Civic Media Spotlight

Civic Media Spotlight

By Civic MediaNewsNews Commentary
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Civic Media Spotlight episodes

  • Civic Media Spotlight (Hour 2)

    The spooky segments aren't over yet with John and Gordy up first! Sha’Ron Buie joined to talk about his incredible work across multiple justice and community organizations — from the Federal Defender Service to Madison’s Police Advisory Board and Reentry Councils in both Madison and Milwaukee. He also shared the exciting news that MOSES will be honoring him this November for his ongoing commitment to criminal justice reform and equity.

    Valley Focus with Lisa Hale got into the Halloween spirit with Ieva Engel, executive director of the Oshkosh Area Humane Society. Ieva shared important pet safety tips to keep your furry friends safe and stress-free during the holiday — from candy hazards to costume comfort — ensuring that every four-legged ghoul can join in the spooky fun safely.

    On the Todd Allbaugh Show, it was another round of “Mondays with Matenaer,” as Todd and Jane dove into the topic of political tribalism. They took aim at both sides of the aisle — Republicans dodging blame for the government shutdown, and Democrats refusing to call out their own over leadership issues at DPI. The conversation was sharp, honest, and refreshingly self-aware, challenging listeners to demand better accountability from everyone.

    Last but not least, on the WXCO Morning Report, Chad welcomed Cheryl Martino from NAMI Northwoods to discuss the vital mental health services available in Wausau. Cheryl explained how NAMI’s programs provide support, education, and advocacy for individuals and families navigating mental health challenges — an important reminder that help and community are always within reach.

    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!

    45 min
  • Civic Media Spotlight (Hour 1)

    Welcome to the spooky edition of the Civic Media Spotlight! First up is Nite Lite, where things got spooky as host and storyteller Carl Sarecki of the Door County Ghost Trolley Tours spun eerie tales from Wisconsin’s peninsula. From haunted happenings in Fish Creek to mysterious sightings in Peninsula State Park, Carl shared the chilling history behind Door County’s haunted past — including the infamous “Murder and Mayhem” tour that keeps even locals on edge.

    On The Maggie Dawn Show, guest Rachel LaCasse-Ford joined to discuss how political games are leaving families like hers struggling with unaffordable healthcare. While Republicans blame the Affordable Care Act, Maggie and Rachel exposed the hypocrisy of offering no real alternative — leaving everyday Americans to shoulder skyrocketing premiums and uncertainty about their future coverage.

    Former U.S. Attorney James Santelle stopped by Matenaer on Air for an in-depth conversation about justice, accountability, and the rule of law. They explored the work of Judge Sara Ellis in holding ICE to task in Chicago, and the broader importance of maintaining legal guardrails when government agencies overreach. It was a powerful reminder that standing up to intimidation is essential for protecting communities and democracy itself.

    On Mathew P. Kennedy, journalist Ruth Conniff from the Wisconsin Examiner tackled a double-barreled discussion — the mishandling of misconduct investigations within the Department of Public Instruction, and the political hypocrisy fueling it. Ruth pointed out how Republican grandstanding has made it harder to address real problems in education, while also breaking down the ripple effects of the GOP’s government shutdown, including rising ACA premiums and farm labor challenges.

    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!

    45 min
  • Pumpkin Politics and Russian Radio

    Maggie dives into the intersection of geopolitics and media with Yuri Rashkin, a Russian-born radio host. Yuri, who focuses on Ukraine's conflict zones like Crimea and Donbas, discusses the impact of the Trump administration's defunding of Voice of America, highlighting its historical importance in providing unbiased information. He notes a troubling trend of media suppression paralleling Trump and Putin's tactics. Maggie and Yuri underscore the necessity of supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression for global democracy.

    The Maggie Daun Show is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs Monday through Friday from 2-4 pm across the network. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show 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 show on Facebook, X and Instagram to keep up with Maggie and the show!

    Guests: Teri Barr, Yuri Rashkin
    0 min
  • SNAP Judgments and Judicial Showdowns

    Maggie dives into the Trump administration's controversial handling of SNAP benefits during a government shutdown, highlighting federal court battles that challenge the administration's stance on funding essential food aid. Maggie and former U.S. Attorney Jim Santelle dissect Judge Indira Talwani's Massachusetts ruling against the administration's tactics to weaponize hunger, emphasizing the judiciary's role as a safeguard against executive overreach. They also critique the administration's misleading legal tactics in deportation cases, notably against Afghan allies, and the Seventh Circuit's puzzling stance on federal agents' crowd control methods.

    https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mad.290958/gov.uscourts.mad.290958.26.0_1.pdf

    The Maggie Daun Show is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs Monday through Friday from 2-4 pm across the network. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show 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 show on Facebook, X and Instagram to keep up with Maggie and the show!

    Guest: Jim Santelle
    0 min
  • America’s Eugenics Echoes: Trump, Immigration, and Public Health

    Maggie dives into the chilling echoes of eugenics in modern America with Dr. Craig Spencer from Brown University. They unpack the roots of the eugenics movement, its influence on Nazi Germany, and its unsettling presence in today’s policies. From restrictive immigration laws to public health disparities, they uncover how these ideologies persist, particularly in the Trump administration’s rhetoric and actions. Dr. Spencer highlights the dangers of overlooking history’s lessons, urging a confrontation with our past to prevent repeating its darkest chapters.

    You can read more from Dr. Spencer here: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2025/08/ai-health-inequities/684047

    The Maggie Daun Show is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs Monday through Friday from 2-4 pm across the network. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show 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 show on Facebook, X and Instagram to keep up with Maggie and the show!

    Guest: Craig Spencer
    43 min
  • Hungry for Justice: SNAP and the MAGA Shutdown

    As America teeters on the brink of a government shutdown, the Trump administration's refusal to fund SNAP benefits becomes a focal point. With over 42 million Americans, including vulnerable children and seniors, relying on these benefits, the stakes are existential. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul and Kyle Ross from the Center for American Progress expose the administration's cynical political ploys, while federal courts deliberate on emergency funding. Amidst this, Republican inaction in Congress and state-level resistance highlight a grim reality: hungry Americans are pawns in a partisan chess game. Time to call out the hunger games!

    You can check out the archived version of USDA's now-deleted lapse of funding plan from September (Hint: go to page 15): https://web.archive.org/web/20251010100527/https:/www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fy2026-usda-lapse-plan.pdf

    FOOD PANTRIES ACROSS THE STATE

    WMDX:

    Second Harvest
    The River Food Pantry
    Community Action Coalition
    WAUK:
    In Milwaukee - NourishMKE, Hunger Task Force, Feeding America, Salvation Army, House of Peace
    In Racine - Racine County Food Bank, St. Vincent De Paul, Kingdom Builders Fellowship Center
    WISS - Oshkosh:
    Oshkosh Area Community Pantry
    Father Carr’s Place
    Salvation Army
    Lutheran Food Pantry

    WISS - Appleton:

    Feeding America
    St. Joseph Food
    Freedom Center Food Center
    WXCO - Wausau: 
    The Neighbor’s Place
    Salvation Army
    Good Shepherd Shelter

    WFHR - Wisconsin Rapids:

    Focus Food Pantry
    Ruby’s Pantry
    WBZH - Hayward:
    Hayward Community Food Shelf
    Spider Lake Church

    WLAK - Amery:

    Family Pathway Food Shelf
    Loaves and Fishes Interfaith Food Pantry
    The Open Cupboard Food Shelf
    St. Croix Falls Food Shelf

    93.5 The Tap - Eau Claire:

    St. Francis Food Pantry
    Community Table
    Trinity Lutheran Church
    Salvation Army

    WRCE - Richland Center:

    Richland Community Food Pantry
    Regional Locations: Second Harvest and Feeding America
    If you need to find a local food pantry near you:
    https://foodfinder.us/
    Just type in your zip code.

    The Maggie Daun Show is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs Monday through Friday from 2-4 pm across the network. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show 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 show on Facebook, X and Instagram to keep up with Maggie and the show!

    Guests: Josh Kaul, Kyle Ross
    43 min
  • Broken Promises and Political Grift: The Healthcare Debacle

    Maggie dives into the chaos surrounding the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Republican inaction. While the GOP blames the ACA, they offer no viable replacement, leaving families like Rachel LaCasse-Ford's facing skyrocketing premiums. Maggie highlights the GOP's hypocrisy, as they fail to present their so-called plans while middle America bears the burden. She also criticizes the blatant self-enrichment of Trump and his allies, contrasting it with Milwaukee County's pension scandal, showcasing the vast scale of political grift. The hour closes with a spotlight on dubious defense contracts benefiting Trump Jr., underscoring systemic corruption.

    The Maggie Daun Show is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs Monday through Friday from 2-4 pm across the network. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show 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 show on Facebook, X and Instagram to keep up with Maggie and the show!

    Guest: Rachel LaCasse-Ford
    43 min
  • Revving Up Reform: A Fresh Take on Politics and Policy

    Maggie serves up a lively discussion on the intersection of politics and policy, kicking off with a humorous clip of Donald Trump fumbling over his favorite books. The hour dives into the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals' decision to block the Trump administration's actions in Portland, a significant move in maintaining legal order. Maggie highlights the importance of federal mental health grants for Wisconsin and critiques GOP efforts to undermine public education funding. State Senator Sarah Keyeski also joins Maggie to explore the Democrats' 'Affordable Wisconsin' initiative with and a bipartisan bill aimed at supporting incarcerated individuals' healthcare transitions.

    The Maggie Daun Show is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs Monday through Friday from 2-4 pm across the network. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show 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 show on Facebook, X and Instagram to keep up with Maggie and the show!

    Guest: Sarah Keyeski
    43 min
  • Protests, Pepper Balls, and Power Plays

    Maggie engages with attorney Robert Held, who shares his experience with ICE protests in Chicago. Held, initially a passive observer, became an activist after witnessing federal agents using excessive force against peaceful demonstrators. He recounts being detained for eight hours without charges and criticizes the federal approach, emphasizing the importance of legal witnesses in protests. This hour also covers broader issues like the Trump administration's aggressive immigration tactics and extrajudicial actions, as highlighted by Senator Rand Paul. With insights from faith leaders and legal experts, Maggie critiques the normalization of government violence and the urgent need for accountability.

    The Maggie Daun Show is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs Monday through Friday from 2-4 pm across the network. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show 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 show on Facebook, X and Instagram to keep up with Maggie and the show!

    Guest: Robert Held
    43 min
  • Policy Showdown: Breaking News and Bold Voices

    Maggie ignites the airwaves with a sharp dive into today’s volatile political landscape — from a federal judge halting Trump’s federal employee layoffs to ICE leadership purges driven by Corey Lewandowski. She exposes GOP hypocrisy over SNAP benefits during the shutdown, calling out their defiance of congressional mandates. Angela Lang joins to discuss the No Kings protest and the urgent need for dialogue and unity.

    The Maggie Daun Show is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs Monday through Friday from 2-4 pm across the network. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show 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 show on Facebook, X and Instagram to keep up with Maggie and the show!

    Guest: Angela Lang
    43 min

About Civic Media Spotlight

From the publisher's feed

Civic Media is a pro-democracy radio network serving local communities in Wisconsin. Hear a sample of our best programming from the past week from across our statewide network. Listen Live: 4:00 pm…