8 O'Clock Buzz

Clarence Thomas is now the longest-tenured member of the U.S. Supreme Court.  First appointed to the country’s highest court in 1991 by President George Herbert Walker Bush, Thomas’ appointment hearings grew bitter and heated over allegations of sexual harassment of Anita Hill when both worked at the U.S. Department of Education.  Thomas’ won appointment in the Senate by a 52-48 margin.  Among the Senators voting to confirm was Democrat Joseph Biden of Delaware.  In his 34 years on the bench, Thomas has gained a reputation as the court’s most conservative member.  He’s also developed a reputation as corrupt, having received multiple favors from wealthy conservatives with interests before the U.S. Supreme Court.  But Brooklyn College Professor of Political Science Corey Robin says there’s more to Thomas than meets the eye, and you underestimate his jurisprudence at your own peril.  Robin will speak at the University of Wisconsin Center Humanities Without Boundaries lecture on April 24.

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The staredown between the U.S. federal court system and the Trump Administration intensified this past week.  Trump met with Nayib Bukele, President of El Salvador in the Oval Office.  After the meeting, the two presidents threw up their hands with regard to returning wrongfully deported Kilmar Abrego Garcia, saying there was nothing either could do.  This appeared to clearly defy an order from the U.S. Supreme Court, who took the unusual step of rushing a second order over the weekend to direct the President, on a 7-2 vote, to immediately cease any further deportations under the Alien Act. Federal judges throughout the U.S. court system stepped up their criticism of the U.S. Department of Justice’s repeated failures to comply with court orders.  If we’re not in a constitutional crisis, we soon will be, as the Trump Administration shows the most callous disregard for the courts since the days of Joe McCarthy and Roy Cohn.  With all the turmoil, the Monday Buzz thought we’d check in once again with Howard Schweber, Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin.

Formal group photograph of the Supreme Court as it has been comprised on June 30, 2022 after Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson joined the Court. The Justices are posed in front of red velvet drapes and arranged by seniority, with five seated and four standing. Seated from left are Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., and Justices Samuel A. Alito and Elena Kagan. Standing from left are Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Neil M. Gorsuch, Brett M. Kavanaugh, and Ketanji Brown Jackson.

Credit: Fred Schilling, Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States

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The expanding appearance of Spanish-language media and the increasing attention on Latino communities and issues within the mainstream news landscape can increase democratic participation by the diverse Hispanic community.  But there can be negative aspects also, such as targeted misinformation, political manipulation, erosion of trust in traditional media outlets, and cynicism toward our democratic institutions.  Carlos Dávalos, a journalist from Mexico City, PHD candidate at UW Madison, and producer at WORT for outreach to the Hispanic community, joins the Thursday 8 O’Clock Buzz to talk about the political climate in the Age of Trump.

Photo from Pixabay

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Karen Romo, spokesperson for Voces de la Frontera (VDLF), joins host Tony Castañeda on the Thursday 8 O’Clock Buzz to talk about upcoming demonstrations and rallies in Milwaukee and Madison, Day Without Immigrants, as well as the plight of immigrants in the changing political environment.  The rallies will take place on Thursday, May 1st in Milwaukee and Friday May 2nd in Madison.  Karen wants to stress that immigrants have rights if they’re approached by agents of the government, and people are encouraged to call the VDLF hotline at 414-465-8078. 

Photo by Barbara Burgess on Unsplash

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Marco Aquirre from the Madison Arcatao Sister City Project gives his insights into El Salvador history, politics, gang prisons, the Oval Office meeting between Trump and Bukele (an illegitimate president based on the El Salvador constitution), and more.

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With projects including blocking destructive mining, protecting water, native forests & wildlife, and reducing climate change threats, the Sierra Club – Wisconsin Chapter, strives to keep a clean environment for everyone’s health and enjoyment. Campaign Coordinator Jadine Sonoda talks about their programs and volunteer opportunities. Visit their website for a calendar of activities.

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Rob Matsushita’s new play “Bloody Aftermath” debuts at Madison’s Broom Street Theatre this April.  The play features a series of vignettes hopscotching across different times, settings and characters, all focused on fans of a fictional horror movie franchise.  Playwright Rob Matushita and director of the Broom Street production, Jessica Jane Witham both joined Monday Buzz host Brian Standing.

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To help celebrate some efforts – on both sides of the migratory routes – to save declining songbird species, such as the Baltimore Oriole, Save Our Songbirds and the Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance are teaming up on April 16 to serve up bird-friendly coffee and chocolate and teach people how to help our feathered friends.  Lisa Gaumnitz, coordinator of Save Our Songbirds and Brenna Marsicek, Director of Outreach for the Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance, joined Monday Buzz host Brian Standing on April 14, 2025.

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On April 10, the Supreme Court of the United States ordered the Trump Administration to facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia from El Salvador to the United States.   Immigrations and Customs Enforcement deported Abrego Garcia on March 15 in spite of a 2019 court order allowing him to remain to avoid persecution in his home country.  Abrego Garcia ended up in the notorious El Salvador prison CECOT.  Even though, the Justice Department admitted that the decision to deport Abrego Garcia, who had committed no crime,  was an “administrative error,” the Administration had refused to expedite his return.  Theoretically, the Supreme Court decision should be the end of the issue.  But as of today, Abrego Garcia remains in El Salvador.  This brings up a crucial constitutional question: what happens if the Trump Administration refuses to comply with a court order?  Howard Schweber is a professor emeritus of American Politics and Political Theory, whose research includes constitutional law and politics.

Photo of U.S. Supreme Court building

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Thursday 8 O’Clock Buzz host, WORT roving reporter and man about town Tony Castañeda was among those celebrating Susan Crawford’s win over Brad Schimel for a State Supreme Court seat last week. He is joined this morning by Progressive Magazine Editor Norm Stockwell who, like most others, did not expect as large a turnout, decisive a margin or quick a Schimel concession.

The race, which set new records for spending and turnout, has been seen by some as slap back at Trump’s policies in general, and Musk’s involvement in the race in particular.

Stockwell breaks down the impact that money, Musk, and Musk money likely had on the election, as well as what might happen now that voters have approved a constitutional amendment which enshrines the state’s already existing voter ID law into the state Constitution.

Photo courtesy of Elemental5 Digital on Unsplash.

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