Wisconsin Governor Race: Major Shakeups and Key Issues

of myself, staff and man

Hi, this is Overseer Michelle Pitts of Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church. I would like to invite you to come out on Wednesday evenings every Wednesday evening. We start with a scrumptious dinner that you don't want to miss from 5 to 5.45. And then at 6 p.m. till 7 p.m. our Bible study starts and it ends by 7. I don't want you to miss it every single Wednesday. So be there in the house Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church located at 2505 West on Cornell for more information.

please call 414-442-4720. Thank you for listening to the New Pits Mortuary's Morning Gospel Hour. The New Pits Mortuary is dedicated to serve you. Remember us in your time of need. We can be reached at 414-447-6000. We are more than a business. We are a ministry. 860 AM 106.5 FM. WNOV. The Voice.

The views and opinions expressed on this show do not reflect that of the staff and management of WNOV and W293CX106.5 FM, Courier Communications, Milwaukee, but are the sole comments of the host and guest of this particular show.

We're in a state of emergency Unless a confusion The danger is great It's plain to see Desperate times call for desperate solutions Feel the love, yeah

Fear of pain, baby It's just an illusion We've been wrong, we've been right We've been rough, day and night Like soldiers in revolution We're like soldiers in revolution There's a war going on in here

Got a mind that's a better solution Just let it all in I'll say something real Say something real, hey girl Say something real, won't you say something real, girl Say something real, doo doo, doo doo, baby Say something real

Say something real Say something real

Good morning. Good morning. What's happening family? Welcome to the show. It is Michelle Brian here at WNOV 860 AM 106.5 FM. You are listening to say something real. I'm just saying I can't leave town for five minutes. Five minutes. One, two, three, four, five.

I mean, literally, I lead town. We got the smoke tearing up the city. People can't breathe. And then y'all have flipped the elections for governor on his head. And I just want to say it's your fault. This is craziness. But we're going to see what we can do to talk about today. First, my brother's in the building. What's going on, Clark Kent? Who you with?

Man, I don't know. I thought I knew. I have a ballot already for the governor. That was upside down. So yeah. I don't know who I'm with. How was your weekend fair? It was good. The blue fest was nice. It was it was it was off the chain. And a lot of people that listen to this show finally got to see who I who who am I. So they met me and they were like, we love y'all.

Y'all just so funny in the morning. And they say, we're right out there. I said, he's somewhere around here, you know, even though he wasn't around here. Wait a minute. Did he go to a special place on the weekend? They only went about what they do Friday. Did he just ask a question? Who am I? They found out who I was, bro. I'm just saying. You're going to mess around and find out.

It was good. It was it was a nice turn out. Good. I'm glad. It was nice. It was nice. All right. All right. What about you right now? How are you doing playing? Well, sale outside of feeling like I smoke 10 cigarettes. Die down and kick back up. Yeah. Yeah. Um, however, it was crazy because

The air quality was just bananas, man. It was it was at a 600 and they said that that was equivalent to the smoker 10 packs of cigarette at one time One time so that's how bad Super thing but other than that, you know through the all-shell I made it through now I've learned to lean and depend on the Lord. Amen

Well, let me just say quickly, folks know that listen to the show regularly may know that I'm still out of town. I actually come back later today. You can see

The beautiful hotel is behind Chicago. The NAACP is holding their national convention here in Chicago. Always ahead of the national convention is the National Axel Competition. That's ACT-SO and it's an Afroacademic.

Technological is like some competition in which 33 categories of different activities that young people can compete in from around the country. They come through and we bring some of our best and our brightest to compete here in the in the. The competition.

We brought from Milwaukee Dane County NAACP branch brought two children with them or students I should say young people because he's not babies there grades 9th grade through 12th grade and One of our students she had gone to visit her grandparents. I Think it was intense and we even had some Milwaukee. I'm sorry We flew her into Chicago. So we'll get her back home today for the competition

None of our children walked away with a medal this year. But I'm going to tell you, their performances were phenomenal. Absolutely phenomenal. I was super proud, as were the other advisors, Dr. Lukisha Myers, Laura, I can't remember Laura's last name, Adam Madison and Taylor. Those are the co-chairs in Madison. These young people,

They did a job, but I just want you to understand how thick the talent is. Some of our kids literally blow you away and they did everything from architecture to a number of math and STEM projects. This one little girl, she designed a temporary shelter and a rehab facility that was connected

and talked about how you go from one service immediately to the other so that there's not this, you know, back and forth to try to find some place. And I mean, like you just transitioned out of one program into the work that they did, the ideas that these young people had when you hear all these crazy stories.

you know, record striving kids, they street takeovers. Just be encouraged that there are a group of students that are doing the thing. That's on top of the business. We were in one of our students compete. Well, we had two students compete in the classical music categories. One was a is a violinist. The other one is a classical singer. And there was another young brother who was a classical violinist.

So our kids ended up and they were cheering for each other. These kids were rooting for other kids that they had met from other places to win. They supported one another. And in our group chat, one of the first things that stood out is when we didn't have kids in certain categories, all the kids as opposed to being upset or defeated or angry, the kids was like, that's all right.

I'll be at them next year. I mean, it just, it just did be all the good in the world. We did have one of our students who actually participated in the program. She was a speaker. And the thing, like most of the time when a kid came out, they said, you know, this is Michelle Bryant representing the Milwaukee Alumni Chapter. For whatever odd reason, when our student and this other young man came out together, they didn't announce which branch they were from.

So we have Milwaukee branch members who are here for the convention. And we had to tell them, like, no, that was our student that was up on the stage. This is the young sister we flew in. She was phenomenal. I'm just so proud of them. So we have had a great time. The kids went over to the Disciple Museum. They were blown away to find out that the city of Chicago was actually a black man, hence the name Disciple.

Museum. So they were tripping off that. Kids that were very in tune to the history, they asked questions. There's a Harold Washington exhibit in the library, I mean in the museum that blew everybody away because it's a life-size figure of Harold Washington who's sitting at his desk and he's actually narrating his own story. It's animated.

figure of Harold Washington and like the whole thing is crazy. If you've never gone to the Disciple Museum and seen the Harold Washington exhibit, Harold Washington, first African of Chicago, who I think if I remember correctly, died six months after being elected to office. He had a heart attack at his desk. You have got to go see that. Then we took him over to the Obama Museum. We weren't able to get the tickets to get

up on the, you know, additional floors of the museum, but we had lunch at the museum. They walked the grounds. They went to go visit where Michelle Obama's garden was. The basketball court stuff, where Barack Mim had put all that in. They walked all up through there. So they've gone to the thrift stores. We got kids who like thrifting. They've done the thrift stores. So it has been a really good experience for our young

So we will continue to do more work, bring more students. And when I tell y'all, there are some NAACP chapters, they show up 15 and 20 children deep, young people deep. You hear me? New York was crazy.

New Orleans crazy. Altadena where they had the huge fires. They kids came in like they was on a vengeance like every adversity we have been through in Altadena. Yeah, we make it up here at this competition. But the young people just they just blew everybody away. And you can actually see the Instagram on their website. It's on YouTube. There were some people that were able to watch live on Sunday morning.

So I just will tell you, please take an opportunity to see what the whole thing was about. That was impressive. So let me get to the guy everybody buzzing this morning. When I say my phone was on 10. The whole time.

I have been here, I have had a ton of conversations, you know, what's going on, you know, like some people strictly calling from the book perspective, you know, what happens to ballots. And so let me just frame this out. I am talking about the fact that there was a major shakeup since I've been away. The Lieutenant Governor, Sarah Rodriguez,

We drew from the race for in the upcoming August primary, heading into the November 3rd election. She withdrew from the race and. County executive David Crawley, who had suspended his campaign back on July 8th. He.

We entered the race. There had been looms, we call them trial balloons that were being sent up, kind of hinting that he might get back into the race. I talked about it a little bit before I left town last week. I think even my brother hit me up on text messages laughing to my BB King, because I said, you might have made your move too soon in terms of coming out of the race.

David Crawley got back into the race. And, you know, so now there's a lot of people trying to figure out legitimately from the voting side of this whole thing. Because, you know, when we have these Congress outlets, you could change your ballot. If you, your candidate got out of the race and now what's going on with that. So we got to break down a lot of different aspects of this conversation in this moment and what's happening.

people calling to say, Michelle, what do you think about this? You know, like there are tons and tons of questions. People have called this process chaotic, confusing, frustrating. Some people feel like it is an automatic, you know, win for Tom Tiffany because we will be.

fractured as a democratic how we move forward. So there are tons of things that have to be talked about and discussed in the coming days, but today is the 20th and there are 31 days in. So let me do this. Today is the 20th. There are 31 days. So that's 11 days left in July and then the election.

Sorry, the primary 11 so we're talking what 22 days we're talking about 22 days and So I guess let's start With my things

Because Sarah Rodriguez had been typically seen as a front runner, somewhere in the top three, generally, as people looked at some of these polls, again, I only put so much stock in the polls, kept trying to figure out where they were being done, who they were talking to. I also thought that David was a little bit higher than he was coming in, but polls be what they may.

She had been someone that had been seen as having momentum in terms of then reported campaign finance numbers. She seems like one of the people to catch in terms of the money. Francesca Hong has consistently been out, you know, front on raising dollars. So all of this is going on in the back, you know, obviously that the campaign manager has not entered this finance information.

correctly. It's been over in Fowler's and as opposed to having, you know, hundreds of thousands of dollars on hand. She has about 34,000 dollars on hand. There was this brief window. It was referenced on social media right after that finance report came out and the big hoop lock came.

to public light about what was going on with Rodney, that $600,000 had been poured into her campaign. And Jacobs, who's over with the Wisconsin Election Commission, and a supporter of Rodriguez, she had indicated, you know, like, yeah, y'all need to slow y'all roll, talk what you know about what you think. It was kind of jacked quite frankly. Sarah Rodriguez had, you know, had this influx of dollars come in, $600,000 or something.

hours. I want to watch some of our kids in their competitions. Then when I come back, you know, I realize that okay, she's now gotten out of the rest. So first of all is I'm waiting to see what all the actual

if we ever get to the truth of it, what all the actual fallout and everything that actually happened during her race. Because we are so busy and caught up now in, you know, where do we go from here? DC's announcement to get back in, you know, these brother now in terms of the black community, like all of these things are happening, but over here, people may look away from the Rodriguez campaign to find out exactly what happened. Because if these were just

technical errors, you can update your finance report. So what actually went on over there? I'm not done asking those questions and we'll see. We'll see how much information ever becomes public or how well some of these reporters that are out here dogging people's footsteps if they continue to get at Sarah.

Rodriguez and her team know, okay, we know you fired the woman, but what actually went on? Because all we heard is, you know, major mismanagement. What does that mean? So that's another question that's off to the side, but put them away. And now let's deal with what we have in front of us. David Crawley, I'm sure has a number of people reaching out to him.

after Rodriguez falls, and I'm sure he probably knew before the public knew that she was going to get out the race. If things went the way they were supposed to, if courtesies were extended, particularly because she had received his endorsement when he pulled out on July 8th, even Missy Hughes had received her endorsement. Missy Hughes pulls out in June 22nd or something like that. So just a courtesy.

given David's high profile as a county executive, you know, the fact that he was in the time that she was going to be making the announcement that she was getting out of the race. I assume, don't mean I'm right. But if you did things in order, he should have known. So then the folks around him have got to get in a fear about what does this mean?

You know, that program, really? But on the other hand, maybe we need to have a conversation. Is this viable for him to get back in the race? Because he suspended his race. He did not end his race. And there are technical things that you say and do that open for you to return to the race if it's necessary, or if you feel like something changes. So we got to take a break.

But when we come back, let's talk about how David is able to then revitalize his race. And now what all of that means, particularly if you voted for him, then requested a ballot to spoil your ballot so that you can now vote for someone else.

And you haven't sent that ballot back in yet. And now he's back on the ballot. Let's take a few minutes this morning and break some of this stuff down. And just know, Mark Thompson that comes on my show for the Scales of Justice, attorney Mark Thompson, he's actually on the Wisconsin Election Commission. So we have someone who is a regular on our show who has been making some of the decisions about those very ballots and whether or not you get to cast them, not

You know, we, we, we vote. If your candidate drops out, he, he's somebody that's at the table helping to make those decisions. So Jay, can I take my first break? Yes, ma'am. All right. So family, stay with me. We got a lot to cover this morning. Michelle Brine, WNOV, 860 AM on 6.5 FM. I'll be back.

All right, family, welcome back to the show. For folks that are on YouTube and Facebook, first of all, let me say good morning to you. I'm so sorry that you have to see Jermaine and whatever it is supposed to be. That's called early morning juice. Early morning juice. I just can't say it on the air, but there is a name for it.

Welcome back. Welcome back to the show. Before we went to the break, started to talk about, you know, this major shakeup in the Democratic side of the primary leading up the election for governor. And there are other things on the ballot. Trust me. We need to talk about, I mean, you need to go view our dog gov. So you can see everything that you are voting on. If you are not one of those people that requested an early ballot. But as I said before, I want you to break.

The Crawley team makes a disease. Folks were reaching out, asking me what I thought about it. You know, I haven't weighed in a lot. You know, because on one hand, I kind of laugh like, who care? Who care what Michelle is saying about this? Because at the end of the day,

I'm going to ask a question. Of course, a lot of people will ask behind the scenes, you know, questions like how many early ballots have already been cast, early votes have already been cast. That's our JR Ross had did a column that said roughly about almost 70,000 early ballots had already been cast.

Reforges the race other questions. I'm asking is in the short amount of time, you know, what's necessary? People wise staff wise money wise to be able to compete, you know, will there be an influx of money into his campaign because this gets This this whole shape

money, media, advertising. I mean, this is statewide news. In some cases, it even made national news. So the name ID goes through the roof because who is this guy that, you know, got into the race, got out the race or endorse somebody. So it is a media gold mine in terms of lifting name ID.

to the point that people will now like go to the website, get more information about them because there was a poll that was done by Marquette back in March that said that 65% of Wisconsin voters were undecided about who they were going to support in the upcoming governor's race.

I can certainly understand why the Crawley campaign may feel like, you know, we could seize on this moment. We might be able to rally the troops. If, you know, Rodriguez's race may supporters will, you know, come on over to the Crawley side of the ticket. One of the things I will tell people do not sleep on Francesca Hong. She has been steady and consistent in terms of building.

building support in terms of building. And in terms of she has represented again, I take polls with a grain of salt, but she has been consistent and there have been a lot of black folks that have said that they had planned to vote for Francesca, particularly after Crawley got out of the race. Okay. So let's talk about, you know, is what this looks like.

how this goes. First and foremost, let me just say this, it is kind of frustrating to me to watch now this huge momentum, everybody behind Crawley, you know, into the city, because when he ran, I mean, when he was in the race the first time, where the hell was all y'all at? All these phone calls being made on his behalf, you know, people want to do rallies and everybody running to, where was y'all at the first time?

I'm serious. The first, first leg when Crawley was in the race, all of this hoopla and momentum and, you know, get behind DC, I say DC, I didn't see none of that. I didn't. So some of y'all some fair weather people, fair weather Negroes, opportunities, whatever that.

When this campaign needed money, when this campaign needed those, you know, foot soldiers, volunteers, people on the ground, a lot of you Negroes, and a lot of you white folks, and a lot of all your people jumping on the bandwagon, wouldn't know where to be seen because you was cold on your cars close to the vest. You was trying to figure, so I just want to say that part first, that that irritates me.

because now I'm getting phone calls from people. Ain't nobody called when the boy first got in the race. Now you're by calling, what do we do? So I just want to say, and hopefully to David Crawley, you understand everybody, your friend ain't, is not trying, and I know you don't have to get that advice, but I'm going to say it on the air because I want people to understand who are paying attention to this now, including some of the folks listening to this show, that, you know, people kill me.

Because everybody love an underdog. Everybody love, you know, all the possibility and how we want to run somebody's campaign. But when the initial work could have been done out the gate, you may grow. So I'm just going to say that. I'm just going to say that and move on. So then, you know, the other thing that happens in this race is Governor Evers and

He had for a while to sit on the fence, stay out of it. Because you got two, one current lieutenant governor, one former lieutenant governor, you got the county executive. These are people he's all had relationships with. You got the senator, you know, members of his that or his administration.

I should say that are in the race. So it's like a lot of people, all of these people that were in the races directly had ties to Governor Evers. So Tony sat on the fence. He's like, hey, I ain't endorsing. When all of the shakeup happens, then there is a push and I'm sure people pressed him to

come and make a, now I'm going to just tell you behind the scenes, a lot of people had already been saying that Tony Ivers was not rocking with Mandela and Tony Ivers was not rocking with Sarah Rodriguez. That was already being talked about behind the scenes. But the diplomatic person, he had just kind of sat on the fence. He was not going to get in it, not going to put his thumb on the scale. He just stayed out of it. With his current lieutenant governor getting out of the race,

Maybe he felt, you know, a little bit more comfortable than to try to go ahead to put his support behind where a lot of people kind of felt like he probably supported DC the most anyway, David Crawley the most anyway. And so while he is in Africa on a trade trip, he, you know, drops this endorsement for David Crawley. So you got to figure out what half to what kind of carry, but it's a heck of a statement.

that the governor who first, you know, gets elected with Mandela does not endorse Mandela. I think it supports a lot of the stuff that I have said and think about Mandela in terms of work, in terms of, in terms of, you know, being somebody that can help you get things done and accomplished. It is interesting to me that the guy, and I'm saying right now, Mandela.

Yeah, you got to be feeling like white pimp slap this morning, you know, or Saturday when the endorsement comes out that your boy ain't got none for you publicly, because you knew it privately. You knew it privately, but publicly, not a whole world know your boy ain't messing with you. Okay, so it's like that. I'm joking. What do you think about that? But okay, let me, let me not be messy.

Let me keep moving and so, you know DC Now we'll see if there's an influx of money, you know, because he and let's be clear in January Those numbers come out his fundraising was on par with everybody else it trails off a bit as we move through the year So now I'm sure with three

reentry into the race, you know, there's a sense of energy, people feel like, you know, this can happen, that some additional dollars are going to come in to be able to get him on TV, to get him, you know, radio, TV, whatever your profile case for why you should be elected. So how have other candidates got to be feeling right now?

I only saw two statements. I haven't seen one from Kelda Roy's, nor have I seen one from Joe Brennan. But I've seen the statement from Francesca Hall from Mandela Barnes on day three entry. And let me just tell you once again, I really don't know who the.

These people are, that Mandela keeps putting, but they're idiots. Which then makes me question the, you know, the thinking of the candidate. Cause you keep putting a bunch of white boy idiots around you. I'm sorry. I'm just, Francesca Hong's statement.

Well, wait, let's do it this way first Mandela statement. I'm a paraphrase. I don't have it in front of me But you know the gist of it it was put out by his campaign manager Brody, I think his name and it was a hard, you know kind of jab to

to David You know it talked about like you like this is a Hail Mary. I don't know why basically you get back in the race you had only been polling at like 3% and All of the polls, you know, this is ridiculous like that's the gist of it like they just came real nasty real and let me be clear though They didn't necessarily say anything that was not factual

But as the old folks say, it's not what you say, it's how you say it. And so it had an edge to it. It had a frustrated edge to it. And it didn't have a tone of leadership, okay? Francesca Hong's statement, Francesca says, um, yeah.

I want to welcome Dave back into the, welcome the debate, you know, we want to make sure that we get, and I'm paraphrasing, but this isn't just of it. We want to, you know, get in front of Wisconsin voters, you know, present our ideas. Basically, we're going to let the voters decide, but, you know, hey, it works. This is what this is supposed to look like. That's her response. So her response is measured.

It shows leadership. It shows graciousness. It shows professionalism. And I don't have to like beat you up because pundits, talkers, the people who think they know, they're going to weigh in. They will do your dirty work for you. I see we got callers. And I also got to go to a break though. But they're going to do your dirty work for you.

You don't have to be the one to face Mandela If it's people that want to question if this is a dumb move smart move You know a Hail Mary let other folks do that you keep your head down a bra welcome back to the race. Let's

Everybody keep doing that thing and keep more like gotta go to break but see this is that moment that shows you Mandela's weaknesses because when everybody was clear to feel for him and weighing in for him in that US Senate race, he was cool. He was cool with calling people and people to pressure race. This time because he and his him and Francesca the top folks in the race, maybe Sarah Rodriguez, but it's different when the shoe was on the other foot.

It's different. So you're feeling the heat of Crawley getting back in the race. But instead of being gracious and being a leader and being strategic, you might manager, come out the block. Being nasty, divisive. When you didn't need to. Francesca Holmes response, Mandela's response.

ship, spoil brat baby crying because now you got some competition or some additional competition. I need to take a break. Jay, can I take my break? Yes, ma'am. Michelle Bront y'all, WNOV, 860 a year, 106.5 FM. I'll be right back.

All right, family. All right, family, welcome back. Jay, just so you know, when you put your hands up to give me my countdown, it's out. Oh, is it? Yeah. So. Shaba. There's no love up there. Shaba. I can't stand you. I can't stand you. I remember you had a blue-leg camera man, though.

about some of this stuff and I'm going to stop. But let me slow down for just a quick second and just bring the bros in. I know you said we got phone calls too. But y'all heard it just like everybody else heard it. What was your reaction, Jay, when you heard? I was quite stunned. DC was back raised. I was quite stunned. When I heard it, my exact words was,

Can I say it? I said, boy, Michelle got that, as Dr. Ward would say, that good pulling power. And I just fell out of my bed. I said, damn, Michelle. Damn, Michelle. Because I had talked about it, a number of people like, I don't put this on me. I just asked some questions because I never thought that David should have got out of the race.

firm believer of you know because I think that he brought something to the race you know and so uh I just don't after the Donald Trump races I know that there is a lot of good value that comes with certain certain polls but I also know

The trick you to you know, tell you one thing do something different So I just I wasn't and I just don't like you know, I don't believe it's saying in the race to a point where they no longer make sense But I just wasn't sure in David's race that it didn't Make sense even though, you know, this is what the poll says so

That was something that stood out for me. Clark on my next breakout circle, back to see what you thought as well. I know I got a couple of callers, but again, before we went to the break, I'm just gonna say, I have learned that, you know, I say things that are unpopular often, or I ask questions that people would prefer that I not ask. You know, I push, you know, for things that may not,

be within the realm of what other folks are willing to give or willing to do. But it's always done at the idea that I want to make sure that our community has what we need to make the best decisions and move forward in a way that will help us collectively as a community. So with that being said, I'm just going to say,

I don't hear how I try to make it. I'm just not a Mandela fan, not in terms of him as a man and an individual, but politics and the way, you know, he has chosen to surround himself with people who do not get it a lot of times. And yep, I know people will say, yeah, but he came within 1% around Johnson. One of the things I have to tell people to remind folks all the time, this is a 50-50 state.

They don't call us a purple state, a swing state for no reason. So any Democrat running against Ron Johnson was going to come close because this is a close state and people keep attributing that to it was something magical about this brother and the way he ran his campaign. It wasn't that to me. It's the fact that this is a deeply divided state, but in terms of some of our politics, but

on on statewide races, on national races, we can swing either way. And so how do you to, you know, political prowess and strategic, you know, mastery, you know, when the race is real close versus this just the way it would have fell out. Because we got a pretty evenly split Democrat versus Republican, those independent

that can help, you know, fill out aisle in terms of results. But I just continue to be disappointed. You know, when I read the statement from his campaign, I'm like, come on, y'all. And now I'm looking at this just as an observer. No horse in the race, you know, not cheering one candidate to just looking at it just as an observer. And I literally went, unforced error, dumb.

Petty nasty small People will point out all and again, I was saying on what I said. It wasn't that anything that they said in their Press release is not true DC had not been told polling in double digits in Any of the polls really that people had looked at that this is a long shot because I want people to understand that this is a long shot

This is a long shot now. He's gonna have more momentum and win Underneath his wings then he has you know previously Again the name recognition goes through the roof because of this whole you know debacle With Rodriguez and him getting in getting out I'm gonna talk about the other candidates, but No, you you you class and

leadership you know people I need to hit hard or say something you know that's sharp you just didn't have to do it and this is why I question your ability and Della's ability to lead because you read the wrong you got a whole bunch of black folks cheering for DC right now you let this white campaign manager put out a statement for you in which you try to punch him in the face

Embarrassing like that. That's the black folks. I don't care what you do for the rest of the state You gotta take into consideration, but don't get me wrong DC definitely got his naysayers Because there are folks that are saying that phrase flip-flopper you was in and he was out bruh You you voted for this chick and then she and you told everybody she was the best person and then she ended up maybe not being the best person but wait

not because of anything she did, but because of what her campaign manager did. But if your name is on the door, then it's you. You see it? And then I like to think of was Keon. Keon used to always say on my show, who is the puppet master? Who's calling the shots? Who's getting people to do certain things? So.

If I'm having a Keon moment slash Michelle moment, you make the decision to get in the race in the first place. Okay. Now I'm gonna see you right now. It's in the first place. Hey, I've done well as county exec. I really think I can pull this off. I think the money and the momentum will come. Okay. Then you make, no, I don't have a guess. Then you make the decision to get out of the race.

You get out and you don't just get out you do an endorsement and As far as a lot of people is concerned and unlikely endorsement because as I said I think it was a need to do an endorsement at all But you're doing endorsements and then you tell people that this chick is the best person left in the race Now that you out hmm, she wasn't but okay, so again now I got a question judgment then

She herself fold and it's like, okay, I get back in the race. Who's pushing that race? So don't get me wrong. All of this is not a love fest for David Carly. There are folks that are not not riding with this. Don't support it. Don't like it.

because it seems indecisive. I'm supporting somebody who ends up being jacked up, you know, blah, blah, blah. So he got some trust issues that he gonna have to, you know, address with the community. And it's not gonna be just because, oh yay, DC, my boy. Everybody not gonna do that. There's a lot of people that, they was excited and happy. My man back in, yes, let's do this. But they was riding with him.

from day one. But it's other people that were sitting on the fence or they with, you know, I haven't voted here, but I think I'm going with Francesca or, you know, going with Mandela. But now you got to be able to convince them why they should go with you. So this is not a cakewalk. This is not a done deal. In fact, there is nothing about what David Crawley is undertaking right now that is easy.

nothing. I still got phone call. Yeah. Okay. Let's bring up. Okay. Let's bring up a call. Yeah, we gotta take a break. I gotta take a break. My bad. I didn't I didn't catch the time. I apologize. Yeah. If you can hang in there with me, you'll be first up when we come back. But some of the stuff you gotta be saying, y'all, it has to be at Michelle

Hang in there, you'll be first up.

Hey, we back Okay, perfect Family so I made a major mistake. I said it has been crazy I actually had anticipated that I would be back in town this morning had scheduled this interview a couple of weeks ago ironically and Jermaine even had put in the chat or somebody put a chat Michelle do you ever guess this morning because I was also supposed to have versatility in this morning they Cancel and I was like no, I don't have a guess

I got a phone call like, uh, Francesca Hong is in the studio. I'm like, oh my God. Oh my God. So first of all, I'm happy to be here. I'll have to be back and we can not chat in person. Definitely, definitely. So let me say my apologies for not being in person. Thank you.

uh for being willing to go on with the interview uh in this capacity um and again this is completely totally coincidental because this was planned a while ago uh that we would get uh state representative francesca hung candidate for wisconsin governor in the building how are you doing this morning francesca i am doing all right staying hydrated happy to be in milwaukee again so i saw you bopping to the music too i was like okay

I was like, you know, to still have that kind of energy at this stage in the game, you got to be doing more than just good. So look, a lot of things have transpired. Yeah. A lot of things have transpired over the last several days since I've been out of town, the reentry of David Crawley into the race. If we're just a second, I do want to start there because I read the statements that were put out. I didn't see, and I gotta be honest, I didn't.

uh look statements from Kelda or from uh Joe Brennan but I did see yours and I saw Mandela's and the tack that you took in terms of basically a welcoming you know David back into the race uh let the ideas speak for themselves this is how democracy works and just kind of speak to that for me

I trust that David made this decision with his family and his community, and I think that a spirited primary is good for democracy. He is a trusted county executive, and we should be debating the ideas, the policies, and how we want to move Wisconsin forward. And so him coming back into the race, you know, that

doesn't change much for us in terms of continuing to push for the policies that we're advocating for on permanent affordability and focusing on a strong ground game and making sure that we're reaching voters in every corner of our state. Well, I'm going to tell you, when I moderated the panel over at Howard Fuller Academy or the school, you know, you had made a statement that we got 6,000 people on the ground. When I tell you like,

clearly as somebody who, you know, were behind the scenes in some kinds of races. And if that number was so impressive, it was just like a kick to the chest because you can, you can't, you can't find those kinds of numbers behind people. Um, and so just speak to.

Like the momentum of campaign because you've been the number one number two spot in terms of polling in terms of fundraising you've done very very well and particularly being a person of color Someone who folks have not traditionally seen in these roles being a woman. Can you speak to a little bit about the momentum? You've seen why folks are attractive We have to do

a good job of understanding the moment that we are in, where voters are at, what types of conversations are we having, how are people sharing, what are their sharing and that's what this campaign has always been about, meeting the moment with a movement and seeing the enthusiasm on the ground. I truly feel that our campaign has earned this excitement and it is

listening to people who are telling us that they are tired and frustrated of the status quo that the plays and the players and the playbook that we've been using in politics have gotten us here trying something new is sensible and practical right now and what we're offering is not that

radical. It's actually quite practical to fight to ensure that we have safer communities and streets, that our elders can age with dignity, that everyone has access to affordable health care, great schools, and that people can live a life of dignity in our state. That permanent affordability is treating housing, education, health care, and food as human rights and not as a benefit.

So to see the enthusiasm and joy and fun come into politics, that's part of resistance making too. And I think it's great to see the volunteers continue to grow and invest in this campaign in ways that's really building communities from repair cafes, potlucks and postcards to just having conversations with neighbors that maybe you haven't met with yet. This is

This is what we want to bring campaigns back to truly about the people building community as a way to build campaigns and build a better politics. So let's just tackle for a second that elephant in the room that were democratic social.

As people have tried to put for defined someone's, you know, political ideology or their campaign, we've heard that word be bandied about used almost as a weapon for folks in terms of helping every day was constantly the listeners to my show understand.

How does that lay to the way services are either delivered or what that means in terms of what is important? And you've listed a lot of those things already, but I just think that when folks hear that word and they look at what's happening on the national landscape, people get very concerned. So what would you say about that? I hear the word Democrat, Democratic, social. I mean, ultimately it's about

care. If you vote for my opponent, I still want you to have affordable health care. I still want you to have great schools and community centers in your community. I still will fight for you to make sure that you've got a living wage with good benefits and opportunity.

Democratic socialism is about democracy, human rights and fairness. That's why we talk about mega corporations and the ultra rich paying their fair share. They're paying, they're using the same roads. Firefighters and the emergency services are still going to them. I think that it is about having more control in the hands of working class people and centering care in every single policy and that the people's, you know, our tax dollars go

back to investing in the things that we need in our communities and not to pay for tax breaks and massive profits and greed. So, you know, frequently you all will get access to these questions, you know, some of these forums, these debates, biggest three issues for you. I know affordability, anybody that's listed, they hear that as well without doubt. But

you know, as governor, and I hate the day one question because the day one, I'm still trying to figure out, you know, the paperwork. So, you know, folks like day one, what are you going to do? I try not to ask a question that that to me, that's a deal is question. Priorities come to team is assembled, your cabinet is together. You know, what what are the things that you're like, OK, once we got everybody in place, folks are assembled. This is the direction we're going. What does that look like for you?

Well, I gotta say August 12th and November 4th were in transition and

victory mode we're getting ready to be ready on day one to make sure that we're heading into the budget process strong that we have standalone legislation ready that this includes common sense gun safety reform including background checks red flag laws and extreme risk protection orders in directing agencies to work on you know

preventing tax exemptions for data centers and emergency funding for things like childcare, education, and the Knowles Nelson Stewardship Program. But the top three priorities are the issues that where I think we can have the most comprehensive impact. And that's through shared revenue and funding local governments in affordable health care and increasing funding for public education. This is where I think that, you know, people in the two years that we have with the first date,

we need to pass the policies that are going to change the material conditions of people's lives. And when we fund and expand, not only badger care, but build in a public option and put expansion into rural health care initiatives, local clinics, public health, violence prevention, you know, a lot of these things are both funded through health care, but also at the local government level. And when we see the services that are most essential for people,

We're preventing them from getting cut. We're actually expanding them. I want to make sure cities like Milwaukee, Madison, our local towns, that everyone has what they need to be able to plow and pave the roads to invest in homelessness services. These are things that the state has been depriving our local governments of the funds that they need. I want to make sure that that's where we're putting our priority is where we can make sure people are feeling the impacts of government right away as a force of good.

so that we can continue to build power for Democrats because folks can point and say, hey, when Dems were in power, these are the things that actually changed. And I felt improve things in my life. So let me let me do this for a second. And I want to do two other questions because I know time is an issue. So I want to be respectful of time. But there was and this just for a moment takes just a little bit.

personal side, but I think it's talk about affordability that, you know, I actually weighed in on when the story broke about you having $30,000 in credit card debt. And, you know, there were some people that tried to turn this into whether or not this is a non-starter in terms of you being your leadership ability, blah, blah, blah. And, you know, and I kept telling people like for me,

this backfires because so many people in terms of affording housing, health care, being able to put kids through college.

Like you all, you're missing the boat. These are the things that people run into every day. This is not that out of the norm. And then I actually brought up Scott Walker and like, he had $50,000 on a Sears card. Who the hell own Sears, $50,000? So, I was just saying.

This is not a smoking gun, but this is my first time to talk to you publicly about it Could you could you take a second and just address that? The math is not mapping for personal finances for a lot of folks right now things are just too expensive But for my you know, it was an honest financial mistake

When it came to missing a deadline and I owned a business for seven years and running a restaurant You know super tight margins We had a pandemic that we tried to run through and I wanted to make sure that my employees and the restaurant our local vendors

I wanted to make sure that they were paid first. And so we took on additional debt. I took on personal debt during the pandemic for my business. And I wanna share folks that the debt was paid off. My parents took on an incredible sacrifice and it is something that I have worked out with them. But this is me as an everyday person. And it is not a reflection of

I think the shame is that we have a society right now where debt is so rampant and more people are putting their grocery bills on credit cards or just struggling to get by right now. And to shame folks that have to use credit, I want to change the system to make sure that's not a reality for folks. Permanent affordability is what we're building, which is why Wisconsin needs the universal policies we're fighting for when it comes to childcare, healthcare.

paid leave and living wages. Oh, and thank you. I deal with situations all the time in which, you know, people are paycheck away. You know, it's not even the paycheck. But even when the paycheck comes, I'm still in trouble.

I'm still behind. And so, like I said, I just was really offended when we're, like I said, I don't recall the term affordability ever being so prevalent in a campaign before, even though Trump, even his people realized it. They've given a little bit of lip service to it, not any.

solutions, but you know, it's been worked into campaign speeches and campaign rhetoric. So I just, I was just highly offended when the whole thing was presented in way. So the fact that you mentioned that your parents assisted you because there was even sinister things being said online about where did the money come from? It's like folks, I got people that love me. That's willing to step in and help me. So I appreciate that you said that.

At the end of either first year, first term, success look like for you as the governor of Wisconsin. Success looks like people seeing action and feeling hope. Success looks like the people of Wisconsin.

feeling actual relief and success looks like the people of Milwaukee succeeding in order for the rest of the state to succeed. I truly believe that it is Milwaukee and Milwaukee County. If we have done right by the people of Milwaukee, we will do right by the people of this state and you will see this entire state thrive. It's important to

It's important to prioritize resources and services in places that have been neglected where politicians have not shown up. Success looks like people seeing that their governor is not just a politician but an actual public servant committed to making sure that they work harder than anyone else in the state and that they love everybody in the state.

the stability has been tossed around. And folks have tried to figure out, you know, who they thought was electable. We've heard candidates in the race. To me, the inference has been that people of color, in some cases even women, not necessarily electable as a statewide race offering to me was one of the driving factors. Can you speak to this? And this is the last question.

this whole idea of electility, you know, there were folks that assumed that because candidates are of a certain race that, you know, black or automatically vote. I mean, I'm sorry, David or Mandela, people have talked about, you know, what are the relations between the Asian community and black folks. And so all those things kind of get rolled into one. Unfortunately, when we got to start talking about

what it looks like when people show up at the polls versus the policy side of this whole thing. There's that nuance that's out there, the background noise about who's electable and who will support who. Any thoughts on that? The person who is most electable is the person who wins the most votes. And I think that too often candidates campaigns underestimate our voters.

The people of Wisconsin, you know, they are hyper focusing on issues right now because of how real things are with their personal economy. And I think that the pitting

division, pitting communities against one another. We have seen this in politics over and over again. But the opportunity we have right now to come together as a coalition to build cross-racial solidarity is in making sure that we have a governor who is going to put everyday working class people first, not the special interests, not the industry lobby, and not the wealthiest donors. And I think that

We are seeing everyday folks who don't see themselves in the vision of a governor or a campaign come out and come through and the enthusiasm around feeling that somebody that is relatable that is like them is going to represent them. There's more power in that. I hope people look at the issues who is building the coalition and who is talking about who power answers to.

attaining the power of the governorship, I want to be able to share that power with the people. And I hope folks see that the issues that we are running on when it comes to housing, healthcare, childcare, data centers, taking a strong stance is putting people ahead of industry and of special interest. And so,

We are seeing this as an opportunity to build the coalition and we are showing it and I think that Electability is a tired excuse and argument that is being overplayed right now by establishment politicians

Well, look, I know that it is a busy next 22 days. Thank you so much for making time for us. I will definitely work to get you back on making the platform open to as many candidates that will come talk to us. We will definitely get each and every one of them in. For folks that want to know more about the campaign, they may have heard something they liked or they got additional questions. How do they reach you, Francesca?

Francesca Hong.com. You can check out our entire policy platform, everything from senior and veterans affairs to housing, public transportation, and follow us on socials at Francesca Hong WI.

And look, folks, I'm just going to say this. This is someone that I have had the ability to work with her team when I worked in the state capital. I've got to go to her restaurant. I have actually got to see her in action on the floor. And, you know, the same way I say that I think that Kelda Roy's is one just once incredibly smart woman, Francesca, blow the doors off, you know, just brilliant in.

both advocates and advocating you know so and I can talk about most of these candidates in a personal way and Francesca is no different I can talk about state representative Hong in a way that as a staffer and somebody in the Capitol I've had the ability to sit back and watch and you know a certain people if I'm going

So fight, I'm taking certain people with me. Folks, that's on that short list of folks I'm taking. So, Representative Hong, thank you so much. I appreciate you making time for us this morning. Tell your team, I said I appreciate them. And I will look forward to talking to you again soon. Michelle, thank you so much for having us. We can't wait to be back. All right, thank you. Let me take a quick break. I know I went over my time. Jay, can I take a break? You sure can.

All right, family, we'll be right back. Michelle Bryant, WNOV, 868-106.5 FM. Talk to you in a sec. All right, family, welcome back to the show. Let me thank State Representative

I'm Jessica Hong, candidate for Wisconsin governor for coming through the studio today. I'm telling y'all, I thought I was supposed to have an interview last Monday. I didn't put it in my phone correctly. And when it didn't happen last Monday, I was like, maybe I had the date wrong. So I just so appreciate her team not being. When they walked in like.

Where's and the idea that this all ended up being timed and who knew we would be having this conversation about DC? kind of executive Crawley on the you know on the other side of this whole thing. So let me just say this because There are a number of people who were wondering about this ballot situation and what can they do so

A decision has been made by the Wisconsin Election Commission regarding the ability to what they call informally spoil a ballot. But the idea that has early voting, not early voting, mail-in ballot starting. And I got my ballot and I voted for, let's just say, I don't know, what's the girl name? Miss Hughes.

And Miss Hughes resigned, I mean, pulls out a race already sent in the ballot. So now I need to vote for someone else. What can I do? So in Wisconsin, for years, we had a system where a voter could say, Hey, my candidate pulled out.

So something happened. You could do it up to three times and they would send you a ballot so you could spoil the one you had submitted. It had already turned in and get a new ballot and do it again. So a lawsuit was brought back in 2022. To say that this is illegal should be happening. A court ruling that said, yep, you're right. It is illegal.

And then that ruling got challenged. And another ruling was put out that said, no, it can happen. So this whole thing has kind of been in flux. Well, after

everything we see with the June 20th Hughes getting out of the race for governor July 8th David Crawley getting out of the race for governor on July 9th the Wisconsin Election Commission issued a statement that saying going forward no one would be able to spoil their ballot no one would be able to say hey my candidate got out my candidate got back in I want a new ballot so that I can vote

for that person. So there are some limited circumstances in which you could do this. If your ballot got damaged while you was at the house, your husband took coffee on it, the daughter, it hadn't been turned in yet. Then you could request a ballot to say, Hey, my ballot is here at the house. Some happened to it at the house and I need another ballot so I can cast a ballot. But if you say I already mailed in my ballot and

When I mailed it in, said Rodriguez was it, she's out. Now I want to vote for David Crawley, you cannot get a new ballot. Whoever you voted for, that's the vote that's going to stand. Also understand this though, for people who had not voted yet. All of those names were all it when the ballots were being printed. So David Crawley's name is still on the ballot.

Man, my ears are popping. David Crawley's name is still on the ballot. Miss Hughes's name is still on the ballot. Sarah Rodgers is his name. It's on the ballot. Voting yet. When you go to vote, or if you look at your absentee ballot, all those names are still there. When you go in person, all those names will still be on the ballot. So go ahead and vote for whoever you want to vote for. Just understand.

Missy Hughes and Sarah Roger Lee out of the race now. And I saw something in the journal Sentinel this morning in which they said that there were, you know, the people left in the race and they didn't mention David's name. And the story was dated July 20th, which I thought.

Kind of weird so you go back and make sure but yeah those names will all be on the ballot when you go in to vote You don't have to worry about people like do we have to do a writing campaign? You do not David's name is on the ballot. There is no need for a writing campaign Anyone you want to devote for of those? Original candidates their names are on go in check that and you should be okay and so

I think that in terms of that conversation, I'm just going to let that lie. But, but, but, but, but, but I don't, I don't know what to tell people because folks are like, Michelle, are you endorsing in this race? I am not.

And I typically don't, you know, usually know who I don't care for. I don't always say who I'm rolling with unless it's just like, you know, it's calmly. But in this race, I'm not, I'm not, I'm not weighing in. I'm just watching the process kind of play out. And that's for a variety of reasons. You know, and quite frankly, I do less of that more and more.

You know every cycle Because I just kind of believe that you know people should be able to to make up their own minds about who they support We're not I kind of believe I do believe that people should be able to make up their own minds. I understand How people can influence those things I think that we And we also need to do some work because I'm with come on y'all y'all got y'all gonna have to figure this out because if I'm not standing here what you doing?

you know, for me, it does come down to two candidates. I will be honest about that. It does come down to two candidates and we'll just see what these next two days bring. If there's a candidate that you believe in, that you are supporting, if you want these folks who now, you know, you're not just, I was voting for David Crawley, I'm trying to help him get across the finish line, then you better get busy because you got 22.

Days and I'm just me. I know folks who had gotten DC yard size it already thrown them away. They don't even have the yard size no more Because he had gotten out of the right some people in In the yard just in hopes like you can still go by some people's houses and cover Your size

couple here, couple here in size is still in their yard because people just like, no, no, no, no, this did not go this way. But if you, this, I just want to be clear too, this is a mess. It is, it is a mess. I disagree with folks who have characterized it in that way, but democracy is messy.

And there will be folks that will try to like all the Democrats on how they stuff together. And this is life. This is, you know, for all the folks that want to take shots and try to, you know, find fault with the party. Number one, what did I say when the New York Times called me about Mandela? And should he be in there? I would tell somebody you shouldn't be in the race. You get to do what you want to. If you feel like you want to serve, who the heck am I to tell somebody

No, you shouldn't you know what I say you can but is it a good idea? That that's the that's the struggle in the new house for me that everybody does not always get you can but is it a good idea? All right, so I understand we got a caller back on the line. Let's see if we can get them in Hey caller, what's that? Good morning, Michelle. Good morning Thank you

Who's running out there? Governor Sarah Rodriguez on the Democratic side of the aisle. She's still on the list. Running for that position. I mean, I said Sarah Rodriguez. Sarah Godluski is running for. Thank God, she's just sitting over there. She's like Godluski. But yeah, Sarah Godluski on the Democratic side. Will Martin, I know is running on the Republican side for Lieutenant Governor.

Okay, I don't know if there's anybody. What'd you say? This was said in the show before, right? Sarah got loose. She's the current secretary of state. Okay, because I was just saying who's running for that. I thought the other series still in the balance for that one.

No, if truth be told, because she she is really good too. She would have been a great contender for governor as well. I just hurts my soul that, you know, people just don't do what they up to. But she should have ran for governor too. Sometimes people maybe not want to put out on a plate, you know, the stress level. Now when the crowd jumped out, which I wasn't just looking at crowd to say no way, I don't look at people because they're a black candidate at all. I know young, whatever.

Um, I saw that Outline Areas made, I didn't want them in there. Um, but I was looking at and people talk about women, you know, um, Roy, and then I asked Roy somebody, um, Kelda Roy. Yeah, I was reading those people on your, um, show. So Kelda has been on my show. Uh, Kelda, uh, she was, uh, I think Kelda was a calling. Was Kelda calling?

I can't remember. I think Kelda called Dean, but I've had Kelda on the show. And I'm going to be honest, I have not had a ton of people on the show. DC's been on the show. Francesca just got on. Kelda's been on. I haven't had Missy Hughes. She had got out too soon before I had chance to talk to her. Joe Brennan, his team has never reached out to come on the show. Letter? Nope.

Mendele has reached out. They just haven't solidified a date, but they're welcome. Who Joe Brennan? Joe Brennan worked in the administration. Mendele works a little with his profile. He's probably hoping everybody jumps out so he can win this election too.

Yeah, people. But I like Francesca, her theme. A lot of people panic about socialists. It's like reading what, what's his name to run for president, and stuff about socialists and stuff. I don't know what that definition is. It's probably an old definition of people reading it to something wrong. But she said, I like how she speaks. Everybody are saying, trying to get to the same thing, tax of the liberal wage, you know? I don't know if we're going to be in a passive of the wage in Madison unless everybody's going for it.

And jobs are not paying seven dollars. Lisa, I was hurting by sneaking seven hours an hour, a young person or an old person. But I like her views. I looked up before, you know, not that I'm going to be voting for her per se. I don't have anyone in the game. You know why? I told somebody when everybody said they were running for office, they said, Captain, what do you think of so-and-so? I said, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

Okay, they got to get on the ballot first then I'll decide from there when everybody started jumping on the race I don't think I don't go out and tell people verbally. Oh, I'm gonna go with this person You know that person actually to help them out on the campaign I may decide from a do that, but I didn't have my hand up there saying I'm a vote for this person And I still don't because everything's going back and forth, you know, and I Like some of the other candidates on that like I know like he said Britain and reach out. I talked with somebody from and

So I'm going to speak to them again. And I'm going to say, hey, I need you to see if you can run through the black community. Maybe you don't want to probably still get its votes up in other parts of the county that don't look like us. And even Roy, I'm going to check out a couple of different people. I'm looking for some new ideas, some new faces. And I think people often tend to stay where they're at personally. That's just me. I think Roy is the stay where he's at personally for a while. And because we get elected in its first year.

And he's only running a lot of people because they get to keep their jobs. They weren't able to keep their job like Johnson, the mayor, they didn't know because Johnson first said when they first started talking about, I know he said he was going to run, but he figured out he couldn't keep their job if he didn't win. So I'm looking at those other three people I mentioned, I'm just looking at them.

And I know I'm just like you. People hear me at some time and they say, well, what do you think? They do the same thing. They say, I'm going for this person. They're going to go that way with some people because that's how people vote sometimes. Quite a bit of times, OK? They want to hear what other people's views are that they respect. And I'm looking at some other people. I think it will be a new day. I hope it will be. So fresh new ideas are out there.

I just think other people should get in, you know, be suggested, not just the person in office. And I think what's the name crawls to stay where he's at. He's a young man. If he wins for four years, he may not get in another four years. And you're not even in your 50s out looking for a job. A lot of these corporations are not even going to hire you. You know, you'll stay with it for a while. All right. Appreciate the call. Yeah.

Whatever people decide to do, like I said, do you stand, you know, what you think you're going to have is, you know, it's possible. And there are folks, again, I saw folks online who immediately said, oh, if it's Francesca Hong, you know, Tiffany has it in the bag. And the one thing I can honestly say is anybody has it.

in the bag. Wisconsin is too fickle. It is, it can go either way on this stuff. We have put Walker in, we have put Evers in. Excuse me, um, we'll put Walker

And Walker and Obama in that this stuff can go either way. It's about the work. Somebody had texted me earlier said it's also about who can get folks off the couch because there are those folks that are, you know, the Dahars, they don't show up regardless. But is there any candidate in the race that's turning out people that haven't traditionally been constant regular that.

you may have inspired, you may have spoken to that are going to get out of the house and come vote for you. The only other thing I'll say about this as I wrap the show for today is that it would be great to see diversity of any kind.

in the governor's residence, whether it is a person of color, whether it is a woman. You know, I did not like, I do not like the way that word electability is frequently used as a, as I said before, a weapon.

And it's directed at people of color, it's directed at women. It's a shield for some people's, you know, as far as I'm concerned, sometimes just a racism. And hiding behind that term, like I said, LaKisha did a great article about electability. Francesca even referenced it. When you vote for somebody, they electable, you know? Yeah, but can they get enough votes? If enough people show up, you can.

When folks are hot and heavy, like, what you gonna say? Y'all, I don't know what I'm gonna say. I'm just being honest. I don't know what to say. Because we need something different. We need some change. But people gotta be able to demonstrate that you think for yourself. You are your own person. I'm not saying that you don't listen to advisors, but people gotta be careful.

Because we have seen enough folks being led around by their nose, establishment people, status quo. People don't separate the puppeteers behind you. And then when decisions are being made, whose decisions are these really? This is a different moment right now for folks. And it's an uncomfortable moment. And people are going to be asking some uncomfortable questions. So I see people to understand.

Stand that I need people understand that out of this week. I'll be back tomorrow in the studio and We'll pick it up then so let me say to the bros. Hey fam. I appreciate y'all this morning What up slacker

Did you really? Did you really? Oh, we're working, you know, from home. Well, look at this. Look at this. Oh, how are you today, bro? How's it going? I'm getting better. I'm getting better. You still got that. I had to be a political analyst all weekend. I'll talk about that on my program.

Well, look, I can't wait to get back and talk to you about it tomorrow. I'm gonna get out your way. I'll be listening. Thank you, bros. I appreciate y'all family and the NAACP, the conventions in Chicago. Yes. That's crazy, man. Didn't they get the WNBA All Star Game weekend coming up? Yeah, they're doing the reception over at the Obama Center.

Yes, yes, we've been seeing them like and you know at first I didn't realize that the WNBA Championships and stuff was gonna be in town and we just see these tall people walking through the build the lobby like I'm so sorry I Gotta pack I gotta catch the train

of myself, staff and man

Hi, this is Overseer Michelle Pitts of Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church.

I would like to invite you to come out on Wednesday evenings every Wednesday evening.

We start with a scrumptious dinner that you don't want to miss from 5 to 5.45.

And then at 6 p.m.

till 7 p.m.

our Bible study starts and it ends by 7.

I don't want you to miss it every single Wednesday.

So be there in the house Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church located at 2505 West on Cornell for more information.

please call 414-442-4720.

Thank you for listening to the New Pits Mortuary's Morning Gospel Hour.

The New Pits Mortuary is dedicated to serve you.

Remember us in your time of need.

We can be reached at 414-447-6000.

We are more than a business.

We are a ministry.

860 AM 106.5 FM.

WNOV.

The Voice.

The views and opinions expressed on this show do not reflect that of the staff and management of WNOV and W293CX106.5 FM, Courier Communications, Milwaukee, but are the sole comments of the host and guest of this particular

show.

We're

in a state of emergency Unless a confusion The danger is great It's plain to see Desperate times call for desperate solutions Feel the love, yeah

Fear of pain, baby It's just an illusion We've been wrong, we've been right We've been rough, day and night Like soldiers in revolution We're like soldiers in revolution There's a war going on in here

Got a mind that's a better solution Just let it all in I'll say something real Say something real Hey, girl Say something real Won't you say something real, girl Say something real Do-do, do-do, baby Say something real

Say something real Say something real

Good morning.

Good morning.

What's happening family?

Welcome to the show.

It is Michelle Brian here at WNOV 860 AM 106.5 FM.

You are listening to say something real.

I'm just saying I can't leave town for five minutes.

Five minutes.

One, two, three, four, five.

I mean, literally, I lead town.

We got the smoke tearing up the city.

People can't breathe.

And then y'all have flipped the elections for governor on his head.

And I just want to say it's your fault.

This is craziness.

But we're going to see what we can do to talk about today.

First, my brother's in the building.

What's going on, Clark Kent?

Who you with?

Man, I don't know.

I thought I knew.

I have a ballot already for the government.

That was upside down.

So, yeah.

I

don't

know who I'm with.

How was your weekend, fam?

It was good.

The blue fest was nice.

It was off the changes.

And a lot of people that listen to this show finally got to see who I am.

So, they met me and they were like, we love y'all.

Y'all just so funny in the morning.

And they say, we're right out there.

I said, he's somewhere around here, you know, even though he wasn't around here.

Wait a minute.

Did he go

to a special place on the weekend?

They only live about what they do

Friday.

Did he just ask a question?

Who am

I?

They found out who I was, bro.

I'm just saying.

You're going to mess around and find out.

It was good.

It was it was a nice turn out.

Good.

I'm glad.

It was nice.

It was nice.

All right.

All right.

What about you right now?

How are you doing playing?

Well, sale outside of feeling like I smoke 10 cigarettes.

Die down and kick back up.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Um, however, it was crazy because

The air quality was just bananas, man.

It was it was at a 600 and they said that that was equivalent to the smoker 10 packs of cigarette at one time One time so that's how bad Super thing but other than that, you know through the all-shell I made it through now I've learned to lean and depend on the Lord.

Amen

Well, let

me just say quickly, folks know that listen to the show regularly may know that I'm still out of town.

I actually come back later today.

You can see

The beautiful hotel is behind Chicago.

The NAACP is holding their national convention here in Chicago.

Always ahead of the national convention is the National Axel Competition.

That's ACT-SO and it's an Afroacademic.

Technological is like some competition in which 33 categories of different activities that young people can compete in from around the country.

They come through and we bring some of our best and our brightest to compete here in the in the competition.

We brought from Milwaukee Dane County NAACP branch brought two children with them or students I should say young people because he's not babies there grades 9th grade through 12th grade and One of our students she had gone to visit her grandparents.

I Think it was intense and we even had some Milwaukee.

I'm sorry We flew her into Chicago.

So we'll get her back home today for the competition

None of our children walked away with a medal this year.

But I'm going to tell you, their performances were phenomenal.

Absolutely phenomenal.

I was super proud, as were the other advisors, Dr. Lukisha Myers, Laura, I can't remember Laura's last name, Adam Madison and Taylor.

Those are the co-chairs in Madison.

These young people.

They did a job, but I just want you to understand how thick the talent is.

Some of our kids literally blow you away.

And they did everything from architecture to a number of math and STEM projects.

This one little girl, she designed a temporary shelter and a rehab facility that was connected

and talked about how you go from one service immediately to the other so that there's not this, you know, back and forth to try to find some place.

And I mean, like you just transitioned out of one program into the work that they did, the ideas that these young people had when you hear all these crazy stories.

you know, record striving kids, they street takeovers, just be encouraged that there are a group of students that are doing the thing, that's on top of the business.

We were in one of our students, we had two students compete in the classical music categories.

One was a violinist, the other one is a classical singer.

And there was another young brother who was a classical violinist.

So our kids ended up and they were cheering for each other.

These kids were rooting for other kids that they had met from other places to win.

They supported one another.

And in our group chat, one of the first things that stood out is when we didn't have kids in certain categories, all the kids as opposed to being upset or defeated or angry, the kids was like, that's all right.

I'll be at them next year.

I mean, it just, it just did be all the good in the world.

We did have one of our students who actually participated in the program.

She was a speaker.

And the thing, like most of the time when a kid came out, they said, you know, this is Michelle Bryant representing the Milwaukee Alumni Chapter.

For whatever odd reason, when our student and this other young man came out together, they didn't announce which branch they were from.

So we have Milwaukee branch members who are here for the convention.

And we had to tell them, like, no, that was our student that was up on the stage.

This is the young sister we flew in.

She was phenomenal.

I'm just so proud of them.

So we have had a great time.

The kids went over to the Disciple Museum.

They were blown away to find out that the city of Chicago was actually a black man, hence the name Disciple.

Museum.

So they were tripping off that.

Kids that were very in tune to the history, they asked questions.

There's a Harold Washington exhibit in the library, I mean in the museum that blew everybody away because it's a life-size figure of Harold Washington who's sitting at his desk and he's actually narrating his own story.

It's animated.

figure of Harold Washington and like the whole thing is crazy.

If you've never gone to the Disciple Museum and seen the Harold Washington exhibit, Harold Washington, first African of Chicago, who I think if I remember correctly, died six months after being elected to office.

He had a heart attack at his desk.

You have got to go see that.

Then we took him over to the Obama Museum.

We weren't able to get the tickets to get

up on the, you know, additional floors of the museum, but we had lunch at the museum.

They walked the grounds.

They went to go visit where Michelle Obama's garden was.

The basketball court stuff, where Barack Mim had put all that in.

They walked all up through there.

So they've gone to the thrift stores.

We got kids who like thrifting.

They've done the thrift stores.

So it has been a really good experience for our young

So we will continue to do more work, bring more students.

And when I tell y'all, there are some NAACP chapters, they show up 15 and 20 children deep, young people deep.

You hear me?

New York was crazy.

New Orleans crazy.

Altadena where they had the huge fires.

They kids came in like they was on a vengeance like every adversity we have been through in Altadena.

Yeah, we make it up here at this competition.

But the young people just they just blew everybody away.

And you can actually see the Instagram on their website.

It's on YouTube.

There were some people that were able to watch live on Sunday morning.

So I just will tell you, please take an opportunity to see what the whole thing was about.

That was impressive.

So let me get to the guy everybody buzzing this morning.

When I say my phone was on 10.

The whole time.

I have been here, I have had a ton of conversations, you know, what's going on, you know, like some people strictly calling from the book perspective, you know, what happens to ballots.

And so let me just frame this out.

I am talking about the fact that there was a major shakeup since I've been away.

The Lieutenant Governor, Sarah Rodriguez,

We drew from the race for in the upcoming August primary, heading into the November 3rd election.

She withdrew from the race and.

County executive David Crawley, who had suspended his campaign back on July 8th.

He.

We entered the race.

There had been looms, we call them trial balloons that were being sent up, kind of hinting that he might get back into the race.

I talked about it a little bit before I left town last week.

I think even my brother hit me up on text messages laughing to my BB King, because I said, you might have made your move too soon in terms of coming out of the race.

David Crawley got back into the race.

And, you know, so now there's a lot of people trying to figure out legitimately from the voting side of this whole thing.

Because, you know, when we have these Congress outlets, you could change your ballot.

If you, your candidate got out of the race and now what's going on with that.

So we got to break down a lot of different aspects of this conversation in this moment and what's happening.

people calling to say, Michelle, what do you think about this?

You know, like there are tons and tons of questions.

People have called this process chaotic, confusing, frustrating.

Some people feel like it is an automatic, you know, win for Tom Tiffany because we will be.

fractured as a democratic how we move forward.

So there are tons of things that have to be talked about and discussed in the coming days, but today is the 20th and there are 31 days in.

So let me do this.

Today is the 20th.

There are 31 days.

So that's 11 days left in July and then the election.

Sorry, the primary 11 so we're talking what 22 days we're talking about 22 days and So I guess let's start With my things

Because Sarah Rodriguez had been typically seen as a front runner, somewhere in the top three, generally, as people looked at some of these polls, again, I only put so much stock in the polls, kept trying to figure out where they were being done, who they were talking to.

I also thought that David was a little bit higher than he was coming in, but polls be what they may.

She had been someone that had been seen as having momentum in terms of then reported campaign finance numbers.

She seems like one of the people to catch in terms of the money.

Francesca Hong has consistently been out, you know, front on raising dollars.

So all of this is going on in the back, you know, obviously that the campaign manager has not entered this finance information.

correctly.

It's been over in Fowler's and as opposed to having, you know, hundreds of thousands of dollars on hand.

She has about 34,000 dollars on hand.

There was this brief window.

It was referenced on social media right after that finance report came out and the big hoop lock came.

to public light about what was going on with Rodney, that $600,000 had been poured into her campaign.

And Jacobs, who's over with the Wisconsin Election Commission, and a supporter of Rodriguez, she had indicated, you know, like, yeah, y'all need to slow y'all roll, talk what you know about what you think.

It was kind of jacked quite frankly.

Sarah Rodriguez had, you know, had this influx of dollars come in, $600,000 or something.

hours.

I want to watch some of our kids in their competitions.

Then when I come back, you know, I realize that okay, she's now gotten out of the rest.

So first of all is I'm waiting to see what all the actual

if we ever get to the truth of it, what all the actual fallout and everything that actually happened during her race.

Because we are so busy and caught up now in, you know, where do we go from here?

DC's announcement to get back in, you know, these brother now in terms of the black community, like all of these things are happening, but over here, people may look away from the Rodriguez campaign to find out exactly what happened.

Because if these were just

technical errors, you can update your finance report.

So what actually went on over there?

I'm not done asking those questions and we'll see.

We'll see how much information ever becomes public or how well some of these reporters that are out here dogging people's footsteps if they continue to get at Sarah.

Rodriguez and her team know, okay, we know you fired the woman, but what actually went on?

Because all we heard is, you know, major mismanagement.

What does that mean?

So that's another question that's off to the side, but put them away.

And now let's deal with what we have in front of us.

David Crawley, I'm sure has a number of people reaching out to him.

after Rodriguez falls, and I'm sure he probably knew before the public knew that she was going to get out the race.

If things went the way they were supposed to, if courtesies were extended, particularly because she had received his endorsement when he pulled out on July 8th, even Missy Hughes had received her endorsement.

Missy Hughes pulls out in June 22nd or something like that.

So just a courtesy.

given David's high profile as a county executive, you know, the fact that he was in the time that she was going to be making the announcement that she was getting out of the race.

I assume, don't mean I'm right, but if you did things in order, he should have known.

So then the folks around him have got to get in a fear about what does this mean?

You know, that program, really?

But on the other hand, maybe we need to have a conversation.

Is this viable for him to get back in the race?

Because he suspended his race.

He did not end his race.

And there are technical things that you say and do that open for you to return to the race if it's necessary, or if you feel like something changes.

So we got to take a break.

But when we come back, let's talk about how David is able to then revitalize his race.

And now what all of that means, particularly if you voted for him, then requested a ballot to spoil your ballot so that you can now vote for someone else.

And you haven't sent that ballot back in yet.

And now he's back on the ballot.

Let's take a few minutes this morning and break some of this stuff down.

And just know, Mark Thompson that comes on my show for the Scales of Justice, attorney Mark Thompson, he's actually on the Wisconsin Election Commission.

So we have someone who is a regular on our show who has been making some of the decisions about those very ballots and whether or not you get to cast them, not

You know, we, we, we vote.

If your candidate drops out, he, he's somebody that's at the table helping to make those decisions.

So Jay, can I take my first break?

Yes, ma'am.

All right.

So family, stay with me.

We got a lot to cover this morning.

Michelle Brine, WNOV, 860 AM.

I'll be back.

All right, family, welcome back to the show.

For folks that are on YouTube and Facebook, first of all, let me say good morning to you.

I'm so sorry that you have to see Jermaine and whatever it is supposed to be.

That's called early morning

juice.

Early morning juice.

I just can't say it on the air, but there is a name for it.

Welcome back.

Welcome back to the show.

Before we went to the break, started to talk about, you know, this major shakeup in the Democratic side of the primary leading up the election for governor.

And there are other things on the ballot.

Trust me.

We need to talk about, I mean, you need to go view our dog gov.

So you can see everything that you are voting on.

If you are not one of those people that requested an early ballot.

But as I said before, I want you to break.

The Crawley team makes a disease.

Folks were reaching out, asking me what I thought about it.

You know, I haven't weighed in a lot.

You know, because on one hand, I kind of laugh like, who care?

Who care what Michelle is saying about this?

Because at the end of the day,

I'm going to ask a question.

Of course, a lot of people will ask behind the scenes, you know, questions like how many early ballots have already been cast, early votes have already been cast.

That's our JR Ross had did a column that said roughly about almost 70,000 early ballots had already been cast.

Reforges the race other questions.

I'm asking is in the short amount of time, you know, what's necessary?

People wise staff wise money wise to be able to compete, you know, will there be an influx of money into his campaign because this gets This this whole shape

money, media, advertising.

I mean, this is statewide news.

In some cases, it even made national news.

So the name ID goes through the roof because who is this guy that, you know, got into the race, got out the race or endorse somebody.

So it is a media gold mine in terms of lifting name ID.

to the point that people will now like go to the website, get more information about them because there was a poll that was done by Marquette back in March that said that 65% of Wisconsin voters were undecided about who they were going to support in the upcoming governor's race.

I can certainly understand why the Crawley campaign may feel like, you know, we could seize on this moment.

We might be able to rally the troops.

If, you know, Rodriguez's race may supporters will, you know, come on over to the Crawley side of the ticket.

One of the things I will tell people do not sleep on Francesca Hong.

She has been steady and consistent in terms of building.

building support in terms of building.

And in terms of she has represented again, I take polls with a grain of salt, but she has been consistent and there have been a lot of black folks that have said that they had planned to vote for Francesca, particularly after Crawley got out of the race.

Okay.

So let's talk about, you know, is what this looks like.

how this goes.

First and foremost, let me just say this, it is kind of frustrating to me to watch now this huge momentum, everybody behind Crawley, you know, into the city, because when he ran, I mean, when he was in the race the first time, where the hell was all y'all at?

All these phone calls being made on his behalf, you know, people want to do rallies and everybody running to, where was y'all at the first time?

I'm serious.

The first, first leg when Crawley was in the race, all of this hoopla and momentum and, you know, get behind DC, I say DC, I didn't see none of that.

I didn't.

So some of y'all some fair weather people, fair weather Negroes, opportunities, whatever that.

When this campaign needed money, when this campaign needed those, you know, foot soldiers, volunteers, people on the ground, a lot of you Negroes, and a lot of you white folks, and a lot of all your people jumping on the bandwagon, wouldn't know where to be seen because you was cold on your cars close to the vest.

You was trying to figure, so I just want to say that part first, that that irritates me.

because now I'm getting phone calls from people.

Ain't nobody called when the boy first got in the race.

Now you're by calling, what do we do?

So I just want to say, and hopefully to David Crawley, you understand everybody's not trying and I know you don't have to get that advice, but I'm going to say it on the air because I want people to understand who are paying attention to this now, including some of the folks listening to this show that, you know, people kill me.

Because everybody love an underdog.

Everybody love, you know, oh, the possibility and how we want to run somebody's campaign.

But when the initial work could have been done out the gate, you may grow.

So I'm just going to say that.

I'm just going to say that and move on.

So then, you know, the other thing that happens in this race is Governor Evers and

He had for a while to sit on the fence, stay out of it.

Because you got two, one current lieutenant governor, one former lieutenant governor, you got the county executive.

These are people he's all had relationships with.

You got the senator, you know, members of his that or his administration.

I should say that are in the race.

So it's like a lot of people, all of these people that were in the races directly had ties to Governor Evers.

So Tony sat on the fence.

He's like, hey, I ain't endorsing.

When all of the shakeup happens, then there is a push and I'm sure people pressed him to

come and make a, now I'm going to just tell you, behind the scenes, a lot of people had already been saying that Tony Ivers was not rocking with Mandela and Tony Ivers was not rocking with Sarah Rodriguez.

That was already being talked about behind the scenes.

But the diplomatic person, he had just kind of sat on the fence.

He was not going to get in it, not going to put his thumb on the scale.

He just stayed out of it.

With his current lieutenant governor getting out of the race,

Maybe he felt, you know, a little bit more comfortable than to try to go ahead to put his support behind where a lot of people kind of felt like he probably supported DC the most anyway, David Crawley the most anyway.

And so while he is in Africa on a trade trip, he, you know, drops this endorsement for David Crawley.

So you got to figure out what half to what kind of carry, but it's a heck of a statement.

that the governor who first, you know, gets elected with Mandela does not endorse Mandela.

I think it supports a lot of the stuff that I have said and think about Mandela in terms of work, in terms of, in terms of, you know, being somebody that can help you get things done and accomplished.

It is interesting to me that the guy, and I'm saying right now, Mandela.

Yeah, you got to be feeling like white pimp slap this morning, you know, or Saturday when the endorsement comes out that your boy ain't got none for you publicly, because you knew it privately.

You knew it privately, but publicly, not a whole world know your boy ain't messing with you.

Okay, so it's like that.

I'm joking.

What do you think about that?

But okay, let me, let me not be messy.

Let me keep moving and so, you know DC Now we'll see if there's an influx of money, you know, because he and let's be clear in January Those numbers come out his fundraising was on par with everybody else it trails off a bit as we move through the year So now I'm sure with three

reentry into the race, you know, there's a sense of energy, people feel like, you know, this can happen, that some additional dollars are going to come in to be able to get him on TV, to get him, you know, radio, TV, whatever your profile case for why you should be elected.

So how have other candidates got to be feeling right now?

I only saw two statements.

I haven't seen one from Kelda Roy's, nor have I seen one from Joe Brennan.

But I've seen the statement from Francesca Hall, from Mandela Barnes on day three entry.

And let me just tell you once again, I really don't know who the.

These people are, that Mandela keeps putting, but they're idiots.

Which then makes me question the, you know, the thinking of the candidate.

Cause you keep putting a bunch of white boy idiots around you.

I'm sorry.

I'm just, Francesca Hong's statement.

Well, wait, let's do it this way first Mandela statement.

I'm a paraphrase.

I don't have it in front of me But you know the gist of it it was put out by his campaign manager Brody, I think his name and it was a hard, you know kind of jab to

to David You know it talked about like you like this is a Hail Mary.

I don't know why basically you get back in the race you had only been polling at like 3% and All of the polls, you know, this is ridiculous like that's the gist of it like they just came real nasty real and let me be clear though They didn't necessarily say anything that was not factual

But as the old folks say, it's not what you say, it's how you say it.

And so it had an edge to it.

It had a frustrated edge to it.

And it didn't have a tone of leadership, okay?

Francesca Hong's statement, Francesca says, um, yeah.

I want to welcome Dave back into the, welcome the debate, you know, we want to make sure that we get, and I'm paraphrasing, but this isn't just of it.

We want to, you know, get in front of Wisconsin voters, you know, present our ideas.

Basically, we're going to let the voters decide, but, you know, hey, it works.

This is what this is supposed to look like.

That's her response.

So her response is measured.

It shows leadership.

It shows graciousness.

It shows professionalism.

And I don't have to, like, beat you up because pundits, talkers, the people who think they know, they're going to weigh in.

They will do your dirty work for you.

I see we got callers, and I also got to go to a break, though.

But they're going to do your dirty work for you.

You don't have to be the one to face Mandela If it's people that want to question if this is a dumb move smart move You know a Hail Mary let other folks do that you keep your head down a bra welcome back to the race.

Let's

Everybody keep doing that thing and keep more like gotta go to break but see this is that moment that shows you Mandela's weaknesses because when everybody was clear in the field for him and weighing in for him in that US Senate race, he was cool.

He was cool with calling people and people to pressure race.

This time because he and his him and Francesca the top folks in the race, maybe Sarah Rodriguez, but it's different when the shoe was on the other foot.

It's different.

So you're feeling the heat of Crawley getting back in the race.

But instead of being gracious and being a leader and being strategic, you might manager, come out the block.

Being nasty, divisive.

When you didn't need to.

Francesca Holmes response, Mandela's response.

ship, spoil brat baby crying cause now you got some competition or some additional competition.

I need to take a break.

Jay, can I take my break?

Yes, ma'am.

Michelle, Brian, y'all WNOV a 60 a year one on 6.5 FM.

I'll be right back.

All right, family.

All right, family, welcome back.

Jay, just so you know, when you put your hands up to give me my countdown, it's out.

Oh, is it?

Yeah.

So.

Shaba.

There's no love up there.

Shaba.

I can't stand you.

I can't stand you.

I remember you had a

blue-leg camera man, though.

about some of this stuff and I'm going to stop.

But let me slow down for just a quick second and just bring the bros in.

I know you said we got phone calls too.

But y'all heard it just like everybody else heard it.

What was your reaction, Jay, when you heard?

I was quite stunned.

DC was back

raised.

I was quite stunned.

When I heard it, my exact words was,

Can I say it?

I said, boy, Michelle got that, as Dr. Ward would say, that good pulling power.

And I just fell out of my bed.

I said, damn, Michelle.

Damn, Michelle.

Because I had talked about it a number of people, like, I don't put this on me.

I just asked some questions because I never thought that David should have got out of the race.

firm believer of you know because I think that he brought something to the race you know and so uh I just don't after the Donald Trump races I know that there is a lot of good value that comes with certain certain polls but I also know

The trick you to you know, tell you one thing do something different So I just I wasn't and I just don't like you know, I don't believe it's saying in the race to a point where they no longer make sense But I just wasn't sure in David's race that it didn't Make sense even though, you know, this is what the poll says so

That was something that stood out for me.

Clark on my next breakout circle, back to see what you thought as well.

I know I

got a couple of callers, but again, before we went to the break, I'm just gonna say, I have learned that, you know, I say things that are unpopular often, or I ask questions that people would prefer that I not ask.

You know, I push, you know, for things that may not,

be within the realm of what other folks are willing to give or willing to do.

But it's always done at the idea that I want to make sure that our community has what we need to make the best decisions and move forward in a way that will help us collectively as a community.

So with that being said, I'm just going to say,

I don't hear how I try to make it.

I'm just not a Mandela fan, not in terms of him as a man and an individual, but politics and the way, you know, he has chosen to surround himself with people who do not get it a lot of times.

And yep, I know people will say, yeah, but he came within 1% around Johnson.

One of the things I have to tell people to remind folks all the time, this is a 50-50 state.

They don't call us a purple state, a swing state for no reason.

So any Democrat running against Ron Johnson was going to come close because this is a close state and people keep attributing that to it was something magical about this brother and the way he ran his campaign.

It wasn't that to me.

It's the fact that this is a deeply divided state, but in terms of some of our politics, but

on on statewide races, on national races, we can swing either way.

And so how do you to, you know, political prowess and strategic, you know, mastery, you know, when the race is real close versus this just the way it would have fell out.

Because we got a pretty evenly split Democrat versus Republican, those independent

that can help, you know, fill out aisle in terms of results.

But I just continue to be disappointed.

You know, when I read the statement from his campaign, I'm like, come on, y'all.

And now I'm looking at this just as an observer.

No horse in the race, you know, not cheering one candidate to just looking at it just as an observer.

And I literally went, unforced error, dumb.

Petty nasty small People will point out all and again, I was saying on what I said.

It wasn't that anything that they said in their Press release is not true DC had not been told polling in double digits in Any of the polls really that people had looked at that this is a long shot because I want people to understand that this is a long shot

This is a long shot now.

He's gonna have more momentum and win Underneath his wings then he has you know previously Again the name recognition goes through the roof because of this whole you know debacle With Rodriguez and him getting in getting out I'm gonna talk about the other candidates, but No, you you you class and

leadership you know people I need to hit hard or say something you know that's sharp you just didn't have to do it and this is why I question your ability and Della's ability to lead because you read the wrong you got a whole bunch of black folks cheering for DC right now you let this white campaign manager put out a statement for you in which you try to punch him in the face

Embarrassing like that.

That's the black folks.

I don't care what you do for the rest of the state You gotta take into consideration, but don't get me wrong DC definitely got his naysayers Because there are folks that are saying that phrase flip-flopper you was in and he was out bruh You you voted for this chick and then she and you told everybody she was the best person and then she ended up maybe not being the best person but wait

not because of anything she did, but because of what her campaign manager did.

But if your name is on the door, then it's you.

You see it?

And then I like to think of was Keon.

Keon used to always say on my show, who is the puppet master?

Who's calling the shots?

Who's getting people to do certain things?

So.

If I'm having a Keon moment slash Michelle moment, you make the decision to get in the race in the first place.

Okay.

Now I'm gonna see you right now.

It's in the first place.

Hey, I've done well as county exec.

I really think I can pull this off.

I think the money and the momentum will come.

Okay.

Then you make, no, I don't have a guess.

Then you make the decision to get out of the race.

You get out and you don't just get out you do an endorsement and As far as a lot of people is concerned and unlikely endorsement because as I said I think it was a need to do an endorsement at all But you're doing endorsements and then you tell people that this chick is the best person left in the race Now that you out hmm, she wasn't but okay, so again now I got a question judgment then

She herself fold and it's like, okay, I get back in the race.

Who's pushing that race?

So don't get me wrong.

All of this is not a love fest for David Crawley.

There are folks that are not not riding with this.

Don't support it.

Don't like it.

because it seems indecisive.

I'm supporting somebody who ends up being jacked up, you know, blah, blah, blah.

So he got some trust issues that he gonna have to, you know, address with the community.

And it's not gonna be just because, oh yay, DC, my boy.

Everybody not gonna do that.

There's a lot of people that, they was excited and happy.

My man back in, yes, let's do this.

But they was riding with him.

from day one.

But it's other people that were sitting on the fence or they with, you know, I haven't voted yet, but I think I'm going with Francesca or, you know, going with Mandela.

But now you got to be able to convince them why they should go with you.

So this is not a cakewalk.

This is not a done deal.

In fact, there is nothing about what David Crawley is undertaking right now that is easy.

Nothing.

I still got phone

call.

Yeah.

Okay.

Let's bring it.

Okay.

Let's bring up a call.

Yeah, we gotta take a break.

I gotta take a break.

My

bad.

I didn't, I didn't catch the time.

I apologize.

Yeah.

If you

can hang in there with me, you'll be first up when we come back.

But some of the stuff you gotta be saying, y'all, it has to be at Michelle Brown WNOV a 60 a.m.

on a 6.5 FM.

Hang in there.

You'll be first up.

Hey,

we back Okay, perfect Family so I made a major mistake.

I said it has been crazy I actually had anticipated that I would be back in town this morning had scheduled this interview a couple of weeks ago ironically and Jermaine even had put in the chat or somebody put a chat Michelle do you ever guess this morning because I was also supposed to have versatility in this morning they Cancel and I was like no, I don't have a guess

I got a phone call like, uh, Francesca Hong is in the studio.

I'm like, oh my God.

Oh my God.

So first

of all, I'm happy to be here.

I'll have to be back and we can not chat in person.

Definitely, definitely.

So let me say my apologies for not being in person.

Thank you.

uh for being willing to go on with the interview uh in this capacity um and again this is completely totally coincidental because this was planned a while ago uh that we would get uh state representative francesca hung candidate for wisconsin governor in the building how are you doing this morning francesca

i am doing all right staying hydrated happy to be in milwaukee again so

i saw you bopping to the music too i was like okay

I was like, you know, to still have that kind of energy at this stage in the game, you got to be doing more than just good.

So look, a lot of things have

transpired.

Yeah.

A lot of things have transpired over the last several days since I've been out of town, the reentry of David Crawley into the race.

If we're just a second, I do want to start there because I read the statements that were put out.

I didn't see, and I gotta be honest, I didn't.

uh look statements from Kelda or from uh Joe Brennan but I did see yours and I saw Mandela's and the tack that you took in terms of basically a welcoming you know David back into the race uh let the ideas speak for themselves this is how democracy works and just kind of speak to that for me

I trust that David made this decision with his family and his community, and I think that a spirited primary is good for democracy.

He is a trusted county executive, and we should be debating the ideas, the policies, and how we want to move Wisconsin forward.

And so him coming back into the race, you know, that

doesn't change much for us in terms of continuing to push for the policies that we're advocating for on permanent affordability and focusing on a strong ground game and making sure that we're reaching voters in every corner of our state.

Well, I'm going to tell you, when I moderated the panel over at Howard Fuller Academy or the school, you know, you had made a statement that we got 6,000 people on the ground.

When I tell you like,

clearly as somebody who, you know, were behind the scenes in some kinds of races.

And if that number was so impressive, it was just like a kick to the chest because you can, you can't, you can't find those kinds of numbers behind people.

Um, and so just speak to.

Like the momentum of campaign because you've been the number one number two spot in terms of polling in terms of fundraising you've done very very well and particularly being a person of color Someone who folks have not traditionally seen in these roles being a woman.

Can you speak to a little bit about the momentum?

You've seen why folks are attractive

We have to do

a good job of understanding the moment that we are in, where voters are at, what types of conversations are we having, how are people sharing, what are their sharing and that's what this campaign has always been about, meeting the moment with a movement and seeing the enthusiasm on the ground.

I truly feel that our campaign has earned this excitement and it is

listening to people who are telling us that they are tired and frustrated of the status quo that the plays and the players and the playbook that we've been using in politics have gotten us here trying something new is sensible and practical right now and what we're offering is not that

radical.

It's actually quite practical to fight to ensure that we have safer communities and streets, that our elders can age with dignity, that everyone has access to affordable health care, great schools, and that people can live a life of dignity in our state.

That permanent affordability is treating housing, education, health care, and food as human rights and not as a benefit.

So to see the enthusiasm and joy and fun come into politics, that's part of resistance making too.

And I think it's great to see the volunteers continue to grow and invest in this campaign in ways that's really building communities from repair cafes, potlucks and postcards to just having conversations with neighbors that maybe you haven't met with yet.

This is

This is what we want to bring campaigns back to truly about the people building community as a way to build campaigns and build a better politics.

So let's just tackle for a second that elephant in the room that were democratic social.

as people have tried to put for defying someone's political ideology or their campaign, we've heard that word be bandied about, used almost as a weapon for folks.

In terms of helping every day, Wisconsinites, the listeners to my show understand.

How does that lay to the way services are either delivered or what that means in terms of what is important?

And you've listed a lot of those things already, but I just think that when folks hear that word and they look at what's happening on the national landscape, people get very concerned.

So what would you say about that?

I hear the word Democrat, Democratic, social.

I mean, ultimately it's about

care.

If you vote for my opponent, I still want you to have affordable health care.

I still want you to have great schools and community centers in your community.

I still will fight for you to make sure that you've got a living wage with good benefits and opportunity.

Democratic socialism is about democracy, human rights, and fairness.

That's why we talk about mega corporations and the ultra rich paying their fair share.

They're paying, they're using the same roads.

Firefighters and the emergency services are still going to them.

I think that it is about having more control in the hands of working class people and centering care in every single policy and that the people's, you know, our tax dollars go

back to investing in the things that we need in our communities and not to pay for tax breaks and massive profits and greed.

So, you know, frequently you all will get access to these questions, you know, some of these forums, these debates, biggest three issues for you.

I know affordability, anybody that's listed, they hear that as well without doubt.

But

you know, as governor, and I hate the day one question because the day one, I'm still trying to figure out, you know, the paperwork.

So, you know, folks like day one, what are you going to do?

I try not to ask a question that that to me, that's a deal is question.

The priorities come team is assembled, your cabinet is together.

You know, what what are the things that you're like, OK, once we got everybody in place, folks are assembled.

This is the direction we're going.

What does that look like for you?

Well, I gotta say August 12th and November 4th were in transition and

victory mode we're getting ready to be ready on day one to make sure that we're heading into the budget process strong that we have standalone legislation ready that this includes common sense gun safety reform including background checks red flag laws and extreme risk protection orders in directing agencies to work on you know

preventing tax exemptions for data centers and emergency funding for things like childcare, education, and the Knowles Nelson Stewardship Program.

But the top three priorities are the issues that where I think we can have the most comprehensive impact.

And that's through shared revenue and funding local governments in affordable health care and increasing funding for public education.

This is where I think that, you know, people in the two years that we have with the first date,

budget, we need to pass the policies that are going to change the material conditions of people's lives.

And when we fund and expand not only badger care, but build in a public option and put expansion into rural health care initiatives, local clinics, public health, violence prevention, you know, a lot of these things are both funded through health care, but also at the local government level.

And when we see the services that are most essential for people,

We're preventing them from getting cut.

We're actually expanding them.

I want to make sure cities like Milwaukee, Madison, our local towns, that everyone has what they need to be able to plow and pave the roads to invest in homelessness services.

These are things that the state has been depriving our local governments of the funds that they need.

I want to make sure that that's where we're putting our priority is where we can make sure people are feeling the impacts of government right away as a force of good.

so that we can continue to build power for Democrats because folks can point and say, hey, when Dems were in power, these are the things that actually changed.

And I felt improve things in my life.

So let me let me do this for a second.

And I want to do two other questions because I know time is an issue.

So I want to be respectful of time.

But there was and this just for a moment takes just a little bit.

personal side, but I think it's talk about affordability that, you know, I actually weighed in on when the story broke about you having $30,000 in credit card debt.

And, you know, there were some people that tried to turn this into whether or not this is a non-starter in terms of you being your leadership ability, blah, blah, blah.

And, you know, and I kept telling people like, for me,

this backfires because so many people in terms of affording housing, health care, being able to put kids through college.

Like, you all, you're missing the boat.

These are the things that people run into every day.

This is not that out of the norm.

And then I actually brought up Scott Walker and like, he had $50,000 on a Sears card.

Who the hell owns Sears?

$50,000.

So, I was just saying.

This is not a smoking gun, but this is my first time to talk to you publicly about it Could you could you take a second and just address that?

The math is not mapping for personal finances for a lot of folks right now things are just too expensive But for my you know, it was an honest financial mistake

When it came to missing a deadline and I owned a business for seven years and running a restaurant You know super tight margins We had a pandemic that we tried to run through and I wanted to make sure that my employees and the restaurant our local vendors

I wanted to make sure that they were paid first.

And so we took on additional debt.

I took on personal debt during the pandemic for my business.

And I wanna share folks that the debt was paid off.

My parents took on an incredible sacrifice and it is something that I have worked out with them.

But this is me as an everyday person.

And it is not a reflection of

I think the shame is that we have a society right now where debt is so rampant and more people are putting their grocery bills on credit cards or just struggling to get by right now.

And to shame folks that have to use credit, I want to change the system to make sure that's not a reality for folks.

Permanent affordability is what we're building, which is why Wisconsin needs the universal policies we're fighting for when it comes to childcare, healthcare.

paid leave and living wages.

Oh, and thank you.

I deal with situations all the time in which, you know, people are paycheck away.

You know, it's not even the paycheck.

But even when the paycheck comes, I'm still in trouble.

I'm still behind.

And so, like I said, I just was really offended when we're, like I said, I don't recall the term affordability ever being so prevalent in a campaign before.

Even though Trump, even his people realized it.

They've given a little bit of lip service to it, not any.

solutions, but you know, it's been worked into campaign speeches and campaign rhetoric.

So I just, I was just highly offended when the whole thing was presented in way.

So the fact that you mentioned that your parents assisted you because there was even sinister things being said online about, well, where did the money come from?

It's like folks, I got people that love me.

That's willing to step in and help me.

So I appreciate that you said that.

At the end of either first year, first term, success look like for you as the governor of Wisconsin.

Success looks like people seeing action and feeling hope.

Success looks like the people of Wisconsin.

feeling actual relief and success looks like the people of Milwaukee succeeding in order for the rest of the state to succeed.

I truly believe that it is Milwaukee and Milwaukee County.

If we have done right by the people of Milwaukee, we will do right by the people of this state and you will see this entire state thrive.

It's important to

It's important to prioritize resources and services in places that have been neglected where politicians have not shown up.

Success looks like people seeing that their governor is not just a politician but an actual public servant committed to making sure that they work harder than anyone else in the state and that they love everybody in the state.

the stability has been tossed around.

And folks have tried to figure out who they thought was electable.

We've heard candidates in the race.

To me, the inference has been that people of color, in some cases even women, not necessarily electable as a statewide race offering to me was one of the driving factors.

Can you speak to this?

And this is the last question.

this whole idea of electility, you know, there were folks that assumed that because candidates are of a certain race that, you know, black or automatically vote.

I mean, I'm sorry, David or Mandela, people have talked about, you know, what are the relations between the Asian community and black folks.

And so all those things kind of get rolled into one.

Unfortunately, when we got to start talking about

what it looks like when people show up at the polls versus the policy side of this whole thing.

There's that nuance that's out there, the background noise about who's electable and who will support who.

Any thoughts on that?

The person who is most electable is the person who wins the most votes.

And I think that too often candidates campaigns underestimate our voters.

The people of Wisconsin

They are hyper-focusing on issues right now because of how real things are with their personal economy.

And I think that the pitting

division, pitting communities against one another.

We have seen this in politics over and over again.

But the opportunity we have right now to come together as a coalition to build cross-racial solidarity is in making sure that we have a governor who is going to put everyday working class people first, not the special interests, not the industry lobby, and not the wealthiest donors.

And I think that

We are seeing everyday folks who don't see themselves in the vision of a governor or a campaign come out and come through and the enthusiasm around feeling that somebody that is relatable that is like them is going to represent them.

There's more power in that.

I hope people look at the issues who is building the coalition and who is talking about who power answers to.

attaining the power of the governorship, I want to be able to share that power with the people.

And I hope folks see that the issues that we are running on when it comes to housing, healthcare, childcare, data centers, taking a strong stance is putting people ahead of industry and of special interest.

And so,

We are seeing this as an opportunity to build the coalition and we are showing it and I think that Electability is a tired excuse and argument that is being overplayed right now by establishment politicians

Well, look, I know that it is a busy next 22 days.

Thank you so much for making time for us.

I will definitely work to get you back on making the platform open to as many candidates that will come talk to us.

We will definitely get each and every one of them in.

For folks that want to know more about the campaign, they may have heard something they liked or they got additional questions.

How do they reach you, Francesca?

Francesca Hong.com.

You can check out our entire policy platform, everything from senior and veterans affairs to housing, public transportation, and follow us on socials at Francesca Hong WI.

And look, folks, I'm just going to say this.

This is someone that I have had the ability to work with her team when I worked in the state capital.

I've got to go to her restaurant.

I have actually got to see her in action on the floor.

And, you know, the same way I say that I think that Kelda Roy's is one just once incredibly smart woman, Francesca, blow the doors off, you know, just brilliant in.

both advocates and advocating you know so and I can talk about most of these candidates in a personal way and Francesca is no different I can talk about state representative Hong in a way that as a staffer and somebody in the Capitol I've had the ability to sit back and watch and you know a certain people if I'm going

So fight, I'm taking certain people with me.

Folks, that's on that short list of folks I'm taking.

So, Representative Hong, thank you so much.

I appreciate you making time for us this morning.

Tell your team, I said I appreciate them.

And I will look forward to talking to you again soon.

Michelle, thank you so much for having us.

We can't wait to be back.

All right, thank you.

Let me take a quick break.

I know I went over my time.

Jay, can I take a break?

You sure can.

All right, family, we'll be right back.

Michelle Bryant, WNOV, 868-106.5 FM.

Talk to you in a sec.

All right, family, welcome back to the show.

Let me thank State Representative

I'm Jessica Hong, candidate for Wisconsin governor for coming through the studio today.

I'm telling y'all, I thought I was supposed to have an interview last Monday.

I didn't put it in my phone correctly.

And when it didn't happen last Monday, I was like, maybe I had the date wrong.

So I just so appreciate her team.

Where's and the idea that this all ended up being timed and who knew we would be having this conversation about DC.

Kind of executive Crawley on the, you know, on the other side of this whole thing.

So let me just say this because.

There are a number of people who were wondering about this ballot situation and what can they do so.

A decision has been made by the Wisconsin Election Commission regarding the ability to what they call informally spoil a ballot.

But the idea that has early voting, not early voting, mail-in ballot starting.

And I got my ballot and I voted for, let's just say, I don't know, what's the girl name?

Miss Hughes.

And Miss Hughes resigned, I mean, pulls out a race already sent in the ballot.

So now I need to vote for someone else.

What can I do?

So in Wisconsin, for years, we had a system where a voter could say, Hey, my candidate pulled out.

So something happened.

You could do it up to three times and they would send you a ballot so you could spoil the one you had submitted.

It had already turned in and get a new ballot and do it again.

So a lawsuit was brought back in 2022 to say that this is a leak shouldn't be happening.