The Exchange

New Hampshire remains one of the least racially diverse states in the country, but that diversity is growing. Wednesday on The Exchange, we reflect on Black History Month and talk with leaders of color in the Granite State. We'll discuss the work they're doing in the Statehouse and in local communities, and about where New Hampshire still lags in equality and representation.

 Air date: Feb. 26, 2020.         

Now that the presidential candidates have packed up and moved on to the next primary contest, we take a look at state politics, including Governor Chris Sununu's State-of-the-State address and bills that have been making their way through the legislature -- some more smoothly than others. 

Air date: Feb. 14, 2020.

We talk with town managers from the southern tier to the north country about what challenges they have in common, what sets their communities apart, and what they're hoping to hear from Governor Chris Sununu when he delivers his State of the State address.

Watch the live broadcast of Governor Sununu's  speech.

Air date: February 13, 2020 

During an Exchange interview, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, who describes herself as progressive but practical, emphasized the word "progressive" in that characterization.  

"I actually pass bills and get things done," she said, referring to the 100 bills she has passed in Washington, DC. -- a frequent campaign theme.  Among the bills she is most proud of: securing funding for a collapsed Minnesota bridge, a bill on drug shortages, and her work on broadband issues. 

Each Friday until the N.H. primary on Feb. 11, The Exchange focuses on the latest news in the presidential race. The special N.H. Primary News Roundup features state and national reporters, sound from the campaign trail, and occasional appearances by candidates.

During the second half of the show Friday, Jan. 31,  NHPR interviews Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar from Washington, D.C., before she heads back to the Senate impeachment trial.  

We talk with former U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest  Moniz about the threat of nuclear weapons and strategies for strengthening nonproliferation policies. We'll also discuss  his work on a dramatic plan called "Clearing the Air," which describes how to remove many gigatons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Air date: Jan. 27, 2020

Sidelined by the impeachment trial this week, several Democratic presidential candidates are working on alternative ways to connect with voters, including sending out surrogates and planning satellite interviews and remote events over Skype.  

Will large-scale solar energy take off in New Hampshire? Although far behind its New England neighbors in producing solar energy, there are several major projects in the works that could significantly boost capacity here.  But these expansive installations can face challenges and opposition, even among renewable energy supporters. 

We examine the history of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in New Hampshire.  Twenty years ago, The Granite State was the last in the nation to attach King's name to its holiday, previously called Civil Rights Day.  We'll discuss that period with some of the people responsible for the change. And we'll explore what the holiday means now for older -- and younger -- generations.  

We find out what New Hampshire state lawmakers hope to accomplish this year.  Many bills from last year have been revived, concerning guns, energy, transportation, health care and more.   Last week, for instance, House Democrats voted again to establish and gradually increase the state's minimum wage -- an effort vetoed last year by Gov. Sununu.  We'll explore how this debate -- and many others -- might play out this year.

We begin our Jan. 13 show  with U.S. Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado.  A former Superintendent of Schools in Denver and co-sponsor of the Green New Deal, with a keen interest also in immigration reform, Bennet is running on a platform that includes a public option for helath care, expanding tax credits for the middle class, and repairing the country's infrastructure.   

It's been a volatile period in the Middle East, with the U.S. and Iran trading threats and attacks.  In just the last few weeks, an American contractor in Iraq was killed in an attack the U.S. blamed on an Iran-backed militia; the U.S. responded with airstrikes in Iraq that killed at least 25 fighters; hundreds of Iran-backed militiamen and their supporters held violent protests at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad; and a U.S. airstrike in Iraq killed a top Iranian general, setting off massive protests and a retaliatory strike by Iran.  We'll discuss the latest on this conflict, the history behind it, and what's at stake for U.S. foreign policy in the region.

Original Air Date: Jan. 13, 9:30 a.m. 

Last week, Congressional Democrats and President Trump announced major progress in forging a new North American trade deal, called the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement by President Trump.  The USMCA includes some hard-fought changes such as greater environmental and labor protections and has so far gained approval from some of the staunchest opponents of the original NAFTA.

However, some Republican lawmakers reportedly feel the president conceded too much to House Democrats. And some big-tech critics are disappointed in expanded protections for the industry under the agreement.  

Just about a year after starting his first term in Congress, Manchester Democrat Chris Pappas finds himself in the midst of an impeachment process, as the House prepares to vote on two articles of impeachment against President Trump -- abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. 

The debates have been bitter. Pappas has called for a "bipartisan response to uphold the rule of law,"  indicating he will consider the facts presented by Congress while maintaining his focus also on the concerns of Granite Staters. 

We talk with him about this tumultuous political period -- as well as the new U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement on trade, military spending, and more. 

Our N.H. 2020 Primary Forum series continues with Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg. We sit down with the South Bend, Indiana mayor and Afghanistan war veteran before a live audience to discuss a range of domestic and foreign policy issues and address listener questions submitted before the event.

Candidates are courting voters in the Hawkeye state, as they are in New Hampshire -- but some with notable differences in terms of time, money, and the issues.  We check in on the campaign in Iowa, and look at efforts to make the caucus system more inclusive. 

This show originally aired Thursday, November 14.

In a long-held political ritual, several presidential candidates file their paperwork at the Statehouse for the 2020 New Hampshire Primary, while Vice President Mike Pence files on behalf of President Trump. Cities around the state hold elections for mayor — and on whether to allow sports betting in their communities. And the Statehouse has been a busy place, as deadlines loom for committees to complete their work on156 retained bills from last session.

Original air date: Friday, November 8, 2019. 

The New Hampshire Primary 2020 Candidate Forum series on The Exchange continued Nov. 7 with Democrat Andrew Yang. The entrepreneur and political newcomer discusses domestic and foreign policy, as well as some of the ideas he's become known for, such as "universal basic income." 

Yang warns of automation endangering American jobs.  He says providing an income  of $1,000 to all Americans over 18 would help solve that problem by creating a "trickle-up" economy.

Our New Hampshire Primary 2020 Candidate Forum series continues with U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Democrat of Massachusetts, before a live audience. Listen or watch the interview below to get her views on the economy, taxes, foreign policy, climate change, and more.