New Leadership in the New Legislative Session

Municipal mask mandates

November 26, 2021 (prerecorded 11/24): The Legislature convened Monday for a special session to vote on allowing . . .

An update on the She-cession

Cary Brown of the Vermont Commission on Women and Al Johnson-Kurts of Change the Story help us revisit the pandemic . . .

Pulling the Many Threads of Vermont's Education Funding System

Emilie updates listeners on a task force charged with developing an action plan for implementing recommendations . . .

Rural issues in a rural state

October 29, 2021: A conversation about issues facing rural communities is a nuanced one in Vermont that is... well... . . .

ARPA and Vermont - think bigger

Katie Buckley of the Vermont League of Cities and Towns and Carolyn Wesley, chief of staff for the Vermont Senate Pro . . .

Guides to welcoming refugees into rural communities

October 8, 2021: Governor Phil Scott announced last month that the state will welcome 100 Afghans. This announcement . . .

Preparing for ARPA - a local perspective

October 15, 2021: Chris Campany from the Windham County Regional Commission joins us this week to chat money. ARPA . . .

Redefining dignity and the nature of work

October 1, 2021: For more than a year, Emilie and Olga have discussed COVID, how it has highlighted cracks our . . .

The state of housing after the end of the state's emergency order

September 24, 2021: During the height of the COVID pandemic last year, Vermont issued a state of emergency. This order . . .

A reading of the Vermont Constitution, part 1

August 28, 2021 (prerecorded 8/20): A special reading of the opening to the Vermont Constitution. We are taking a . . .

So, you want an energy grid powered by renewables?

August 20, 2021: In previous episodes, we've discussed equity and climate change. We've also discussed renewable . . .

Finding a home in a second home market

August 13, 2021: Housing availability, affordability, and wages are only a few of the contributors to Vermont's tight . . .

Building Vermont's Climate Action Plan

Aug. 6, 2021: On July 26, subcommittees of the Vermont Climate Council released reports outlining strategies to . . .

What is up with technology in Vermont?

July 30, 2021: We joke on this show about the mishaps and blow-ups with the internet and IT systems in this state. . . .

The long process of voting

What can we learn about Vermont's electoral process by looking through a national or international lens? Plenty. Julia . . .

Finding housing post-COVID

July 9, 2021: Vermont had a housing crisis before the COVID-19 pandemic. But, during the shutdown, the state launched . . .

A veto for a new rental housing bill

July 9, 2021: Governor Phil Scott vetoed S.79 a bill designed to improve the safety of rental housing in Vermont. . . .

Fairness, lawsuits, and the future of Vermont's education voucher system

July 2, 2021 (prerecorded 6/21): Many small Vermont towns don't operate a school or only offer classes up to a certain . . .

The Veto Override, local control, yes! Well, maybe?

June 25, 2021 (prerecorded 6/23): Vermont communities have long espoused the virtues of local control. Yet, . . .

Public health decisions in a pandemic and after

June 18, 2021 (prerecorded 6/17) - Anne Sosin specializes in public health. She has watched Vermont's response to the . . .

Cannabis in Vermont, where are we now?

June 11, 2021 - Vermont is wending its way towards the creation of a retail cannabis market. Earlier this year, it . . .

ARPA funding and changes in Vermont's health insurance market

June 4, 2021 (prerecorded 6/3): This week we follow up on some of the legislation that passed this session. Vermont's . . .

Summing up the Legislative (Zoom) Session

May 28, 2021 (prerecorded 5/24): Vermont's Legislature has gaveled out for the year. Which bills passed? Which didn't? . . .

A proposal for the future of Vermont

May 21, 2021 (prerecorded 5/17): The Vermont Council on Rural Development is convening a summit on the state's future. . . .

Because taxes pay for things we like. Right?

May 14, 2021 (pre-recorded 5/14/21): Want to start a ruckus at a family dinner? Say: taxes. Okay you can say other . . .

Voting rights for 16 and 17 year olds and Town Charters

May 7, 2021 (pre-recorded 5/3): The House has approved a potential charter change that would allow 16 & 17 year olds . . .

Finding the Best Way Forward with Prison Reforms

April 30, 2021: Vermont's Legislature is wrangling with various prison reforms this session. But which ones help? . . .

Burning the Legislative Christmas Tree - Adventures in Revising Tax Code

April 23, 2021: One of Olga and Emilie's favorite pastimes, is digging into the stories, systems, and assumptions . . .

A Windfall of Money and Future Sustainability

April 16, 2021 (pre-recorded 4/12): Vermont is poised to receive $2.7 billion from the federal government's latest . . .

Long-Term Funding Issues and Their Immediate Pains

April 9, 2021 (pre-recorded 4/5): Last week Speaker Jill Krowinski announced that the House would drop its proposal to . . .

Community Broadband and The Last Mile

April 2, 2021 (pre-recorded 3/29): When describing Vermont's cell and broadband service, words like "spotty," . . .

Land Sovereignty - What it is and What it is Not

March 26, 2021 (pre-recorded 3/22): Vermont's Legislature is considering a few bills this session focused on promoting . . .

Transitioning to a Low Carbon Future

March 19,2021 (pre-recorded 3/15): Vermont's largest contributions to greenhouse gases are transportation and heating. . . .

Reducing Harm and Building Connection

March 5, 2021 (pre-recorded 3/4/21): The COVID pandemic has taken most people's focus this past year overshadowing . . .

Civil Debate, or the Lack Thereof

February 26, 2021 (pre-recorded 2/22/21): Self described Constitution Wrangler Meg Mott is holding a series of events . . .

Supporting Older Vermonters with Dignity

February 19, 2021 (pre-recorded 2-15-21): Last year, the Legislature passed Act 156. Known as The Older Vermonters . . .

Expanding Child Care Takes More Than Adding Programs

Last year, the Vermont Legislature passed a bill to help expand early education and child care. But, as the pandemic . . .

How to recover from a pandemic (while still recovering from a recession)

February 5, 2021 (pre-recorded on 2/1): Many people hardest hit by the pandemic were still recovering economically . . .

Taxes, fairness, and sustainability

January 28, 2021: Death and taxes might be two certainties in life, but on this show, we're about the taxes. Vermont's . . .

When staying home is not staying safe

January 21, 2021: A theme on this show during this pandemic has centered on the spotlight that is COVID-19 and the . . .

Welcome 2021!

January 8, 2021: The calendar has turned a page, 2020 is over, and a new year has begun. Whew! And yet... the year may . . .

New leadership looks towards new biennium

Jan. 1, 2021 (pre-recorded 12-18-20): Vermont lawmakers start a new two-year cycle in January. Yet, with the COVID-19 . . .

NPAs and Increasing Participation in Government

December 25, 2020 (pre-recorded 12/17): In Olga and Emilie's search for effective ways to increase citizen involvement . . .

Privacy in a Digital Vermont?

December 18, 2020 (pre-recorded 12/15): In the age of facial recognition and virtual lives online, what does this mean . . .

Housing and COVID-19 in the New Year

December 11, 2020 (pre-recorded 12/10): Vermont's response to homelessness might be one of the bright spots of the . . .

New Leadership in the New Legislative Session

December 4, 2020 (pre-recorded on 11/27): Sen. Becca Balint is the new president pro tempore (or pro tem as we tend to . . .

The Ongoing Protections of Civil Liberties

November 27,2020 (pre-recorded 11-24-20): Falko Schilling of the ACLU Vermont discusses the organization's work during . . .

The Issues That Haven't Gone Away

November 13, 2020: Journalist and blogger John Walters joins the show to talk about where we go next in Vermont now . . .

The Elections Happened, Now What?

Emilie Kornheiser and Olga Peters discuss this week's presidential and state elections. What has changed? What hasn't? . . .

COVID, Elections, Uncertainty, and All The Feels

October 30, 2020 - For many, the pandemic and next week's presidential election are only the tip of the emotional . . .

A Livable Wage in Vermont?

October 23, 2020: Wages. What is up with wages in Vermont? It seems state agencies, economic development types, the . . .

Health Care is Affordable, But Can Vermonters Pay?

October 15, 2020: The state has worked for decades to create a more affordable health care system. Yet, according to a . . .

The Labor Movement in Vermont

October 9, 2020: Speaking in labor terms, Vermont is an "at will" state. So what does the labor movement look like in . . .

The True Value of Farming?

October 2, 2020: Vermont has built its brand on cows, rolling hills, and maple syrup. But what is the reality for . . .

The Legislative Session's End

September 25, 2020: As Vermont's legislative session for 2020 comes to a close, months after its traditional deadline, . . .

What's Next for Hazard Pay?

September 11, 2020: Two bills aimed at getting money directly to people during the COVID-19 pandemic are working their . . .

State Revenues and the COVID Penalty

September 4, 2020: We all know the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted state revenues, but, as the Legislature returns to . . .

COVID-19, second homes, and rural communities

August 28, 2020 (pre-recorded Aug. 25): Has COVID-19 sparked an urban exodus? Matt Dunne of the Center for Rural . . .

What Did We Learn and What Does it Mean for January?

August 21, 2020 (pre-recorded 8/14): Rep Selene Colburn joins the show to discuss the Aug. 11 primary and what it . . .

The Party After the Primary

August 14, 2020: Secretary of State Jim Condos joins the show to talk about the state primary. With COVID-19, many . . .

100 Years, and Still So Much to Do

August 7, 2020: A century ago, Congress ratified the 19th Amendment. Women have accomplished a lot with their . . .

Planning Beyond Crisis

July 31, 2020: Dru Roessle of the state Agency of Human Services joins the show today! As one of the agency leads for . . .

The donkey, elephant, and moose days of August

July 24, 2020: With Vermont's primary elections less than a month away, candidates are hitting the Zoom forms. John . . .

Shining the light of regulation on cannabis

July 17, 2020: Vermont has spent years taking baby steps towards a taxed and regulated cannabis market. A market, . . .

COVID's public health crisis within the private insurance system

July 10, 2020: In the world of health insurance, “affordable” means consumers get what they pay for. Vermont's Chief . . .

Racial justice and political courage

July 3, 2020: The Vermont Legislature recently passed bills intended to increase racial justice and decrease police . . .

And the Legislature recesses... thanks, COVID-19

June 26, 2020: The State Legislature is in the process of recessing for a couple months. Lawmakers will then resume . . .

Hungry communities before and after COVID-19

June 19, 2020: The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the number of hungry households in Vermont. But. People were hungry . . .

Budgeting with uncertain money

June 12, 2020: Surprise, surprise, COVID-19 upended the economy. So, in the midst of uncertain state revenues, the . . .

COVID-19 and the ominous silence of domestic violence

June 5, 2020: "Stay home, stay safe," was the way most Vermonters protected the community from the spread of COVID-19. . . .

Vermont ended homelessness, for a few more days at least

May 29, 2020: It's worth celebrating that Vermont ended homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic. But now what? As . . .

COVID-19 and a laundry list of economic inequities

May 22, 2020: The economic and social fall out of COVID-19 has hit service jobs hard. Many of these jobs are held by . . .

Essential Vermonters

May 15, 2020: As Vermont enters its COVID-19 recovery phase, communities look to the future. In today's episode, . . .

Tracking COVID-19 and moments for optimism

May 8, 2020: Commissioner for the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation, Michael Pieciak, is busy crunching . . .

Naming the bread and the roses

May 1, 2020: It's May Day! And, the COVID-19 pandemic is still happening. And, people struggle to pay their rents and . . .

The uncertain ripple effects of COVID-19

April 24, 2020: Vermont Digger Reporter, John Walters, joins the conversation. John, Emilie, and Olga discuss how . . .

Why more representation is better than less

April 17, 2020: Windham County has a new House Rep. Meet Kelley Tully, who was recently nominated to fill the Windham . . .

The consequences of incompetence

April 10, 2020: Many Vermonters with autoimmune diagnosis have lost access to their medications. Why? According to . . .

Sewing bees filling holes left by the government during COVID-19

April 7, 2020: Governor Phil Scott has asked all Vermonters to wear face masks when in public. In this bonus, Emilie . . .

Remaining patient and trusting during COVID-19

April 3. 2020: We know that COVID-19 is scaring us. What is it teaching us? In this episode Emilie and Olga discuss . . .

What can Vermont control around evictions, mortgages and COVID-19?

April 1, 2020: It might be April Fools' Day, but the economic impacts on people's lives from COVID-19 are no joke. . . .

Welcome to Vermont, COVID-19...

March 30, 2020: Today Governor Phil Scott announced new restrictions on lodging and a directive that all people . . .

Federal funding and acknowledging the long haul

March 27, 2020: A lot has happened in Vermont this week: A Representative called for a quorum. House Speaker Mitzi . . .

COVID and our Human Economy

Olga and Emilie give a quick update on changes in our community.

COVID-19 and the Cracks in the System

The Corona virus has created a sense of uncertainty for workers and business owners alike. Rep Kornheiser and Reporter . . .