Bats don’t have it easy these days.  The world’s only truly flying mammals, with almost supernatural sonar, acrobatic flying abilities that allow them to eat insects that would otherwise destroy billions of dollars of crops – even with all that, bats face global decline due to a variety of reasons.  Since 2006, a tiny fungus, pseudogymnoascus destructan, which causes White Nose Syndrome, has killed as many as 6.7 million bats worldwide.   The fungus attacks bats when they are hibernating in great numbers during the winter months, so it can spread quickly through populations, often resulting in 90% mortality.  Scientists have tried several ideas for treating bats, including ultraviolet light, but have yet to meet with much success.  A new study from the University of Wisconsin Madison offers a better understanding of how White Nose Syndrome happens, and provides hope for a cure.  Bruce Klein is a professor of pediatrics,medical microbiology and immunology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.  Also joining us is PhD candidate Marcos Isidoro Ayza.

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Pity the poor election officials in Wisconsin.  Every election cycle, the state’s rules change regarding who can vote, how votes can be collected and who and what money local clerks can use to help run elections.  This year alone, the state passed a constitutional amendment forbidding local governments from using private grants to support ballot access and another amendment stating that only “designated election officials may perform tasks in the conduct of elections” – whatever that means.  Then the state Supreme Court reversed itself on the use of ballot dropboxes – they were legal, then they were illegal, now they’re legal again.  Votebeat Wisconsin reporter Alexander Shur joins us once again to explain how municipal clerks are trying to keep up.

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Playing music that’s anything but typical, The New Mexican string band, Lone Piñon, is coming to the Sugar Maple Music Festival for a performance on Friday, August 2.  Jordan Wax from the band speaks with Tony Castañeda on the 8 O’Clock Buzz about the band’s music and influences.  Their wide spectrum of music involving fiddles, guitars, upright bass, accordian and bilingual vocals continues a tradition of incorporating traditional music passed down from their elders but also with a willingness to adapt to each new generation.  The Sugar Maple Music Festival will take place on Friday and Saturday, August 2-3, at W.G. Lunney Lake Farm County Park.  So practice your best grito and join in the fun.

Photo by Jacek Dylan on Unsplash

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Thomas Zeitzoff, Professor in the School of Public Affairs at American University, joins the 8 O’Clock Buzz to talk about the violent rhetoric that seems pervasive in American political discourse in recent years.  While Professor Zeitzoff acknowledges that political violence has existed in different forms, such as social activism in the 20’s and 30’s, or during the Viet Nam War in the 1960’s, the difference now is the prevalence of guns in the United States.  The combination of guns and violent rhetoric can lead to much more extreme events.  The potential for this is exacerbated by the political polarization within our political system, especially with the rise of populist candidates.  Is there a way forward?  Tune in to find out.

Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

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Laura Esquivel, Policy and Legislative Team at Earthjustice, talks about the group’s latest report, “New Protections for the Artic“: an effort to improve on the Department of the Interior advancing a process to enact stronger protections for public lands in Alaska’s Western Arctic, which, according to Esquivel, needs loopholes and vague language clarified and protections strengthened for 13 million acres of preserved land.

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Today on the Too Turnt Up Tuesday 8:00 Buzz with Tara Wilhelmi featuring Lolo Lature and RR Moore, it’s serious talk about current events, race relations, the upcoming presidential race, and being Black in America.  

Events and More:

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

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With a break in the hot and stormy weather, and with all the dramatic political news, Building Unity would like to remind you that the changing climate is still among the central crises of our time.  Dozens of environmental and activist groups have declared Monday, July 22 a Climate Emergency Day, and have organized a variety of events across the nation to urge action to curb the carbonization of the atmosphere. 

A small crowd gathered in the WORT studios this morning to tell us all about plans for today’s events at the state capitol. 

Joining Monday Buzz host Brian Standing were 

Our visitors spoke about the urgent need for action on the climate, and also played some music.

Web posting and photos by WORT producer Nicholas Wootton

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Thousands of years of Western culture have ingrained in us that our minds and bodies are separate entities.  “We” imagine ourselves as an intangible mind or soul that owns a body – or sometimes is entrapped in one, awaiting liberation.  

Pile on top of that heap of philosophical tradition the modern media obsession with inhuman standards of youth and beauty, and you have a recipe for a disaster of body shame.  Studies report that 78% of adolescent girls, up to 68% of adolescent boys and over 90% of transgender youth felt unhappy with their bodies.  

Charlotte Markey is a professor of psychology at Rutgers University, and her new series of books, “Adultish: Body Image in Young Adults,” seeks to give young people tools to harmonize their body image. She spoke with Monday 8 o’Clock Buzz host Brian Standing by phone to talk about her book.

Web posting by WORT  producer Nicholas Wootton

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On Sunday, July 21st, President Joe Biden posted a letter to the X social media site announcing the abandonment of his 2024 campaign for re-election.  Biden said he believed it was in the best interest of the Democratic Party and of the country that he stand down, and threw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris. 

The announcement comes after weeks of hand-wringing about the president’s age and capacity, after a poor showing at a nationally televised debate.  Biden becomes not the first, but certainly the latest – both in terms of most recent and the latest in the election cycle – sitting president to withdraw from the race.   With less than a month before the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, the party finds itself scrambling to produce a replacement candidate to oppose Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump. 

Allison Prasch is an Associate Professor of Rhetoric, Politics, and Culture at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Communication Arts. She is the author of The World is Our Stage: The Global Rhetorical Presidency and the Cold War. Professor Prasch visited the WORT studios to offer Monday Buzz host Brian Standing her perspectives on the latest developments.

Photo and web posting by WORT producer Nicholas Wootton

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Chali Pittman, News Director at WORT, joined Thursday 8 O’Clock Buzz host Tony Castañeda from the Republican National Convention for a recap of Wednesday’s events and speakers. The day’s focus on foreign policy and immigration culminated with the appearance of Trump’s VP pick Senator J.D. Vance (OH) who was, until recently, a vocal critic of Trump.

Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler joined Chali and Tony for the second half of the show, sharing his perspective on the GOP’s new “pro-labor” position, their softened language on abortion, and promise of mass deportations of unauthorized immigrants.

WORT’s live daily coverage from the GOP convention is made possible through a collaboration with Milwaukee’s Riverwest Radio WXRW-LP, WBAI in New York and Pacifica Radio. For more information, check out We Decide: Live Coverage of the 2024 Election.

Photo courtesy of Inspired Images on Pixabay.

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