Dane County’s Advisory Committee on Data Centers is slated to meet for the first time this week. And despite very little public support for the change in a recent ballot referendum, the city council’s Executive Committee plans to discuss reducing the number of alders.

Brenda Konkel and Rebecca Kemble have the rundown on the week ahead, in this edition of “Forward Lookout.”

President Donald Trump threatens to nationalize elections and send I.C.E. agents to conduct raids on polling places. Is Wisconsin ready? Nick Ramos from the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign comes to the Buzz with some strategies to keep our elections fair.

Historian Daniel Lord Smail joins us with the compelling story of Magdalena Coline, a 14th century Mediterranean slave who ended up successfully suing her slavemaster in court.

Madison supergroup Combo Noir has had it with this whole Valentine’s Day thing. They’ll present their “To Hell With Love” concert on February 14th at the North Street Cabaret. But first, they’ll join us here on the Buzz with some tracks from their brand new CD.

This week on Mel & Floyd: Investing in Prussian war bonds; Remembering The Addams Family & other vintage TV shows; Voter fraud uncovered! [the Melania movie might actually be even worse]; trump posts racist meme [in other news, water is wet]; Melania jokes on theater marquees; 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 Robert Sciberras on Unsplash

Madison Choral Project Artistic Director Bert Pinsonneault talks with Ava Borelli about Resonance concert on Classical Jukebox, WORT 89.9 FM

Maestro John DeMain talks with Ava Borelli about MSO's Feb 2026 concert, Rachel Barton Pine Returns

On today’s show, host Esty Dinur is joined by friend of the program, Norman Solomon, to discuss the status of the Democratic Party. His new book is The Blue Road to Trump Hell: How Corporate Democrats Paved the Way for Autocracy and it is available for free online.

Featured image of the cover of Norman Solomon’s most recent book, The Blue Road to Trump Hell: How Corporate Democrats Paved the Way for Autocracy.

Andy Moore tells us what he really thinks about the incoming wanna-be "olympics".

UW Health’s Dr. Jim Conway explains measles transmission, vaccination importance, and what a confirmed UW–Madison case means for the community.