Podcast appearances and mentions of Tony Evers

Bill welcomes former Wisconsin Democratic Party chair Ben Wikler to discuss his new book, "This Is the Plan: How to End America's Meltdown and Save Democracy," and Wisconsin's political arc from La Follette-era progressivism to Scott Walker's rollback and a comeback under Gov. Tony Evers. Wikler argues the most effective political work is grassroots, trust-based conversations that target persuadable and low-propensity voters, noting how tiny margins can decide outcomes. He contends Democrats must prioritize state-level races—governors, legislatures, attorneys general, secretaries of state, and especially elected state Supreme Courts—to set election rules and defend democracy against Trump-era threats. Wikler describes building a year-round “permanent campaign” infrastructure in Wisconsin and outlines a step-by-step roadmap from weekly local elections through 2026 battleground-state trifectas, advancing the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, and pursuing major federal democracy reforms in 2029.You can order your copy of Ben's great new book at Bookshop.org. Today Bill highlights the work of Run For Something that has worked with over 200,000 people to run for office. More information at RunForSomething.net.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Wisconsin Democratic primary for governor has gone haywire. Over the last week, Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez dropped out amid a campaign finance scandal, and a candidate who had suspended his campaign, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, rejoined the race — immediately nabbing an influential endorsement from Gov. Tony Evers. Meanwhile, state Rep. Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist, has surged in recent polls. Is this last-minute shakeup a coincidence, or part of a concerted effort to keep Hong from securing the nomination? Today on Lever Time, David Sirota speaks with Hong, the candidate in the middle of it all. They discuss the opposition to her grassroots campaign, why she thinks her politics are better positioned to defeat Republicans, and why she believes the entire debate over “electability” misunderstands this political moment in the United States. Get ad-free episodes, bonus content and extended interviews by becoming a member at levernews.com/join. To leave a tip for The Lever, click here. It helps us do this kind of independent journalism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Democrat David Crowley is relaunching his campaign for governor. This time with an endorsement from Governor Tony Evers.

I love Rock Fest. I miss being there. I had such a great time. But man, am I glad to be home and poop in my own toilet, shower in my own shower, and sleep in my own bed. Jean's out this morning as she went to AC/DC last night in Madison. So, I ran a couple of the interviews we recorded while in the radio booth at Rock Fest including my conversations with the Autumn Kings, Kami Kehoe, and Story of the Year! In the news this morning, the explosive diarrhea has been traced back to some lettuce, the WI DNR extends their air quality advisory until noon today, David Crowley is back in the race for Governor of WI after getting an endorsement from Tony Evers, a man drowned in the Chippewa River after fleeing from police, and a start-up company is taking orders on survival pods! In sports, the Brewers restart the regular season with a sweep of the Marlins, Spain beats Argentina to claim the World Cup title and they got PAID by FIFA…which might be why they're trying to sell all that grass from the field in New Jersey(which isn't going over too well in the Garden State). Let you know what's on TV & streaming today/tonight and talked about the most-watched series on Netflix from the last four years. Plus, is Darius Rucker calling it a career? Today happens to be the anniversary of the release of the original "Neverending Story" movie…which lines up nicely with this story about a pony that almost suffered the same fate at Artax, but was rescued by a fire department in PA. And speaking of nice saves, check out this guy who used his own vehicle to stop a runaway vehicle in Washington. Elsewhere in the world of sports, Joey Logano gets his first win of the NASCAR season, Connor Bedard gets a contract extension, Cam Skattebo scares Giants fans by trying to do a flip at FanFest, Saquon Barkley's house gets robbed, Conor McGregor talks about the injuries he sustained during his last fight, and apparently…Madison Square Garden keeps a list of artists that may be difficult to deal with. In today's edition of "Bad News with Happy Music", we had stories about a guy in Texas who just got his 12th OWI, a #FloridaMan who tried switching seats with his passenger after getting pulled over, a guy who fell into the tank of a porta potty and had to be cut out by a fire department, a woman who got busted with drugs hidden all over & in her body, a woman who was driving around naked with a bunch of drugs & guns in her car.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd opens with a story that seems small and turns out to be a perfect miniature of everything wrong with this Pentagon: a Blue Angels flyover at Pensacola Beach came in too low, the pilot who made the honest mistake felt terrible about it — and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, without bothering to establish a single fact about what happened, seized the moment to gloat and own the libs. Chuck calls Hegseth an absolute clown and a fake soldier, argues the incident is a window into a Pentagon where the boss cares more about winning an online argument than about the safety of the people he commands, and where the entire "military testosterone" discourse — Hegseth's fixation on creating "supertrooper" fighting men is both dumb and genuinely dangerous. His verdict: a great American military culture is being actively degraded. He extends the same argument to ICE, where the violence has been entirely predictable — the officer involved in the latest shooting had enormous red flags in his background, and the agency appears to have no meaningful vetting process at all. He also explains why, contrary to much of the commentary, he wasn't alarmed by Trump's primetime election-denial address: it was a nothingburger. Trump has no evidence, which is why he keeps turning to cranks — his endorsement of Mike Lindell tells you everything — and there's no policy response attached to his own foreign-interference allegations, since China has faced no sanction whatsoever for what Trump claims it did. He argues American elections are extraordinarily hard to overturn precisely because the system is decentralized, that Trump is too lazy to become a Putin or a Mao… A more disciplined president would frighten Chuck far more. Chuck sees a forever war taking shape in Iran: the strategy amounts to throwing kinetic weight at the problem and hoping the regime collapses, while Iran fights the asymmetric war it always planned, targeting Gulf states and now civilian survival infrastructure — hitting desalination plants could trigger a crisis lasting years — and nobody in Washington actually knows how to win. He closes with a genuinely important profile of Undersecretary Elbridge Colby, the intellectual architect of the new right's foreign policy and a favorite of JD Vance, whose vision of American retreat from its allies would effectively be the policy of a President Vance: Colby has trashed Mark Carney's "middle power" strategy and declared that no country is entitled to the American defense industry — which, notes, misses that buying military hardware is a 30-year bet on trusting an ally, and middle powers who conclude they can be coerced by Washington will simply take their money somewhere else. Quick hits on a messy Wisconsin governor's race (Tony Evers built no infrastructure and left no obvious heir in one of the country's most misunderstood swing states) and Tuesday's Arizona primary round things out. Then, bestselling novelist Daniel Silva — creator of the Gabriel Allon series — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a conversation that starts with the craft of spy fiction and quickly becomes something closer to a threat assessment. Silva's newest plot turns on drones, and he's blunt that this isn't speculative: he believes it's a matter of time before a drone carries out an assassination or a mass-casualty attack. He talks about the strange responsibility of writing a fictional event that could plausibly happen next month, why he deliberately withholds visual detail so readers build the scene themselves, and what he learned reporting out how modern kidnappings and ransom negotiations actually work. The darker current running underneath is his read on American intelligence: the FBI is no longer the same place, the U.S. is jettisoning allies and hollowing out its agencies, and Silva poses the question a novelist is uniquely positioned to ask — if you're the GRU right now, where would you most want an asset placed? He notes that the best assets often don't know they're assets, that NATO held a crisis meeting about Trump, and that this is precisely the moment to be putting the screws to a vulnerable Putin, since Ukraine has victory in sight and isn't desperate for any deal. The conversation turns personal when Chuck asks how Silva handles Israel's collapsing global reputation in a series built around an Israeli intelligence officer. Silva says the shift was entirely foreseeable, that he has no interest in writing about Gaza, and that what saddens him most is the "fortress Israel" mindset — a country founded on European-style socialist ideals now convinced it can go it alone, siloed from the world, while antisemitism surges globally in a way he warns only ever needs the right set of circumstances to reignite. He and Chuck range across the forces reshaping the century: giant corporations approaching the power of nation-states, a new generation of the ultra-wealthy who simply don't believe in philanthropy, AI's capacity to wipe out the knowledge economy, and Silva's conviction that the next great political crisis may be a climate-driven natural disaster — noting that the last major El Niño produced famines that killed millions, that today's migration patterns are already climate-driven, and that people are dying right now as a direct result of cutting humanitarian aid. He's unsparing on writing and AI), amused and appalled that Trump has turned the National Mall into a mess with a reflecting pool gone "Kermit green," and closes on the question every prolific novelist gets asked and rarely answers honestly: does he ever actually rest? Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to draw parallels between the arguments in modern American politics to the argument between Richard Nixon and Nikita Khrushchev in the infamous “kitchen debate” and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Play ball and swing for the fences on FanDuel, an official partner of the MLB at https://FANDUEL.COM. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial (980) 734-3985 to speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to askchapter.org/chuck /*Paid Partnership Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don’t directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:15 Pensacola Beach is the home of the Blue Angels 03:15 Low flyover from Blue Angels generated massive controversy 03:45 Hegseth has allowed unsafe flyovers in the past 04:15 Hegseth’s leadership at the Pentagon has been awful 05:00 Hegseth used the flyover to try to “own the libs” 05:45 The low flyover at the beach was an honest mistake by the pilot 07:30 Online discourse about flyover was both sides trying to prove their point 08:30 Hegseth didn’t even bother to figure out the facts about the incident 09:00 The pilot felt terrible about the mistake, while Hegseth gloated 11:00 Why Chuck isn’t alarmed by Trump’s election denial primetime speech 11:45 Trump has tested constitutional boundaries unlike any other president 13:30 Trump’s endorsement of Mike Lindell says everything 14:00 Trump doesn’t have evidence of fraud, he turns to election denial cranks 15:15 Trump’s speech was a big fat nothingburger 16:30 Trump wanted government to interfere in the 2020 election 17:30 There’s no policy response to Trump’s allegations about foreign interference 18:30 China hasn’t received any sanction or response to allegations 20:00 Trump has lackeys cherry pick facts to try to sew mistrust in elections 22:00 It is extraordinarily difficult to overturn an American election 22:45 The electoral system is decentralized making it harder to meddle with 23:30 A president more disciplined than Trump would be a bigger worry 24:30 We need to repair structural weaknesses in the democracy 25:15 Trump is too lazy to become a dictator like Putin or Mao 26:00 Trump has his sycophants… but they all fear jail too 27:15 Trump wants other people to risk themselves to keep him in power 28:30 We’re on the road to a “forever war” in Iran 29:00 The plan is just to throw kinetic weight & hope the regime collapses 29:45 Iran’s whole strategy is asymmetric, targeting Gulf states 30:15 Iran is now targeting civilian survival infrastructure 30:45 Hitting desalination plants could create a yearslong crisis 31:30 Administration keeps doubling down on the same strategy 33:30 Nobody in Washington knows how to win the war 34:30 Pete Hegseth is an absolute clown… a fake soldier 35:00 The military testosterone discourse is both dumb and dangerous 36:00 Undersecretary Elbridge Colby has a big role in shaping policy 37:30 Colby wants America to retreat from the world & our allies 38:30 Colby has been embraced by JD Vance & the new right 39:15 Colby’s policies would be those of a President JD Vance 40:30 Allies realize they can be coerced by America 42:30 Colby trashed the “middle power” strategy of Mark Carney 43:00 Colby says nobody is entitled to the U.S. military industry 44:00 Buying military hardware is a 30 year bet on trusting an ally 45:00 Middle powers will look elsewhere to buy their military equipment 46:15 Hegseth wants to create testosterone driven “supertroopers” 47:00 Women aren’t being offered a similar screening 48:00 Jesse Watters comments on testosterone were beyond awful 48:30 Most watched cable host was making sexual assault jokes 49:15 Military has had a longstanding issue with sexual assault 50:00 Young men are marketed testosterone from influencers & now government 51:00 Taking outside testosterone shuts down natural production of it 51:45 Taking testosterone has major negative side effects 53:00 Our great military culture is being destroyed by Trump 53:30 The violence from ICE officers has been entirely predictable 54:15 DHS under Trump never deserves the benefit of the doubt 55:15 Officer involved in shooting had massive red flags in his background 56:00 ICE doesn’t appear to have any vetting process for recruits 1:00:00 Wisconsin governor’s race has become a political mess 1:01:00 Tony Evers didn’t build a strong infrastructure around him 1:01:30 Evers didn’t set up an obvious heir in the Democratic party 1:03:00 The party establishment hasn’t responded to all parts of the base 1:03:45 Wisconsin is one of the most misunderstood swing states 1:05:00 Democrats in Wisconsin have to make the political center comfortable 1:07:30 Arizona primary coming up on Tuesday 01:14:00 Daniel Silva joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:15:00 Gabriel Allon is ageless 01:16:45 How much do you put yourself into Gabriel Allon? 01:17:30 Gabriel’s character allows Daniel to pursue things he’s interested in 01:19:15 Potentially creating a spin-off series 01:20:30 Vibe of the book series is European art 01:21:15 How did you learn about modern kidnappings and negotiations 01:23:15 Not writing with great visual detail to allow readers to imagine it 01:24:15 We are going to have a major incident triggered by drones 01:25:15 Ukraine has become the drone specialists of the world 01:26:00 Drones will eventually carry out an assassination or mass casualty event 01:27:15 Any trepidation creating a fictional event that could actually happen? 01:28:15 There was an emergency drone incident in Copenhagen 01:28:45 Europeans are already very nervous about impacts of drones 01:29:30 There are cameras everywhere in modern society 01:30:45 The level of criminality & corruption in the world is staggering 01:32:00 The current FBI is no longer the same place 01:32:45 We are jettising allies and destroying our intelligence agencies 01:33:30 If you are the GRU… where would you want an asset to be? 01:34:30 There are different types of intelligence assets 01:35:00 Some of the best assets don’t realize they are assets 01:36:15 Crisis meeting held at NATO headquarters about Trump 01:39:30 We should be putting the screws to Putin right now, he’s vulnerable 01:40:15 Ukraine has victory in sight, they aren’t desperate for a deal 01:41:00 How do you tackle Israel’s reputation in the world in the books? 01:43:30 The changes to Israel’s reputation were foreseeable 01:44:00 Don’t want to write about the war in Gaza 01:45:00 Is all hope for a two state solution gone? 01:47:45 There’s a “fortress Israel” mindset, they think they can do it alone 01:48:15 Is Gabriel Allon still a zionist? 01:49:00 Israel was founded with tenets of European style socialism 01:50:00 It’s sad seeing Israel becoming so siloed from the world 01:51:30 There’s been a major resurgence of antisemitism 01:53:15 It only takes the right set of circumstances to reignite antisemitism 01:54:30 Giant corporations are becoming as powerful as nation states 01:56:00 The new generation of ultra wealthy don’t believe in philanthropy 01:56:45 AI has the ability to wipe out the knowledge economy 01:58:00 The next great political crisis might be a climate driven natural disaster 01:58:45 The last great El Nino created massive famine, killing millions 01:59:30 The current migration patterns are climate driven 02:00:00 People are dying as a direct result of cutting humanitarian aid 02:03:30 Trump has turned the national mall into a mess 02:04:15 The reflecting pool is now “Kermit green” 02:05:30 If you could write your next book about anything, what would it be? 02:06:30 Don’t think he could write non-fiction, too many novels to write 02:08:15 If you use AI to do your writing, then that isn’t writing 02:11:30 Anthropic CEO gave a reasoned answer to AI military applications 02:12:00 Could have an AI version of yourself that lives forever 02:13:15 Do you ever take a rest from writing? 02:16:30 ToddCast Time Machine July 24, 1959 02:17:00 Nixon and Krushchev host the “Kitchen Debate” 02:18:00 The countries were showing off their way of life - Capitalism vs Communism 02:18:45 Soviets set up a display in New York to show off their society 02:19:30 Khrushchev believed history would belong to the communists 02:20:00 The answer to the Soviet display was a model of an American home 02:20:45 The argument was that a middle class worker could afford that home 02:21:15 America showed it offered equality of opportunity, not outcome 02:22:00 Krushchev and Nixon debated knowing the world would hear it 02:23:00 Krushchev didn’t believe Americans actually lived that well 02:23:30 Nixon argued that competition inspired innovation and growth 02:25:00 Market capitalism proved to be the more dynamic economic system 02:25:30 There are echoes of the Kitchen Debate in modern American discourse 02:27:00 The Soviet Union disappeared, the debate hasn’t 02:27:15 Ask Chuck 02:27:30 Is MLB lockout avoidable? The state of baseball card collecting? 02:38:00 Is Trump’s erosion of norms a form of the incrementalism you champion? 02:41:30 What rights are D.C. & Puerto Rico residents still missing beside representation? 02:47:15 What goes into a decision to run for office? 02:50:45 MAGA just a rework of Reagan’s slogan? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd opens with a story that seems small and turns out to be a perfect miniature of everything wrong with this Pentagon: a Blue Angels flyover at Pensacola Beach came in too low, the pilot who made the honest mistake felt terrible about it — and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, without bothering to establish a single fact about what happened, seized the moment to gloat and own the libs. Chuck calls Hegseth an absolute clown and a fake soldier, argues the incident is a window into a Pentagon where the boss cares more about winning an online argument than about the safety of the people he commands, and where the entire "military testosterone" discourse — Hegseth's fixation on creating "supertrooper" fighting men is both dumb and genuinely dangerous. His verdict: a great American military culture is being actively degraded. He extends the same argument to ICE, where the violence has been entirely predictable — the officer involved in the latest shooting had enormous red flags in his background, and the agency appears to have no meaningful vetting process at all. He also explains why, contrary to much of the commentary, he wasn't alarmed by Trump's primetime election-denial address: it was a nothingburger. Trump has no evidence, which is why he keeps turning to cranks — his endorsement of Mike Lindell tells you everything — and there's no policy response attached to his own foreign-interference allegations, since China has faced no sanction whatsoever for what Trump claims it did. He argues American elections are extraordinarily hard to overturn precisely because the system is decentralized, that Trump is too lazy to become a Putin or a Mao… A more disciplined president would frighten Chuck far more. Chuck sees a forever war taking shape in Iran: the strategy amounts to throwing kinetic weight at the problem and hoping the regime collapses, while Iran fights the asymmetric war it always planned, targeting Gulf states and now civilian survival infrastructure — hitting desalination plants could trigger a crisis lasting years — and nobody in Washington actually knows how to win. He closes with a genuinely important profile of Undersecretary Elbridge Colby, the intellectual architect of the new right's foreign policy and a favorite of JD Vance, whose vision of American retreat from its allies would effectively be the policy of a President Vance: Colby has trashed Mark Carney's "middle power" strategy and declared that no country is entitled to the American defense industry — which, notes, misses that buying military hardware is a 30-year bet on trusting an ally, and middle powers who conclude they can be coerced by Washington will simply take their money somewhere else. Quick hits on a messy Wisconsin governor's race (Tony Evers built no infrastructure and left no obvious heir in one of the country's most misunderstood swing states) and Tuesday's Arizona primary round things out. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to draw parallels between the arguments in modern American politics to the argument between Richard Nixon and Nikita Khrushchev in the infamous “kitchen debate” and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Play ball and swing for the fences on FanDuel, an official partner of the MLB at https://FANDUEL.COM. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial (980) 734-3985 to speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to askchapter.org/chuck /*Paid Partnership Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don’t directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:15 Pensacola Beach is the home of the Blue Angels 03:15 Low flyover from Blue Angels generated massive controversy 03:45 Hegseth has allowed unsafe flyovers in the past 04:15 Hegseth’s leadership at the Pentagon has been awful 05:00 Hegseth used the flyover to try to “own the libs” 05:45 The low flyover at the beach was an honest mistake by the pilot 07:30 Online discourse about flyover was both sides trying to prove their point 08:30 Hegseth didn’t even bother to figure out the facts about the incident 09:00 The pilot felt terrible about the mistake, while Hegseth gloated 11:00 Why Chuck isn’t alarmed by Trump’s election denial primetime speech 11:45 Trump has tested constitutional boundaries unlike any other president 13:30 Trump’s endorsement of Mike Lindell says everything 14:00 Trump doesn’t have evidence of fraud, he turns to election denial cranks 15:15 Trump’s speech was a big fat nothingburger 16:30 Trump wanted government to interfere in the 2020 election 17:30 There’s no policy response to Trump’s allegations about foreign interference 18:30 China hasn’t received any sanction or response to allegations 20:00 Trump has lackeys cherry pick facts to try to sew mistrust in elections 22:00 It is extraordinarily difficult to overturn an American election 22:45 The electoral system is decentralized making it harder to meddle with 23:30 A president more disciplined than Trump would be a bigger worry 24:30 We need to repair structural weaknesses in the democracy 25:15 Trump is too lazy to become a dictator like Putin or Mao 26:00 Trump has his sycophants… but they all fear jail too 27:15 Trump wants other people to risk themselves to keep him in power 28:30 We’re on the road to a “forever war” in Iran 29:00 The plan is just to throw kinetic weight & hope the regime collapses 29:45 Iran’s whole strategy is asymmetric, targeting Gulf states 30:15 Iran is now targeting civilian survival infrastructure 30:45 Hitting desalination plants could create a yearslong crisis 31:30 Administration keeps doubling down on the same strategy 33:30 Nobody in Washington knows how to win the war 34:30 Pete Hegseth is an absolute clown… a fake soldier 35:00 The military testosterone discourse is both dumb and dangerous 36:00 Undersecretary Elbridge Colby has a big role in shaping policy 37:30 Colby wants America to retreat from the world & our allies 38:30 Colby has been embraced by JD Vance & the new right 39:15 Colby’s policies would be those of a President JD Vance 40:30 Allies realize they can be coerced by America 42:30 Colby trashed the “middle power” strategy of Mark Carney 43:00 Colby says nobody is entitled to the U.S. military industry 44:00 Buying military hardware is a 30 year bet on trusting an ally 45:00 Middle powers will look elsewhere to buy their military equipment 46:15 Hegseth wants to create testosterone driven “supertroopers” 47:00 Women aren’t being offered a similar screening 48:00 Jesse Watters comments on testosterone were beyond awful 48:30 Most watched cable host was making sexual assault jokes 49:15 Military has had a longstanding issue with sexual assault 50:00 Young men are marketed testosterone from influencers & now government 51:00 Taking outside testosterone shuts down natural production of it 51:45 Taking testosterone has major negative side effects 53:00 Our great military culture is being destroyed by Trump 53:30 The violence from ICE officers has been entirely predictable 54:15 DHS under Trump never deserves the benefit of the doubt 55:15 Officer involved in shooting had massive red flags in his background 56:00 ICE doesn’t appear to have any vetting process for recruits 1:00:00 Wisconsin governor’s race has become a political mess 1:01:00 Tony Evers didn’t build a strong infrastructure around him 1:01:30 Evers didn’t set up an obvious heir in the Democratic party 1:03:00 The party establishment hasn’t responded to all parts of the base 1:03:45 Wisconsin is one of the most misunderstood swing states 1:05:00 Democrats in Wisconsin have to make the political center comfortable 1:07:30 Arizona primary coming up on Tuesday 01:13:15 ToddCast Time Machine July 24, 1959 01:13:45 Nixon and Krushchev host the “Kitchen Debate” 01:14:45 The countries were showing off their way of life - Capitalism vs Communism 01:15:30 Soviets set up a display in New York to show off their society 01:16:15 Khrushchev believed history would belong to the communists 01:16:45 The answer to the Soviet display was a model of an American home 01:17:30 The argument was that a middle class worker could afford that home 01:18:00 America showed it offered equality of opportunity, not outcome 01:18:45 Krushchev and Nixon debated knowing the world would hear it 01:19:45 Krushchev didn’t believe Americans actually lived that well 01:20:15 Nixon argued that competition inspired innovation and growth 01:21:45 Market capitalism proved to be the more dynamic economic system 01:22:15 There are echoes of the Kitchen Debate in modern American discourse 01:23:45 The Soviet Union disappeared, the debate hasn’t 01:24:00 Ask Chuck 01:24:15 Is MLB lockout avoidable? The state of baseball card collecting? 01:34:45 Is Trump’s erosion of norms a form of the incrementalism you champion? 01:38:15 What rights are D.C. & Puerto Rico residents still missing beside representation? 01:44:00 What goes into a decision to run for office? 01:47:30 MAGA just a rework of Reagan’s slogan? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WORT 89.9FM Madison · Democratic Gubernatorial Primary in Chaos Shawn Johnson(Photo courtesy Wisconsin Public Radio) With less than a month to go before the August 11th primary election, the race to succeed Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers erupted in chaos last week.  On July 8, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley announced he was dropping out of the race, after doing poorly in public-facing polls.  At the time, Crowley did not endorse another candidate. Then, on July 12, sitting Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez reported that she had fired her campaign manager for “serious mismanagement and inaccuracies” in the campaign's financial reporting. Five days later, Rodriguez announced she was suspending her campaign entirely.  The very next day, Crowley re-entered the race, armed with a new endorsement from outgoing governor Tony Evers, who up until then had declined to endorse anybody, including either of his former lieutenant governors.  Joining us on the phone now to help us make sense of all this is Shawn Johnson, Capitol Bureau Chief for Wisconsin Public Radio. Wisconsin Gubernatorial candidates (from left to right) Sara Rodriguez, Andrew Manske, Kelda Roys, Francesca Hong, Joel Brennan, David Crowley and Mandela Barnes at a June 22, 2026 candidate forum in Pewaukee, Wisconsin.(Photo by Brian Standing) Did you enjoy this story? Your funding makes great, local journalism like this possible. Donate hereThe post Democratic Gubernatorial Primary in Chaos appeared first on WORT-FM 89.9.

With Sara Rodriguez abruptly suspending her campaign for Wisconsin governor, does that make self-described Democratic Socialist Francesca Hong the leading candidate? The Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor was completely upended, and UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, joins the Rick Solem Show to help break down the fallout. Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez is out of the race, a candidate who dropped out announced online mid-show he’s coming back and retiring Gov. Tony Evers might endorse now, of all times. We also talk about Rodriguez’s reasoning politically and actually for dropping out — all dealing with campaign money in one way or another — and how the other candidates look financially. Other things we discussed: The “Scott Walker Loophole:” How Tiffany is sitting back flush with millions in cash from just a couple mega-donors while the Democrats are in total disarray. Pour One Out for the Marquette Poll: Why polling director Dr. Charles Franklin apparently halted phone calls mid-survey because the race changed overnight. The New York vs. Wisconsin Reality: Why the “Median Voter Theory” means what works for progressives in big cities faces a completely different hurdle in a statewide purple race. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Summer may mean a break from school room activities, but it's also a break from reliable meals for many Wisconsin kids. Hunger Task Force, headquartered in Milwaukee, works vigorously to try and make sure it's ready for the spike up in demand when those families need help. Jonathan Hansen, chief strategy officer at Hunger Task Force, says they will be using a portion of a $2.5 million grant to help offset demands. Hansen tells Pam Jahnke that the funding — part of a $10 million investment in Wisconsin’s 2025-27 state budget created by Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin State Legislature — connects local nonprofit food assistance programs with local producers to keep pantry shelves stocked with nutritious and locally produced food. Hansen notes that through Connecting Farms to Families, Hunger Task Force will use 100% of grant funds to support hunger relief programs across Wisconsin — uniquely providing all food absolutely free of charge — including food pantries, meal programs, nonprofit organizations, Tribal Nations and members of the Hunger Relief Federation of Wisconsin. All food purchased with the funding will come from small and mid-sized Wisconsin farmers and producers. This ensures producers have a reliable market for their crops and people across the state have consistent access to healthy food.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin governor candidate Joel Brennan joins to discuss the fallout from opponent Sara Rodriguez firing her campaign manager over massive campaign finance discrepancies, his take on AI data centers, and his firsthand role in renegotiating the Foxconn deal. Over the weekend, Lt. Gov. Rodriguez — one of five Democrats in the governor primary — announced she let her manager go over hundreds of thousands of dollars in mismanaged funds. Brennan reacts to the news, explaining why he views it as a failure of "competence 101." He details how his own campaign handles its books to ensure accountability before Wednesday's filing deadline, and discusses the political impact on the primary now that a "coronation" has been disrupted. Later, we dive into Brennan's role as Department of Administration Secretary in helping renegotiate the failed $2.85 billion Foxconn contract under Tony Evers. A deal originally put in place by former Republican Gov. Scott Walker and touted as the "Eighth Wonder of the World" by President Donald Trump during his first term. Lastly, we tackle the wild west of AI data centers in Wisconsin. With La Crosse County and its 18 municipalities fending for themselves to pass local moratoriums, Brennan reacts to the state legislature "hanging local government out to dry" on regulation. He breaks down his four-part plan to establish guardrails — including utilizing union labor, implementing strict green standards, banning non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) that keep locals in the dark, and ensuring residential ratepayers aren't stuck subsidizing massive corporate energy bills. Plus, he explains why he supports a targeted, 90-day statewide pause on approvals to write these rules into law, rather than an arbitrary, year-long ban. Though all that would have to wait until after the November election, since the GOP-controlled state Legislature hasn't been in session since April and won't resume work until January of 2027.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Milfred and Hands talk with Joel Brennan, one of the least known Democratic candidates for governor with the most executive experience. Brennan has been far back in the polls and didn’t do well in the straw poll at the recent Democratic Party convention. Yet he’s raising a lot of money and starting to tout his impressive resume in TV ads and at campaign stops across the state. Brennan was secretary of the Department of Administration under Gov. Tony Evers and considers himself a “pragmatic progressive.” “You cut me open,” Brennan says, “I’m going to have Wisconsin values.” He understands that he needs to introduce himself to a lot of Wisconsin voters before the Democratic primary on Aug. 11 because of low name recognition. “That’s the thing I’m up against in this race more than anything else,” he says. The likeable Brennan ran the state’s largest science museum before joining the Evers administration and then leading a Milwaukee business and civic leadership group. He’s fed up with President Donald Trump, but says that’s not good enough for the state’s next governor, even though the Republican president is unpopular because of his war and rising prices. “If what people are looking for is just somebody who wants to howl in the wind about what’s going with Donald Trump, there are plenty of us who can do that,” he says. “But for me, it’s never enough just to be angry. It’s got to be about how do you use that to get something done.” Milfred and Hands ask him about schools, taxes, gerrymandering and his favorite card game.

Governor Tony Evers is asking the U.S. Small Business Administration to declare a Rapid Disaster Declaration for communities affected by severe storms and flooding.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse County Democratic Party chair Wyatt Molling was in studio last week for the Rick Solem Show discussing the friction between the state and local party over reaching rural voters. We recapped the state convention and why everyday voters don't look like convention diehards, plus the split over Gov. Tony Evers' budget surplus deal. And, we closed with some rapid-fire over everything from data centers to Trump and the World Cup. We start though talking about Molling getting into politics and taking over role as chair in January. After, we dive into the three Assembly seats defining La Crosse County, looking closely at the different rural landscapes facing Steve Doyle, Jill Billings and Tara Johnson. Molling airs some frustration with the state party on reaching voters in these districts that have all been redrawn. From there, we discuss the state Democratic convention. Molling is asked about the WisPolitics governor's race straw poll that had heads turning. He explains the mindset of convention-goers versus regular voters in regards to the poll and we get into the resolutions the party comes up with at the convention. We also hit the optics surrounding Evers’ multi-billion-dollar budget surplus package and why local Democrats split on the final vote. To wrap up, we put Molling through a lightning-round of national and local headlines, including data center moratoriums — which the La Crosse County Board has passed — as well as the controversial $300 billion Iran memorandum, gas prices and why Donald Trump hoisting the FIFA World Cup trophy could get incredibly awkward.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin state Sen. Brad Pfaff in studio discussing A.I. data centers, the budget surplus deal and — with Alabama and Megadeath coming to La Crosse — ticket prices and third-party sellers. Pfaff also came in hyped that June is dairy month and will be hosting a dairy breakfast from 6-11 a.m. at Creamery Creek Farms in Bangor. When it comes to legislation, though, the state did nothing the last two years with data centers, as multiple counties in Pfaff’s district debate moratoriums and study committees to address the issue. Democrats and Republicans had data center proposals, but neither passed the Legislature, which has now been out of session since March. Pfaff also talked about voting against the budget surplus deal that was negotiated in private between Gov. Tony Evers and Republican legislators, Robin Vos and Devin LeMahieu. The deal included no tax on tips/overtime, $300 checks and one year of special education funding and property tax relief. It was introduced to the public Monday and the Legislature voted on it two days later. After that, the Legislative Fiscal Bureau came out with a report that the deal would have put Wisconsin in a structural budget deficit. Before the data center conversation, we did talk about the Tank Creek Bridge that an arsonist burned down last year — part of the Great River Trail in La Crosse County. We had some fun to begin the show, first asking what Pfaff was doing the last time Alabama came to the La Crosse Center in 1984. He revealed his first-ever concert was at the La Crosse Center but a year later — Huey Lewis and the News. With Alabama in town Sept. 10 — tickets just went on sale — and Megadeth at the Oktobefest Grounds on July 31, Pfaff also discussed whether the state needs to look into third-party ticket sellers and if there needs to be some laws created to protect concert goers. Viterbo University brought this issue up in the past, where these third-parties rip people off on ticket prices.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The last time Wisconsin-born writer/director Nathan Deming stopped by for a podcast visit, he was coming off a big win that went beyond any single project. Now he's back to focus a little more intently on one of his own creations — and talk a bit about that previous victory.Deming and his Action! Wisconsin cohorts had plenty to smile about when he joined us in November of 2025, a few months after Wisconsin legislators passed and Governor Tony Evers signed into law the creation of production incentives and a state film office. These days, Deming's joy comes from promoting his gripping new movie, Winter Hymns, which takes an ambitiously creative approach to examining the world of palliative (or end-of-life) care.Shot in a single room at a hospital on a snowy Wisconsin day, the film captures a series of conversation-based “episodes” between a doctor (played by the wonderful Colleen Madden of the American Players Theatre in Spring Green) and her patients. A few days before a special screening and Q&A at Milwaukee's Oriental Theatre, Deming talked with us about being inspired by his father's career as a hospice director, the importance of casting local talent and how the production choices resulted in an emotionally weighty film that paints an authentic picture of a difficult topic.#####Cinebuds is sponsored by Joe Wilde Garage Doors.

We discuss the culture of gambling and drinking in La Crosse with UW-L political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, and WIZM’s Brad Williams, and then feature another woman-owned business "for no reason whatsoever" The conversation went a bunch of different ways, including when residents voted by referendum whether to allow a casino to come to La Crosse. Another reason for the talk stems from two La Crosse businesses not being allowed to have their liquor licenses renewed by the city council, and whether Wisconsin’s sports gambling legalization gets fully implemented before Gov. Tony Evers retires. After that, Chergosky talked about the politics of the Wisconsin governor’s race, now that there are seven Democrats and two Republicans on the ballot — and the dilemma of the less popular candidates either needing to make a name for themselves or drop out or go. Lastly, we hyped up another women-owned business in the area “for no reason whatsoever.” Our seventh business featured is Scrappin’ on the Ranch, in Pickwick, Minn. — tucked in the bluffs between La Crosse and Winona. Jolene Danca joined to tell us about her B&B that was created for scrapbookers to get away for a weekend — and she has everything there a scrapbooker would need — but has evolved into everything from bachelorette and graduation parties to weddings and business trainings. Check out Scrappin’ on the Ranch here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Governor Tony Evers meets with the state's tribes today. There still isn't an agreement on splitting up the sports betting money. More with Chris Conley on the WSAU Wisconsin Morning News.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's Pride Month! Gov. Tony Evers was the first Wisconsin governor to raise the pride flag over the State Capitol, and he did so again for his final time earlier this month. Madison and Dane County officials also raised a pride flag at the City-County Building. While these are symbols of support, we are curious about the actual day-to-day experience of LGBTQIA+ Madisonians. Host Bianca Martin talks with Sanders Weinberg,  program coordinator at the Gender and Sexuality Center at UW-Madison, and producer Jade Iseri-Ramos, about how queer-friendly our city really is.  This episode originally aired on June 2, 2025.

We honed in on a couple of President Donald Trump's pet projects and rehashed the state's failed budget surplus deal with Citizen Action of Wisconsin's Robert Kraig. It's hard to pick any one thing when it comes to the Trump administration, but we narrowed it down to these things: Trump's $1.778 billion (what we call) "slush fund" The $1 billion in taxpayer dollars for a ballroom The MMA fight on the White House lawn The Iran war and prices The second half of the show consisted of the failed deal between Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers and the top two Republicans in the Legislature to spend the state's $2 billion budget surplus, and all the factors that have come since. That includes the flaws in a Marquette Law School poll showing 80% agreeing with the deal, the analysis since showing it would have put the state in a budget deficit and how Republican Robin Vos wants Evers to call another special session to get it done. Roughly, the deal consisted of one year of special education funding and property tax relief, plus $300 checks and no taxes on tips/overtime.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two voices of Northeast Wisconsin airwaves were in Brown County court today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin Assembly Rep. Jill Billings could have made some big money betting on the prediction markets over the $1.8 billion budget surplus deal that fell through last week. Now, though, that's illegal, after a Gov. Tony Evers executive order banning state employees and their families from making those types of bets. We get into all of it with Billings (D-La Crosse) — specifically how the deal to lower property taxes, send money to schools, give out $300 rebate checks and end taxes on tips and overtime fell through. Billings talks about her process for supporting the deal, but also the specific trade-offs she wasn't happy with. Plus, Billings tells the story about a legislator's joke that hinted to her the deal was not going to pass the state Senate — getting back to how she could have made a big bet on the deal. We also discussed how the Legislature had just three days to vote on this $1.8 billion package, and compared that to the $500 million Milwaukee Brewers stadium funding deal that was hashed out in public for over a month. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Right here, folks: Everything you need to know about the $2 billion spending plan that would have increased school spending, lowered property taxes and resulted in $300 rebates went bust last week in the Wisconsin Senate.Why was it signed off on by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and Republican legislative leaders? Why were there supporters and critics on both sides? And will it rise again?These questions and more are answered on this week's Capitol Notes.

Governor Tony Evers blasts GOP candidate for Governor Tom Tiffany for killing a state surplus spending bill. Why not blame Kelda Roys and and Francesca Hong?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Wednesday's "Dan O'Donnell Show," Dan breaks big news about the Evers Administration signaling its intent to violate a recent Supreme Court ruling and continue to enforce a ban on "conversion therapy" even though doing so violates the First Amendment. Plus, another exclusive: Racine fires poll workers who say it was because they noticed irregularities including "pre-filled ballots at the bottom of a bin."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Wednesday's "Dan O'Donnell Show," Dan breaks big news about the Evers Administration signaling its intent to violate a recent Supreme Court ruling and continue to enforce a ban on "conversion therapy" even though doing so violates the First Amendment. Plus, another exclusive: Racine fires poll workers who say it was because they noticed irregularities including "pre-filled ballots at the bottom of a bin."

Republican Rep. Tony Wied has seen the damage from flooding in Shiocton, New London and Fremont, and said he's ready to help Gov. Tony Evers advocate for federal funds. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Friday may have acted as a distraction from policy attention at the governor's mansion. Wisconsin Senator Pat Testin, chair of the Senate Agriculture and Revenue Committee, says that Good Friday was a bad day for livestock operations in the state. Governor Tony Evers decided to veto legislation that would have put a freeze on proposed fee increases proposed by the WI Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. These annual fee increases range from 205% to nearly 1,700%! The livestock, marketing and trucking industry had collaborated with DATCP to find some common ground, but it wasn't enough for the governor. On a positive note, it looks like there will be some state funding made available for farmers, land owners, and municipalities dealing with the fallout of PFAS contamination. Testin says many of the impacted parties may have been unaware of the PFAS risk when practices were put into place. This money would be targeted at clean up of impacted areas. At this moment, the PFAS funding mechanism is waiting for the governor's signature.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Federal fundraising figures show Wisconsin's Democratic Party vastly out raised their Republican counterparts last month.  Gov. Tony Evers has proposed a constitutional amendment to ban partisan gerrymandering. Some experts say this proposal could stand a chance.  And, hear the second of WPR's two profiles of Wisconsin's state Supreme Court candidates - this one a look at liberal Appeals Court Judge Chris Taylor.

WORT 89.9FM Madison · Slaying the Gerrymandering Dragon iuscely Flores(photo courtesy LinkedIn) In 2023, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled 4-3 that state assembly and senate district maps created by the Republican-led legislature in 2011 violated Article IV of the Wisconsin Constitution.  Rather than submit to district boundaries drawn by the court itself, the Legislature agreed to maps proposed by Governor Tony Evers after an extensive public participation process.  Although that case effectively ended what election experts called the worst partisan gerrymander in the nation, the process by which those maps were created remains intact.  With gerrymandering back in the news with recent congressional maps in Texas and California, Governor Evers signed an executive order calling for a special session of the Legislature to consider a constitutional amendment to make nonpartisan redistricting the law of the land.  Iuscely Flores is the Organizing Director for Fair Maps Wisconsin, who joined the Monday Buzz on March 23, 2026. Wisconsin legislative district maps in effect for 2026 elections(image courtesy Wisconsin Legislative Services Bureau) Did you enjoy this story? Your funding makes great, local journalism like this possible. Donate hereThe post Slaying the Gerrymander Dragon appeared first on WORT-FM 89.9.

In the first hour of the Civic Media Spotlight, we feature Daybreak with Brian and Jamie. The hosts are joined by Bill Lueders, president of the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, who breaks down a recently uncovered loophole that allows lawmakers to delete records that should otherwise be accessible through open records requests. Also in this hour, Brian and Jamie take a closer look at a headline involving Tony Evers and his veto of a childcare bill. What initially appeared to be a surprising decision becomes clearer as they dig deeper into the details, ultimately offering perspective on why the veto may have been the right call. We also hear from Lean Local with Jim Schmitt, who is joined by Dennis Buehler, President and CEO of the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation. The conversation focuses on how community members can get involved and contribute to making Green Bay a better place to live. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow Civic Media on Facebook, X, Instagram, and Blue Sky to keep up with all of our shows! Guests: Bill Lueders, Dennis Buehler

We open with a discussion of this week's Trump Regime lowlights, including the dangerous Iran war escalation and Brad Schimel not leaving his U.S. Attorney's post despite being vetoed by Tammy Baldwin and fired by a federal district court. One silver lining in Wisconsin, after Robin Vos removed his block, Governor Tony Evers is finally able to sign into law the long overdue expansion of post partum Medicaid. We welcome former state representative Sandy Pasch to highlight a dangerous bill on the Governor's desk that conflates legitimate criticism of Israel with antisemitism. The bill passed the Legislature and will be law unless it is vetoed by Governor Evers. Sandy details why the bill is so dangerous and asks everyone who cares about free speech to call Governor Evers today to demand a veto. Mark Rice, from WISDOM, joins us to celebrate a legislative victory for incarcerated people and their loved ones in Wisconsin. The bill provides access to healthcare for incarcerated people with substance use disorders through a Medicaid extension that would also cover general health care needs. We close with a discussion of the Legislature's “last spasm” of activity, including Representative Cruz and Phelps' public school proposal to use half of the remaining state budget surplus for funding public schools. Speaker Vos decries lack of Senate action on the GOP data center bill, warning it will cost the Republicans seats in the Legislature this November. Regardless, the impact is to leave the data center boom largely unregulated. We close this week's episode with a critical question for democracy: Will Trump succeed in coercing Republicans into ending the filibuster to enact his election theft plan (SAVE "Trump"Act) through the U.S. Senate.

Gov. Tony Evers is calling on lawmakers to pass a ban on political gerrymandering in state legislative races. Lawmakers already passed a law banning cell phone use during instructional time. Now they're looking to expand it. And leaders in Milwaukee are passing new rules to prepare for any future visits from federal immigration officials

A look at the legacies and impacts of Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers and longtime GOP Assembly Speaker Robin Vos who both aren't seeking reelection.

The Democratic governor, who is not seeking reelection, focused on school funding, property taxes and the economy.

In his final State of the State address, Gov. Tony Evers highlighted the accomplishments of the last eight years but said there is more work to be done. A Wisconsin bill would create a path for victims of sexual extortion to sue in state courts. And, the state's top GOP leaders have agreed on a plan to spend down the state's $2.5 billion dollar budget surplus. 

On Wednesday's "Dan O'Donnell Show," a devastating new study from Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce shows just how badly this state is performing under Governor Tony Evers. WMC's Scott Manley joins the show to discuss. Plus, a big exclusive: Democrats want to add an unelected teacher to every single school board in the state to essentially spy on board members in closed session. Yes, seriously.

This week, UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin announced that she will be leaving Wisconsin to become the president of Columbia University in New York City. Governor Tony Evers chided the city of Madison for arguing in a lawsuit that absentee voting is a privilege, not a right. And locals are activating in protests against recent ICE activity in Minneapolis. City Cast host Bianca Martin, executive producer Hayley Sperling, and newsletter editor Rob Thomas break down all this news. Plus, there's big news in the Madison food scene once again.  Mentioned on the show: Kavanaugh's Esquire Club closes, for real this this time [Cap Times]Himali Chulo carries on Himal Chuli's legacy [Wisconsin State Journal] Madison participates in nationwide solidarity shutdown [Instagram] Chef Elena Terry to open Tall Grass restaurant in MMoCA [MMoCA]

The seven Democratic candidates for governor squared off in a forum in Milwaukee. They had tough words for Trump's immigration crackdowns. Gov. Tony Evers and GOP lawmakers say they have a deal on PFAS.And, President Trump campaigned on a promise of ending inflation and lowering prices. One year into his term, some Wisconsin residents say they're still waiting.

 Assembly Republicans are rejecting Governor Tony Evers’ plan to cut property taxes, saying he needs to undo his so-called 400-year veto before the two sides can talk. The state Assembly […]

Gov. Tony Evers is laying out his agenda for his last year in office, but he'll have his work cut out with Republicans in the state Legislature. Two Wisconsin hospitals say they're ending gender affirming care treatments for minors, citing federal changes. And, what Wisconsin experts are saying about new federal guidelines for alcohol use.

It's always preferable to have our usual dynamic duo piloting the podcast. But when that's not the case, it usually means we're making room for some special guests. For this episode, we've got two who know their way around movie making and are using that knowledge to make a positive impact on all of Wisconsin.Writer/director Nathan Deming, who hails from the northern reaches of the state, is smack dab in the middle of an ambition project to create 12 films set in Wisconsin, with each taking place in a different month (January and February are already a wrap). Jeffrey Kurz is a Racine native and former studio exec at Miramax Films. Both are involved with Action! Wisconsin, a statewide group pushing to make Wisconsin friendlier for film and television production.It's not just movie types involved, either. In addition to the many people involved in film production — from directors to technicians — the coalition includes city governments, hotels, restaurants, small-business owners and educators. Their goal: to create jobs, lift local economies and promote tourism across the state.They scored a big win earlier this year, when Wisconsin legislators passed and Governor Tony Evers signed into law the creation of production incentives and a state film office. You'll hear from Deming and Kurz about how that victory happened, how filming in Wisconsin can be a win for everyone and a few personal stories from their own movie-watching histories (including the ones that made them cry).#####Cinebuds is sponsored by Joe Wilde Co.

Links From the Week Ending 11/09/2025 Trump pushes an end to medical care for transgender youth nationallyVenezuela seeks Russian help amid fears over U.S. intervention - The Washington PostJudges could rule on SNAP food aid as payments are set to stop | AP NewsTwo judges on SNAP Video: Two federal judges require Trump administration tap into emergency funds to partially cover food stamp benefits | CNN PoliticsLeon County high school student sent home for wearing ‘Nazi soldier' costume for Halloween, LCS saysNancy Mace Curses, Berates Confused Cops in Airport Meltdown: Police Report | WIREDMeet the man poised to be the Netherlands' first out gay Prime Minister & his Olympian fiancé - QueertyWisconsin Gov. Tony Evers declares state of emergency over shutdownReps. Darrell Issa, Ronny Jackson file lawsuit opposing Prop 50 – NBC 7 San DiegoJeffrey Epstein cultivated celebrity relationships for years. Many continued until his 2019 arrest for sex trafficking, documents show. - CBS NewsObama Calls Mamdani to Praise His Campaign and Offers to Be Sounding Board - The New York TimesSenate report says detainees face neglect in US immigration centers | AP NewsThree killed in US military strike on alleged drug vessel in the Caribbean | US news | The GuardianMondayZohran Mamdani's Advice for Election-Results Anxiety? Go Talk to Your Neighbors | Teen VogueTrump energy secretary says no nuclear blast tests for now - The Washington Post@kylegriffin1.bsky.social on BlueskyF.D.A. Drug Unit Chief Resigns, and Is Sued by Drug Company - The New York TimesJury selected for the trial of D.C.'s 'sandwich guy'Democrats are more enthusiastic about the midterms as Trump's approval hits second-term low, CNN poll findsTrump administration will partially fund SNAP, but it could take months - ABC News'We're not a violent city': Chicago locals take on ICE block-by-block | ReutersTexas cities grapple with order to remove rainbow crosswalks as state deadline approachesTuesdayFederal government shutdown threatens to delay home heating aid for low-income families | AP NewsAmazon's Ring to partner with Flock, a network of AI cameras used by ICE, feds, and police | TechCrunchFacing difficult questions about his use of an FBI jet, Kash Patel pitches weak defenseAttorneys for Jan. 6 defendants face lawsuits for plagiarism - CBS NewsFederal judge likely to intervene at Broadview's ICE facility: 'It has really become a prison' - Chicago Sun-TimesICE Altercation With Protester in Colorado Prompts a Police Chief to Push Back - The New York TimesWednesdayWes Moore launches Maryland redistricting commission after top state Dem stymies effort - POLITICOKansas Legislature won't have special session on redistricting | AP NewsPost by @mollyroberts.bsky.socialThursdayBorder patrol agent who shot Chicago woman boasted about it in text messages  | ReutersCriminal case dismissed against Boeing over 737 Max plane crashes“Speaker Johnson is stalling Grijalva until Van Epps gets there to cancel out her vote?” Sandwich guyMike Johnson on food prices: https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3m4xw4zaax52uNancy Pelosi Announces Retirement From Congress in 2027 - The New York Timeshttps://bsky.app/profile/jonseidel.bsky.social/post/3m4y4cwk2d22gAppeals court lets Texas enforce law aimed at drag shows - POLITICO Our Donation LinksNational Security Counselors - DonateMSW Media, Blue Wave California Victory Fund | ActBlueWhistleblowerAid.org/beansFederal workers - feel free to email AG at fedoath@pm.me and let me know what you're going to do, or just vent. I'm always here to listen. Find Upcoming Actions 50501 Movement, No Kings.org, Indivisible.orgDr. Allison Gill - Substack, BlueSky , TikTok, IG, TwitterDana Goldberg - BlueSky, Twitter, IG, facebook, danagoldberg.comCheck out more from MSW Media - Shows - MSW Media, Cleanup On Aisle 45 pod, The Breakdown | SubstackShare your Good News or Good TroubleMSW Good News and Good TroubleHave some good news; a confession; or a correction to share?Good News & Confessions - The Daily Beanshttps://www.dailybeanspod.com/confessional/ Listener Survey:http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortFollow the Podcast on Apple:The Daily Beans on Apple PodcastsWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?The Daily Beans | SupercastThe Daily Beans & Mueller, She Wrote | PatreonThe Daily Beans | Apple Podcasts Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Elections last week showed strong showings for Democrats in races around the country. What does that mean for Wisconsin? Gov. Tony Evers says Wisconsin will not claw back food assistance benefits despite a demand from the Trump administration over the weekend. And, a proposal from a Democratic state legislator aims to protect consumers from rising utility bills as data center development booms in the state.

This week, the Dane County Board passed the 2026 budget with some contention about how to address its $31 million deficit. Meanwhile, a Channel 3000 story about nonprofit spending of county funds was published and then removed for alleged errors. Plus, Gov. Tony Evers declared a state of emergency in response to the stall in SNAP benefits. And some cool new restaurants opened around town. Host Bianca Martin breaks these stories down with executive producer Hayley Sperling and newsletter editor Rob Thomas.  P.S. Are you prepared for snow this weekend?  Mentioned on the show: Urban Triage alleges harassment [Madison 365]  Our interview with Governor Evers [

It's Friday and the weekend, starts here. It seems as if the president is tired of trying to convince the people that prices are coming down as he declared his point with some real "dad energy". In breaking news, Wisconsin's FoodShare program is fully up and running according to Governor Tony Evers. Then, every Friday we're joined by Civic Media's Political Editor Dan Shafer to recombobulate all the news from the week and we're discussing Tuesday's elections and what it could mean for Wisconsin going into the 2026 campaign season. And The White House is asking the courts to allow them to not help people, even though, they were told (by the courts), to help people. As always, thank you for listening, texting and calling, we couldn't do this without you! Don't forget to download the free Civic Media app and take us wherever you are in the world! Matenaer On Air is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs weekday mornings from 9-11 across the state. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! You can also rate us on your podcast distribution center of choice. It goes a long way! Guest: Dan Shafer

It's Friday and the weekend, starts here. It seems as if the president is tired of trying to convince the people that prices are coming down as he declared his point with some real "dad energy". In breaking news, Wisconsin's FoodShare program is fully up and running according to Governor Tony Evers. Then, every Friday we're joined by Civic Media's Political Editor Dan Shafer to recombobulate all the news from the week and we're discussing Tuesday's elections and what it could mean for Wisconsin going into the 2026 campaign season. And The White House is asking the courts to allow them to not help people, even though, they were told (by the courts), to help people. As always, thank you for listening, texting and calling, we couldn't do this without you! Don't forget to download the free Civic Media app and take us wherever you are in the world! Matenaer On Air is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs weekday mornings from 9-11 across the state. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! You can also rate us on your podcast distribution center of choice. It goes a long way! Guest: Dan Shafer

The Trump administration says it will partially fund the SNAP program this month. Governor Tony Evers vetoed a bill that would have required state employees to work from the office most of the time. And, Wisconsin farmers say they are happy about a soybean trade agreement with China. But they say it's too late to help this year.

In November 2026, Wisconsin voters will elect a new governor, as Governor Tony Evers has decided to not seek a third term. Host Bianca Martin sits down with the Governor in his office at the capitol to discuss the legacy he hopes to leave behind and the biggest issues facing Wisconsin today. Evers also shares his thoughts on the candidates running for governor, a bipartisan agreement to fund building renovations for Wisconsin corrections facilities, and what he plans to do in retirement. This episode was recorded on Tuesday, October 28th, 2025.

Monday, November 3rd, 2025Today, three more people were murdered by the United States in a Caribbean boat strike; Venezuela seeks help from Russia as the US inches closer to war; two judges order Trump to pay SNAP benefits because it's the law; a Senate report says detainees face neglect in immigration prisons; Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers declares a state of emergency over the Republican shutdown; Obama called Mamdani to praise his campaign and offer support; the Netherlands elected its first gay and youngest prime minister; Nancy Mace has a meltdown at an airport; Trump pushes to end medical care for transgender youth nationally; a judge tosses Darrell Issa and Ronny Jackson's lawsuit over prop 50; and Allison and Dana delivers your Good News.Thank You, DeleteMeGet 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to joindeleteme.com/DAILYBEANS and use promo code DAILYBEANS at checkout. Thank You, WildGrainGet $30 off your first box + free Croissants in every box. Go to Wildgrain.com/DAILYBEANS to start your subscription.Guest: Martin SheenThe Martin Sheen Podcast - MSW MediaThe Martin Sheen Podcast (@themartinpod.bsky.social) The Martin Sheen Podcast (@themartinpod) / Posts / TwitterMartin Sheen - IMDbDana Goldberg Outrageous Tour - November 14th ChicagoStoriesThree killed in US military strike on alleged drug vessel in the Caribbean | US news | The GuardianAs U.S. ramps up pressure, Venezuela pleads with Moscow and Beijing for help | The Washington PostSenate report details dozens of cases of medical neglect in federal immigration detention centers | AP NewsWisconsin Gov. Tony Evers declares state of emergency over shutdown | Milwaukee Journal SentinelTexas federal judge dismisses Rep. Issa's Prop. 50 lawsuit | Times of San DiegoPolice report: Nancy Mace cursed and berated officers in airport altercation | NBC NewsTrump says he has asked court to 'clarify' SNAP ruling with funding set to lapse | ABC NewsTrump pushes an end to medical care for transgender youth nationally | NPRObama Calls Mamdani to Praise His Campaign and Offers to Be Sounding Board | The New York TimesDutch centrist Jetten claims victory in vote where far right lost ground | Elections News | Al JazeeraGood TroubleQuestions shall be directed to the Contracting Officer, Shayla Wray, via e-mail at shayla.b.wray@ice.dhs.gov, and the Contract Specialist, Jason Boudreaux, via e-mail at jason.boudreaux@ice.dhs.gov. Questions must be received no later than November 3rd, 2025, by 2:00 pm Eastern Time (ET).→Warigia Bowman for APS District 6 NM→NOVEMBER 4TH Taylor Rehmet For Texas→ Sign up to phone bank in Virginia.**Group Directory - The Visibility Brigade: Resistance is Possible**California! YOU have your prop 50 ballots. Fill them out and return them ASAP.**Yes On Prop 50 | CA Special Election Phone Banks - mobilize.us, Sign up to call voters in California**Vote Yes 836 - Oklahoma**How to Organize a Bearing Witness Standout**Indiana teacher snitch portal - Eyes on Education**Find Your Representative | house.gov, Contacting U.S. SenatorsFrom The Good NewsCentral Ohio sees ‘No Kings' protests against Trump administration - Columbus DispatchTrauma Survivors NetworkFind a Grocery BuddyThe Martin Sheen Podcast - MSW MediaImperial Mach Sync Web AppDana Goldberg Outrageous Tour - November 14th Chicago Our Donation LinksNational Security Counselors - Donate, MSW Media, Blue Wave CA Victory Fund | ActBlue, WhistleblowerAid.org/beansFederal workers - email AG at fedoath@pm.me and let me know what you're going to do, or just vent. 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Find Upcoming Actions 50501 Movement, No Kings.org, Indivisible.orgDr. Allison Gill - Substack, BlueSky , TikTok, IG, TwitterDana Goldberg - BlueSky, Twitter, IG, facebook, danagoldberg.comCheck out more from MSW Media - Shows - MSW Media, Cleanup On Aisle 45 pod, The Breakdown | SubstackShare your Good News or Good TroubleMSW Good News and Good TroubleHave some good news; a confession; or a correction to share?Good News & Confessions - The Daily Beanshttps://www.dailybeanspod.com/confessional/ Listener Survey:http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortFollow the Podcast on Apple:The Daily Beans on Apple PodcastsWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?The Daily Beans | SupercastThe Daily Beans & Mueller, She Wrote | PatreonThe Daily Beans | Apple Podcasts Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Aaron McIntire covers President Trump's announcement of U.S. military action against a cartel drug boat, the relocation of Space Force HQ to Huntsville, Alabama, and plans for a Chicago crime crackdown. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser reverses course, ordering police to cooperate with federal law enforcement, while Chicago's Mayor Brandon Johnson tiptoes toward defiance. In Wisconsin, Governor Tony Evers defends illegal immigrant labor, and in the U.K., a comedy writer's arrest over social media posts signals rising totalitarianism. Plus, Lee Strobel on Tucker Carlson discusses Hollywood's demonic influence.   AM Update, Trump cartel action, Space Force HQ, Chicago crime, D.C. mayor, U.K. censorship, Lee Strobel, Hollywood demonic influence, immigration judges, Joni Ernst, Rashida Tlaib