Susan Crawford for State Supreme Court

Battleground Wisconsin

42:14

Episode Description: Jessica B. Harris may have been born and raised in New York City, but she has Tennessee roots through her father and has spent much of her life split between homes in the Northeast and the South – specifically New Orleans. For more than fifty years, she has been a college professor, a writer, and a lecturer, and her many books have earned her a reputation as an authority on food of the African Diaspora, as well as a lifetime achievement award from the James Beard Foundation. A few years back, Netflix adapted her book, High on the Hog: A Culinary Journey from Africa to America , into a 4 part docuseries. And I’m very proud to say that she’s a longtime contributor to Southern Living with a regular column called The Welcome Table. This episode was recorded in the Southern Living Birmingham studios, and Sid and Jessica talked about her mother’s signature mac and cheese, the cast-iron skillet she’d be sure to save if ever her house were on fire, and her dear friend, the late New Orleans chef Leah Chase. For more info visit: southernliving.com/biscuitsandjam Biscuits & Jam is produced by : Sid Evans - Editor-in-Chief, Southern Living Krissy Tiglias - GM, Southern Living Lottie Leymarie - Executive Producer Michael Onufrak - Audio Engineer/Producer Jeremiah McVay - Producer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

about a year ago 54:09

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We announce Citizen Action of Wisconsin’s endorsement of State Supreme Court candidate Susan Crawford. Robert discusses the stakes of the race for Wisconsin, the difficulty for voters in assessing Supreme Court candidates, and the way ad campaigns degrade public understanding and democratic decision making. Robert debriefs Biden’s historically significant farewell address, which includes stark warning about the rising oligarchy and climate crisis. We also review the accomplishments of the Biden Administration as we hurdle towards a dangerous period in American history, Meanwhile, Senator Ron Johnson embarrassed himself on NPR, denying climate change and calling for conditioning California disaster relief to environmentally unhinged MAGA demands. Wisconsin breaks ACA enrollment record, as a new report says 1/3 of rural children depend on Medicaid for healthcare and warns Medicaid cuts planned by MAGA Republicans for fund massive new tax cuts for billionaires would harm the communities they claim to represent. Finally, we discuss the loss of a true Wisconsin legend, Bob Uecker, who was the voice of the Milwaukee Brewers for over half a century, and became a national celebrity.

541 episodes

Susan Crawford for State Supreme Court

Battleground Wisconsin

published about a year ago

MP3•Episode home

541 episodes

All episodes

Battleground Wisconsin

1
Wealthy before public schools and healthcare 50:05

19 hours ago50:05

50:05

As the State Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee takes up public education funding, education advocates call for the veto of any budget from the Legislature that does not adequately fund education. Will the Governor listen to his grassroots base, and fight for a budget that meets Wisconsin’s needs, or sign a partisan budget that shortchanges the people of Wisconsin? We encourage listeners to stop by our table at the Wisconsin Democratic Party convention this weekend and pick up a sticker supporting a veto. We invite our listeners to volunteer for a Day of Action Phone Bank next Tuesday, June 17th, 5pm. We will be calling Democratic voters and encouraging them to be transferred to the Governor’s office to leave a message for him. We discuss other upcoming action and events in support winning key priorities in the state budget. Tammy Baldwin rightly meets with Milwaukee parents and calls out RFK Jr for falsely claiming a federal team in Milwaukee helping with lead problem in schools, when that team was laid off. We review 2 more well attended “Hands Off Medicaid” Town Hall in Rice Lake and St. Croix Falls. We close with a deeper dive into the current authoritarian moment Trump’s show of military force in LA to suppress largely peaceful protests reveals. We encourage attendance at the peaceful mobilization Saturday at No Kings Events, including 50 in Wisconsin.…

Battleground Wisconsin

1
Republicans Play Hardball: Dare Governor to Veto Partisan Budget. 48:23

8 days ago48:23

48:23

We take a deep dive into the huge breaking news that Speaker Robin Vos and Republican leaders walked away from state budget negotiations with Governor Tony Evers on Wednesday. Ratcheting up the battle, Republicans taunted the Governor by predicting he would sign a partisan budget that under funds his priorities. We talk about how this decision provides a new opportunity for Evers to re-engage the public about what is at stake in the budget battle and how their engagement in the fight is critical to winning on key public priorities. We and our allies continue to encourage people to call Governor Evers (1-608-266-1212) and urge him to veto any state budget that fails to meet key public priorities: properly funded public schools, expand BadgerCare, fund child care, and no new prisons. Contact your State Legislators today and tell them to reject any state budget that fails to meet these minimum standards. We review a new UW-Extension study finding rising housing costs are prompting many to forgo or delay medical care, and we discuss the significant implications of these findings. We close with an update on the federal budget battle where Senator Ron Johnson has positioned himself on center stage in the developing budget drama. Johnson, who recently called Medicaid recipients “grifters,” publicly opposes the House budget because it does not cut enough from Medicaid, SNAP, and other critical public programs.…

Battleground Wisconsin

1
Week of Action in the Public Interest 49:53

15 days ago49:53

49:53

We debrief the historic Capitol Day of Action this Tuesday which called on the Governor to veto any budget that does not meet basic standards. It was organized by Citizen Action Wisconsin in partnership with Wisconsin Public Education Network, and WISDOM; and co-sponsored by: Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC), AFT-Wisconsin, WECAN, Progress North, Madison Teachers Inc, Milwaukee Teachers Education Association, Green Bay Education Association, Kenosha Education Association, Racine Education Association, and Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. 200 citizen-lobbyists met with their legislators, attended a media event with all the partner organizations, who then marched to Governor Tony Evers’ office with a jointly signed letter encouraging the Governor to veto any budget from the Legislature that fails to properly fund public schools, expand BadgerCare, fund childcare, and close Green Bay Correctional and builds no new prisons. We review multi-millionaire Ron Johnson’s abandonment of Wisconsin’s working families by demanding even deeper cuts to Medicaid and food assistance to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy. In addition, this week Johnson declared that Milwaukee Public Schools should get no help from the federal government for cleaning up lead that is poisoning our children. Johnson also rejected science and life-saving measles vaccine requirements for children. Derrick Van Orden emerged again from his bunker and started lying about his broken promise not to cut Medicaid. The Congressional Budget Office is clear that 13.6 million Americans will lose health coverage due to cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act in the House Budget Bill, with 11,000 in Van Orden’s district losing Medicaid because of his vote. We encourage listeners to call or visit his office and remind him he broke his promise to voters and now he is lying. We welcome the President of SEIU Wisconsin Healthcare, Pat Raes, to discuss the historic 5 day strike at Meriter Hospital in Madison launched by nurses this week. Pat is a 35 year veteran of the hospital and tells us about why they are striking and how you can support their effort to protect the safety of their patients by fighting the corporatization of healthcare which puts profits over care.…

Battleground Wisconsin

1
Childcare providers lead the way 49:58

29 days ago49:58

49:58

We welcome Citizen Action member and child care provider Julia Bennker back to the show to discuss this week’s “strike” and actions at the Capitol by child care providers demanding the Legislature restore $480 million in funding. We hear first hand how the Legislature is failing parents and child care workers and how you can support the effort to fund child care in the state budget. Big news this week in Congress as House Republicans unveiled their budget which drastically cuts Medicaid to fund tax cuts for the wealthy. Robert gives us the details on how the GOP’s plan will take healthcare away coverage from nearly 14 million Americans, according to the Congressional Budget Office. As we reported last week, the House Republican budget will not cut direct state matching funds such as the increased match for ACA Medicaid Expansion, allowing Wisconsin to finally accept the federal money to Expand BadgerCare. Even more, we now know the House budget also sunsets an extra 5% state match for states that Expand Medicaid before January 1, 2026. This means Wisconsin only gets the bonus match (which lasts two years) if it expands Medicaid in this new budget, making it an imperative that Evers veto any Legislative budget that fails to Expand BadgerCare. Robert also updates us on the latest in the Judge Hannah Dugan case which raises serious issues critical to retaining a constitutional democracy.…

Battleground Wisconsin

1
Time to Fight for Badgercare 49:26

5 weeks ago49:26

49:26

We discuss breaking news in the fight to save Medicaid this week as House Speaker Mike Johnson rules out cutting the federal match to states for Medicaid Expansion states. This is huge for Governor Tony Evers’ plan to accept federal money to expand BadgerCare in the state budget. We renew our call for the Governor to publicly declare that he will veto any state budget that fails to expand BadgerCare. Despite the victory in Congress for Medicaid Expansion, Speaker Vos and Republicans in the Joint Finance Committee deleted expanding BadgerCare from their state budget Thursday afternoon. It’s time for the Governor to fight for his budget. We urge our listeners to call Governor Tony Evers at 1 (608) 266-1212 and urge him to use his most powerful in the nation veto and publicly declare that he will veto any state budget from the Legislature that does not include proper funding for our public schools and BadgerCare expansion. Citizen Action member and child care provider, Julia Bennker, joins us to discuss the Joint Finance Committee’s disastrous decision to remove child care funding from their state budget. Julia tells us about how child care providers are organizing a strike that will start Tuesday. Listen to the show. Read Citizen Action’s statement on the removal of BadgerCare Expansion from Legislative Republican’s State Budget. Citizen Action calls on Governor Tony Evers to use veto powers to leverage BadgerCare Expansion. Attend a “Hands off Medicaid” Town Hall this week. Learn about what’s at stake for all of us, hear from our neighbors who are directly at risk, and talk about what we’re doing to fight back and how you can get involved. Questions? Contact: Timothy.Faust@citizenactionwi.org RSVP for Milwaukee Join us for an upcoming “Hands Off Medicaid” Town Hall, Tuesday, May 13th, 6pm. Sign up for Citizen Action’s Capitol Lobby day, Tuesday, May 27th…

Battleground Wisconsin

1
May Day 2025: The power of permanent organizing 45:39

6 weeks ago45:39

45:39

At the top we celebrate the decades of permanent community organizing of Voces de la Frontera that makes May Day so powerful in Milwaukee and Wisconsin. This annual celebration of multiracial democracy has helped prepare us to meet the moment in these times of Trump. Next, we update the latest in the fight to protect Medicaid from slashing cuts to pay for tax giveaways to the rich, including a new report demonstrating how cuts to Medicaid would harm patients and increase health costs in Wisconsin. Robert gives a report on this week’s final JFC public hearings on the state budget and we preview the next steps in the process. We continue to encourage Governor Evers to use his powerful veto to win concessions on properly funding public schools and expanding Medicaid. We hope many of our listeners will join our upcoming Capitol Lobby Day, May 27th to support our state budget organizing. Robert closes with a run down of this week’ worst Trump fallout, including: Wisconsin joining a lawsuit on Trump’s unilateral cancellation of Americorps; the arrest of Judge Hannah Dugan and its aftermath, putting Wisconsin at center of immigration fight.…

Battleground Wisconsin

1
Stand and fight??? 50:02

7 weeks ago50:02

50:02

Robert Kraig begins the program with observations on Donald Trump's assault on democratic institutions . Some major institutions, such as elite universities, major law firms, and corporate media companies, have tried to cut deals while others have stood their ground. Those that have capitulated have found that giving in only results in more outrageous demands. On the Battleground Wisconsin Podcast this week our theme is the moral imperative to stand and fight at both the national and state level. First, Robert interviews Heather DuBois Bourenane, Executive Director of Wisconsin Public Education Network (WPEN) to discuss the battle for education funding in the state budget. In their discussion, Heather and Robert conclude that the only way to get sufficient school funding and to win BadgerCare Expansion is for Governor Evers to use his veto power to stand and fight. Next, Robert interviews Citizen Action Healthcare Action Coordinator Timothy Faust on the battles for postpartum care, BadgerCare Expansion, and proposed massive cuts to Medicaid to fund tax cuts for the wealthy.…

Battleground Wisconsin

1
Corporate bosses cower under Trump 50:11

8 weeks ago50:11

50:11

The boss of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Association of Commerce (MMAC) says 99% of business leaders are “afraid to speak out” against Trump. We discuss why these big business cowards take no responsibility for the neo fascist political party they have supported and financed for their own benefit. While the corporate elites cower, a Federal judge blocked the deportation of UW-Madison engineering students, one of the first victories against mass deportation of international students. The Milwaukee County Board moved to safeguard due process rights after the ICE arrest at Milwaukee County Courthouse. But one conservative County Supervisors abstains, fearing reprisals from the Trump regime. As utility shutoff season commences in Wisconsin, we discuss the increasing concern about the future of home energy assistance, which had been disseminated by DOGE, and is so complicated only a third of those eligible in Wisconsin enroll. We preview state legislation being drafted to enact a 2% of income cap utility bills which will be far more effective in reducing the energy burden on hard pressed households. We welcome State Representative Christian Phelps to discuss shameful Republican state legislation that would add many new hoops to jump through to qualify for Medicaid, forcing many to go without critical health care and long term care. The public reaction to this destructive bill prompted Republicans to put it on hold for the time being, yet another sign that the backlash against proposed national cuts to Medicaid to fund tax giveaways for the rich and the failure to enact BadgerCare Expansion are becoming third rails for the MAGA GOP.…

Battleground Wisconsin

1
The escalatory spiral with China 49:20

9 weeks ago49:20

49:20

We welcome back to the show Tobita Chow to discuss how Trump’s 125%+ tariff on China fits into the escalating spiral of dangerous conflict between the United States and China. We review the main currents of thought within the current administration and potential outcomes. Is Trump setting up an inevitable military conflict with China? Robert reviews the top Trump impacts on Wisconsin this week, including revoking student visas for over two dozen UW Students for no stated reason; Executive Order targeting state renewable energy initiatives; and the Impact of Trump’s deportation frenzy in Wisconsin, including the state of fear among Wisconsin dairy workers, and the revocation of legal status for Haitian refugees who have become an important part of the community in New London. We close with Marquette University Theology professor, Chris Gooding, who is a member of the academic staff’s union organizing committee. Marquette continues to refuse to recognize the faculty union. The members are planning a protest of their new anti-union president on Monday, April 28th, 10 am in front of the Al Center on the university’s campus.…

Battleground Wisconsin

1
Justice Crawford 49:53

10 weeks ago49:53

49:53

Why does Senator Cory Booker’s filibuster this week matter and how is it connected to the Wisconsin election this Tuesday? We take a deep dive in the epic State Supreme Court election that saw a landslide win for Citizen Action endorsed Susan Crawford. The victory was essential to the future of the state with the balance of the court at stake. However, we discuss our concern with the current playbook that clearly can deliver progressive court candidate victories, but with high spending shit shows where virtually all paid communication is trashy crime and sexual predator ads that debase and erode the credibility of the court, a vital pillar of our democracy. And what about Elon? We review the first Joint Finance Committee public hearing on the State Budget this Wednesday and heads to West Allis’ State Fair Park this Friday. At the hearing, support for funding Medicaid and increasing public education dollars dominated public testimony. We welcome Milwaukee County Supervisor Anne O’Connor to discuss her support for the Milwaukee County Climate Action Plan which is up for a vote in April and her opposition to the proposed We Energies gas plants that are at odds with the County’s Climate plan goals.…

Battleground Wisconsin

1
Rural Wisconsinites fight Medicaid Cuts 52:39

11 weeks ago52:39

52:39

It’s time to get out the vote in Wisconsin for the Spring Election. We review news that the state supreme court race will shatter all spending records for the prized judicial seat that will determine control of the state' highest court. We discuss the critical importance of talking directly to potential voters the final 4 days and encourage our listeners to volunteer with Citizen Action on phones or doors. RSVP to talk to voters. Next week is the start of the Joint Finance Committee public hearings on the State Budget, next Wednesday in Kaukauna and Friday in West Allis. We encourage people in each area to consider attending in support of expanding BadgerCare and other state budget priorities. We welcome back to the show, Timothy Faust, Citizen Action’s healthcare coordinator, who just returned from a week-long tour of rural Wisconsin hosting Hands Off Medicaid Town Halls to organize opposition to Congressional Republicans proposed cuts to Medicaid. Contact Tim: Timothy.Faust@citizenactionwi.org We close the show with a review of this week’s PSC public hearing on We Energies desire to build polluting gas plants. Robert educates us on why the gas plant is a bad idea.…

Battleground Wisconsin

1
Adults not listening 52:16

12 weeks ago52:16

52:16

Can Congress get away with taking away health care from millions to fund huge tax cuts for the rich? We preview Medicaid Town Halls in Wausau, La Crosse and Eau Claire that will help organize resistance to proposed slashing cuts to Medicaid. Meanwhile, Rep. Van Orden continued to hunker down in his basement bunker, holding a virtual town hall where he can avoid answering tough questions after misleading his own constituents about Medicaid cuts he rubber stamped in Congress. We cannot win by surrendering in advance. We continue to encourage Governor Evers to veto any budget the Legislature produces that fails to expand BadgerCare. The Spring Election is around the corner and Brad Schimel rehashes voter fraud conspiracies about Milwaukee that he knows are false. So much for his phony stance as a high minded judge above politics. This week the only debate in the State Superintendent of DPI election was held by WPEN and other allies. This race remains about Jill Underly’s dedicated support for improving and properly funding our public schools vs. her opponent who is a supporter of siphoning even more money to private unaccountable voucher schools. Robert educates us on a legal case against Greenpeace who was found liable for $645 million for Dakota Access Pipeline protests that has huge implications for the Constitutional right of free speech and protest. Will this be the beginning of a legal strategy to bankrupt progressive nonprofits to silence free speech and assembly? We close with a soul-searching discussion with James Causey, a longtime columnist with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, on adults forcing police officers back into Milwaukee Public Schools without ever listening to the kids.…

Battleground Wisconsin

1
Congressional cowards hiding from constituents over Medicaid cuts 1:00:51

13 weeks ago1:00:51

1:00:51

Wisconsin Republican members of Congress are running scared from Medicaid cuts and the cowards are starting to do virtual town halls from bunkers, ducking open face-to-face dialogue with their own constituents. So much for the House of Representatives as the government closest to the people. Meanwhile House Republicans left Washington with no budget deal for a St. Patrick’s Day vacation (we didn’t know that was a thing), likely forcing a partial government shutdown Friday. Senate Democrats do the right thing and do not allow House Republicans to extort them into signing off on a bad deal which will give Trump and Musk a free hand to continue their unconstitutional assault on the civil service. As we are hurtling towards the critical April1st Supreme Court and Superintendent of Public Instruction elections, Crawford and Schimel debate. Was anyone listening? We welcome Citizen Action Organizer Kristie Tweed to clue us in on upcoming Medicaid Town Halls in La Crosse, Wausau, and Eau Claire later this month. Also, Citizen Action Climate Coordinator Kat Klawes joins us to discuss the path-breaking Climate Accountability Act and how you can get involved with our organizing. We also review the terrifying Mahmoud Khalil case, which reminds us of Red Scares and other dark moments in American history when civil rights were shredded.…

Battleground Wisconsin

1
People power at the Capitol 58:00

14 weeks ago58:00

58:00

This week Citizen Action hosted a major news conference at the State Capitol with Legislative allies and Citizen Action members from around the state to unveil the Climate Accountability Act. The bill, which is already rapidly winning co-sponsors, requires the Legislature to pass a concrete and enforceable plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030. Following the media event, Citizen Action members fanned out across the Capitol to visit their Representatives and State Senators and discuss state budget priorities, like expanding BadgerCare. We unpack the latest MU Law Poll which shows a clear pathway for key priorities in Governor Evers’ state budget, if he is willing to use his stronger public popularity against a very unpopular Republican Legislature. We review the lessons learned from the first two weeks of phone calls at Citizen Action talking directly to Spring Election voters. We also discuss the most important developments in Donald Trump”s assault on the constitutional order, including a critical 5-4 Supreme Court ruling this week that sided against President Trump over $2B in frozen foreign aid and his unhinged prime time address to a joint session of Congress.…

Battleground Wisconsin

1
Plundering Medicaid for the wealthy 52:33

15 weeks ago52:33