Mark Jacob
More Election Interference (Hour 2)
Republicans in Madison and Washington, DC are working overtime to interfere in elections that have been—and continue to be—safe, secure, and accurate. Wisconsin state senators are pushing ahead with an illegal effort to fire the administrator of the state Elections Commission. And House Republicans have announced an investigation into the Atlanta district attorney investigating Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election—just as they’ve targeted the FBI and New York law enforcement for holding Trump accountable.
More Karma, More Howling from Conservative Justices (Hour 2)
The Wisconsin Supreme Court is considering whether to fast-track a lawsuit challenging the state’s gerrymandered maps. The court’s right-wing justices, who have had no issue fast-tracking other cases with political overtones, have suddenly found reason to be against a speedy determination of whether Wisconsin voters deserve fair maps.
More Media Cheerleading for a Recession (Hour 2)
We talk to Mark Jacob about how national media outlets can’t stop rooting for a recession, despite no shortage of positive economic data. Are these newsrooms craving conflict or bending over backwards to “both sides” a healthy economy? Mark discusses his new column for Courier Newsroom, “Fact or Feelings? Inside the Media’s Misleading Economic Coverage.”
Supreme Court Says Racism Is Gone! (Hour 2)
Good news, everyone—the six right-wing justices on the US Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that racism in the US is all gone, and it’s okay that college campuses are about to get whiter. We’ll talk to Mark Jacob about the affirmative action case and also get into how newsrooms fixated on division and cynicism can get their audiences to look at a growing economy and decide a recession is imminent.
Fair Maps, Fair Expectations (Hour 2)
Progressives are understandably excited for Janet Protasiewicz to be sworn in as a justice on August 1, a move that will tip the state Supreme Court to liberal control for the first time in more than 15 years. But a longtime advocate for ending gerrymandered political maps in Wisconsin wants to make sure people understand things like rigged maps and an 1849 abortion ban won’t be fixed in an instant. Plus media coverage of the latest discovery about corruption in the US Supreme Court.
As Goes Kristin Brey… (Hour 2)
We’ll visit with a colleague of ours, who as a young woman who left Wisconsin to pursue life as an actress, comic, and filmmaker—then came home and started creating smart, funny videos about the news. All that work has led Kristin Brey to a statewide midday talk show that’s been named as one of the top programs on the Milwaukee radio dial. Also, Mark Jacob breaks down media coverage of this week’s Trump arrest and arraignment.
GOP Hearts Biden Broadband (Hour 2)
Republicans running the Wisconsin Legislature say they don’t like how President Biden spends money, but he seems to be their new best friend now that they’re relying on him for expanding high-speed internet in the state—and reducing their contribution to $0 on your behalf. We’ll discuss with state Assembly Rep. Melissa Ratcliff. Also, it’s been a head-spinning week for a major national newsroom. Mark Jacob will help us understand how CNN has fallen so far, so fast.
Wolves and Sheep (Hour 2)
Sen. Tammy Baldwin is leading the latest bipartisan effort to find a practical middle ground in the debate over managing the population of gray wolves in Wisconsin. And we have our weekly visit with Mark Jacob about the national media outlets who seem so sheepish in covering the debt ceiling deal—choosing to “both sides” a hostage situation involving the US economy.
A Priority to Defend the Right to Vote (Hour 2)
The attacks on voting rights aren’t always overt. Sometimes they’re the subtle inconveniences that try to make you feel like voting doesn’t have to be a priority. We’ll talk to a leader in the national group Priorities USA about its commitment to protect voting rights from now through the 2024 elections.
The Next Generation of Young Leaders Is Here (Hour 2)
Young voters and young leaders are our country’s best hope for pulling us back from a generation of cynicism, short-sighted budget slashing, and right-wing culture wars. A group dedicated to promoting young multicultural leaders has compiled a list of national names to watch, and Wisconsin Assembly Rep. Francesca Hong is on it. We’ll find out from her what led to the recognition from NextGen America.
