Rational Revolution

Head of WisDems, Ben Wikler, joins the Revolution this week to discuss the state of all things political! Ben gives thoughtful insight on his recent run for DNC Chair, and opens up about uncertainty over his own future.

They touch on what is at stake in the State Supreme Court race, and how that race can tip the balance of power for the House of Representatives in 2026. Ben and Mark also discuss the races for State Superintendent, and how damaging vouchers have been for public education in Wisconsin.

We don’t need to have as much money as them to defeat them.

Mark then wraps up with a powerful question: Are we great yet?

We’ve abandoned our best friends. Insulted our closest allies. We’ve negotiated with tyrants over victims. Told sovereign nations to give up their own land. We’ve broken up ironclad unions of nations. Destabilized the fragile network of order. All in just over a month.
Are we great, yet?

Rational Revolution with Mark Becker is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs Saturdays at 2 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 and X to keep up with Rational Revolution with Mark Becker.

This week, Representative Amaad Rivera-Wagner and former DC Capitol Police Officer, author, and Presidential Citizens Medal recipient Harry Dunn join Mark to talk about the January 6th attack and why it still matters. They discuss the Wisconsin State Supreme Court race and how these upcoming elections all tie back to the basic fundamentals of Democracy that were severely in jeopardy on that day.

Mark then recaps the discussion, and talks about why we should never forget what happened, until the people who made it happen are no longer in power.

Rational Revolution with Mark Becker is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs Saturdays at 2 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 and X to keep up with Rational Revolution with Mark Becker.

Mark Becker is joined by Adam Kinzinger, former U.S representative and a pilot in the Air National Guard. Adam shares more information on his book Renegade: Defending Democracy and Liberty in Our Divided Country, and what the story was behind the book. Adam and Mark talk about the Jan. 6th insurrection.

Rational Revolution with Mark Becker is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs Saturdays at 2 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 and X to keep up with Rational Revolution with Mark Becker.

To start off this hour of Civic Media Spotlight, we tune in to a segment from the Earl Ingram Show this week. Earl was joined by Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Judge Susan Crawford. They talk about what led her to choose her career path, the biggest issues she sees impacting this election, and how she hopes to navigate the highly partisan environment in Madison.

Then, on the Dom Salvia Show, Maggie Daun sticks around for the overtime with Dom to dig into the MEMO issued by Trump's White House stalling all federal loans and grants. Not an Executive Order. Not a directive to Congress to draft budget laws. A MEMO. Dom says the message is the chaos. Maggie says it's the fear. In truth, it's probably both.

After that on Maino & the Mayor, the director of the "Green and Gold Movie," Anders Lindwall, calls in to discuss the movie. Anders says that the movie is his heartfelt tribute to rural America's strength and perseverance. The movie stars Craig T. Nelson, and at its core, the movie is a tribute to the unsung heroes who shape communities and preserve traditions through kindness and hard work.

Last but not least, Nite Lite with Pete Schwaba welcomed filmmaker Nathan Deming to the show. Nathan talks about his upcoming film, February. Nathan shares dates and cities where the film is screening and Pete takes a Wisconsin based quiz that Nathan prepared.

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!

To begin this hour of Civic Media Spotlight, we take the beginning of a conversation with former Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn on the Maggie Daun Show. Harry joined Maggie this week in-studio to discuss the recently pardoned J6 felons and the other craziness going on during the first week of President Donald Trump’s second term.

Then, on a Wednesday edition of the Todd Allbaugh Show, Todd visits from Pat Kreitlow of UpNorthNews Radio and Trygve Olson of The Lincoln Project! On April 1st, Wisconsin will vote to elect a new state supreme court justice. Every day, we discover new reasons why conservative candidate Brad Schimel is completely unfit to serve our state. At a Republican community event last year, Schimel was caught on a mic calling for another “bloody revolution” to get American freedom back from “the socialists.”

Then, on UpNorthNews Radio this week, Pat discussed how some Wisconsin legislators are considering a new way to hide from taxpayers the true cost of the programs that give out taxpayer dollars for vouchers to private, often religious schools. He spoke to Chris Thiel, legislative policy specialist for Milwaukee Public Schools, about this new shell game that would force every Wisconsin taxpayer to fund two parallel school systems in the state.

Wrapping up this hour with a segment from the John & Gordy Show, the guys welcomed back Mike McCabe and the three spend some time on the topic of oligarchy. They also share how we need not despair right now, and that we can look to the future and plan to make some real advances as a society.

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!

This week, Mark sits down with returning guest, Geoff Kabaservice, the VP of Political Studies for the Niskanen Center. They discuss a wide range of topics from, “are we overreacting,” to “what does the future look like?” With Geoff’s brilliant knowledge of world political history, he explains what the next two years look like.

 If you’re thinking about the other side as your enemeis and about removing them from public life altogether, then you have wandered into Nazi life

Mark then gives his thoughts on how to spot someone who is about to fall down the conspiracy theory rabbit hole, and what you can do to stop them.

We need to honor other people’s dignity.

Rational Revolution with Mark Becker is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs Saturdays at 2 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 and X to keep up with Rational Revolution with Mark Becker.

This hour of Civic Media Spotlight is all about community and the sports that bring Wisconsinites together.

On Maino & the Mayor, we have a very important conversation with Sarah Danahy, the Executive Director at Community for Hope of Greater Oshkosh. She talks about "Project Safeguard" and also the Suicide Survivor Loss Support Group that they facilitate. Great tips for people thinking about suicide or folks who are concerned about family or friends who may be thinking about suicide. We have wonderful organizations in our communities to help, and we love to spread the information.

Then, on Nite Lite with Pete Schwaba, Pete is joined by comedian and actor from Major League, Skip Griparis. Skip talks about his act featuring rock music. He also shares his experience on Major League with Bob Uecker, and talks touring with Olivia Newton John.

Then, on the Maggie Daun Show, Maggie honors a former Milwaukee Brewer who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame this week. Maggie brings some listeners to tears as she gives props to CC Sabathia and the incredible moment of shared joy and connection that he gave the state of Wisconsin on Sept 9, 2008.

Finally, on the John & Gordy Show, the guys are joined by Pat McBride, author of The Luckiest Boy In The World, to talk about working for the Brewers, Bucks, and Packers all at the same time, as a teenager.  He also went on to medical school and is now a retired professor from the University of Wisconsin.

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!

It was a busy news week around the state and country this week, here are a number of topics that Civic Media hosts shared how the news affected our communities around across Wisconsin this week.

Up first this hour, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul joins the Dom Salvia Show and cohost for the day Earl Ingram to discuss how and why Wisconsin joined a lawsuit against Donald Trump. In the first hours of his second Presidential term, Trump issued an Executive Order that would strip some born in the United States of citizenship. Of course, that directly violates Section 1 of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution granting citizenship to all those born or naturalized in the US. Hence the lawsuit. In Kaul's words- a disastrous way to start his second term.

Then, on Matenaer On Air, Jane and Greg cover the pardons that were issued for everyone who took part in the January 6 insurrection, including those who were charged with violent offenses, on Donald Trumps first day back in the Oval Office. That is even after the administration said it would go over the cases thoroughly and wouldn't seek to pardon those convicted of violent crimes, the show discusses the people from Wisconsin who participated in the event.

Up next on this weekend's Spotlight, State Assembly Rep. Francesca Hong (D-Madison) talks to UpNorthNews Radio's Pat Kreitlow about the many issues to be debated during the new session of the Wisconsin Legislature—with a main emphasis on her “Healthy School Meals For All” proposal.

Finally, on the Todd Allbaugh Show, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported this week that CBS 58 in Milwaukee fired weather reporter Sam Kuffel for criticizing Elon Musk on her personal social media. While there may have been a legitimate reason to lay her off, the subsequent silence from CBS 58 speaks volumes. The Todd Allbaugh Show discusses this dangerous precedent set very early on in Donald Trump’s presidency. If media companies fire people in their weather departments for criticizing somebody who isn’t even an elected official, trust in news departments will likely deteriorate even further.

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!