Hello and welcome to this best of edition of the Civic Media Spotlight! We kick things off with Mornings with Pat Krietlow. Pat talks with Joe Zepecki and Melissa Baldauff about where the last year has taken them personally and politically, using Wisconsin as the lens. The conversation looks at what worked, what didn’t, and how Democrats might realistically position themselves to take full control of state government in 2026.

Up next, John and Gordy welcome Mike McCabe for a deep dive into the growing crisis facing Wisconsin farmers. McCabe connects immigration policy, the Egg Bill, and labor shortages to an alarming rise in farm bankruptcies, painting a picture of how policy decisions are hitting rural communities hard.

On Max Ink Radio, Teri Barr sits down with Kirstie Kraus, fresh off her second tour of England. The Janesville-born artist talks about expanding her career in Nashville, collaborating with high-level musicians, and putting a new spin on a familiar Christmas favorite.

Mike McCabe joins John and Gordy for another conversation to unpack his latest Substack piece, “Looking the Wrong Way.” He explains how political leaders often focus on the wrong targets, avoiding the deeper issues that actually need attention.

To learn more about these shows and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast line up. Follow the network on Facebook, BlueSky, YouTube, X, and Instagram to keep up with Civic Media!