The Canadian Wildfires have wafted back into Wisconsin this week making climate change up close and personal. It also reinforces our recent success in helping the Milwaukee Common Council to pass the groundbreaking Milwaukee Climate and Economic plan to fight climate change! The new MU Law Poll dropped yesterday and it predictably sets up the battleground status of Wisconsin for the 2024 election. It also demonstrates the increased political leverage Governor Tony Evers has with a strong approval rating and how it demands he implement it in the current state budget fight with the authoritarian and gerrymandered Legislature. The budget is at a critical juncture this week as it passed the State Senate on Wednesday and included an obscene tax cut for the wealthy. Robert previews his op-ed in the Wisconsin Examiner on Governor Evers’ need to deploy his vast veto powers to force the Legislature to negotiate over BadgerCare Expansion.

We welcome Dan Shafer from The Recombobulation Area (recombobulationarea.substack.com) to discuss the importance of independent media and its vital role in exposing billionaire Mark Antansio’s effort to get $300 million in taxpayer dollars for his team that is worth over $1.2 billion. We look at the monopolistic structure of MLB which results in accounting rules and tax laws that enable billionaire owners to mislead the public about their finances and then pressure cities like Milwaukee to subsidize their significant profits.

Standing up to Wisconsin’s billionaire bullies

We do a deep dive on the redistricting drama, where Robin Vos has adopted Governor Evers’ position and Democrats are divided. Is Governor Evers falling into a trap that could provide a pretext for intervention by Trump appointed Federal Judges, as Mark Pocan warns? Why do many believe Evers will sign maps most Democrats in the Legislature oppose?  Why are some good government groups urging Evers to side with Vos? Robert and Matt break some inside news on what may be really going on in this consequential Capital intrigue.

We pan the latest regressive Legislative Republican tax cut. Is a tax cut skewed to wealthier Wisconsinites worth further defunding public education, healthcare, child care, and other vital public priorities. In better news, we celebrate news that President Biden’s policy to help the IRS collect revenue has resulted in $851 billion in back taxes from the ultra-wealthy.

Back home, we discuss next Tuesday’s Spring Primary Election and encourage our listeners to get educated and vote. We highlight especially pivotal elections for Green Bay City Council.

Speaking of Titletown, Green Bay area Congressman Mike Gallagher is not running for re-election. What does this say about him and more importantly what does it tell us about the Party of Trump?

Finally, we offer hardy congratulations to the workers at Planned Parenthood Wisconsin who successfully organized with the Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals with an overwhelming victory.

Making the gerrymander disappear

We discuss the House Republicans narrow vote on Thursday to pass their disastrous health care plan which will result in 24 million people losing their insurance and allow discrimination against people with preexisting conditions. The panel looks at what’s next for GOP health care plan in the Senate. We also have an interview with Daniel Biss, a progressive candidate for Governor of Illinois. Mr. Biss is running on a bold progressive platform that hopefully will inspire you and a Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate with a similar agenda.

House GOP’s Health Care Scarlet Letter

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

Making the gerrymander disappear

Battleground Wisconsin

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