A recent NPR/PBS News/Marist University poll indicated Americans’ displeasure with their government.

It found 62% of Americans surveyed believed the country is heading in the wrong direction, while 79 % say the country is going too far to restrict free speech.

So, what are people doing with their frustrations?

Today on The Wheelhouse, we’re talking with community organizers and researchers who say our voices are stronger than we think.

GUESTS:
Kerry Ellington, Connecticut-based community organizer
Hahrie Han, professor of political science, Johns Hopkins University

A recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/10/01/nx-s1-5558304/poll-political-violence-free-speech-vaccines-national-guard-epstein-trump">NPR/PBS News/Marist University</a>&nbsp;poll indicated Americans&rsquo; displeasure with their government.
It found 62% of Americans surveyed believed the country is heading in the wrong direction, while 79 % say the country is going too far to restrict free speech.
So, what are people doing with their frustrations?
Today on The Wheelhouse, we&rsquo;re talking with community organizers and researchers who say our voices are stronger than we think.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-ellington-2b1780237/">Kerry Ellington</a>, Connecticut-based community organizer</li>
<li><a href="https://politicalscience.jhu.edu/directory/hahrie-han/">Hahrie Han</a>, professor of political science, Johns Hopkins 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

What community engagement offers CT residents at a time when they’re fed up with their government

Election results from 2024 have necessitated deep dives into the manosphere.These podcasts often don’t focus on political horse races – and many of the people on them say they’re not political.

But, according to one data firm, 54% of votes from men aged 18 to 29 were cast for Donald Trump. And his campaign did a lot of outreach to appear on the podcasts, courting an audience demographic that once went the other way.

Today on The Wheelhouse, with the midterms coming up in November we ask: Can MAGA still count on the manosphere?

Guests:
Elena Moore, political reporter, NPR’s Washington Desk
Charlie Sabgir, director, Young Men Research Project
Theodore R. Johnson, contributing columnist, The Washington Post

Election results from 2024 have necessitated deep dives into the manosphere.These podcasts often don&rsquo;t focus on political horse races &ndash; and many of the people on them say they&rsquo;re not political.
But,<a href="https://time.com/7378792/trump-young-voters-polls/">&nbsp;according to one data firm</a>, 54% of votes from men aged 18 to 29 were cast for Donald Trump. And his campaign did a lot of outreach to appear on the podcasts, courting an audience demographic that once went&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/11/07/g-s1-33331/unpacking-the-2024-youth-vote-heres-what-we-know-so-far">the other way</a>.
Today on The Wheelhouse, with the midterms coming up in November we ask: Can MAGA still count on the manosphere?
Guests:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.npr.org/people/732818534/elena-moore">Elena Moore</a>, political reporter, NPR&rsquo;s Washington Desk</li>
<li><a href="https://www.ymrp.org/team">Charlie Sabgir</a>, director, Young Men Research Project</li>
<li><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/theodore-r-johnson/">Theodore R. Johnson</a>, contributing columnist, The Washington Post</li>
</ul>

What Trump votes tell us about the ‘manosphere’

Across Connecticut, some students are joining a national movement to protest federal immigration crackdowns.

Students from Classical Magnet School in Hartford poured out of the classroom and onto the streets in February, holding up signs like “ICE OUT” to passing cars.

The demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement are happening in places like Hartford, Tampa and Northern Virginia in the weeks since federal agents killed two Americans in Minneapolis.

This hour, we’re discussing student protests and other ways young people are engaging in civics. We'll also get the latest on the developing conflict in Iran and the Middle East.

Guests:
U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.)
Gina Chace, assistant principal, CREC Academy of Aerospace and Engineering
Annmarie Timmins, senior reporter on youth and education, NHPR
Chris Doyle, history teacher, Avon Old Farms

Across Connecticut, some students are joining&nbsp;<a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/education/5745489-ice-out-student-protests-texas-florida-oklahoma/">a national movement to protest federal immigration crackdowns</a>.
Students from Classical Magnet School in Hartford poured out of the classroom and onto the streets in February,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/5TvIo4qZits">holding up signs</a>&nbsp;like &ldquo;ICE OUT&rdquo; to passing cars.
The demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement are happening in places like Hartford, Tampa and Northern Virginia in the weeks since federal agents killed two Americans in Minneapolis.
This hour, we&rsquo;re discussing student protests and other ways young people are engaging in civics. We'll also get the latest on the developing conflict in Iran and the Middle East.
Guests:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://courtney.house.gov/">U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.)</a></li>
<li>Gina Chace, assistant principal, CREC Academy of Aerospace and Engineering</li>
<li><a href="https://www.nhpr.org/people/annmarie-timmins">Annmarie Timmins</a>, senior reporter on youth and education, NHPR</li>
<li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-doyle-4a232836/">Chris Doyle</a>,&nbsp;history teacher, Avon Old Farms</li>
</ul>

The latest on Iran and why CT student protests matter

A plan sponsored by President Donald Trump to overhaul national voting laws ahead of the 2026 midterms is back in Congress.

U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) called the SAVE America Act and its recent passage in the U.S. House a “critical step toward restoring election integrity.” But detractors, like U.S. Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.), said the plan would make it harder for millions of Americans to vote.

Today on The Wheelhouse, the impact on voters, if the SAVE America Act passes. Also on the show, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) responds to Trump’s State of the Union address and gives the latest on the ongoing debate about government funding and immigration reform.

GUESTS:
U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.)
Bilal Sekou, Hillyer College associate professor of political science, University of Hartford
Archon Fung, Professor of citizenship and self-government, Harvard University

A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/02/19/nx-s1-5719252/trump-voting-save-america-act-explainer">plan&nbsp;</a>sponsored by President Donald Trump to overhaul national voting laws ahead of the 2026 midterms is back in Congress.
U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) called the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7296/text">SAVE America Act</a>&nbsp;and its recent passage in the U.S. House a &ldquo;<a href="https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-roys-save-america-act-passes-house-representatives">critical step toward restoring election integrity</a>.&rdquo; But detractors, like U.S. Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/reel/842967615444505/">John Larson</a>&nbsp;(D-Conn.), said the plan would make it harder for millions of Americans to vote.
Today on The Wheelhouse, the impact on voters, if the SAVE America Act passes. Also on the show, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) responds to Trump&rsquo;s State of the Union address and gives the latest on the ongoing debate about government funding and immigration reform.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://delauro.house.gov/">U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.)</a></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>
<li><a href="https://www.hks.harvard.edu/faculty/archon-fung">Archon Fung</a>, Professor of citizenship and self-government, Harvard University</li>
</ul>

What community engagement offers CT residents at a time when they’re fed up with their government

In 1 playlist(s)

The Wheelhouse

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips