Frankie Graziano
Host / Producer, The WheelhouseAs the host of The Wheelhouse on Connecticut Public, Frankie focuses on how local and national politics impact the people of Connecticut.
For more than 100 episodes, Graziano’s brought the politics to the people, tackling issues like the attempted erasure of transgender identity and attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion. The hallmark of The Wheelhouse’s run during Graziano’s tenure as host was election coverage in 2024. The team, which includes producer Chloe Wynne and deputy director of storytelling at Connecticut Public Robyn Doyon-Aitken, responded to breaking developments out of Washington D.C., launched an open-ended survey to reach its audience, held forums to introduce candidates to the people, and broadcast live on Election Night and The Morning After.
CT Public’s newest iteration of The Wheelhouse debuted on March 22, 2023, marking the latest evolution in Graziano’s career in broadcast journalism.
It began in production when Connecticut Public hired Graziano to launch its new sports network in 2011. He produced over 1,000 hours of content for CPTV Sports until 2016, when he moved from public television to public radio. After crafting a public radio sports beat, he worked with leadership in 2017 to develop breaking news coverage at Connecticut Public. Graziano followed police reform efforts, chased politicians around, and broke national news.
Graziano’s entrée into political coverage was cemented in 2022 after hosting a series of debate recaps on television and several roundtables on local government.
His entire career–and his entire life– have unfolded in Connecticut. Graziano lives with his wife Colleen, a nurse practitioner, in Glastonbury. They’ve got two kids—Charlie and Annie.
Graziano, a UConn grad, is originally from Torrington. He’s a first-generation Italian-American—his parents Rosie and Franco were born in Italia.
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For a recent book, social psychologist Kurt Gray used anthropology to research and understand our modern “fear of harm” and why facts don’t bridge divides, but stories do. -
As 2026 races take shape, Connecticut’s aging delegation is already part of the conversation. Plus, what’s being done to rid Connecticut’s drinking water of lead? -
Talking about and to Gen Z’ers about what makes them tick politically. -
Connecticut residents will soon find out if there’s political will to overcome a veto of affordable housing legislation. Hear from a sponsor of the bill – and an opponent – on this week’s Wheelhouse. -
Breaking down the future of CT’s social safety net following passage of Trump’s ‘big beautiful bill’Thousands of state residents could lose Medicaid and food assistance benefits following the passage of President Donald Trump’s domestic policy agenda. -
CT Gov. Ned Lamont addresses controversial housing veto, shares thoughts on running for a third termConnecticut Gov. Ned Lamont recently vetoed a massive housing bill, to the ire of some in his caucus. The two-term Democrat explains why and talks about his future. -
Many people visit the beach during summer, but not all residents have access to our sandy shores. This hour, a peek behind the so-called "Sand Curtain" and beach segregation in Connecticut. -
A majority of local lawmakers opted to pay for Medicaid and more over preserving surplus funds. The minority reacts. Plus, how did our state representatives and senators address climate change? -
After months of hand-wringing over potential federal budget cuts and calls to breach the state’s “fiscal guardrails”, Connecticut lawmakers come closer to certainty as they reach the end-of-session-finish line. -
State lawmakers are foregoing budget caps to fund Medicaid. How might President Trump’s tax proposal, which calls for cuts to Medicaid, impact recipients in Connecticut and beyond?
