WisPolitics Capitol Chats

In this week's Capitol Chats episode U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Town of Vermont, says it's tough to see Republicans working together to get things done this Congress after a tumultuous speaker vote. He also says it's too early to say if U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden will work with others and blasts U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson for shooting down President Joe Biden's nomination of brother William Pocan to the federal bench.

In this week's Capitol Chats, freshman U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien, in an interview recorded before the new year says former U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, La Crosse, won't return his phone calls. Van Orden also says he wants in on the House Agriculture Committee.

This week's Capitol Chats episode features Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu talking about his priorities to reduce taxes, slim down committees and reduce prison staff vacancy rates in the upcoming session. The Oostburg Republican also says he wants to restart the process for confirming gubernatorial appointments for boards such as the Natural Resources Board. LeMahieu last week announced committee assignments. See a list of assignments here: www.wispolitics.com/2022/sen-lemahi…mmittee-members

This week's Capitol Chats is a conversation with outgoing U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, D-La Crosse. Kind says he's in talks with the White House for his next job. He also hopes Derrick Van Orden does well to represent the La Crosse district he has represented since 1997. Capitol Chats will replace the WisPolitics Midday podcast.

This week's Midday podcast covers Rep. Janel Brandtjen's recently announced bid to replace Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, representing many of Milwaukee's northern suburbs. There aren't any Dems in the race, but GOP Rep. Dan Knodl, R-Germantown, Theinsville Village President Van Mobley and Concordia University senior Robert Albrightson of Brown Deer are also running for the spot.

This week's Midday podcast covers Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu signaling areas they're willing to work with Gov. Tony Evers on this upcoming session. But they say that doesn't mean Evers will get everything he wants. And the Republican-run Legislature could still stop bills from ever getting to his desk.

This week's Midday podcast covers what happened in the 3rd CD after national Dem groups pull funding from the race. We also talk about what it means to see Fond du Lac County DA Eric Toney poll better than GOP gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels in historically red counties.

This week's Midday podcast covers Marquette University Law Poll results in the tight Senate and Governor's races. We also talk about what issues to watch for as the Nov. 8 Election Day approaches. From election conspiracy theories to losing candidates denying the results, we talk about what may come up next week.