The Vermont Podcast

VDCTV: Governor Scott wont Enforce EV Mandate. What does this Mean?

This week, Ben from Ben & Jerry’s gets himself in trouble, Gov Scott puts the brakes on the EV mandate, the future of the VT GOP, and more. Speakers’ opinions are their own and may not represent those of Grok Media, LLC, GraniteGrok.com, its sponsors, readers, authors, or advertisers. Agree? Disagree? Submit Op-Eds to steve@granitegrok.com … Read more

Vehicle inspection sticker

Cline: Outdated auto inspection laws appear more related to culture than cold

Every time legislators propose ending New Hampshire’s annual auto inspection mandate, opponents allege that inspections are common in Northern states because cold weather hazards (road salt, frost heaves) make them necessary. In fact, most cold-weather states, like most states overall, don’t require annual auto inspections. Mapping the states that require annual inspections reveals that culture … Read more

Comrade Communism Screen Grab

MacDonald: Commies In The Hedgerows!

A reader brought this to my attention: Christopher Helali is an openly communist public official in Orange County, Vermont. Not so surprising, as this is Vermont. Burlington, for example, has two-party elections. Left, and further Left. Democrats and Socialsits. No one else need bother to run, there’s no point, and the effect it has had … Read more

Roper: From “Net Zero” to Just Zero

And then there were none. This week, Governor Phil Scott (R-VT) signed an executive order delaying the implementation of the California Clean Cars & Trucks policies in Vermont for a year. This essentially puts an end to the last standing significant GWSA greenhouse gas reduction scheme hatched up by the Democrats and Progressives in the … Read more

Smith: Regina Birdsell Works For Us, Please Remind Her

Many readers already know, but if you’re late for dinner, I’ll tell you now.  HB361 was on the Senate Consent Calendar and should have been a smooth sail through the body yesterday, but Regina the Masker had to put a monkey wrench into the process.  This is NOT the first time she has killed or … Read more

Agriculture crops food farming

Klar: Preserving our AGRIculture

My family of numerous lineages have been farmers here in Vermont. My father’s mother grew up and worked hard on a dairy farm in Sheldon Falls. My mother grew up on the farm near where I now live — the Stoddard farm, which is one of the founding family farms here in Brookfield. My Mom’s … Read more

New England Take splash screen

NE Take: The Cost of Education: Part 3

A high school teacher breaks down the REAL ISSUES in EDUCATION FUNDING, SHOCKING!!! 2023 Educator of the Year Christian Cheetham of Alvirne High argues that school administrators are enabling some of the worst outcomes in public education and that teacher salaries are not the real issue when it comes to education funding. Speakers’ opinions are … Read more

MacDonald: Chris Pappas Wants More of Your Money

Now that he is running for the US Senate, a position for which it is difficult to unseat even the most despicable liberal scold, Chris Pappas, has invited more scrutiny. As a member of Congress, he can and has done plenty of damage, but the size of the US House dilutes the potential harm. He’d … Read more

NH State House - Pic by SteveM

MacDonald: Legislature Sends Law to Gov. Desk Ending Sanctuary Cities

New Hampshire is the only state in the Northeast other than Maine that is NOT a Sanctuary State, but it did not strictly prohibit towns or cities from pretending they were. This amounted to local political pressure to dissuade peace officers from assisting federal immigration enforcement, particularly with detention retainers. In practice, this produces two … Read more

Vikram Mansharamani

Smith: Vikram 2028, Seriously?!

In his 11/19/21 speech to an angry crowd following that famous unfortunate Chuck Morse vote, Senator Giuda, who voted correctly, said, “money is the mother’s milk” (of campaigns).  We know that there are “haves” and “have-nots,” but it’s not just that dichotomy, I would say it’s more like a Punnett Square because there are those … Read more

NH Wood Flag

MacDonald: Gov. Signs Bill Prohibiting School Personnel from Transporting Minors for Medical Appointments Without Parental Consent.

Maybe. HB231, prohibits “school district personnel from transporting students to medical or mental health appointments, visits, or procedures without parental consent.” Governor Ayotte signed the bill into law, requiring school districts to adopt policies, so yes, it is law, but what exactly are the consequences? This bill requires school districts to create a policy prohibiting … Read more

Court gavel muskogee

MacDonald: New Vermont Law Probably Violates Two Constitutions

Vermont has passed a law that allows the state attorney general to fine pregnancy care centers up to $10,000.00 for “advertising” the AG deems misleading. That’s the intent. Pro-Abortion Democrats passed a muzzle bill in 2023 to intimidate pregnancy care centers to the benefit of abortion clinics, but it didn’t work. Not exactly. It was … Read more

Jason Sorens

Sorens: Why Reform Zoning

Julie Smith recently wrote a piece for Granite Grok about my white paper for AIER entitled “Unbundling Zoning.” She badly misinterpreted the paper, made false accusations, and even got the main thesis exactly backwards. Here’s the proof. Smith: “Sorens calls zoning useless, unjust, and irrational and explains why.” FALSE. These are the claims I’m responding … Read more

Hollis dunkin donuts

Smith: Hollis Dunkin Donuts

Hollis Dunkin Donuts is unlike other locations in many ways.  It’s in a repurposed building multiple times its age, it doesn’t have the usual bright orange and pink signs and it doesn’t have a drive-thru despite it being a former site of a bank with one. While I can’t speak intelligently to the finer details … Read more

Tara Reardon and mrs Soprano

Smith: Call Tara Reardon “Mrs Soprano”

Let’s get the “say something nice” part out of the way before the attack.  I met Community Loan Fund lobbyist Tara Reardon on 2/15/23 after a Senate Executive Departments committee hearing for a trailer park bill.  She supported what I said into the mic and followed me out into the hall and introduced herself when … Read more

Scaer: Planned Parenthood Northern New England Continues to Implode

On April 1, Federal Title X, family planning funds were frozen for Planned Parenthood Northern New England (PPNNE) facilities. $2 million in funds were frozen in Maine and $500,000 in New Hampshire. The New Hampshire Executive Council stopped distributing Title X family planning funds to the PPNNE facilities four years ago because they provide abortions. … Read more

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