The Wheelhouse

Today Joe Biden became the forty-sixth president of the United States. Will America heed President Biden’s calls to end an 'uncivil war' in political debate that spilled over into violence at the capitol two weeks ago? A vice presidential swearing-in also makes history. Now that Donald Trump has left Washington and been kicked off Twitter, what has changed and what remains the same? And how will Connecticut’s political parties be impacted by the change at the White House? Guests: Robert A. Sanders -- Chair of the National Security Department of the Henry C. Lee College at the University of New Haven Bilal Sekou -- Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Hartford (@BilalSekou) Daniela Altimari -- Hartford Courant Politics Reporter (@capitolwatch) This show aired live at 8 pm on inauguration day.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Starting January 13, Connecticut Public Radio's weekly Wednesday politics show becomes part of Where We Live. It will have a revamped format that includes interviews with news makers and analysis from some of the same top notch reporters and political observers who contributed to The Wheelhouse. To continue hearing our weekly politics program, go to the Where We Live web page, search your podcast app for Where We Live and subscribe, or download the Connecticut Public app!Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two US Senate contests in Georgia will decide who controls the chamber. Democrats are optimistic after a night of vote counting. How big of an impact will the outcome have on the direction of the country? Meanwhile, Republicans in Congress are divided about whether to accept the electoral college vote today, or whether to continue President Donald Trump’s effort to overturn the outcome of the presidential election. Will there be long-term ramifications for democracy? The Trump administration and its supporters have failed to deliver evidence to support their claims of widespread voter fraud. Here in Connecticut, the General Assembly session begins today. But because of COVID-19, it will be anything but a normal opening day. Guests: Susan Bigelow -- Columnist for C-T News Junkie (@WhatEverSusan) Mark Pazniokas -- Capitol Bureau Chief for the Connecticut Mirror (@CTMirrorPaz) Colin McEnroe -- Host of The Colin McEnroe show, and a columnist at Hearst Connecticut. (@ColinMcEnroe) Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Wheelhouse looks back at what was... Quite a year. Also a glance at the president's pardons and a very early look at some possible candidates for governor. Guests: Kevin Rennie -- Hartford Courant Columnist and former state lawmaker (@DailyRuctions) Bilal Sekou -- Associate Professor of Politics and Government at the University of Hartford (@bilalsekou) Colin McEnroe -- Host of The Colin McEnroe show, and a columnist at Hearst Connecticut. (@ColinMcEnroe) Join us on Twitter @wnprwheelhouse.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Connecticut’s education commissioner is heading to Washington. What sort of approach to schooling during the pandemic will Miguel Cardona bring to President-elect Joe Biden’s new administration? He’s not the only person with ties to the state heading to the capitol. Officials from Connecticut could have influence over environmental policy. Back in the state, would you pay a little more for gasoline, if it resulted in a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions? And is it better for elected officials in Connecticut to get COVID-19 vaccinations now to instill confidence in the shots, or to wait until after all the doctors and nurses are vaccinated? Guests: Russell Blair -- Content Editor at the Hartford Courant (@RussellBlairCT) Charles Venator-Santiago -- Associate professor of political science at the University of Connecticut Colin McEnroe -- Host of The Colin McEnroe show, and a columnist at Hearst Connecticut. (@ColinMcEnroe)Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Connecticut’s first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine has arrived. What does this moment represent in the battle against the virus? Electoral college votes have been cast in the state, and around the country, again confirming Joe Biden’s presidential win. Will Republican voters believe that Biden was victorious? Guests: Dr. Jonathan Wharton -- Associate Professor of Political Science and Urban Affairs at Southern Connecticut State University and Interim Associate Graduate School Dean (@PreppyProf) Christine Stuart -- Owner and editor in chief of Connecticut News Junkie and a reporter for NBC Connecticut. (@ctnewsjunkie) Colin McEnroe -- Host of The Colin McEnroe show, and a columnist at Hearst Connecticut. (@ColinMcEnroe)Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Connecticut could face a crossroads in its battle with COVID-19. On one hand, healthcare workers are expected to get vaccinated over the next month-and-a-half. But shots for elderly people and patients with underlying medical problems will not begin until January, and people who are not in a high-risk or critical group are expected to have to wait until June. In the meantime, can Connecticut prevent the virus from spiraling out of control over the holidays? Guests: Emily Brindley -- Hartford Courant Reporter (@em_brindley) Dan Haar -- Columnist and associate editor at Hearst Connecticut (@DanHaarColumns) Colin McEnroe -- Host of The Colin McEnroe show, and a columnist at Hearst Connecticut. (@ColinMcEnroe)Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than 5,000 people have died with coronavirus in Connecticut since the start of the pandemic. Deaths have been accelerating and the number of patients hospitalized with the illness is growing. But vaccines are on the horizon. This week we look at Connecticut officials’ latest moves to counter the spread of COVID-19, and how virus response leads to disagreements in state governments around the country. Guests: Daniela Altimari -- state government and politics reporter at the Hartford Courant (@capitolwatch) Robert Cotto, Jr. -- Trinity College Educational Studies lecturer (@RobertCottoJr) Colin McEnroe -- Host of The Colin McEnroe show and a columnist at Hearst Connecticut. (@ColinMcEnroe)Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Top members of the Lamont administration go into quarantine as they also deal with a resurgence of COVID-19 in Connecticut. How much trouble are we facing in the state, and in the nation? And could an app on your phone help protect the people around you? Guests: Bill Curry -- Political analyst, former Democratic nominee for governor, and advisor in the Clinton White House (@billcurryct) Harriet Jones -- Connecticut Public Radio Managing Editor (@WNPRHarriet) Colin McEnroe -- Host of The Colin McEnroe show, and a columnist at Hearst Connecticut. (@ColinMcEnroe) Join us on Twitter @wnprwheelhouse.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After losing the presidential election, the Trump administration has threatened to sue, and argued that maybe the Supreme Court should decide the election. Why have the lawsuits failed to gain traction so far? President-elect Joe Biden has begun his transition effort, naming a Yale professor as one of the leaders of his coronavirus task force. And new leaders are asserting themselves at the General Assembly. Guests: Renny Fulco -- Director of Public Policy and Law at Trinity College Mark Pazniokas -- Capitol Bureau Chief for the Connecticut Mirror (@CTMirrorPaz) Colin McEnroe -- Host of The Colin McEnroe show, and a columnist at Hearst Connecticut. (@ColinMcEnroe)Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Election day is in the rearview mirror… Finally. But what can we see back there? We will consider who will lead the country for the next four years, review Congressional contests in Connecticut, and search for meaning in General Assembly races. Are you sitting on a ballot? Guests: Paul Bass -- New Haven Independent Editor (@PaulJBass) Charles Venator-Santiago - Associate professor of political science at UConn Colin McEnroe -- Host of The Colin McEnroe show, and a columnist at Hearst Connecticut. (@ColinMcEnroe)Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lucy Nalpathanchil previews the upcoming election with some of the same political scientists and reporters who share their insight on the Wheelhouse. Produced as a TV/radio/streaming special Thursday, October 29. Khalilah Brown-Dean -- Political Science Professor and Senior Director for Inclusive Excellence at Quinnipiac University and author of Identity Politics in the United States and host of the Connecticut Public Radio show Disrupted Dan Haar -- Columnist and associate editor at Hearst Connecticut Jonathan Wharton -- Political Science and Urban Affairs Associate Professor and Interim Associate Graduate School Dean at Southern Connecticut State University Christine Stuart -- (At the State Capitol) Connecticut News Junkie Editor in Chief and NBC Connecticut Reporter. Emilie Munson -- (In Washington, D.C.) Hearst Newspapers Washington, D.C. Regional correspondent In collaboration with Hearst Connecticut Newspapers.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s the final Wheelhouse before election day, and we’ve got a lot to talk about. This hour, Colin McEnroe hosts as we look at the latest on the Presidential election where younger Americans are voting early in record numbers, and panelist Leah Wright-Rigueur says the GOP is flattering Black voters, while discouraging voter turnout. Also, how confident should we feel about absentee voting here in Connecticut? Why doesn't Connecticut have early voting? And as COVID positivity rates increase in our state, Halloween is looking a little different this year. GUESTS: Leah Wright-Rigueur - Harry Truman Professor of American History at Brandeis University, Author of The Loneliness of the Black Republican (@LeahRigueur) Kevin Rennie - Hartford Courant Columnist and former state lawmaker, co-host of Face The State on NBC Connecticut (@DailyRuctions) Russell Blair - Content Editor at the Hartford Courant (@RussellBlairCT) Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The percentage of COVID-19 tests coming back positive is increasing in Connecticut. A member of the state’s Congressional delegation describes what it is like to be targeted by racism. And look out Donald Trump... Here comes the mute button! We look ahead to tomorrow’s debate between the president and former vice president Joe Biden. Guests: Emilie Munson -- Regional correspondent for Hearst newspapers based in Washington, D.C. (@emiliemunson) Bilal Sekou -- Associate Professor of Politics and Government at the University of Hartford (@bilalsekou) Colin McEnroe -- Host of The Colin McEnroe show, and a columnist at Hearst Connecticut. (@ColinMcEnroe) Join us on Twitter @wnprwheelhouse.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There was no Wheelhouse this week because of live coverage of Amy Coney Barrett's Supreme Court confirmation hearing. In place of the Wheelhouse, here is a new program on Connecticut Public Radio called Disrupted. It's hosted by Khalilah Brown-Dean. She's a professor at Quinnipiac University and a panelist on the Wheelhouse. Disrupted looks at how the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement have changed the United States. Khalilah and her guests make sense of it all. Check out Disrupted's web page!Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump is back at the White House following his hospitalization with coronavirus. But did some aspects of the president's return send the wrong message about coronavirus? Given the ages of both candidates for president, maybe we should pay a little more attention to tonight’s vice presidential debate. We will also check in on the initial Fifth Congressional District debate. After recovering from COVID-19, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes faced off with former prosecutor David Sullivan. Guests: Daniela Altimari - state government and politics reporter at the Hartford Courant (@capitolwatch) Dr. Jonathan Wharton -- Associate Professor of Political Science and Urban Affairs at Southern Connecticut State University and Interim Associate Graduate School Dean (@PreppyProf) Colin McEnroe -- Host of The Colin McEnroe show, and a columnist at Hearst Connecticut. (@ColinMcEnroe)Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden met in the first presidential debate last night. The two men traded personal insults, and the president repeatedly interrupted the former vice president. Here in Connecticut state lawmakers are gearing up for a special session today. We will have the latest on which proposals are in, and which are out. Guests: Mark Pazniokas -- Capitol Bureau Chief for the Connecticut Mirror (@CTMirrorPaz) Charles Venator-Santiago - Associate professor of political science at UConn Colin McEnroe -- Host of The Colin McEnroe show, and a columnist at Hearst Connecticut. (@ColinMcEnroe) Join us on Twitter @wnprwheelhouse.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amid signs of public distrust in a quick vaccine release, Governor Ned Lamont says the state will review any COVID-19 innoculation for safety and effectiveness. A member of Connecticut’s congressional delegation tests positive for coronavirus. And how will Halloween be different during the pandemic? Guests: John McKinney -- Former Republican State Senate Minority Leader (@SenatorMcKinney) Christine Stuart -- Owner and editor in chief of Connecticut News Junkie and a reporter for NBC Connecticut. (@ctnewsjunkie) Join us on Twitter! (@wnprwheelhouse)Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are developments in two unrelated federal investigations that involve Connecticut and the world of politics. One inquiry resulted in the arrest of Bridgeport’s police chief and the city’s personnel director. There was a high-ranking resignation from the other probe, amid concerns about political pressure from the Trump administration. That investigation is run by the US attorney from Connecticut, and targets the federal officials who investigated possible connections between the president and Russia. Also, COVID-19 may be sticking its nose back under the tent in Connecticut. ...And Khalilah Brown-Dean gets Disruptive! Dan Haar -- Columnist and associate editor at Hearst Connecticut (@DanHaarColumns) Khalilah Brown-Dean -- Quinnipiac University Political Science Professor and Senior Director for Inclusive Excellence at the university and author of Identity Politics in the United States and host of the upcoming Connecticut Public Radio show Disrupted. (@KBDPHD) Colin McEnroe -- Host of The Colin McEnroe show, and a columnist at Hearst Connecticut. (@ColinMcEnroe)Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are developments in two unrelated federal investigations that involve Connecticut and the world of politics. One inquiry resulted in the arrest of Bridgeport’s police chief and the city’s personnel director. There was a high-ranking resignation from the other probe, amid concerns about political pressure from the Trump administration. That investigation is run by the US attorney from Connecticut, and targets the federal officials who investigated possible connections between the president and Russia. Also, COVID-19 may be sticking its nose back under the tent in Connecticut. ...And Khalilah Brown-Dean gets Disruptive! Dan Haar -- Columnist and associate editor at Hearst Connecticut (@DanHaarColumns) Khalilah Brown-Dean -- Quinnipiac University Political Science Professor and Senior Director for Inclusive Excellence at the university and author of Identity Politics in the United States and host of the upcoming Connecticut Public Radio show Disrupted. (@KBDPHD) Colin McEnroe -- Host of The Colin McEnroe show, and a columnist at Hearst Connecticut. (@ColinMcEnroe)Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

High school football players, parents, and coaches make a goal line stand to try to prevent the cancelation or postponement of their season due to COVID-19. Is the virus controlled enough to let students compete on the gridiron? Also, a partisan divide deepens over the governor's coronavirus emergency powers. Russell Blair -- Content Editor at the Hartford Courant (@RussellBlairCT) Keila Torres Ocasio -- Investigative Editor at Hearst Connecticut (@ktorresbpt) Colin McEnroe -- Host of The Colin McEnroe show, and a columnist at Hearst Connecticut. (@ColinMcEnroe) Join us on Twitter @wnprwheelhouse!Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Governor Ned Lamont wants to keep his coronavirus emergency powers a few months longer. Not everyone is happy about that. Will the pandemic alter the next race for governor? Plus we look at some other impacts of COVID-19 in Connecticut, and we check in on the presidential race now that the conventions are in the rear view mirror, demonstrators are clashing in the streets of some cities, and the president visits Kenosha, Wisconsin. David Collins -- Columnist for The Day in New London (@DavidCollinsct) Susan Raff -- Chief Capitol Reporter for Eyewitness News Channel 3 (@SusanRaff1) Colin McEnroe -- Host of The Colin McEnroe show, and a columnist at Hearst Connecticut. (@ColinMcEnroe) Join us on Twitter @wnprwheelhouse.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Republicans use their national convention to stoke concerns about radical Black Lives Matter demonstrators, socialists, and low-income housing. Eversource gets zapped by angry Connecticut customers at a public hearing on rate hikes. And how will parents and educators choose between in-person classes and distance learning as the school year begins? Guests: Daniela Altimari - state government and politics reporter at the Hartford Courant (@capitolwatch) Kevin Rennie -- Hartford Courant Columnist and former state lawmaker (@DailyRuctions) Colin McEnroe -- Host of The Colin McEnroe show, and a columnist at Hearst Connecticut. (@ColinMcEnroe)Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Democratic National Convention goes virtual. President Donald Trump takes on the Post Office as Connecticut and many other states are poised to expand voting through the mail in November. Domestic violence allegations that were known in the GOP resulted in the arrest of a Republican congressional primary candidate who won the party's endorsement anyway. How bad is the fallout for party leadership? Guests: Kaitlyn Krasselt -- statewide political reporter for Hearst Connecticut Media (@kaitlynkrasselt) Bilal Sekou -- Associate Professor of Politics and Government at the University of Hartford (@bilalsekou) Colin McEnroe -- Host of The Colin McEnroe show, and a columnist at Hearst Connecticut. (@ColinMcEnroe) Join us on Twitter @wnprwheelhouse.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we clean up after the storm and the state's primary. There may also be discussion of football. Guests: Brian Lockhart -- Covers Bridgeport politics and policy at Hearst Connecticut (@blockhart1) Mark Pazniokas -- Capitol Bureau Chief at the Connecticut Mirror (@CTMirrorPaz) Mercy Quaye -- Columnist for Hearst Connecticut, adjunct faculty at Southern Connecticut State University, and founding Principal Consultant at The Narrative Project (@Mercy_WriteNow) Join us on Twitter @wnprwheelhouse.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The state Senate is considering a police accountability bill that cleared the house last week. Meanwhile, parents, teachers, and students are making difficult decisions about going back to school during the pandemic. Robert Cotto, Junior -- Trinity College Director of Urban Educational Initiatives and Educational Studies lecturer (@RobertCottoJr) Keith Phaneuf -- State budget reporter at the Connecticut Mirror (@CTMirrorKeith) Christine Stuart -- Owner and editor of Connecticut News Junkie (@ctnewsjunkie) Colin McEnroe -- Host of The Coline McEnroe Show and a columnist for Hearst Connecticut (@colinmcenroe)Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We look at the mostly positive trends for COVID-19 in the state. And we glance worriedly at some other states. Our panel will take a closer look at new rules, training, and oversight for police officers in Connecticut. That bill is expected to soon be considered in a General Assembly special session. And are new beach restrictions in some towns really entirely about COVID-19? Guests: Renny Fulco -- Director of Public Policy and Law at Trinity College Dan Haar -- Columnist and Associate Editor at Hearst Connecticut Media (@DanHaarColumns) Dr. Jonathan Wharton -- Associate Professor of Political Science and Urban Affairs at Southern Connecticut State University (@PreppyProf)Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

State lawmakers have put some details on the table, as they craft a law enforcement bill in response to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. But does the proposal meet the needs of the moment? After opposition including a lawsuit involving the state of Connecticut, the Trump administration backs off a new rule that targeted international students. And an announcement is expected in the coming weeks, as former Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd helps presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden find a vice presidential running mate. Guests: Paul Bass -- New Haven Independent Editor (@PaulJBass) Dr. Khalilah Brown-Dean -- Quinnipiac University Political Science Professor and Senior Director for Inclusive Excellence and author of Identity Politics in the United States (@KBDPHD) Kevin Rennie -- Hartford Courant Columnist and former state lawmaker (@DailyRuctions)Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Abolitionist Frederick Douglass has been in the news recently, even though he died more than a century ago. What can one of his speeches from before the Civil War teach us today? What could be proposed in a Connecticut General Assembly special session in response to the death of George Floyd? Donald Trump offers a possible preview of his campaign themes. And Connecticut postpones the next step of re-opening because of mounting COVID-19 cases in other states. Guests: Daniela Altimari - state government and politics reporter at the Hartford Courant (@capitolwatch) Bill Curry - Political analyst, former Democratic nominee for governor, and advisor in the Clinton White House (@billcurryct) Charles Venator-Santiago - Associate Professor of Political Science at UConn Join us on Twitter @wnprwheelhouse!Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the Wheelhouse, we compare some of the proposals on the state level in Connecticut, in response to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Should the focus of a special session be on making law enforcement more just for people of color? Or should larger issues also be considered? Will a special session actually happen? State GOP lawmakers are involved in lawsuits challenging the coronavirus actions of some Democratic Connecticut officials. Guests: Mark Pazniokas -- Capitol Bureau Chief for the Connecticut Mirror (@CTMirrorPaz) John Henry Smith -- Connecticut Public Radio’s host of All Things Considered (@jhsthethird) Christine Stuart -- C-T News Junkie editor-in-chief and a reporter at NBC Connecticut (@ctnewsjunkie) Join us on Twitter @wnprwheelhouse.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Changes are starting to be made in Connecticut law enforcement, as protests continue over the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis. The US Supreme Court issues a decision some see as a landmark in the fight for gay rights. And today marks the start of a new phase of the reopening of businesses in Connecticut as coronavirus recedes in the state. Guests: Russell Blair - Content Editor at the Hartford Courant (@RussellBlairCT) Leah Wright Rigueur -- Associate Professor of Public Policy at Harvard's Kennedy School (@LeahRigueur) Colin McEnroe -- Host of The Colin McEnroe show, and a columnist at Hearst Connecticut. (@ColinMcEnroe) Join us on Twitter @wnprwheelhouse.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

...You should listen to First Wave. It's the Connecticut Public Radio news documentary about the arrival of COVID-19 in the state. With information collected as the illness spread, and interviews that reveal new information about the state's response to the pandemic, First Wave looks at how cornavirus has changed the lives of many people in Connecticut. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The country is jolted by the death of George Floyd, and by nation-wide demonstrations against police brutality that sometimes turned violent. How did we get to this point? What should be done to make law enforcement and society more just? Guests: David Collins -- Columnist for The Day in New London (@DavidCollinsct) Bilal Sekou -- Associate Professor of Politics and Government at the University of Hartford (@bilalsekou) Colin McEnroe -- Host of The Colin McEnroe show, and a columnist at Hearst Connecticut. (@ColinMcEnroe) Some reading suggestions for people trying to understand all of this: 1. Racecraft: The Soul of Inequality in American Life by Karen E. Fields and Barbara J. Fields 2. From #BlackLivesMatter to Black Liberation by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor 3. Making All Black Lives Matter: Reimagining Freedom in the Twenty-First Century by Barbara Ransby 4. White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo 5. Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi 6. White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide by Carol Anderson 7. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates 8. Chokehold: Policing Black Men by Paul Butler 9. Policing the Planet: Why the Policing Crisis Led to Black Lives Matter by Jordan T. Camp 10. The End of Policing by Alex S. Vitale 11. Racism Without Racists: Color-Blind Racism and the Persistence of Racial Inequality in America by Eduardo Bonilla-Silva List courtesy of Professor Bilal Sekou. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we take a look at the political divide on coronavirus in Connecticut and around the country. But could there also be a seed of pandemic bipartisanship in the state? We playback some of the judicial greatest hits of a high-profile member of the state Supreme Court. How might Justice Richard Palmer’s retirement change the court? And a look at some award-winning reporting. Guests: Kaitlyn Krasselt -- Political Reporter for Hearst Connecticut Media (@kaitlynkrasselt) Jonathan Wharton -- Professor of Political Science and Urban Affairs at Southern Connecticut State University (@PreppyProf) Colin McEnroe -- Host of The Colin McEnroe show, and a columnist at Hearst Connecticut. (@ColinMcEnroe) Join us on Twitter @wnprwheelhouse.Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is today the right time to start re-opening Connecticut’s economy after much of the state was closed to slow the spread of coronavirus? We discuss the start of a phased-in reopening of businesses in the state. We take a closer look at the problems plaguing the state Department of Public Health. Have they limited the agency’s capabilities during the pandemic? Amid controversy over the attempted firing of the Partnership for Connecticut's new CEO, the Dalios pull out of the partnership. They blame two state lawmakers. Guests: Dan Haar -- Columnist and Associate Editor at the Connecticut Post (@DanHaarColumns) Susan Raff -- Chief Capitol Reporter for Eyewitness News Channel 3 (@SusanRaff1) Colin McEnroe -- Host of The Colin McEnroe show, and a columnist at Hearst Connecticut. (@ColinMcEnroe)Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Governor Ned Lamont has removed the Commissioner of Connecticut's Department of Public Health in the middle of a pandemic. How big are the problems faced by nursing homes trying to keep their elderly residents safe? We continue talking about the changes coming as the state gradually re-opens on May 20. And we share feats of strength and air grievances with a bit of a heavy heart, following the death of Seinfeld actor Jerry Stiller. Guests: Beth Hamilton -- Executive Editor of the Connecticut Mirror (@ekhamilton4) Kevin Rennie -- Hartford Courant Columnist and former state lawmaker (@DailyRuctions) Colin McEnroe -- Host of The Colin McEnroe show, and a columnist at Hearst Connecticut. (@ColinMcEnroe)Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parents have gotten news they were expecting about continued distance learning, but it’s still going to be a rough two months. Most states in the nation had already made this decision, including Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island. This hour, we talk about what this will mean for students and educators, and how schools might plan to reopen in the fall. Also, in Connecticut black residents are dying from COVID-19 in higher numbers per capita than white residents. So what is the state doing to get more testing to vulnerable communities? And some think Chris Dodd is an odd choice as co-chair of Joe Biden’s VP search committee.4 GUESTS: Colin McEnroe - Host of The Colin McEnroe Show, and a columnist for Hearst Connecticut (@ColinMcEnroe) Susan Bigelow - columnist at ctnewsjunkie.com (@whateversusan) Bilal Sekou-- Associate Professor of Politics and Government at University of Hartford (@bilalsekou) Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 20th. It’s the day that Governor Lamont’s closure orders run out. Will schools and nonessential businesses begin to open back up? That all depends on positive trends on COVID-19 hospitalizations, and access to testing. Meanwhile, the 47-member “Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group” has been meeting behind closed doors to give recommendations to the governor on how the state might begin to get back to any sort of normal. This hour we check in on what it might look like to reopen our state. Also, we remember Hartford Courant journalist Josh Kovner who passed away on Friday. GUESTS: Mark Paziokas - Capitol bureau cheif at the Connecticut Mirror (@ctmirrorpaz) Daniela Altimari - covers state government and politics at the Hartford Courant (@capitolwatch) Colin McEnroe - Host of The Colin McEnroe Show, and a columnist for Hearst Connecticut (@ColinMcEnroe) Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some Connecticut residents including Trump supporters protested this week in their cars against the coronavirus shutdowns. The Connecticut General Assembly’s regular session is kaput, but lawmakers may return in a special session. Another GOP leader will say goodbye... But not forever. The state’s presidential primary has gotten delayed again, and now is the same day as the primaries for state offices. Connecticut US Senator Chris Murphy's foreign policy chops lands him a national profile. Guests: Christine Stuart -- C-T News Junkie editor-in-chief (@ctnewsjunkie) Dr. Jonathan Wharton -- Professor of Political Science and Urban Affairs at Southern Connecticut State University (@PreppyProf) Colin McEnroe -- Host of The Colin McEnroe Show, and a columnist for Hearst Connecticut (@ColinMcEnroe) Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yet again, President Donald Trump draws attention to himself with his comments. This time the president claims to have "total authority" over decisions to re-open businesses and schools. But governors actually make those decisions on a state level during a major public health crisis like coronavirus. The president also says he will cut US funding for the World Health Organization, in the middle of a pandemic. Has a partisan divide emerged over steps Governor Ned Lamont has taken to slow the spread of coronavirus? GOP state lawmakers have spoken out against some of the Democratic leader’s emergency orders. We will also talk about the damage done to state finances by COVID-19 and efforts to slow the virus' spread. Bernie Sanders has suspended his campaign and endorsed Joe Biden, but could Connecticut still have a presidential primary anyway? Guests: Harriet Jones -- Connecticut Public Radio Managing Editor (@WNPRHarriet) Keith Phaneuf -- State Budget reporter for the Connecticut Mirror (@CTMirrorKeith) Colin McEnroe -- Host of The Colin McEnroe show, and a columnist at Hearst Connecticut. (@ColinMcEnroe) Join the conversation on Twitter @WNPRWheelhouse!Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Has COVID-19 ended Connecticut's General Assembly session? Lucy Nalpathanchil checks in with a lawmaker diagnosed with the disease. How can voting go forward in Wisconsin while coronavirus is spreading? And why does it seem to be hitting black people harder than white people? Guests: Khalilah Brown-Dean -- Quinnipiac University Political Science Professor and author of Identity Politics in the United States (@KBDPHD) Russell Blair – Hartford Courant Content Editor (@RussellBlairCT) Colin McEnroe -- Host of The Colin McEnroe show, and a columnist at Hearst Connecticut. (@colinmcenroe) Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coronavirus is spreading across the nation, and New York City has become a hot spot for the disease. With its ties to New York, nearby Fairfield County has also been hard hit. But as some governors try to protect their residents by ordering quarantine for out-of-staters, does it tear at the fabric of our country? Was the president too quick to speculate about quarantining parts of Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey? We’ll also hear what our panelists are reading and watching now that we must all stay in. GUESTS: Kevin Rennie -- Hartford Courant Columnist and former state lawmaker (@DailyRuctions) Kaitlyn Krasselt -- Political Reporter for Hearst Connecticut Media (@kaitlynkrasselt) Colin McEnroe -- Host of The Colin McEnroe show, and a columnist at Hearst Connecticut. (@colinmcenroe) Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.