8 O'Clock Buzz

Debra Cronmiller, Executive Director of the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, joins the Thursday 8 O’Clock Buzz to talk about the constitutional amendment questions that will be included on the ballot for the upcoming Primary Election to be held on Tuesday, August 13.  These are large sweeping changes that will impact a wide range of issues voters care about, from education to the environment to how quickly the government can respond to emergencies (like a public health crisis or natural disaster).  The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin knows that if these amendments are passed, they will be detrimental to the people of our state, and they urge voters to VOTE NO on both questions.

Image by Amber from Pixabay

The post Vote NO! appeared first on WORT-FM 89.9.

Did you hear about the comedian who bought eyeglasses to improve their observational comedy?  Well, if you haven’t, you may want to take in one or more of the many shows taking place tonight through Saturday, August 10, for Madison Comedy Week.  Maggie Maxwell and Andre Medrano of the comedy show Would You Rather with Andre & Maggie, Kevin Kellam, and Jake Snell join the Thursday 8 O’Clock Buzz to talk about the upcoming shows and what you’re going to miss if you can’t make it.  There are five shows a night at venues all over town making it easy to catch at least one of the shows.  If not, the jokes are on you.

Image by Tumisu from Pixabay

The post Chuckle Up appeared first on WORT-FM 89.9.

Omar Ocampo, Researcher at the Institute for Policy Studies, questions whether American capitalism is sustainable, given the huge wealth gap. The 813 billionaires in the U.S. hold more than $5.7 trillion in assets, up $2.7B from 2020. These type of holdings can go a long way to self-support the wealth gap by paying some of the 12,000 registered lobbyists in the country, reports Ocampo.

The post Is American Capitalism Sustainable? appeared first on WORT-FM 89.9.

The Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) has been tracking the agendas and activities of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) for over ten years — a group designed to make state Republican legislators’ jobs easier, with pre-written conservative bills, including extreme anti-abortion, anti-voting, anti-public education, and other right-wing ideals. Research Director at CMD, David Armiak, talks about the recent annual meeting of ALEC.

The post CMD Exposes ALEC’s 2024 Annual Meeting appeared first on WORT-FM 89.9.

Today on the Too Turnt Up Tuesday 8:00 Buzz with Tara Wilhelmi featuring RR Moore and Lolo Lature, serious talk about policing and police reform, de-escalation, and working in and with the community in the wake of another high speed pursuit in Monona and the police shooting during the RNC in Milwaukee.

WORT Coverage of the Monona City Council removing their ban on high speed pursuit: https://www.wortfm.org/monona-police-will-lift-restrictions-on-pursuit-policy-in-wake-of-deadly-crash/

Events and More:

Coming up next week, representatives from Black Men’s Coalition of Dane County talking about their program to help people get training and credentials, and looking forward to more shows with community members and groups to talk.

Listen in Madison at 89.9FM or online anywhere at wortfm.org.  Support your community radio with a donation online at wortfm.org!

The post Regular Voice Rausea from Around The Way appeared first on WORT-FM 89.9.

Good science fiction has always examined cultural, social and technological trends and offered alternative futures of how those trends might play out – sometimes as a hopeful promise, sometimes as a dire warning.

On August 6, the interdisciplinary Master of Science in Design + Innovation program at the University of Wisconsin – Madison looks to do some similar prospective introspection in a more academic context with an event entitled RE:FUTURE: Six Visions of Wisconsin.

Trudy Watt is the academic director of the Design + Innovation program and she joined Buzz host Brian Standing in the WORT studio.  Joining her was Creative Lead Coe Douglas.

Featured image courtesy of UW’s Design + Innovation program.

Studio photos and web posting by Nicholas Wootton

The post Re-Future Program Imagines Possible Futures For Our World appeared first on WORT-FM 89.9.

On July 9, 2024 the Environmental Protection Agency signed a new four-year collective bargaining agreement with the American Federation of Government Employees Council 238, which represents EPA scientists.

The agreement, which is timed to last beyond throughout the next President’s term, includes new provisions to protect scientific independence and integrity, the first of its kind in a union contract.

Nicole Cantello is President of AFGE Local 704, which represents EPA employees in the Upper Midwest. She joined the Eight O’Clock Buzz by phone to talk about the new agreement.

Featured image courtesy of the AFGE Local 704 website

Web posting by Nicholas Wootton

The post Federal Employee Union Wins Protections for EPA Scientists appeared first on WORT-FM 89.9.

Jennifer Loewenstein joins 8 O’Clock Buzz host Tony Castañeda to discuss the assassination of two of Hamas’ senior leaders in recent days, and how the killings may affect the ceasefire negotiations underway in the 10 month Israel-Gaza war.  One of those killed, Ismael Haniyeh, was seen as someone who could have signed a prisoner exchange deal with the Israelis, a key component of the ceasefire framework that had been proposed by mediators.

Jennifer Loewenstein is a human rights activist and freelance journalist. She was formerly (now retired) Associate Director of Middle Eastern Studies and Senior Lecturer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Photo courtesy of 27308 on Pixabay.

The post Gaza Ceasefire Negotiations in Peril After Assassinations appeared first on WORT-FM 89.9.

Today on the Too Turnt Up Tuesday 8:00 Buzz with Tara Wilhelmi featuring RR Moore and Lolo Lature, talking about Vel Phillips legacy and making room for those coming next, plus lightening things up with talk galas and parties, and a bit of serious talk about finding yourself and your place.

More about the new Vel Phillips statue from WORT News: https://www.wortfm.org/vel-phillips-trailblazing-black-leader-honored-with-sculpture-on-capitol-square/

Events and More:

Today’s music: https://spinitron.com/WORT/pl/19308402/Tuesday-8-O-Clock-Buzz

Listen in Madison at 89.9FM or online anywhere at wortfm.org.  Support your community radio with a donation online at wortfm.org!

The post Hold the Door for the Next One appeared first on WORT-FM 89.9.

If you’re looking for the romance of movies under the stars, but want something a bit different from the blockbuster action fare at the rural drive-ins, the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art’s Rooftop Cinema has you covered.  The new season screens every Thursday through September 5.  James Kreul, the hardest working film curator alive, joins us with a preview.

The post Rooftop Cinema Announces 2024 Season appeared first on WORT-FM 89.9.