Organizing Worker Power & Political Expectations

We welcome Peter Rickman, president of the Milwaukee Service and Hospitality Union (MASH) to discuss the union’s big organizing victory this week at Landmark Theater in Milwaukee, the rapid growth of the union, and the union's commitment to the Living Wage Coalition pushing for a $20 minimum wage bill. We take a dive into new national polling by the Kaiser Family Foundation showing health care cost is a dominant election issue in 2026, even for Republicans and treasured independent and swing voters. Seventy-two percent of Democrats, 63% of independents and 47% of Republicans said the cost of healthcare will have a major impact on which party’s candidate they will support. Robert updates us on the continued fight for a BadgerCare Public Option and the grassroots leaders and legislative champions making it happen. We also highlight the dysfunction of our health care system, as evidenced by news this week that Ascension Wisconsin now has tele-ICUs at some hospitals… that’s right, no ICU doctors on-site! We close with the scandalous news that more massive “hyperscale” data centers are coming to Wisconsin, according to the head of WEC (the parent company of WE Energies and WPS), who arrogantly bragged at a recent shareholders meeting about the boon it will be to their windfall profits. This is only happening because Wisconsin state political leaders green lighted data center development with huge tax giveaways ($2 billion and counting) while failing to pass any guardrails to protect the climate, rate payers, and public health.

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Jaksot(500)

Democracy depends on us

We discuss quadriplegic Carl Schulze’s epic 92 mile ride to the Capitol in Madison in his wheelchair to protest Medicaid cuts and support increases to caregiver wages. His individual act of protest he...

17 Heinä 202548min

Taking stock. What's next?

We discuss the tragic, climate change fueled Texas floods and the perils of gutting the government. Wisconsin congressman Derrick Van Orden who is still hiding from his constituents claimed credit for...

10 Heinä 202558min

Budget Calamity?

We record the morning after the state budget deal was signed by Governor Evers in the wee hours of the night. We do a full budget postmortem with State Representative Francesca Hong and Heather DuBoi...

4 Heinä 202552min

Budget Impasse?

With Matt on vacation this week, Robert is the solo host. On this week's episode we dig deeper into the state budget battle with three well positioned guests. First we welcome Peegy Wirtz-Olsen, the ...

26 Kesä 202549min

Evers in 2026? Budget battle sets the stage

This week we dig into the federal and state budget battles, and the question of a 3rd term for Governor Tony Evers, with special guests Dan Shafer of the Recombobulation Area and Civic Media, and Stev...

20 Kesä 202549min

Wealthy before public schools and healthcare

As the State Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee takes up public education funding, education advocates call for the veto of any budget from the Legislature that does not adequately fund education. ...

12 Kesä 202550min

Republicans Play Hardball: Dare Governor to Veto Partisan Budget.

We take a deep dive into the huge breaking news that Speaker Robin Vos and Republican leaders walked away from state budget negotiations with Governor Tony Evers on Wednesday. Ratcheting up the battle...

6 Kesä 202548min

Week of Action in the Public Interest

We debrief the historic Capitol Day of Action this Tuesday which called on the Governor to veto any budget that does not meet basic standards. It was organized by Citizen Action Wisconsin in partnersh...

29 Touko 202549min