On today’s show host Allen Ruff speaks with brian bean about their timely book, Their End is our Beginning: Cops, Capitalism, and Abolition. As police forces act with impunity against civilians and immigrants, bean’s book is an argument for getting rid of the institution of police and replacing it with community-focused services.

Featured image of brian bean’s book, Their End Is Our Beginning: Cops, Capitalism, and Abolition by Haymarket Books.

Temperatures were high in the Common Council Tuesday evening, ahead of the vote on the city’s 2026 operating budget.

Alders ultimately voted 17 to 3 to reject a floor amendment that would have defunded the city’s Office of the Independent Monitor, the OIM, and reallocated these funds to the Madison Police Department – to pay for costs related to implementing body worn cameras.

Feeling ambushed by the last-minute proposal, alders didn’t vote gently into that good night.

Image courtesy: Brian Standing / WORT News.

Staying Alive by WORT 89.9FM Madison

Staying Alive by WORT 89.9FM Madison

Forecast from Wednesday 11:12:25 by WORT 89.9FM Madison

As the nation gears up for the high-stakes midterm election next year, Republicans in the state Assembly are advancing a handful of bills that seek to change Wisconsin’s election system.

Proponents say the bills would help root out fraud and improve election security. But pro-democracy advocates warn that they run the risk of widespread voter suppression. For more, our News Producer Faye Parks sat down with Jay Heck, executive director of Common Cause Wisconsin.

Image courtesy: Christine Driscoll / WORT News, at the city of Madison’s public test of election equipment in 2024.

This week host Ted Hyngstrom speaks to Daily Cardinal Editor in Chief Noe Goldhaber and Managing Editor Nick Bumgardner about the recent Daily Cardinal Action Project. Dubbed the AI Issue, it covers how AI shapes the lives of Wisconsinites and how those interactions play out on a daily basis.

Article in this week’s “Campus News in Brief” segment:

UW Public Defender program’s future unclear after layoff of ‘beloved’ law professor - Ellie Huber

Maestro DeMain talks Radiance Concert with Ava Borelli Nov 2025 by WORT 89.9FM Madison

Greg Zelek talks with Ava Borelli about concert with Caleb Hudson Nov 2025 by WORT 89.9FM Madison

With a tentative cease-fire, contaminate water and soil, and unexploded bombs scattered throughout Gaza, the Palestinians are struggling to recover. It is estimated that 1.9 million people were displaced by the Israeli attacks, according to Cassandra Dixon from the Madison-Rafah Sister City Project. Dixon came on the 8 O'Clock Buzz to talk about the issues, and invite everyone to a support rally tomorrow, November 13, 2025, with the rally forming at 3:30 on Blair and Willy Streets, and then moving to the Cardinal Bar for music by Tony Castañeda and his band. This free event is a fundraiser for the Middle East Children's Alliance, so donations are encouraged.