News – Politics – Opinion – Podcasts
Vermont Republicans on Wednesday unveiled Vermont Promise, a comprehensive legislative agenda focused on making Vermont more affordable, strengthening the economy, and creating opportunities for families, workers, farmers, retirees, and small businesses, Sen. Scott Beck said in a statement. Republicans are the minority in the Vermont Legislature. However, if the GOP picks up seats (as it … Read more
The Burlington City Council is calling for faster removal of unauthorized vagrant encampments in city parks and other areas where camping is prohibited, urging the administration to begin enforcement actions within about 24 hours of discovering an illegal campsite. The proposed action follows the cancellation of a Sunday, July 19 Burlington Concert Band concert in … Read more
Vermonters will have the opportunity to enshrine two stupid ideas into their constitution this November. Both are Bad Ideas, and to my mind do exactly the opposite of what they claim or intend. Watch on the ‘Grok Rumble Channel if the Embedded Video does not load. Ep 230 Links: Authors’ and Speakers’ opinions are their … Read more
Vermont has a statutory fee on its electric rates that funnels money into something called Efficiency Vermont. It takes tens of millions of dollars out of the economy every year with the goal of using it on things that will ultimately reduce consumption and save more than that cost. The government decided that Vermonters were … Read more
A recent video made with Artificial Intelligence (AI) satirizing Vermont Congresswoman Becca Balint has sparked indignant hostility from the self-styled “Scrappy Little Dyke.” Vermont’s rabidly left-wing Attorney General Charity Clark applied a sketchy new Vermont law to investigate the video’s creator, prompting a federal lawsuit. Charity and Becca both care far more about the free … Read more
This week, on Right Side Up, Alison and Mike discuss Regional Planning Commissions and their role in town planning. We also talk more about healthcare. Watch on the ‘Grok Rumble Channel if the Embedded Video does not load. Authors’ and Speakers’ opinions are their own and may not represent those of Grok Media, LLC, GraniteGrok.com, its … Read more
Comedian Jeff Dunham got a lot of mileage out of portraying his cranky, cantankerous Walter as Joe Biden. He just put aviators on him. Biden gave him all sorts of material; all he had to do was regurgitate it. I wonder if he could transition Walter into Bernie Sanders. The VT Senator is a cranky … Read more
Does CNBC’s “Best States” ranking make any sense? Yogi Berra famously said of a once favorite Yankees hangout, “Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded.” I feel like there’s a way to tweak that phrase regarding Vermont’s just winning CNBC’s “Best States to Live” for the sixth straight year: “Nobody wants to live there anymore. … Read more
As Vermont’s sole representative in the U.S. House, what has Rep. Becca Balint done to improve the plight of Vermont’s youth, the working class, senior citizens, and small businesses? If parroting her party’s line on national issues and feigning outrage over international events count, then she sure has done a lot. Meanwhile, the forgotten men … Read more
The Fiscal Alliance Foundation is expanding into Vermont and has named Waterbury resident Elizabeth Brown as its Vermont state director, charging her with leading the organization’s efforts to promote fiscally responsible, transparent, and data-driven public policy. Brown, who has lived in Vermont for three decades, brings more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry … Read more
This week, on Right Side Up, Alisonand Mike discuss the elected Orange County High Bailiff visiting Iran, the Governor’s Executive Order, and the poison pill in ACT 152 (rechargeable battery dispisal/recycling). Watch on the ‘Grok Rumble Channel if the Embedded Video does not load. Authors’ and Speakers’ opinions are their own and may not represent … Read more
Vermonters and at least one national Republican figure are responding to an elected Vermont official’s ‘death to America’ statements made last week while attending the funeral of the leader of Iran, who died in the early days of the war with Iran. According to an X post by Orange County High Bailiff Christopher Helali, he’s … Read more
Young people (18 to 34) apparently really don’t like Vermont. According to the recent University of New Hampshire Green Mountain State Poll, a whopping 64 percent of that demographic wants to very much or somewhat leave the Green Mountains for greener pastures. Less than half, just 45 percent, think Vermont is a “good place to … Read more
Videographer Hank “Planet Hank” Poitras confirmed today that he is being investigated by Attorney General Charity Clark under Vermont’s 2026 Synthetic Media law for a satire video he produced earlier this year. As first reported by Seven Days, Clark has sent him a warning letter about her investigating him for the video. He said that she says he violated the … Read more
This week on Right Side Up, Alison and Mike discuss the Independence Day celebrations they attended, what some democratic candidates are saying, and carbon markets. Watch on the ‘Grok Rumble Channel if the Embedded Video does not load. Authors’ and Speakers’ opinions are their own and may not represent those of Grok Media, LLC, GraniteGrok.com, its … Read more
Armed residents confronted and repelled a suspected burglar who forced his way into their home early Saturday, July 4, leaving the suspect with a minor gunshot graze wound before he was arrested by the Vermont State Police. Police also said the Bennington County State’s Attorney’s Office will determine whether charges may be brought against the … Read more
Governor Phil Scott welcomed 15 new American citizens during a naturalization ceremony Wednesday, July 1, in the Vermont Supreme Court chambers, calling on the newest Vermonters to help bridge political divides and strengthen the nation through integrity, compassion and civic engagement. The ceremony, held as the nation marks its 250th anniversary this week, included new … Read more
The Vermont Futures Project made something of a splash when it released a statistic showing that Vermont ranks 51st among 50 states (D.C. thrown in for giggles) for something they call “economic momentum.” This sounds really bad and, spoiler alert, it is. But, full confession, it’s not a statistic I was familiar with. Other organizations … Read more
New Hampshire eliminated annual passenger vehicle inspections last year. Beginning in February 2026, they are no longer mandatory. The journey from there to here is well documented on our pages, including the lawsuits, caterwauling, and fearmongering. The problem was the paradigm. People just assumed that the state’s interest in making you pay for an inspection … Read more
Senator Bernie Sanders says America has a student debt crisis. He’s right about that. Forty-three million Americans owe student loans. About 76,000 Vermonters have them. Many borrowers are struggling, and some face higher monthly payments starting tomorrow, July 1, as changes to federal repayment programs take effect. Sanders recently held a Senate roundtable featuring borrowers … Read more