Center Stage, with Milfred and Hands

Milfred and Hands tout U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson's resistance to the House-passed "big, beautiful bill" that would further burden our children and grandchildren with debt. But he's only half right in focusing on spending while mostly ignoring the cost of tax cuts.

Milfred and Hands get the bottom of Wisconsin's long-overdue legalization of medical marijuana and the stubborn Republican resistance to pot for recreational use -- even though GOP President Donald Trump is for it.

Milfred and Hands dissect Elon Musk’s impact on the Wisconsin Supreme Court race last week and look ahead to next year’s midterm elections in the swing state and beyond. President Donald Trump's billionaire buddy spent more than $20 million trying to elect Judge Brad Schimel to the Badger State's top court. Musk and Schimel failed in a blowout to Justice-elect Susan Crawford, who won by a quarter-million votes. A left-leaning majority will now hold the court until at least 2028, which would keep abortion legal and force changes to Wisconsin's congressional districts. Musk's lottery-like antics and fake-cheese persona turned off more voters than it charmed.

Milfred and Hands analyze Gov. Tony Evers' prospects for a third term, should he decide to run for governor again next year. Only one governor in state history -- Tommy Thompson -- has served a third (and part of a fourth) term. Milfred thinks Evers could be well-positioned as the antithesis to President Donald Trump. Hands isn't so sure, suggesting the left is hungry for new faces and younger blood. Evers recently met with the Wisconsin State Journal editorial board, talking about his future, school testing and cellphone distractions.

Milfred and Hands impugn U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden's impeachment ploy. The Prairie du Chien Republican wants to throw a federal judge out of office for daring to stall one of President Donald Trump's priorities in court. The New York judge paused the Trump administration's attempt to scour the Treasury Department's payment system, which houses the Social Security and bank account numbers for millions of Americas. Van Orden's incredibly low bar for impeachment is that the judge "may have" been politically biased. It doesn't look like Van Orden's absurd proposal is drawing much support, even from fellow Republicans. The real goal appears to be pleasing Trump and his billionaire buddy Elon Musk, who could make or break Van Orden's reelection bid next year. Hands praises Van Orden's waredrobe. Milfred wonders if Van Orden is a lumbersexual. 

U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh, calls tariffs a tax. President Donald Trump says they'll make Americans rich and powerful. It's a tale of two tariffs. Milfred and Hands break down the (so far) polite fray on trade between Wisconsin's senior senator and his party's president who backed off -- for at least 30 days -- on imposing 25% tariffs on trading partners and neighbors Canada and Mexico.

Milfred and Hands play clips from the Wisconsin State Journal editorial board's meeting last week with Jay Rothman, the "change agent" president of the Universities of Wisconsin. Rothman touts his $855 billion request for increased funding from the Legislature. In many ways, his business-like pitch should resonate with the GOP. Milfred asks about President-elect Donald Trump slamming "Marxist maniacs" on campus. He also gets Rothman's take on multimillion-dollar payouts to fired college football coaches. Hands gives the president advice on talking point and ponders the fate of legendary losing football coach Don Morton.

Milfred and Hands analyze Donald Trump's comeback win for the White House and why Wisconsin voters also chose progressive U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, who in many ways is his polar opposite. Our political podcasters try to temper lefty Madison's loss by talking up checks and balances as well as states' rights. Milfred loves Trump's flip-flop on electric cars, now that Trump's bromance with Elon Musk has blossomed. 

Milfred and Hands unpack the Wisconsin State Journal's endorsement meeting with U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, who is being challenged by her seat in the Nov. 5 election by Republican businessman Eric Hovde. The race in this closely watched swing state could decide control of the Senate. Baldwin touts the bill she is pushing with Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance to demonstrate her bipartisan cred. She also criticizes her opponent as an out-of-touch , out-of-state wealthy banker.

Milfred and Hands play audio clips from and comment on the Wisconsin State Journal editorial board's endorsement meeting with U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde.

Milfred and Hands interview Brian Reisinger, the Sauk County author of "Land Rich, Cash Poor," who worked for big-name Republicans such as Gov. Scott Walker and U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson. He offers a clear-minded assessment of rural economics, politics and culture, based on his own family's challenges.

Milfred and Hands assess the Middle America cred of both presidential candidates's salty surrogates. Both VP picks visited Eau Claire, talking guns, drugs, inflation, freedom and what's really weird. Our political podcasters play clips and comment each of the candidate's points and provocations. Wisconsin is giong to be seeing a lot more of these two, who play better here than either of their Coastie leaders.

Milfred and Hands play clips from and analyze Vice President Kamala Harris' speech last week in West Allis. They also assess her chances of winning Wisconsin in November, now that she's the Democrats' presumptive nominee. Harris is a far better campaigner than Joe Biden had been in recent months, bringing some needed energy to the ticket. Yet she faces skepticism from many Midwestern voters. 

Milfred and Hands play audio clips from the Wisconsin State Journal editorial board's meeting with Madison's new school superintendent, Joe Gothard. The Madison native, former La Follette coach and principal who left the Capitol City to run the bigger St. Paul, Minnesota, school district. Now he's back for the top job here. Gothard talks about prioritizing all-day 4K, making Madison a "destination district" for families, and says he'll have zero tolerance for guns in school. "Zero tolerance isn't zero care about a human being. But it is about holding people accountable for the rules and expectations we have in school. And I want to be very clear about that."

Milfred and Hands analyze the impact of Donald Trump's guilty verdicts on his bid to win the crucial swing state of Wisconsin this fall. Trump had been slightly ahead of President Joe Biden in the latest Marquette Law School poll of statewide voters. Will Trump's convictions for falsifying business records to cover up hush-money payments to a porn star hurt or help his campaign? Hands, who drew a "Make America Guilty Again" cartoon for Sunday's Wisconsin State Journal, recounts the time he was confined in a police car. 

Milfred and Hands analyze the two candidates for Wisconsin's U.S. Senate seat, including their recent ads, positions on key issues, and Hovde's dip into a frozen Lake Mendota. Milfred is surprised Hovde is polling so well. Hands needs a haircut and pledges to never grow a mustache like the challenger.

Milfred and Hands react to Donald Trump's first visit this year to Wisconsin, the crucial swing state he badly needs to win in November. Hands compares his hardcore devotees to a Grateful Dead following. Milfred counters Trump's dark take on Whitewater -- both its accuracy and political impact. Our political podcasters play clips from the rally and react to Trump's familiar schtick.  Our political podcasters won't count him out, though they hate to imagine him getting back in.

Milfred and Hands tackle the integrity of Wisconsin's elections with top municipal clerks from Kohler and Sun Prairie. The two clerks rank the security of your vote on a scale of 1 to 10.

Milfred and Hands highlight last week's discussion at the Edgewater Hotel about the future of State Street. Prominent landscape architect Ed Freer and Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway offer their visions as the city plans to test the concept of a true pedestrian mall on the bottom half of State Street this summer. Buses no longer roll down and crowd the three blocks closest to the UW-Madison campus. So the possibilities are ripe for a grand promenade and urban park similar to Pearl Street in Boulder, Colorado. Milfred and Hands play clips from and react to the Edgewater forum, including Freer's playful suggestion for yoga in the middle of the street.

Milfred and Hands react to U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson's social media event with Elon Musk on Musk's digital platform X. They sought to undermine the U.S. Senate's bipartisan support for military aid to Ukraine against Russian aggression. Hear clips from Johnson and Musk, who insist Ukraine can't win and Russian President Vladimir Putin can't lose. Milfred and Hands aren't buying it.

Milfred and Hands 'go condo' by urging state and federal officials to encourage more condo development, rather than favoring endless apartment buildings. Despite Madison's rapid growth, virtually no condominiums have gone up in the capital city in recent years. And that's true across much of the country. Regulatory and legal rules favor rentals -- especially following the Great Recession. Nobody wants another financial crisis like 15 yeas ago. But it's time to update our laws and let more people buy and build equity in their homes. Condos generally cost less than single-family homes. Our political podcasters highlight a recent Madison resolution proposed and steered through the City Council by Ald. Derek Field. Milfred and Hands play and comment on audio clips from Field and a Keller Williams real estate specialist. They also speculate on where Hands might live once he's an empty nester.

Milfred and Hands respond to criticism that a recent political cartoon was ageist. It depicted Joe Biden's presidential lectern as a walker. Our political podcasters agree that making assumptions about older people is wrong. But when it comes to the president of the United States, lots of evidence from public appearances suggest he's lost a step, they contend. And Donald Trump isn't getting any younger, either. Age is a legitimate issue in this campaign, and Biden isn't helping his case to voters by avoiding press conferences that could prove his vigor. Our podcasters also address feedback on recent Wisconsin State Journal editorials about the Monona police and renaming Madison's airport.

Milfred and Hands sing political lyrics set to holiday songs. This year's jingles, written by Rick Horowitz, target Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Bob Menendez, Mike Johnson and more. Hands finds Santa leading the North Pole's curling team at a bonspiel in Madison. Hands tries to convince the jolly old elf Hands deserves to be on the nice list. Milfred plays guitar and tries to harmonize. The year in politics never sounded so cheery yet jeery. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Milfred and Hands interview Sen. Rob Hutton, R-Brookfield, chair of the Senate Committee on Universities. The UW-Whitewater grad and southeast Wisconsin businessman talks about streamlining the Universities of Wisconsin with a smaller footprint, funding UW-Madison's new engineering building and encouraging free speech on campus. Unlike some of his Republican colleagues who are quick to bash higher education, Hutton calls UW system a "beacon for the state" with "tremendous economic impact." UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin is "a real asset," Hutton tells our podcasters. "It's hard to argue with what UW-Madison produces." Milfred and Hands marvel at the upbeat tone while highlighting Hutton's status as a swing-seat incumbent in suburban Milwaukee. He lost his Assembly seat by just 700 votes in 2020, only to win a Senate race two years later. "If we had more competitive seats," Milfred concludes, "we'd have more Rob Huttons."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Milfred and Hands analyze the Republican Assembly speaker's dramatic flip-flop on the Iowa model for nonpartisan redistricting. They also highlight the Democrats flip of their own, searching for excuses to oppose a bill that's virtually the same as what they have long proposed. The Democrats are hoping a liberal-leaning state Supreme Court will help their political fortunes more than neutral map-drawers if voting districts are reshaped across Wisconsin before the next elections. Our political podcasters discuss the recent public hearing on the Iowa bill and where things might go from here -- including the possibility of the GOP-controlled Legislature overriding the Democratic governor's potential veto.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Milfred and Hands talk all things housing with UW-Madison professor of urban planning Kurt Paulsen, who has been studying the region's expensive market for most of the last two decades. Paulsen explains why housing in the Madison region is so pricey, and what we can do about it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Milfred and Hands analyze a dozen potential Republicans who could challenge incumbent U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, for her seat in 2024. Baldwin appears in a strong position and has always been good at raising money. She's inoffensive to many Wisconsinites and has won over many rural voters with talk of protecting American jobs and sticking up for veterans. She also drew national attention as the lead senator successfully lobbying enough Republicans to approve a bill for gay marriage. Milfred and Hands think a GOP congressman would be the strongest opponent, but is unlikely to run. Others include the state's former lieutenant governor, a little known Franklin businessman and "America's sheriff."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most Republicans celebrated the overturning of Roe v. Wade last year, but the high-court decision is costing the party votes -- especially with young people and suburban women in swing states such as Wisconsin. On their latest political podcast, Milfred and Hands analyze recent statements by U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh, and U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien, who seek to soften the party's stance on abortion. Johnson says Wisconsin should let voters decide the emotional issue in a 10-question referendum featuring ranked-choice voting. Van Orden floats a 15-week limit on legal abortion, despite his moral objections.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Milfred and Hands analyze the spring election results and what they mean going forward. Democrats boosted turnout and drew broader support April 4 for their candidates largely because of their push to restore abortion rights. The winning candidate statewide and in Madison also had a lot more money. Our political podcasters aren't fans of judicial elections and suggest better ways to select top judges in Wisconsin. They also criticize losing high-court candidate Dan Kelly's sour grapes as well as winner Janet Protasiewicz's "Fab Four" embrace of a partisan team over independence.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Milfred and Hands analyze the April 4 election for Madison mayor while explaining the Wisconsin State Journal's endorsement in the race, which pits incumbent Satya Rhodes-Conway versus grassroots challenger Gloria Reyes. If you plan to vote next Tuesday, you'll want to listen to this.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Milfred and Hands sing about the biggest political news from 2022 -- all set to holiday songs. On two numbers, they channel Kermit and Miss Piggy with festive flare. Hands tries to convince a downsized Santa to return to the North Pole. All of the lyrics for today's podcast were written by Rick Horowitz of Milwaukee, a writing coach and former columnist.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Milfred and Hands play audio clips from the Wisconsin State Journal editorial board's recent endorsement meeting with U.S. Senate candidate Mandela Barnes. Our political podcasters quiz the Democratic challenger on climate change, cash bail and the first thing he would do if a Democratic-controlled Senate eliminated the filibuster. Milfred and Hands tick off a lot of reasons for opposing a third term for the conspiratorial incumbent, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh. They were less clear, going into their meeting with Barnes, what the young challenger's core message was, given how much defense he has played against attack ads. The State Journal is endorsing in the race in Sunday's newspaper and on madison.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Milfred and Hands discuss and play audio clips from Gov. Tony Evers' meeting this week with the Wisconsin State Journal editorial board, seeking its endorsement. The Democratic governor outlines his accomplishments and answers questions about abortion, redistricting and why he thinks voters should reelected him Nov. 8: "The alternative really sucks." Hands quizzes Evers about school closings during the pandemic. Milfred insists sheepshead is a better game than euchre -- and the governor agrees. Our political podcasts preview the editorial board's endorsement in the race for governor, coming this Sunday in print and on madison.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Wisconsin judge is dead, and a U.S. Supreme Court justice was targeted for violence. Court officials have always faced threats because their decisions can send people to prison, overturn laws and settle financial disputes. What's different and worse today is the influence of partisan politics on judges, juries and rulings. Milfred and Hands talk with former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Janine Geske about her experiences on the bench, including threats she received as a judge in Milwaukee County -- and the time police slept in her living room as a precaution. Geske faults politicians on the left and the right for increasing political pressure on the courts, which are supposed to be nonpartisan. "There's an assumption that we've got to have judges in our pockets," Geske says. "They've got to be deciding for us. And if they're not, they're bad guys. I'll tell ya, I was disappointed when Obama did it. I certainly didn't like it when Trump did it. And I think Schumer went way over the line." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Milfred and Hands play audio from and comment on the top four Democratic candidates seeking to challenge U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh, this fall. They all have strengths and weaknesses. Milfred and Hands weigh in on who has the best shot. The conspiratorial Johnson is underwater in public opinion. Yet he's still formidable, given the Republican-friendly election cycle that's expected this fall, and Wisconsin's well-earned status as a swing state. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Milfred and Hands quiz the State Journal's new executive editor, Kelly Lecker, about her Wisconsin roots, spelling championship and passion for journalism. Lecker grew up milking cows on a Shawano County dairy farm, then graduated from UW-Stevens Point with degrees in journalism and Spanish, and a minor in military science. She's worked for several Midwestern newspapers, including as interim editor for the Columbus Dispatch, where she's done just about every job other than taking pictures. Hands tries to spell Lecker's winning word when she won the Wisconsin State Spelling Bee in 1985. Then our political podcasters see if Lecker can spell the names of prominent Wisconsin politicians.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Milfred and Hands play and comment on U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson's latest political ad in which he blames the media for getting President Joe Biden elected. That's not what Johnson said last fall, when he was caught on camera at a GOP rally saying Trump lost because not enough Republicans in Wisconsin voted for him, and that nothing was obviously skewed with the 2020 election here. Johnson, R-Oshkosh, once a tea-party darling, said he wasn't going to run for reelection this year and used to support term limits. But he's broken that promise to voters, seeking to become another lifer congressman. Milfred and Hands wonder what happened to the free-trade supporter and deficit hawk who has turned into Trump's biggest apologist, constantly looking back to the past election rather than focusing on Wisconsin's future. Johnson is considered the most vulnerable GOP U.S. senator in the country this fall -- yet as an entrenched incumbent he still stands a strong chance to win, our opinionated political podcasters say. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Milfred and Hands assess the GOP field seeking their party's nomination for governor against Democratic incumbent Tony Evers this fall. Former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch is ahead in the polls, thanks to a big advantage in name recognition. But most voters don't know who any of these three are. That means Kevin Nicholson, who lost a bid for the party's nomination for U.S. Senate in 2018, and state Rep. Timothy Ramthun still have time. And could former Gov. Tommy Thompson still jump in? Kleefisch is the establishment candidate, even if she doesn't want to admit it. Nicholson is trying to fill the anti-establishment lane, while Ramthun is the conspiracist's friend, according to our political podcasters. They play clips of the candidates in public and wish Ramthun a happy birthday while complimenting, sort of, his Easter-colored suits.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Milfred and Hands endorse a new way of electing School Board members in Madison that will increase competition and voter choice while improving the dialog between candidates. Joining them is Wayne Strong, a member of the State Journal's community editorial board who narrowly lost a bid for School Board. Instead of pitting individual city-wide candidates against one another in specific seats -- an odd process that may be unique to Madison in Wisconsin -- our political podcasters advocate for lumping all candidates into the same pool with the top vote-getters winning the available number of seats. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Milfred and Hands won't defend state Rep. Elijah Behnke, R-Oconto Falls, for saying on hidden video that his party needs to "cheat like the Democrats or bend the rules." When the rookie lawmaker joked about wanting to punch the governor, who is 30-plus years his senior, it smacked of elder abuse. This self-described "redneck from the North Woods" appears solidly in the Trump wing of Wisconsin's Republican Party as a disrupter willing to entertain conspiracy theories. He'll never land the Wisconsin State Journal editorial board's endorsement. Yet Behnke repeatedly tells a group of right-wing activists -- one of whom recorded his words on a smartphone -- lots of things they didn't want (but needed) to hear. Behnke defers to the courts to settle election disputes (which they have, in favor of President Joe Biden). He repeatedly asks for evidence of fraud from the activists and sounds frustrated when they offer no specifics. Behnke's "swamp creature" putdown of Assembly Speaker Robin Vos isn't too far off, given the top Republican's long and checkered tenure clinging to power. Behnke sounds like a guy who wants to move past the 2020 election, even if Trump's staunchest supporters never will. In a way, despite all Behnke's baggage, that's reassuring for our democracy. Behnke seems to take his job seriously, even if he has a lot to learn about state government and representing the public. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Milfred and Hands interview Dr. Patrick Remington, a UW-Madison expert on the spread of disease, for the third time since the pandemic began two years ago. Remington, who worked for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and who teaches the public health experts of the future, says science has learned a lot about COVID-19, including the omicron variant, which is spreading fast in Wisconsin. The novel coronavirus isn't going away. But it could go in a variety of different directions, depending in large part on what we humans do. Remington gives advice for going to the Badgers game, for seeing Grandpa and Grandma and living your life while being a responsible citizen who cares about others to limit exposure. Milfred and Hands also seek his opinion on creating a State Street promenade in Downtown Madison, given that al fresco dining slows the spread of disease. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Milfred and Hands sing political lyrics set to holiday songs, including "God Rest Ye, Merry Gableman," "Hark! It's time to diss Beijing" and "Good King Rodgers." For the "Hallelujah Chorus," our political podcasters sing "Gerrymander!" -- forever, and ever. Hands tries to convince a skeptical Santa Claus to get a vaccine. Who knew that Kris Kringle was an anti-vaxxer? Joining Milfred and Hands (to help improve the singing) is Koffi Amuzu-Gassou from the newspaper's mailroom. With occasional three-part harmony that's occasionally in tune, they sing Rick Ho-Ho-Horowitz' lyrics, which will appear in Sunday's Wisconsin State Journal. Grab the lyrics from the newspaper or Madison.com and sing them yourself.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Milfred and Hands take the pulse of Madison's most famous street with Downtown dynamo Susan Schmitz. The Madison City Council narrowly failed to advance the cause of turning State Street into a pedestrian mall without buses recently. But the long-held dream of creating a grand promenade without motorized vehicles all the way from the UW-Madison campus to the state Capitol lives on. Schmitz, who led a Downtown business group for nearly two decades and sold clothing at Hilldale Shopping Mall before that, says pedestrians are already taking over more of the street. Hands says State Street is in the worst shape he's seen in 15 years. Milfred touts the importance of the 2023 city elections in determining its fate. Both of our political podcasters pine for an IPA at Empire Brewery, a long ago State Street business run by Schmitz' great uncle. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Milfred and Hands offer chilling commentary on the most frightening things about politics on the left and the right in Madison, across Wisconsin and in our nation's capital. Incivility -- including dead rats on a school board member's lawn -- terrifies Milfred. Hands' face turned pale when he saw the 9% increase in his Madison property tax bill. Our political podcasters worry that all the moderates and statesmen are being (politically) killed off. And Milfred tells a spooky story from a long, long time ago about U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Madison is growing fast. It's attracting lots of young talent. It's economy is poised to rebound quickly from the pandemic. That's not just good for the capital city, it benefits the entire state -- and Zach Brandon, president of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, has the data to prove it. Yet politics keeps getting in the way of Madison and Wisconsin working more together and recognizing they're on the same team. On this week's podcast, Milfred and Hands play clips from and comment on the State Journal editorial board's recent meeting with Brandon. They asked him about his efforts to sell Madison to the rest of the state. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Milfred and Hands urge school officials not to panic at the first outbreak of a COVID variant. Our political podcasters celebrate the return to five full days of classes a week in the Madison School District and elsewhere across most of Wisconsin this fall. Following a lost year of learning during the pandemic last year, schools should mask up -- as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends -- and require teachers to be vaccinated to help keep the schoolhouse doors open. After all, teachers are essential workers who are in close contact with the only population that isn't yet eligible for shots -- kids younger than 12. Though more contagious strains of COVID are concerning, none of Wisconsin's more than 7,600 deaths from COVID were younger than 10. And only three were younger than 20. So Madison shouldn't overreact -- something it's done in the past -- if cases rise in some school buildings. At the same time, rural schools with more conservative leaders shouldn't ignore responsible science-based precautions. "The areas that need the restrictions most aren't getting them, and vice versa," Milfred says. Hands predicts YouTube and Fortnite will be the biggest losers as school returns because kids will have to pay attention in class, rather than sitting on their phones at home. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Milfred and Hands assess the crowded field of 11 Democrats hoping to win the party's nomination to take on U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh, in next year's election. Wisconsin's Senate seat is one of three toss-up Senate races across the country. That means voters here could decide who controls the U.S. Senate. Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes is the front-runner in the Democratic primary, though he's hardly invincible, our political podcasters agree. They play audio clips from the top Democrats touting their bids, while assessing the broader political ramifications. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Milfred and Hands tout the "likely" result, in the words of Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, of the lower half of State Street becoming a true pedestrian mall without any motorized vehicles, including city buses. Our political podcasters also tout the need to keep buses and imposing transit stations off the top half of State Street to keep exciting options open for the future. Milfred and Hands play audio clips from a city meeting last week on the topic. They also play a recording from a recent State Journal editorial board meeting of the mayor saying State Street businesses are "desperate." The mayor's office falsely claimed the State Journal editorial board had taken her out of context.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Milfred and Hands love Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway's commitment to improving public transit in Madison. A faster and modern bus system is long overdue. But those long, snazzy "bus rapid transit" vehicles that she's bringing to Madison -- with $80 million of help from the federal government -- don't need to rumble up and down State Street, the city's premier shopping and entertainment district. Instead, Madison's signature street should become a grand promenade for outdoor cafes, public art, trees and music. The buses can stop nearby and still get people where they need to go. On this week's episode of "Center Stage, with Milfred and Hands," our political podcasters discuss the State Journal editorial board's meeting with the mayor last week and play audio clips of Rhodes-Conway's objections to a true pedestrian mall on State Street, which Downtown businesses and advocates have sought. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Milfred and Hands highlight Liz Cheney's and Elise Stefanik's connections to Wisconsin and its political leaders, including Cheney's birth in Madison and Stefanik's rise as a confidant of former House Speaker Paul Ryan of Janesville. Ryan was a young Republican star who quickly became a party pariah during the celebrity-driven rise of Donald Trump. While Cheney is a traditional conservative whose father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, worked for Wisconsin's governor while in grad school at UW-Madison in the late '60s, Stefanik is a formerly moderate Republican who reinvented herself as a Trump apologist and sycophant. Unlike Cheney, Stefanik has lost her way in pursuit of political power that's based on a failed president's fragile ego and lies.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Liberals seem to prefer Aaron Rodgers, and conservatives lean toward Brett Favre, as the Green Bay Packers' greatest quarterback (not counting Bart Starr). Milfred and Hands highlight how politics shapes our views of Rodgers' controversial standoff and potential split with the Packers. And they delve into the not-so-subtle political opinions of Rodgers (who recently opposed the Dakota pipeline) and Favre (who endorsed Donald Trump for president). Increasingly, Americans root for their political party the same way -- and with just as much enthusiasm and hypocrisy -- as they cheer for their favorite sports team or athlete. Does politics infect or enrich pro sports? Milfred and Hands get to the bottom of that question. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.