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
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, from home to the Western Front, during the First World War. The sculpture has become the centerpiece of the National World War I Memorial in Pershing Square Park, Washington, D.C....
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 share his insights.
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 findings? Yankee Institute President Carol Platt Liebau is joined by Gary Rose, a Professor and Scholar in Residence at Sacred Heart University, who has been a political science profess...
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 here: https://honestelections.org/
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 enacted and, if kept intact, can save the state $7 billion over the next 25 years.
The report, titled The Case for CT’s Fiscal Guardrails: How to Protect Public Pensions and Taxpayers, ...
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 male-dominated field.
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 state statute, and how it can be reformed to reduce housing costs.
Read the full study here.
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 to a great start.
A lot is happening in Connecticut sports. Joe D’Ambrosio — a sportscaster known as the “Voice of the Huskies” — joins Y CT Matters to discuss all of it. D’Ambrosio is current...
“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 discuss the organization’s philosophy and the importance of protecting democratic ideals. Learn more about Narya here.
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 Attorney at the Pacific Legal Foundation, provides insights into the legality of affirmative action in California, and how using race instead of merit negatively impacts everyone, including those who need th...
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 his work here.
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 explains why paying striking workers is the “height of absurdity,” and how it will negatively impact Connecticut’s residents and businesses.
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 thousands of employees. He was the recipient of Yankee Institute’s “Connecticut’s Future” Award at the 2024 Champions of Freedom Gala. Learn more about his business here.
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 its investment track record. The state’s underperformance has cost the state billions — so much so that simply an average performance could have reduced the state income tax in half! Read the...
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 thousands of employees. He is the recipient of Yankee Institute’s “Connecticut’s Future” Award at the 2024 Champions of Freedom Gala. Learn more about his business here.
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 ability of utilities to find the cleanest and most efficient means of providing electricity to Connecticut’s residents and businesses, creating higher electric bills as a consequence. Paul Bachm...
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 out of its Twitter account over a joke. This action prompted Elon Musk to buy the social media giant. Dillon discusses why the Bee was founded, comedy in today’s climate, censorship and free ...
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 Fowler, director of internal affairs, guest hosts, asking Carol about her background, her love for Ronald Reagan, her time at Ivy League Schools, the evolution of Yankee Institute during her ...
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 students’ journeys from public to private schools and the impact scholarships have had on her school. Learn more about the school here.
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 Pope – a Connecticut native and Daily Caller contributor – shares further insights into the report. Find his full article here.
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