Executive Director of BLOC (Business Leaders Organizing for Communities) joins the show to share her thoughts on whether black Milwaukeeans will show up to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris as they did for Former President Barrack Obama in 2008 and 2012. Together they discuss how BLOC advocates for voter’s rights in Milwaukee, why turnout at the polls has declined since the Obama years, their biggest for black voters and what the VP needs to do to tip the scale for good.

Professor of Political Science and Director of the Elections Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison joins the show to break down the concept of the Electoral College. He elaborates on a recent article he wrote for The Conversation on whether the system makes American democracy vulnerable to malicious intent. Kristin, Brian and Barry discuss it further and how to this may impact this year’s presidential election.

In honor of National Diaper Need Awareness Week, founder of Milwaukee Diaper Mission, Meagan Johnson joins Spanning the State to discuss their fundraiser to help provide diapers for Milwaukee families in need. The mission is currently in the process of raising $50,000 dollars by September 30th to help these families, Kristin is also participating in the fundraiser with a goal of 5,000. All the proceeds earned will be matched by the Charles Antetokounmpo family foundation. If you are interested in donating text “Diaper” to 855-616-1620.

Kristin and Brian welcome Allison Wagner, founding-director of All-In Milwaukee to talk about the low enrollment of Black and Latino students in at the University of Wisconsin-Madison since Affirmative Action has been removed. She explains the theories she may have as to why this happened, how they university might course correct and what this means for the future.

Kristin and Brian kick off the week with a packed show. We kick it off by recounting Kristin’s daredevil weekend rappelling down buildings for Doors Open Milwaukee. They talk about a new town hall project, the Main Street Agenda where WI voters will discuss a big ballot issue: inflation. They then speak to a civil engineer, Ken Mika about the “C+” rating Wisconsin earned for its infrastructure and how. Later they speak to author Sarah Conery about her book “100 things to do in Green Bay” and of course they spin the state and more on Spanning the State.

The author of “100 things to do in Green Bay” Sarah Conery, joins the show to discuss her book. She explains how and why she wrote the book and the must-see items from the book.

Co-chair for American Society of Civil Engineering, Ken Mika joins Spanning the State to talk Wisconsin Infrastructure and the good rating the state has received. Mika breaks down how WI received this rating in their 2024 report, what constitutes as good infrastructure, and how to maintain this.

Director of the La Follette School of Public Affairs at UW-Madison, Susan Webb Yackee joins the show to talk about the “Main Street Agenda” project. The election-year project provides a space for civil conversations and information regarding issues Wisconsin Voters are concerned with. On October 15th, there will be a town hall hosted by The Main Street Agenda where they will discuss inflation. Yackee explains how this project came to be, what to expect at the town hall, and how they came up with inflation as the main topic.

Kristin and Brian wrap up a jammed packed week with laughs! First they ask WTMJ listeners how they take their old fashioned cocktails before diving into some justice served to state senator Cory Tomczyk via journalism. Later they speak to the Director of the Center for Limnology and what invasive species are doing to Wisconsin Lakes. Lastly, they have their Friday staples, a hilarious rendition of the Political Power HALF Hour with Steve Scaffidi where they tackle several political scandals this week, and of course the Grandiloquent Game Show, buzzword edition.

Today on Spinning the State:

Cudahy - Is a Cudahy Park contaminated?

Sheboygan - Sheboygan Police and Fire receive grant from AT&T.

Medford - Taylor County ramps up it’s fight against opioid abuse and suicide.