Transcript
Derrick Van Orden’s Metamorphosis Is Complete (Hour 1)
Mornings with Pat Kreitlow · Wed May 21, 2025
You're listening to Civic Media.
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You're listening to Mornings with Pat Kratlow powered by Up North News.
Now, from our Lake WSOTA studio, here is the founding editor of Up North News, Pat Kratlow.
Well, hey there, Wisconsin.
Good morning.
It is 6-0-6 on this Wednesday morning, May 21st, 2025.
Another beautiful morning to have you here up north, albeit a little damp, live from Lake WSOTA from wherever you're spending your mornings listening across the Civic Media radio network, or on the app, or on social...
Or by podcast we appreciate you starting your day right here.
I've got a question for you Was it not spring when I left here about two weeks ago for that trip?
Did it did stay nice for a little while didn't it before we got this?
Whatever this is and Tony right away is commenting on YouTube.
Hey two days in a row with Pat Tony
That's actually a very good point because I'm on here for a few days next week, too Anyway, it was filling up the gas tank taking the groceries out to the car was like a sideways rain cold blast The likes of which you'd almost prefer some winter weather, but it was very much March-like out there and I guess we're getting that for
the entirety of the day again today, but we will talk to meteorologist Brittany Merleau and get her full state forecast and updates coming up in just a bit.
Coming up on the program today, and now yesterday was admittedly getting back in the saddle, jet lag, talking about vacation, not really wanting to dwell too much on all the news that I missed, but we're definitely back in the swing of things here.
We are starting today, tomorrow and Friday.
A second round of interviews with the candidates who want to be State Chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.
Ben Wickler is leaving.
There are three gentlemen who would like to win that post at next month's State Democratic Party Convention.
We will talk to Devin Remacher today, Joseph Hecke tomorrow, William Garcia on Friday.
And by the way, Ben Wickler had stayed out of the race at first.
He has made an endorsement.
And Devin Remaker is going to be talking about that with us coming up in our eight o'clock hour at 730 in our weekly homeroom segment where we talk about public education.
We're going to talk about the Assembly Education Committee with one of the Democrats on the committee, Christian Phelps, the new state representative from the Eau Claire area and formerly with the Wisconsin Public Education Network.
So he knows a thing or two about education and what
things like the Assembly Education Committee should be working on and kind of aren't right now, as Christian will tell us.
Melissa Baldoff will have our weekly climate check all about the price tag of Donald Trump's big, beautiful bill.
And by price tag, I mean all the savings that are going to be lost.
in moving toward a cleaner and greener economy.
We'll talk to Melissa Kay from our station in Wisconsin Rapids, James Kelly from our station in Shippewa Falls, and Earl Ingram.
talking about what he's working on for stations in Southeast Wisconsin.
So we've got a real whip around of Civic Media Talent today to tell you all about.
And of course, you're welcome to join us throughout the show as well.
Our number is 855-755-CIVIC 855-752-4842.
That's also the number where you can send us a text message and you can call or text us from the Civic Media app.
Or you can just get in the comments sections of Facebook or YouTube.
That again would be the up north news Facebook or YouTube pages and the civic media Facebook or YouTube pages and put some comments out there Tony puts many up there from Ashland up on YouTube and he asks no more cultured European Pat I mean Greg Bach is here and I'm not gonna say I'm Not ever gonna be cultured again.
I didn't feel like I had my pinky up in the air while I was sipping my coffee yesterday.
Mr. Bach did I did I come office to cultured?
You came off as very pro Europe.
You were like, light rail and tea times and oh, I'm sorry.
Universal health care yet,
Kami.
I should have explained that I would have been all for those things long before going on this latest vacation and still very much am.
How are things in a radio park today?
Quiet, very quiet, Pats.
They are, aren't
they?
I know
it's always quiet
here.
It's just me and down rows.
And we're always just where the where
the
where the work courses open this shop.
That's true.
Well, how
about if I get you some company?
Sure.
Okay.
Well, I don't know about.
Yeah, yeah.
In fact, somebody in Madison is liable to turn on a camera in what's that studio called a to a to it's pronounced a to
A two, it's called a two.
And on the screen, it says here, Luke and Parker.
I don't see any Luke Mathers, but I do see.
Oh, there's Luke.
He's
creeping into frame.
He's hiding behind the show logo with my face on it and just kind of drifts out there like we're a little two-headed monster.
But Parker is here.
Parker Olson, right?
Yes, sir.
All right.
Hey, wait, wait, wait,
wait, wait, wait, wait, hold on.
Yes, Greg.
Parker.
Yeah.
Peter Parker.
Olson.
Jimmy Olson.
You have the most comic book name ever.
It's pretty close.
I've gotten Peter
Yeah.
Well, let's let's let's get the question.
Let's get the proper answer.
Parker Olson you say.
O L S O N O L S E N. I'm an EN.
You're an EN.
Oh, I'm sorry.
We've checked the answer.
No, that's a judge say yeah.
Oh, there.
Seriously,
we have an expert on this now.
What's the difference Parker between Olson and Olson?
Ian and Owen.
don't know.
Oh my gosh.
I thought you guys were like all in the club together and you just decided to go one way or the other on this thing.
That's
is.
I always feel like Olsons with the Ian are like even more Scandinavian like
Like, is there something like I have a Viking boat in my backyard right now if you want to try to test my bona
let's let's get the well actually people going why what is it Parker is joining the show here and helping engineer and produce this thing because uh Greg Bach is as handsome and capable as he can be if you're familiar with the Ed Sullivan show and the old skid of keeping all the plates spinning on the sticks we have been asking this man to spin way too many plates on way too many sticks for way too long and Greg
Help has finally arrived.
We got, we got somebody new to play with in the, in the, in the sandbox here.
You know what that means?
I'm just going to play every sound effect before I leave.
You're not, you're not leaving.
You're still here.
I'm not going to be here this early.
Well, ever.
Oh my God, we're not doing this right now.
My goodness.
I
feel like I'm explaining the birds and the bees to a child right now.
What?
What do you mean?
That's not what my memo said.
But anyway, let's get the the full Parker Olson story where you're from and what brought you to civic media.
electronic
Yeah.
Yeah, sorry, getting the sad trombones would come in.
But yeah, I'm sure journalism degree, I'm sure it's great.
Hey, Parker, congratulations on graduating.
Thank
you.
Yes.
Yeah,
All right.
Anything else about family history, local history, hobbies, medical history?
Medical
Please, no hip of violations.
Parker, nice to have you here, and I'm sure that with Luke Mathers as your handsome and capable instructor, you will be mastering this board and this program in no time at all.
go.
Thank you, sir.
So we'll look forward to hearing more from Mr. Parker along the way.
Here's Brittany's state forecast for today.
The massive low pressure system heads east today.
but still wraps around some dreary and damp conditions, she writes.
So we're stuck with below average temperatures now.
Warmer weather is on the way for the weekend.
Although I'd say warmer by comparison.
Let's not call it warm weather on the way.
But for today, scattered drizzle and on and off rain.
Attempts across the state today highs will be in the 50s statewide northeast winds still at 10 to 20 miles an hour That's that's wind chill weather folks tonight mostly cloudy still lows tonight in the upper 30s up north low 40s in the southern part of the state and a north wind at 5 to 15 miles an hour It's 44 degrees here and ship will falls right now We have a daily newsletter that we put together at up north news you can sign up for it at up north news wi.com
And in today's edition, this is National Bike Week.
And while today isn't a great day for a bicycle commute, there are still plenty of days in Wisconsin where it would be nice to ride to work if there were proper trails, supportive employers, bike-friendly businesses and more, but don't worry.
There is a national group that rates all of these things and we've got a link into today's newsletter all about Wisconsin's most bike-friendly hometowns and organizations.
And for those of you who'd rather stay behind the wheel, have you ever wondered how much it costs you literally to sit in traffic?
You can read about the expense of traffic jams in today's edition.
Also new on our website and linked in the newsletter, the Wisconsin Race Guide for 2025, all the best places to take part in everything from a walk to a fun run to a 5k, 10k, half marathon, full marathon, all that and more.
Check it out on our website, upnorthnewswi.com.
Click subscribe up in the top banner and you can be part of our daily newsletter as well as
the weekend edition that I put out on Sunday mornings where our question of the week deals with how many valid political parties, the kind that actually have a chance of winning, how many would be the right number to have in this country?
Are you happy with the two-party system?
Do we only need one good third-party option?
Do we need a third and a fourth party, one that's kind of center-left and then the other party can be far left and one that's center-right and the other can be farther right?
Do you want more parties than that?
Some that focus only on things like the environment or on other social issues or immigration, things like that.
So we're getting a nice range of answers from people everywhere from two parties to five parties that they'd like to see out there in the country.
And I mentioned all of it having come back from that trip in Portugal last week where they had elections.
They have 10 parties and it's very tough for the voters to give a clear mandate for any single direction out there.
So we're not crazy about the two-party system all the time, but.
it might be possible to have too many options out there on the ballot as well.
So that's our question of the week in our weekend newsletter that you can sign up for again at our website up North News W I dot com.
Well break up the Brewers their first three game winning streak in two weeks.
Logan Henderson recorded seven strikeouts for the Brewers in five shutout innings and there were home runs from Bryce Derang, Sal Freelick and Reese Hoskins as the Brewers beat Baltimore five to two last night.
It's again the Brewers first three game winning streak in two weeks and Baltimore is now at an eight game losing streak and the Brewers will go for the sweep.
Coverage will begin this morning.
At 1135 on stations in Richland Center, Oshkosh, Racine Kenosha, Park Falls and Hayward.
So a little matinee baseball today, Brewers and Orioles before the Brewers hit the road again for a weekend series in Pittsburgh.
Let's see, and I understand the conference finals have begun in the NBA.
And again, I'm as surprised as anybody at the Minnesota Timberwolves have made it this far, but they are in the Western Conference Finals playing the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Oklahoma City hosted and won game one of that series last night, 114 to 88.
So there's a little update on sports and on weather and a reminder that coming up.
in just about 15 minutes or so.
We've got Dan Schaefer on.
He joins us now Tuesdays at 8 30, and then sticks around for a while, a little bit of overtime where we continue the conversation.
And so we'll be playing back some of that for you coming up in just a little bit.
But after the break, we're going to hear from Christina Laurie, I'm sorry, we're going to hear from Sherita Booker, our social media manager, about some of the more popular stories that we follow.
And for this week, we'll break the mold a little bit, and instead, we'll talk about posts that give you an idea of things that you can do around Wisconsin coming up this Memorial Day weekend.
From the heart of America's Up North, live from Lake Wissota, thank you for making this the place to spend part of your mornings.
I'm Pat Critello, and this is the Civic Media Radio
Network.
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.
So thankfully, Sharita Booker is here now because I've been off.
We haven't really been monitoring a lot of the posts as far as what's popular and whatnot.
But who cares?
There's a holiday weekend coming up Memorial Day weekend.
And so instead, we want to talk about some of the big events you could see around Wisconsin.
Sharita, good morning.
How are you?
Good morning, Pat.
I'm doing good.
How are you?
Good.
Thanks.
It's good to be back and it's good to be hearing about all the fun that folks can have.
coming up this Memorial Day weekend, and of course, I mean, virtually unlimited number of events out there, but some of them more popular than others, some of them more widely known, and let's start with Broadfest in Madison this weekend, because again, something that had a very humble start, but it is a big deal now, isn't it?
Yeah, because it's actually the world's largest broad fest and that'll be in Madison May 23rd through the 25th at the Align Energy Center.
This is a free and family friendly festival that includes live music, a variety of activities like the broad fest, bun run, the hot dog jog, and a broadie volleyball tournament and a broad fest marketplace featuring local shops and vendors.
Kids can also enjoy the kid zone that includes inflatables and a petting zoo.
And the best part is every brought to you by supports over 100 local charities with more than $2.7 million raised to date.
And if you want more info about that, you can visit broughtbest.com.
And by the way, when I when I say help, for folks that might not know, this started in 1983 with grocery store owner Tom Metcalf and his wife Margaret.
It was literally a brought fry with a table, three chairs and a Weber grill.
The broths were sold for 50 cents.
And then it just continued to grow as he donated the proceeds, like you said, to organizations.
And this thing has just, it's insane how big it's gotten, but in a very popular, you know, very positive way around the area.
And
And the same can be said for the next event, we're going to talk about the Chippewa Valley Century Ride.
This is for, and I say this with love, folks, this is for weirdos like Kristin Lierly, who loves to talk about how she'll just, you know, on some random Saturday bike a hundred miles.
So if you want to, if you want to bike a hundred miles, you can, but they're thankfully are shorter courses for the rest of us mere mortals, Sherita.
The 39th annual Chippewa Valley Century Ride is rolling through Chippewa Falls on Sunday, May 25th, and you can choose from 35 to 100 mile routes that take you through farms, forests, and rolling hills.
The ride starts and ends at the northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds with rest stops and support vehicles along the way, just in case.
And after the ride, they'll have a Broadwurst, another Broadwurst feast with soda and beer.
Registration is $65 through May 23rd and $75 on site.
All proceeds for that event will go to local charities, parks, and youth programs.
And if you want more details or you want to register, visit cbceride.org.
CVC
ride.org for that.
And yeah, I mean, there's great trails here.
I'm right off the old Abe trail has a bridge going over the Chippewa River here at Lake Wissoda.
You can ride up to Jim Falls and Cornell.
And from here, you can go all the way down to Eau Claire and well beyond Eau Claire.
So a lot of folks love to do their biking around here, but this is a great thing for an organized ride.
Again, if you don't want to do the 100 miles, there's 35 miles, 50 miles, 75 miles and
beautiful routes all the way around.
So now we'll head to your neck of the woods for Veterans Park in the Milwaukee area and the Ikea Family Kite Festival is part of Gift of Wings.
Tell me more about that.
Yep, it's their 38th annual Gift of Wings Family Kite Festival and that'll be held Saturday and Sunday, March 24th and 25th.
The grand launch kicks off at noon both days.
Um, yeah, by noon, both days were over at 100 or 600 kites will fill the sky.
There will be performances by world renowned kite teams, including the fabulous wind jammers from Detroit and the Chicago fire kite team.
Kids can participate in the mad dash where the first 100 children receive a free kite to launch together.
And if you want more details about that event, visit gift of wings.com.
You've been to this event previously.
Okay, but as a spectator only, or did you bring that you or the kids bring kites along too?
My kids brought kites.
Okay, you know this, you know where I'm going with this is how how is your kite flying ability?
Okay.
Well, good.
Let's see.
That's, that's what I wanted to hear here.
You think you might go, uh, go this time around too, or do you have other Memorial Day weekend plans?
And guess what?
If at that event, like the other two, you can get brats.
So
we all understand what's on the menu for this coming holiday weekend.
Sharita Booker, thanks so much.
Good to talk to you.
We'll see you later.
Bye, Pat.
I have to say that my own kite flying is definitely in the Charlie Brown category with the infamous kiting tree that he had in the comic strips.
I don't have nearly the experience.
But you being down by Kenosha, again, by the lakeshore there, it's got to be a fantastic place to fly kites.
I have to assume that my kite flying skills are as much as I stand next to a person flying a kite and say to them, you're doing a great job.
Keep going.
Don't let anything stop
you.
I don't I don't get on the field at Lambo.
I'm still a fan.
There you go.
Still right there saying that.
There you go.
Speaking of fans, how would you like to see some free tickets to see the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field?
Just be a listening to your favorite civic media shows.
you know, maybe like this one on Fridays throughout the baseball season.
Listen for keywords throughout the day and then text in the keyword for a chance to win a four pack of Brewer's Tickets club level seats.
These are wonderful seats.
You are going to want to win these tickets.
Complete contest rules can be found over on the Civic Media website.
That of course is civicmedia.us.
There's a lot still ahead coming up on this Wednesday morning.
We will be talking a little bit with Dan Schaefer and then afterwards we'll
Talk about how Congressman Derrick Van Orden had claimed to be an independent voice for veterans and would position himself standing up against budget cuts that would hurt veterans.
But after stiff-arming constituents and refusing to hold town halls, the only voice he seems to be hearing is the guy in the White House who wants massive cuts to the VA.
We'll talk much more about that coming up here live from Lake Wissota on the Civic Media Radio Network.
635 welcome back on this Wednesday morning, May 21st live from Lake La Sota.
I'm Pat Croylo here on the Civic Media Radio Network.
As you know, when the show was expanded to three hours a couple of weeks back, that gave us the opportunity.
To add some more regular guests, some you'll still hear at 6.30, some at 7.30, now some at 8.30.
And if you at 8.30, we sometimes go a little long and tape a little bit extra and are able to share it with you at 6.30 the next morning.
That is the case with Dan Schaefer, the political editor at Civic Media, and of course, the creator of the Reconpopulation Area, which is now, what is it, a 19-time Milwaukee Press Club award-winning news site.
And along with all of his other work Dan continues to write columns for his area and for civic media The most recent of which is a new column about the state state legislators to keep an eye on For the rest of this session in lieu of what are going to be some big elections next year?
I know every elections big these these are going to be big elections next year
could flip control of the state legislature.
So I asked Dan a little bit more about the focus of this new column.
We have a real chance at accountability now that we have new maps.
And so these are the, these are the legislators in the most closely contested districts.
These are the ones that are most vulnerable to having the voters boot them out of office next year.
You know, we all know that we're going to be paying attention to, you know, folks like Robin Voss and the assembly speaker, the Devin Lemahue, the majority leader in the Senate, and, you know, certain other legislative leaders who are, you know, key on certain committees.
But I think as, you know,
as we look ahead to 2026 which I guess we are doing just to a certain extent today with some of these announcements with Chris Taylor with Randy Bryce also you know just kind of an eye on 2026 because especially for the state senate there are only half of the state senate has been on the ballot under new maps and so there are three republican state senators
serving in districts that were won by Kamala Harris last year.
Howard Markline, Rob Hutton, and Van Wangard.
So those three, you know, if Democrats were to win those three districts, and again, those are districts won by Kamala Harris just last fall, then they would be able to flip the state Senate.
And that would really change a whole lot about our politics.
So I think it is important for us to watch what's happening.
with those three senators in particular, but also, you know, the rest of the list here of the 23.
I've got both Democrats and Republicans on here that are in closely competitive district.
And particularly on the Democratic side, as I looked through, you know, the assembly representatives who won some of these closer races last year, a lot of them are in their first term, you know, right?
You don't know exactly how things are going to play out in a legislator's first term.
So I think, you know, for those who may, maybe I was on the edge of including
in the list if it was their first time term.
I put them on the list because you never know what type of approach somebody might bring to the office.
And so I think this is just a reminder to people that we have an avenue for accountability.
If a lot of people were really upset about the Republican-controlled state legislatures, Joint Finance Committee.
voting 600 plus items out of Tony Evers budget and critical things like childcare and health care education up and down the list.
And so I think a lot of people are upset about that and wondering what they can do to hold certain legislators accountable.
Well, I think, you know, this is the
first or you know the list of legislators who are in those most closely competitive districts who will have to defend the votes that they make now and in the next two months on them in in the budget and as you know so many different bills make their way through the legislature uh you know and to to keep an eye on what's going to happen uh in in the years ahead because we as the voters can bring actual accountability in ways we could not when we were stuck under the gerrymander
Well, you've got rookies and veterans over here in the Chippewa Valley, for example.
You have Jody Emerson, who's a Democrat from Eau Claire, but her district is no longer just the city of Eau Claire, so it's not as safe as it used to be.
You have Christian Phelps from Eau Claire, a brand new Democrat who could be a real up and comer, but only if he can defend his seat in 2026.
Then you have state Senator Jeff Smith, who has a lot of experience in the Capitol, but in
district that is notoriously purple and where he I feel like he's really mastered and I know he's a friend of mine as I say this but he's really mastered the retail politics of it but it's a district that still very much could go depending on you know external factors out of Jeff Smith's control so just in that one area alone you can see how competitive districts have made it by as we've always been saying not a lock that Democrats get an advantage but more so than under gerrymandered maps.
Yeah, and Smith is a really interesting case too, you know he won re-election in 2022 and in 2024 Kamala Harris won the one the seat but only by two points, right?
So this is a this is a quote, you know if voters don't like what the Democrats are doing in the in the process Here's an opportunity for accountability there as well.
And so, you know, and I think just the list
more broadly really highlights a lot of what are so often the swing areas of the state.
You have your neck of the woods in the Chippewa Valley and the Eau Claire area is always going to be part of that.
Western Wisconsin, there are many districts in Western Wisconsin on this list, La Crosse area.
Fox Valley always emerges as a really important swing region.
The Milwaukee area suburbs, there are a number of districts there.
Again, I mentioned
before I think for next year on the map because you know this is a seat that Kamala Harris won by six points in the Western suburbs and a rapidly shifting part of the area and I've noticed that Hutton has posted a couple photos on his social media feeds with Tony Evers so would that be happening?
was in a deep red safe district.
I don't know.
No, no chance.
Very quickly, state Republicans had their convention, including the West politics straw poll.
What did you glean from that?
Fascinating straw poll.
I thought, you know, the fact that Josh Showman and Tom Tiffany were the kind of the top two vote getters on there.
Boy, that is not a deep bench for the Republicans.
We actually had a piece on Josh Shulman at the Reconpopulation area that we published yesterday from a guest contributor named Jordan Morales taking a look at some of his record.
In 2022, not being able to get a police funding referendum passed in one of the reddest counties in Wisconsin, and now Josh Shulman on that record is trying to run for governor.
There he is, Dan Schaefer giving us his latest on whether the Washington County executive can run on that record or will he face somebody like Congressman Tom Tiffany instead in a Republican primary for governor next year.
And of course, the big question as well is what about Governor Tony Evers?
Is he going to run for a third term or not?
So again, you can follow Dan at the Reconpopulation Area and of course all across the Civic Media Radio Network and at civicmedia.us.
All right, one of the stories that happened while I was away and just wasn't sure I wanted to get into things right away.
So that's why we're talking about it today.
Deals with the Congressman from Western Wisconsin, Derek Van Orden.
A former Navy SEAL.
The guy who said he was going to be an independent voice.
You hear that all the time.
I'm going to be an independent voice.
And he was going to be it for veterans and stand up against budget cuts.
We have heard him quite literally yelling, almost screaming at people that the cuts that are being planned for the VA, the cuts that are being planned for SNAP, nutritional assistance, these things aren't going to hurt real people.
That it's only going to be cutting, cutting the waste, cutting the waste.
It just seems that after stiff arming constituents and refusing to hold town halls, the only voice he's listening to is the guy in the White House, the one that wants to make massive cuts to the VA.
So it wasn't a big surprise to hear Van Orden trot out the bureaucracy boogeyman in his latest promise that the VA cuts would be all about bureaucrats and not
quality of veterans health care.
Here's a quick clip of Derek Van Orden.
He was talking at the time to a Veterans Affairs Secretary, Doug Collins, a former Republican Congressman from Georgia and himself, a U.S.
Air Force veteran.
What you're going to hear Van Orden talking about is a hand-drawn graph that he made that purports to show that
The number of doctors has stayed steady.
The number of bureaucrats has gone up.
Again, this is a hand-drawn graph with his assertion of what's happening at the VA.
Let's give a listen.
That's the whole VA.
This is the problem with the VA.
This is the increase in bureaucrats.
These are the doctors.
It's almost a flat line.
And then we have an increase with the veterans because of the PAC Act.
So when we are going to cut the VA, and I hope you do, sir,
This is where you need to make the cut right there in this line right there sir if mr. Secretary if you cut this Then this line with the doctors and stuff that people are actually touching our veterans and providing Care can go like this Right, and then we can match the increase with vets.
So mr. Secretary I am incredibly happy and looking forward to working with you and your administration
When you cut the VA and I hope you do
Derek Van Orden's words that you are gonna hear on a loop and he is gonna lose his mind every time and say that's not what I meant.
Yeah, that it was always about cutting the bureaucracy.
The so-called bureaucracy, we've been hearing all about since Elon Musk and Donald Trump showed up in DC in terms of just how radical this would be and how many people would be hurt when they say they're hurting bureaucrats.
They're hurting people who may not have MD after their name But very much play a role in making sure that the VA runs smoothly that There is efficiency there that veterans are seen in a timely manner there You can't simply cut all of the support staff in something and expect that it will still run normally because what you're doing then is and I'm
I'm taking a big leap here in hyperbole, but understand where I'm going here.
We're not asking doctors to start scrubbing the toilets as well, okay?
And when you think, well, I'm cutting this one janitorial position and I'm cutting this one assistant director position.
Those positions were there for a reason and they weren't there just because, you know, George needs a job.
So we're gonna create a position and then every VA hospital is gonna have it.
Government.
runs best with people who are engaged in the notion of public service.
Government should be, the people you should trust least are the people who hate government the most, who say, oh, it's all about waste, fraud, abuse, and bureaucrats.
Because they can never seem to produce it.
Remember, Elon Musk's doge thing was all about finding the waste, fraud, and abuse.
Waste, fraud, and abuse.
can be against the law in this country.
And yet, I haven't seen anybody brought up on charges yet.
Have you?
Because that would be where you would prove the waste, where you would prove the fraud, where you would prove the abuse.
And it seems to be lacking, which is why you see this kind of misdirection from somebody like Derek Van Orden.
Oh, by the way, speaking of misdirection,
Here's another way not to focus on Derek Van Orden wanting to cut the VA and to cut veterans health care is to say ridiculous things like let's get rid of the spring elections.
That's something that Derek Van Orden called for.
It would require an amendment to the state constitution, but when he was asked recently about why Republicans didn't do well in the most recent spring elections, he said, Republicans don't vote, period.
We just don't vote in spring elections, Van Orden said.
According to a Wisconsin public radio story, I think they should get rid of that, he said, and fold it into a midterm or a four year cycle.
There is exhaustion from the previous election and it's just not functional.
Well, Congressman, the reason we have it like that is that we have some positions that, believe it or not, are still supposed to be nonpartisan, and the nonpartisan elections are held in the spring, so that there's this clear delineation.
And if anybody has messed up that line, it might be you and your folks, but the answer is not getting rid of elections.
Today's history lesson is next, as we always do, mornings across the Civic Media Radio Network, live from Lake Wasota.
I'm Pat Kraitla.
You're listening to Civic Media.
Find the latest news, information, and archives of all your favorite shows on the Civic Media website,
Where we are joined as always by Melissa K from 97.5 WFHR and 105.5 WIRI in Wisconsin Rapids.
How is Melissa today?
I am excellent.
How are you?
Great.
Great.
You've all recovered from the wonderful play that you were working on directing.
Yeah.
Oh, it was so much fun.
That's awesome.
I'm so proud
of my cast and crew.
They did awesome.
Do you have a next project in mind already?
I'm getting a pigeon.
What?
Wait a minute.
I'm sorry.
Again, if
I had like unlimited sound effects in front of me, this one would have been like the brakes being slammed on or the needle being dragged across the record and say, what?
Is I'm getting a pigeon to play that you're directing?
Is
it like, don't let the pigeon drive the bus?
Is there like a play on
that?
I'm going to buy a dog kennel.
to keep it in and I'm going to build some stuff because I just got a skill saw and I'm going to beat up my maintenance guy to put in a electric in my shed so I don't have to run an extension cord out my window and you know over there.
I really feel like I should apologize to the listeners that you're going to have to look online for today's history lesson because I really want to explore this more.
Do you
know how many awards pigeons won during World War II?
200.
32.
Oh,
that
was way off.
She's you online.
Yes pigeon mama for the win
Really
you are not
awesome.
They actually make really great pets.
I'm excited.
I Am befuddled.
This is really I did not exceed this coming at all Not it
Your excitement is palpable.
She's right.
You did ask.
I know and I'm loving it.
This is great.
Ronald Isley is 84 years old today from the Isley Brothers.
The American Red Cross was established by Clara Barton on this day in 1881.
Happy birthday to singer Leo Ser.
He is 77 years old today.
Could it scream 70s any more than this?
The pre-disco 70s?
Sorry,
sorry, your lapels are poking me in the shoulder right now.
Leo Sarah gave us, You Make Me Feel Like Dancing, Long Tall Glasses, When I Need You, More Than I Can Say.
He also wrote the show Musko on, which was covered by Three Dog Night.
Happy birthday to Bill Champlin, who is 78 years old today, former member of Chicago.
Slow skate, everyone.
Oh my goodness.
Slow skate.
If you ever wanted a musical transition from 70s to 80s, that was it right there.
This keyboard
sound is every 80s show.
Yes.
Let's see.
Former Senator Al Franken is 74 years old today.
Mr. T is 73 years old today.
Go ahead and give it to us, Melissa.
Give us the line.
I don't know it.
Mr. T, I pity the food.
Oh,
yeah, I pity the food.
There it is.
OK, that was good.
Yeah.
Dorsey Levins, former Packers running back and the leading rusher from Super Bowl 31.
He is 55 years old today.
Brooklyn's Christopher George Wallace, a.k.a.
Biggie Smalls, or the notorious B.I.G.
He was born this day in 1972, was murdered in March of 1997.
On this day in 1983, I've actually got two notes here from this day in 1983, ZZ Top released a video for the song.
And I'll just tell you now, rather than waiting for the singing,
Because I know you're imagining it.
If you know anything about ZZ Top videos, this video, forgive me all your love, and mark the first appearance of the Eliminator, Billy Gibbons 1933 Ford Hot Rod, that would appear in multiple other ZZ Top videos and become associated with the band.
ZZ Top's so good.
Yes.
It's just a.
Every record even their 80s stuff people can be like oh 80s bands are terrible when they were in the 70s and like they'd get like more processed and whatnot But they just stayed a great rock and roll band.
Mm-hmm.
That was this day in 1983 and the number one song that day was
by David Bowie.
Oh my gosh.
Okay.
Wow.
Okay.
We're just
We're not pausing
That of course would be let's dance which hit number one on this date 42 years ago On this day 43 years ago on this day in 1992 after 30 seasons Johnny Carson Hosted his second to last episode and the last one featuring guests the guests were Robin Williams and bet middler the one were bet middler Infamously saying one of my baby and one for the road
Uh, you remember what you, I'm sure you watched and thought, is this really it?
After all these years, no more Johnny Carson on late night TV.
It was a, it was a big deal.
I
think it was like the
first.
Cause I was too, I was really too young for the last episode of mash.
And I think it was like really the first thing where like a big TV event like, Oh, this is like, it's a big ending.
And I remember him crying like wiping my tears while she was singing.
Yeah.
It was, it was, yeah, it was, it was wonderful.
It was
great TV history, but it has been since that time, we've had Letterman and Leno and now we've got Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, and soon to be joined by Melissa Kay with Pigeon Talk, where we're going to learn more about the dog kennel and everything else that you're doing to become a pigeon mama.
Yeah.
I am okay.
I'm
excited.
I've
got permission from my lay-in lords.
They wear pigeon pants.
Do you
know
this?
This
is why I
could get them because they need time outside their cage every day and They wear something called pigeon pants, which are like a diaper for a bird and they're super cute.
They're so adorable I Got
no words right now none.
I
yeah, I know this is this is this is just so great, Tony This is how I felt when the Pat Kratlow show ended and those went to Europe no more Pat in the morning But then you came back and it was all so good.
See that's what happens when you got Melissa here
This is also World Meditation Day, National Waitstaff Day, and Talk Like Yoda Day, marking the 1980 anniversary of the release of Star Wars 5, The Empire Strikes Back, 45 years ago today.
Pigeon
I will get.
Pigeon I will get.
Pigeon I will get.
Pigeon I will get.
Pigeon I will get.
Pigeon I will get.
Pigeon I will get.
Pigeon I will get.
Pigeon I will get.
Pigeon I will get.
Pigeon I will get.
Pigeon I will get.
Pigeon I will get.
Pigeon I will get.
Pigeon I will get.
Pigeon I will get.
Pigeon I will get.
Pigeon I will get.
Pigeon I will get.
Pigeon I will get.
Pigeon I will get.
Pigeon I will get.
Pigeon I will get.
Pigeon I will get.
Pigeon I will get.
Pigeon I will get
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