Wisconsin Forward

In his ongoing series of interviews with Democratic candidates for governor, here’s Matt Rothschild’s interview with Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez. Wisconsin Forward tells stories from one of the nation’s most closely contested swing state. Host Matt Rothschild looks to explain the background on a number of issues across Wisconsin, including the seemingly split personality the […]

Thu Nov 13, 2025

29:20

Over the next couple weeks, Matt Rothschild, the host of the “Wisconsin Forward” podcast, is interviewing Democratic candidates for governor. Here’s his first interview, with Rep. Francesca Hong. Wisconsin Forward tells stories from one of the nation’s most closely contested swing state. Host Matt Rothschild looks to explain the background on a number of issues […]

Guest: Francesca Hong

Wed Nov 12, 2025

32:48

In this episode of the Wisconsin Forward Podcast, host Matt Rothschild provides insights from Timothy Snyder and Ruth Ben-Ghiat and then interviews Carlene Bechen and Earl Ingram on why protests are so crucial right now. Wisconsin Forward tells stories from one of the nation’s most closely contested swing state. Host Matt Rothschild looks to explain the background […]

Guests: Earl Ingram, Carlene Bechen

Tue Oct 28, 2025

46:02

In this episode of the Wisconsin Forward Podcast, host Matt Rothschild talks with David Couper, the former police chief of Madison, Wisconsin, and with Angela Lang, the executive director of BLOC, Black Leaders Organizing for Communities. They discuss the threat that Trump’s militarization of policing poses to our cities and to our democracy. Wisconsin Forward […]

Fri Oct 10, 2025

43:28

In this episode of Wisconsin Forward, Matt Rothschild addresses Trump’s assault on trans folks, and how that assault has reverberated around Wisconsin. Matt talks with Abigail Swetz, the executive director of Fair Wisconsin; B, an anonymous trans man in Madison; and Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford, who is running to be the first trans person elected to […]

Guests: Matt Rothschild, Abigail Swetz, Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford

Mon Sep 29, 2025

38:10

On this edition of the Wisconsin Forward podcast, host Matt Rothschild speaks with immigrant rights activist Cely Flores, Aissa Olivarez, the legal director at the Community Immigration Law Center; and State Representative Darrin Madison. Hear how each is dealing with the threat environment, and their suggestions for what we all can do to combat the attacks on immigrants. […]

Guests: Darrin Madison, Iuscely Flores, Aissa Olivarez

Fri Sep 19, 2025

34:30

On this episode of the Wisconsin Forward podcast, Matt Rothschild talks about the national question of what should be done with redistricting in Texas, California, and other states around the nation with Ruth Conniff, editor-in-chief of the Wisconsin Examiner; Iuscely Flores, statewide organizer for the Wisconsin Fair Maps Coalition; and Sachin Chheda, one of the […]

Guests: Sachin Chheda, Matt Rothschild, Ruth Conniff, Iuscely Flores

Thu Sep 4, 2025

28:48

On this episode of the Wisconsin Forward podcast, Matt Rothschild talks with Dan Shafer, the political editor of Civic Media and the founder of the Recombobulation Area, about the upcoming race for governor of Wisconsin. Shafer picks the candidate with “the most upside,” and another one who would be the frontrunner if he jumps in. Wisconsin Forward […]

Guests: Dan Shafer, Matt Rothschild

Mon Aug 25, 2025

38:44

On this episode of the Wisconsin Forward podcast, host Matt Rothschild speaks with four faith leaders in Wisconsin about how to respond to Trump’s authoritarianism. The Rev. Dr. Kerri Parker, Rabbi Bonnie Margulis, Pastor Walter Lanier, and the Rev. David Couper all offer their wisdom and their hopes for Matt and listeners across the state […]

Guests: David Couper, Bonnie Margulis, Walter Lanier, Kerri Parker

Fri Aug 15, 2025

40:44

On this episode of the Wisconsin Forward podcast, host Matt Rothschild pursues the topic of the so-called urban-rural divide with two guests: Mike McCabe, who wrote Blue Jeans in High Places, and with Bill Hogseth, organizing director of a group called GROWW, which stands for Grassroots Organizing of Western Wisconsin. Is the divide real, or is it made up? […]

Guests: Bill Hogseth, Mike McCabe

Fri Jul 11, 2025

36:59