In this episode, host Matt Rothschild remembers the night in 2015 when the Republicans in the Legislature drastically rewrote our campaign finance law to give the super-rich more power than ever. For solutions, he speaks with Nick Ramos of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, Wisconsin State Senator Chris Larson, and Maggie Daun of “The Maggie Daun Show.”

To learn more about this 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 network on Facebook, BlueSky, YouTube, X, and Instagram to keep up with Civic Media!

Dan Shafer hosts the Civic Media Radio Hour! Dan is joined for the afternoon by guest co-host Angela Lang from BLOC. Dan and Angela welcome filmmakers Laura Dyan Kezman and William Howell to discuss their documentary "Cycle". The film is premiering at the Milwaukee Film Festival later this month, and delves into the tragic 2019 police shooting of 18-year-old Tyrese West in Racine, Wisconsin. The film explores systemic injustices and the historical cycle of racial violence, emphasizing the need for understanding and change.

In the second half hour, Joe Zepecki joins Dan and Angela to discuss his candidacy for Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair. Joe shares what his vision would be as chair, advocating for bold leadership and urgent reforms, particularly in immigration and communication strategies. Joe also urges Democrats to stand firm on their values.

To learn more about this 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 network on Facebook, BlueSky, YouTube, X, and Instagram to keep up with Civic Media!

I’m Dan Shafer. Let’s recombobulate. 

In recent months, Milwaukee health officials have uncovered significant lead hazards in city schools, mostly due to lead-based paint. Several schools have been closed as the problem has been found to be more widespread.

In late March, city officials formally requested help from the CDC  , but in doing so, they learned that the CDC’s entire lead program had been eliminated by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 

This is a major problem. Children in the state’s largest city are being exposed to lead poisoning at their schools, and the Trump administration is not only refusing to provide assistance, they are eliminating the entire lead program that would help in cases like this one. 

Now, state and local officials must step up to do something for these kids, since Trump and RFK Jr. are gutting federal support. Milwaukee’s children deserve better.

Find all of Dan's work at The Recombobulation Area. Subscribe to The Recombobulation Area's podcast wherever you listen to podcasts, and see more the Civic Media website.

In this episode, host Matt Rothschild discusses how everyday folks can stand up to authoritarianism that is on the rise around the country. Hear from interviews that Matt has conducted with experts on the subject, including Trygve Olson, a senior advisor at The Lincoln Project, and Dominic Salvia, host of the Dom Salvia Show, sharing their thoughts on protests and more.

To learn more about this 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 network on Facebook, BlueSky, YouTube, X, and Instagram to keep up with Civic Media!

Host Matt Rothschild sits down with founder of the Recombobulation Area and Civic Media Political Editor, Dan Shafer, for a conversation on the April 1st Wisconsin Supreme Court race. The two take a look at the candidates in Dane County Judge Susan Crawford and former Republican Attorney General Brad Schimel, and share what makes this different from recent Supreme Court races in Wisconsin as well as what is at stake depending on who wins in April.

To learn more about this 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 network on Facebook, BlueSky, YouTube, X, and Instagram to keep up with Civic Media!

Wisconsin introduced school vouchers in 1989, but the program has morphed into something unrecognizable, now costing taxpayers $500 million a year. In this episode, Matt Rothschild speaks with Earl Ingram, host of “The Earl Ingram Show”: Heather DuBois Bourenane, the executive director of the Wisconsin Public Education Network; and Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupanacci of “Busted Pencils."

To learn more about this 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 network on Facebook, BlueSky, YouTube, X, and Instagram to keep up with Civic Media!

This time on Wisconsin Forward, Matt Rothschild discusses the topic of right-wing radio and its effect on politics in Wisconsin.  With him to break down this topic are radio veterans and hosts on the Civic Media Network, Jane Matenaer and Earl Ingram. Also joining him is Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Wisconsin, Lew Friedland, and founder and CEO of Civic Media, Sage Weil.

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!

On this edition of Wisconsin Forward, host Matt Rothschild sits down with Jim Santelle for a conversation about the legal landscape in Wisconsin and the nation. Santelle is a former U.S. Attorney and currently hosts Amicus: A Law Review on Saturday mornings from 9:00-11:00 across the Civic Media radio network.

Matt and Jim discuss the recent changes of the ideological make up of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, the upcoming spring election that could once again change that make up, and the most impactful cases from the U.S. Supreme Court in recent years for democracy in Wisconsin and around the country.

To learn more about this podcast 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!