Up North Podcast

In Patti and Kirk's last episode covering the "Right Wing War on Education,” they talked to Dountonia Batts and Dr. Preston Green about the issue of race as it relates to voucher schools. This is important because private school vouchers are often presented as opportunities specifically advantageous for students of color. So it is fair to ask … Are they? Hint hint, they aren't. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of The Right Wing War on education, Michael Johnson, Superintendent of the Eau Claire school district, John Gaier, Superintendent of the Neillsville school district, and with Chris Hambuch Boyle, the Northern Wisconsin Regional Coordinator for the Wisconsin Public Education Network, talk about how our public school tax dollars are flowing out of rural small towns #upnorth to support private (and often religious) schools in their communities and in urban areas far away from their districts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Patti and Kirk talked to Marva Herndon, President of the Milwaukee Public School Board, and Ingrid Walker Henry, Vice President of the Milwaukee Teacher Education Association and a member of Schools & Communities United, about what has happened to Milwaukee public schools since the first voucher school program in the country was implemented in Milwaukee over 30 years ago. Hint, it ain't pretty. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Patti and Fred, MBC's Lawyer aka the “Irrepressible Ginger,” talk to Cory Mason, Mayor of Racine, and Angela Cruz, President of the Racine Educators Association, about the gaping hole in the Racine's public education budget due to the parasitic private voucher school programs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we talked to our lawyers about the lawsuit we just filed as original action to overturn the voucher system in Wisconsin's Supreme Court, and we also talked to two plaintiffs to get their story and why they wanted to participate in this very important lawsuit. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Patti and Kirk spoke with Nicki Vander Meulen and Martha Siravo. Nicki is an attorney, advocate for kids with special needs, and member of the Madison Metropolitan School District Board. Martha coordinates Madtown Mommas and Disability Advocates which supports parents and caregivers of students with disabilities.They helped us understand how why the voucher system has decimated the funds available for special education, and how the voucher system all-to-frequently hurts kids with special needs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kirk and Patty talked to Bob Baxter, Executive Director for the Wisconsin Teacher's Union, aka the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC), and Heather Dubois Bourenane, Executive Director for the Wisconsin Public Education Network.They helped us understand how the growth of the parasitic private voucher school program has hurt both Wisconsin teachers and kids over the last 30 years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Patti and Kirk spoke with Attorney Jessica Levin from the Educational Law Center, who is also Director of "Public Funds Public Schools," a national campaign to ensure that all public funds are used to support public schools, about who and what is driving this push for parasitic private voucher school programs across the country. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

UW-Madison Professor Emerita Julie Mead joins Patti and Kirk to discuss the history of the parasitic school voucher system in Wisconsin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Patti and Kirk introduced the legal team who will sue to overturn the parasitic private voucher school program in Wisconsin, and asked them to explain why they think they will win. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode of the Up North Podcast, Kirk talked primarily about power imbalances, both in his ongoing battle with the Town of Minocqua and Oneida County to build a beer garden, and also at the judicial level where he is being sued by the Lakeland Times for defamation. He' spoke with a few of his lawyers to update everone on the defamation suit, and then he spoke to a national expert on Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP), a type of legal harassment which he believes this defamation suit ultimately is. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode of the Up North Podcast, Kirk, Kristin, and Sarah spoke with former Wisconsin US Senate candidate Sarah Godlewski about her new Political Action Committee called Women Win Wisconsin, and the rallies they're having around the state. Next, they spoke with political veteran Robert Kraig on how to get plugged into volunteer activities with Citizen Action of Wisconsin and help elect a reasonable judge and finally balance Wisconsin's Supreme Court. Finally, they wrapped up with a few thoughts on why we all need to fight hard for our home state. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's Up North Podcast, Pat and Kirk spoke with Elder Law Expert Paul Sturgul and Family Practitioner Dr. Ann Reitz about how Wisconsin is one of only 11 states that hasn't adopted Medicaid expansion, and the only Midwestern state left. We then discussed how changing the balance of Wisconsin's Supreme Court could make Republicans more accountable to the health of their constituencies and heal our state, both literally and figuratively. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode of the Up North Podcast, Kirk spoke with Melissa Kuhn, the winemaker behind Choice Sauvignon Blanc, and Matt Grove, owner of Equality Vines--the company that partnered with the Minocqua Brewing Company to make Choice wine. They tasted the new wine and talked about how Equality Vines was created as a cause-based winery that supports not only women's reproductive rights, but also LGTBQ+ organizations and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's Up North Podcast featured Jim Obergefell from the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that gave us marriage equality, Obergefell v. Hodges. We talked to Jim about how he became the plaintiff for this case, and what he's doing now. We also talk about how we got to know him as a co-owner of Equality Vines, a caused based winery out of Sonoma, CA, and our partnership in creating CHOICE, a pro-choice Sauvignon Blanc, which you can buy here. https://choice.equalityvines.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's episode was a special late-night reaction to Governor Evers' budget address to Wisconsin. State Representative Jodi Emerson from Eau Claire joined Pat, Kristin, and Kirk to dig through the proposed budget and what it would mean to our rural areas “Up North.” We also discussed how wonderful it would be if the right-wing gerrymandered legislature would finally ignore special interests, end their faux outrage, and help Evers' solve our tough problems. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode of the Up North Podcast, we talked about how we might be able to re-litigate some of the terrible things that have happened to our public schools and public school teachers over the past 14 years if we elect a progressive Supreme Court Justice on February 21st (primary) and April 4 (general). Our guests were WEAC (Teacher's Union) President Peggy Wirtz-Olsen and Dr. Julie Underwood, Professor Emerita of Educational Law and Policy Analysis and former Dean of the School of Education at UW-Madison. We talked about opportunities to undue ACT 10, which took away teachers' ability to collectively bargain, private school vouchers that are bleeding our public schools dry, and education funding formulas that create inequalities throughout the state. And finally, we talked about Defying Gravity, and how we can no longer accept the political status quo. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's Up North Podcast, we talked to Madison Senator Kelda Roys about what Wisconsin can do to help women get their reproductive rights back after we elect a progressive Supreme Court Justice. We also spoke with Jodi Habush Sinykin, who is running for the special election to replace Alberta Darling in the Milwaukee suburbs, about how important this race is. Finally we remembered that to make our state garden grow, we need to nourish it with a healthy democracy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's Up North Podcast, we talk to representatives of Nates's Mission, a survivor led group that hopes to bring justice to clergy abuse victims in Wisconsin, and is frustrated with what they see is a lack of action from the Wisconsin Department of Justice.We then talk about the need for courage among politicians to not just throw feel-good press conferences, but to risk failure to do what is right Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kirk and Kristin talk with former United States Attorney Jim Santelle about how Wisconsin's Tribes may be able to sue to end gerrymandering if we can elect a progressive Wisconsin Supreme Court judge on February 21 and April 4. Then they spoke with Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Member and member of Govern Evers' Fair Maps Commission, Janson Bisonette, about how the tribes would benefit from Fairer Maps. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kirk and Kristin talk to former United States attorney Jim Santelle, and former State Senate candidate Kelly Westlund about how we can finally get Fair Maps in Wisconsin if we elect a progressive Supreme Court Judge on April 4. And we think the the people of Douglas, Bayfield, and Ashland counties have a great reason to lead the charge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kirk, Pat, and Kristin are embarking on a new format for the podcast, so used this week as a tech rehearsal which provided many funny bloopers. They also promoted their holiday music extravaganza that will be airing on Dec. 21 at 8:15 am live on the Minocqua Brewing Company Facebook page, and talked about their focus for the New Year: The Wisconsin Supreme Court Race. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kristin and Kirk talked to “Iron Stache” Randy Bryce, the iron worker that tried to warn Wisconsin that former Governor Scott Walker was trying to break the unions, and how he thinks labor will get out the vote in this election. We then talked to two state assembly candidates, Leah Spicer and Joel Jacobsen, who were once considered underdogs but have a real chance at winning their races and saving the Governor Evers' veto from a gerrymandered Republican supermajority. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pat, Kirk, and Kristin spoke with Senator Chris Larson about the grass roots energy needed to fuel progressives to vote during these last two weeks before the election. He told the story of how that energy was white hot when he and the other Democratic senators left the state in 2010 to try and stop Scott Walker from passing Act 10--the bill that stripped collective bargaining rights from state employees including teachers. We concluded with a poem that reminded us that a simple conversation with a neighbor to vote for “reason over treason” could be the ripple that creates a blue wave. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kirk, Pat, and Kristin talk to candidates Kelly Westlund and Laura Gapske from the Superior/Ashland area of Northwest Wisconsin about how they must win their traditionally blue State Senate and Assembly races in order to protect Governor Evers' veto from a badly gerrymandered Republican state legislature. Later, they discuss how Gapske's opponent has been extremely vicious and reminiscent of another mean politician, Marjorie Taylor Greene. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kirk, Pat, and Kristin talk to Jim Santelle, Former US attorney for Wisconsin's eastern district, on how there is a likely chance that if Wisconsin ends up with three right-wing branches of government, the will of the people may be ignored in future elections Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pat and Kirk spoke with Charles Franklin, the Director of Wisconsin's gold standard Marquette Law School Poll, about how negative ads can hurt candidates' poll numbers, and how Wisconsin's Republican Majority legislature has often ignored issues that large numbers of Wisconsinites support. Rep. Jodi Emerson came on next to talk about how the same legislature ignored Governor Evers' special session to discuss ways to have all Wisconsinites weigh in on our 172 year old law that bans abortions through a statewide referendum—a idea that Republican leaders “said” they supported until actually were called up to do it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pat and Kirk talk to Jill Normington, a professional political pollster currently working for Senator Tammy Baldwin and recently for democratic primary candidate Alex Lasry, on how difficult it had become to do political polling in Wisconsin. She explains how the the closer the race is, the less accurate the poll, and most voters don't want to pick up the phone or answer an online survey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pat, Kristen, and Kirk speak with Becky Schacter, a nurse at UW Health, about the reasons nurses felt they needed to unionize. She then discusses how a strike was averted with the help of Governor Evers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kirk, Kristin, and Pat talked to former US Attorney Jim Santelle in Milwaukee about the decision to grant Trump a “Special Master” and hindering the DOJ investigation into him stealing confidential documents. We then examined the Trump-appointed Judge who made the ruling, and why it wasn't based in American Law. Has our federal judicial system been tainted by unqualified, partisan judges, and if so, what are we to do? Listen to this podcast to find out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kristin and Kirk talked to Congressman Mark Pocan about his reactions to the January 6th hearings, and then talked to the Executive Director of the Wisconsin High Speed Rail Alliance about our opportunity to finally get things right after throwing away a great opportunity to expand Wisconsin passenger rail in 2010. What connects these two debacles? The misinformation coming from Wisconsin Republicans that confuse voters. Wisconsin has lost its political innocence and we're going to need thicker skins to make it great again. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Kirk, Kristin and Pat discuss the different ways that people who used to be considered on the extreme fringes of the political spectrum are now in some powerful positions—not just at the state and national levels, but local, too. Two concerned citizens from Sparta talk about how their community has been hijacked by a group dedicated to killing public education. And we'll have the latest on the consequences of repealing reproductive health care rights for women. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Kirk, Kristin and Pat discuss the latest Jan. 6 Committee hearing on the Trump campaign's connection to the violent extremist groups. They talk to Deb Baldus McGrath, a former CIA officer and candidate for Congress. Pat shares interview clips with the other three Democratic candidates in the 3rd District. And Gov. Evers comments on how Republican legislators have been hostile to democracy. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Kirk, Kristin and Pat discuss the right-wing takeover of the US Supreme Court and how the illogical repeal of Roe v. Wade is a harbinger of other rights sure to be targeted next. Also, how the Roe repeal and the Jan. 6 Committee revelations should serve as a battle cry to become more active in protecting democracy. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Kirk, Kristin and Pat visit again with attorney Mel Barnes of Law Forward to review the case of the fake electors, and attorneys Mark Leitner and Joe Goode also comment on the other new findings from the special congressional committee investigating the attack on the US Capitol. Subscribe and never miss an episode:YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD7KqQDdZNyoMjtuG9YlvSQWebsite:https://up-north-podcast-ee4893.sitecast.cloud/Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/up-north-podcast/id1558007105?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=podcast_boxRSShttps://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/up-north-podcast See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Kirk, Kristin and Pat talk to attorneys Mark Leitner and Joe Goode for a Wisconsin interpretation of what's happening with the special congressional committee investigating the attack on the US Capitol. (Note: The show was recorded live on radio as severe weather was rolling through, so you will hear some interruptions about watches and warnings.)Subscribe and never miss an episode:YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD7KqQDdZNyoMjtuG9YlvSQWebsite:https://up-north-podcast-ee4893.sitecast.cloud/Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/up-north-podcast/id1558007105?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=podcast_boxRSShttps://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/up-north-podcast See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Kirk, Kristin and Pat talk to Denise Gaumer Hutchison of the Wisconsin Public Education Network about the reality behind the claim that schools are awash in pandemic relief funds. A pro-choice pastor talks about her faith journey that has her advocating for abortion rights. And after a lengthy list of the misdeeds done before and after the Jan. 6 insurrection, it's time to remind ourselves we can always be a light in someone else's darkness. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Kirk, Kristin and Pat talk about the exhausting but rewarding process of getting on the ballot to run for office—and how some people who've tried to take shortcuts failed at it. They also discuss three important elections that are under the radar of most voters. And after a review of Ron Johnson's new website about "truth," they discuss the declining value of law enforcement endorsements in a period where the politicians they endorse may be hostile to some voters' rights... or voting itself. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Kirk, Kristin, and Pat talk about what some are doing in Wisconsin to ensure that our students stay safe when politicians fail to address the school shooting epidemic themselves. Also, the former chair of the Brown County Republicans talks about exposing Ron Johnson hypocrisy on the 2020 election. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The lawyer is our own Sarah Yacoub, who is joined by Dr. Kristin Lyerly for some important updates. The guns on our streets are causing endless tragedy, but the politicians squawking the loudest about crime have done the least to fix the issues. And a new chancellor for UW-Madison isn't exactly news up north, but Republicans appear to be using the news to prepare for big changes that could hurt every campus across Wisconsin next year. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Call them advocates, activists, or “democracy's little helpers,” there are some folks who pay extra attention to policy issues and inform other voters. But now the time they'd spend helping people is being spent trying to save democracy. We talk to seven plaintiffs in a lawsuit against three insurrection supporters in Wisconsin's congressional delegation. Guests: Jim Kurz, Cheryl Maranto, Rick Bechen, Paul Demain, James Botsford, Dan Russler, and Lisa Mueller. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Kirk, Sarah, and Pat talk about the leaked Supreme Court document indicating Roe v. Wade is about to be overturned. Dr. Kristin Lyerly, an obstetrician-gynecologist, talks about the impact on her patients. Former moderate Republican state Sen. Dale Schultz talks about what has happened to his party. And the 7th Congressional District race has a new candidate, Ty Kunelius, a moderate Republican challenging right-wing Rep. Tom Tiffany in the August primary. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Kirk, Sarah, and Pat talk about how the issues of rural Wisconsin should matter to everyone—especially certain big-city political types who keep writing off a big chunk of the state. Darin Von Ruden of the Wisconsin Farmers Union is a guest along with Kelly Westlund, who was the longtime northern Wisconsin representative for Sen. Tammy Baldwin—until last week when she announced her campaign for state Senate in the 25th District. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Kirk, Sarah, and Pat talk about the Wisconsin Supreme Court conservatives locking in criminally rigged maps for another decade. Conservatives are also blatantly moving into book banning in places like the Wausau school district. And the Marathon County Board has solved racism—in their minds—by abolishing the committee working on a resolution to speak out against racism. In lighter news, can Pat make a newscast work on TikTok? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Kirk, Sarah, and Pat talk about how tough-guy conservatives lose their credibility when they lose their cool and encourage violence. They also talk to Kathleen Cooper and Tony Rio, two candidates who ran for the Oneida County Board, about the low blows and the high achievements when good people stand up to bullies and engage with their neighbors.Subscribe and never miss an episode:YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD7KqQDdZNyoMjtuG9YlvSQWebsite:https://up-north-podcast-ee4893.sitecast.cloud/Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/up-north-podcast/id1558007105?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=podcast_boxRSShttps://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/up-north-podcast See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Kirk, Sarah, and Pat talk to John Bonifaz, president of Free Speech for the People, about the ongoing efforts in multiple states including Wisconsin to hold insurrectionists accountable for trying to undermine our elections. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Kirk, Sarah, and Pat talk to the outgoing mayor of Merrill about the creeping authoritarianism that's being found at all levels of government—federal, state, and local. Chris Hambuch-Boyle of the Wisconsin Public Education Network talks about the wild rhetoric coming from right wing groups and school board candidates. And state Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler discusses the importance of not staying home during crucial local elections on April 5. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Kirk, Sarah, and Pat debate their favorite counties. But first, the more serious topics of a US Supreme Court striking down new maps that were good enough for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and one of Kirk's employees talks about reentering the workforce after a prison sentence—especially when one county refused to let him have a new path forward. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Kirk, Sarah, and Pat talk to Milwaukee lawyers Joe Goode and Mark Leitner about the federal lawsuit they filed against Senator Ron Johnson and Congressmen Tom Tiffany and Scott Fitzgerald for aiding the attempted presidential coup that culminated with the insurrection of January 6, 2021. Our guests first piece together the story on how these three defendants played their part in an orchestrated conspiracy, and then discuss why they think they can win this case. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Kirk, Sarah, and Pat talk to attorney Mel Barnes of Law Forward and political analyst Joe Zepecki about the new political maps Wisconsin voters will have for the next 10 years. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Kirk, Sarah, and Pat talk to Shawn Phetteplace of the Main Street Alliance about being a small business alternative to the big corporate lobbying giant. And they discuss how Ron Johnson has helped Donald Trump undermine Ukraine over the years, leading us to the recent Russian attacks. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.