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A load of trash bags are dropped off at HQ Dumpsters and Recycling in Southington on April 14, 2022. Orange and green bags, which were part of a pilot municipal food waste recycling program in the town of Meriden at the time, get sorted out of the load and then transferred to an anaerobic digester and turned into electrical power and compost.

This Saturday, April 22nd, marks Earth Day. So we thought it was as good a time as ever to check in on what’s happening on the environmental beat in Connecticut. From bear hunts to trash, there have been a number of environmental proposals before lawmakers this session. This hour, we check in on where those stand.

Plus, there are efforts to legalize natural organic reduction, also known as “human composting," in Connecticut.

GUESTS:
Mark Pazniokas: Capitol Bureau Chief, CT Mirror
John Moritz: State Reporter, Hearst Connecticut Media Group
Alison Cross: Reporter, Hartford Courant

A load of trash bags are dropped off at HQ Dumpsters and Recycling in Southington on April 14, 2022. Orange and green bags, which were part of a pilot municipal food waste recycling program in the town of Meriden at the time, get sorted out of the load and then transferred to an anaerobic digester and turned into electrical power and compost.
This Saturday, April 22nd, marks Earth Day. So we thought it was as good a time as ever to check in on what’s happening on the environmental beat in Connecticut. From bear hunts to trash, there have been a number of environmental proposals before lawmakers this session. This hour, we check in on where those stand.
Plus, there are efforts to legalize natural organic reduction, also known as “human composting," in Connecticut.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://ctmirror.org/author/mpazniokas/">Mark Pazniokas</a>: Capitol Bureau Chief, CT Mirror</li>
<li><a href="https://www.ctinsider.com/author/john-moritz-john-moritz/">John Moritz</a>: State Reporter, Hearst Connecticut Media Group</li>
<li><a href="https://www.courant.com/author/alison-cross/">Alison Cross</a>: Reporter, Hartford Courant</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

We're talking trash (literally) and other environmental issues before Connecticut lawmakers

We’re kicking off a series of candidate interviews today on The Wheelhouse. 

For the next few weeks, we'll be talking with Republicans and Democrats, incumbents and challengers, in Connecticut's congressional districts. Each candidate will have an equal amount of time to talk one-on-one with host Frankie Graziano, followed by some analysis from our guest panelists.

This hour, we ask candidates for Connecticut’s 1st congressional district where they stand on the issues: Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.) and challenger, Republican Jim Griffin.

GUESTS:
Rep. John Larson, (D-Conn.)
Jim Griffin, seeking election for Connecticut’s 1st congressional district
Mark Pazniokas, Capitol bureau chief and a co-founder of CT Mirror
Susan Raff, Chief political reporter, WFSB Eyewitness News Ch. 3

We’re kicking off a series of candidate interviews today on The Wheelhouse. 
For the next few weeks, we'll be talking with Republicans and Democrats, incumbents and challengers, in Connecticut's congressional districts. Each candidate will have an equal amount of time to talk one-on-one with host Frankie Graziano, followed by some analysis from our guest panelists.
This hour, we ask candidates for Connecticut’s 1st congressional district where they stand on the issues: Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.) and challenger, Republican Jim Griffin.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://larson.house.gov/">Rep. John Larson</a>, (D-Conn.)</li>
<li><a href="https://ballotpedia.org/James_P._Griffin_(Connecticut)">Jim Griffin</a>, seeking election for Connecticut’s 1st congressional district</li>
<li><a href="https://ctmirror.org/author/mpazniokas/">Mark Pazniokas</a>, Capitol bureau chief and a co-founder of CT Mirror</li>
<li><a href="https://www.wfsb.com/authors/Susan-Raff/">Susan Raff</a>, Chief political reporter, WFSB Eyewitness News Ch. 3</li>
</ul>

Election 2024: Connecticut's 1st Congressional District

The 2024 U.S. Presidential Debate between vice president Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump highlighted how immigration is being sensationalized to score votes.

Trump says that “dangerous” migrants are contributing to an overall spike in crime in the United States. But, the FBI reports that violent crime has decreased. He also says that 21 million people have recently entered the country illegally, despite federal law enforcement reporting a smaller number.

Today on the Wheelhouse, the use of immigration misinformation on the campaign trail.

Also, an increase in public benefits charges has many Connecticut residents complaining about their electric bills. We’ll discuss what state politicians are saying about the rate increases.

GUESTS:
Charles Venator-Santiago, Associate professor of political science and El Instituto, University of Connecticut
Maria Sacchetti, reporter covering immigrant communities, The Washington Post
Dan Haar, Senior editor and columnist, Hearst Connecticut Media Group

The 2024 U.S. Presidential Debate between vice president Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump highlighted how immigration is being <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/trump-pushes-baseless-claim-immigrants-eating-pets-rcna170537">sensationalized</a> to score votes.
Trump says that “dangerous” migrants are contributing to an overall spike in crime in the United States. But, the FBI reports that <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-merrick-b-garland-statement-fbis-quarterly-uniform-crime-report">violent crime has decreased</a>. He also says that 21 million people have recently entered the country illegally, <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/fact-checking-the-harris-trump-debate">despite federal law enforcement reporting a smaller number</a>.
Today on the Wheelhouse, the use of immigration misinformation on the campaign trail.
Also, an increase in <a href="https://www.ctinsider.com/business/article/eversource-ui-july-electric-bills-ct-19609007.php">public benefits charges</a> has many Connecticut residents complaining about their electric bills. We’ll discuss what state politicians are saying about the rate increases.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://polisci.uconn.edu/person/charles-venator-santiago/">Charles Venator-Santiago</a>, Associate professor of political science and El Instituto, University of Connecticut</li>
<li><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/maria-sacchetti/">Maria Sacchetti</a>, reporter covering immigrant communities, The Washington Post</li>
<li><a href="https://www.ctinsider.com/author/dan-haar/">Dan Haar</a>, Senior editor and columnist, Hearst Connecticut Media Group</li>
</ul>

How politicians are utilizing anti-immigrant rhetoric on the campaign trail

In advance of the presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, there were negotiations over live microphones and arguments over who could attend. There was even a debate over what network it should be put on.

Historically, debates offer an opportunity for political candidates to provide substantive details about their platforms. But in 2024, more attention is paid to spectacle.

Now that the presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump is over, is it time to focus on the importance of debates and the substance intended to be offered to the American people?

Today on The Wheelhouse, the evolution of public political discourse.

GUESTS:
Dr. 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
Julian E. Zelizer, Professor of history and public affairs, Princeton University
Kathryn Cramer Brownell, Associate professor of history, Purdue University

In advance of the presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, there were negotiations over <a href="https://abc7chicago.com/post/abc-news-releases-rules-2024-presidential-debate-between-kamala-harris-donald-trump-philadelphia/15268377/">live microphones</a> and arguments over <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/09/05/presidential-debate-time-how-to-watch/">who could attend</a>. There was even a <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-abc-news-debate-1949102">debate over what network it should be put on</a>.
Historically, debates offer an opportunity for political candidates to provide substantive details about their platforms. But in 2024, more attention is paid to spectacle.
Now that the presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump is over, is it time to focus on the importance of debates and the substance intended to be offered to the American people?
Today on The Wheelhouse, the evolution of public political discourse.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.hartford.edu/directory/hillyer/sekou-bilal.aspx">Dr. 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, Southern Connecticut State University</li>
<li><a href="https://history.princeton.edu/people/julian-e-zelizer">Julian E. Zelizer</a>, Professor of history and public affairs, Princeton University</li>
<li><a href="https://www.cla.purdue.edu/directory/profiles/kathryn-cramer-brownell.html">Kathryn Cramer Brownell</a>, Associate professor of history, Purdue University</li>
</ul>

We're talking trash (literally) and other environmental issues before Connecticut lawmakers

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