Mandela Barnes is a candidate in the Democratic Primary for Wisconsin Governor to be held on August 11. The winner will face off the Republican nominee in the general election on November 3. Here, Barnes shares with Jan Miyasaki his family background, HBCU education, experiences in organizing, statewide campaigning, and coalition building.

This week on Mel & Floyd: Toxic fumes in Hegseth’s hair gel?; Another Fox “personality” for the cabinet; A return to Jim Crow; Putin dials back internet access for Russians; A long dry summer on the way for the Southwest; Standardized testing glitch in NY; From ticks to Nixon; And other random topics; Notice something missing? For the complete Mel and Floyd Experience, buy the CD “The Very Best of James Brown” and play it on your Hi-Fi while listening to this podcast! Or listen live at 89.9 FM or wortfm.org/listen-live/ every Friday from 1 to 2 PM Central Time.

Photo courtesy Sergi Viladesau on Unsplash

Harrison Fangmann is a multidisciplinary artist making many things in a small space in Madison.

On today’s show, host Esty Dinur is in conversation with Jennifer Loewenstein who joins us from Beirut, Lebanon. She calls the city a mosaic of cultures, faiths, artistic pursuits, and political ideals. However, they’re facing serious threats as Israel encroaches further into the south of the country. 

Featured image of the Beirut skyline via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0).

In this inaugural episode of Legal Brief, WORT feature contributor Fiona Hatch takes a look at one of Wisconsin’s first cases, one that challenged the Fugitive Slave Act, state’s rights, and the supremacy of the federal government.

A controversial dog breeding and testing facility has agreed to sell the majority of its beagles to out of state animal refuge groups.

The news comes less than two weeks after a crowd of protesters, fed up with waiting for the government to intervene, attempted to storm the facility and rescue the animals themselves.

Image courtesy: Christine Driscoll / WORT News, at an April rally in the State Capitol.

In just a few months’ time, Wisconsin voters will decide who holds the power in the State Capitol. And as Democrats make their pitch for retaking the legislature, it seems there’s a new retirement announcement across the aisle every week. 

So what’s really going on? JR Ross, editor of multimedia news outlet WisPolitics, joined WORT reporter Maria Segura to share some theories.

Image courtesy: Chali Pittman / WORT News.

Maestro John DeMain interview: Voices Eternal, final subscription concert as MSO music director

On today’s show, host Allen Ruff is in conversation with scholar David McNally about his latest article, “US Imperialism: Projecting Strength to Cover Up Weakness.” McNally says that we need to grasp what is unique in this moment so that we can foster sustained anti-war mobilizing.

Featured image of an Iranian oil field via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0).

In Total Harmony by WORT 89.9FM Madison