News – Politics – Opinion – Podcasts
One of Vermont’s beloved local daily newspapers will soon be only offering print newspapers three days per week. The Newport Daily Express, serving Orleans County and the surrounding towns, has announced a series of changes to its news service with the expressed goal of better serving its readers. The changes include a new three editions … Read more
I just read, I think, the most important op-ed to appear anywhere in Vermont this year. It is by Shawn Tester, CEO of Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital, and it is about school choice. Why is a healthcare guy writing about the importance of school choice? Because access to school choice and a variety of independent … Read more
This week, on Right Side Up, Mike and Alison talk about bills still up for a vote on what we hope is the LAST WEEK of the session. Watch on the ‘Grok Rumble Channel if the embedded video does not load. More Right Side Up Check out all of our other podcasts. Get More Morning … Read more
With the help of dozens of Republicans and the grudging acceptance of progressive Democrats, the House on Thursday removed ICE from the police-masking bill (S.208). Of course, ‘requiring’ ICE to unmask was the point of the whole bill as sponsored by Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky (D/P Chittenden Central) and others. The Senate dedicated repeated hearings and … Read more
A pathetic attempt to look like you’re doing something when actually doing nothing. So, the Vermont House and Senate both approved H.727 – An act relating to sustainable data center deployment, sending it off to the Governor’s desk for a signature or a veto. What this bill does is create a number of logistical hurdles … Read more
Thirteen of seventeen Senate Democrats joined every Republican in repealing Act 18, the Clean Heat Standard, in a significant moral victory for the GOP. (For those wondering, the four colossally out of touch “no” votes came from Andrew Perchlik (D/P- Washington), Ann Cummings (D-Washington), Becca White (D-Windsor), and Tanya Vyhovsky (D/P -Chittenden C.) But it … Read more
This week, on Right Side Up, Mike and Alison give a 2026 biennium recap of bills from the most recent session, as well as possible vetoes by Gov. Phil Scott, complete with commentary and analysis. Watch on the ‘Grok Rumble Channel if the embedded video does not load. Authors’ and Speakers’ opinions are their own … Read more
There is a political spat brewing under the Golden Dome regarding a $700,000 appropriation – or lack thereof – for a childhood literacy program called Read Vermont. In a nutshell, the program funds “literary coaches” who train teachers how to use phonics, phonological awareness, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension to teach kids how to read. This … Read more
This is supposed to be an election integrity measure, protecting voters from “…bribery, intimidation, threats, coercion, or other means…” by those attempting to influence how — or preventing them entirely — from voting at a polling place. Sounds good. But here’s the problem: two-thirds of Vermonters no longer vote at a polling place. Since the … Read more
This week on Right Side Up, Alison & Mike talk about 2 school bills in the Senate and H.70, a bill that would amend a “bad” land preservation bill. This was accidentally published as private. You should be able to view it now. Watch on the ‘Grok Rumble Channel if the embedded video does not … Read more
The Commies in Burlington, Vermont, have been trying to ban guns for years, and so we’re clear, I mean, guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens. Criminals will still carry, and that’s the truth, but this is Burlington, where the truth is what they say it is, and the excuse they came up with to … Read more
Next week, Proposition 4, a proposed amendment to our state constitution, will come before the full House of Representatives – the final hurdle in a four-year process before it goes to the voters this November in a popular referendum. What is Proposition 4? It is the so-called “Equality of Rights” amendment. Don’t be fooled. That … Read more
Can we take it back from the PROGRESSIVES?!? This week, on The New England Take, A. J. speaks with Ross Connolly, Northeast Regional State Director at Americans for Prosperity and host of WDEV’s Vermont Viewpoint, to break down the state of Vermont politics and how it diverged so dramatically from New Hampshire. Learn more about … Read more
The Vermont Senate Republicans dropped a post earlier this week outlining just how out of control state spending is and has been for a long time. Though they cite a figure for FY27 spending of $9.1 billion (projected) and a 1.6 percent year-over-year increase, where I see a $9.34 billion number coming out of the … Read more
Today on the Morning Update, Blue States follow a predictable pattern. Take control. Increase spending, add regulations, increase taxes, add new ones, which eventually drive wealth and job creators away. Vermont wanted to be like California. Like New York. And so they are. 00:00 Introduction and Overview of Perrigo’s Business Model01:26 Financial Performance and Challenges … Read more
This week, on Right Side Up, Alison and Mike do a quick S.325 update (regional planning), discuss Acts 181 (Land Use) & 59 (Community Resilience and Biodiversity Protection Act), who wasn’t included in the room & a WSJ op-ed on climate data. Watch on the ‘Grok Rumble Channel if the embedded video does not load. … Read more
For the past two years, Vermont politicians have been telling Vermont property taxpayers that they heard us after 2024 and are working to reform our education system to provide property tax relief. It’s not happening. The debate today as we close out the 2026 legislative session is whether to pay for 4%-plus increase in spending … Read more
A collection of Vermont legislators led by Senate Majority Leader Kesha Ram Hinsdale (D-Chittenden SE) and Treasurer Mike Pieciak (D-VT) gathered in the Cedar Creek Room of the State House to decry and bemoan proposed reforms to the SNAP (Supplemental NUTRITION Assistance Program, aka Food Stamps) that would disallow taxpayer-funded EBT cards from purchasing junk … Read more
People have been itchy, antsy, and downright belligerent about how long it takes to see some accountability at the federal level. I’ve been reminding everyone that’s listening that you don’t get there overnight. We’re not Democrats. We don’t just whip an indictment because someone rustled our jimmies. Angry tweets, sure, legal filings that could stick? … Read more
This week on Right Side Up, Alison and I discuss Chittenden County State’s Attorney not prosecuting disorderly conduct, Telecom siting, and new S.325 Regional Planning language. Watch on the ‘Grok Rumble Channel if the embedded video does not load. Get More Right Side Up Here Check out all of our other podcasts. Get More Morning … Read more