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 2026 midterm elections are still weeks away, but voters are already sending signals about what November could look like.

Across the country, primary races are testing the strength of party establishments, the appeal of moderate candidates and the enthusiasm of Democratic and Republican voters.

This hour, we explore what’s happening in states from Maine to Michigan, and what those contests reveal about the broader political landscape.

Plus, what both parties need to do between now and November to turn primary results into general election wins.

Guests:
Liz Goodwin, national political reporter for The Washington Post
Alec Hernández, politics reporter, POLITICO
Andy Sullivan, deputy editor for politics, Reuters 

The 2026 midterm elections are still weeks away, but voters are already sending signals about what November could look like.
Across the country, primary races are testing the strength of party establishments, the appeal of moderate candidates and the enthusiasm of Democratic and Republican voters.
This hour, we explore what&rsquo;s happening in states from Maine to Michigan, and what those contests reveal about the broader political landscape.
Plus, what both parties need to do between now and November to turn primary results into general election wins.
Guests:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/liz-goodwin/">Liz Goodwin</a>, national political reporter for The Washington Post</li>
<li><a href="https://www.politico.com/staff/alec-hernandez">Alec Hern&aacute;ndez</a>, politics reporter, POLITICO</li>
<li><a href="https://www.reuters.com/authors/andy-sullivan/">Andy Sullivan</a>, deputy editor for politics, Reuters&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

What the primaries tell us about November midterms

America is celebrating 250 years, but what does it mean to tell the whole story of the country?

This hour, weexplore who gets to shape American history and what happens when stories that have been overlooked finally come into focus.

We learn about Black Americans who have too often been left out of the history books. And we look at how museums, historic sites and educators are navigating the question of whose version of America gets remembered.

Guests:


John Mills, Founder & President of the Alex Breanne Corporation


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


Erika Slocumb, Director of interpretation and visitor’s experience, Stowe Center for Literary Activism

Are you thinking about 2026 midterm elections? Help shape our election coverage by filling out this survey.

America is celebrating 250 years, but what does it mean to tell the whole story of the country?
This hour, we explore who gets to shape American history and what happens when stories that have been overlooked finally come into focus.
We learn about Black Americans who have too often been left out of the history books. And we look at how museums, historic sites and educators are navigating the question of whose version of America gets remembered.
Guests:
<ul>
<li>
John Mills, Founder &amp; President of the <a href="https://alexbreanne.org/">Alex Breanne Corporation</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.hartford.edu/directory/hillyer/sekou-bilal.aspx">Bilal Sekou</a>, 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>
Erika Slocumb, Director of interpretation and visitor&rsquo;s experience, <a href="https://stowecenter.org/">Stowe Center for Literary Activism</a>
</li>
</ul>
Are you thinking about 2026 midterm elections? Help shape our election coverage by filling out this <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WBPXCFW">survey</a>.

America 250: Who gets to tell the story?

The August primaries in Connecticut are over and now it’s time to look ahead to the fall midterm campaign season.

It’s that time of the election cycle when politicians quickly get over the arguments they had with their primary opponents and fellow party members – and pivot to the November general election as they compete against their political adversaries on the other end of the ideological spectrum.

With all this fussing over our future – and with a lot of division in our national politics – we’re revisiting a conversation with an author who uses anthropology to understand why we engage with politics the way we do.

It turns out that we’re not actually mean. We’re just feeling vulnerable.

Today on The Wheelhouse, social psychologist and author Kurt Gray discusses his book “Outraged: Why We Fight About Morality and Politics and How to Find Common Ground.”

Guest:


Kurt Gray, author, 'Outraged: Why We Fight About Morality and Politics and How to Find Common Ground.'

Are you thinking about 2026 midterm elections? Help shape our election coverage by filling out this survey.

The Wheelhouse is available on Apple Podcasts,Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

 

The August primaries in Connecticut are over and now it&rsquo;s time to look ahead to the fall midterm campaign season.
It&rsquo;s that time of the election cycle when politicians quickly get over the arguments they had with their primary opponents and fellow party members &ndash; and pivot to the November general election as they compete against their political adversaries on the other end of the ideological spectrum.
With all this fussing over our future &ndash; and with a lot of division in our national politics &ndash; we&rsquo;re revisiting a conversation with an author who uses anthropology to understand why we engage with politics the way we do.
It turns out that we&rsquo;re not actually mean. We&rsquo;re just feeling vulnerable.
Today on The Wheelhouse, social psychologist and author Kurt Gray discusses his book &ldquo;Outraged: Why We Fight About Morality and Politics and How to Find Common Ground.&rdquo;
Guest:
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://psychology.osu.edu/people/gray.1750">Kurt Gray</a>, author, 'Outraged: Why We Fight About Morality and Politics and How to Find Common Ground.'
</li>
</ul>
Are you thinking about 2026 midterm elections? Help shape our election coverage by filling out this&nbsp;<a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WBPXCFW">survey</a>.
The Wheelhouse is available on&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/the-wheelhouse/id1123069986">Apple Podcasts,</a> <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0rdTqFfVu8e6TKMa5lWXsI">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/dd73c297-450d-4ea5-bb0b-64131d617ee0/the-wheelhouse">Amazon Music</a>, <a href="https://tunein.com/podcasts/Government/The-Wheelhouse-p1207903/?topicId=264709829">TuneIn</a>, <a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-wheelhouse-connecticut-public-radio-mxksbjc_iJI/">Listen Notes</a>, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
&nbsp;

Making the candidate: How politicians can stand out in 2026

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