WisPolitics.com: Recent Episodes
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We're Wisconsin's premier political news service, providing in-depth coverage of the state Capitol and elections since 2000.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Tricia Braun, Wisconsin Data Center Coalition by wispolitics
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Angie Ingraham, True North Patient Advocates by wispolitics
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Rose Oswald Poels, Wisconsin Bankers Association by wispolitics
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Kristin Gilkes, Customers First! Coalition by wispolitics
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Sarah Buszka, Waukesha County Technical College by wispolitics
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Nick Lombardino and Zach Blumenfeld, CultureCon by wispolitics
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Michael Ahrens, German consul general in Chicago by wispolitics
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Andrew Seaborg, honorary consul of Japan in Wisconsin by wispolitics
WisBusiness: the Podcast Suzanne Fanning, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin 2026 by wispolitics
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, discuss property tax increases facing property owners and how Wisconsin legislators could address the issue.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, discuss the big issues they see impacting Wisconsin politics in 2026.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, take a look back on the political winners and losers in Wisconsin in 2025.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, take up the federal ban on hemp products containing THC and its effect on a multi-million dollar industry in Wisconsin.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at court cases seeking the redrawing of Wisconsin's Congressional district boundaries.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider cases the Wisconsin Supreme Court plans to address and other issues it may take up.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, take an early look at the race for the Wisconsin attorney general.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, discuss the recent bipartisan Legislative Audit Committee vote to audit the Department of Public Instruction following a series of issues involving the department.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public leadership.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Mike Pochowski, Wisconsin Assisted Living Association by wispolitics
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, discuss the impact of the recent Democratic victories nationally on Wisconsin's race for governor in 2026.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, share differing views on a series of issues involving Milwaukee Democratic state Rep. Sylvia Ortiz-Velez, who has left the Wisconsin Assembly Dem caucus.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
WisOpinion: 'The Insiders' discuss legislation to allow early processing of absentee ballots by wispolitics
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at the candidates running in the spring Wisconsin Supreme Court election.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
WisBiz Podcast - Dr. Christina Henderson, Reliable Residence returning guest by wispolitics
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at who's in and who's out in the GOP field for Wisconsin governor. Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, take a look at the Democrats running for Wisconsin governor and those who may yet join the race.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, gauge the impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on Wisconsin.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, discuss recent Supreme Court decisions that affect how the Legislature reviews rules and how the administration spends budgeted funds.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The orchestra this year is celebrating its 100th anniversary season. Reed discusses the organization’s history and growth over time, from its roots as the Madison Civic Society to a full professional orchestra.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, take up congressional redistricting and whether Wisconsin will follow Texas, California and Missouri to create new partisan districts.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider the candidates vying for Wisconsin's open governorship in 2026.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Roger Caplinger, Seena Magowitz Foundation by wispolitics
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at recent political violence and suggest some ways to end it.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, discuss takeaways from the latest Marquette University Law School poll.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Joe Hamann, UWM Connected Systems Institute by wispolitics
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at several recent opinions issued by the Wisconsin Supreme Court as its 2024-25 session ends.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Steve Goldberg, WEA Member Benefits Foundation by wispolitics
WisOpinion marks the Fourth of July weekend with this rebroadcast of the final Insiders segment with then-co-host former state Sen. Ted Kanavas, who passed away July 3, 2017.In the episode, the two discuss political civility and the meaning of Independence Day.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
As Joint Finance begins its final push on the Wisconsin state budget with the fiscal year ending June 30, the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, discuss when--and if--it will cross the finish line and whether Republicans can win any Dem votes. The Joint Finance Committee was scheduled to meet June 27 for an executive session that includes more than 50 topics, all of the remaining areas Joint Finance has yet to take up.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at potential GOP gubernatorial candidates to run in 2026 as Gov. Tony Evers considers whether to seek a third term.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Emily Pritzkow, Wisconsin Building Trades Council by wispolitics
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, discuss the FBI's arrest of Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan, who is facing felony charges over accusations she helped an undocumented immigrant attempt to evade arrest by federal immigration officials. Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Mike Pochowski, Wisconsin Assisted Living Association by wispolitics
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, take up U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson's demand for deeper cuts in the House version of the federal reconciliation bill.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Beverly Anderson, Ebenezer Child Care Centers by wispolitics
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, discuss the recent meetings between Gov. Tony Evers and GOP legislators as lawmakers craft Wisconsin's biennial budget amid looming federal cuts.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, discuss legislation deadlocked in committee that would give utilities doing business in Wisconsin the right of first refusal for transmission line projects as utilities and transmission line companies lobby in support.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at the budget-making process in Wisconsin as legislators remake Gov. Tony Evers' budget proposal.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, talk about the role Elon Musk played in the recent Wisconsin Supreme Court election.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Sachin Shivaram, Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry by wispolitics
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, take up a recent audit of Universities of Wisconsin diversity, equity and inclusion programs that found a failure to track spending on the initiatives, among other problems. Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, discuss the recent Wisconsin Supreme Court decision that upheld the governor's line-item veto authority after Gov. Tony Evers edited the '23-'25 state budget to extend a two-year school funding increase by 400 years.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, take a look at the docket for the Wisconsin Supreme Court's 2024-25 session, which ends in June.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public leadership.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Buckley Brinkman, Wisconsin Center for Manufacturing & Productivity by wispolitics
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider the effect of the recent Supreme Court election on Wisconsin elections in 2026.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Dr. Christina Henderson, Reliable Residence by wispolitics
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at the factors that led to Judge Susan Crawford's victory in the race for Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, take up the race to lead the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction between incumbent Jill Underly and education consultant Brittany Kinser.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, preview the April 1 election for Wisconsin Supreme Court between Susan Crawford and Brad Schimel.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider the impact of President Donald Trump's policies on the Wisconsin economy.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
WisPolitics hosted a March 12, 2025, Q&A with U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson in Washington, D.C.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, discuss the latest in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race between Susan Crawford and Brad Schimel.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Prof. Jim Cook, Milwaukee Institute for Drug Discovery by wispolitics
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at Dem Gov. Tony Evers' proposed state budget that GOP Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said was "dead on arrival."Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WIsOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider the spring primary election outcome and how the Wisconsin Supreme Court race may affect the race for state schools superintendent.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider the impact of President Donald Trump's policies on Wisconsin.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, review the Badgers going to Washington to join the Trump administration.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, handicap the spring election for state Supreme Court between Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel and Dane County Judge Susan Crawford.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, analyze the race for state schools superintendent between incumbent Jill Underly, Sauk Prairie Superintendent Jeff Wright and Wauwatosa education consultant Brittany Kinser. The three are to face off in a Feb. 18 primary, with the general election set for April 1.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, preview President-elect Donald Trump's inaugural address and Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers' State of the State speech.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and The Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, offer their memories of recently passed former Sens. Tim Cullen, D-Janesville, and George Petak, R-Racine.Sponsored by the Wisconsin counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, offer their views on the major political stories upcoming in 2025.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look back on the news events of 2024 and select the year's political winners and losers.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at a lawsuit challenging Act 10 after a Dane County Court overturned portions of the law that ended collective bargaining for most public employees. Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
Outgoing Sen. Rob Cowles, R-Green Bay, in an interview for WisPolitics's Capitol Chats podcast says while there’s “definitely a danger” to breaking party lines, lawmakers can’t be afraid to “lose a committee appointment because of your principles.” Cowles, the longest-serving Wisconsin state lawmaker currently in office, has been elected to the state Senate for the past 37 years since winning an April 1987 special election. Before that, he served in the Assembly from 1982-1987. He will retire next month after deciding not to seek reelection when he was drawn into a district with fellow Green Bay GOP Sen. Eric Wimberger. Cowles joined WisPolitics’ Capitol Chats podcast to talk about his time in office, how the state of politics has changed over the course of his career, and his history of bucking party norms.
The WisOpinion Insiders share the legacy of former Justice David Prosser, who served as GOP speaker of the state Assembly before his 18-year career on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Prosser died Dec. 1 at 81. Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider what Dem Gov. Tony Evers the GOP -controlled Legislature will do with the state's $4 billion surplus as work begins on the next biennial budget. Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look ahead to Wisconsin's spring Supreme Court election, where former AG Brad Schimel hopes to counter the court's liberal trend.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider the political futures for losing candidates in November's election.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with John Garnetti, UW-Madison Office of Business Engagement by wispolitics
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, review partisan reshuffling in the Wisconsin Legislature following the November general election.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and The Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look back at the 2024 general election and its highs and lows in Wisconsin.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Ben Wehmeier, Deb Reinbold, Jefferson County by wispolitics
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at Wisconsin's congressional races and consider the impact of new district boundaries on Wisconsin's legislative races.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, analyze the U.S. Senate race between GOP businessman Eric Hovde and Dem U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin as Election Day draws closer.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, take a look at the Trump and Harris campaigns in battleground Wisconsin in the final weeks of the race.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Dan Butkus, Scott Rolfs, Wisconsin Lakes Coalition by wispolitics
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, discuss the next biennial state budget and take a first look at agency requests for spending Wisconsin's robust surplus.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and The Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, take a look at the Wisconsin's Native American tribe's recent push to provide medical marijuana.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, discuss the top political issues at play this election cycle. In Wisconsin, it's the economy.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
WisOpinion: 'The Insiders' analyze recent presidential polling in Wisconsin by wispolitics
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, review the debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider the status of Wisconsin's U.S. Senate race between challenger Eric Hovde and U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, handicap Wisconsin's 3rd and 8th Congressional District races and whether the GOP can hold those seats.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
WisOpinion: ‘The Insiders’ discuss how the primary may impact the general election by wispolitics
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Rachel Neill, Carex Consulting Group And Figgy by wispolitics
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, give their takes on the upcoming Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, discuss recent financial problems at Milwaukee Public schools, their history and the need to fix them.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, discuss recent Wisconsin Supreme Court opinions on absentee ballot drop boxes and legislative oversight of stewardship purchases.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center onPublic Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, take up the rift between socialist state Rep. Ryan Clancy and legislative Democrats.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, examine President Joe Biden’s status as the Dem nominee and how that affects Tammy Baldwin’s campaign for reelection to the U.S. Senate. Recorded on July 11.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at Milwaukee's Republican National Convention as national politics focuses on the Badger State.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and The Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, discuss whether Gov. Tony Evers deserves the credit for recently announced major economic development projects.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen take a look at the continuing saga of the effort to recall Assembly Speaker Robin Vos.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider voter reaction to former President Trump's felony conviction for falsifying business records in hush money scheme. Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, set the stage for the 2024 fall legislative elections with candidate filings completed this past week.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, discuss finding and convincing Wisconsin independent voters to vote for a partisan candidate in the presidential election.WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, discuss finding and convincing Wisconsin independent voters to vote for a partisan candidate in the presidential election.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and The Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at the upcoming spring 2025 Supreme Court election, now an open seat that will determine ideological control of the court with liberal Justice Ann Walsh Bradley's plan to retire.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and The Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Emily Pritzkow, Wisconsin Building Trades Council 2024 by wispolitics
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, discuss the consequences of redistricting on the fall elections and its impact on political competitiveness.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at the race for Wisconsin's First Congressional District, where former Revenue Secretary Peter Barca, a Democrat who served in Congress from 1993-1995 and in the state Assembly from 1985-1992 and 2008-2019, is running against Republican incumbent Bryan Steil.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and The Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at recent polls and discuss how close the U.S. Senate and presidential races might be.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, explain the importance of Wisconsin to both presidential candidates in a tightly contested election year.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
On this week's Capitol Chats podcast, Dane County Republican Party Chair Brandon Maly, 24, says Republican voters, even RINOs, will likely rally behind Trump in the November general election. As long as they can clear the abortion hurdle, Maly says voters aren't pleased with how the White House is handling many current issues and they are specifically displeased with the economy. He also says Republicans should meet younger voters where they are instead of talking about banning TikTok.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at the recall efforts directed at Assembly Speaker Robin Vos by elements of the GOP.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
In this week’s Capitol Chats episode, Dem strategist Joe Zepecki shares his takeaways from the April 2 presidential primary. Zepecki says he believes President Joe Biden will earn support from uninstructed voters in November. He also points out the percentage of voters who cast ballots in the GOP primary for candidates that are no longer in the race was higher than the margin of uninstructed votes in the Dem primary.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, offer their take on why so many state lawmakers are retiring their positions amid new legislative district maps.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
In this week's Capitol Chats: Kyle Johnson, political director for Listen to Wisconsin, says voters who checked the 'uninstructed' box this April primary want President Joe Biden to remember and listen to those who helped elect him to office. They're protesting Biden’s policies toward Israel and Gaza. Johnson also says the movement still wants to see Biden earn a second term, but he needs to meet their demands before they can align to defeat former President Donald Trump. More than 47,000 voted uninstructed, surpassing the group's goal of 20,000. Published on April 3, 2024.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, preview Wisconsin's April 2 spring election and what it may indicate for state and national politics. Statewide, the ballot includes the presidential primary and two constitutional amendments regarding elections. Voters will also vote in general elections for local offices and weigh in on school funding referendums.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
In this week’s Capitol Chats episode, School Choice Wisconsin President Nic Kelly says new legislative maps that favor Dems could be a challenge. But he argues Dems should remember their constituents benefit from the state's private school voucher programs. Kelly also reviews the group's efforts during the legislative session.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, weigh the successes and failures of the recently adjourned 2023-24 legislative session.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
In this week’s Capitol Chats podcast, Wisconsin Education Association Council President Peggy Wirtz-Olsen says the $1.4 billion in combined school budget referendum requests across Wisconsin is a sign public schools need more funding and the funding formula is broken. Data provided to WisPolitics by the Wisconsin Policy Forum show this year to be the third-highest ask from schools since 2000. Wirtz-Olsen also talks about a new AAPI curriculum bill and the Senate’s rejection of Gov. Tony Evers’ nomination of John Miller to the UW Board of Regents.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, examine how and why the principles and priorities of the Republican and Democratic parties in Wisconsin have evolved over time. Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at the upcoming Wisconsin primary and the likely rematch of former President Donald Trump with President Joe Biden.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
In this week’s Capitol Chats episode, Sen. Brad Pfaff discusses his bill aiming to fight PFAS contamination. The Onalaska Dem says the Legislature must act on the issue amid a standoff between Republicans and Gov. Tony Evers over PFAS funding.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, discuss the candidacy rollout for Eric Hovde, a Republican seeking to unseat Dem U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin.Recorded live before the Wisconsin Bankers Association annual Capitol Day at the Monona Terrace in Madison, Wis.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
In this week's Capitol Chats podcast, Assembly Corrections Committee Chair Michael Schraa, R-Oshkosh, talks about some of the most pressing issues facing the Wisconsin's prisons. He talks about what it will take to continue driving security staff vacancy rates down and how likely it is a longterm push to replace maximum security prisons from the 19th century in Waupun and Green Bay with one newer facility. He also briefly touches on what's to come from his committee.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, offer their take on Gov. Tony Evers' signing of legislative district maps approved by the GOP-controlled Wisconsin Legislature Recorded live before the Wisconsin Bankers Association Annual Capitol Day at Monona Terrace, Madison, Wis.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center for Public Leadership.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Dr. Shekar Kurpad, Wisconsin Institute of NeuroScience by wispolitics
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, WISDOM Transformational Justice Campaign Coordinator Mark Rice says long term lockdowns amount to torture for inmates. He also says there has been no significant progress to lift the nearly yearlong lockdowns at Wisconsin's two oldest maximum security prisons, and argues former Parole Commissioner John Tate II created a better climate on the Parole Commission.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, offer their take on the abortion issue and its impact on the 2024 elections.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
In this week’s Capitol Chats episode, freshman Rep. Nate Gustafson discusses recommendations from the Speaker's Task Force on Artificial Intelligence he chairs. The Fox Crossing Republican also shares his thoughts on how AI could be used to address the state's workforce shortage.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, review Gov. Evers' State of the State address for its policy objectives and legacy in gubernatorial speeches.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
In this week's WisPolitics Capitol Chats podcast, Americans for Prosperity State Director Megan Novak says most voters are thinking about inflation on regular goods and services such as groceries and energy heading into the presidential election. She argues the federal government has got to stop growing the national debt and should also focus on providing more American energy while. She also blasts President Joe Biden for what she calls anti-worker freedom policies.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, offer their take on where the Supreme Court redistricting process is headed.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.Note: This episode was recorded before the Supreme Court's consultants weighed on the proposed maps parties in the case submitted.
In this week’s Capitol Chats episode, state Rep. Katrina Shankland, D-Stevens Point, talks about her campaign to unseat U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien, and touts her credentials as a state legislator. Shankland is one of three Dems vying for the seat.
In this week's WisPolitics Capitol Chats WILL President and General Counsel Rick Esenberg talks about the legislative redistricting lawsuit his office is party to. Esenberg also talks about what to watch for in the lawsuit seeking to make Wisconsin's 1849 abortion law unenforceable. A Dane County judge late last year ruled the law doesn't apply to consensual abortions, but Sheboygan DA Urmanski is appealing the decision.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, discuss efforts to keep former President Trump off state primary election ballots, including a lawsuit in Wisconsin.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Marquette University Law School Lubar Center Research Fellow John Johnson gives his first impressions of maps submitted to the Supreme Court for a redistricting lawsuit. He says the court laid out criteria the maps must meet, but did not detail how to gauge the criteria. He also says he'd be surprised if the federal government weighed in on the issue as Republicans have said they are ready to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, talk about the Wisconsin's Republican false electors and how their acknowledgement Biden won against Trump in 2020 differs from other states.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Dr. John Raymond, Medical College of Wisconsin by wispolitics
In this week’s Capitol Chats episode, Debra Cronmiller, executive director of the League of Women Voters and chair of the Fair Maps Coalition, discusses a case before the Supreme Court challenging the state's legislative maps. The court has ordered new maps ahead of the 2024 elections.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, discuss the possible outcomes as the Wisconsin Supreme Court selects new lines for the state's legislative districts. Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Brad Olson, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation by wispolitics
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, predict the political stories most likely to dominate the news in 2024.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider the political winners and losers of 2023.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Department of Workforce Development Secretary Amy Pechacek says the department's plan to modernize its unemployment insurance claims program is on track to finish within the 4-year goal. But she says that won't be the end of modernization efforts as new technologies to improve efficiencies and protect against fraud come about.
The WisOpinion insiders, Chvala and Jensen, share the top political stories of 2023.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
In this week's Capitol Chats podcast, Sen. Eric Wimberger, R-Green Bay, says it's crucial to include protections for innocent property owners who discover PFAS contamination in their wells in his grant bill. He rips those who argue the protections would give polluters a legal pass, noting many who find contamination are not the source of the pollution. His bill to issue remediation grants would protect homeowners from being labeled as polluters and being forced to disclose the pollution on their mortgages and other legal documents.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, analyze recent Wisconsin Supreme Court oral arguments on redistricting and consider how the court might act.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Democracy Found Executive Director Sara Eskrich says ranked choice voting has proven successful in other states such as Alaska. Final five, a subset of ranked choice voting, would also decrease the odds candidates who mostly appeal to their party's extremes end up on the general election ballot, she added.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider Joe Biden's chances of winning again in Wisconsin in 2024.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Kip Ritchie, Potawatomi Business Development Corp by wispolitics
In this week's WisPolitics Capitol Chats podcast, Rep. David Steffen, R-Green Bay, argues the state has delayed replacing the aging Green Bay maximum security prison, built in the 1890s, too long. He says the politics of constructing a new prison while the administration has focused on criminal justice reform have let long term infrastructure, safety and staffing issues languish.
The WisOpinion insiders, Chvala and Jensen, talk about their experience with state budget surpluses and the battle between Democrats and Republicans over how to allocate the current surplus.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District and Dems seeking to unseat U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Rock County Clerk Lisa Tollefson, also the Wisconsin County Clerks Association's Legislative Committee co-chair, says a bill to allow absentee ballot processing before election night will absolutely help clerks do their jobs. But she says she's not sure if clerk protections the Legislature recently passed will do enough to deter harassment that has driven many election workers away since the 2020 election.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, take up divided government and the Republicans' rejection of several Gov. Tony Evers' key appointments to state agencies and boards.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
In this week's Capitol Chats podcast, U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Town of Vermont, says he and other House members are asking Israel to describe what the end of its latest conflict with Hamas will look like. He argues the Israeli bombing campaigns that have taken innocent lives "isn't a plan." The Congressional Progressive Caucus chair emeritus also says the White House should also do more to bring a ceasefire to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider the controversy over GOP efforts to remove Elections Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Sachin Shivaram, Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry by wispolitics
In this week's Capitol Chats podcast, Sen. Romaine Quinn says his package of abortion-related bills would provide support for women and families. The Cameron Republican also pushes back on a lawsuit arguing abortion is legal in Wisconsin, saying abortion is clearly prohibited under state law.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, take up campus closures, layoffs and cuts at outstate Universities of Wisconsin campuses.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center for Public Leadership.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Lisa Johnson of BioForward Wisconsin on Tech Hub designation by wispolitics
In this week's Capitol Chats podcast, acting State Public Defender Katie York is in the office to talk about how she's doing since outgoing SPD Kelli Thompson gave her the reins earlier in the year. She says recent pay raises have helped some with staff vacancy issues, but she has a lot of other projects to work on now too.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, talk about the Assembly version of the Milwaukee Brewer's maintenance package awaiting a Senate vote.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider the fate of Wisconsin Elections Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe as GOP lawmakers seek her ouster. Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
This week's Capitol Chats podcast features an interview with redistricting expert John Johnson. The Marquette University Law School Lubar Center research fellow says the state Supreme Court could take a few different paths to tackling how to redraw the state’s legislative boundaries if it rules against the current maps. He said if the court draws new districts, he would expect to see “a map that bears no relation to what we currently have.”
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, detail the legislative debate over how to use the state's projected $4 billion budget surplus, from tax cuts to funding child care and schools. Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Rep. LaKeshia Myers explains why she voted with Republicans on a nonpartisan redistricting bill. The Milwaukee Dem also explains her past concerns with Gov. Tony Evers' People's Maps Commission.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, discuss the lawsuit challenging Wisconsin's 1849 abortion ban and Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin's decision to resume abortion services at its Milwaukee and Madison clinics.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos in his first interview for the podcast says he's skeptical about releasing any kind of report or findings from the panel looking into impeachment. The Rochester Republican also says he doesn't want it to come to impeachment, but he still wants to know what sort of conduct might be impeachable.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, take on the proposed Iowa-style redistricting proposal amid threats to impeach liberal Justice Janet Protasiewicz if she doesn't recuse herself from redistricting cases.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Rep. Rob Brooks, R-Saukville, talks about the details in a proposal to spend more than $600 million on Milwaukee Brewers stadium maintenance and improvements efforts. The deal would keep the team in Wisconsin through 2050 and proponents argue it would bring a major economic boost to the local area and the rest of the state.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider the impact of Gov. Tony Evers' budget vetoes on the fall legislative session.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
On this week's Capitol Chats episode, Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler says Republicans pushing to impeach liberal Supreme Court Justice Janet Protasiewicz are basically shooting themselves in the foot. If they go through with an impeachment, Wikler says it will likely turn many voters away from the GOP and open the door to more impeachments he says will also be politically motivated.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, take up legislative Republicans’ efforts to force liberal Supreme Court Justice Janet Protasiewicz’s recusal from redistricting cases, including the threat of impeachment. Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Assembly Campaigns and Elections Committee Chair Scott Krug says the committee is focused on bipartisan solutions to election issues going into 2024. The Nekoosa Republican says allowing absentee ballots to be counted before Election Day is one priority.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Allouez, says the U.S. will always been a trade partner with China since the country relies on American goods such as Wisconsin soybeans. Still, he argues America must reduce its reliance on Chinese manufacturing and production to insulate itself against a possible economic and demographic collapse that Gallagher says could lead Chinese leader Xi Jinping to make volatile moves.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Nadine Allen, Wisconsin Hospital Association by wispolitics
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, review the GOP presidential hopefuls that held their first debate in Milwaukee.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Dem AG Josh Kaul won't say if he plans to charge any of the 10 fake electors in Wisconsin as other AGs have brought similar cases in their states. He also talks about pushing for closure for survivors of clergy abuse and the future of his lawsuit to make the state's 1849 abortion ban unenforceable.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld, Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment by wispolitics
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski talks about how she plans to run her new office, specifically how she wants to help clerks and other election workers do their jobs. She also talks briefly about her role as chair of the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Laura Strong, board member for Forward Festival by wispolitics
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, State Treasurer John Leiber warns the Town of Sanborn's property tax revenue issue could be just the beginning of revenue problems for municipalities that previously collected the taxes from tribal members. A recent federal court ruled tribal members don't have to pay property tax, which leaves Sanborn looking to fill a huge hole in its budget. Leiber also talks about the other work his office handles.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Julia Steege-Reimann, Voyageur Extended Stays by wispolitics
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at the role third party presidential candidates have played in Wisconsin over the years.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Maysee Herr, Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce by wispolitics
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, League of Wisconsin Municipalities Government Affairs Director Toni Herkert talks about how important the shared revenue deal that increases state aid to local governments by at least 20 percent is such an important measure. She also talks about why some municipalities got more than others, and why the Milwaukee-specific provisions are so contentious.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at the possible GOP candidates to run against Dem U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin in 2024.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
On this week's Capitol Chats podcast, Department of Health Services Sec. Kirsten Johnson talks about the importance of expanding Medicaid coverage in Wisconsin, which would save Medicaid recipients money. She also said the state's abortion ban could make Wisconsin less attractive to medical students, arguing the lack of abortion access is a "travesty."
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider the proposal for the first major changes to Wisconsin’s alcohol sales laws in nearly a century.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Sen. LaTonya Johnson, D-Milwaukee, talks about how Republicans' budget doesn't give Milwaukee the help it needs. She argues the state's most populous city is the economic driver, and other lawmakers should give Milwaukee the respect and resources it needs to keep boosting the rest of the state.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Sen. LaTonya Johnson, D-Milwaukee, talks about how Republicans' budget doesn't give Milwaukee the help it needs. She argues the state's most populous city is the economic driver, and other lawmakers should give Milwaukee the respect and resources it needs to keep boosting the rest of the state.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, disagree whether the GOP budget is good or not for the UW and K-12 education.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
In this week's Capitol Chats, Wisconsin's newly elected DNC Representative Alex Lasry says he wants to help carry national Dems to victory on a wave of past success. The former Milwaukee Bucks exec. also talks about possible plans to retake CD3 and battle for CD1 before talking a little bit about how he likes living on Milwaukee's east side.
'The Insiders' consider the Wisconsin GOP's future ahead of the party's state convention by wispolitics
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Dayne Rusch, Vyper Industrial, Vyper Energy by wispolitics
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider the Packers and Brewers' requests for state funding.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association.
On this week's Capitol Chats episode, Clean Wisconsin Government Relations Director Erik Kanter talks about a proposal to spend $125 million on a state PFAS trust fund. Kanter says the money is important, but he's concerned with the proposal's restrictions on how the Department of Natural Resources can regulate PFAS contamination and cleanup efforts.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider the fate of GOP legislative proposals to increase local sales tax rates for Milwaukee. Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Department of Safety and Professional Services Secretary Dan Hereth talks about how his agency has been working to address a backlog of license approvals that arose during the pandemic. Hereth says DSPS has implemented several technology and process improvements to speed the process along and ensure those who need help get it.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider whether Wisconsin's GOP-controlled Legislature is ready to legalize medical marijuana.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Zach Brandon, Greater Madison Chamber Of Commerce by wispolitics
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider potential GOP candidates to run against incumbent Dem U.S. Sen.Tammy Baldwin in 2024.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association
League of Wisconsin Municipalities Executive Director Jerry Deschane says this session is turning out to be one of the most consequential for local governments in a generation. Several bills are circulating the Capitol to address shared revenue, workforce housing and PFAS "forever chemical" contamination.
The WisOpinion insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at the signature items each party hopes to include in the 2023-24 biennial budget.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Minocqua, says he'll need to see a border security bill included in the debt limit increase for him to support it. He also talks about a possible Senate bid for next year's election.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, take on the wrangling over shared revenue after GOP lawmakers announced their plan and Gov. Tony Evers threatened his veto.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association.
On this week's Capitol Chats episode, Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary James Bond says many of DVA's budget requests focus on improving housing, medical, substance abuse and other veteran care. He also says he's conducting a survey at the troubled Union Grove home to address issues lawmakers have raised about the quality of care there.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider the political future of Sarah Godlewski, who was recently appointed secretary of state by Gov. Tony Evers.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Superintendent Jill Underly argues Joint Finance Committee Republicans should support public school funding proposals because they would help everyone. She also says a proposal to allow teachers with concealed carry permits to bring guns to school would not reduce gun violence; reducing guns in schools would.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Paul Nobile and Ted Osthelder of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield by wispolitics
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at the recent spring election and whether ballot questions affected turnout.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
On this week's Capitol Chats episode, School Choice Wisconsin Director of Policy and Government Affairs Amy Loudenbeck rebukes Gov. Tony Evers' proposed enrollment caps. She says Wisconsin families rely on school choice "and anything that would limit or eliminate the program is going to meet some heavy resistance."
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider former President Donald Trump's legal challenges and their political impact in Wisconsin.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
On this week's Capitol Chats episode, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin Legal Director Michelle Velasquez says the future of mifepristone is still up in the air as legal battles continue. She also says it'll be interesting to see how the legal battle of AG Josh Kaul's lawsuit to overturn the state's 1849 abortion ban plays out after the recent Supreme Court race created a 4-3 liberal majority on the bench.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Department of Corrections Secretary Kevin Carr says the current administration has no appetite to increase prison capacity. And any talks about building new prisons to replace aging facilities would need to come with a criminal justice reform deal. Republicans in the Joint Finance Committee have been focusing on the aging Green Bay Correctional Institution, first opened in 1898.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Rep. Dave Murphy in a Zoom interview says he's happy the UW System issued its free speech survey to students. He also says he wants to look closer at the results and hold some hearings in the Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee he chairs.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider potential opponents for U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, who is up for reelection in 2024.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, State Public Defender Legislative Liaison Adam Plotkin says Wisconsin's criminal justice system needs public defenders taking cases in order to function. As the biennial budget cycle moves ahead, he wants to make sure Republicans include pay raises to address SPD recruitment and retention issues. Plotkin also talks about why a bill to define "violent crime" could increase the load on the justice system.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, take a look at what may happen to Governor Evers' budget proposal now that it's in the hands of the GOP-controlled Legislature.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Fond du Lac DA Eric Toney says pay increases for prosecutors and public defenders are crucial to fighting the attorney shortage in Wisconsin. He also says he's been talking with Republican leaders about making sure DAs get what they need in the upcoming budget.
DNR Secretary Adam Payne says he's optimistic about coming to a consensus on setting water quality and PFAS standards after years of tumultuous talks. Payne also says the DNR needs to do a better job at figuring out the carrying capacity for gray wolves and animals they interact with while the department refines its draft wolf management plan.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, review the spring primary and consider the potential outcome for the 8th Senate District race.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, review the spring primary and consider the potential outcome for the 8th Senate District race.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
In this week's Capitol Chats podcast, Minority Leader Greta Neubauer talks more about her idea to move to a full state-funding model for K-12 schools from the current two-thirds model. She also argues increasing shared revenue for local governments will help them keep many of their essential resources, such as public safety staff and equipment.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider the outcome of the February 21 primary and its impact on the April 4 general election.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, remember the life and career of former Gov. Tony Earl, who died Thursday at 86.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
In this week's Capitol Chats podcast, U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Milwaukee, says lawmakers need to keep in mind ways to dismantle Milwaukee's historic segregation issues while crafting legislation. The Ways and Means Committee member also says she hopes the fight to raise the debt ceiling won't again result in a downgrade of the U.S. credit rating as happened in the 2011 fight to raise the debt ceiling.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at the likely outcomes for the non-partisan primary for Wisconsin Supreme Court.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode Sen. Kelda Roys blasts "right wing billionaires" for foisting the UW System's free speech survey upon the statewide colleges and universities system. The Madison Dem also says the survey was "primed to get a result that would show some kind of a bias."
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Rose Oswald Poels, Wisconsin Bankers Assocation by wispolitics
This week's Capitol Chats podcast covers what freshman Rep. Bob Donovan, R-Greenfield, wants to focus on in the Legislature. Donovan is a longtime local government veteran and he says he wants to bring that perspective to the negotiating table. He especially wants to focus on shared revenue issues for local governments and public safety issues.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Kevin Krentz, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation by wispolitics
On this week's Capitol Chats episode, U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher says the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party he's chairing will focus largely on deterring Chinese aggression toward Taiwan and other U.S. interests. He also said the U.S. sending 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine is the right move, but the war has unearthed some munitions stockpiling deficiencies.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, examine how 3rd Cong. Dist. U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden pivoted from outsider and Jan. 6 rally attendee to member of Congress.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
This week's Capitol Chats episodes features an interview with freshman Rep. Darrin Madison. The Milwaukee Democratic Socialist says he wants to focus much of his time on improving the juvenile justice system. He also says he wants to "center working class citizens" in his discussions with fellow lawmakers.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Mike Semmann, Wisconsin Grocers Association by wispolitics
Talking Trade with Assistant Professor Paul Castaneda Dower Of UW-Madison by wispolitics
Talking Trade with Rocío Rivera Barradas, General Consulate Of Mexico In Chicago by wispolitics
Steil wants to focus on reducing inflation, increasing U.S. energy production by wispolitics
Talking Trade with Tom Lochner, Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association by wispolitics
Talking Trade: Trends In U.S. - China Agricultural Trade Affecting The Midwest by wispolitics
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, handicap the upcoming Wisconsin Supreme Court race following their first major forum and recent endorsements.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Eric Borgerding, Wisconsin Hospital Association by wispolitics
In this week's Capitol Chats, freshman U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien, in an interview recorded before the new year says former U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, La Crosse, won't return his phone calls. Van Orden also says he wants in on the House Agriculture Committee.
The WisOpinion insiders, Chvala and Jensen, share their selections for Wisconsin's political winners and losers of 2022.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
This week's Capitol Chats episode features Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu talking about his priorities to reduce taxes, slim down committees and reduce prison staff vacancy rates in the upcoming session. The Oostburg Republican also says he wants to restart the process for confirming gubernatorial appointments for boards such as the Natural Resources Board. LeMahieu last week announced committee assignments. See a list of assignments here: https://www.wispolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/221215Senate.pdf
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, take up the crowded 8th Senate District GOP primary. Among the candidates is Rep. Janel Brandtjen, who was expelled from the Assembly GOP caucus.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
This week's Capitol Chats is a conversation with outgoing U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, D-La Crosse. Kind says he's in talks with the White House for his next job. He also hopes Derrick Van Orden does well to represent the La Crosse district he has represented since 1997. Capitol Chats will replace the WisPolitics Midday podcast.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at the growing field of candidates and the issues and dynamics at play in the race to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Patience Roggensack.Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
This week's Midday podcast covers Rep. Janel Brandtjen's recently announced bid to replace Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, representing many of Milwaukee's northern suburbs. There aren't any Dems in the race, but GOP Rep. Dan Knodl, R-Germantown, Theinsville Village President Van Mobley and Concordia University senior Robert Albrightson of Brown Deer are also running for the spot.
This week's Midday podcast covers Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu signaling areas they're willing to work with Gov. Tony Evers on this upcoming session. But they say that doesn't mean Evers will get everything he wants. And the Republican-run Legislature could still stop bills from ever getting to his desk.
This week's Midday podcast covers what freshly-elected Senate Minority Leader Melissa Agard, D-Madison, wants to accomplish in the upcoming legislative session. She's taking the reins as outgoing Senate Minority Leader Janet Bewley, D-Mason, is leaving the Senate after her current term.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, discuss whether the relationship between Gov. Tony Evers and the GOP-controlled Legislature will change as divided government continues in Wisconsin following the Nov. 8 election.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, take up recent statewide elections for governor and U.S. Senate, and offer their views on why ticket splitting seems to be a Badger pastime.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, review the top partisan TV commercials of the 2022 campaign season.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, gauge the chances the GOP can reach a veto-proof majority in the Legislature in the fall general election
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
This week's Midday podcast covers GOP gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels' position on Wisconsin's 1849 abortion ban. Previously he said the ban mirrors his position, but recently he said he wouldn't be putting doctors in jail. He also debated with Gov. Tony Evers about how to handle rising crime, the state surplus and other issues.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider which party has momentum in the final weeks of the 2022 general election.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, discuss the races for secretary of state and state treasurer, and the potential for full GOP control of state government.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
This week's Midday podcast covers U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson and Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes facing off for the first time in a debate ahead of the November election. Dem Gov. Tony Evers and GOP candidate Tim Michels will likely face off over crime, abortion and education issues in their first debate this week.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at the attorney general contest between incumbent Dem Josh Kaul and GOP Fond du Lac County DA Eric Toney.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
This week's Midday podcast covers the Legislature quickly gaveling in and out of a special session Gov. Tony Evers called to take up a measure that would allow voters to weigh in on statewide referendums. U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson also this week pitched his idea to have a 10-option referendum on when abortions should be allowed.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, examine the impact of President Biden and former President Trump on the midterm elections.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
This week's Midday podcast covers Gov. Tony Evers' call to convene a special session of the Legislature to take up a constitutional amendment to allow voters to pass legislation via referendum. Ever's promoted it as a way to overturn the state's 1849 abortion ban, but Republicans have signaled they won't back the measure. Since Evers' call, GOP gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels said he would sign a bill to create exceptions to the state's abortion ban for rape and incest.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, discuss the end of the 2020 election investigation led by former Justice Michael Gableman that failed to turn up widespread voter fraud.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at the most recent Marquette University Law School Poll and factors affecting the Wisconsin governor and U.S. Senate races.
Sponsored by Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies
Today's Midday podcast covers three election-related lawsuits that involve the Wisconsin Elections Commission, federal courts, county courts and the Wisconsin Supreme Court. WEC Administrator Meagan Wolfe at a WisPolitics.com Luncheon said the increasing amount of litigation is creating even more work for the commission.
Today's Midday podcast covers President Joe Biden and Gov. Tony Evers visiting Milwaukee's Laborfest on Monday to tout their support for unions and labor. GOP gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels outside the event slammed Biden's student loan forgiveness program and festival goers inside had a range of thoughts on the $10,000 - $20,000 debt forgiveness.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, review Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District race to succeed longtime moderate U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, D-La Crosse.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Emily Pritzkow, Wisconsin Building Trades Council by wispolitics
This week's Midday podcast covers Assembly Speaker Robin Vos firing former Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman from his job investigating the 2020 election. Vos also withdrew subpoenas that would have forced mayors of the state's five largest municipalities to testify in private in Gableman's office, which caused a Waukesha County judge to dismiss the case in which the subpoenas were filed.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Nick Novak, Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce by wispolitics
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, handicap Wisconsin's U.S. Senate contest between GOP incumbent Ron Johnson and Democratic challenger Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Today's Midday podcast covers the newly announced site for the type 1 facility in Milwaukee slated to replace the state's juvenile prison in Lincoln County. But building that new facility alone won't mean Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake, where juvenile girl offenders are also kept in Lincoln County, will close any time soon.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, review the Wisconsin partisan primary for governor, Congress and the Legislature.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
This week's Midday podcast covers results from the August primary election on Tuesday in the gubernatorial, attorney general, 63rd AD and secretary of state races. Trump-backed Tim Michels will face Gov. Tony Evers as GOP Fond du Lac Co. DA Eric Toney faces Dem AG Josh Kaul and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos holds onto the Republican endorsement for his 63rd AD seat.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Hilary Stohs-Krause, Forward Festival board member by wispolitics
This week's Midday podcast covers what Republican gubernatorial candidates are up to the week ahead of Tuesday's primary election. Construction business exec Tim Michels changes his stances on backing Trump in 2024 ahead of the former president's Wisconsin visit and former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch knocks Michels over an attack ad.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Dustin Hinton, CEO of UnitedHealthcare in Wisconsin and Michigan by wispolitics
This week's Midday podcast covers what to watch for as candidates prepare to face off in the August 9 primary. Several candidates have dropped out and endorsed their former opponents while campaigns launch ads and gather endorsements. Primary winners will go on to the November general election.
This week's Midday podcast covers an argument between the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules and the Wisconsin Elections Commission over whether election clerk are allowed to cure missing or incorrect information on absentee ballot envelopes. JCRAR voted to suspend a WEC rule on the matter, but WEC attorneys say clerks can still use ballot curing guidance from 2016.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider whether Wisconsin might adopt a red flag law following the recent passage of federal firearm legislation.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider whether the Jan. 6 congressional hearings will affect U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson 's chances for reelection.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Brian Bennett, STIR Advertising and Integrated Messaging by wispolitics
This week's Midday podcast covers the Wisconsin Supreme Court's ruling that absentee ballot drop boxes are illegal after Republicans have been raising concerns about them since the last presidential election. The Wisconsin Elections Commission also decided not to send local election clerks guidance on how to deal with the ruling.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at the upcoming partisan primaries for U.S. Senate and Wisconsin governor.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider how the overturn of Roe v. Wade will affect Wisconsin politics.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Today's Midday podcast covers what happens next in Wisconsin after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned abortion access protections in Roe v. Wade. Republicans argue the state's 1849 ban criminalizing abortions could go into effect, while many Dems argue newer laws supersede the 173-year-old law.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Steve Glynn, chief Milwaukee officer for Experience Milwaukee by wispolitics
Today's Midday podcast covers the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn abortion protections in Roe v. Wade, triggering Wisconsin's 1849 law that criminalizes most abortions as a Class H felony. Dem AG Josh Kaul has said he won't expend Department of Justice resources enforcing the law, but Republicans are still praising the Supreme Court ruling.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Joel Zielke, business manager for Steamfitters Local 601 by wispolitics
This week's Midday podcast covers who's on the ballot for the August primary after the deadline to submit nomination signatures elapsed. The Legislature has 31 seats with only one major party listed on the ballot and three of those will have just one name.
The WisOpinion insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at big early spending on ads in Wisconsin's U.S. Senate race and whether it will move undecided voters.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Today's Midday podcast covers U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin's thoughts on the potential for the Senate to move ahead on background checks and red flag laws in the wake of recent mass shootings. State officials have also offered proposals to stop gun violence ranging from banning ghost guns to arming teachers.
U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., addressed a WisPolitics.com breakfast event at the AT&T Forum in Washington, D.C., June 7, 2022.
Topic: What the Bipartisan Innovation Act Means for America, and Wisconsin
Moderator: Taurean Small, a reporter in the Spectrum News DC bureau who covers the Wisconsin congressional delegation.
The WisPolitics.com D.C. breakfast event series is sponsored by: Michael Best / Michael Best Strategies, WPS Health Solutions, Xcel Energy, Exact Sciences, Marquette University / the Les Aspin Center for Government. Their sponsorship support made this event possible.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Wisconsin Alumni Association are event partners as well as the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at violent crime in Milwaukee and consider how it may impact the Republican National Committee's decision whether to host its 2024 convention in the city.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Matt Nash, president of Kairos Technologies by wispolitics
Today's Midday podcast covers the upcoming Republican Party of Wisconsin convention in Middleton this weekend. GOP candidates will seek the state part endorsement as they head to the primaries. The convention will also bring a plethora of resolutions as well as contention over the endorsement process.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with David Reeves, Marquette University executive-in-residence by wispolitics
Today's Midday podcast covers the rise in ghost gun popularity as President Joe Biden introduces restrictions on homemade firearms that lack serial numbers. WisPolitics intern @EleaLevin interviews Dem AG Josh Kaul, who says Wisconsin needs more restrictions while Republican AG candidates argue to protect Second Amendment rights.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at Milwaukee as the potential host of the 2024 GOP National Convention.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, talk inflation from the gas pump to the political stump and gauge its impact on the fall elections.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Marion Riehemann, CEO and co-founding partner of Second Freedom by wispolitics
Today's Midday podcast covers former Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman's investigation into the 2020 presidential election. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos announced his office would not be shutting down the investigation after former President Donald Trump criticized Republicans in Wisconsin who are voicing concerns about the probe.
Today's Midday podcast covers the first public hearing on a marijuana bill since 2009 as lawmakers propose a bill that would legalize medical marijuana. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle had concerns about specifics in the bill such as who would be allowed to sell marijuana and what kinds of marijuana would be legal.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Sheri Johnson of the UW Population Health Institute by wispolitics
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, react to the Wisconsin Supreme Court decision approving GOP-drawn legislative districts for the next decade.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Today's Midday podcast covers turnout results from the Milwaukee mayoral race after then-acting Mayor Cavalier Johnson became the city's first elected Black mayor. Marquette University Law Lubar Center Research Fellow John Johnson says Johnson garnered widespread support from around the city to take home a historic win.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, sift through Wisconsin's 2022 spring election results for trends and clues for the fall general election.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at the Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate hoping to unseat Ron Johnson.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Today's Midday podcast covers former Acting Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson's win to become the city's first elected Black mayor. Conservative Judge Maria Lazar also beat incumbent Lori Kornblum to become the state's new judge in the 2nd District Court of Appeals.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Beau Engman, founder and president of PACE Equity by wispolitics
Today's Midday podcast covers the wind-up before next week's Milwaukee mayoral race and the election for 2nd District Court of Appeals. Acting Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson will face former southwest side Ald. Bob Donovan as conservative Judge Maria Lazar faces liberal Judge Lori Kornblum next Tuesday.
Today's Midday podcast covers the rising population at Wisconsin's youth prison for boys, many of which are coming from Milwaukee. Milwaukee Deputy DA Elisabeth Mueller told WisPolitics.com many of those boys from Milwaukee are going to Lincoln Hills because Milwaukee has seen a sharp uptick in car-theft related crimes among juveniles.
Today's Midday podcast covers Assembly Speaker Robin Vos after hearing from a group seeking to decertify the election results arguing there was widespread fraud in the election. Gov. Tony Evers at a WisPolitics.com luncheon at the Madison Club said that's one of the dumbest things he's heard Vos say.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, explore what's next for Wisconsin's reapportionment maps approved by the State Supreme Court.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Today's Midday podcast covers health care industry takeaways from the pandemic as we round the second year of COVID-19. UW Health Chief Quality Officer Dr. Jeff Pothof says Wisconsinites can at least somewhat return to normal as the omicron variant subsides.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, weigh the impact of Rep. Timothy Ramthun's entry into the GOP gubernatorial primary race.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Debby Jackson, Transportation Development Association of Wisconsin by wispolitics
In today's Midday podcast, the Assembly unanimously approved a bill that would replace Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake, the state's troubled youth prisons, with a $42 million facility in Milwaukee County. Also on the floor Black Caucus members talked about their resolution to honor 33 Black Americans and former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell. See the resolution:
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, evaluate the race for Milwaukee Mayor and its impact on state politics.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
In this week's Midday podcast we cover the two winners of the Milwaukee mayoral primary election. Acting Mayor Cavalier Johnson and former Ald. Bob Donovan will be on the April general election ballot. They both had some things to say about what comes next at their respective election night parties.
The WisOpinion insiders, Chvala and Jensen, unpack Gov. Tony Evers' State of the State speech and weigh its impact on this fall's race for governor.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Today's midday podcast covers the steady decline in cases and hospitalizations since our last health care update on the show. Hospitals are starting to gather themselves after fighting record breaking numbers, but some are still dealing with long term COVID-19 symptoms.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, each offer previews of Gov. Tony Evers' fourth annual State of the State address.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, weigh in on legislative Republicans' efforts to change laws on voting and election administration in Wisconsin.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Today's Midday podcast covers the Wisconsin Elections Commission's latest move to respond to Republican concerns in the Legislature over how the 2020 presidential election was handled.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, offer their advice how Gov. Tony Evers and the Legislature should spend Wisconsin's projected $3.8 billion surplus.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Ann Leinfelder Grove, Wellpoint Care Network by wispolitics
Today's Midday podcast covers former Justice Michael Gableman's election probe as it heads toward its conclusion. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos in the face of what he calls Dem obstructions said Gableman can continue through February. Some work to reform the election process in response to aspects of the 2020 presidential election have already begun.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Attorney Erin Ogden of Ogden, Glazer and Schaefer by wispolitics
Today's Midday podcast covers Assembly Speaker Robin Vos' effort to stall liberal group American Oversight's move to depose the Rochester Republican over former Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman's election probe. Gableman also recently granted a deadline extension to Madison and Green Bay allowing them more time to respond to subpoenas regarding the last presidential election.
Today's Midday podcast covers the omicron variant of COVID-19, which UW Health Chief Quality Officer Dr. Jeff Pothof says is now the dominant variant. He also said hospitals are having to come up with unique ways to cope with the influx of new patients as beds fill up.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Ulrich Broeckel, CEO and founder of RPRD Diagnostics by wispolitics
Talking Trade with Rocío Rivera Barradas, of the General Consulate of Mexico in Chicago by wispolitics
Today's Midday podcast covers a quick update on the rise of the omicron variant as the holiday season prompts travel. We also cover Assembly Dems' leadership updates as Minority Leader Gordon Hintz announces he will step down from his leadership role in January.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider Wisconsin's bail laws in light of the recent deadly Waukesha parade tragedy, the suspect in which was free on a low-dollar bond.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Today's Midday podcast covers the rise in COVID-19 cases across Wisconsin filling hospital beds and ICUs. Gov. Tony Evers is requesting help from the federal government to deal with the worsening situation as many Wisconsinites refuse to get vaccinated.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, are at odds over the Wisconsin Supreme Court's nod to the GOP redistricting effort.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, wrangle over whether Trump loyalist former U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy will enter the GOP primary for governor.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Today's Midday podcast covers the latest Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling on how the state's next legislative and congressional maps should be drawn. Justices ruled in favor of the Republican-backed least changes approach to drawing new district boundaries. They also ruled new maps will not take partisan makeup into consideration.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, handicap the 2022 Democratic field for U.S. Senate as pols await incumbent Republican Ron Johnson’s decision on whether to run for reelection.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with John Umhoefer, Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association by wispolitics
A WisPolitics.com panel discussion Nov. 18, 2021, in Madison focused on the once-a-decade redrawing of congressional and legislative boundaries in Wisconsin.
Panelists featured three former legislators who have deep experience in legislative map-making -- Republicans Scott Jensen and Joe Handrick plus Democrat Chuck Chvala -- along with Elizabeth Treviño, Wisconsin state director of allontheline.org.
Today's Midday podcast covers a bill that would reduce penalties for marijuana and paraphernalia possession in most communities across the state, but it would increase penalties in Milwaukee and Dane counties. The lawmakers who introduced the bill also recently made headlines on their own for different reasons.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, debate the political impact of Republicans' anti-abortion push following the GOP-controlled Legislature sending a series of abortion bills to Gov. Tony Evers' desk, where they'll meet likely vetoes.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Shabaka Gibson with the Creative Destruction Lab - Wisconsin by wispolitics
Today's Midday podcast covers the COVID-19 health care situation in Wisconsin as flu season approaches. Cases and deaths have been increasing compared to recent numbers as state health officials move to vaccinate children and distribute flu vaccines.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Robb Kahl of Wisconsin Infrastructure Investment Now by wispolitics
Today's Midday podcast covers Dane County Judge Jacob Frost's order to DNR halting the fall wolf hunt that would have started this weekend. A federal judge is waiting for more action in Frost's court before he offers his full opinion on whether DNR violated Ojibwe tribal treaty rights in setting its own wolf hunt quota.
U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher, a Green Bay-area Republican and House co-sponsor of the Endless Frontier Act, addressed a breakfast event in Washington, D.C., hosted by WisPolitics.com and the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce.
The event, which focused on how federal dollars can supercharge research and metro areas, also featured a panel discussion on the topic. Listen to the panel discussion here: https://soundcloud.com/wispolitics/wispoliticscomgmcc-dc-panel-on-how-federal-dollars-can-supercharge-research-and-metro-areas
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, offer different takes on the Legislative Audit Bureau's review of the 2020 Wisconsin elections.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Khalif And Que El-Amin, co-founders of Young Enterprising Society by wispolitics
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at the factors behind President Joe Biden's poll numbers and how Biden's performance may impact on Wisconsin politics.
Today's Midday podcast covers eight Assembly bills that aim to create more workforce housing the state as well as tackle issues with homelessness. The bills will see the light of the Assembly floor next week, but groups representing the interests of local governments are opposing many of the bills they say would give more land use control to the state government.
Today's Midday podcast covers what health experts on a recent WisPolitics virtual luncheon had to say about the ongoing pandemic. They said the Delta surge has stalled for now, but providers are still struggling with workforce shortages, burnout and some vaccine hesitancy as they pass 18 months fighting the pandemic.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at the candidates from both parties vying for lieutenant governor and ask how much the office matters.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Scott Suder, president of the Wisconsin Paper Council by wispolitics
"Talking Trade" with Tom Lochner of the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association by wispolitics
The WisOpinions Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, discuss the People's Maps Commission's first contribution to Wisconsin's redistricting battle.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Today's Midday podcast covers several bills introduced by both sides of the aisle aiming to address gun rights issues. Dems are pushing red flag law and universal background check bills as Republicans push bills to decrease liability for gun makers and dealers, as well as increase reciprocity for out-of-state concealed carry permit holders.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at how Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett's nomination as U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg could impact Milwaukee politics.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Hongmin Chen and Jon Young of WARF Therapeutics by wispolitics
Today's Midday podcast covers COVID-19 trends as a recent surge of cases sparked concern among health care officials. Trends are evening out now, but hospitals are still caring for hundreds of more severe cases as the state prepares for another pandemic winter.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, debate the GOP political strategy on COVID-19 and how voters may react next year.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
"WisBusiness: the Podcast" with Brad Bodden, Wisconsin Investment Partners by wispolitics
The WisOpinion Insiders Chvala and Jensen consider the impact of Ron Kind's plans to retire on Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, offer contrasting views on the 2020 election inquiry that Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has funded with nearly $680,000 from taxpayers.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Today's Midday podcast covers former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch's formal announcement she is running against Gov. Tony Evers in the 2022 race for Wisconsin governor. She vowed to pass a series of election-related bills that Evers vetoed earlier this year if elected, among other things.
WisBusiness: the Podcast with Heather Wentler, executive director and co-founder of Doyenne by wispolitics
Today's Midday podcast covers potential Republican gubernatorial candidates looking to beat Gov. Evers. Rebecca Kleefisch and Rep. John Macco have not officially announced their bids, but they are moving closer. The race to replace outgoing Milwaukee Mayor Barrett is also heating up as he will likely become the U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg.
Today's Midday podcast covers lawmakers' debate over a bill that would criminalize participating in an unlawful assembly that includes at least one person who makes a threat or violent act. The bill comes as many around the state recognize the anniversary of the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, by a white Kenosha Police officer.
"WisBusiness: the Podcast" with Richelle Martin, managing director of the Winnow Fund by wispolitics
Today's Midday podcast covers changing population and racial trends across the state as census data shows the overall population increased more slowly than other states. Several Democratic voters filed a lawsuit after the data came out, hoping to have a federal court draw new district lines instead of anyone in state government.
Today's Midday podcast covers U.S. Rep. Ron Kind announcing he will not seek reelection after 24 years serving the 3rd Congressional District of Wisconsin. The U.S. Senate also approved the $1.2T infrastructure bill and the $3.5T reconciliation bill framework. The smaller bill would send over $6B to Wisconsin, including funds for EV charging networks and broadband expansion.
Today's Midday podcast covers some of the funds Wisconsin could see from the latest bipartisan infrastructure measure worth $1.2 trillion in total. The Badger state would get over $5 billion to spend on highways and bridges, but details on the larger reconciliation package expected to follow the "hard" infrastructure bill remain unclear.
WisOpinion.com: "The Insiders" offer their political winners and losers halfway through 2021 by wispolitics
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, offer their views on how legislative redistricting will play out if Gov. Tony Evers and the GOP-controlled Legislature can't agree on boundaries.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Today's Midday podcast covers Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes announcing his candidacy for the U.S. Senate Democratic Primary, bringing the total to eight Dems. Barnes says the race is more than just a plan to beat U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, debate Speaker Robin Vos' 2020 election investigation.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Today's Midday podcast covers a joint settlement proposal between Purdue Pharma and 15 states that would bring millions to Wisconsin to fight the opioid epidemic. AG Josh Kaul says it's the best case scenario. As Kaul raises funds for his reelection campaign, GOP attorneys are raising funds for their campaigns for the upcoming election.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at the state budget, freshly signed by Gov. Tony Evers, as both parties' blueprint for Campaign 2022.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Today's Midday podcast covers Gov. Tony Evers' trip to a Whitefish Bay elementary school to sign the biennial budget. He vetoed 50 proposals that were included by the GOP-controlled Joint Finance Committee but kept their proposed tax cuts for middle-class Wisconsinites.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, discuss whether Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes should run for the U.S. Senate seat held by Ron Johnson.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Today's Midday podcast covers what six Dems looking to take U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson's seat had to say about providing health care for all Americans and addressing the student debt issue. Johnson also made headlines this week when he held a news conference on severe adverse side effects from various COVID-19 vaccines.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Jensen and Chvala, assess the post-pandemic economic recovery and the impact of federal money.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Today's Midday podcast covers four police policy overhaul bills signed into law by Gov. Tony Evers that primarily deal with police use of force and transparency. Eight other bills dealing with police policies, including no-knock warrants, are past the Assembly and headed to the Senate.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, weigh in on the GOP version of the biennial budget and debate how Gov. Tony Evers should react.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Today's Midday podcast covers various aspects of immigration reform as lawmakers in Congress battle over what to do with those already in the country, looking to get in and those waiting to see if they're allowed in at all. While some paint the issue as a partisan matter, others say it isn't that simple.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, comment on Gov. Tony Evers' announcement to seek a second term amid reports of a $4.4 billion budget windfall.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Today's Midday podcast covers the push to eliminate the extra $300 checks for unemployed people from the federal government. U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Allouez, introduced a bill to repurpose funds use for the extra UI benefits for a program he says should incentivize people to come back to work.
Today's Midday podcast covers a variety of roles Wisconsin National Guard soldiers filled throughout the pandemic. From administering more COVID-19 tests than any other National Guard unit to fighting forest fires in California, thousands of troops helped the nation recover.
Today's Midday podcast covers student vaccination requirements for Marquette University and the UW System. Marquette students will be required to get vaccinated by August, but UW System President Tommy Thompson says state university students will not be required to get vaccinated.
Today's Midday podcast covers Gov. Tony Evers' announcement he will run for a second term using many of the same campaign pillars that won him the 2018 election. Several potential Republican candidates could put up a fight as former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch has been eyeing the seat for a while.
Today's Midday podcast covers the fight over whether to end or continue the extra $300 per week enhanced unemployment benefits from the federal government. Republicans and business owners say the extra money is contributing to the workforce shortage while Dems say there is no evidence to support that.
The WisOpinion Insiders Chvala and Jensen take an early look at Dem Party candidates seeking to unseat GOP U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson in 2022, should he run for reelection.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Today's Midday podcast covers Joint Finance Committee proposals to spend taxpayer dollars on many of the same areas Evers called for in his budget, but they differ in how much money they spend and where that money comes from.
Today's Midday podcast covers Democratic U.S. Senate candidates who want to take control of Johnson's seat as he nears the end of his second term. At least five Dems have announced bids for the seat, but Johnson hasn't said whether or not he will run again in 2022.
Today's Midday podcast covers Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes acknowledging that some businesses are having a hard time finding help but said numbers don't support the idea that extra unemployment benefits are keeping people out of the workforce.
Assembly and Senate committees heard several mostly-Republican backed bills that would ban transgender girls from competing in girl sports in K-12 and collegiate competitions. Supporters say they would protect women athletes while opponents say they would hurt transgender kids.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider whether the UW Board of Regents plans to keep former Gov. Tommy G. Thompson as interim UW-System president, now that Gov. Tony Evers' appointees have control.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Today's Midday podcast covers Senate Republicans and business owners arguing a bill that would end a federal boost to unemployment benefits would help address the state's worker shortage. Dems say the workforce shortage was apparent even before the $300 extra payments.
Today's Midday podcast covers state Sen. Steve Nass slamming the idea of ending the tuition freeze for the UW System that's been in place for the past eight years. He told his GOP colleagues the university doesn't need more money. But UW System President and former Governor Tommy Thompson, a Republican, says the schools would benefit from ending the freeze.
Today's Midday podcast covers only 15 state legislators, who last year reported attending conferences or speaking at seminars, a sharp drop from 2019 numbers. The decline in lawmaker travel during the pandemic year was detailed in the 2020 economic interest statements for all 131 lawmakers who were serving in the Legislature.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider policy shifts in state agencies as Gov. Tony Evers gains control of boards governing the DNR, the UW System and Department of Ag Trade and Consumer Protection.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Today's Midday podcast covers a bill, now in the Senate, that would create a special commission to investigate what happened the day of the attack and what led up to it. The commission would then submit recommendations to improve security. Republicans opposed the bill. They say the investigation would be redundant because it overlaps with investigations from the FBI, Department of Justice and others.
Today's Midday podcast covers Wisconsin's congressional delegation divisions on the escalating fighting in Israel and Palestine as U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin calls for a ceasefire. GOP U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson says Israel has a right to defend itself from Hamas.
Today's Midday podcast covers who wants to spend how much of whose dollars on expanding broadband access across the state. Gov. Evers announced a $100 million grant program to expand broadband and LFB says using federal dollars to expand access would cost more than using state funds.
Today's Midday podcast covers entertainment venues that have been struggling for more than a year without revenue. Some of those shuttered entertainment venues could see federal relief dollars this week.
Today's Midday podcast covers new mask-wearing CDC guidelines for vaccinated and unvaccinated people and what the future of the state's effort looks like as some mass vaccination clinics close.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, gauge the political tussle between Gov. Tony Evers and GOP legislators to mesh billions in federal COVID relief funds with the state budget.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Today's Midday podcast covers former 8th Congressional District Representative Reid Ribble announcing he will join a group of about 100 former and current elected officials if they create an official breakaway party. They say the new group aims to bring in 'rational' conservatives as opposed to the 'radical' conservatives who stand with former President Trump.
Today's Midday podcast covers a sampling of bills making their way through the Legislature. The Senate advanced a series of police reform bills and the Assembly passed bills to make publicly funded sports venues play the national anthem before games and to expand school voucher eligibility.
Today's Midday podcast covers four members of Wisconsin's House delegation requesting nearly $150 million in earmarks since both national party caucuses agreed to bring back community project funding. Republicans banned earmarks a decade ago after retaking control of the House with some criticizing the process as wasteful and ripe for corruption. After announcing they would bring back the process, Dems also announced several rules to increase transparency. That includes a cap on how many earmarks each representative can attach to bills.
Today's Midday podcast covers State Dem Party Chair Ben Wikler on the latest "UpFront" program arguing that "job one" in 2022 is to reelect Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. He also says U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson could pose a threat to any Dem candidates who hope to take Johnson's seat next year.
Today's Midday podcast covers The GOP-controlled Joint Finance Committee kicking off its work on Tony Evers' budget by gutting the guv's proposal, pulling more than 380 provisions and amending the document to current law spending levels as they build their own version.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, evaluate Supreme Court Justice Brian Hagedorn's recent decisions and his record of independent opinions.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
'WisBusiness: The Podcast' with Jessica Geschke, Wisconsin Voices for Recovery by wispolitics
Today's Midday podcast covers vaccinations starting to slow and local county health departments beginning “hand-to-hand combat” to reach herd immunity. For more of the most relevant news on the coronavirus outbreak, reports on groundbreaking health research in Wisconsin and links to top stories, sign up today for the free daily Health Care Report from WisPolitics.com and WisBusiness.com. Sign up here: See the Wisconsin COVID-19 Timeline:
Today's Midday podcast covers Wisconsin’s tourism hubs, which are expecting a flood of visitors to enjoy the state’s recreation, food and event offerings. But businesses fear they won’t have the staff to accommodate them.
Today's Midday podcast covers Vice President Kamala Harris visit to a clean energy lab at UW-Milwaukee and participation in a roundtable discussion as part of her trip to Wisconsin. GOP Reps. Tyler August, of Lake Geneva, and Jim Steineke, of Kaukauna, wrote an open letter to the vice president detailing their visit last week to the southern border and urging her to take action.
Today's Midday podcast covers Assembly co-chairs of the task force just released recommendations for improving policing and racial justice in Wisconsin. They say lawmakers will now go to work on writing the bills.
Today's Midday podcast covers the Dane County judge who voided two contracts GOP legislative leaders signed that put taxpayers on the hook for more than $1 million in legal fees, ruling lawmakers don't have the authority to retain private counsel for a redistricting suit that hasn't been filed yet.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, take up the upcoming biennial budget as the GOP-controlled Joint Finance Committee returns from its Wisconsin roadshow and prepares to take its first votes.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Today's Midday podcast covers Evers approving SB 69, creating Wisconsin Act 30, alongside Jewish community advocates and state lawmakers from both sides of the aisle. The law requires all schools to provide Holocaust instruction to students grades five through eight once and provide Holocaust instruction again at least once more for students grade nine through 12.
Today's Midday podcast covers the Endless Frontier Act investments, which could help the U.S. beat China in tech. And existing tariffs could give the U.S. negotiating power in China trade deals.
Today's Midday podcast covers statewide housing supply at historic lows. Median home prices continue to rise and apartment rent increases are outpacing wage growth. The situation is spurring possible fixes from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and GOP lawmakers.
Today's Midday podcast covers UW System Interim President Tommy Thompson's plan to return to in-person classes through vaccination as well as his thoughts on his future as president.
Today's Midday podcast covers Gov. Tony Evers veto of 11 GOP-authored bills that would have directed how to spend federal money from the latest COVID-19 relief package, and how he plans to dole out another $420 million of the funds.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, offer suggestions on spending federal COVID-19 rescue funds as GOP legislators shape the state budget.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
'WisBusiness: The Podcast' with Dr. Anand Padmanabhan, Retham Technologies by wispolitics
Today's Midday podcast covers the Speaker's Task Force on Racial Disparities's recommendation to ban police chokeholds except in "life-threatening situations or in self defense" along with other recommendations.
Today's Midday podcast covers a new deal with Foxconn, which would make the company have to show it had at least 481 full-time employees last year to qualify for the first round of job tax credits under the new deal between the state and the Taiwanese manufacturer.
Today's Midday podcast covers some local units of government making moves to decriminalize marijuana as progress at the state level appears unlikely. Nearly a decade after Colorado became the first state to legalize recreational marijuana, the debate has spiked in Wisconsin as more states join the pro-marijuana ranks.
Today's Midday podcast covers Assembly Speaker Robin Vos' view on COVID-19 vaccine passports for Wisconsinites and his thoughts on Gov. Tony Evers negotiating a new contract between Wisconsin and Foxconn.
Today's Midday podcast covers Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu saying he doesn't back legalizing medical marijuana in Wisconsin without FDA approval as well as his thoughts on the 11-bill GOP package to spend federal pandemic relief funds.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, discuss how Jill Underly will lead Wisconsin's schools and look back at partisan involvement in the non-partisan state superintendent's election.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Today's Midday podcast covers incoming Chief Justice Annette Ziegler pledging she will do "all I can to ensure the Wisconsin Supreme Court operates fairly and efficiently with a fidelity to the law." She will be the third consecutive woman to lead the state's judicial branch in the last 25 years.
Today's Midday podcast covers a new special enrollment signup period for the marketplace to celebrate the 11th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act. Anyone interested in signing up can do so through the ACA website through August.
The case involving Kinnard Farms, a Kewaunee County mega-dairy farm with about 8,200 cows, has become a regulatory battleground, drawing a litany of environmental and industrial groups in support or opposition to the lawsuit.
Today's Midday podcast covers Wisconsin's report showing 1,046 cases today, the most cases in a single day since Feb. 11. This brings the seven-day average for daily confirmed cases to 733, the greatest average since mid-February. Today’s seven-day daily case average is nearly double that from a month ago.
Today's Midday podcast covers newly elected state Superintendent Jill Underly responding to comments by Assembly Speaker Robin Vos about her election. She said those comments made her "really sad," but she looks forward to working with the Rochester Republican and the GOP-controlled Legislature.
Today's Midday podcast covers the Joint Finance Committee vote along party lines to OK 11 GOP bills to spend coming stimulus money as Dems questioned whether the proposals were allowed under federal law. The votes came after memos from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau suggested millions Republicans want to spend don't meet current federal guidance on how the money can be used. That includes paying off debt, grants for local roads and covering work on an emergency communication system.
Today's Midday podcast covers winners in the statewide Department of Public Instruction superintendent race as well as two legislative races and two state district court judge races.
Today's Midday podcast covers Milwaukee Health Commissioner Kirsten Johnson said she believes everyone who wants a COVID-19 should have access to one within the next eight weeks. And, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg touted the Biden Administration's $2 trillion infrastructure plan as a means to keep the country globally competitive in the coming centuries.
Today's Midday podcast covers tomorrow's elections featuring races for the state Department of Public Instruction superintendent, two seats in the legislature and several judicial positions. Candidates Deb Kerr and Jill Underly face off for state superintendent.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, handicap the race for state superintendent and discuss the role of political parties in the race.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
"WisBusiness: The Podcast" with JD Uhler, Madison XP League Commissioner by wispolitics
Today's Midday podcast covers Assembly Republicans' call to Evers to use some funds from the latest COVID-19 package to boost homeowners and long-term care facilities while expanding broadband after Evers vetoed legislation giving lawmakers a say in how the money is spent.
Today's Midday podcast covers the Wisconsin Supreme Court 4-3 ruling today that Gov. Tony Evers exceeded his authority in issuing multiple public health emergencies over the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Today's Midday podcast covers Gov. Tony Evers' vetoing a bill that would have given the state Legislature oversight over federal pandemic relief funds, warning it would've allowed a single lawmaker to delay by weeks getting the money to those who need it.
Today's Midday podcast covers a Waukesha businessman who co-founded the non-partisan group Democracy Found and why he thinks ranked-choice voting in Wisconsin could help restore a "functional democracy."
Today's Midday podcast covers Association President and CEO Kristine Hillmer speaking as a panelist on the latest WisBusiness.com virtual luncheon "Hospitality industry stirs after year of COVID." The lunch hour event featured Wisconsin's eatery and alehouse leaders a year after the economy shut down as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The WisOpinion insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider the federal COVID-19 package and whether Wisconsin needs the infusion of federal funds.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Today's Midday podcast covers approval of a new Ho-Chunk casino in Beloit. Ho-Chunk Nation Vice President Karena Thundercloud said it was "almost surreal" to hear Gov. Tony Evers had signed off on the tribe's proposal for a Beloit casino after dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic upending daily life for more than a year.
Today's Midday podcast covers Assembly approved bills that would stop the state from requiring residents get vaccinated against the novel coronavirus and its mutations, ban health officials from prohibiting public gatherings in places of religious worship, prohibit employers from requiring workers to get vaccinated and require Gov. Tony Evers to submit a plan to the Legislature for when state employees will return to work in their offices.
Today's Midday podcast covers Gov. Tony Evers saying better data on COVID-19 infections and deaths in nursing homes would not have changed precautions or vaccine rollout plans.
The Wisconsin school superintendent’s race continues to heat up. The statewide contest pits former Brown Deer Superintendent Deb Kerr against Pecatonica Superintendent Jill Underly. Kerr is backed by conservatives while Democrats support Underly.
The election is being held April 6.
Underly launched the first attack ad of the campaign against Kerr last week, and it is airing in TV markets across the state. In this week’s Capitol Notes, WUWM’s Marti Mikkelson asks JR Ross of WisPolitics.com if he thinks we’ll now see a bombardment of ads from both candidates.
Today's Midday podcast covers concerns from GOP congressmen over the delay in COVID-19 infection and death statistics from Wisconsin nursing homes, comparing the state's nursing home situation to New York's. Those congressmen also voiced concerns about nursing home residents receiving their second vaccine dose in a reasonable amount of time.
Today's Midday podcast covers' a DC Wrap interview with UW-Milwaukee political science Prof. Mordecai Lee where he talks about the divide within the GOP between those who support Donald Trump and those who oppose him likely dominating congressional politics in Wisconsin.
WisBusiness: The Podcast with Wisconsin School of Business Dean Vallabh Sambamurthy by wispolitics
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on Wisconsin after one year.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Today's Midday podcast covers the Assembly's voice vote on allowing bars and restaurants to sell mixed drinks in to-go cups to be consumed off the premises.
Today's Midday podcast covers Wisconsin in 2020 shattering the record for most firearm background checks, an indicator the year of the COVID-19 pandemic also marked a huge year for gun sales.
Today's Midday podcast covers new FEMA coordination of staffing support to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. Wisconsin has committed to providing at least 7,000 weekly vaccine doses from the state's allocation for the site.
Today's Midday podcast covers Milwaukee Public Schools' plan to reopen for in-person classes, teachers' union president's call for more safety measures and the City of Madison's new violence prevention plan.
Today's Midday podcast covers state superintendent candidates disagreeing during a forum on tying pandemic-related school funding to opening schools for in-person classes as well as politics in the race and a freeze on vouchers.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider the post-Trump future for Wisconsin politics and the GOP.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Today's Midday podcast covers the American Rescue Plan Act, which President Biden just signed into law, as well as the House 220-211 vote to pass it. Dems supported the bill while Republicans voted against it.
Today's Midday podcast covers Republican lawmakers' call for the Green Bay mayor to resign and an investigation into the November election because of concerns over how that election was handled in Green Bay and other municipalities.
Today's Midday podcast covers the U.S. Supreme Court today declining, without comment, to hear former President Trump's appeal of a 7th Circuit ruling rejecting his attempt to overturn Wisconsin's election results both on the merits and because it was filed too late.
Today's Midday podcast covers GOP legislation to change state election laws. A Republican senator says he's trying to preserve integrity in elections, while a Dem senator calls it an attempt at voter suppression.
Another hot button issue came up last week before the Wisconsin Legislature.
Republicans introduced a bill that would ban transgender girls and women from competing in girls’ and collegiate sports in Wisconsin. The authors of the bill say that transgender girls and women have an unfair advantage.
Democrats and members of the LGBTQ community slammed the proposal, calling it cruel and discriminatory.
Wisconsin joins more than a dozen other states that are considering such a ban.
In this week’s Capitol Notes, WUWM’s Marti Mikkelson asks JR Ross of WisPolitics.com how far he thinks this will go in the Legislature.
Today's Midday podcast covers the Legislature's top Dem leaders in a WisPolitics.com luncheon who voiced support for Gov. Tony Evers' budget proposals to raise the minimum wage and allow for expanded local sales taxes.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, offer their views on GOP plans to audit the Wisconsin Elections Commission about voting practices in the 2020 election.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Today's Midday podcast covers Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu calling Gov. Tony Evers' proposal to allow local governments to increase the sales tax through referendums dead on arrival.
Today's Midday podcast covers the arrival of a new single dose vaccine from Johnson & Johnson and what that means for Wisconsin's vaccination effort and COVID-19 caseload.
Today's Midday podcast covers Gov. Tony Evers’ budget provision that doesn’t envision closing the state’s troubled youth prisons in northern Wisconsin until after a new juvenile facility in Milwaukee would be completed in early 2024.
Today's Midday podcast covers the candidates for state schools superintendent clash over voucher schools and their own district leadership during the pandemic In an "UpFront" TV appearance.
A big name came up last week as a possible candidate for Republican U.S Sen. Ron Johnson’s seat next year.
Longtime Democratic Congressman Ron Kind of La Crosse indicated he might run. Kind narrowly won re-election to his House seat in November, beating his Republican challenger by only two percentage points.
In this week’s Capitol Notes, Marti Mikkelson asks JR Ross of WisPolitics.com if he thinks Kind can beat Ron Johnson — if Johnson decides to run for a third term.
Today's Midday podcast covers Gov. Tony Evers' special session bill to overhaul the UI computer system allowing Wisconsinites laid off since Feb. 7 to capture an additional week of unemployment.
Today's Midday podcast covers Senate bills that would require the Department of Justice to establish a tracking system for sexual assault kits and create a timeline for the processing and storage of kits.
Today's Midday podcast covers new vaccination clinics to be located in La Crosse, Racine and Marathon counties. The fourth is split between Douglas and Barron counties. The four clinics will join Rock County’s vaccination site for a total of five in Wisconsin.
Today's Midday podcast covers U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson facing even more reelection pressure as he strengthens ties to Donald Trump after the impeachment trial, Opportunity Wisconsin launches an ad campaign and Alex Lasry announces his U.S. Senate bid.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider the political future of U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, the Oshkosh Republican who is up for reelection next year.
Sponsored by Michael Best Strategies and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
With better-than-expected revenues on the horizon, the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider budget options for Gov. Tony Evers.
Sponsored by Michael Best Strategies and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
The WisOpinions Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at the performance of the Wisconsin congressional delegation following the Capitol riot and look forward to Joe Biden's inauguration.
Sponsored by Michael Best Strategies and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look back at the major stories of 2020 and offer a glimpse of what may happen in 2021.
Sponsored by Michael Best Strategies and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
WisBusiness: The Podcast with Laura Kaiser, Wisconsin Technology Council by wispolitics
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at recent revenue numbers and what Gov. Tony Evers' biennial budget will look like.
Sponsored by Michael Best Strategies and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court is expected to issue a decision Monday on whether the Nov. 3 election was conducted illegally in Milwaukee and Dane counties, as President Donald Trump has claimed.
President-elect Joe Biden won Wisconsin by about 21,000 votes but Trump is seeking to throw out thousands of ballots in the two counties, which could result in a victory for him here.
The state Supreme Court heard arguments in the case on Saturday and would need to issue a ruling by noon Monday, when Wisconsin electors are scheduled to cast the state’s 10 electoral votes for Biden.
In this week’s Capitol Notes, Marti Mikkelson asks JR Ross of WisPolitics.com what he thinks of all this as the state awaits the court’s ruling.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, debate how the remap of legislative districts will play out in the courts.
Sponsored by Michael Best Strategies and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
It’s shaping up to be another busy week for the Wisconsin courts. The state Supreme Court rejected a couple of lawsuits last week related to President Donald Trump’s claims that the election was conducted illegally in the state.
The court ruled that Trump’s grievances must first go through lower courts. His attorneys then filed similar claims in federal court in Wisconsin.
In this week’s Capitol Notes conversation, JR Ross of WisPolitics.com tells WUWM’s Marti Mikkelson that this week will likely see another flurry of court activity, with Trump’s case ultimately reaching the Wisconsin Supreme Court again.
The Trump campaign's lawsuit to invalidate thousands of Wisconsin votes has the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, debating the state Supreme Court's decision to reject immediate consideration of the suit and possible future court action on voting regulations.
Sponsored by Michael Best Strategies and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
The presidential recount in Milwaukee and Dane counties is entering its fourth day. Unofficial results from Nov. 3 show President-elect Joe Biden ahead of President Donald Trump in Wisconsin by about 20,000 votes.
Milwaukee County election officials say the recount is moving slowly because Trump’s attorneys have been constantly interrupting and challenging tens of thousands of ballots, alleging fraud and seeking to discount them. They say few votes have actually been counted and the process is falling far behind.
The deadline for Wisconsin to certify its election results is Dec. 1.
In this week’s Capitol Notes, WUWM’s Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of WisPolitics.com what happens next.
“Well, this is all about going to court. Traditionally in Wisconsin, when you have a recount, all you do is take the ballots and feed them back from machines and count a second time. That's not what the petition that the Trump campaign filed. It’s more about trying to disqualify tens of thousands of ballots that were cast by people who are following the orders or the advice, the directions, they were given by state and local election officials,” says Ross.
The Trump campaign has several different arguments it is trying to bring before the courts but all center around procedural matters of absentee voting that have been in place since before the 2016 election.
“The Trump campaign is arguing that these voters did not follow the letter of the law, therefore their vote shouldn’t be counted. That's kind of an unusual request and I don't know how far it'll get with the courts but that's where we're heading eventually,” he says.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, break down the urban-rural split in the 2020 election and its impact on Wisconsin's future political landscape.
Sponsored by Michael Best Strategies and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
WisBusiness: The Podcast with Kristine Hillmer, Wisconsin Restaurant Association by wispolitics
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, jump into the debate about what went wrong in election 2020 polling.
Sponsored by Michael Best Strategies and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
WisBusiness: The Podcast with Eric Borgerding, Wisconsin Hospital Association by wispolitics
With Democrat Joe Biden the president-elect, President Donald Trump is still vowing to ask for a recount in Wisconsin. His legal team is looking into whether voter fraud occurred in other states. Meanwhile, Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has called on an Assembly committee to investigate whether there was voter fraud here — unofficial results show that Biden won Wisconsin by about 20,000 votes.
In this week’s Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM’s Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of WisPolitics.com what kind of answers the committee hopes to obtain from witnesses.
In the aftermath of the 2020 election, the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider why the blue wave or a veto-proof Legislature did not happen.
Sponsored by Michael Best Strategies and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
President Trump worked in another visit to Wisconsin over the weekend. He drew a crowd of about 10,000 people to a rally Saturday night in Waukesha. It was the fifth time since August in which Trump has visited the state. The Waukesha rally was held a week after thousands turned out for a rally in Janesville, and Trump is scheduled to hold another rally near La Crosse on Tuesday.
In his speech in Waukesha, Trump claimed “we’re rounding the turn” on the coronavirus, while Wisconsin continues to see record numbers of new cases. Democratic nominee Joe Biden again criticized Trump over the weekend for his handling of the coronavirus.
In this week’s Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of WisPolitics.com how he thinks Wisconsin voters are receiving Trump’s message as they watch COVID-19 numbers climb.
With just over a week to go, the Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, assess the state of the presidential race in swing state Wisconsin
Sponsored by Michael Best Strategies and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
President Trump’s COVID-19 diagnosis late last week thwarted the Republican's plans to campaign over the weekend. Meanwhile, Democratic nominee Joe Biden, who tested negative, indicated he would press ahead with in-person events.
In this week’s Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM’s Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of WisPolitics.com how he thinks the developments might affect the campaigns in Wisconsin.
The UW-Madison may just have reopened some dormitories but the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, are as concerned as many parents about the health of the students as well as the financial health of Wisconsin's colleges and universities
Sponsored by Michael Best Strategies and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
Though the Green Party and Kanye West wanted onto Wisconsin's presidential ballot, the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider how conservative Supreme Court newcomer Brian Hagedorn bucked party politics in a high court decision that could help Joe Biden.
Sponsored by Michael Best Strategies and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
Last week saw historic visits to Wisconsin from President Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden. Both candidates went to Kenosha in the wake of the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Trump surveyed the damage that happened following looting and burning of businesses, and then held a roundtable with business leaders and law enforcement officials. Then, Biden visited Kenosha two days later and met with the family of Jacob Blake. He also called for the officer who shot Blake to be charged.
Trump supporters and Black Lives Matter activists clashed at a downtown park during Trump’s visit, while Trump delivered a “law and order” message. Biden’s message was aimed at ending institutional racism in our country. In addition, both vice presidential candidates stopped in Wisconsin on Monday. Incumbent Mike Pence was in La Crosse, and challenger Kamala Harris visited Milwaukee.
In this week's Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of WisPolitics.com what the impact of all these visits will be on Wisconsin voters.
With the national party conventions in the rearview mirror, the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, handicap their impact on Wisconsin voters.
Sponsored by Michael Best Strategies and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
After Kenosha police shoot a Black man and two protesters are shot and killed by a 17-year-old white resident of Illinois, the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, assign responsibility for the unrest, critique the response and offer solutions to ease social tensions.
Sponsored by Michael Best Strategies and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
With the conclusion of the unconventional Democratic National Convention, the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, trade views on whether the virtual version will impact state voters more or less than if the party actually convened in Milwaukee.
Sponsored by Michael Best Strategies and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
WisBusiness: The Podcast with Kit Chow and Aditya Parihar, Boosted Chews by wispolitics
With Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee converted to a mostly virtual production, the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, offer contrasting views how each party can strengthen its candidate's support.
Sponsored by Michael Best Strategies and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
With the statewide partisan primary slated for Tuesday, the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider how these low-turnout elections may affect legislative and congressional representation for years to come.
Sponsored by Michael Best Strategies and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
As another new school year approaches, the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, address the issue of students returning to public schools, colleges, and universities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Vice President Mike Pence was in the battleground state of Wisconsin last week, campaigning for another four years of him and President Donald Trump. Pence made a couple of stops, including one in Ripon, the birthplace of the Republican Party. Trump narrowly won Wisconsin in 2016 and is trailing former Vice President and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden in the polls.
Pence said if Biden wins the election, the country will spin into economic decline, as he is pushing a “radical” socialist agenda. Meanwhile, the Wisconsin Democratic Party blasted Trump for the latest unemployment numbers, which show the country at 11% in the wake of the coronavirus. Party spokesman Phil Shulman says if Trump had taken the pandemic seriously from the start, “we wouldn’t see this many Wisconsinites suffering.”
In this week's Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of WisPolitics.com if Wisconsin voters can expect more heated rhetoric from both sides as it gets closer to November.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, discuss which court should take up a likely legal challenge to Wisconsin congressional and legislative district boundaries in the 2020 redistricting plan.
Sponsored by Michael Best Strategies and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
The Wisconsin Republican Party held its annual state convention over the weekend in Green Bay. About 300 people attended the two-day in-person event in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Masks were available, but few people wore them, and participants sat close to each other. The GOP took the opposite approach of state Democrats, who held an all-virtual convention last month.
Speakers at the Republican convention included a couple of top advisers to President Trump. They blasted Democrats for “allowing mobs to destroy our cities” and referred to Trump as a “law and order” president who would win over Black voters in November. Democrats dismissed the comments as rhetoric, laced with lies and conspiracy theories.
In this week’s Capitol Notes conversation, JR Ross of WisPolitics.com told WUWM’s Marti Mikkelson that the convention yielded several takeaways.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at the effect of COVID-19 on state political conventions and the upcoming Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee.
Sponsored by Michael Best Strategies and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
A federal appeals court panel has upheld some voting restrictions in Wisconsin just four months before the November presidential election. They include limits on in-person early voting hours to two weeks before an election -- and a return to requiring people to live in a district for 28 days, not 10, before they can vote.
In this week’s Capitol Notes conversation, JR Ross of WisPolitics.com discusses the winners and losers of the ruling with WUWM’s Marti Mikkelson. He also describes what the November presidential election might look like if the ruling stands.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, discuss the appointment of former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy G. Thompson as interim president of the UW System.
Sponsored by Michael Best Strategies and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence made separate stops in Wisconsin last week, while surrogates for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden held a virtual event here. Both sides took swipes at each other during their appearances.
In this week’s Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM’s Marti Mikkelson asked Jeff Mayers of WisPolitics.com if all the attention signals Wisconsin’s importance in the November election.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Jensen & Chvala, gauge the state of the presidential race amid the release of new Wisconsin polls and visits from President Trump and Vice President Pence.
Sponsored by Michael Best Strategies and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
As unemployment claims continue to flood the Department of Workforce Development, the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, debate who's at fault for delays that have left many jobless without their checks.
Sponsored by Michael Best Strategies and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
The Democratic Party of Wisconsin held its annual state convention on Friday night, virtually instead of in-person because of the coronavirus. Elected officials gave speeches, and then it was time for the headliner – presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
He talked about the death of George Floyd while in police custody, and said the country needs to confront systemic racism. In a swipe at Republican President Donald Trump, Biden said he’ll restore “real leadership” to the White House.
In this week’s Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of WisPolitics.com if he thinks Biden’s speech effectively rallied support for Democrats here.
Protests continue across much of Wisconsin, after George Floyd died at the hands of Minneapolis police. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has asked the Republican-controlled Legislature to immediately pass a bill designed to reform use of force policies in Wisconsin
In this week’s Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of WisPolitics.com what the chances are of a bill being passed.
As states emerge from COVID-19 restrictions, the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider the roles Wisconsin U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson will play in creating the next federal stimulus package.
Sponsored by Michael Best Strategies and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
Department of Workforce Development Secretary Caleb Frostman testified before a state Senate committee last week about why many Wisconsinites still haven’t received unemployment benefits. Of about 2.5 million claims filed, nearly 750,000 are unpaid.
Republicans on the committee accused Frostman of not being prepared for the surge in claims that happened when many people were laid off because of the coronavirus. In this week’s Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asks JR Ross of WisPolitics.com what kind of remedies have been put in place to speed up the process.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, debate what Tom Tiffany's special election victory in Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District means for President Trump's election prospects in November.
Sponsored by Michael Best Strategies and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
A group of Wisconsin residents filed a federal lawsuit late last week challenging some local stay-at-home orders that were put in place after the state Supreme Court threw out Gov. Tony Evers’ statewide policy. The lawsuit asks a federal judge to declare the local orders unconstitutional.
In this week’s Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of WisPolitics.com what he thinks will happen with this and another challenge that's before the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala & Jensen, debate how President Trump's poll numbers keep constant despite the coronavirus and Gov. Tony Evers' superior numbers when it comes to pandemic leadership.
Sponsored by Michael Best Strategies and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
The conservative Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ safer-at-home order last week, effective immediately. Schools are still closed, but most nonessential businesses can resume operations — unless local governments have their own stay-at-home restrictions. At this time, there's no statewide plan for protecting public safety or reopening the economy.
In this week’s Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of WisPolitics.com if he expects Evers and Republican legislative leaders to craft a plan or if Wisconsin will move forward with a "patchwork" of rules.
With state tax revenues plummeting and many small businesses on the brink of failure, the WisOpinion Insiders, Jensen & Chvala, examine how state and local governments will cope during the pandemic.
Sponsored by Michael Best Strategies and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has agreed to hear a lawsuit brought by Republicans in the state legislature, challenging Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ safer-at-home order. Republicans cried foul when Evers extended the order to May 26, amid concerns over the spread of the coronavirus.
They’re demanding that he lift the order and take steps to reopen the state’s economy. Interested parties filed briefs last week and the court, which holds a 5-2 conservative majority, will hear arguments Tuesday.
In this week’s Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asks JR Ross of WisPolitics.com if he’s surprised that the court is taking the case.
With the dust settling from the controversial Wisconsin April Primary election, the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider some solutions to improve future elections.
Sponsored by Michael Best Strategies and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
Police estimate that 1,500 people rallied at the State Capitol on Friday, demanding that Gov. Tony Evers lift his safer-at-home order, so non-essential businesses can reopen. Evers recently extended the order about a month to May 26 because of the continued spread of the coronavirus.
Many people at the event carried signs — some of them read "End The Tyranny" and "All Jobs Are Essential." Most of the protesters stood next to each other, not wearing masks or practicing social distancing.
State Republican leaders also want to reopen the economy and have asked the Wisconsin Supreme Court to overturn Evers' order. We haven't heard much from GOP leaders since the rally.
In this week's Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of WisPolitics.com what he thinks is their take on it.
As legislative Republicans take Gov. Tony Evers to court over his COVID-19 policy, the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, exchange views on what both sides need to do to confront the pandemic
Sponsored by Michael Best Strategies and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
Gov. Tony Evers has extended his safer-at-home order to May 26 due to fears over the coronavirus. He also announced that schools will be closed through the academic year. Republicans who control the Legislature are opposed to the extension, saying they want the economy to reopen, and have threatened to file a lawsuit with the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
In this week’s Capitol Notes conversation, JR Ross of WisPolitics.com tells WUWM's Marti Mikkelson that there's growing frustration with the governor’s order among the GOP.
While we wait for MLB to return, the WisOpinion Insiders, Jensen and Chvala, celebrate the end of the Miller Park sales tax by regaling the inside baseball that enabled the Milwaukee Brewers' home stadium.
Sponsored by Michael Best Strategies and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
Following a chaotic election in Wisconsin, the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, offer their views on where to assign the blame.
Sponsored by Michael Best Strategies and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
Wisconsin appears to be moving ahead with Election Day on Tuesday, April 7, despite multiple lawsuits to move the date because of the coronavirus – and an 11th-hour plea from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. He called the Republican-controlled Legislature into a special session to push the date to late May and conduct an all-mail election. The GOP went into special session Saturday as required, and then immediately adjourned without taking up Evers’ proposal.
Meanwhile, Republican leaders challenged a federal judge's decision late last week to allow absentee ballots to be accepted in election clerks' offices until 4 p.m. April 13. And, another lawsuit pushes for the election to be moved months into the future, in part because of challenges faced by lower-income voters.
For Capitol Notes, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of Wispolitics.com to bring us up to speed with where things stand with the legal challenges.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, analyze what's at stake in state, county and local races in the 2020 spring elections.
Sponsored by Michael Best Strategies and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
The latest episode of “Meeting in Middle America” with host Steven Olikara features the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Craig Gilbert. The two talk about issues surrounding the April 7 election amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Meeting in Middle America” is a collaboration between the Lubar Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and WisPolitics.com/WisBusiness.com. Sponsored by WAGET and Bridge & Build
With Wisconsin residents under Gov. Tony Evers' stay-at-home order, the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider how the COVID-19 pandemic is reshaping political organizing and the issues important to voters.
Sponsored by Michael Best Strategies and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
It was another week of major changes in lifestyle and in the workplace because of the coronavirus. Gov. Tony Evers ordered bars and restaurants in Wisconsin to close, except for pickups and deliveries. He also directed salons, barbershops, spas and tattoo shops to shut their doors. Now, the Democratic governor and Republican leaders say they're working together on a legislative aid package to help small businesses and employees who are out of work.
In this week's Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of WisPolitics.com what this aid package might look like.
As the spread of COVID-19 becomes a national health problem, the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, grade the performance of President Donald Trump and Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers on their response to the pandemic.
Sponsored by Michael Best Strategies and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
The Democratic Party of Wisconsin has taken some dramatic steps to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Chair Ben Wikler says the party is following guidance from health officials to practice social distancing, so it's replacing its traditional door-to-door canvassing operation with a digital model ahead of the April 7 spring election and presidential primary.
In this week's Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of wispolitics.com what the new plan will look like and how it will affect the election.
The WisOpinion insiders, Chvala and Jensen, ponder whether the Foxconn issue will enter the Wisconsin presidential primary as Joe Biden seeks to consolidate his lead and Bernie Sanders hopes Wisconsin is his firewall.
Sponsored by Michael Best Strategies and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
Wisconsin's presidential primary will be held next month. When voters go to the polls, they'll notice the landscape has changed dramatically. In a matter of days over the past week, the field of Democrats running for their party's nomination narrowed to only two major contenders: former Vice President Joe Biden and U.S Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. It happened after poor showings for the other top-tier candidates in South Carolina and on Super Tuesday.
In this week's Capitol Notes conversation, JR Ross of WisPolitics.com tells WUWM's Marti Mikkelson that he was surprised by how quickly the lineup changed.
Looking down the road, the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider the strategies for each party as they prepare for the November general election.
Sponsored by Michael Best Strategies and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
It appears the Republican-controlled state Legislature is unwilling to enact tougher gun laws this year — even in light of a mass shooting that left six employees dead at Molson Coors Brewery in Milwaukee. Just hours before the shootings, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers re-stated his commitment to adopting stricter legislation. At the same time, Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald voiced his opposition. After the tragedy, Fitzgerald called the shootings an "act of evil" but did not address the issue of gun control.
In this week's Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of WisPolitics.com if the issue could haunt the Wisconsin GOP at the polls in November.
“Meeting in Middle America,” with Millennial Action Project President Steven Olikara, hosts state Rep. Jonathan Brostoff to discuss his work to pass a bipartisan bill to license American Sign Language interpreters in Wisconsin and his experience as a millennial in the state legislature.
“Meeting in Middle America” is a collaboration between the Lubar Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee and WisPolitics.com/WisBusiness.com. Sponsored by WAGET and Bridge & Build.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, debate the fallout from Gov. Tony Evers' veto of the Republican tax cut and debt repayment plan.
Sponsored by Michael Best Strategies and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
The Republican-controlled state Legislature has passed a $250 million income tax cut and has sent the bill to Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. Republicans want to pay for the tax cut via a projected $600 million budget surplus.
But, Evers wants to pour some of the money into public schools and lowering property taxes. He's also left the door open for a compromise with the GOP, meaning some money would go toward an income tax cut and some would go to the public schools. Or, he could veto the income tax cut outright.
In this week's Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of WisPolitics.com what he thinks will ultimately happen.
With results in hand from the February primary, the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look ahead to the Supreme Court race, Milwaukee-area contests, and the Dem presidential primary on April 7.
Sponsored by Michael Best Strategies and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
"Meeting in Middle America," with Steven Olikara, founder and president of the Millennial Action Project, features host Steven Olikara interviewing millennial Wisconsin legislators Rep. Robyn Vining, D-Wauwatosa, and Adam Neylon, R-Pewaukee, about recent meetings aimed at bridging political differences to improve the Wisconsin economy, each legislator's personal history, and issues important to younger voters.
"Meeting in Middle America" is a collaboration between the Lubar Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee and WisPolitics.com/WisBusiness.com.
The Republican-controlled state Assembly has passed a slew of tough-on-crime bills. One would allow extended supervision to be revoked, for someone who commits a felony while on release. Another would expand the list of crimes that could land a child in a youth prison.
Republicans say the bills are necessary in order to keep communities safe. But Democrats have blasted the plan, arguing that many states instead have taken steps to reduce the prison population. And, it's likely that Democratic Gov. Tony Evers will veto the measures.
In this week's Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of WisPolitics.com why the GOP pushed so hard for the bills.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala & Jensen, analyze big races in Tuesday's elections, including the 7th Congressional District GOP primary and races that will narrow the field for state Supreme Court and Milwaukee mayor.
Sponsored by Michael Best Strategies and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
Gov. Tony Evers wants the Republican-controlled Legislature to spend a chunk of a state budget surplus on the public schools. He's calling for a special session on the topic to begin this week. Republican leaders immediately dismissed the idea, saying they want to put surplus money toward a tax cut instead. Evers says the GOP could do both — cut taxes and spend more on schools.
In this week's Capitol Notes conversation, JR Ross of WisPolitics.com tells WUWM's Marti Mikkelson that it's hard to say how this will play out.
With the announcement of Dem state Sen. Dave Hansen's plan to retire, the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider its effect on state GOP plans to win the seat and gain a veto-proof legislative majority.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Republican Vice President Mike Pence apparently went where no other sitting Vice President has gone — he held a rally inside the Wisconsin State Capitol last week. He touted private school voucher programs as an alternative to public education at the rally. U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos appeared with him.
President Trump narrowly won Wisconsin in 2016. In this week's Capitol Notes conversation, JR Ross of WisPolitics.com tells WUWM's Marti Mikkelson there are several reasons why Pence chose the liberal stronghold of Madison to bring his message.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, offer their views on the major news stories coming in 2020.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Gov. Tony Evers is calling lawmakers into special session to pass a package of bills designed to help struggling farmers and rural communities. The idea drew mixed reviews from Republican leaders after the Democratic governor announced it in his State of the State address. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says he's "all ears" on the plan and seems open to a special session. But, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos appears wary, saying Evers has ignored rural Wisconsin until now.
Evers wants the special session to begin on Tuesday. In this week's Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked Jeff Mayers of WisPolitics.com what he thinks the special session will look like.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Jensen & Chvala, debate what to do with a projected $450 million surplus.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
The voter purge case took some more turns last week. An Ozaukee County judge again ordered the Wisconsin Elections Commission to immediately drop more than 200,000 names from the voter rolls. It's suspected that those voters may have moved and haven't re-registered. Then, an appeals court sided with the commission and again put the purge on hold while lawsuits continue. Meanwhile, the Wisconsin Supreme Court decided not to take the case for the time being.
In this week's Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM's Marti MIkkelson asked JR Ross of WisPolitics.com what it all means for the 2020 elections.
With lawmakers back, the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, look at the election-year agenda for the Legislature.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Republican and Democratic leaders met at the State Capitol last week to place names on the state presidential primary ballot. Democrats approved 14 names for the April 7 election. They include Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar. But GOP officials submitted and approved only one name — that of President Donald Trump, even though other Republicans have thrown their hats into the ring.
WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of WisPolitics.com about the decision in this week's Capitol Notes conversation.
While the political scene churns in Washington, D.C., the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, offer a heads-up on the Democratic presidential hopefuls seeking votes in the Iowa Caucuses February 3.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
For this week's Capitol Notes, we look ahead to the political stories that'll likely make headlines in Wisconsin in 2020. Probably the biggest is Wisconsin's role in the presidential race. President Trump narrowly won the state in 2016, which means the spotlight is on Wisconsin this year, along with a few other swing states.
WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of WisPolitics.com what he thinks the presidential race will look like in Wisconsin.
With the arrival of the new year 2020, the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, take a look back at the biggest political stories from Wisconsin in 2019.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
For this week's Capitol Notes, we examine the top political stories of the year. It began with the inauguration of Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. He defeated Republican Scott Walker the previous fall.
Evers' relationship with the GOP-controlled legislature was contentious from the start. Republicans passed laws before Evers took office, limiting Evers' powers, as well as those of new Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul. The move sparked protests at the State Capitol and a number of lawsuits.
WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of WisPolitics.com to recap the controversy, and describe where things stand now.
As 2019 comes to an end, the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen pick their political winners and losers of 2019.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Foxconn is back in the news, with questions about whether it will qualify for up to $3 billion in state tax credits in coming years. The Taiwanese electronics giant signed a contract with the state when the company was planning to build large LCD screens at a huge plant in Racine County, creating up to 13,000 jobs. But Foxconn has since reduced the size of its plant and has said it'll manufacture smaller LCD screens. It's not clear how many jobs will be created.
Gov. Tony Evers says Foxconn could still qualify for tax credits if it renegotiates its contract with the state, to reflect changes to the original plans. In this week's Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of WisPolitics.com, whether that would take place and what he thinks a renegotiated contract would look like.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, debate Gov. Tony Evers' first year in office and his standing with voters.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
The Wisconsin National Guard's top commander recently agreed to resign after a scathing federal report found he violated laws in investigating sexual assault complaints. Gov. Tony Evers asked Major General Donald Dunbar to step down. In this week's Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of WisPolitics.com if there could be more political fallout from the incident.
With an historic House vote on impeachment of President Trump looming, the WisOpinion Insiders Chvala and Jensen, examine the political impact on Wisconsin voters.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Concerns about school safety rocked Wisconsin last week. In both Waukesha and Oshkosh, authorities shot and wounded a student who brought a weapon to school. Threats were made in a number of other school districts. The events prompted Democratic Gov. Tony Evers to call for more mental health services and more police officers in the schools. Republican leaders welcomed Evers' proposals — after rejecting his call last month for a special session to take up gun control measures.
For this week's Capitol Notes, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of WisPolitics.com whether Evers and the Legislature will compromise. Ross says he's not sure.
As state Sen. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, charts his campaign for the 5th Congressional District seat, the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, review the Republicans who may replace him as Senate majority leader if the GOP retains control of the chamber next fall.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
With the passing of former WEAC executive director Morris Andrews earlier this fall, the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, discuss his career and legacy and chart the changing nature of labor unions.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Results of the latest Marquette poll raised some eyebrows last week. It shows support for impeaching President Trump — and removing him from office — is slipping in Wisconsin. It also indicates that Trump holds a slight lead over the Democratic front-runners in the 2020 presidential race. Up until now, some national polls were showing at least three challengers beating Trump if the election were held today.
In this week's Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of WisPolitics.com what he makes of the results.
As the U.S. House of Representatives conducts its impeachment inquiry, the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider the political impact on U.S. Rep. Ron Kind's reelection chances in 2020.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Last week saw a war of words at the State Capitol, at least on Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' part. Evers apparently was still reeling from the Republican-led Senate's failure to confirm Brad Pfaff as state Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Secretary. Evers reportedly told state workers that Republicans are "amoral and stupid" for essentially firing Pfaff. Then, Evers reportedly referred to Republicans as "bastards." He later backpedaled on that comment, saying he doesn't really think Republicans are bastards, but rather, he was invoking a well-known saying.
In this week's Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of WisPolitics.com what he thinks of the state of relations at the Capitol right now.
With the GOP-controlled Legislature ignoring Gov. Tony Evers' special session call for gun control laws, the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider the political fallout.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
The Republican-controlled state Legislature last week essentially ignored Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' call for a special session to take up gun control measures, such as universal background checks and passage of a "red flag" law.
In each house, only one or two GOP members came to the floor, called the session to order and then immediately adjourned it. Republican leaders say neither house had the votes to pass, but Evers says they did this at their own peril because now they have to explain their actions to voters.
In this week's Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of WisPolitics.com whether he thinks the Republicans' actions will come back to haunt them.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, debate the politics behind the GOP Senate's historic rebuke of Gov. Tony Evers' ag secretary.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Democrats at the State Capitol introduced yet another marijuana bill last week. This one would decriminalize possession of smaller amounts of the drug — 28 grams or less. Democrats say decriminalization would decrease racial disparities in the criminal justice system.
This is the third bill regarding marijuana that's currently in the Legislature. The other would legalize recreational marijuana while another would legalize only medical marijuana. Like the others, as soon as Democrats introduced their latest bill, Republican state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald squelched it. He says he's long been opposed to decriminalization and doubts Republicans would support it.
In this week's Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of WisPolitics.com why Democrats continue to push the matter.
With Wisconsin realizing a budget surplus, the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider Gov. Tony Evers' plan to bolster the rainy day fund versus legislative calls tor a tax cut.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald joined the chorus of rebukes last week of President Trump's likening the impeachment probe to a lynching. Fitzgerald called lynching a "terrible word" and instead called the impeachment probe a "political witch hunt."
Fitzgerald is running to replace Republican Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner, who is retiring in 2020. He's rarely criticized Trump.
In this week's Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of wispolitics.com what voters in the heavily-Republican 5th Congressional district might think of Fitzgerald's remarks.
The unprecedented powers of the Wisconsin governor went under a microscope last week. The Wisconsin Supreme Court agreed to hear a case seeking to dramatically scale back the ability of governors to use partial budget vetoes to change the intent of the Legislature.
The conservative group Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty brought the case, which seeks to overturn a handful of Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' budget vetoes this year. The group argues that Evers unlawfully used partial vetoes to give public schools $65 million more than what the Republican-controlled Legislature had approved in the budget. Conservatives control the court 5-2, and the court agreed to take the case directly, without it going through the lower courts.
In this week's Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of WisPolitics.com how he thinks the case will turn out.
As majority Democrats in the U. S. House of Representatives conduct their impeachment inquiry, the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, weigh in on the political impact in Wisconsin.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
With Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, a leading candidate next year for Wisconsin's 5th Congressional District, the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider other candidates and scenarios in the race to succeed outgoing GOP U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Amid national concern about mass shootings, the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala & Jensen, consider how the GOP-run Wisconsin Legislature will respond to Gov. Tony Evers' call for action against gun violence.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
WisPolitics.com's Midwest Polling Summit held Oct. 9 in Madison featured top experts talking about the issues and trends that will affect campaign 2020 and key Midwest battlegrounds, including Wisconsin.
The afternoon began with a primer on Midwest views on health care issues from nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation polling expert Ashley Kirzinger
Following Kirzinger's address, a panel focused on the political perspective and featured top campaign advisers with strong Midwest ties: Celinda Lake, Paul Maslin, B.J. Martino and Brian Reisinger.
A “future of polling” panel followed, and was led by the director of the Marquette University Law School Poll Charles Franklin and include Mike Podhorzer, the former political director of AFL-CIO and now senior adviser to its president, Ashlee Rich Stephenson, vice president and national political director, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Nick Mastronardi, CEO of Polco, as well as Ray Block, associate professor of political science and African American studies at Pennsylvania State University.
UW-Madison political scientist and author Katherine Cramer then provided closing remarks on public opinion research.
This event was sponsored by the Outrider Foundation and The Capital Times. We thank them for their generous support.
WisPolitics.com's Midwest Polling Summit held Oct. 9 in Madison featured top experts talking about the issues and trends that will affect campaign 2020 and key Midwest battlegrounds, including Wisconsin.
The afternoon began with a primer on Midwest views on health care issues from nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation polling expert Ashley Kirzinger
Following Kirzinger's address, a panel focused on the political perspective and featured top campaign advisers with strong Midwest ties: Celinda Lake, Paul Maslin, B.J. Martino and Brian Reisinger.
A “future of polling” panel followed, and was led by the director of the Marquette University Law School Poll Charles Franklin and include Mike Podhorzer, the former political director of AFL-CIO and now senior adviser to its president, Ashlee Rich Stephenson, vice president and national political director, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Nick Mastronardi, CEO of Polco, as well as Ray Block, associate professor of political science and African American studies at Pennsylvania State University.
UW-Madison political scientist and author Katherine Cramer then provided closing remarks on public opinion research.
This event was sponsored by the Outrider Foundation and The Capital Times. We thank them for their generous support.
WisPolitics.com's Midwest Polling Summit held Oct. 9 in Madison featured top experts talking about the issues and trends that will affect campaign 2020 and key Midwest battlegrounds, including Wisconsin.
The afternoon began with a primer on Midwest views on health care issues from nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation polling expert Ashley Kirzinger
Following Kirzinger's address, a panel focused on the political perspective and featured top campaign advisers with strong Midwest ties: Celinda Lake, Paul Maslin, B.J. Martino and Brian Reisinger.
A “future of polling” panel followed, and was led by the director of the Marquette University Law School Poll Charles Franklin and include Mike Podhorzer, the former political director of AFL-CIO and now senior adviser to its president, Ashlee Rich Stephenson, vice president and national political director, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Nick Mastronardi, CEO of Polco, as well as Ray Block, associate professor of political science and African American studies at Pennsylvania State University.
UW-Madison political scientist and author Katherine Cramer then provided closing remarks on public opinion research.
This event was sponsored by the Outrider Foundation and The Capital Times. We thank them for their generous support.
In today's WisPolitics Midday update, brought to you by Spectrum: GOP proposes a rule change that would allow a paralyzed Dem rep to phone into committee hearings. WI Sen backs 5 Evers cabinet picks. AG Josh Kaul predicts Gov Evers will call a special session on gun control soon.
Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson is supporting President Trump in light of an impeachment inquiry from House Democrats. Johnson says he sees nothing wrong with Trump asking Ukraine and China to investigate former Democratic Vice President Joe Biden and his son. And Johnson says it's "perfectly appropriate" for American law enforcement agencies to enlist the help of other countries.
In this week's Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of WisPolitics.com what he makes of Johnson's steadfast support of the president.
WisPolitics.com's JR Ross and 1130 WISN's Jay Weber discuss Tuesday's state Senate action, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald's position on the Trump impeachment inquiry and Gov. Tony Evers' first pardons.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Jensen & Chvala, discuss Gov. Tony Evers' muffed call for a special election to fill the northern 7th Congressional District seat once held by Republican Sean Duffy. Evers is now looking at new dates to satisfy federal law.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
As the Republican-controlled Senate so far has not approved any of Gov. Tony Evers' cabinet secretaries, the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, debate this unusual situation.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Lawmakers at the State Capitol introduced a bill last week that would legalize medical marijuana in Wisconsin. Two of the authors are Democrats but one is a Republican — state Sen. Patrick Testin of Stevens Point.
GOP Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has said he's open to legalizing medical marijuana. But Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald has said "no" for years and rejected the idea again last week.
In this week's Capitol Notes conversation, JR Ross of WisPolitics.com tells WUWM's Marti Mikkelson why some Republicans are breaking with leadership on the issue.
Against a background of high-profile mass shootings, the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, debate whether Wisconsin legislators will initiate new gun laws.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
A standoff persists between Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul and Republican members of the Joint Finance committee. Kaul said last week he would not join a multi-state settlement with OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma for its role in the nation's deadly opioid epidemic. He says he'll continue to pursue Wisconsin's case against the company, which is now filing for bankruptcy.
Under the lame-duck laws the Republican-controlled Legislature passed last year, Kaul has to get permission from the GOP-controlled Joint Finance committee to settle lawsuits. He recently asked members to sign confidentiality agreements to discuss cases, but they refused. Now the two sides are at an impasse.
In this week's Capitol Notes conversation, JR Ross of WisPolitics.com tells WUWM's Marti Mikkelson that hundreds of millions of dollars in lawsuit settlement money could be at stake. And, the OxyContin settlement is at the center of the gridlock.
On the Sept. 18 edition of the Jay Weber Show on 1130 WISN, WisPolitics.com's JR Ross discusses the 5th CD race, Gov. Tony Evers' plan to divvy up new ADAs for counties and the formation of a commission to help nominate a judge to an open seat on the federal bench in Milwaukee.
With candidates maneuvering for the congressional seat being vacated by Rep. Sean Duffy, R-Weston, on Sept. 23, WisOpinion Insiders Chvala & Jensen handicap which party has the better chance to win the seat.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
On the Sept. 11 edition of the Jay Weber Show on 1130 WISN, WisPolitics.com's JR Ross discusses the 5th and 7th CD races.
Longtime Wisconsin Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner says he won't seek reelection in 2020. He's been serving in the U.S. House of Representatives for about 40 years and says it's time to pass the torch to somebody else.
Sensenbrenner's district north of Milwaukee leans heavily Republican. In this week's Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of WisPolitics.com if a long list of Republican candidates might appear on the primary ballot next August.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala & Jensen, assess the political fallout as the GOP-run Joint Finance Committee wrestles with a lame-duck law requiring oversight of settlements by AG Josh Kaul.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Republican Congressman Sean Duffy announced last week that he is stepping down from the job. Duffy represents northern Wisconsin and says his last day will be Sept. 23. He says he wants to spend more time with his family, especially since discovering his baby will be born next month with a heart condition.
In this week's Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross, of WisPolitics.com, when Gov. Tony Evers might call a special session — and whether Democrats can flip the heavily Republican-leaning seat.
On the August 28 edition of the Jay Weber Show on 1130 WISN, WisPolitics.com's JR Ross discusses GOP U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy's pending resignation and the emerging battle over his 7th CD seat, along with a dispute between Dem AG Josh Kaul and GOP members of the Joint Finance Committee over confidentiality agreements regarding settlement talks.
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers doubled down on talk of gun control last week. He called Republican concerns over bills that he is pushing "BS," and said he may call the Legislature into special session to take up the measures.
One measure Evers is thinking about proposing would require universal background checks on gun purchases in Wisconsin, and the other would establish a so-called red flag law.
Evers also predicted that Republicans would "pay the price at the polls" if they don't take up the bills. The GOP has expressed concerns about Second Amendment rights in response to the proposed legislation.
In this week's Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asks JR Ross of WisPolitics.com what he thinks of the latest developments.
With the Legislature gearing up for a return to Madison in the fall, the WisOpinion Insiders, Jensen & Chvala, grade the efforts of the GOP majority in the first half of 2019.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Mass shootings in Texas and Ohio drew a response again last week at the Wisconsin State Capitol. Gov. Tony Evers and Democratic lawmakers introduced a bill requiring universal background checks for most gun purchases.
Republicans who control the Legislature have repeatedly opposed such calls. Could this case be any different? WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of WisPolitics.com in this week's Capitol Notes conversation.
With neighboring states wrestling with siting marijuana dispensaries, the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider the chances the Wisconsin Legislature will approve medical marijuana.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Talk of gun control surfaced in the State Capitol last week after mass shootings occurred in Texas and Ohio. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers called on the Republican-controlled Legislature to pass a bill that would require universal background checks for gun purchases. He also called for a "red flag" law to make it easier to remove guns from people believed to be a danger to themselves or others.
Republicans have opposed the measures in the past. So, what does the future hold for these proposals? WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of WisPolitics.com in this week's Capitol Notes conversation.
WisPolitics.com's JR Ross discusses Gov. Tony Evers' state plane use, controversy over Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes' not graduating college despite past statements interpreted otherwise and more on the August 14 edition of the Jay Weber Show on 1130 WISN.
With a new conservative justice in place, the WisOpinion Insiders, Jensen & Chvala, debate partisanship and the state Supreme Court.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Some Republican state lawmakers are suing Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul, saying he's not complying with laws passed during a lame-duck session late last year. The laws were designed to limit Kaul's powers, along with those of Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. The GOP has asked the Wisconsin Supreme Court to take the case directly, bypassing the lower courts.
In this week's Capitol Notes conversation, JR Ross of WisPolitics.com tells WUWM's Marti Mikkelson that both sides are commenting on the case.
With two sets of Democratic candidate debates in hand, the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider which presidential hopefuls might win Wisconsin's April 2020 presidential primary.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
A couple of Wisconsin politicians weighed in on President Donald Trump’s administration last week, taking starkly different stances on the Republican president’s performance.
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers blasted Trump over immigration policy, while GOP Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner defended Trump on the Mueller investigation.
Another big story of the week was a dispute between Brad Pfaff, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, and Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald. They sparred on the subject of funding for mental health help for farmers.
Jeff Mayers of WisPolitics.com discusses the top stories of the week in Capitol Notes.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, predict which budget issues will figure in the 2020 legislative elections.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Former Republican Gov. Scott Walker has accepted a full time job, running a national conservative youth organization. He begins the job in 2021, and says he won't run for office in 2022. He had been considering a run for governor or U.S. Senate.
So, which prominent Republicans might be interested in challenging Democrat Tony Evers? WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of WisPolitics.com in this week's Capitol Notes conversation.
Wisconsin saw a whirlwind of political activity last week, and it was all focused on Milwaukee. President Trump visited Derco Aerospace on the city's northwest side, and urged support of his U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. He also attended a fundraiser.
At the same time, the Latino civil rights group LULAC sponsored a town hall in downtown Milwaukee that featured several Democratic presidential candidates. Members of LULAC marched through the streets of downtown Milwaukee during the president's visit.
In this week's Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of WisPolitics.com what all the activity says about Wisconsin's importance in next year's presidential election.
This time, the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala & Jensen, are in agreement: legislative Republicans won the battle of the budget.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
After a months-long, bruising fight over the state budget, Gov. Tony Evers signed the document last week.
Republicans who control the Legislature are declaring victory because of the mark they put on the Democratic governor’s spending plan. They stripped his major policy proposals and made other big changes.
But Evers also considers the final document to be a success, according to JR Ross of WisPolitics.com. Evers was able to use his line-item veto power to alter the GOP version of the budget. Ross adds that some of Evers’ other goals were met, too – just not necessarily the way he planned.
“The one thing he didn’t get was the Medicaid expansion. However, Republicans did spend a lot more in state tax dollars to put more money into health care programs, so in a lot of ways he got some things he wanted,” Ross says.
Ross discusses both sides’ take on the final spending plan in this week’s Capitol Notes.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Jensen & Chvala, debate clean water, big dairy, and lead contamination in Milwaukee.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
On this week's episode of WisOpinion.com's "The Insiders," Chvala and Jensen consider the rising role of GOP U.S. Senator Ron Johnson.
With GOP legislators poised to pass their version of the biennial budget, WisOpinion Insiders Chvala and Jensen evaluate funding for schools and special education.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
The Joint Finance committee wrapped up its work on Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' proposed budget last week. The panel finished by approving $500 million in tax cuts. It's expected to go to the floor of the Legislature next week.
In this week's Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of WisPolitics.com whether the document will sail through both Republican-controlled houses.
As GOP legislators ready their budget for a floor vote, the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, debate the decision to turn down federal Medicaid expansion.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
The Republican-controlled Joint Finance committee last week approved a funding plan to fix the roads in Wisconsin. Lawmakers removed Gov. Evers' proposal for a hike in the gas tax, and instead voted for increases in title and registration fees.
In this week's Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of WisPolitics.com why the GOP decided to go that route.
As the GOP-controlled Joint Finance Committee works through the budget, the WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, offer mixed reviews on the committee's budget plan for the UW System.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Thousands of Democrats descended on Milwaukee over the weekend for the party's annual state convention. Many top Democrats spoke, including Gov. Tony Evers and U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin. The recurring theme for the weekend was the party's desire to defeat Republican President Donald Trump in 2020.
So, how confident are delegates that this will be achieved? WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross that question for this week's Capitol Notes conversation.
The WisOpinion Insiders, Jensen and Chvala, debate the meaning of continuing mixed signals on the Foxconn project.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
The Republican-controlled Joint Finance committee last week continued its work on Gov. Tony Evers' budget proposal. It voted to increase funding for public schools by $500 million, rejecting Evers' request for $1.5 billion.
Republicans say $500 million is the most the state can afford, while Evers hopes to work with the GOP to get more money. In this week's Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asks JR Ross, of WisPolitics.com, if he thinks Evers will get a better deal.
State Republicans held their annual convention this past weekend in Oshkosh, WI. Party members and leaders used the event to look at what went wrong for the GOP in the fall of 2018 — and to better position the party for the 2020 elections.
While Republicans maintained the majority in the state Legislature in the fall elections, the party's candidates lost in all statewide races.
JR Ross of WisPolitics.com says presenters at the convention talked about how GOP candidates suffered last fall by drifting from the grassroots.
"You got the sense from watching folks that they agreed. They very much bought into the idea that the grassroots needs to be more refocused for the GOP, that they had been neglected last year. So (you saw) a lot of heads nodding when they talked about (how) people didn't feel as enthused last year because they felt like (the party) wasn't engaged as much."
Even after the GOP-Controlled Joint Finance Committee cut it from the budget, WisOpinion Insiders Chvala and Jensen consider whether Dem Gov. Tony Evers' medical marijuana proposal might still find legislative approval.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
After the GOP-run Joint Finance Committee stripped out Dem Gov. Tony Evers' budget priorities, WisOpinion Insiders Chvala & Jensen analyze the politics behind the story.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
The WisOpinion Insiders debate the lame-duck appointments controversy and the issues before the state Supreme Court after it reinstated Republican appointments nixed by Gov. Tony Evers.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.
Gov. Tony Evers last week sought to clarify some comments he made about Foxconn. He said he wanted to renegotiate the state's contract with the Taiwanese company because it's "unrealistic" to think it will create 13,000 jobs at the LCD screen plant it's building in Racine County — especially given the reduced size of the project. Republican Legislative leaders blasted Evers, accusing him of trying to undermine the deal.
Evers then sent a letter to Foxconn, seeking confirmation that the company came to him with "several changes" it wanted to make to the contract. Foxconn responded by saying it's looking for "more flexibility" within its existing agreement with the state. But then, a Foxconn official tweeted that "nobody has a crystal ball" to predict if 13,000 jobs will be created.
In this week's Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross, of WisPolitics.com, if these developments put an end to Republicans' — or Democrats' — concerns.
With Joint Finance Committee public hearings concluded, WisOpinion Insiders Chvala & Jensen outline the competing budget strategies of Gov. Tony Evers and the GOP Legislature.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and Michael Best Strategies.