Mike McCabe
Life and Times of the American Farmer
In hour two, we get to the Big Story: words from Andrew Natsios, formerly of USAID, on 60 Minutes. He describes how we may be headed to a constitutional crisis, and his anger at the dissolution of the aid organization. We chat with Civic Media Meteorologist Brittney Merlot, checking in on the weather, and reach the bottom of the hour with a listener call describing Musk as a "parasitic illegal immigrant." Later, Mike McCabe joins us as he does every Wednesday, chatting about winter sports, and also his latest blog post on Substack's Ebiyan House. It covers the hardships of Mike's upbringing on a farm, but also the friendship and community found from it - with the example of two barn raisings he was a part of.
The John and Gordy Show is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs Monday through Friday from 6-8 am on WMDX in Madison. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast line up. Follow the show on Facebook and X to keep up with John & Gordy!
The Great Dictator
In hour two we're talking finances! The guys dive into why the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau exists, which Trump and DOGE want to do away with. We also take a look back at a prior realization, by Alan Greenspan, that deregulation was bad, with words from him about what caused the great recession. Later, we chat with Mike McCabe as we do every Wednesday, this time by phone, about the uncanny similarities, yet stark differences, between Charlie Chaplin and Adolf Hitler. Chaplin's distain for Hitler was showcased in his 1940 parody movie "The Great Dictator." Wrapping up the show, the conversation turns to AI, as Mike reflects on JD Vance's call to not regulate the new technology.
The John and Gordy Show is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs Monday through Friday from 6-8 am on WMDX in Madison. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast line up. Follow the show on Facebook and X to keep up with John & Gordy!
A New Story
In hour two, the guys bring up some issues arising in Brad Schimel's campaign for SCOWI, including likely illegally using AI in a campaign ad against his competitor, Susan Crawford, and also some shady fundraising efforts. Brittney Merlot checks in for a look at the weather, and also to celebrate National Weatherperson's Day! We talk taxes for a bit, as Musk has dismissed ("deleted") the IRS staff in charge of the free e-file program. Later, Mike McCabe joins us in the studio as he does every Wednesday, giving his two cents on the way forward: brakes, and a map. More specifically, to stop breaking things, and have a plan - tell a new story about how we reach success in America (hint: its not tax breaks and trickle-down).
The John and Gordy Show is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs Monday through Friday from 6-8 am on WMDX in Madison. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast line up. Follow the show on Facebook and X to keep up with John & Gordy!
Civic Media Spotlight for February 1st & 2nd (Hour 1)
To begin this hour of Civic Media Spotlight, we take the beginning of a conversation with former Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn on the Maggie Daun Show. Harry joined Maggie this week in-studio to discuss the recently pardoned J6 felons and the other craziness going on during the first week of President Donald Trump’s second term.
Then, on a Wednesday edition of the Todd Allbaugh Show, Todd visits from Pat Kreitlow of UpNorthNews Radio and Trygve Olson of The Lincoln Project! On April 1st, Wisconsin will vote to elect a new state supreme court justice. Every day, we discover new reasons why conservative candidate Brad Schimel is completely unfit to serve our state. At a Republican community event last year, Schimel was caught on a mic calling for another “bloody revolution” to get American freedom back from “the socialists.”
Then, on UpNorthNews Radio this week, Pat discussed how some Wisconsin legislators are considering a new way to hide from taxpayers the true cost of the programs that give out taxpayer dollars for vouchers to private, often religious schools. He spoke to Chris Thiel, legislative policy specialist for Milwaukee Public Schools, about this new shell game that would force every Wisconsin taxpayer to fund two parallel school systems in the state.
Wrapping up this hour with a segment from the John & Gordy Show, the guys welcomed back Mike McCabe and the three spend some time on the topic of oligarchy. They also share how we need not despair right now, and that we can look to the future and plan to make some real advances as a society.
To learn more about these shows and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast line up. Follow the network on Facebook, BlueSky, YouTube, X, and Instagram to keep up with Civic Media!
E Pluribis Unum
In hour two we get to a holdover story from 6:00: a shouting match between Jake Tapper and Stephen Miller. We preview the RFK hearing happening today with words from his cousin, Caroline Kennedy, daughter of JFK, describing in unsettling detail his utter lack of empathy. After checking in with Brittney Merlot for a look at the weather ahead, the guys chat about happenings at the SCOWI, as justices are asked to recuse themselves from the case involving Act 10. Later, Mike McCabe joins us as he does every Wednesday, this time to chat about focusing not on how the government is blowing up, and instead to imagine a better, fundamentally different future. The guys focus on issues like universal healthcare and reforming the tax code, and then get into where it all went wrong: a shift away from the country's original motto: E Pluribis Unum - Out of Many, One.
The John and Gordy Show is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs Monday through Friday from 6-8 am on WMDX in Madison. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast line up. Follow the show on Facebook and X to keep up with John & Gordy!
Antisocial Media
In hour two, the guys dive into wealth inequality, talking how oligarchs and billionaires are taking over the country, killing the middle class. We also look at the effects on healthcare - and ask the question of whether healthcare is a right or not. We chat with Brittney Merlot about the weather real quick, then jump into coverage of the hearings for Pete Hegseth, the drunk, nominated to be Secretary of Defense. Later, because its Wednesday, we welcome in Mike McCabe, getting his take on Biden's presidency as it comes to a close. They also chat about the problems that the internet and social media face, and the consequences of their disregulation. The conversation turns to journalism, what Mike was trained in at college, and how modern journalism is seeing a renaissance, or at least great change, and is still incredibly valuable. They close out talking the nature of social media - and its primary use as an advertising tool - not a news source.
The John and Gordy Show is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs Monday through Friday from 6-8 am on WMDX in Madison. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast line up. Follow the show on Facebook and X to keep up with John & Gordy!
Knowing, While Having Faith in Unknowing
Its Friday! John and Gordy kick off the show covering the National Day Calendar, and check in with Sam for Today in History. Later, we chat with Mike McCabe and hear his discussion with the guys from awhile back, about faith and fact, and how science and religion are not meant to answer the same questions.
The John and Gordy Show is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs Monday through Friday from 6-8 am on WMDX in Madison. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast line up. Follow the show on Facebook and X to keep up with John & Gordy!
What’s the Matter with What’s the Matter with Kansas?
In hour two, we hear more of John Stewart's interview with Ben Wikler on the Daily Show before getting into the Big Story: plans to roll back subsidies on the ACA, and John's ensuing rant. We check in with Brittney Merlot for a look at the upcoming and unpredictable weather, before welcoming in Mike McCabe to the studio as we do every Wednesday. Today he's on talking about "What's The Matter With Kansas," and how the landmark book set us on our current course of rural voters 'going against their best interests.'
The John and Gordy Show is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs Monday through Friday from 6-8 am on WMDX in Madison. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast line up. Follow the show on Facebook and X to keep up with John & Gordy!
Cut Up Your Credit Card
Stuffed with turkey, and ready to rack up their credit card bills, John and Gordy celebrate Black Friday and the start of the Christmas season. They cover the National Day Calendar, then welcome in Beth Johnson from the nonprofit WayForward, and the Holiday Art Market, to talk about the annual event coming up in December. Later, we return to a topic from yesterday with Mike McCabe, discussing education, why teachers are leaving the profession, and what the education system of the future looks like.
The John and Gordy Show is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs Monday through Friday from 6-8 am on WMDX in Madison. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast line up. Follow the show on Facebook and X to keep up with John & Gordy!
Four Turns Points You Forward
Happy Thanksgiving! Today's show starts in the usual manner as the guys talk turkey covering the National Day Calendar and checking in with Sam for Today in History. They talk about their plans for the holiday, and never completely escape from the subject of food. Later, we hear a replay of their conversation with Mike McCabe from last week, where they discussed the Fourth Turning - part of a historical cycle that society follows, characterized by mass upheaval (like now), and followed by a "phoenix moment."
The John and Gordy Show is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs Monday through Friday from 6-8 am on WMDX in Madison. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast line up. Follow the show on Facebook and X to keep up with John & Gordy!
