Evelyn McBride - Muralist & Graphic Designer by WORT 89.9FM Madison

Dr. Mayra Oyola-Merced, Assistant Professor of Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences at UW-Madison and a host of the Perpetual Notion Machine program on WORT, discusses the importance of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). The Trump administration is threatening to dismantle NCAR because of its work on climate change. If the plan proceeds, it would also enact irreparable harm on meteorology and weather forecasting, and undermine current research and the training of future scientists.

Odeliya Matter, Program Associate for Middle East Policy with the Friends Committee on National Legislation, shares updates on the political and humanitarian situation in Yemen, where 80% of the population is food insecure due to restrictions on aid, and how concerned folks can advocate for peace and relief in the region. Odeliya also discussed how Bedouins in the Negev desert, who are citizens of Israel, are being expelled from their homesteads.

Mursel Sabir, Executive Director and Board President of Afghans Empowered, shares how the Trump administration has weaponized the violent actions of one person against an entire community. All immigration pathways, including asylum applications, have been frozen, and Afghans already in the US have been targeted for ICE detention.

William Rice from Americans for Tax Fairness discusses his Inequality.org article titled "Not Just Immigration Raids: Latino Workers Are Suffering from GOP Tax Policy as Well". Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, he reports an extreme slowdown in hiring in industries with a high degree of Latino representation, such as construction and health services. Other policies hurting the economic security of Latino workers and families are the unpredictable tariffs, cuts to food stamps and Medicaid benefits, and immigration crackdown.

Priya Moran from the Friends Committee on National Legislation discusses a provision of the National Defense Authorization Act that seeks to automate the Selective Service registration system. This bill raises concerns related to data privacy and over-enrollment, in addition to fueling wars instead of diplomatic peace-building efforts.

Journalist Anna Oakes in conversation with Jan Miyasaki about her article at the Documented titled "Mahdawi and Öztürk’s Legal Battle Highlights First Amendment Constitutional Risks". She discusses the intersection of immigration law, Palestine activism, and violations of free speech, and how the situation is reminiscent of McCarthy-ism.

Pat Calchina joins Jan Miyasaki in the studio to discuss an upcoming event "Re-Imagining Resistance: An Afternoon of Women's Voices in Music, Poetry & Activism on of Women" on Dec 7, 2025. It will feature Jessica Jacobs as the guest speaker, focusing on the unique issues of women who have been or are currently incarcerated. The Re-imagining Resistance series will continue at Linden Cohousing Great Room on the first Sunday of every month 2-4 pm.

The Development of Intergroup Social Cognition (DISC) lab at UW-Madison studies how kids think about their social worlds. Lab manager Saren Ramsey and undergraduate researcher Julia Weber join Jan Miyasaki in the studio to share some of their research findings, ongoing projects, and how parents can sign their kids up to participate.

Francesca Hong is an accomplished chef, a small business owner, a former athlete, a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly representing the 76th district, and now a candidate in the Democratic primary for governor of Wisconsin. On Dec 3, 2025, she sat down with Jan Miyasaki to share why she is running, her budget priorities, and how she is being received around the state.