Melissa Baldauff
The Future Is Electric (Hour 1)
We’ll discuss what the Environmental Protection Agency is considering for new emissions rules on the cars and trucks of the future. Whether stringent or incremental, it’s pretty clear the future of American road trips is going to be electric. Also: Ron Johnson says one thing and does another about personal funds being loaned to his campaign.
Green Energy, Green Economy (Hour 1)
In this week’s Climate Check with Melissa Baldauff, we visit with state Rep. Katrina Shankland of Stevens Point about Gov. Tony Evers’ new Green Ribbon Commission on Clean Energy and Environmental Innovation. The group will identify public-private financing opportunities to invest in clean energy, strengthen infrastructure, reduce reliance on imported energy, and create family-supporting jobs.
All Signs Point to Needing Climate Action (Hour 1)
Smoke-filled skies, dry fields, massive heat domes and strong storms. They all indicate the need to stop making conditions worse for a climate that’s already stressed. Fortunately, new programs are helping cities like Green Bay as well as farmers across Wisconsin who want to make changes away from fossil fuels.
Who’s Watching the Water Supply? (Hour 1)
Wisconsin’s clean water faces ongoing threats from PFAS, industrial waste, farm runoff, lead pipes, high-capacity wells, and so on. But don’t forget government-cutting ideologues who think clean water comes out of our taps by magic. Also: Assembly Speaker Robin Vos is uncovered as the mastermind of a sneak attack that could cripple Wisconsin’s technical colleges.
Local Actions for a Global Problem (Hour 1)
In this week’s Climate Check, Melissa Baldauff knocks down the tired right-wing talking point that claims individuals, communities, states, and even countries shouldn’t even try to tackle the planet’s changing climate—as if one single global plan is the only course of action. Also, an update on Tuesday’s arrest and arraignment of former President Trump.
Breathing Easier (Hour 1)
There’s a reason why President Biden has proposed new pollution standards to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at power plants: basic human health. Instead of getting caught in partisan politics and corporate talking points, this week’s Climate Check segment includes a public health expert who can explain the many benefits of getting power plans to burn cleaner.
Lake Ice and Vanilla Ice (Hour 1)
Our new weekly Climate Check segment focuses on the Great Lakes and how very little ice cover was seen this past winter, something that could make algae blooms worse and indicate rougher times ahead for these precious bodies of freshwater. Also, one of our state’s Republican members of Congress thinks it’s just so hard these days for straight white men, especially when it comes to becoming federal judges. How will they get by?
Global Problem – Local Solutions (Hour 1)
Can local actions help tackle a global problem like a changing climate? Yes, and this week’s Climate Check segment shows us how local leaders across Wisconsin are banding together to share ideas and put them into action. We’ll talk to the first executive director of the Wisconsin Local Government Climate Coalition.
A Morning of Melissas (Hour 1)
Melissa Baldauff helps us kick off a new weekly Climate Check—starting with an overview of the many things related to cleaner energy that have (finally) moved from all-talk to action.
Melissa Kaye from Locally Grown Radio WFHR drops in for our daily history lesson. And we’ll preview a visit in our next hour from Senate Democratic Leader Melissa Agard on legalizing cannabis.
The Mental Health of Politicians Opposed to Mental Health Care (Hour 1)
Honestly, who’s against finding more ways to help people facing a serious mental health crisis? Who’s against helping veterans with PTSD? Who’s against helping kids at risk of suicide? The answer, of course, is the legislative Republicans who once went so far as to fire one of Gov. Evers’ cabinet secretaries for seeking more mental health resources for farmers. Democratic strategist Melissa Baldauff reviews the governor’s new mental health proposals and tries to make sense of GOP opposition.
