365 Amplified

Madison365
  • 4.9 (18)
  • NEWS
  • UPDATED DAILY

From Madison365, weekly discussion of the news for and from Wisconsin's communities of color and allies.

  1. 2D AGO

    Strikes, Stories, and Bookstores with Jeff Oloizia

    It's May Day, and the 365 Amplified crew digs into A Day Without Immigrants, the general strike organized by Voces de la Frontera, and why the day's meaning extends far beyond any single administration. Plus: the Madison school district moves to rename Cesar Chavez Elementary, the Center for Black Excellence and Culture prepares for its grand opening, a Middleton Mandarin teacher earns a 21-state teaching honor, and NFL offensive lineman James Daniels talks about opening a Black-owned bookstore in Sun Prairie. Then, Jeff Oloizia — former New York Times editor and Madison magazine writer — joins to preview his new podcast Writing Forward, celebrating Wisconsin's literary community. And a breaking story on a public health employee charged with drug trafficking raises questions about public trust. Links: "A Day without Immigrants" rallies will take place Friday in Madison, Milwaukee Madison will rename César Chávez Elementary School Middleton High School's Qin Tian honored with 2026 Heartland Chinese Teacher Award A New Chapter: Former Bears, Steelers lineman James Daniels, with wife Erin, opens bookstore in Sun Prairie Appeals Court Judge Pedro Colón announces bid for Wisconsin Supreme Court Takeaways from the Supreme Court's historic Voting Rights Act opinion and what's next for the midterms Public Health Madison Dane County employee arrested, charged with drug trafficking Don't forget to the subscribe to the podcast, bookmark Madison365.com, subscribe to our newsletter, and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Blue Sky, and Instagram for the latest.

    1h 6m

  2. APR 24

    "Now That It Works, They Want to Kill It." Aeiramique Glass on the PCOB controversy

    Madison's Common Council has new leadership — and new tensions. Sabrina Madison and Carmella Glenn make history as the first two Black women to serve as council president and vice president. Meanwhile, a proposed ordinance amendment targeting the Police Civilian Oversight Board sparks a firestorm. Interim Independent Police Monitor Aeiramique Glass joins us to break down what's really behind the push to rein in the office she's finally gotten up and running — and why she says the resistance started the moment oversight actually started working. Plus: an update on the CAYA Clinic AI controversy, Barrio Dance heads to America's Got Talent, and Wisconsin's Black-owned bookstores. Links: Madison Common Council delays changes to independent police monitor ordinance Org recommended to run harm reduction center falsely claimed partnerships in proposal Madison dance crew takes the stage on America's Got Talent JustDane's Jazz for Justice returns April 30 at Atwood Music Hall Bookmark Madison365.com and follow Madison365 on Facebook, Blue Sky, LinkedIn and Instagram to keep up with the latest news.

    1h 24m

  3. APR 17

    Who's Building Out the Public Market — And Who's Paying?

    This week on 365 Amplified, Rob takes Stephanie and Omar inside the still-under-construction Madison Public Market. After 20 years, $25 million in investment, and a string of missed opening dates, Rob visited the building and found art on the walls but no vendors ready to serve. The team digs into a key question: if the market calls itself "mission driven," why are small vendors — many of them Black and brown entrepreneurs — being required to pay for their own build-outs, and why can't they choose their own contractors? Rob shares what he learned from vendors, a UW urban development expert, city officials, and Public Market CEO Keisha Harrison. Plus, Omar reports on another round of federal funding cuts hitting the Literacy Network's refugee English program, and the team covers the early start to the 2027 Supreme Court race and a shakeup atop UW Athletics. And stick around for a crossover interview from the 608 Soccer Show with Forward Madison striker Stephen Annor Gyamfi, who talks about his secret soccer stardom in Ghana, his path from UVA to the MLS draft, and why he's saving his backflip celebration for the home opener.

    58 min

  4. APR 10

    What does Chris Taylor's win mean for the midterms?

    This week, the team talks through the spring election results, some surprising, some with broader implications. Then, after a few other news updates, Rob sits down with Alejandro Verdin, who ran the State Supreme Court campaign of Justice Janet Protasiewicz, whose 2023 win flipped the court from a conservative to liberal majority. Verdin has some thoughts about what Chris Taylor's win, and the larger-than-expected margin of victory, means for Wisconsin, for the two parties, and the 2026 midterm elections. Finally, the roundtable question: what did you rage quit, then quietly come back to? Learn more about Jackson's Yard Care here. Donate to support their new buiding here. Follow Madison365 on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn and watch Madison365.org every day for the latest news.

    28 min

  5. MAR 20

    Four Generations, One Million Dollars

    It's the season finale! (Not really.) Rob and Omar preview the sixth annual Most Influential Native American Leaders list, then discuss Hydrate IV Bar, a new hydration therapy franchise opening in Madison. St. Paul Mayor Mee Moua visits Madison as the Hmong community marks the 50th anniversary of the Hmong American diaspora. The guys dig into a Wisconsin Watch investigation on data center job claims, celebrate Middleton teens behind Meals Matter earning national recognition, and discuss the fallout from Cesar Chavez allegations. Then, Diane Endres-Ballweg joins to talk 100 years of Endres Manufacturing, $1 million in foundation grants, and the upcoming "Year of the Kids." Plus: a rough day for Madison sports.

    54 min

  6. MAR 13

    "Stand up. Be a man." A talk with Congressional candidate Lorenzo Santos

    Today, Rob talks through a few news items before welcoming Lorenzo Santos, a Navy vet and Racine County emergency management director running for Congress in Wisconsin's First Congressional District. Links: SEIU press conference Madison Black Chamber Eras Ball preview Forward Madison season preview 608 Soccer podcast with Mark Segbergs

    30 min

  7. MAR 6

    "Some of my best friends are dead"

    On this week's 365 Amplified, Omar and Rob talk through the new initiatives of Improve Your Tomorrow, a program targetted at students of color in Madison that we first reported on a few weeks ago which has now expanded into Verona and which will host an information session next week. Then, they go over the latest polling on the race for Wisconsin governor. Next up, Tony Castañeda joins to talk about his run for State Assembly, his long history in leftist politics and social justice, and what he brings to the race as a musician. Finally, a bit about the upcoming Forward Madison season. Read Omar's reporting on Improve Your Tomorrow here and here. Check out the Marquette University polling here. Listen to the latest Black Oxygen here and 608 Soccer here.

    47 min

  8. FEB 27

    Podcast history, hip-hop ed, local budget woes

    Hosts: Rob Chappell, Stephanie Díaz de León, Omar Waheed Dee Star's big moment: Three major milestones for Dee Star, host of the OuttaDeeBox podcast: February 3 has been declared Dee Star Day in Sun Prairie; the Out of Dee Box podcast will be the first podcast enshrined at the Wisconsin History Museum and the Sun Prairie Historical Society; and he's receiving a legislative citation for community impact. Omar caught up with him about what it all means. Hip-hop in the classroom: Omar visited Kennedy Elementary to check out a hip-hop artist residency featuring Lex, a clean hip-hop artist, author, poet, DJ and educator. Lex spent two weeks visiting 16 MMSD schools, performing and helping kids process emotions through music — and it was anything but a corny after-school special. School funding crunch: MMSD is already laying groundwork for next year's budget, and the outlook isn't great. The hosts dig into why: a state legislature that funds only about 5% of school district budgets (compared to 60-70% in Minnesota), federal special education cuts, and a new lawsuit challenging Wisconsin's funding model as unconstitutional. Dane County's $31 million problem: Rob obtained a budget memo showing the county faces a roughly $31 million deficit heading into 2027, as post-COVID surpluses dry up and health insurance and employee costs climb. Balancing the budget could mean cutting around 241 full-time positions. Only one county supervisor responded to Rob's request for comment. County contracting review: County Executive Melissa Agard has ordered a comprehensive review of county contracting practices. Rob spoke with Agard, Human Services Director Josh Luter, and several nonprofit leaders. The recurring theme: a need for greater transparency in bidding, scoring and feedback — plus structural issues like one-year contracts for five-year projects with no built-in cost-of-living increases. On the radar: Stephanie flags the November 3 election, which will include a Republican-backed constitutional amendment that would prohibit DEI policies at any state government entity, including UW. Also coming up: spring county board elections with a few competitive races. Question of the week: How big would a worm have to be before you'd tell somebody about it? We're hiring!

    28 min
See All (108)

4.9
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

From Madison365, weekly discussion of the news for and from Wisconsin's communities of color and allies.

Information

  • Creator
    Madison365
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    108
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 365 Media Foundation Inc
  • Show Website
    365 Amplified

You Might Also Like