Civic Media Mid-Mornings

For our last best of, we’re giving you the highlights from our last show with Greg’s thoughts on what they’ve all accomplished as well as a an interview with Congressman Mark Pocan on everything from Wisconsin Congressional Maps to ICE to what he is hearing from the people in an out of his district. It all wraps up with a handy tip from Greg on how we can all be engaged and be better.

As always, thank you for listening, texting and calling, we couldn’t do this without you! Don’t forget to download the free Civic Media app and take us wherever you are in the world! Matenaer On Air is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs weekday mornings from 9-11 across the state. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! You can also rate us on your podcast distribution center of choice. It goes a long way!

As Greg Bach wraps up Civic Media Mid-Mornings, the final episode feels less like a standard sign-off and more like a strategy session for what’s next. Looking toward 2026, Greg and guest Dan Shafer pull back the curtain on a massive year for Wisconsin, framing the upcoming governor’s race and the fight for legislative control as the ultimate tipping point for the state.

They dive into the long-standing tug-of-war between Tony Evers and Robin Vos, questioning if we’re finally seeing the end of an era that has defined Madison for years. While the show is ending, Greg’s parting message is a heavy nudge to the audience: don’t tune out now. He makes a sincere case for staying sharp and hopeful, arguing that a more proactive, less divided Wisconsin is actually possible if people stay in the game.

As always, thank you for listening, texting and calling, we couldn’t do this without you! Don’t forget to download the free Civic Media app and take us wherever you are in the world! Matenaer On Air is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs weekday mornings from 9-11 across the state. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! You can also rate us on your podcast distribution center of choice. It goes a long way!

Greg Bach’s final sign-off on Civic Media Mid Mornings felt less like a goodbye and more like a passing of the torch. While he’s stepping away from this specific slot, he assured listeners his voice isn’t disappearing from the airwaves anytime soon.

The episode really dug into the grit of Wisconsin politics, featuring a conversation with Congressman Mark Pocan about the high stakes of redrawing the state’s congressional maps and the “unsettling” arrival of ICE operations.

Greg didn’t hold back his frustration with the GOP’s focus on culture wars and transgender bills, calling them out as noise designed to distract from the “real world” crises in healthcare and education. He wrapped things up with a heavy emphasis on the upcoming elections, making a passionate plea for people to actually talk to one another across the political aisle before the state reaches a breaking point.

As always, thank you for listening, texting and calling, we couldn’t do this without you! Don’t forget to download the free Civic Media app and take us wherever you are in the world! Matenaer On Air is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs weekday mornings from 9-11 across the state. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! You can also rate us on your podcast distribution center of choice. It goes a long way!

Host Greg Bach dives into a heavy-hitting talk with Angela Lang, Co-Exec Director of Black Leaders Organizing Communities, about that controversial amendment aimed at banning DEI practices in Wisconsin, stripping away the political jargon to reveal what’s actually at stake for the state. They get into the weeds of how these proposals are framed and the real-world racial tensions they stir up, especially heading into a major election cycle.

Finally, On the lighter side, we’re celebrating some massive Wisconsin pride as Kewaskum’s own Jordan Stolz just smashed an Olympic record to grab gold in the 1,000m speed skating final. Greg also goes to bat for curling, shutting down the haters who say it’s not a “real” sport, before catching up with J.R. Radcliffe on the Brewers’ latest move bringing Gary Sánchez back on a one-year deal.

As always, thank you for listening, texting and calling, we couldn’t do this without you! Don’t forget to download the free Civic Media app and take us wherever you are in the world! Matenaer On Air is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs weekday mornings from 9-11 across the state. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! You can also rate us on your podcast distribution center of choice. It goes a long way!

Hello Civic Media Mid-Morning listeners! Henry Redman, a staff reporter for the Wisconsin Examiner who focuses on covering Wisconsin’s towns and rural areas, joins Greg to break down his reporting on how ICE’s Twin Cities office has been expanding its reach deep into rural Western Wisconsin communities (like Baldwin). He’ll explain why these smaller towns are being targeted and how the lack of a major activist presence in rural areas changes the way these federal operations actually play out on the ground.

Greg also digs into the “chilling effect” this has on local residents and the growing wedge it drives between immigrant families and local police. Henry shares what he’s heard from people living through this, highlighting a massive disconnect between the resources available in big cities versus the isolation felt in Wisconsin’s rural heartland.

As always, thank you for listening, texting and calling, we couldn’t do this without you! Don’t forget to download the free Civic Media app and take us wherever you are in the world! Matenaer On Air is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs weekday mornings from 9-11 across the state. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! You can also rate us on your podcast distribution center of choice. It goes a long way!

Greg Bach sits down with Pete Schwaba, host of NiteLite, to talk about where entertainment and real life collide. Schwaba shares how he went from doing stand-up comedy to writing screenplays, and what it’s actually like trying to make original films in an industry that seems obsessed with sequels and franchises.

With the Oscars coming up, they swap predictions, debate possible surprises, and give some love to standout non-franchise films like One Battle After Another and Sinners. The conversation also turns local, as they talk about why tax incentives matter for growing Wisconsin’s film scene and what it takes to build something sustainable outside of Hollywood.

Schwaba lights up when the Door County Film Festival comes up, calling it proof that grassroots art still matters — and that creative communities don’t have to live in L.A. or New York to thrive.

Bottom line? If you care about original storytelling, show up for it. Support indie art.

As always, thank you for listening, texting and calling, we couldn’t do this without you! Don’t forget to download the free Civic Media app and take us wherever you are in the world! Matenaer On Air is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs weekday mornings from 9-11 across the state. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! You can also rate us on your podcast distribution center of choice. It goes a long way!

Greg Bach takes a closer look at the Trump administration’s controversial efforts to reshape how American history is presented — from the removal of the Pride flag at the Stonewall National Monument to changes at Independence Park that critics say downplay the history of slavery. Supporters call it a move to “restore truth and sanity.”

Greg and his producer, Dom, dig into what this means — not just politically, but culturally. They talk about how different generations understand history, why some stories feel newly visible while others feel pushed aside, and why it matters that young people learn to question how history is framed, not just memorize it.

As always, thank you for listening, texting and calling, we couldn’t do this without you! Don’t forget to download the free Civic Media app and take us wherever you are in the world! Matenaer On Air is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs weekday mornings from 9-11 across the state. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! You can also rate us on your podcast distribution center of choice. It goes a long way!

In this episode of Civic Media Mid-Mornings, Greg Bach and Jim Santelle prove that even in the dead of a Wisconsin winter, the news cycle has absolutely no chill.

They pivot to the essential stuff: dissecting the Brewers’ trade of Caleb Durbin to the Red Sox—which we’re choosing to view as a strategic masterstroke rather than an early-onset heartbreak—and recapping the frozen glory of Mitten Fest and the Frozen Assets 5K. Finally, we listen to the very handy tip from Greg!

As always, thank you for listening, texting and calling, we couldn’t do this without you! Don’t forget to download the free Civic Media app and take us wherever you are in the world! Matenaer On Air is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs weekday mornings from 9-11 across the state. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! You can also rate us on your podcast distribution center of choice. It goes a long way!

In this episode of Civic Media Mid-Mornings, Greg Bach and legal expert Jim Santelle dive headfirst into the chaotic intersection of sports, politics, and the planet’s slow-motion meltdown. We kick things off with the Olympic-sized drama surrounding skier Hunter Hess.

Jim then joins to break down the “Endangerment Finding,” explaining how the administration is trying to convince us that carbon dioxide is basically plant food while simultaneously making voting as difficult as a high-stakes escape room with the MEGA Act.

As always, thank you for listening, texting and calling, we couldn’t do this without you! Don’t forget to download the free Civic Media app and take us wherever you are in the world! Matenaer On Air is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs weekday mornings from 9-11 across the state. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! You can also rate us on your podcast distribution center of choice. It goes a long way!

In the second half of the show, Greg welcomed Dr. Kristen Lyerly to talk about how expanding Medicaid isn’t just a political talking point—it’s actually saving lives, specifically pointing to a new study showing higher breast cancer survival rates in states that took the leap. After the heavy health talk, they pivoted to the Super Bowl, checking the pulse on the Olympics, and Greg giving his review of Bad Bunny’s halftime show. To wrap it all up, Greg shared some “Olympic-level” sleep hacks, because apparently, if we want to function like world-class athletes, we need to stop doom-scrolling and start napping like we’re chasing a gold medal.

As always, thank you for listening, texting and calling, we couldn’t do this without you! Don’t forget to download the free Civic Media app and take us wherever you are in the world! Matenaer On Air is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs weekday mornings from 9-11 across the state. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! You can also rate us on your podcast distribution center of choice. It goes a long way!