And welcome back.
It is the WXO morning report on 98.9 WXO online at WXO FM mobile devices and Alexa by searching WXO and on the civic media app.
The time is 722.
It is Thursday morning, the seventh day of August of 2025.
And every other Thursday, we are very happy to welcome into studio Nancy Stencil, the chairperson of the Marathon County Democratic Party and Nancy.
Good morning.
Good morning.
We're gonna change the world today, right?
Oh,
we already did the last 10
minutes.
We did, yes.
But
there is really a lot going on.
Too much.
And I wanted to start because...
We are hearing already a lot about the gubernatorial race for next year, because obviously right now there's an open primary, both the Republican and Democratic sides.
Well, at least it's open until Ron Johnson puts his finger on it, but that's
a whole different story.
But there is also another state Supreme Court race.
And the thing is, there was all this work, finally, to get over that line where there's a progressive majority
and
start to do some, I think,
things for the people in some of these court cases, but there's another one and there's a chance to
further.
There's gonna be another one every two years for a while.
Or even every
year.
Not just every two years, every year.
It's for most years.
So it's really an unusual system, but it is what it is.
But we have one candidate that's, I think
only one.
Chris Taylor.
Is there anybody else?
Yep, so far there's just Chris Taylor.
Chris Taylor
is the only official announced candidate.
And she was here in town the other
day.
I wanted to ask you, because you did bring her to Wausau.
She
spoke at the Democratic Party headquarters.
What did she talk about?
What was the response?
What is the feel about Chris Taylor within
your membership?
People were really excited to see her.
She brings with her a good message of the progressive values.
And of course, we have Ann Walsh Bradley, who has just recently retired, very well-deserved retirement.
You know, we, we packed the room as usual.
There's a lot of enthusiasm for her.
She's already campaigning throughout the state.
So I mean, it wasn't just Washington.
She's showing up in, in even smaller areas like Adams.
She's going to be there.
So yesterday or today.
And, um, people have, you know, a lot of questions that they come with excitement because of how.
Big we won that race this last time.
I should say we because it is a nonpartisan race, but the people won the last time and Making it very clear what they want in their courts.
I Wanted to ask you as well because again, I'm always I'm curious and one thing that we have to focus on is what the people are saying and I know that you and the party were at the affair last week and
talking
to a lot of people
a lot of people a lot of good
good conversations.
What were the conversations?
And not just from the hard base of the party.
I imagine you had a chance to talk to others as
well.
We did.
We talked to everybody.
And we have a lot of really cool games and stuff to lure them in.
And maybe you got one of our nail files that said, not as abrasive as Tom Tiffany.
But people are worried, they're concerned.
how they're going to raise their families, just the uncertain economic times is probably the largest piece of it.
They don't know what's going to happen.
They feel like our government is extremely unsteady.
And that seems to be the biggest thing.
Yeah, there is a lot of, I think there's nervousness even folks on the right because there's.
Yeah.
Uncertainty.
Uncertainty is
a word that I've mentioned to you that we're hearing about and it's not good for anybody and yet we have...
administration that flails all the time.
Yeah, and they're not listening and I think that's another thing people just feel they're not being listened to because you know we've talked to them and we said you know please you know get involved whatever involvement looks like talk to your neighbors you know we have there's the five calls app you use that I mean they even scripted for you to help you whatever call off time when you could just talk to an answering machine whatever for the most part
we had good conversations there wasn't like a lot of what we've noticed in the past where you know people come by and heckle you or whatever there was I would say actually none of that I did have one guy that came and he said he was talking about the air quality and I said yeah I thought we're gonna talk about the air quality and he goes well he said you know that's intentional don't you
That makes it so difficult.
I asked him to tell me more and he couldn't.
But that's not just that issue.
That's part of the election denials and everything else where you're trying to fight against these conspiracy theories.
And frankly, it would be almost as easy to go the other way, especially with elections, because I think there's a lot to be concerned about where they use the idea that somehow the 2020 was stolen.
I don't trust a lot of the folks on the right, but you don't go around screaming that, oh, it was all conspiracy theory.
But they have some facts to back up
what you're gonna
do.
But
real fast, I'm curious about the fact that you did find maybe a little different than maybe even last year, last
summer,
because last summer, of course, was the election year, and they were,
I think they were, they were
confident, and they, I guess I got a sense that there's even some Republicans out there right now that can't
be, they're proud of what they're doing.
We actually had a lot of people that stopped by, and it's humbling, they'll come in and they'll say, well, you know, I really wanted to see change, and I thought he could bring it, and I voted for him, but I'm really sorry I did, and now I'm looking.
They feel like this responsibility of their actions, which- Well,
there is.
There is, but- I should
be nicer,
but there is.
Yeah, you could point a finger and say, man, I like what you did, but no, I, you know- We all have a responsibility.
We can't change what happened.
Let's just bring it forward and there's a difference between change and chaos.
Yes, there is you know, and we're in chaos terrible
and Real fast I thought him wandering on the roof of the White House the other day is such a microcosm of what his administration is because He's he's he's a figurehead
Stephen Miller's running this government.
He's off there wandering the world for the white house talking about 200 million dollar ballroom We're gonna have more with Nancy coming up in our next segment at 752 but back to a pack right low coming up next here on 98.9
WXCO
Welcome back.
It is the WXO morning report part of morning's attack right low on 98.9 WXO talking to Marathon County Democratic Party chair Nancy Stenzel and Very excited there today got a little national because yes, yes at these events.
It's not been just one time
No, we have gotten multiple we were one week we were on Robert Hubble's Substack and we were like overjoyed that somebody's picking this up nationally and then
the other night, my phone literally blew up.
And I'm like, oh, what happened?
And I'm looking, oh my God, saw you guys on, on Maddow.
So yeah, Rachel Maddow did pick up one of our Tom Tiffany protests.
Let me ask you, because again, you're so busy and, and the protests are continuing.
And how
what's the
feel on the ground?
Because
People are angry, they're looking for more, and I think we need to take it further than just a protest too.
We need to hold our elected officials accountable.
And it's so hard to do that these days.
We were just talking, I mean, Tom Tiffany and we
were
talking on this network yesterday had finally a town hall, but it was a virtual.
Yeah, I never heard about it.
And as you were saying, I didn't even know about it.
Many people never heard about it and they're manufactured in that
way.
And part of the, again, we talk about this a lot.
Part of the system is that we, as a democracy, these folks
It is not their seat.
It is not there.
No
You are representing
me and yet we have those that act like it's theirs that right they don't
They don't want to know what the people think and people from either side They're just they're ramming an agenda that they think and you get into like the big beautiful bill and Tiffany and others are
They're bragging about it, like it's something really great.
And like, well, today, for instance, you take a look at your social security and the fact we have an aging population.
We will be out in front of the social security building at noon today.
Please come join us.
Because Medicare and social security are another one.
Tom, Tiffany's helping to take all this away from you.
What I'm going to say as well when it comes to social security is I put a lot of the.
weight of this on the Democrats too.
Because we have had in the past, I know that Bernie Sanders in the past had talked about lifting the cap.
Where
is the Democratic
leadership on that?
We need to get it going and do something and stop with the lip service and that is true both sides.
Stop with the lip service when you get into office.
do something.
When is the last time
the Democrats
voted on that or put it out there as part of their agenda?
I don't remember.
I don't remember it recently either.
And an event like that is, it's not just to say Tom Tiffany you're terrible, but at the same time, hey.
is to bring about awareness
that this is happening and something needs to be done.
And they need to realize, and I said this to you earlier, and as we go into the next year, and again, it's hard to believe we're in August already of this year, that there has to be a certain boldness.
There has to be.
For the Democratic
Party.
One, yes, as a Democratic Party, we're always very concerned about factual information, telling the truth, and I know they never do, and it is important that we tell the truth.
It is, it is.
But we need to say it loud and clear.
but also
policy.
And one of the frustrating aspects of this New York City race is the number of Democrats who are pushing back against Mandami and
some of his
proposals.
And
his proposals are to help the people.
And I think that a boldness, because if you start, again, you know at any negotiation, if you can talk about here in Wisconsin in the summer with the budget, if you start at a certain area, naturally you
just move,
but if you start with a bold vision, then you got more room to maneuver
and
to make the ultimate final.
solution of a much better one than it was because I'm going to ask you here real quickly that you know you set off the year that you were a little put off by a celebratory tone with the governor.
I don't think it should be a celebration.
I fully support Governor Evers, but and I realize there is a world of compromise, but we really did lose a lot in that.
Um, yes, we made a stride in this or we made a stride in that, but instead of actually celebrating, oh boy, we got a budget.
We passed a budget.
I think it needs to, where you get up there and you say, yes, we passed a budget.
This is why we didn't get this and we didn't get this.
Call it out.
Don't celebrate it.
Well, at least we know we got a few breadcrumbs.
I'm really excited and and
the idea the word that's often used is we got to celebrate bipartisanship Well, sometimes you don't have to celebrate No,
no, you need along with telling the truth tell the truth of why why we're not
having money for our public schools.
Why stuff is having to go to referendum?
You need to say it a whole lot louder than what we
are.
And I'm not saying that bipartisanship is bad.
No, not at all.
No, no one side should ever get their way, totally.
But if you surrender and then call it bipartisanship, that would
be a big thing, so.
Right.
Like, well, if we did the, you know, it's what matters to the people, what helps the people.
And we, the oligarchy tour was here a couple of days ago.
And, you know, we sat on a whiteboard and they listed what was important here.
Transit was major.
People are worried about affordable housing.
People are worried about food on the table.
These are the things we need to be fighting.
And as
we go forward, I think that is vital to have the issues at the forefront.
Well,
it's a basic hierarchy.
You can't afford a place to live in.
You can't afford to eat.
But so
often, the issues are
instead of the show.
And I just think there's too much of the show when it comes to politics.
Yeah, we
don't need the show.
No, we do not.
What's happening?
What do people need to know here coming up?
Oh, let's see.
We have the Social Security protests today.
I should call it a rally.
awareness of this.
Lift the cap.
And that's going to be at noon today in front of the Social Security Building on Grand Avenue.
Tomorrow, the entire month of August, every Friday is going to be flood the office.
There will be prizes for best costumes and signs and the like.
And we will be in front of Tom Tiffany's office.
Noon to one.
Every Friday this month on Stewart Avenue.
It'd be nice to be showed up once in a while, right?
Oh my god.
Yeah.
Come out there and turn the sprinkler on yourself for God's sake.
Come get wet with us.
Come out in his rain
slicker.
There you go.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Come out and show the public when it hits you, you're going to be washed up, honey.
Thank you, Nance.
And
welcome back it is
the WXCO morning report part of warnings with Pat Crite low here on 98.9 WXCO online at WXCO dot FM
mobile devices and Alexa by searchy WXCO
and on the civic media app.
Thanks to Nancy Stencil for joining us this morning and Ian and that is Ian Welsh across the way again.
Good
morning to you
and
After talking to Nancy for the last two segments, I got a few ideas and I want to share with the listeners, share with you, maybe get your thoughts as well
as
we go into 2026.
When you look at where the Democratic Party is, and I think that the Democratic Party has got its issues along with the Republican Party led by Donald Trump, but you look at some of the national polling when it comes to the Democrats,
its approval rating is underwater.
And I can see some reasons why.
I think some of the leadership has not been as bold as it needs to be in this era, that we can't just sit back and say, well, Donald Trump will destroy himself or in the state of Wisconsin that Governor Evers is more popular than Robin Voss.
I think as we go into 2026, as we go into potentially an opportunity for
Democrats in the state of Wisconsin to perhaps get majorities in the state assembly and the state senate as we go into a national
landscape where you have a very, I would say, unpopular president at this point, and
unless he
pivots in some way, which I doubt he will do, that he will continue to be unpopular into 2026.
There could be an opportunity for the Democrats to try to regain control of the United States Congress and the United States Senate, but you can't do that being milk toast.
We have to see a Democratic Party that is willing to stand on
Real issues and off the air as we were saying goodbye to Nancy I was and I said it during the on-the-air segment as well That at this point the Democrats have to be bold and they also have to talk about the issues that affect the everyday lives of Americans Wisconsinites Marathon cognites
and those are the bread
and butter issues
The talk about rent talk about affordability and housing talk about affordability when you go to the supermarket With health care.
Yes Childcare again ability for schools and the idea that Democrats come out talking first about abortion rights or talk about other social issues I am under the assumption that if you're somebody that is a Democrat that you will be
in favor of access to healthcare for women
and
other types of issues like that, that there are not votes to be had there.
But the thing that could get people thinking, perhaps that are either independence or right-leaning independence or even conservatives, are the issues of the pocketbook.
the issues of dollars and cents.
And I think that in recent years, more than a few years, but recent years, the Republican Party has really put their arms around the wealthiest of our society, that their entire economic platform is about making the rich richer, making sure that the business owner gets richer while squeezing.
the average worker, the average person in our country that is trying to make a living, be able to pay their bills, be able to raise a family, be able to buy a house, but the Republican Party is not receiving any pushback on it because Democrats need to talk about, again, middle class,
lower middle class.
The everyday middle class citizens who work
Jobs who have houses who take care of their families support the their schools and the arts as well just The Republicans can't stick with the fact that we're gonna give these tech cuts To the rich and hope the a trickle down effect is going to you know, you know a drizzle down into the middle quest people because That is not an effective method.
I'm sorry.
All right, but
There are habits on effect really worth the middle class would have a lot more money right now But we don't we have less money
they're having studies done since the advent of supply side economics Trickle down economics with the Reagan administration in the early 80s over about four decades plus It is not trickled down.
It has not gone from the richest to the poorest to lift them up It's just been going straight to the richest people but
The problem is, again, that Democrats need to reach out to these folks who may have voted for Donald Trump because they feel their lives are slipping away and feeling like nobody has the right answers.
You have to be bold.
You have to be able to go into those areas and explain in a very real way why these policies would help lift many millions of people in their everyday lives.
And frankly, Democrats have not done that well enough.
I think that there are plenty of examples
during the previous administration where Democrats did pass policies that did help the most people.
But you have to also have a communications aspect to it that allows folks to realize it as well.
So again, just hoping that the unpopularity of some of the policies being shown by Donald Trump and the Republicans going into next year, I don't think will be enough for Democrats to win.
Yeah, we can't wait for
Trump to destroy himself.
We have to stop him before he destroys himself in the country with it.
Because I think, and I could be wrong here, but I would argue the point that if he goes down, he's taking the country with
us.
Yeah, I think I agree with that.
And when you see folks like Chuck Schumer and other leaders nationally in the Democratic Party not seem to
Realize that in actionable ways.
That becomes a very very frustrating.
It's really sad.
It really is.
The time is 8 29.
Gonna try to stay undefeated with your number for the day quiz coming up in our final segment.
Yeah, the pressure's really on.
Information update coming up and then more of mornings with Pat Critelaw here on 98.9 WXEL.
Welcome back.
It is the WXO morning report part of mornings with pack right low here on 98.9 WXO online at WXO dot FM mobile devices and Alexa by searching at WXO and on the civic media app overcast guys here in downtown wasa temperature around 70 degrees
Hopefully your Thursday is off to a terrific start coming up tomorrow during our local segments We'll be talking to Christine Daniels as we do the first week of every month from the good news project She'll be with us in the first hour of the program and we are also Planning hoping to have a return because in the past back a while back it's been
Well, it's quite a while actually.
We used to have a guy named Paul Mickley join us on Fridays, talking sports.
And the plan is to have him back as we are, have a lot of excitement going on in the world of sports because the Milwaukee Brewers continue to be very, very successful.
The Packers have their first preseason game coming up against the New York Jets on Saturday and college football beginning underway.
And of course, he has started practice as the head football coach at Newman Catholic.
So the plan is for Paul Miklich to be with us in the second hour of the program as well.
So bring him back for Fridays with Miklich and hopefully that will work out and we'll be able to talk a little bit of sports tomorrow as well.
Very
good.
Meantime, there's actually a story I wanted to mention that is a sports story, but also I would call it a DEI story.
because I think that opportunity is vitally important and I don't think having a little bit of diversity within certain jobs is a bad thing if the person has done everything they needed to do to earn that opportunity and we are seeing that in major league baseball coming up starting on Saturday because there has never been
a Female umpire in Major League Baseball never in all the years of Major League Baseball going back to 1876 with the start of the National League Well, genuine history will be happening on Saturday Major League Baseball will have its first regular season game umpired by a woman.
Her name is Jen Powell
And she will be called up to work this weekend series between the Marlins of Miami and Atlanta She will work both ends of Saturday's doubleheader and the Sunday series finale and she has done the work The 48 year old Powell has began umpiring in affiliated baseball in 2016 in rookie ball.
She reached triple a two years ago
Last year, she became the first female ump to work a spring training game in 17 years.
She was named a AAA Crew Chief last year as well, which put her on the call-up list.
And prior to her baseball umpire career, she had umpired NCAA softball from 2010 to 2016.
She was invited to the umpire training academy after attending an MLB trial camp in August of 2015.
And before any of that, she played softball at Hofstra University.
Very cool.
So it graduations to her absolutely right and and it brings me back to the whole idea of diversity equity and inclusion it drives people on the right crazy, but They they talk about having
you know, basically it all being based on merit when at the same time you see the sons of famous people get jobs as vice presidents of their baseball team or nepotism, right?
Nepotism.
This is the case of a woman doing everything right and you know there's still going to be some folks out there.
Oh, it's all about DEI.
It's all about, you know, just wanting Neville.
No, I think she has the experience she put in the effort.
She deserves this.
And also
Giving opportunities is not wrong.
No, it is not.
It is not wrong.
And I think this is another example of where having some diversity is something that's a good thing for baseball.
And it's a good thing for little girls who may have a dream of being involved in baseball in some way.
To see role models like this.
Exactly.
It's
very important because it shows them that if they want to do this and they are putting the work in the time, they can make this happen.
You're exactly right.
So congratulations.
I think it's good for baseball.
I think it's good for America itself as well.
So there you go.
I think we need more stories like that.
Yep, we do.
Something else that's good is the way you've started off this week with the number for the day quiz.
Yes.
And you have been red hot.
You're three for three.
You've already earned a passing grade.
You've already earned a winning week.
Now we're going to try for an A grade and still have that perfect week out there.
Pressures on.
All right.
Our number for the day is a little bit of a goofy number today.
I'm okay with goofy.
Today's number for the day is the number of American men who injure themselves with kitchen gear every year.
Kitchen gear so American men who injured themselves with kitchen gear so they're cooking or just yeah, okay average number here of American men who injured themselves Okay, all right.
I'm ready.
What are my choices 17,392 27,392 37,392
Those are some big numbers.
Yep.
Yep.
Well guys
cook
and
they you
know work in the
kitchen So a
little over 17,000 27,000 or 37,000.
Yep 17,392 27,392 37,392
Okay, I'm just gonna go up my gut here and I'm
gonna say final answer
I'm gonna say a little over a 27,000 one with a little over 27,000 my final answer
number of American men who injures themselves with kitchen gear every year is 17,392 smallest
number
Yep, I took a shot three out of four so still a chance for an a great tomorrow
I'm OK with that.
All right, well, have a great rest of your Thursday.
You too, Chad.
Happy Thursday, everybody.
We'll be back tomorrow.
And coming up next is Matt and Aaron Ayer, a 98.9 WXCR.
