While the Wisconsin state Legislature works just 17 more days before taking off until 2027, it did vote on around 50 bills in one day.

We discuss some of the Republican bills are simply passed for culture war purposes to be used during the campaign season with the governor’s seat up for grabs in November.

Those bills include defunding public education, redefining abortion, using undocumented immigrants as pawns in healthcare, and creating added bureaucracy to create more hoops for those who apply for welfare. 

We also discussed a bill to create a candy and soda database at the tune of $6 million to make sure people on food stamps can’t spend it on such things, and another bill on human trafficking that would put children at risk of unnecessary punishment. 

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We discuss how a Wisconsin bill to help pregnant mothers get healthcare is related to the fight over releasing the Epstein Files.

The bill would allow pregnant mothers to get postpartum Medicaid coverage for 12 months. Wisconsin is one of only two states not to do this. 

How it’s related to the Epstein Files is the way Democrats tried to push the bill to a vote, bypassing Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, who has — like House Speaker Mike Johnson — blocked the bill being voted on.

The Wisconsin bill passed 32-1 in the state Senate. Vos has not brought it for a vote in the GOP-controlled Assembly, despite the fact that it will easily pass.

We talk about how Democrats tried to force a vote and the tricks Vos played to even block that. So, unlike the Epstein files, the bill has still not passed and the Legislature only works 17 more days before taking off until 2027.

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We discuss some of the ongoing controversies surrounding President Donald Trump that aren’t related to the Epstein files. That includes Trump pretending he’s going to just give people money — from $2,000 tariff checks to “Trumpcare” cash, the healthcare plan that still doesn’t exist.

We also discuss the lunacy of 50-year mortgages to solve the housing crisis and the controversial pardons Trump is doling out, as long as your money and gifts are good. 

We did everything but dive into the Epstein files too deep, because news on that seems to be changing by the minute.

We began, though discussing the Democrats giving in on the shutdown and reasons behind it — and to be infuriated by it. 

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Democrats are riding high after last Tuesday's elections, with wins at multiple levels of government across the country — from the New York City mayor's race to Prop 50 in California to US House and governor wins in Virginia and New Jersey, respectively. Is it a sign of things to come, despite being an off-off year election? Do Republicans need to change course or was this a blip on the radar?

This conversation was recorded Friday, as the US Senate now is currently voting to end the government shutdown.

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We discuss Republicans’ unwillingness to lower healthcare costs and reopen the government. The fight right now over the shutdown is healthcare subsidies for the Affordable Care Act. We breakdown the thousands, if not tens of thousands of dollars, more in healthcare costs families will have to pay if Republicans get their way in reopening the government with the continuing resolution.

Along those same lines, Republicans are using the end of SNAP benefits on Nov. 1 as a way to get Democrats to give in and vote on reopening the government. But, there too, we discuss how there’s already a SNAP emergency fund the Trump administration is refusing to tap into, putting those who rely on food stamps at risk, on top of raising their healthcare costs. 

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We recap the No Kings Rally that happened in La Crosse, across Wisconsin and the U.S. and relate that to what Republican priorities are right now — like Donald Trump getting his ballroom. At least 1,700 showed up for La Crosse's No Kings rally. We talk about some of the reasons behind having these protests and why it's important to keep showing up, despite the GOP rhetoric trying to denounce them. On top of that, we point out some of the extraordinary things the Trump administration is doing, like the DOJ looking to pay Trump for past lawsuits with $230 million in taxpayer money, using federal agencies to punish enemies, blowing up suspected drug boats and on and on. 

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While the Donald Trump looks to bail out Argentina with $20 billion in taxpayer money, we look at how the administration’s tariff policy is affecting Wisconsin farmers.

China has retaliated against tariffs by not buying any U.S. soybeans — instead buying from the aforementioned Argentina. This podcast was also recorded before Trump announced quadrupling Argentine beef imports while US ranchers fume.

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We break down how Democrats are trying to hold the line negotiating during the government shutdown to keep health insurance costs down, while Republicans continue to lie. The GOP, in charge of the entire government, is somehow trying to blame Democrats for the shutdown. We get into those lies and what Democrats are trying to hold the line on when it comes to Affordable Care Act subsidies and how those keep all health insurance costs down.

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From over 700 social media posts in a matter of days to an unconstitutional bill proposed in the US House, Derrick Van Orden's behavior has been unhinged — even more so than usual. We discuss the Republican's double-standard when it comes to political violence, the unhealthy amount of social media he is posting and the bill he proposed to block federal funding for those that employ people who "condone and celebrate political violence." 

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We start things off recapping JD Vance's visit to La Crosse, avoiding protesters by veering the wrong way down a one way street, plus Derrick Van Orden's involvement in the event. 

Vance was in La Crosse touting the Big Beautiful Bill.

After that, we get into this giant stretch of political visits to the area. That includes Wisconsin governor candidate, Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez heading to La Crosse for a meet-and-greet at the Concordia Ballroom on Sept. 8. Before that, Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Chris Taylor is at the Democratic Party headquarters Saturday (Aug. 30). Before those visits, we recap the visit by US Sen. Bernie Sanders to Viroqua, and the Brad Pfaff corn roast, which saw multiple candidates, including David Crowly, Sarah Godlewski, Kelda Roys, Rebecca Cooke, Emily Berge, among others. 

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