Wedge Issues The Capital Times

On this week's episode, Jack talks with former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who joined him last week at Leopold’s Books Bar Caffè in Madison for a taping of the podcast in front of an audience of Cap Times members. Jack spoke with Barnes, who came up short in his bid for the U.S. Senate in 2022, about his race against U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, what he’s been working on since the election, what he plans to run for next and much more. Support the show: https://tinyurl.com/supportwedgeissues Subscribe to Wedge Issues, the newsletter: https://captimes.com/newsletters/ Support the show: https://checkout.fundjournalism.org/memberform?org_id=capitaltimes&campaign=7013i000000U67DAAS See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode, Jack talks with Republican U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil, who represents the state’s 1st congressional delegation, which encompasses large portions of southeast Wisconsin, including Janesville, Lake Geneva and Racine. They discuss the debt limit deal negotiated by President Joe Biden and U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, if he’s supporting a particular candidate in the Republican primary for president and more. Support the show: https://tinyurl.com/supportwedgeissues Subscribe to Wedge Issues, the newsletter: https://captimes.com/newsletters/ Support the show: https://checkout.fundjournalism.org/memberform?org_id=capitaltimes&campaign=7013i000000U67DAAS See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of Wedge Issues, Jack spoke with Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin. Baldwin, who is gearing up to run for a third term in the U.S. Senate, has been a mainstay in Wisconsin politics for more than 25 years. And even though she doesn’t yet have a Republican challenger in 2024, she’s wasting no time getting back on the road in Wisconsin to meet with voters.  Jack spoke with Baldwin last week at her campaign office in Madison about her work on the Respect for Marriage Act, what she learned from the 2022 midterm elections, why she’s seeking a third term in the Senate, and what’s to come over the next year and half. Support the show: https://tinyurl.com/supportwedgeissues Subscribe to Wedge Issues, the newsletter: https://captimes.com/newsletters/ Support the show: https://checkout.fundjournalism.org/memberform?org_id=capitaltimes&campaign=7013i000000U67DAAS See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin Sen. Kelda Roys, an attorney and small business owner, was elected to the Senate in 2020. She previously served in the Assembly from 2009-2013. She now serves on the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee, which — among other things — revises the governor’s state budget proposal before it goes before the full Legislature. In this episode, the Madison Democrat talked with Jessie and Jack about budget negotiations, the state Supreme Court and abortion access. And, of course, she was put through the rigors of the lightning round.  Subscribe to Wedge Issues on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or anywhere else you find podcasts. We’ll have new episodes every other week. And be sure to subscribe to the weekly Wedge Issues newsletter here. Support the show: https://checkout.fundjournalism.org/memberform?org_id=capitaltimes&campaign=7013i000000U67DAAS See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Jessie speaks with Assembly Speaker Robin Vos. Vos, a Republican from Rochester in southeastern Wisconsin, is the longest-serving speaker in state history. He’s held the post for a decade, and has been in office nearly 20 years.  In this episode, Vos talked with Jessie in his state Capitol office, one day after the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee took its first votes on the 2023-25 state budget and Republican lawmakers introduced a massive proposal to overhaul the state’s approach to shared revenue and to boost local government funding. Vos talked about his policy priorities, his hopes for the future of the Republican Party and how his efforts to hit the “reset” button with Democratic Gov. Tony Evers are going. And, of course, he was put through the rigors of the lightning round.  Enjoy the show! Support the show: https://checkout.fundjournalism.org/memberform?org_id=capitaltimes&campaign=7013i000000U67DAAS See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of Wedge Issues, Jack spoke with Brian Schimming, chair of the Republican Party of Wisconsin. Schimming assumed his role as head of the state party in December, becoming its first paid chairman in years. He’s been tasked with bolstering a state party — which trails its Democratic counterpart when it comes to fundraising — that has long relied on the work of volunteers. In the episode, Schimming walked Jack through what he envisions for the state party, how significant the Republican National Convention will be to Milwaukee in 2024 and what Republicans need to do to shift the political headwinds they’ve faced since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade, thereby reactivating a longstanding ban on abortion in Wisconsin. Support the show: https://tinyurl.com/supportwedgeissues See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Support the show: https://checkout.fundjournalism.org/memberform?org_id=capitaltimes&campaign=7013i000000U67DAAS See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.