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

The theme this week in Madison and Washington, DC has been late-night sessions in an effort to find enough unified Republicans to pass both state and federal budget bills. In Congress, that meant all-night arm twisting until every last bit of conscience had been wrung out of lawmakers concerned that their big, bloated boondoggle would […]

Jul 3, 2025

44:02

In this week’s Climate Check, a lighter story about adaptation. The knock on solar farms has been that all those panels would restrict crop growth or grazing. It didn’t take long for folks to get creative in ways that make the panel mobile and even provide shade for cows while they graze! And we’ll get […]

Guests: Earl Ingram, Melissa Baldauff

Jul 2, 2025

44:02

Rep. Angela Stroud will give us the full picture of a two-part deal that will lead to the removal of more lead water lines in Superior. It required more than faith in a single bill that didn’t do enough for private homeowners. And we’ll talk to a retired pediatric nurse and school board member about […]

Guests: Angela Stroud, Carolyn Bonanno

Jul 2, 2025

44:02

We’ll review reaction to the new state budget deal, perhaps best summed up as having something for everyone to like—and hate. The Joint Finance Committee passed it on Tuesday, so the full Senate and Assembly will both be in session today to consider it. Meanwhile, the US Senate passed the largest transfer of wealth and […]

Guests: Corrine Hendrickson, Dan Shafer, Jeff Smith

Jul 2, 2025

44:02

We’ll review the newly-announced bipartisan state budget agreement with Dan Shafer of The Recombobulation Area. It’s a deal that falls far short of what you’d see if Gov. Evers and advocates of education, child care, and health care had their way—and it’s far more than what would result if Republicans controlled the governor’s office. But […]

Guests: Dan Shafer, Jeff Smith

Jul 1, 2025

44:02

Heavy rain last week put limits on fieldwork for Wisconsin farmers. We’ll review the latest conditions with Hans Breitenmoser. And we’ll congratulate the Trump administration for needing only five months to understand we can’t grow bananas, coffee, or cocoa beans here, so maybe those tariffs that drive up consumer prices need to be adjusted. Mornings […]

Guests: Corrine Hendrickson, Hans Breitenmoser

Jul 1, 2025

44:02

It appears Wisconsin will not see a protracted budget crisis—but the deal ain’t done yet. Gov. Tony Evers and Republican leaders in the Legislature announced an agreement on a new plan for taxes and spending. Will it be enough, however, for a couple of far-right Republicans to support it—or will GOP leaders need Democratic votes […]

Jul 1, 2025

44:02

We’ll talk to Jeff Mandell of Law Forward about their group’s lawsuit against the world’s richest man, hoping to stop people like Elon Musk from ever again being so bribery-adjacent during Wisconsin elections. We’ll catch up with our Civic Media friends John & Gordy, fresh off their show in Madison, and Jane Matenaer to find […]

Guest: Jeff Mandell

Jun 30, 2025

44:02