Podcasts about vermonters

Orleans-Essex County Senator Russ Ingalls will recap the VT Primary elections taking place Tuesday 8/11, who voters should blame for the cost-of-living crisis, the policies driving VT to be unaffordable, the Vermont Promise, and why this year is the most important for Vermonters to make their voice heard in the elections.Dave Soulia from FYIVT.com rejoins the show to discuss his recent series on “What VT Hospitals cost.”  We will break down the issues, costs, how the system is impacting Vermonters, and solutions.and Drew Cline, President of the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy, reveals the recent study showing NH business tax relief has resulted in more revenue for state coffers, how the decade-long strategy has made the Granite State a national destination for business growth, and what Vermont could learn from the strategy.

 Vermonters leaving their bodies to science; a group of South African immigrants are settling in the Green Mountain State; Vermont Public reporter Derek Brouwer on what he's learned about the morning of March 11th in South Burlington, when federal agents accused a Vermont immigrant of ramming his car into theirs during a traffic stop.

This summer's already seen a number of big blockbuster movies – The Odyssey, the new Spiderman, Toy Story 5. You can reliably catch all these movies at theaters across our region. But there are also many opportunities this summer to see movies produced, directed, or curated by your neighbors.This hour we'll preview a number of the upcoming film festivals that highlight new and up-and-coming filmmakers in Vermont, and the ways in which Vermonters can get started on their filmmaking journeys. We're joined by Jay Craven, filmmaker and curator of the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival which begins on August 26th. Also joining us is Emma Schlenoff, producer of the film The Obelisk, a board member of the Vermont Production Collective and founder of Witness Oak Productions, and Dillon Tanner, founder of the Mothership Monthly Film Fest which features the films of many first time filmmakers. Broadcast live on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.

Guests include:Jason Sorens, Senior Research Fellow at AIER, rejoins the show to update listeners about the new tariffs implemented by the Trump Administration, what impact they could have, and if the reasoning behind them is strong enough to stop another challenge in court.Representative Mike Tagliavia (R-Orange-1) discusses GOP solutions to affordability and why voters should be skeptical of members of the Majority claiming they have the solutions to VT's problems.Matt Griffiths, Chair of the Maine Young Republicans, breaks down the mess in the Democratic Primary for US Senate in the Pine Tree State and why voters should be concerned with Democratic Socialists running for office.and Andrea Murray, Candidate for VT State Senate Windsor District, talks about her campaign, fighting for rural Vermonters, and the need for more balance in the State House.

President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown is intensifying. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained over 10,000 people just in the last week of June. This month, ICE agents killed two men in less than a week, including a young Columbian father in Maine who reportedly had legal status. Despite the Trump administration's insistence that it is only arresting “the worst of the worst,” most of the people arrested by ICE have no criminal convictions.Fear is now a constant in immigrant communities.“It's like watching a slow car crash every day,” said Jill Martin Diaz, an immigration attorney and executive director of the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project.VAAP is a rapidly growing legal services and technical assistance organization for immigrants. Since becoming VAAP's first paid staff member in January 2024, Martin Diaz now oversees a paid staff of 10, a network of 28 volunteer attorneys and over two dozen volunteer interpreters, among others.VAAP is also the hub of a newly formed network that now offers coordinated immigration legal services throughout the state. The network includes the Association of Africans Living in Vermont, the Center for Justice Reform Clinic at Vermont Law and Graduate School, Vermont Afghan Alliance, and Vermont Legal Aid. “We've seen a really steady stream of people being arrested in Vermont,” said Martin Diaz. VAAP attorneys make weekly visits to Northwest State Correctional Facility and report encountering an average of 12 to 18 immigrants in detention.Martin Diaz warned that “rights and protections are being stripped away every day in mundane-seeming memos and orders from courts. And we're just watching the system slip between our fingers as we're trying to support Vermonters to access their needs.”Anxiety has been compounded by a Supreme Court decision that allows the Trump administration to end temporary protected status. The decision may result in the loss of legal protection for over a million immigrants who have fled war or environmental disasters in their home countries.Martin Diaz said this Supreme Court decision will impact several dozen Haitians, some of whom have lived in Vermont for decades and “find themselves now without temporary protected status, vulnerable to being arrested by ICE and prosecuted for removal proceedings, and most acutely unauthorized to work.”Martin Diaz formerly taught immigration law at Vermont Law and Graduate School, directed its Center for Justice Reform Clinic and practiced at Vermont Legal Aid, and was a lecturer in the department of social work at the University of Vermont. In 2023, Martin Diaz was named by the LGBTQ+ Bar Association as one of the 40 best LGBTQ+ lawyers under 40 and has received awards from the Vermont Bar Association and American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont.Martin Diaz said “that for every terrifying story about ICE hurting people, killing people in the streets, the stories about unfair things happening in courts of law, there are also stories of hope, of the system working as it should, of things going well, that doesn't make the news.”The attorney and activist concluded with a message for immigrants who are fearful: “I'm just so sorry that this is happening. I'm sorry that this isn't what we promised.”

Vermont has six correctional facilities located across the state. Together these prisons house more than 1,500 incarcerated Vermonters.  On Thursday, Vermont Edition, Department of Corrections Commissioner Jon Murad on corrections staffing levels, the department's overtime spending, and overcrowding in some of the state's prisons. Plus, with the Seven Days staff writer Colin Flanders on the Chittenden County state's attorney race.

The popular service Front Porch Forum celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. For many Vermonters, it's a beloved way to connect with neighbors, share local news and find lost cats. The company's also faced criticism for how it moderates content.Today on Vermont Edition, we're joined by the founders of Front Porch Forum, Michael and Valerie Wood-Lewis. They'll tell us about some of the very best posts they've read over the last two decades. We'll also discuss how their team moderates posts, especially about politics.Then: hot weather draws crowds to local rivers, lakes and streams, but every year, tragedies occur on the water. Vermont's search and rescue coordinator will share important information on how to stay safe on the water this summer.

Elizabeth Brown & Paul Craney with the Fiscal Alliance Foundation discuss the announcement of their expansion into Vermont, why VT is falling further behind, the affordability issues impacting the Green Mountain State, and solutions to VT's problems.John Goodnight updates listeners on the restart of hostilities between the US & Iran, why the MOU failed, and the path to peace going forward.Justin Ouellet, musical artist and teacher, discusses his upcoming shows in Vermont, his music background, his passion for performing, his musical style, and how listeners can follow his work.Dave Soulia from FYIVT.com discusses his recent article titled, “VT: Can't afford to live here - Can't afford to leave” and what we can do to turn around the out migration, especially with young Vermonters, that is setting the state on a backwards path.

Extreme heat and potentially strong storms in our region; a lot of young Vermonters saying they're thinking about leaving the state; a collection of stories from all corners of Vermont is part of a historical exhibit celebrating America's 250th.

On Monday, Vermont Edition aired interviews with the two candidates vying for the Democratic nomination for Vermont state auditor. Political newcomer Nicholas Graeter is running against the current deputy state auditor and former state senator, Tim Ashe.The Republican candidate for auditor, H. Brooke Paige, is running uncontested. The primary election is on Aug. 11, and early voting is already underway. 

In May 2024, Vermont enacted entirely unprecedented legislation that attempts to mitigate climate-charged disaster events and associated financial fallout inflicted on Vermont residents. Vermont climate superfund legislation, followed seven months later by New York (and presently pursued by at least ten other states), is in response to climate-charged disaster events that over the ten- yr period ending in '25 cost Vermonters upwards of ~$2 billion. The legislation, premised on a deeply entrenched polluter pay principle, e.g., modeled after the federal toxic waste Superfund program, requires so called carbon majors, here oil and gas companies, to meet their unpaid, externalized costs by making compensatory payments. New York law is targeting a $75 billion fund. These dedicated funds will generally finance climate adaptation and infrastructure resiliency. Not surprisingly, these laws face of aggressive legal challenges by among others the American Petroleum Institute, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, West Virginia-led state attorneys general and the Trump administration that has filed federal lawsuits against both VT and NY. Among numerous related interviews, listeners will recall I discussed advances in attribution science with Stanford's Chris Callahan in May 2025.Information re: Vermont's Climate Superfund Act is at: https://climatechange.vermont.gov/climate-superfund. Information re: Vermont's Conservation Law Foundation is at: https://www.clf.org/serving-new-england/vermont/. (Apologies to Ms. Mihaly, at one point I call her Emily!?!) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thehealthcarepolicypodcast.com

Pam MacKenzie namedNew President of Campaign for VermontCampaign for Vermont is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization dedicated to the vision of a more prosperous Vermont. Their mission is to advocate for public policy changes by reconnecting middle-class Vermonters to their government. Joined by Ben Kinsley Executive director of CFVHayden Dublois is the Data and Analytics Director for the Foundation for Government Accountability. Today to discuss Healthcare, after GOVERNOR PHIL SCOTT SIGNED A HEALTHCARE EXECUTIVE ORDER TO EXPAND INSURANCE CHOICES AND LOWER COSTS Musicians Christine Lynch Malcolm and Marc Edwards, AT the Highland Center for the ArtsSaturday, July 18, 7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M.In this 250th Anniversary of our Declaration of Independence it is fitting to celebrate the American folk tradition of songs of “resistance, solidarity and hope.”The Highland Center for the Arts is glad to welcome Patti Casey, Jess O'Brien, Will & Dan Lindner, Christine Malcolm, Don Houghton, Roy MacNeil, Krishna Guthrie and other Vermont artists who will be joining them performing songs from the canon of American folk as well as some of their own originals.

In July's VermontBiz, our focus is on what's working and what's not in Vermont's business and economics. Check out our full interview with Kevin Lesage about his fast-growing digital analytics company Searchlight and how he's building jobs and better data for Vermonters. And even though there's no snow on the ground, Vermont resorts reported the strongest ski season in over 10 years. VermontBiz also untangles the details of 2026's extended legislative session, highlighting what's going on with our state's education reform, property tax rate, and next year's state budget. And will the housing and infrastructure projects ever be done? And if that isn't enough to slake your thirst, check out our list of Vermont's 35 brewers and distillers. From Burlington to Brattleboro, Vermont has an ale for what ails you. All this and more in the July issue of VermontBiz, Serious Business...Serious News. For a subscription, call 802-863-8038 or go to vermontbiz.com/subscribe.

John Reynolds, State Director with NFIB, compares New Hampshire to Vermont and informs listeners why the NH Advantage has been so successful, how it has positively impacted the average Granite Stater, how VT's strategy has failed by comparison, and why a similar model in the Green Mountain State would benefit Vermonters.Nick Murray with Lead Maine updates listeners about new controversies in the race for US Senate in Maine, whether a new candidate will replace Graham Platner, the process to do so, and the path forward for Maine Democrats.Chris Maidment rejoins the show to talk about his trip to Washington D.C. over the weekend to celebrate America 250, the festivities, and why it was worth the trouble of security and travel.Lauren Stewart, Senior Federal Affairs Liaison with Americans for Prosperity, discusses the one year anniversary of the passage of the Working Families Tax Cut, how it is benefiting the American people, misconceptions about what the bill did, and the positive impact it will continue to have in the coming years.

St. Albans Rep. Joe Luneau (R-Franklin-3) joins Paul to talk about the latest Legislative Session, mid-term elections, and major issues facing Vermonters.And Historian Tom Hughes talks about U,S. History and Vermont's response to the 250th celebration in Vermont and Washington D.C.

About 150 Vermonters are incarcerated in Mississippi. Brave Little State explains why.

Extreme heat watches in our region over the next few days; a statewide organization marks a century of serving Vermonters with vision loss; and how to spot blue-green algae blooms in waterways this summer.

Candidate Series: Mark Coester joins the show to discuss his race for Congress, the issues facing Vermonters, his plans to address affordability, and his priorities if electedHon. Timothy Egan, Executive Director of Vermont NORML, updates listeners about changes in Vermont's cannabis laws, what it means for the industry, and what more could be doneJohn Goodnight rejoins the show to update listeners about the conflict with Iran, the MOU signed last week, who gains the most from the deal, whether peace will prevail, and the path forward

Gerald Malloy, Candidate for US Congress, discusses his race for Congress, top issues impacting Vermonters, how Congress could help Vermont, and his message for Vermont VotersJames Czerniawski, Head of Emerging Technology Policy at the Consumer Choice Center, updates listeners about the United Kingdom's move to ban social media for minors, the potential unseen consequences, and the UK's move towards an Orwellian state.Paul Dame, Chair of the Vermont Republican Party, joins the show to talk about the VT GOP's effectiveness even though they are still in the minority and why Vermonters should consider GOP candidates in the midterms.

Vermonters will still need to get their cars and trucks inspected each year but with some reprieve; A Texas-based company is eyeing the former nuclear power plant site for development; A Hardwick family is still searching for a home, years after floods destroyed theirs.

Vermonters will soon be able to opt out of their data being sold online; where to grab free meals this summer in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties; and - a former middle school teacher wrote a song about a pretty impressive horse

Right now, there are around 150 Vermonters behind bars in Tutwiler, Mississippi. Question-asker Devon Kurtz is wondering: Why does the state send these men to a private prison more than a thousand miles away — especially since there's a vacant prison in Windsor, Vermont? Click here for the web version of this episode, including photos and a full transcript. And read an in-depth dispatch from Liam's visit to Tutwiler here. RSVP to our upcoming event in Winooski!This episode was reported by Liam Elder-Connors. Editing and production from Sabine Poux, Burgess Brown, Alicia Freese and Josh Crane. Angela Evancie is our Executive Producer. Theme music by Ty Gibbons; other music by Blue Dot Sessions.Special thanks to Zoe McDonald, Catherine Hurley and Tom Marsh.This episode was made possible with support from the Vermont Public Journalism Fund.As always, our journalism is better when you're a part of it: Ask a question about Vermont Sign up for the BLS newsletter Say hi onInstagram and Reddit @bravestatevt Drop us an email: hello@bravelittlestate.org  Make a gift to support people-powered journalism Tell your friends about the show! Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a proud member of the NPR Network.

Sen. Andrew Perchlik and then Vermont's Healthcare changes with Owen Foster of the Green Mountain Care BoardHost David Zuckerman talks with State Senator Andrew Perchlik to provide a comprehensive look at the new Laws impacting Vermonters; the state budget, education funding reforms, infrastructure, energy and property taxes. In the second half, Green Mountain Care Board Chair Owen Foster joins David to dig into Healthcare; hospitals, regulatory concerns, insurance costs, and access to care for Vermonters.

The U.S. Mint ceased making new pennies in November. Our humble, one-cent, copper-and-zinc coin can still be used as currency, but its circulation will dwindle in the years ahead.Vermont's first coin — before it became a U.S. state — was also made of copper. These coins date back to days of the Green Mountain Boys, when Vermont was its own republic. Historian Jon Mathewson of Middletown Springs shares the history of Harmon's mint in Rupert. Joe Watkins of Vermont Coin & Jewelry in South Burlington gave us his coin collector's perspective on how to make a pretty penny from collecting rare pennies.For insight from the banking world, we talk with Jennifer Smith, a regional leader with Union Bank in Morrisville. We also hear from Matt Cota, managing director of the Vermont Retailers & Grocers Association. He tells us about a new state law that creates a system for rounding cash purchases up or down at the register.When it comes to idioms and common English phrases, the penny punches above its weight: penny pincher, a pretty penny, penny-wise, a penny saved and so many more. Helping us make sense of the penny's place in language is Maeve Eberhardt, associate professor of linguistics at the University of Vermont.

Send us Fan MailHappy 250th, America!We're less than a month away from America's 250th birthday and there are some cool beers releasing to celebrate.George Washington took some good notes on his beers and the NY Public Library collaborated with Talea Brewing to bring his "Small Beer" back to life. They brewed a version as true to the original recipe as possible and another that's revised to take advantage of modern materials and methods. Naturally, Boston Beer Co. / Sam Adams is releasing some patriotic brews as well, a limited 4 pack with recipes from four of the founding fathers.If you want to take a shot at brewing your own presidential beer the National Archives have Obama's recipe for Honey Ale available online. Vermonters are on the verge of having more friendly self-distribution laws. This is a fight many states have, we know it all too well in Georgia. In most states the distributors have the bulk of the power (and money) in the three-tier system so it's a tough battle. Congrats, Vermont.If you're looking to take the family out for dinner and want an option other than Chuck E. Cheese or McDonald's we have good news for you - Hooter's is revamping their practices to be more family friendly. They say they were always meant to be a family restaurant but over the years many locations lost their way. So round up the kids and head to your local Hooter's for some wings... or breasts.In other news a record-breaking 168 pack of beer launches, the world's largest craft beer museum opens in China, and Miller puts a "Juke Keg" up for auction on eBay.Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio!  Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.Subscribe to Beer Guys Radio on your favorite app: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher  | RSSFollow Beer Guys Radio: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon.  Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

In June's VermontBiz, we shine the spotlight on innovation in the sciences and the arts! A statewide weather monitoring network developed by UVM will help give all Vermonters early access to extreme weather events, and a crossstate energy partnership will help manage increased electric demand. Plus, seeing a gap in the arts helped one new Vermonter fill a niche in Middlebury. In environmental news, a landmark legislation makes Vermont the first state in the nation to ban a pesticide linked to Parkinson's. VermontBiz also addressed the transition in Rutland County economics and how a new business is taking us one step closer to utilty-scale quantum computing. And don't miss our special SBA insert featuring Small Business Persons and Small Business of the year awards! All this and more in the June Issue of VermontBiz — Serious Business...Serious News. For a subscription, call 802-863-8038 or go to vermontbiz.com/subscribe

5-28-2026 on Vermont Viewpoint, host David Zuckerman welcomes Margaret McLean and White River Valley SU Superintendent Jamie Kinnarney from the Vermont Rural School Community Alliance to discuss the current bill addressing education. Then, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Aly Richards joins the program to discuss why she wants to be Governor and to answer your questions about her positions on the issues Vermonters face.

Alison Despathy rejoins the show to break down the debate around the clean heat standard, the bait and switch solution from the Majority, and why Vermonters need to stay vigilant.John Vick, Executive Director for Concerned Veterans for America, discusses the importance of Memorial Day, supporting veterans, CVA's Vets on the Hill event in DC, and why more veterans need to speak up in the political process.AJ Kierstead, host of the New England Take Podcast, breaks down the recent electoral losses of incumbent federal elected officials and what it means for the culture of DC going forward.Clara Morrison, Executive Director for Right for Vermont Foundation, updates listeners on the legislature's solutions to education reform, childcare licensing, and why Vermonters demands have not been met by the majority.

Vermont's labor force continues to shrink while unemployment remains steady; Vermont State Police mark the one-year anniversary of an unsolved suspicious death; trash and recycling pickup will cost more in the Northeast Kingdom; hundreds of Vermonters line the streets of Richmond to celebrate local Olympians; Plus…an unlikely friendship changes a life. 

Some movie stars or celebrity chefs have massive followings on Instagram or YouTube. Others gain followers by posting addictive content. But some people simply post about what they love, and build a community from there.Today on Vermont Edition, three Vermonter content creators showcase their passions on social media. Mirna Valerio is an endurance athlete, writer and brand ambassador for major brands like Darn Tough, Lululemon and LLBean. She also advocates for inclusion in the outdoors community. Graham Montague snorkels in local lakes and ponds and posts about his underwater wonders. Christine Tyler Hill is an artist and Burlington crossing guard. She mails a monthly printed newsletter about what she sees, but people on Instagram have caught on, too.They've each learned a lot about how to make social media meaningful instead of soul-sucking. And they also have some big adventures planned for this summer.

Republican Governor Phil Scott declines to say whether he'll run for reelection this year; five Vermonters have come down with salmonella poisoning linked to backyard poultry; Vermont's memory cafes are providing safe spaces for people with dementia and their caregivers; the Montreal Canadiens move on to the NHL's eastern conference finals while the PWHL's Montreal Victoire still need one more victory to secure the Walter Cup; Plus…a woman finds community and a way to help overcome addiction through a communal singing event in Brattleboro.

Kate Baker Demers, Executive Director for the Children's Scholarship Fund, talks about New York opting into the federal tax credit scholarship program, why Vermont should do the same, and how New Hampshire's education freedom programs workRachel Burgin, Deputy Regional Director with Americans for Prosperity, breaks down the progressive attempt to roll back homeschool rights and the need for accountability for elected officials that have failed to deliver on Vermonters' biggest concernsDave Soulia with FYIVT.com dives into the true cost of Act 250, what has Vermont missed out on due to high regulatory costs, and what can be done to change courseand John Goodnight analyzes the historic local election results in the United Kingdom and why it should serve as a warning to “net zero” politicians across the globe

Over the past few years, Vermonters have upped their flood resilience efforts. As we enter another flood season, this work becomes even more urgent.Douglas Farnham, the state's Chief Recovery Officer, joins to tell us about how changes at the Federal Emergency Management Agency are impacting Vermont flood recovery efforts. And he gives us an update on the FEMA buyout program.Also, we talk with Arion Thiboumery from the Plainfield Community Development Corp, an organization dedicated to creating new affordable housing in the town of Plainfield. Their current effort called the East Plainfield Expansion Project aims to build 20 new units of housing near the village on higher ground. They just received a grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.Vermont Edition intern Maeve Fairfax went to Hardwick to investigate the challenges that Vermonters face trying to find new housing after being displaced by a flood. She talked with taqueria owner and buyout recipient Bryan Palinonis.Then, Audrey Grant of Northeast Kingdom Organizing joins us to talk about Resilience Hubs. These are community spaces that are stocked with supplies needed for emergency disaster response — muck and gut kits, dehumidifiers, generators, and more. They are also used in quieter times as a space where communities can gather, organize, and access services they might need. These are operated by the organization Northeast Kingdom Organizing.Broadcast live on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

In today's episode, A Medicare rule that's leaving some rural Vermonters with higher medical bills, plus Vermont Public's recent reporting on a prominent Northeast Kingdom landlord and his legislator spouse who now writes eviction law.

In today's episode, Vermonters now have the ability to sue federal agents they claim have violated their constitutional rights, and we'll learn how music therapy can be beneficial to people with dementia.

A growing number of support groups in Vermont are using music to foster joy and connections for people with memory loss and their caregivers.

The most significant land use law in Vermont's recent history is on the brink of major change. Key portions could be repealed, like the “road rule” and tier system.Today, we discuss the future of Act 181. The law inflamed tensions between urban and rural Vermonters. Housing and infrastructure reporter Carly Berlin catches us up on lawmakers debate over Act 181 in Montpelier. We also hear from Alex Weinhagen from the Land Use Review Board, the state agency charged with implementing Vermont's land use laws. We're also joined by farmer Neil Ryan of Corinth and land planner Ben Falk, founder of Whole Systems Design in Moretown and Rochester. Broadcast live on Monday, April 27, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments, or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

This hour we're going to be talking with Beth Roberts, the CEO of Vermont's largest private insurance company, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont. This is a rebroadcast of a show from early February. We wanted to replay it in light of some updates.Last month, BlueCross reported a net operating gain of 53 million dollars in 2025. This is significant because it's the first time in 2020 that the company did not lose money. Blue Cross has more than 200,000 members. That means about a third of Vermonters rely on the nonprofit company for health insurance. Blue Cross's tenuous financial state had a lot of ripple effects. The Green Mountain Care Board aggressively cut hospital budgets. State lawmakers capped certain prices. All of this was with the goal of limiting the cost of health care. Because Blue Cross said, we're not going to be able to cover all these claims.Now, the company says it's on a path to financial recovery. It's even been able to pay off a 30 million dollar loan it took out last year from its affiliate, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. 

The sound of spring peepers tells us warmer weather is on its way. As the frogs ribbit, spotted salamanders crawl across roads to find mating spots, while turtles and snakes bask in the sun.Herpetologist Jim Andrews from Salisbury coordinates the Vermont Reptile and Amphibian Atlas. He joins Vermont Edition for our annual hour on reptiles and amphibians to offer advice on how to observe and protect our slithery, slimy friends. We also hear the sounds of some iconic spring species.Vermonters can contribute their own amphibian and reptile sightings to the Atlas here. The Atlas is on the lookout for species reports in several places in particular: Photos, reports, or sounds of spring peepers in Andover, Avery's Gore, Glastonbury, St. Albans City and Stratton Photos of spotted salamanders or their egg masses in Barre City, Essex Junction, North Hero and St. Albans City Photos or reports of red-backed salamanders from: Barton, Glover, Newport and Sheffield Broadcast live on Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

Hanna tells Andy, Fish, and our live studio audience about the legend of six Vermonters who froze in the 19th century. Intro music is from "Across the Line" by the Wellington Sea Shanty Society.

In today's episode, more on how the end of a winter emergency housing program affects some Vermonters, the fate of Gov. Scott's return-to-office order and continued disputes between police and activists about the recent ICE raid in South Burlington.

Thousands of Vermonters from nearly every county took to the streets to voice their outrage at the Trump administration on Saturday, March 28, in the third No Kings protest. About 50 rallies were held around the state. Nationally, 8 million to 9 million people turned out to over 3,000 demonstrations in what organizers say was the largest day of protest in American history.The Vermont Conversation spoke with a number of people at the Statehouse in Montpelier, where thousands of protesters came to rally and listen to speakers. Many expressed their opposition with clever signs, like one with tennis balls attached to it that said, “Free Balls 4 Congress.” Another read, “Sorry for Being Weird. This is My First Dictatorship.”Barre resident Guy Rock was attending his first protest. He was wearing the military fatigues of his brother, a 16-year service veteran. Asked why he came to the rally, Rock replied, “Donald Trump's a criminal. He's guilty of treason. … He's the greatest threat I've ever seen to our way of life. ICE is an extension of him.”Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., fired up the crowd from the steps of the Statehouse, but he was a little bleary-eyed when I caught up with him. He had debated funding for the Department of Homeland Security into the wee hours of the previous night.The Senate ultimately voted to fund the department except for ICE. The House later voted down the Senate's funding bill, leaving DHS partly shut down. I asked Welch what the midnight debate was about.“It's all about the outrage of what happened in Minneapolis, where we saw an incredible rampage of violence by ICE. They literally murdered two people,” he told me after addressing the crowd. “They should be required to abide by the same rules, the same training as any other law enforcement agency in our country, like in Burlington or in Montpelier.”The war in Iran “is a disaster,” Welch said. “This could be another forever war. It's $2 billion a day. He's going to be asking for $200 billion. That's $1,400 a household. We should be funding an extension of the health care tax credits. We should be providing workforce training for kids.”Welch added that he feels the No Kings protests are important. “The rallies allow all of us to come together and share our hope that if we stick together, we keep marching forward, despite a lot of setbacks and despite the odds being against us in many cases, that we can prevail.”Rep. Anne Donahue, I-Washington-1, was outside on the Statehouse lawn. She has represented Northfield and Berlin for 24 years. Once a Republican, she is the lone member of the Statehouse who left the Vermont GOP because of Donald Trump. She said there wasn't just one issue that pushed her to leave the Republican Party and become an independent, but “you wake up every day and there's something worse happening.”“I really fear for our democracy,” said Donahue. “It's at tremendous risk right now, and a big part of that is people not speaking up and not putting that stake in the ground.”James Lyall, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont, said: "There are more of us than there are of them, and as long as people continue to show up for one another, creatively, nonviolently and consistently, there's absolutely no question in my mind that we will overcome what we are facing."Two young men wearing red “Make America Great Again” caps stood out in the crowd. Seth Fewer, 15, is a freshman at Spaulding High School in Barre. He has tried to launch a chapter of Turning Point USA, the conservative student organization founded by the late Charlie Kirk, but he was unable to find faculty sponsors in his school.I asked him how he felt about the war in Iran. “I don't support war, but considering this is a country that's been preaching ‘death to America' since like the '80s, people have to realize that this is a country that we really have to deal with strongly,” he said.Fewer, who was sporting a Charlie Kirk T-shirt, conceded that starting a war “is not what (Trump) promised us … but most of (his) policies are good, and that's what we need for America.”Dr. Dan Goodyear, a family practice physician in Richmond, was in the crowd, holding an American flag. “This country's democracy is at risk right now, and I think that has a direct effect on people's overall health in the long run, the stress that it causes, the risk with people getting improper health care or subpar health care. We need to stand up and rebuild the democracy back to what it was.”“It enriches my soul to see people who care, who are believers in truth and democracy and solidarity to come together and have a shared experience like this. It's nothing but empowering,” Goodyear said.

Vermont Public's housing reporter Carly Berlin explains why hundreds of Vermonters are protesting a land-use law – and what state lawmakers are doing about it.  

In February, I was surprised to receive a phone call from jail. It was Steven Tendo calling from the Strafford County jail in Dover, New Hampshire, where he was being held after being violently arrested by ICE agents on Feb. 4 at the Vermont assisted living facility where he works.Tendo was determined that his voice be free even if his body was not. That determination is a throughline in his life. It is why he is alive to tell his story today as a free man, at least for now.Steven Tendo is a minister, health care worker, nursing student and asylum-seeker from Uganda. He fled his native country in 2018 after the Ugandan government targeted him for the education and voter registration work that he was doing through an organization that he founded. He endured a harrowing ordeal in Uganda: he was abducted by armed men and interrogated and tortured in a secret facility. Several of his fingers were cut off. At another time, he was placed in an underground room with a python. Several members of his family have been killed. He was warned that he was next.After making his way to the U.S. in 2018, Tendo applied for asylum and spent two years in immigration detention in Texas, where his case drew the attention of Amnesty International. Tendo's asylum application was denied and he has been fighting deportation in the courts ever since.Tendo told me that if he is deported to Uganda, “I would definitely die. They would kill me.” He said that Ugandan operatives told his family “that they should prepare my grave because they are ready for me.”In 2021, after being released from detention, Tendo settled in Vermont, where he works as a licensed nursing assistant at UVM Medical Center and is pursuing a nursing degree at Vermont State University. He is a minister of a small church.On February 20, a New Hampshire judge ruled that ICE had failed to follow proper procedure and ordered Tendo released after 16 days in jail.Tendo said that his violent arrest in Shelburne on February 4 “exhumed the trauma that I went through in Uganda.”He compared what he experienced at the hands of ICE agents in Vermont to Uganda, where justice is “kind of a jungle. There is no process. There is no warning. There is no nothing. They would just pick you up anyhow, anywhere. I thought that the U.S. being a first world country, a super power, a democracy…it would be different. And so when that happened to me, I cried deeply down in my heart. I was like, ‘Why does it have to follow me wherever I go?'”Tendo remains in constant peril. On March 20, Tendo had to report to the ICE office in St. Albans for what was supposed to be a routine check-in. ICE has periodically used these check-ins to arrest people. In what is now a familiar ritual, some 200 people rallied outside the ICE office in support of Tendo last week and his check-in occurred without incident. He was ordered to check-in again with ICE in a month.Tendo said that the support he has received from Vermonters throughout his ordeal “means a lot to me, and it sends a message to ICE that I am not a criminal.”He is motivated to keep going by “the people that benefit out of my voice being aired out there on their behalf. They see me as a beacon of hope.”“I just can't put up with injustice against anybody, irrespective of their skin color, irrespective of their faith, irrespective of who they are.”The treatment that he and fellow detainees were subjected to in the immigration jail in New Hampshire was “inhumane,” Tendo said, with 40 men sharing one bathroom and being subjected to constant cold.“I witnessed a lot of fear and a lot of desperation among most of the people” in the jail, which included primarily Latin American and African immigrants. He asserted that everyone in immigration detention had paperwork such as active asylum cases. No one, he said, was “illegal.”“Everyone was confused, everyone was scared, everyone was traumatized, because most of them had been picked off the streets.”I asked Pastor Tendo what keeps him going.“My faith has brought me a long way. I am someone who sees a light at the end of the tunnel. …My eyes see beyond what people are seeing right now. I am seeing a community where everybody can be accepted and work together and use our unique differences to build each other.”Tendo said that he uses every challenge “to strengthen myself and push back with kindness, with love and with compassion.”“I know it may sound weird and not common. But it's who I am.”

Vermonters respond to major clash between ICE and protesters

More school budget results, Vermonters in the cross-hairs of President Trump's trade war, and the very latest in poutine news.

Vermont has a plan to stop using nuclear power by 2035. But Governor Phil Scott says we need to change course.To discuss the future of nuclear power in Vermont, we're joined by the state's public service commissioner Kerrick Johnson, and Ben Edgerly Walsh, Climate and Energy Program Director of Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG). Johnson says today's standards are too inflexible and that nuclear would lower energy costs for Vermonters. But Edgerly Walsh disagrees, saying nuclear power doesn't live up to the hype.Then: An update on the Yankee Nuclear Plant in Vernon. It was shut down over a decade ago. What's next for the land and the community? We're joined by Jim Pinkerton, one of two local representatives on the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel. He is also the chair of Vernon's Planning & Economic Development Commission.Broadcast live on Monday, March 9, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments, or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

 New tax credits for Vermonters, what to do about those giant icicles hanging from your roof, and a man in Massachusetts whose non-profit converts visual LEGO-building instructions into text-based ones for the blind and visually impaired.

In today's podcast, our entire region has been experiencing frigid temperatures for days. We'll learn about the programs that help keep people experiencing homelessness alive in the bitter cold.

The Vermont National Guard usually takes orders from the state. But at the end of 2025, President Trump deployed the Vermont guard to the Caribbean — and Gov. Scott said he had no control over the president's orders.It gave this question from a listener newfound relevance: “Who controls the deployment of the Vermont National Guard if orders from the federal government and the state are in conflict?”You can find the web version of this story here. For more about the Vermont guard, check out this 2010 VPR series, which covered some of the 1,500 Vermonters who were deployed to Afghanistan.This episode was reported and produced by Sabine Poux and Josh Crane. Editing and additional production from Burgess Brown. Our executive producer is Angela Evancie. Theme music by Ty Gibbons; other music by Blue Dot Sessions.Special thanks to Michael Bosworth, Jill Lepore, Mikaela Lefrak, Jon Ehrens, Alicia Freese, April McCullum, Peter Hirschfeld, Peter Teachout, Steve Zind and Zoe McDonald.As always, our journalism is better when you're a part of it: Ask a question about Vermont Sign up for the BLS newsletter Say hi onInstagram and Reddit @bravestatevt Drop us an email: hello@bravelittlestate.org Make a gift to support people-powered journalism Tell your friends about the show! Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a proud member of the NPR Network.