Today's Midday podcast covers COVID-19 trends as a recent surge of cases sparked concern among health care officials. Trends are evening out now, but hospitals are still caring for hundreds of more severe cases as the state prepares for another pandemic winter.

Today's Midday podcast covers former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch's formal announcement she is running against Gov. Tony Evers in the 2022 race for Wisconsin governor. She vowed to pass a series of election-related bills that Evers vetoed earlier this year if elected, among other things.

Today's Midday podcast covers potential Republican gubernatorial candidates looking to beat Gov. Evers. Rebecca Kleefisch and Rep. John Macco have not officially announced their bids, but they are moving closer. The race to replace outgoing Milwaukee Mayor Barrett is also heating up as he will likely become the U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg.

Today's Midday podcast covers lawmakers' debate over a bill that would criminalize participating in an unlawful assembly that includes at least one person who makes a threat or violent act. The bill comes as many around the state recognize the anniversary of the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, by a white Kenosha Police officer.

Today's Midday podcast covers changing population and racial trends across the state as census data shows the overall population increased more slowly than other states. Several Democratic voters filed a lawsuit after the data came out, hoping to have a federal court draw new district lines instead of anyone in state government.

Today's Midday podcast covers U.S. Rep. Ron Kind announcing he will not seek reelection after 24 years serving the 3rd Congressional District of Wisconsin. The U.S. Senate also approved the $1.2T infrastructure bill and the $3.5T reconciliation bill framework. The smaller bill would send over $6B to Wisconsin, including funds for EV charging networks and broadband expansion.

Today's Midday podcast covers some of the funds Wisconsin could see from the latest bipartisan infrastructure measure worth $1.2 trillion in total. The Badger state would get over $5 billion to spend on highways and bridges, but details on the larger reconciliation package expected to follow the "hard" infrastructure bill remain unclear.

Today's Midday podcast covers Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes announcing his candidacy for the U.S. Senate Democratic Primary, bringing the total to eight Dems. Barnes says the race is more than just a plan to beat U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson.

Today's Midday podcast covers a joint settlement proposal between Purdue Pharma and 15 states that would bring millions to Wisconsin to fight the opioid epidemic. AG Josh Kaul says it's the best case scenario. As Kaul raises funds for his reelection campaign, GOP attorneys are raising funds for their campaigns for the upcoming election.

Today's Midday podcast covers Gov. Tony Evers' trip to a Whitefish Bay elementary school to sign the biennial budget. He vetoed roughly 50 proposals that were included by the GOP-controlled Joint Finance Committee but kept their proposed tax cuts for middle-class Wisconsinites.