://supportkind.org/">Tess Reagan</a>, managing attorney, Kids In Need of Defense</li>
<li><a href="https://cca-ct.org/aboutus_staffboard/#inline23">Sabrina Tavi,</a>&nbsp;senior attorney and director, Center for Children&rsquo;s Advocacy</li>
<li><a href="https://www.ctinsider.com/author/jacqueline-rabe-thomas/">Jacqueline Rabe Thomas</a>, investigative reporter, Hearst Connecticut Media Group&rsquo;s CT Insider</li>
<li><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/people/lisa-hagen-1">Lisa Hagen</a>, federal policy reporter, Connecticut Public and CT Mirror</li>
<li><a href="https://ctmirror.org/author/mpazniokas/">Mark Pazniokas,</a>&nbsp;capitol bureau chief and a co-founder, CT Mirror</li>
</ul>

Making the candidate: How politicians can stand out in 2026

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