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.

Today's Midday podcast covers what six Dems looking to take U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson's seat had to say about providing health care for all Americans and addressing the student debt issue. Johnson also made headlines this week when he held a news conference on severe adverse side effects from various COVID-19 vaccines.

Today's Midday podcast covers four police policy overhaul bills signed into law by Gov. Tony Evers that primarily deal with police use of force and transparency. Eight other bills dealing with police policies, including no-knock warrants, are past the Assembly and headed to the Senate.

Today's Midday podcast covers various aspects of immigration reform as lawmakers in Congress battle over what to do with those already in the country, looking to get in and those waiting to see if they're allowed in at all. While some paint the issue as a partisan matter, others say it isn't that simple.

Today's Midday podcast covers the push to eliminate the extra $300 checks for unemployed people from the federal government. U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Allouez, introduced a bill to repurpose funds use for the extra UI benefits for a program he says should incentivize people to come back to work.

Today's Midday podcast covers a variety of roles Wisconsin National Guard soldiers filled throughout the pandemic. From administering more COVID-19 tests than any other National Guard unit to fighting forest fires in California, thousands of troops helped the nation recover.

Today's Midday podcast covers student vaccination requirements for Marquette University and the UW System. Marquette students will be required to get vaccinated by August, but UW System President Tommy Thompson says state university students will not be required to get vaccinated.

Today's Midday podcast covers Gov. Tony Evers' announcement he will run for a second term using many of the same campaign pillars that won him the 2018 election. Several potential Republican candidates could put up a fight as former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch has been eyeing the seat for a while.