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
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.
Roaring Twenties: Three Young Lawmakers’ Reflections
Sen. Becca White (D-Windsor), Rep. Jay Hooper (D-Randolph), and Rep. Lucy Boyden (D-Cambridge) discuss their experiences as legislators in the 20s. The three reflect on ageism both on the campaign trail and in the state house, the difficulties of serving as a young person, as well as why their voices matter.
Looking Back on 15 Years of Environmental Justice
Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale (D/P-Chittenden Southeast) takes a look back at the environmental justice legislation that inspired her to run for the state legislature over 15 years ago and the importance of equity in the conversation about the environment and climate.