Get in, nerds! We’re taking a deep dive into how a bill becomes a law and how a law comes to life through rules. The rulemaking process is usually boring and routine, but Republicans in the Legislature have rigged it in a way that interferes with how experts at state agencies make the law work […]

Guest: Melissa Kaye

Jul 9, 2025

44:02

There are those who describe the new Wisconsin state budget, quickly adopted last week by the Legislature, as the “least bad” option, given the split between Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and majority Republicans. But others believe Democrats didn’t fight hard enough for more, since GOP leaders needed Democratic votes to pass a budget due to […]

Jul 8, 2025

44:02

We cover the far northwest and southwest corners of Wisconsin this hour. We’ll talk to state Rep. Jenna Jacobson about her newly-announced campaign for the State Senate seat now held by the Republican co-chair of the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee. We’ll visit with Superior Mayor Jim Paine about lead water pipe removal, the Blatnik Bridge […]

Guests: Jenna Jacobson, Jim Paine

Jul 8, 2025

44:02

America’s air traffic control system is a fragmented mess that will take many years and billions of dollars to upgrade. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy could spend his entire workday on that project alone, not to mention the nation’s other critical transportation needs. But if you’ll excuse him, the secretary is very busy right now declaring […]

Jul 8, 2025

44:02

The world’s richest man once bragged he would use his fortune to solve world hunger, but now Elon Musk is announcing plans to start a new political party. Between his DOGE misadventures, his ill-fated effort to influence the Wisconsin Supreme Court election, and now this—has Elon’s third party become his third strike in an effort […]

Jul 7, 2025

44:02

Now that the state budget is done and President Trump’s federal plans are finalized, we’ll return to an area that the president said would be all summed up by now: 90 deals in 90 days. It’s been 90 days and the administration has two half-deals done. Does this ramp up the talk of a trade […]

Jul 7, 2025

44:02

We’ll recap the holiday weekend, including the threat of disruption to the Minocqua parade that turned out to be a prank. We’ll discuss grilling, biking, streaming, live concerts, and the triumphant return of Brandon Woodruff to the Milwaukee Brewers’ pitching ranks. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations […]

Guest: Dr. Kristin Lyerly

Jul 7, 2025

44:02

We’ll talk to financial expert Sean O’Malley about some aspects of the Trump budget boondoggle that aren’t getting as much attention—as limits on student loan borrowing and cuts to research funding accelerate a brain drain from US universities and businesses. Joe Zepecki will offer perspective on the week’s big stories out of Madison and Washington. […]

Guests: Joe Zepecki, Sean O’Malley

Jul 3, 2025

44:02

Wednesday’s state Supreme Court ruling invalidating a purported abortion ban provided an early window into the 2026 campaign—with challenger Chris Taylor saying that right wing Justice Rebecca Bradley’s dissent in the case was an “unhinged political rant, devoid of reasoned legal analysis.” We’ll review some of what the justices had to say on both sides […]

Jul 3, 2025

44:02