Y CT Matters
There are personalities behind the policies. And when we disagree, the common ground is ... conversation. Yankee Institute President Carol Platt Liebau talks with people across our state and country about the topics that are impacting YOU — and covers the human interest stories that make Connecticut unique. Join us weekly for news, policy — and a bit of fun thrown in, as well.
Episodes
116 episodes
Ep. 116: CT Artist Sculpts National Monument
Sabin Howard, a classical artist, has his showroom in Kent, Conn. This past September, he unveiled his latest project "A Soldier’s Journey" — a nearly 60-foot long, 38-figure massive bronze sculpture depicting an American soldier’s call to duty...
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23:53
Ep. 115: The 2024 Connecticut Election Results
Election Day 2024 is now in the rearview mirror — but what happened? Who won, who lost? How will the election impact the 2025 General Assembly's legislative session? Andy Markowski, principal of Statehouse Associates, joins the conversation to ...
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17:48
Ep. 114: How Presidential Polling Works with Gary Rose
With the 2024 Presidential Election in its final stretch, the candidates and country are dissecting polls to glean how the race will unfold. But how do polls work? What do pollsters ask? How do pollsters ask questions? How can we trust a poll's...
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32:13
Ep. 113: What is Ranked Choice Voting?
What is Ranked Choice Voting? Jason Snead, executive director of the Honest Elections Project, explains the voting process' shortcomings and how it sows more confusion in elections. Learn more about the Honest Elections Project her...
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36:32
Ep. 112: The Case for CT's Fiscal Guardrails
A new study by Yankee Institute and Reason Foundation, a national public policy research organization, confirms that the 2017 bipartisan financial reforms known as the “fiscal guardrails” have saved Connecticut more than $170 million since enac...
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38:27
Ep. 111: First in Flight: An Interview with the First Female Pilot for a Major Airline
Bonnie Tiburzi Caputo, born in Ridgefield, Conn., became the first female pilot for a major airline when she was hired by American Airlines in 1973. She shares how she fell in love with flying and the challenges of breaking the sex barrier in a...
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27:53
Ep. 110: Getting a Handle on Affordable Housing with Francis Pickering and David Flemming
8-30g is failing our residents. In Yankee Institute's latest study, "Getting a Handle on Affordable Housing," authors Francis Pickering and David Flemming explain how municipalities and developers across Connecticut have had to grapple with the...
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42:28
Ep. 109: The State of Connecticut Sports with Joe D'Ambrosio
Dan Hurley, the two-time NCAA champion coach, is staying with the UConn Huskies; Geno Auriemma signed a contract extension; the UConn baseball team made it to the Super Regional of the College World Series; and the WNBA Connecticut Sun is off t...
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23:45
Ep. 108: Defending Freedom through Venture Capitalism with Colin Greenspon
“Defending the pillars of our democracy such as free speech and capitalism.” That is part of mission statement of Narya Capital, a venture capital firm founded by U.S. Senator J.D. Vance and Colin Greenspon. Greenspon joins Y CT Matters to disc...
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27:26
Ep. 107: Race and Meritocracy with Andrew Quinio
The Washington Free Beacon reported that up to half of UCLA’s medical students are failing basic tests of medical competence — and outlawed affirmative action practices are to blame. Andrew Quinio, an Equality & Opportunity Attorne...
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26:34
Ep. 106: What Happened in the 2024 Session with Andy Markowski
So what happened in the 2024 Legislative Session? Andy Markowski — Yankee Institute’s advisor on government affairs and principal of Statehouse Partners — breaks down the good, the bad and the ugly bills that passed or failed. Learn more about ...
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26:35
Ep. 105: Why Paying Striking Workers is Absurd with Frank Ricci
The General Assembly wants to pay workers to strike? At the end of the Legislative Session, lawmakers passed a bill doing just that; however, Gov. Ned Lamont has voiced his opposition to the concept. Yankee Institute’s Labor Fellow Frank Ricci ...
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Season 2
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Episode 105
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19:12
Ep. 104: Building a Life of Success with Larry Janesky Part 2
In this special two-part interview, Larry Janesky, owner and founder of Connecticut Basement Systems, shares his philosophy of building a successful business and his backstory: from a self-employed carpenter at 17 years old to overseeing thousa...
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31:36
Ep. 103: How CT Could Have Cut State Income Tax in Half with Themis Klarides and Jeffrey Sonnenfeld
In this debut edition of Connecticut Conversations, Yankee Institute DistinguishedFellow and former Minority Leader Themis Klarides hosts a conversation with Prof. Jeffrey Sonnenfeld of Yale University on Connecticut’s public pension funds and ...
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32:05
Ep. 102: Building a Life of Success with Larry Janesky Part 1
In this special two-part interview, Larry Janesky, owner and founder of Connecticut Basement Systems, shares his philosophy of building a successful business and his backstory: from a self-employed carpenter at 17 years old to overseeing thousa...
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27:44
Ep. 101: How to Make Energy More Affordable with Paul Bachman
Connecticut’s people suffer from some of the highest electricity rates in the nation. Why is that? The issue stems from the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) rules.Passed by the legislature in 1998, the RPS severely restricts the abili...
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20:47
Ep. 100: Fighting for Free Speech With Humor with Seth Dillon
It’s our 100th episode! To mark the significant milestone, Carol talked with Seth Dillon, CEO of The Babylon Bee, a satirical news site. Known for their conservative wit and “prophecies” (when jokes become reality), the Bee was famously locked ...
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26:03
Ep. 99: Who is Carol Platt Liebau? Hosted by Andy Fowler
For 98 episodes, YI President Carol Platt Liebau has discussed Connecticut policy, politics and human-interest stories as part of the organization’s efforts to be your eyes, ears and voice. But now the interviewer becomes the interviewee. Andy ...
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41:41
Ep. 98: How Scholarships Benefit Students with Tricia Tucker
How do scholarships benefit students? And how would a tax credit, if passed by the General Assembly, boost providing more educational access to low-income children? Tricia Tucker, head teacher/principal at Fairfield County SDA School, shares st...
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21:36
Ep. 97: Solar and Wind Batteries' "Fatal Flaw" with Nick Pope
The Independent System Operator-New England (ISO-NE) is warning that the batteries pushed by blue states in the region to prepare the grid for increased solar and wind generation may have significant trouble recharging in low temperatures. Nick...
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Season 2
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Episode 97
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25:58
Ep. 96: How Tax-Credit Scholarships Will Help Low-Income Students Thrive with Carolanne Marquis
The Connecticut Center for Educational Excellence (CTCEE), a Yankee Institute project, launched just over a year ago, providing scholarships to low-income students and families across Connecticut. Carolanne Marquis, the CEO of CTCEE, shares how...
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23:32
Ep. 95: Identifying Key Issues with New Senate Minority Leader Stephen Harding
After his election to the 30th Senate District in 2023, Stephen Harding was named the Senate Minority Leader in February. He joins the show to share insights into key issues, such as housing, fiscal responsibility and electric vehicle mandates,...
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22:44
Ep. 93: George Washington's Legacy with Prof. Kevin Gutzman
Who was George Washington? Why does he still matter in American life? Historian Kevin Gutzman, a professor and former chairman in the Department of History at Western Connecticut State University, returns to the podcast to share Washington’s mo...
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30:40
Ep. 92: One Week Into Session with Bryce Chinault & Meghan Portfolio
The General Assembly’s new legislative session began on Feb. 7. So what’s happened since then? More than you’d expect. Yankee Institute’s Bryce Chinault (Director of External Affairs) and Meghan Portfolio (Manager of Research and Analysis) brea...
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26:43