Sarah George on Criminal Justice Reform, Ending Cash Bail & Burlington's Comeback

Sarah George on Criminal Justice Reform, Ending Cash Bail & Burlington's Comeback

Joanna and Andy continue their Chittenden County State's Attorney series with incumbent Sarah George, who makes the case for re-election after nine-plus years in the role. Sarah demystifies what a state's attorney actually does, then digs into the perception gap on public safety downtown, the local response to ICE, and the new accountability docket that finally cleared Burlington's COVID-era case backlog. She also explains why her office won't ask for cash bail—and what the research says about whether it works. In the opener: a touch-a-truck adventure at the Champlain Parkway opening, a postcard party, and another stop on the Creemee tour. #TheresNoAInCreemee #VTPoli #VermontPolitics #SarahGeorge #ChittendenCounty #StatesAttorney #CriminalJusticeReform #CashBail #PublicSafety #BurlingtonVT #ICE #Creemee #VTElections2026

Bram Kranichfeld on Public Safety, Cash Bail & the Race for State's Attorney

Chittenden County's race for State's Attorney is heating up. Bram Kranichfeld, current Franklin County State's Attorney, joins us to dig into what the job actually entails, his case for better criminal justice outcomes, cash bail, accountability court, and where prosecutors must draw the line on ICE and politicized charging decisions. In the opener, Joanna opens up about a missed endorsement deadline, and the umbrella-toting voter who restored our faith in humanity. Plus a Glossary of Shame on "policy governance." Also, Bram takes a hard line on creemee purity. No sprinkles. Next week: Sarah George. #TheresNoAInCreemee #VTPoli #VermontPolitics #ChittendenCounty #StatesAttorney #BramKranichfeld #CriminalJustice #CashBail #PublicSafety #ICE #AccountabilityCourt #Creemee #VTElections2026 #VermontPodcast

Vermont's $60M School Funding Fight, CVU chair Megan Metzler joins us

Joanna and Andy welcome Megan Metzler, chair of the Champlain Valley School District Board and vice president of the Vermont School Board Association, for a deep dive into Vermont's education funding crisis. Megan unpacks the foundation formula, why it doesn't work for Chittenden County, the $60 million that could be pulled from the county's schools, and why school boards have had to become loud advocates. In the opener, Joanna and Andy talk creemee moments — structural integrity, pistachio regrets, and a hot debate over meltiness. Plus: a frank conversation about the "wait your turn" culture in Vermont politics. #TheresNoAInCreemee #VTPoli #VermontPolitics #VermontEducation #Act73 #H955 #FoundationFormula #CVUSchools #ChittendenCounty #SchoolBoard #VTLeg #PublicEducation #VTElections2026 #Creemee #VermontCulture

Ryan Kriger on Data Privacy, Data Brokers & the Vermont Way

Joanna and Andy welcome Ryan Kriger — former Vermont and FTC privacy attorney, now Deputy Chief of Privacy at the Massachusetts AG's office — for a deep dive into one of the defining issues of our digital age. Ryan breaks down what data brokers actually are, why HIPAA doesn't protect as much of your health data as you think, how states like Vermont are stepping up where the federal government won't, and what makes Vermont's approach genuinely different. In the opener: the U.S. Secretary of Education's surprise Essex school visit (and the walkout it inspired), the filing deadline fallout, last-minute legislative exits, and the education funding bill that's not quite the rollback it's being sold as and Ryan raids his sprinkle cabinet. You will want to watch the video.

Should VT Tax Millionaires More? Anika Heilweil on the Fair Share Campaign

Anika Heilweil from the Public Assets Institute stops by to break down Vermont's Fair Share campaign — a push to recapture a portion of the massive federal tax cuts headed to the wealthiest Vermonters under HR-1. Anika explains why 80% of Vermonters support increased taxes on the wealthy, why the bill stalled in the statehouse, and what the data actually show on tax flight. In our opener, Joanna gives an update on her Democratic Party neutrality resolution — which the bylaws committee scheduled without telling her, naturally — and we officially unveil our new intro featuring the late, great Chuck the Rooster.Plus: Andy and Joanna play Robin Hood with $400 million in would-be state revenue — from property tax cuts to tiny homes to ACA subsidy restoration — and Anika reveals her go-to creemee order.