You're listening to Civic Media.
You can tune into any of our live shows on any radio station across the state with the Civic Media app.
Find us in your phone's app store and listen anytime, anywhere.
It's the John and Gordy show.
Do you know what this means?
Wouldn't you like to know weather,
boy?
You're pretty high and far out, aren't you?
What kind of kick are you on, son?
You're
no good
bastard.
Your show
sucks.
What made me think this was a good day to stop drinking?
Buddy,
do you
want coffee?
Coffee.
Coffee.
Black
coffee.
Coffee.
Coffee.
She won!
That's about people like
you!
What a load of
crap.
Thank you, sir.
May I have
another?
We'll
do it
live!
it is.
On 92.7 FM WMDX.
Take it away
Wow that coffee is going to cost way too much money.
Is it growing up?
Not too distant future.
And went out and went shopping and like is buying up all the paper towels.
Oh really?
Yeah she is convinced that in two weeks the shelves are going to be empty.
I mean that's
That's what you see in the press right now.
The articles about that kind of stuff.
toilet paper,
I better go get groceries.
The only thing I have in my fridge right now is eggs and...
Like half a loaf of bread and beer.
What else do you
need?
I
We have those storms moving through last night and those temperatures dropping into the fifties.
Yes.
And we'll be checking in with Brittany Merlot here in about 15 minutes.
And a little bit later on Abigail Swetz will join us from Fair Wisconsin.
Find out what's going on there.
In tonight's last minute, a note on Bill Owens, who until this past week was executive producer of 60 Minutes.
He was our boss.
Bill was with CBS News nearly 40 years.
26 years at 60 minutes.
He covered the world, covered combat, the White House.
His was a quest to open minds, not close them.
If you've ever worked hard for a boss because you admired him, then you understand what we've enjoyed here.
Bill resigned Tuesday.
It was hard on him and hard on us, but he did it for us and you.
Stories we pursued for 57 years are often controversial.
Lately, the Israel Gaza War and the Trump administration.
Bill made sure they were accurate and fair.
He was tough that way.
But our parent company Paramount is trying to complete a merger.
The Trump administration must approve it.
Paramount began to supervise our content in new ways.
None of our stories has been blocked, but bill felt he lost the independence that honest journalism requires No one here is happy about it, but in resigning bill proved one thing He was the right person to lead 60 minutes all along
you
The big complaint, you know, remember was the comma, commonly.
interview where you know, it was just a normal everyday interview and they edited for time To get to the exact point of the question they do that all the time They've been doing that for as long as 60 minutes existed but all of a sudden called attention to it by Trump and All the magas jumped on board and everybody got upset that they started editing interviews.
Oh my god, whoever heard of that I'm sure they did it for some of the other magas who were interviewed on 60 minutes
So it's nothing new everybody knows that this happens Everyone knows it happens.
They don't have all day on 60 minutes only 60 minutes So they have to edit it down to fit within the 60-minute timeframe
no difference
And it was just, I think that exposed how ridiculous the complaint was, but that didn't hit the fan.
That wasn't in the media, and everybody thinks that 60 Minutes was gearing their interviews toward the Democrats and Kamala Harris, all right?
All right, now we have another talk show host, John Oliver, calling into question what RFK Jr.
is doing with autism.
So when do we get to cut 261 here?
This is an amazing thing.
Let's listen to John Oliver.
Canada has also been making some very bold promises like this.
We've launched a massive
testing and research effort that's going
to
involve hundreds of scientists from around the world.
By September we will know what has caused the autism epidemic and we'll be able to eliminate those
exposures.
Okay, so first...
There is no autism epidemic.
There are autism diagnoses for people who are autistic and it is pretty bold to claim you're going to get a definitive answer to something that people have been studying for decades by September.
Almost as bold as admitting to dumping a bear corpse in Central Park, your daughter telling the world you'd decapitated a whale with a chainsaw and yet still having the audacity to make a highlight reel on Instagram that simply says animals.
Keep their f***ing name out of your f***ing map!
Most people agree.
The vast majority of the rise in autism diagnoses is due to there being more research, better awareness and more access for people to get an accurate diagnosis.
That is what can happen when you put time and money into health services.
But RFK has persisted in treating the rise in diagnoses as a tragedy and the way he talks about autistic people in general can be utterly dehumanizing.
Autism destroys families.
More importantly, it destroys our greatest resource, which are our children.
These are kids who will never pay taxes.
They'll never hold a job.
They'll never play baseball.
They'll never write a poem.
never go out on a date.
Many of them will never use a toilet on a system.
And we have to recognize we are doing this to our children.
And we need to put an end to it.
against
Well, real quick, with this 60-minute situation, a guy that I just absolutely loved that was on NBC and he died several years ago, Tim Russert.
Could you imagine anybody
From this Trump administration going on the air with them.
They wouldn't have to take him off the air They just would never go there because one of his classic things he always did he had Exactly what these people said in front of them and he'd confront them with these things in real time
and nobody would do that anymore.
no one
Yeah, that's true.
He was an amazing guy.
There was an incredible interview.
Remember when Clinton had these surpluses as far as the eye can see when he was leaving office and the George W. Bush administration came into power?
And I can't remember the governor's name.
He was the economic advisor for Bush.
I can't remember his name.
He became a governor.
Russert interviewed him and got him it just he said are you sure that you can afford these tax cuts because you have surpluses as far as the eye can see it sounds like it sounds like we're not gonna have surpluses anymore oh no we're going to have surpluses I mean I look for that interview and I could not find it they just blanked it out of YouTube and off the face of the earth sadly but again Tim Russert incredible interviewer dick you are absolutely right
I just, I loved his interviewing style as well.
Yeah,
got a theory, we don't have time for it in this particular block, but I've got a theory that the whole point of the Trump administration is to commit terrorism on the American public.
this whole immigration thing, the deportations, I think this is all part of a terrorist plot by Trump to terrorize American people, thinking that they're next, they're gonna be scooped off the streets and disappeared.
I truly think this is to traumatize the American public, get them used to terrorism.
That's my theory because they have picked up a Kansas mom and they're threatening to deport her.
Seriously, this is totally unnecessary.
This is going after people with no problems whatsoever.
They're just going after people because they have an appointment because of their immigration status.
And they're taking these people away from their families in order to terrorize people.
They're waiting for these TV shows, these local TV news anchors to talk about this and scare the daylights out of the public.
And it occurred to me.
terrorism this this is an attempt to scare everybody in America and look over their shoulders and wonder if they're gonna be next yeah that's my theory but we want to get to this story I think right after this next break okay
We have Brittany Merlot coming up shortly to get us an update on the weather and what happened with some of those storms.
It was pretty bad a little bit farther to the north of our area.
We'll get to her in just a minute or two.
This portion of the show is being brought to you by our friends at Verlo Mattress.
As I mentioned, this portion of the show is being brought to you by Virlo Mattress of Madison.
One thing remains constant since 1958.
They are still direct to consumer and they provide superior products at unbeatable prices.
Check them out.
They've got two locations in Madison on the west side and the east side, or you can go to their website, Virlo.com, find out about their lifetime.
Guarantee their comfort guarantee on all their mattress products.
And we'll be back with Brittany Merlot with an update on the weather on John and Gordy in the morning.
You're listening to Civic Media.
Stay up to date on the latest news and information for your local community and Wisconsin by signing up for our free email newsletter.
Visit civicmedia.us slash email to get started.
That's
Good morning.
can
us.
Do you guys
Yeah.
Oh, yeah, it was something else, you know.
I mean, when you look at the radar on your phone, right, you're looking at just nothing but a line of lightning storms, you know, the lightning bolts that they have on the radar now.
So, yeah, it was crazy.
It's crazy stuff, but you really have been getting hit up north.
Yeah, we did last night.
I mean, there is a possible tornado.
I mean, there's pictures of it and stuff, but the National Weather Service talked about there and surveyed the damage today, but
South Southern Eau Claire County from Fall Creek to Augusta.
It looks like a tornado touch down there.
There's reports of structured damage from an emergency manager.
And like I said, some photos that they're investigating and stuff and looking into.
But we had some strong wind gusts that storm kind of stayed intense the entire time moving across the state.
So as it came towards Wasaw area, we were getting gusts around 50 to 60 miles
per
hour.
It came in with
a
vengeance.
I mean,
it had me a little nervous at times.
No hail with that one, but some heavy downpours.
And of course, trees were falling down onto power lines.
So we had little fires going on from that happening.
But after that, I mean, it kind of went down to just a severe warning.
It continued off into the woods, turned back into a tornado warning.
So it could have been lifting up and down as it moved through the state.
But otherwise, a lot of the severe weather outbreak that we thought was going to happen didn't, which I'm so, so glad it didn't.
But it's a good thing.
You
I love busted forecasts on these like that.
Maybe it's your urban heat climate, how you
concrete in the
bubble where it goes around it.
Who knows?
It's
place.
I'm not going to lie.
I agree with
Yeah, we are going now below our average high temperatures not by much but still feeling cool We're gonna be stuck with highs at 60 degrees for pretty much the rest of the week We will see the sunshine later on today.
It's still breezy out there though And then tonight we have chances for frost so I hope you didn't do any planting what anything
Well, I mean, it is snowing right now on just south of Lake Superior in northern Wisconsin.
So we're going to see that cold air make its way down.
temperatures in those mid to low 30s.
So patchy frost is definitely
Wait, how was your gazebo?
Yeah, so we're hanging out at the sunshine today will be partly sunny to start tomorrow, but we do have showers rolling in by tomorrow evening It's gonna be kind of a darker and damp Thursday with on and off scattered showers, maybe a thunderstorm too and then the sun
pops right back out for Friday.
We could see a few pop-ups, get our showers on occasion in the afternoon, but otherwise high pressure for the weekend and finally getting warmer.
So we'll hit about 70 degrees by Sunday.
morning.
deportation of the mothers and the babies that had cancer.
It was just the whole inhumanity of it all.
I mean, there certainly should have been a way to, on humanitarian grounds, allow those children, those mothers, to stay in this country rather than, you know, a little more close thing.
All we had, you know, the mothers decide where to get deported and decide to take the babies with them.
So there's nothing we can do about it.
The whole heartlessness and cruelty of these people is just
I mean, these people who were wearing crosses and invoking Jesus all the time, it is just, it is just disgusting.
I mean, it's beyond belief that...
child.
just popped into my head better they die better they die and decrease the surplus population is that what these
remain it's hard to remain for FCC compliant I don't know how you guys do it but I mean it is just and that's the other ironic thing oh freedom of speech freedom of speech you know what here in those words has never killed anybody and these people are doing this kind of
stuff.
Yeah, we appreciate it.
Yeah, it's outrageous.
You know, John Murray and Madison fear, then oppression helped by his recession.
And also fear is the ultimate goal, and it's working so well so far on immigrants.
student visas, et cetera.
And we were talking early about the Dells.
There's a movie at the Film Festival, the Dells.
A new documentary, yes.
Yeah, Trouble is talking about it and interviewing the director of that.
But, you know, they depend on student visas, work visas that they've been doing for years and years.
How are they going to hire anybody?
Who's going to want to come here in the first place?
Maybe thinking that they come here as, you know, to work at the Dells and then end up in El
Salvador yeah,
Wisconsin
This portion of the show is being brought to you by Ed's de-coffeinated caffeine, for people who like feeling nervous and wide awake, but hate running to the bathroom all the time.
All right!
Good morning.
Thank you for having me on today.
Absolutely.
So Fair Wisconsin is Wisconsin's only statewide LGBTQ plus civil rights and political advocacy group.
We are a 501 C3 and a C4 and we have two political action committees and that's really awesome because it means we get to focus on public education and grassroots advocacy as a part of
work and then also have the ability to do direct lobbying as an organization.
and endorsements of candidates.
So we get to do a lot of work all the way from when people start thinking about who they're gonna vote for, all the way through voting those people into office and then making sure those people do the right thing when it comes to our LGBTQ plus community and our rights.
We are 31 years old as of this year, which
actually a pretty long time for an LGBTQ plus equality organization We are we are among the veterans of the movement.
Well, I want to ask you a question about it.
There seems to be some controversy now.
They're trying to guilt-trip Democrats from jumping on board or still maintaining and pushing LGBTQ issues, okay?
They're trying to make it seem like, is this the issue you guys want to run on?
Right?
Are you running into this as a
problem?
It's such a good question.
Yeah, no, it's such a good question.
I think there's a lot of
misunderstanding.
That's the word I'll generously use right now when it comes to who are the people who are mostly talking about LGBTQ plus identity and rights and what other people call our issues.
We're not an issue.
We're a community.
We have a lot of needs and we have a lot of issues we care about, but we are a community and an identity.
And so when people are pushing LGBTQ plus issues, it's often the people who are attacking our community, right?
And so I think
a very obvious example of who this is coming from, who is making us a big topic in things like campaigns and so on.
You just have to look at the anti-trans attack ads from the 2024 election.
And even the 2025 school selection, they just, they came up at the end a bit.
And I think we all have to understand the people who ran those ads, they were disgusting, they were dehumanizing.
And here's the part that I don't think people realize,
They also did not work.
There is research out there that shows surveyed voters found them to be mean spirited.
A majority of Republicans found them to be mean spirited.
And that research shows they did not drive voters.
They were not the reason people voted.
Now, I mean, to be clear, of course, some of the people who ran them did win.
I'm not saying they didn't, but.
this research shows that's not why they won.
And so we really need to, as a general public, understand that the people who push this anti-trans agenda in the campaign ads, they don't have a mandate for their anti-trans
policies now.
And we have to hold them accountable.
These are not policies that are actually popular.
They are things that people are trying to use as a political wedge issue and use an identity as a weapon to try and really stoke up fear.
And the other part that I'd add there is just
Most of the most of the anti LGBTQ plus policies and rhetoric right now are specifically anti trans right you're
the trans population the trans community is very small in America and the world and most Americans say they've never met a trans person and Probably in reality they have and they just don't know which is sort of part of the point But the other thing to keep in mind there is that this population is so small that
Some people some politicians think it is easy to weaponize them and frankly it is kind of easy because people don't have an actual understanding of trans identity and trans needs But it doesn't mean it's okay.
It doesn't mean it's it's it's fair for someone to turn an identity into a political ploy for power And that's really what we're seeing I think
Hundreds
millions of dollars.
Hundreds
millions of dollars.
I mean, when I think about what we were hearing when we were touring the state last year for prides, because that's one of the times we get to interact the most with our community.
And, you know, that was in the heated part of a presidential election.
What we were hearing from the LGBTQ plus community were intersectional issues.
We're like, I care about housing.
I care about
affordability of housing.
I also do care about like discrimination in housing that might impact me, of course, right?
We need non-discrimination laws, but we also need all these other things that everyone cares about, right?
And so to try and sort of like pigeonhole a community into being the problem when really we just have so many of the same wants and needs
everyone else is really, really, really wrong.
Yeah.
We're talking with Abigail Swetz from Fair Wisconsin.
If you'd like to join in the conversation, you can call us 608-879-8255.
You could text us, same number, 608-879-8255.
Abigail, what are some of the issues that are top of mind?
You mentioned your headquarters are here in Madison.
What are some of the things you want to talk to some of the folks at the Capitol about?
Oh, great question.
So it's sort of a combination of what we were just talking about, about so many attacks on our community, and then also so many of the things we actively want to see changed, right?
And it's a both and.
And Fair Wisconsin really, I think, does a good job of doing both that reaction work we have to do, because we can't just let people attack us without any kind of supportive response to our own community, and also the proactive work we want to see happen.
sort of two ways we do that.
When there are bills going on at the Capitol that are attacking our LGBTQ plus community, because those are the bills we see get traction right now because of who is in control of the legislature, then we at Fair Wisconsin do a lot of mobilization of our grassroots community, get LGBTQ plus people and allied people to get out and testify at hearings.
In support of our community and against these bills, we saw that in March, in one week there were
three hearings on four anti-trans bills.
Those hearings lasted anywhere from six to
10 plus hours and that was because our community turned out to support our trans youth and we are very excited about that.
We even, because of course these hearings only get like 24 hours notice, we also try and mobilize with an opportunity for people to submit written testimony to us that we then submit on behalf of them.
We submitted over 18,000 pages of testimony that week.
So we're turning out in response to these attacks to our community.
We are also working to do
proactive work knowing right now we're probably not gonna get those bills across the finish line.
I'll also say those attacking bills are also not going to become law.
The governor will veto them.
He
in his state of
state address.
But also this proactive work really laying the groundwork so that we can make those changes when we do get the opportunity to get them through the legislature.
And some of that work is also really grassroots advocacy.
We're actually holding the LGBTQ plus Equality Day at the Capitol this May 7th.
You can check it out.
It's on the events tab on our website, sharewasanson.com, where we bring together LGBTQ plus and allied communities.
We learn about how to tell your story in a way that is compelling to legislators to make sure that they know what issues you care about.
And then we set up the meetings with your legislator, you go in the afternoon and you talk to them and you say, you know, I really care about making sure that
gender identity is a part of the non-discrimination law of this state because it is not right now.
And we need to make that change.
And then also, I also really care about housing.
I also really care about healthcare, both for our trans youth and also healthcare in general, right?
And so these are the things that we're really trying to proactively also work on.
them by a long shot.
You know what's also interesting though, I'll say
I think one of the things that came out in the last hearing, the hearing that was about the anti-trans healthcare field, was we know, we know our community by telling our stories, change hearts and minds in that room.
There's a video that's gone viral
man from Milwaukee.
It was, it was.
And I mean, he
Oh, right, yes.
Can I?
please.
So Larry came to testify in support of a ban on youth trans health care.
And then he listened for, I don't know, like seven hours at the point where he testified.
And he came up and he said, I have listened to the people in this room and I've gotten an incredible education and I no longer support this bill.
I'm sorry I came here.
And I've actually overjoyed he came because he was able to listen and hear the stories of our community and change his mind.
And there actually was an incredible article.
I think it was Wisconsin watch that profiled him after that viral video.
And he said, um, something about these kids just want to belong, which is so true.
I also said he's going to try and learn more.
Like he is, he is on a journey now.
Um, and that belonging, I think, you know, there's
this.
Yes.
the
is yours.
minutes.
First of all, I'd like to apologize to you people.
I was invited here to give my support for Bill 101.
I have very little knowledge of gay people and things like that there.
So when I came here, my eyes were open.
I was one of the critics that sat on the side and made the decision there was only two genders.
So I got an education that was unbelievable.
And I don't know just exactly how to say this, but my perspective for people have changed.
So I don't take up no more of your time.
I apologize for being here.
And I learned a very lot about these people.
And I get choked up
Same as Larry.
And the profile spoke to, uh, he's, you know, he's an older gentleman.
He, he's pretty religious.
He's pretty conservative.
And, and just the line that he said about like, these kids just want to belong.
that just cuts through to me because I mean, again, most people in America say they've never met a trans person, which means they don't have that understanding on a personal level.
But guess what?
We all know what it feels like to not belong.
We all know how awful that feels.
That's this part of our identity that can rhyme.
That doesn't mean.
I know exactly what it's like to be trans, but it does mean I have an entry point into understanding.
And Larry was curious enough to allow himself that entry point.
And I think we could learn a lot from that.
Absolutely.
So check out fairwisconsin.com.
At the very top, there's a take action button.
Best way to stay informed is to click take action and sign up for our newsletters.
You'll hear about our action alerts.
You'll hear about our work.
And yes, of course, you'll have the chance to donate.
7th.
That's under the event tab on that same website.
You're listening to Civic Media.
Find the latest news, information and archives of all your favorite shows on the Civic Media website, civicmedia.us.
Terrific, if you like eating leftovers.
Leftovers.
Leftovers?
I kept the leftovers.
The leftovers!
Just some leftovers.
Leftovers for a week and a half.
He ate those leftovers!
Funeral leftovers.
Leftovers.
Enjoy.
These leftovers are brought to you by Virlo Mattress of Madison.
One thing that remains constant since they opened their doors way back in 1958.
They are still direct to consumer providing superior products at unbeatable prices to locations east side and west side in Madison or just go to their website furlough.com.
Leftovers.
going
Get the lifeboats ready.
Loomin' in children first.
Yeah.
I only cut
the end of the bit I didn't really think it was Anything special, but then I saw the whole thing and I thought yeah, this this is what we need Well, what is a business news channel for the rest of America?
It's called it's called check to check business news and it has everything working for for us
you know, I mean, it really focuses on our needs, paycheck to paycheck, you know, fewer stock market indicators and more of what's going on in the supermarkets.
So let's listen to this cut from Saturday Night Live.
All right.
You're watching CTCBC,
the Check to Check Business News
Channel.
Welcome to Check to Check Business News, financial news for regular folks living check to check.
You know, paycheck to paycheck.
I'm Tasia Walton.
And I'm Kenneth Albright.
And this suit is from Kohl's.
Well, markets are in turmoil right now.
Let's check on the S&P 500, which is down 2.38%.
The NASDAQ composite is down 265 points.
And Dow industrials are down 2.88%.
OK, does that mean anything to anyone?
I'm sure it means.
mean something to someone, but sounds like a bunch of gibberish to me.
Let's take a look at box-smacking cheese, which is up 4.5% to $1.59.
Even across the street?
Even across the street, Kenneth.
Also, Big-Ass Box of Bisquick is up from $2.39 to two damn much.
And candy bars are up from, sure, baby, to put that back.
Overall, pretty bad news for the grocery sector.
Tell me about it.
My family's been eating so much top ramen, my kids think we Japanese.
Why don't we take a look at the healthcare sector, where so far in 2025, spending on doctor visits remains steady at
zero.
Americans are investing in health care alternatives such as, just go lay down, take an Advil, and pray it goes away.
All great options.
Well, the truck tariffs have caused T-bill sell-offs which have rocked the bond markets.
Are you worried about that?
I'm not, and I'll tell you why, because I don't know what that is.
All the way these tariffs have real implications for check-to-checkers.
Here with the International Commodities Report is David Hayes.
Thank you, Stacia.
Well, these new tariffs are gonna raise prices on all imported goods, but you can work around them if you're smart.
For example, I occasionally like Perrier water, which is from France.
So instead, I drink this American version, Uncle Bubble.
This is made from pure Tennessee tap water, and it is only $1.89.
I love frozen pizza from DeGiorno, but it's pricing higher lately.
So now I eat Devontae.
This delicious...
Alternative was created by my cousin Devonte.
He makes pizza out of Wonder Bread and ketchup.
Remember, it's not delivery, it's Devonte.
Back to you.
Great tips, Kenneth.
We can all use that money to pay back our student loans.
Never gonna get it, never gonna get it, never
gonna get it.
Take a moment for our sponsors.
Check to Check News is brought to you by America's most popular toilet paper, Chipotle napkins.
Chipotle napkins, cause showman prices be trippin'.
And by Taco Bell.
Taco Bell should meet costs less than gum.
Don't worry about it.
When we come back on Check to Check News, it's a shampoo, body wash, and shave gel all in one.
It's called bar soap.
Yes, right, back to the basics, y'all.
We'll see you later.
Oh,
Cut
What a crazy place.
to be a white supremacist in the United States of America, the most ethnically and culturally diverse society in human history.
And these dudes are on the news like, this is a white country.
No, it's not, dog.
Turns out every large city in the United States has a China inside of it.
You should probably leave your road.
with
a
melting pot.
It's our whole thing.
What a frustrating place to be a white supremacist You imagine going to literally any city in the United States walking around going look at all these people different to me having a
Oh, I've been saving this up.
We're going to get that.
We're going to clear this up.
Oh, my
The national
news cycle never stops, but it can be hard to find news about your local community.
Civic Media is dedicated to providing quality local and state news coverage across Wisconsin.
With the Civic Media app, you can get notifications about local stories that matter to you and your community.
Find the free Civic Media app in your phone's app store and choose notifications from the menu to tell us what kind of news you want to hear about.
