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
Protecting and Expanding Democracy
Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas shares more about the role of Secretary of State, what the office has done in recent years to expand and protect democracy, and the goals she has for her tenure, including the advancement of ranked choice voting in Vermont.
The Environmental Role of the Attorney General’s Office
Attorney General Charity Clark, the first woman to ever be elected to the position in Vermont, talks about her upbringing, how the intimacy of Vermont’s politics allowed her access to role models where she could see herself reflected and her passion for Vermont’s climate and environment.
2023 Session Halftime Report
With the legislature on break for Town Meeting Day, Lauren Hierl discusses the policy priorities outlined in the 2023 Environmental Common Agenda and provide a progress report on each.
Banning PFAS and Toxic “Forever” Chemicals
Rep. Dane Whitman (D-Bennington) speaks about policy banning harmful PFAS and toxic “forever” chemicals from several items and outlines the next wave of consumer products that include toxics that the legislature intends to further ban this biennium.
Is Serving in the State House Sustainable?
Rep. Saudia LaMont (D-Morristown) speaks about her experience as a freshman legislator and how the reality of serving differed from her perception while campaigning, the weight she carries representing several different identities in a mostly homogenous state, and what keeps her doing this work.
Vermont’s Love/Hate Relationship with Act 250
Rep. Amy Sheldon (D-Middlebury) breaks down the complicated relationship Vermonters have – both appreciation and concerns about Act 250, what changes need to be made, and what the future of the law looks like.