Susan Crawford for State Supreme Court

Battleground Wisconsin

33:19

What’s the secret to lasting friendships? How does queer community show up through the ebbs and flows of life? And what’s the REAL story behind the “YMCA” song? In the first episode of Silver Linings, The Old Gays dive into an essential part of queer life: chosen family. They discuss the vital love, support, and sense of belonging that community provides, especially during life's toughest moments. They open up about what “queer” means to them, how chosen family has impacted their lives, and how to maintain close bonds over time–including their love for each other! “We’ve come a long way, baby.” Family isn’t just what you’re born with; it’s the people who show up, shape you, and stick around. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

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.

538 episodes

Susan Crawford for State Supreme Court

Battleground Wisconsin

published about a year ago

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538 episodes

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Battleground Wisconsin

1
Childcare providers lead the way 49:58

13 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

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Time to Fight for Badgercare 49:26

20 days 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

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

28 days 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

5 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

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Corporate bosses cower under Trump 50:11

6 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

7 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

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Justice Crawford 49:53

8 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

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Rural Wisconsinites fight Medicaid Cuts 52:39

9 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

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Adults not listening 52:16

10 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

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

11 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

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People power at the Capitol 58:00

12 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

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Plundering Medicaid for the wealthy 52:33

13 weeks ago52:33

52:33

This week the plundering of Medicaid commenced, as Trump, Musk, and their dutiful Republican Party “leaders” in Congress and the Wisconsin Legislature started their assault – all to fund more outrageous tax cuts for the wealthy. Citizen Action Healthcare Action Coordinator Timothy Faust joins us to give us the details on what passed in Congress this week, how it is just the beginning of the fight, and how we are going on the offensive. Not wanting to be outdone by Trump, Boss Vos declared this week that BadgerCare expansion won’t happen under his iron fisted domination of the Assembly GOP Caucus. We renew our call for the Governor to wield his powerful threat of a budget veto of any Legislative state budget that fails to expand BadgerCare. In addition to the threat to health care, we made big news this week on the climate front. We discuss the news event in Milwaukee this week unveiling new state legislation to require the Legislature to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030. The bill is gaining momentum and co-sponsors. We talk about why the legislation is critically important.…

Battleground Wisconsin

1
Evers’ bold budget 53:58

14 weeks ago53:58

53:58

We review the Spring Primary victory by Jill Underly in the State Superintendent of Public Instruction election and the real challenge to public education that is posed by the well-funded voucher advocate who also advanced to the April 1st General Election. Both the DPI and Supreme Court elections will be won by talking directly to voters throughout the state on phones, doors, and one-on one conversations. We urge you to sign up and volunteer with Citizen Action to make calls from home in support of Susan Crawford and Jill Underly in our weekly phone bank starting next Tuesday, February 25th at 5pm RSVP HERE The state budget battle commenced this week with Governor Tony Evers releasing his budget. We review some highlights, including BadgerCare expansion, Prescription Drug affordability Board, and a sweeping set of new regulations on health insurance abuses, including a first in the nation audit of claims denials. This Tuesday, Citizen Action joined Wisconsin Public Education Network (WPEN) and WISDOM in calling for the Governor to leverage his potent constitutional power to veto any state budget produced by the Legislature that fails to finally secure BadgerCare Expansion, include sufficient funding for K-12 public schools, or lacks reforms needed for Wisconsin’s troubled corrections system. We urge you to contact Governor Tony Evers and tell him to fight for his top budget priorities by threatening veto of any budget that fails the public on these key public priorities and others that the governor also deems essential. We encourage listeners to RSVP for our Capitol State Budget Lobby Day on Tuesday March 4th. We close reviewing the week 5 of the Trump assault on the republic, including mounting bipartisan opposition to House Republican leadership’s plan announced this week to gut Medicaid funding to fund a massive tax cut for the wealthy. UW Madison’s research is threatened by NIH funding cuts and we expose the fake energy emergency Trump has declared to ram through an expansion of Wisconsin fossil fuel projects.…

Battleground Wisconsin

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Vote for Jill Underly in Tuesday’s Primary Election 47:13

15 weeks ago47:13

47:13

We announce Citizen Action’s endorsement of Jill Underly’s re-election as Superintendent of Public Instruction. There is a primary election next Tuesday, February 18th. Please make sure you vote. Next Tuesday evening Governor Tony Evers will give his budget address speech commencing the legislative portion of the state budget process which will play out over the next few months. We preview our call for Governor Evers to veto any state budget that doesn’t include better public school funding, accepting the federal Medicaid money for BadgerCare. He should also veto any budget that builds new state prisons. We are partnering with Wisconsin Public Education Network and WISDOM in this organizing campaign and urge all our listeners to call Governor Evers office next week and urge him to fight for these public priorities. As we head into a critical State Supreme Court election, Justice Janet Protasiewicz announces she will not recuse herself in the upcoming Act 10 case. We comment on the “Our billionaire is better than your billionaire” election funding of our major elections. We note the overwhelming bi-partisan support in a state Senate Committee this week for an expansion of Medicaid Postpartum Care, which Speaker Robin Vos continues to block. We urge our listeners to call their state representatives and urge them to push for a vote. We close with the many low lights of the 4th week of Trump Regime 2.0, including more clarity on Trump and the Congressional Republicans’ plans to gut federal Medicaid funding, denying healthcare for millions of Americans.…

Battleground Wisconsin

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Week three 54:09

16 weeks ago54:09