Democracy Dispatch
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Justin Marsh is joined every Monday with folks from their team to update you about everything that happened in the Vermont State House the week before, and what to expect throughout the upcoming week. Listen to exclusive interviews with legislators and environmental allies, and go deeper on policy initiatives affecting our air, water, open space, democracy, and quality of life.
New podcast episodes launch every Monday during the Vermont Legislative Session.
Listen to the Democracy Dispatch podcast on the following services:
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Episodes
2026 Session Shakedown
In this week’s episode of Democracy Dispatch – our season finale – VCV Executive Director Dan Fingas joins me for our annual Session Shakedown segment where we take a look at the major environmental priorities of the year, including climate action, housing, clean water, transportation, and more. We also discuss some of the biggest debates of the session, including the controversy surrounding Act 181, and what advocates will be watching heading into next year.
Election 2026: Candidate Forums
It’s the end of May already which means a couple of things: the legislature has adjourned and candidates have filed their consent forms for the upcoming election. It also means our work to educate voters shifts into next gear. We are always your source for how those in the legislature vote on environmental and democracy bills, but come election season we also endorse candidates and co-organize candidate forums so that voters are the most informed they can be going to the polls.
Preserving Home in the Era of Climate Change
Legislative Intern, Sereena Knight, hosts as she invites residents of Wolcott, Brandon, and Cavendish – three towns across different regions and watersheds of Vermont – to share about what “home” means to them along the state’s rivers and how they’ve been impacted by climate change.
Meet the Democratic Candidates for Lieutenant Governor
This week’s episode is an audio recording of the Lieutenant Governor’s forum we held two weeks ago in Rutland. This is your chance to hear how the three candidates for the Democratic Primary – Esther Charlestin, Molly Gray, and Ryan McLaren – answered a range of questions on critical issues, such as cost of living, civil rights, and democracy.
When the Trees Came Back
In the late 1800s, Vermont was a very different place. Its hills were largely cleared, its soils exhausted, and its economy struggling under the weight of overused land. In When the Trees Came Back: The Great Battle to Save Vermont’s Forests, retired judge and historian Bob Mello tells the story of how Vermonters confronted that crisis and how the state’s forests slowly returned.
Toxics Reform Round-up: Artificial Turf and Metals in Baby Food
Vermont has led the way on toxics reform for decades. We’ve continued to build upon legislation at the vanguard, whether it’s banning fracking, single-use plastic bags, or the sale of consumer products containing PFAs – harmful “forever chemicals”. Last biennium, we worked on a policy that added banning artificial turf with PFAs to the list. Now that legislation is showing up directly in the community of Hinesburg, where there is a proposal to install artificial turf at the state’s largest high school.