Vermont Edition

In the name of government efficiency and cutting foreign spending, the Trump administration is freezing funds and furloughing workers at many federal agencies. Billions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of jobs are at stake. Leaders of organizations in our region that receive federal funding join us to discuss the local impact.We’ll hear about the major changes to institutions like USAID when we speak with Eric Postel* of Bennington, a Senior Advisor at DAI, Inc., and a USAID political appointee during the Obama and Biden administrations, and Nazgul Abdrazakova, President and CEO of Resonance Global, based in Winooski. Their organizations both receive USAID funding. The Vermont Afghan Alliance receives funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support Afghan refugee resettlement. Executive director Molly Gray and Yassin Hashimi, who leads the organization's employment program, explain the uncertainty caused by the funding cuts. Then, we're joined by Jack Glaser, a local biomedical researcher whose organization, MBF Bioscience in Williston, receives federal grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). *Eric Postel spoke to Vermont Edition a personal capacity and not on behalf of DAI, Inc.Broadcast live on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments, or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

Forget the flowers and candy — let's shine a light on our friends!

It's been nearly a month since President Trump has taken office, and he's moved quickly in implementing some big changes in the Federal Government. On today's show, we hear from Vermont elected officials about their reaction to the Trump administration's early days, and what they're doing in response. First, we'll hear from Senator Bernie Sanders. Then, a conversation with Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark and Solicitor General Jonathan Rose, who have been a part of many efforts to stall some of Trump's biggest initiatives. Plus: a Northfield author, Nathaniel Ian Miller recently published his second novel. It tells the story of a young man returning to his family farm.

In 1988, Louvenia Dorsey Bright made history as the first woman of color elected to the Vermont legislature. Her son, Bill Bright, reflects on her accomplishments and what it was like to watch her break barriers. The Friends of the Vermont State House is raising funds to commission her portrait.Then, we hear from three black politicians in our region — State Sen. Joe Majors who represents Windsor, Winooski Deputy Mayor Thomas Renner, and former Burlington City Councilmember Zoraya Hightower. They share their political inspirations, what motivated them to run for office, and the roles they see for themselves in local and state government.