Battleground Wisconsin

Brian Wooldridge
  • 4.3 (46)
  • News
  • Updated Biweekly

Battleground Wisconsin is Citizen Action of Wisconsin’s weekly podcast that features the latest political news from the front lines in the embattled state of Wisconsin. The show features: · Robert Kraig, Executive Director, Citizen Action of Wisconsin · Matt Brusky, Deputy Director, Citizen Action of Wisconsin . Claire Zautke, Health Care for All Director

  1. 6d ago

    Wisconsinites vs. Billionaires & G20

    In our weekly Tick Report, we remind listeners that It may be the end of summer but don’t let your guard down on ticks and authoritarians. Robert updates us on authoritarian consolidation, as the U.S. Supreme Court left in place Trump’s flagrantly illegal and unconstitutional assaults on mail-in ballots. We highlight the great organizing by western Wisconsin community members and GROWW, that resulted in a judge striking down a CAFO permit from the Wisconsin DNR because it does not do enough to protect groundwater. We briefly review the new MU Law Poll, which unsurprisingly shows a tight rac for Governor. We push back on conventional punditry about the poll’s findings. Then we welcome Peter Rickman, president of the MASH union, to discuss why the richest nations in the world, the G20, are coming to Milwaukee in late September. We preview a rally on September 30th where Citizen Action will join with labor and civil society organizations outside the G20 meeting to call for a new trade model that creates good-paying jobs, raises wages, enforces worker rights, strengthens family farms, protects the environment, enables A.I. accountability and otherwise puts people over profits. Speaking of authoritarians, we close the show with State Representative Amaad Rivera-Wagner who lays out the clear case against Elon Musk for violating Wisconsin’s campaign finance laws, and the head-shaking decision of the LaCrosse County District Attorney to pass on prosecuting the powerful billionaire.

    Wisconsinites vs. Billionaires & G20

  2. Aug 20

    Embracing Commutations

    This week we dig into the criminal justice reform most needed in the next legislation session with Mark Rice, WISDOM’s Transformational Justice Coordinator. Before we get to that vital topic, we provide the latest Tick Report which has surprising findings on the true origin of Lyme disease. We also dig into the first week of the general election campaign for Governor, where AI Data Centers have taken center stage and where MAGA Tom Tiffany is trying to label David Crowley as the lap dog of big tech. WISDOM’s Mark Rice discusses the historic day this Friday when for the first time in 25 years incarcerated Wisconsinites will receive commutation hearings. We dive deeper into what more can be done in 2027 to reduce the state’s prison population and discuss new polling showing a majority of Wisconsinites favor a form of clemency for some individuals. We debrief Wednesday evening’s $20 Minimum Wage Town Hall in Milwaukee where over 50 community members and leaders learned more about the legislation, and why it is needed in this moment in history and what it would mean to people who attended the town hall.

    Embracing Commutations

  3. Aug 13

    Primary Election: What happened & the roadmap forward

    Following our weekly tick report, we do a deep dive into the stunning primary election outcome in the race for governor. We unpack why the Francesca Hong campaign was so successful, why it fell barely short, and a brief road map on how David Crowley can engage the progressive base that worked so hard for Hong. Read an excellent Wisconsin Examiner article by Ruth Conniff on what the Democratic primary for governor means for progressive politics?

    Primary Election: What happened & the roadmap forward

  4. Aug 6

    Keeping the throttle twisted towards the primary election

    Following the tick report where we learn, in the words of a CDC scientist, that “the ticks are winning,” we discuss a new study finding wildfire smoke is now the primary pollutant negatively affecting pregnancy. Climate change, including increased heat, extended drought, and a thirsty atmosphere, has been a key driver in increasing the risk and extent of wildfires and the spike in tick borne illnesses. In a rather surprising development, former disgraced New York City mayor Erick Adams shows up to central Wisconsin to shill for data centers, and is booed by local residents. Whose brilliant idea was it to hire the corrupt Adams as a pitchman for Big Tech’s AI binge? Investing in public education and phasing out the private voucher school program jumped onto center stage in the governor’s race this week. Francesca Hong’s commitment to wind down the voucher program which is draining resources from our public schools made headlines in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. The newspaper also reports that Hong was the only candidate who agreed to discuss school funding plans in detail with reporters. Kudos to Hong for demonstrating her commitment to be open and honest with the public about her plans for the largest item in the state budget. We discuss the public debate in the 3rd Congressional District on if it is appropriate for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (the political arm of the House Democrats) to intervene in the primary elections on behalf of Rebecca Cooke, raising concerns of closed door decisions that disempower voters. Robert discusses parallel concerns about Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee and Senate Democratic Campaign Committee interventions in Assembly District 21 and Senate District 17 races. We also react to news that Tom Tiffany raised $4 million of his $5 million cash on hand from three billionaires. We close with a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigation finding half of ICE flights conducted by Appleton-based Air Wisconsin are using Milwaukee Mitchell as its hub. Also, Robert tells us if it matters that two federal court decisions block the Trump Regime from rescinding billions in climate change grants. We urge our listeners in the Milwaukee area to attend our $20 Minimum Wage Town Hall, Wednesday, August 19th, 6pm.

    Keeping the throttle twisted towards the primary election

  5. Jul 30

    Meet Laurel Wales

    We welcome Laurel Wales, Citizen Action's Managing Director, to the show as a guest panelist. Following the tick report, we dive into the latest developments in Wisconsin’s governor primary election, including two new polls that show Francesca Hong surging into a commanding lead. How has Hong confounded the pundits and the experts to become the overwhelming favorite in the Democratic gubernatorial primary? Our panel discusses a ruling by a conservative Wisconsin Appeals Court panel upholding Act 10, overturning a district court ruling. What is the basis for their decision and will the liberal-leaning Wisconsin Supreme Court see it differently? We look at an important New report that raising the alarm bells that threat of authoritarianism is not enough to attract more working class voters to the Democrats. What are the implications for the fall elections and the fight to prevent authoritarian consolidation? We talk about why the G20 is coming to Milwaukee, in late September and debrief our visit to Superior for the Wisconsin Public Education Network's Summer Summit.

    Meet Laurel Wales

  6. Jul 23

    Elections > Polls

    We take a deep into the latest MU Law Poll, which finds Francesca Hong and Mandela Barnes distancing themselves from the field. What does the MU poll clearly tell us and what remains unclear and fluid? We look at other Internal candidate polls, which show Francesca Hong with at 35% and 39%, a 20+ point lead over Barnes and David Crowley, who has reentered the race. We also discuss how the headlines about the MU Law Poll misrepresent its findings, and ignore some of its most interesting results. We clarify how the $2 billion Wisconsin tax subsidy for data centers was bipartisan . passing in the 2023-25 state budget with support of GOP Legislature and a Democratic Governor who chose not to line-item vetoed it. We close with a review of Trump Regime impacts in Wisconsin and other States; Milwaukee could be first test case of ICE’s refusal to follow mask ordinance; Trump’s CMS suspends $1 billion in Medicaid funding to Minnesota and California; and Trump’s DOT declares war on “DEI bike lanes” and biker and pedestrian safety. Yes this is for real!

    Elections > Polls

  7. Jul 15

    Special Interview with Citizen Action endorsed candidate for governor, Francesca Hong

    We welcome Citizen Action’s newly endorsed Governor candidate, State Representative Francesca Hong, to discuss her historic campaign and why Citizen Action members endorsed her in a crowded field of strong candidates. Following the latest tick report, we dig into the Wisconsin Election Commission finding Elon Musk likely broke the law with $1 million voter checks and referred him to the Brown County District Attorney for criminal investigation and possible prosecution. Does the Brown County DA have the resources to take on a Trillionaire? Finally, we expose the utilities seeking to halt open bidding competition for new power line projects, and billions in proposed rate increases this year alone.

    Special Interview with Citizen Action endorsed candidate for governor, Francesca Hong

  8. Jul 9

    Civil War in the Democratic Party?

    With Matt on vacation this week Robert welcomes special Guest State Rep Christian Phelps to discuss the new "improved" Trump immigration crackdown, huge Wisconsin budget deficits in education and health care, and the freakout of establishment Democrats about the gains of democratic socialists and strong progressive candidates. Is it a civil war or a way to improve the Democratic Party? Finally, Robert interviews Amy Barrilleaux from Clean Wisconsin about the shocking news that Wisconsin energy demand will increase 40% by the early 2030s due to three large data centers. What are the implications for the climate crisis?

    Civil War in the Democratic Party?
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4.3
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About

Battleground Wisconsin is Citizen Action of Wisconsin’s weekly podcast that features the latest political news from the front lines in the embattled state of Wisconsin. The show features: · Robert Kraig, Executive Director, Citizen Action of Wisconsin · Matt Brusky, Deputy Director, Citizen Action of Wisconsin . Claire Zautke, Health Care for All Director

Information

  • Creator
    Brian Wooldridge
  • Years Active
    2011 - 2026
  • Episodes
    507
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Battleground Wisconsin

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