The last legislative session in Connecticut was cut short by COVID-19. And this one is starting in the cold, outside the state capitol, and will continue on Zoom. So what will this mean for lawmakers and their legislative priorities? What about advocates, lobbyists and citizens who want to be heard?

In the first of a series of conversations previewing the session, John Dankosky talks with Mark Pazniokas, the CT Mirror’s capitol bureau chief, health care reporter Jenna Carlesso, and data journalist Kasturi Pananjady.

We talk about how COVID will impact the session, and about issues that could be tackled, including legalized marijuana, vaccine mandates, sports betting, nursing homes, and a public option.

John is CT Mirror's Director of Events. A well-known and highly-regarded radio personality and moderator, he divides his time between CT Mirror — where he heads up our events program and serves as a multi-platform consultant — and the NPR / PRI program Science Friday. Previously, John was executive editor of the New England News Collaborative and the host of NEXT, a weekly program about New England. He also appeared weekly on The Wheelhouse, WNPR’s news roundtable program. His 25 years in public media also include serving as vice president of news for Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network, host of WNPR’s Where We Live, and regular fill-in host for the PRI program Science Friday in New York. He was twice recognized by PRNDI as America’s best public radio call-in show.