8 O'Clock Buzz

Despite a strong trend against coal, and recognition of coal as the dirtiest of the fossil fuels, Trump’s executive order in support of coal has rippled worldwide. Kate DeAngelis, Deputy Director for International Programs at the Friends of the Earth USA, talks about the unanimous decision by the board of the Export-Import Bank to economically support Trump’s plan, despite little market plan.

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Dr. Clarence Lusane, political science professor and director of the International Affairs program and majors at Howard University, recently penned an essay “Making America White Again“, where he discusses the progress of the Trump administration to follow the “Project 2025” instruction manual, removing minorities and people of color from any documented significance in American culture. He also discusses his 3 years as an “independent expert” to the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance” at the Council of Europe, how Trump’s executive orders have reached beyond the U. S. to already affect policies in Europe.

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Outagamie County, Wisconsin lies in the heart of Republican territory in a very politically divided state.  In 2024, Donald Trump won the county by an 8-point margin, and Trump-endorsed Republican Tony Wied represents the area in Congress.  Outagamie County was also the birthplace of notorious anti-communist Senator Joe McCarthy.  Each year, the Outagamie County Republican Party hosts a Lincoln Luncheon fundraiser.  In 2025, the GOP invited U.S. Senator Ron Johnson as a featured speaker, and announced that they were selling tickets to the event.

The 2025 Lincoln Luncheon took place at the 10th Frame Bowling Alley in Appleton, Wisconsin on May 3rd.  The activist group Indivisible Wisconsin sponsored a protest and rally to greet Senator Johnson at the entrance.  WORT was on the scene, and here’s what we heard.

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Today on the Too Turnt Up Tuesday 8:00 Buzz with Stan Woodard comes to us from May 4th, 2004, from the archives a conversation with Jeremy Varon, author of “Bringing the War Home: The Weather Underground, the Red Army Faction, and Revolutionary Violence in the Sixties and Seventies” and in the second half, Robert Bullard, author of “Highway Robbery: Transportation Racism & New Routes to Equity.”

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Madison Public Theatre presents Tennessee Williams’ seldom seen, last play, “A House Not Meant to Stand” a dark, Southern gothic fit for our times.  Director Julia Houck, with actors Stephanie Monday and Karl Stoll joined Monday Buzz host Brian Standing on May 5, 2025 to talk about the play, Tennessee Williams’ legacy and why the play is so seldom performed.

Stephanie Monday (Bella McCorkle) and Karl Stoll (Cornelius McCorkle) read an excerpt from Tennessee Williams’ “A House Not Meant to Stand.” (Video by Nicholas Wootton)

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In 2025, the week surrounding International Workers’ Day on May 1st brought a plethora of rallies and protests aimed at the Trump Administration’s assault on immigrant and worker rights.  The Monday 8 O’Clock Buzz brings you the voices and sounds from rallies across the state.

On April 28, known as Worker’s Memorial Day, the South Central Federation of Labor held a commemoration event at Madison’s Labor Temple.  Monday Buzz host Brian Standing spoke with several of the attendees and presenters.

On May 1st, International Worker’s Day, Voces de la Frontera’s annual rally for immigrant and worker justice took on an enhanced urgency due to the Trump Administration’s anti-immigrant and anti-worker policies.  Thousands gathered on Mitchell Street before marching to Zeidler Union Square, Milwaukee’s oldest park, which is named for socialist mayor Frank Zeidler.  The event began with a prayer.

The day after the Milwaukee event, Voces de la Frontera sponsored a second march and rally, this time from Brittingham Park to the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison.  Brian Standing caught up with rally organizers and attendees.

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In 2023, in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision that returned abortion regulation to the states, Dane County Circuit Court Justice Dianne Schlipper issued a ruling declaring that an 1849 Wisconsin law made nonconsensual feticide a crime, but did not apply to consensual abortion.  Although the Wisconsin Supreme Court has yet to rule on that issue, the lower court ruling was enough for reproductive health care providers, such as Planned Parenthood, to resume providing surgical and medication-based abortion services in the state.  Legislative Democrats, though, aren’t banking on the courts, and are seeking to clarify the law once and for all.  LRB-2921, or the Abortion Rights Restoration Act, would repeal the 1849 law, as well as a number of abortion restrictions the Republican-controlled legislature passed in 2013.  Kelda Roys, who serves as the Co-Chair of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus and represents the Madison area in Senate District 26, sponsored the legislation.  Senator Roys joined the Monday Buzz on May 5, 2025.

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Main Street Alliance was founded in 2008 by small business owners who saw a system stacked against them and who are taking collective action to bring about a fair and inclusive economy.  Shawn Phetteplace, Campaign Director, called in to speak with Tony Castañeda about TRump’s tariff taxes and the plight of small business owners in these uncertain times. The businesses that will be impacted the most are small commercial and manufacturing companies and restaurants.

Photo by Olivia Hutcherson on Unsplash

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Fred Swanson and Doug Randall of Madison Homebrewers and Tasters Guild check in with the Thursday edition of the 8 O’Clock Buzz to talk about the Great Taste of the Midwest 2025. This year’s event will take place on August 9 at Olin Park from 1:00 to 6:00 PM.  Over 200 breweries showcasing craft beer from the Midwest will be in attendance.

Photo by Timothy Dykes on Unsplash

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Journey Mental Health Center is a nonprofit behavioral health agency serving Dane County.  Jon Lica, Director of Development & Donor Relations, joins the 8 O’Clock Buzz and host Tony Castañeda to talk about what Journey does and why mental health awareness is so important.  Journey has four fund raising events scheduled for this month that will include Drag Bingo on Tuesday, May 6, at Delta Beer Lab; Youth Mental Health CE Training and Luncheon on Friday, May 9 at the Goodman Community Center; a Fireside Chat with Montee Ball and Kristin Brey on Wednesday, May 14; and MMOCA Gallery Night at Yahara House on Friday, May 16.

Photo by Marcel Strauß on Unsplash

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