We’re in the final days of the 2025-26 academic year.

A lot has happened since the fall, including the assassination of a conservative podcaster Charlie Kirk, the rise of Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, and another U.S. conflict in the Persian Gulf.

Today on The Wheelhouse, we hear how students at the University of Hartford are keeping up with the political process.

Guests:
Merci Payadue, politics and government student, University of Hartford
Farah Suede, politics and government student, University of Hartford
Bilal Sekou, associate professor of politics and government, University of Hartford
Jonathan Wharton, associate professor of political science and urban affairs, Southern Connecticut State University

We&rsquo;re in the final days of the 2025-26 academic year.
A lot has happened since the fall, including the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/09/10/nx-s1-5537068/charlie-kirk-shot-utah-university-campus">assassination</a>&nbsp;of a conservative podcaster Charlie Kirk, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/11/04/nx-s1-5597788/election-results-zohran-mamdani-new-york-city-mayor">rise</a>&nbsp;of Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/02/28/nx-s1-5730333/the-u-s-and-israel-launch-a-major-attack-on-iran">another</a>&nbsp;U.S. conflict in the Persian Gulf.
Today on The Wheelhouse, we hear how students at the University of Hartford are keeping up with the political process.
Guests:
<ul>
<li>Merci Payadue, politics and government student, University of Hartford</li>
<li>Farah Suede, politics and government student, University of Hartford</li>
<li><a href="https://www.hartford.edu/directory/hillyer/sekou-bilal.aspx">Bilal Sekou</a>, associate professor of politics and government, University of Hartford</li>
<li><a href="https://www.southernct.edu/directory/whartonj1">Jonathan Wharton</a>, associate professor of political science and urban affairs,&nbsp;Southern Connecticut State University</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

These UHart students say the most important campus political debate happens in the classroom

At least 1,000 people lost access to gender-affirming care in Connecticut in the wake of a federal threat to strip health care providers of benefits.

Pressure from the Trump administration resulted in several Connecticut hospitals winding down programs for youth gender-affirming care last summer. But in March, Connecticut and 20 other states successfully sued to block a declaration carrying out Trump’s directives. Now, Connecticut lawmakers are working on other ways to shield trans people and their health care providers.

Today on The Wheelhouse, the politics of hormones and the effort to preserve gender-affirming care.

Guests:
Lindsey Dawson, director of LGBTQ+ policy, KFF
Melissa Combs, organizer, Equality Connecticut
Jona Tanguay, president, GLMA (Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality)

At least 1,000 people lost access to gender-affirming care in Connecticut in the wake of a federal threat to strip health care providers of benefits.
Pressure from the Trump administration resulted in several Connecticut hospitals winding down programs for youth gender-affirming care&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/news/2025-07-25/an-abdication-ct-reacts-to-hospitals-end-to-gender-affirming-care-for-young-people">last summer</a>. But in March, Connecticut and 20 other states successfully sued to&nbsp;<a href="https://portal.ct.gov/ag/press-releases/2026-press-releases/attorney-general-tong-secures-federal-court-order-protecting-gender-affirming-care">block</a>&nbsp;a declaration carrying out Trump&rsquo;s directives. Now, Connecticut lawmakers are working on other ways to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/CGABillStatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&amp;bill_num=SB295&amp;ref=autonomynews.co">shield</a>&nbsp;trans people and their health care providers.
Today on The Wheelhouse, the politics of hormones and the effort to preserve gender-affirming care.
Guests:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.kff.org/person/lindsey-dawson/">Lindsey Dawson</a>, director of LGBTQ+ policy, KFF</li>
<li><a href="https://eqct.org/our-rights/vision-and-values/">Melissa Combs</a>, organizer, Equality Connecticut</li>
<li><a href="https://www.glma.org/about_glma.php">Jona Tanguay</a>, president, GLMA (Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality)</li>
</ul>

What’s next for gender-affirming care in CT?

Recent redactions to the Epstein files have raised renewed questions about what the government does – and does not – strike from highly sensitive documents.

The black pen has been used on classified materials for decades. But amid renewed calls for disclosure, more Americans are raising questions about the politics behind what stays in and what gets taken out.

Today on the Wheelhouse, we’re talking about government redactions and the power of the pen.

Guests:
Sam Lebovic: history professor at George Mason University
Barbara McQuade: former U.S. Attorney, United States Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Michigan

Recent redactions to the Epstein files have raised renewed questions about what the government does &ndash;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/02/06/nx-s1-5702692/epstein-files-doj-trump-clinton-oversight">and does not</a>&nbsp;&ndash; strike from highly sensitive documents.
The black pen has been used on classified materials for decades. But amid renewed calls for disclosure, more Americans are raising questions about the politics behind what stays in and what gets taken out.
Today on the Wheelhouse, we&rsquo;re talking about government redactions and the power of the pen.
Guests:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://historyarthistory.gmu.edu/people/slebovic">Sam Lebovic</a>:&nbsp;history professor at George Mason University</li>
<li><a href="https://michigan.law.umich.edu/faculty-and-scholarship/our-faculty/barbara-l-mcquade">Barbara McQuade</a>:&nbsp;former U.S. Attorney, United States Attorney&rsquo;s Office Eastern District of Michigan</li>
</ul>

A transparency black mark: What do redactions convey about politics?

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>

These UHart students say the most important campus political debate happens in the classroom

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