Vermont Politics Matter More than Ever

Vermonters are on edge.

The state is at a crossroads. The waters are at our door. There are fascists at the wheel of the federal government.

The future is here – maybe the one we planned for, or the one we feared, or the one we never had much time to worry about. Maybe it's another sort of future entirely. But however you choose to frame the stakes of our present situation, it's clear that the time for local action and coalition-building is long past due.

The current necessity of local political agency cannot be overstated.

As our national political climate undergoes dramatic minute-by-minute turns, Vermonters are channeling their anxiety in new directions, including towards the Statehouse. This was recently demonstrated during the February 1st "50501" gathering in Montpelier, a protest without local organizers which still garnered turnout in the hundreds. The speed and strength of this mobilization was extremely impressive, and illustrated just how much energy exists from folks hoping to redirect the course of our political path.

But it's hard to avoid the pitfalls of these types of events: there was a lack of clarity around any specific demands from the protestors. Why should Vermonters march on the Statehouse? What are we asking our legislators to do? Unfortunately, there aren’t many leverage points where our state government can obstruct the President’s administration.

However, our politicians can do something equally important: protect Vermonters from the consequences of the President's policies.

When the federal government is dismantled, "overhauled," and generally plunged into chaos, when the executive branch sells off our remaining civil rights to billionaires and institutes the conservative dream of state rule, we better hope our state is willing to shield us. It's easy to imagine that Vermont's constitution will continue to uphold civil rights –  it's part of our identity, isn't it? But the 2024 election saw big gains for the Vermont GOP, many of whom have struggled to denounce the actions or ethos of the MAGA movement. And the truth is, unless Vermonters break out of our complacent benefit-of-the-doubt approach to state politicians, there's no evidence that our politics won't continue sliding to the right. 

For Vermont politicians, there is relatively little oversight from their voters, on both the left and the right.

This feels particularly incongruous in a state where we have such access to our representatives, particularly here in Montpelier, where you can simply walk into the Statehouse and witness decisions being made every day. This lack of accountability and healthy scrutiny for our politicians isn't due to a failure of transparency. Most committee meetings and press conferences are reported on and recorded, publicly accessible. Many are live-streamed.

There is, however, the lack of time and bandwidth necessary for most Vermonters to follow this stuff closely. But it's becoming rapidly clear: in the coming months and years, we need more Vermonters directing their attention and energy toward the decisions state lawmakers make on our behalf.

The mission of the Northern Flicker newsletter is to make that more accessible for Vermonters like you.

Scrutiny, of course, isn’t the same as harassment, or bullying. Our state legislature is full of diligent, intelligent people working to serve Vermonters in one way or another. Our representatives are also members of our home communities, and the relationships we build with them don't have to remain bound by political discourse. They are some of the allies that we need the most. Still, in the absence of healthy scrutiny – without a working relationship – we cannot know whether our representatives are truly representing our concerns.

And boy, is there a lot to be concerned about for the future of Vermont.

Maybe you're concerned about flood resilience, and what the state government is doing to avoid a continual cycle of destruction and repair following uncontrollable weather events. Currently? Not much. Maybe you have a stake in the future of Vermont's education system, as Scott spearheads a proposal to downsize the state's school district divisions from over 100 to 5. Maybe you're sick and tired of witnessing the Governor's administration drag its feet and blame shift about social services while members of Vermont's most vulnerable communities are left out in the cold.

Of course, none of these homegrown issues are even touching on what we might experience under a crumbling iron fist of a federal government. When push comes to shove, can we be certain that our state government will do everything it can to protect the rights of migrants and workers and trans people and women? We can believe whatever we want about the soul of Vermont. Still good to be prepared.

That's the goal of this newsletter: to share writing and reporting that may give us all a better chance of being prepared.

You can read more about the political goals of The Northern Flicker here.

What can free subscribers expect?

To start: A weekly newsletter summarizing the main political developments from the Statehouse and the Governor's office.

Until the legislative session wraps up, the column will focus on committee discussions, the progress of bills as they pass through the chambers, floor votes, and debriefs of the Governor's weekly press conferences. In addition to summaries, the Northern Flicker will offer analysis and opinion on the issues facing Vermonters and how our state politicians are responding to them.

Once the legislative session wraps up, the column will shift to include coverage of  local and municipal level governance, and how select boards and city councils (main focus: Washington County) are coping with our statewide issues.

Why Ghost? Why an online newsletter-based format?

I don't need to tell you that the state of our media landscape is incredibly grim. The internet is increasingly enclosed and monopolized by private corporate entities who have shown their willingness to cooperate with a rising authoritarian regime.

For those who still want to connect and collaborate over the internet – for those who still have to – it's imperative that we secure our internet presences on open-source platforms, where we can reach our communities without surrendering our rights. That's why the Northern Flicker will exist primarily as a newsletter, sent directly to your inbox. The only social platform you'll find us on is Bluesky.

Who the heck is writing this thing anyway?

I'm F. M. Smith, a Montpelier-based writer and public media worker. I'm not a politician or an experienced journalist, and I'm very new to the world of political reporting. But as an employee of ORCA Media (Washington County's local public access television station) I'm often attending, filming, and editing footage of the endless bureaucratic meetings that comprise Vermont's state and local governance system.

Just to clarify: I undertake this publication as a private citizen, unpaid by ORCA Media and independent from my work there. I love the sense of public service that comes with being a community television worker. But in this publication, I get to stretch my talents for synthesizing and analyzing information.

As the publication expands, I look forward to bringing on more contributors who can offer their own informed perspectives, which may differ from my own in diverse ways. I also hope to hear from subscribers. Please reach out and share what sort of coverage you're looking for!

Together, we can grow the Northern Flicker into a publication with real power to affect change.

Thank you for being here!