'Beja Power! Electric Soul & Brass from Sudan's Red Sea Coast' by Noori and his Dorpa Band on Ostinato Records is an affirmation of the resilience of the Beja (bee-jah) people of eastern Sudan in their struggle for cultural and political self-determination. Deeply steeped in Beja traditional music, bandleader Noori innovated on the traditional four-stringed tambo by electrifying it and welding the neck of an electric guitar. The result is a captivating sound that is complemented by the haunting and airy notes of bandmate Naji's alto sax and a solid rhythm section. Global Revolution's Martin Alvarado talked with Vik Sohonie from Ostinato, who shared some tracks from the album and talked about the improbable origin of this album from junkyard finds to social media happenstance. The entire program can be streamed on demand through June 13 at archive.wortfm.org

Beja Power! Electric Soul & Brass from Sudan's Red Sea Coast

The Wisconsin Legislature held its first floor sessions since the deadly shooting last weekend in Minnesota. 

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle condemned political violence – but stayed close-lipped on whether security at the state Capitol will be tightened. 

Image courtesy: Chali Pittman / WORT News.

Wisconsin lawmakers close-lipped on security after deadly shooting

Interview with Chris Dowd of Fishbone about their new album "Stockholm Syndrome." Photos and interview by Sybil Augustine on 6/27/25 during Who Cooks For You? on WORT 89.9 FM and wortfm.org.

WORT Fishbone Interview 6-27-25

From the feminist movement, to AIDS, to opioids, to prison reform and television news, artists working collectively have spearheaded many of the social justice movements of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.  We’ll talk with Lauren O’Neill Butler, author of the new book “The War of Art.”

"The War of Art" Shows Artists at Vanguard of Social Justice

The news is gut-wrenching. Over the weekend UNICEF said that more than 5,800 children were diagnosed with malnutrition in Gaza in June and the number is rising. Drinkable water is almost non-existent. Disease and infections are rampant.

Last year local residents who refused to give in despair pondered what they could do to help. They came up with events to raise money for food and humanitarian aid to Gazans. Then they worked with the Middle East Children’s Alliance or MECA, their long-time partner in providing for Gaza, to deliver help with the money they raised.

This year despite being astounded that the killing and suffering continues and grows in Gaza, these people, along with new partners, persist in offering ways our community can resist feeling powerless and offer what we have to help Gazan families.

The Summer Silent Auction for Gaza Aid    July 11th- 20th
On offer is art and handmade items from local artists and artisans, Madison area gift certificates for food, massage, pickleball lessons, books, Tatreez, olive oil, kufiyah, jewelry, a thobe, a vacation get-away, a pool party, Badger tickets – and more.

There’s also an artist meet and greet at Java Cat Coffee at 4221 Lien Road on July 17th from 4:00 to 6:30 PM to talk to artists and see the art.

The auction has begun, it’s linked at madisonrafah.org and will run through Sunday July 20th at 11:00 PM.

Big Ride For Palestine
Everyone is welcome on this ride on Sunday, July 20th. It begins in Olin Park at 10:00 AM, along Lake Monona on the Capital City Bike Path to BB Clarke Beach and then back to Olin Park, just over 6 miles. Register by July 15th and get a T shirt.

All money collected will go directly to MECA, the long-time reliable organization providing help for Gazans.

This is a national ride for MECA, with 50 groups across the country riding to help Gazans.

Find the link to the ride at Madison Rafah Sister City Project http://madisonrafah.org/
MECA http://www.mecaforpeace.org/


Using Local Power to Help Gaza

Professor Julie Klinger joins host Ryan Coogan to discuss rare earth elements, their role in the green energy transition, and the complex geopolitics and supply chains behind them.

Perpetual Notion Machine 7-10-25 Julie Klinger

Today we welcome Oswaldo Zavala back to the show. He speaks with guest host Carlos Dávalos about the myth of drug cartels, the US’s military occupation of Mexico, and his study of the Latin American author, Roberto Bolaño.

Featured image: a remix of a photo of Oswaldo Zavala, the cover of Roberto Bolaño’s novel 2666, and the cover of the Spanish-language version of Zavala’s book, Los cárteles no exiten (Sara Gabler/WORT).

How the Drug Trade Relies on the US Military

In the last few weeks, a number of mass shootings have been committed by US Marine veterans, one in Michigan and another in North Carolina. Our guest today, Seth Harp reminds host Esty Dinur that military service is the single strongest predictor of a person’s likelihood of committing mass violence, as a 2023 study shows. Harp joins us on the show to discuss new book, The Fort Bragg Cartel: Drug Trafficking and Murder in the Special Forces.

Featured image of The Fort Bragg Cartel, available from Penguin.

Drug Trafficking and Mass Violence in the US Special Forces

This is an audio snapshot that captures the sounds of a group of naked bicyclists as they pose for a photo shoot for a Madison area magazine.

World Naked Bike Ride Photo Shoot

Pernille Ipsen on feminism and found families in "My Seven Mothers"

Claudia Sheinbaum celebrated one year as the President of Mexico on October 1st. We invited Carlos Dávalos, a doctoral candidate in journalism from Mexico City here at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and who spent the last academic year at WORT developing Spanish-language programming for the station, into the studio.

We wanted to ask Carlos for an assessment of Sheinbaum’s performance since he has been a reporter and radio personality in Mexico and has been tuned in to Mexican politics and culture for most of his life.

Claudia Sheinbaum Wikipedia entry  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudia_Sheinbaum

President Claudia Sheinbaum at the one-year mark http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edv3Bcy8g9c

Los Madrugadores Radio Magazine, Saturdays 5:00 – 8:00 AM  on WORT 89.9 FM Madison and wortfm.org

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum, How’s She Doing?

 In this episode, Host Ankita interviews Sen Chris Larson from Milwaukee. They discuss political violence in the U.S and what lawmakers can do to move the country towards a more harmonious nation. They analyze the roadblocks blocking lawmakers' path towards everlasting peace. This interview reveals the growing rift between the Democrats and Republicans on critical policy issues.

What should we do about political violence

Rita Adair joins The Friday 8 O’Clock Buzz to discuss Bernell’s, Madison’s first bar dedicated to women’s sports, opening soon on Sieferth Road.

Bernell’s Bar

On today’s show, host Allen Ruff speaks with friend of the program, Mouin Rabbani, about the tenuous ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and where it might lead. According to the Government Media Office in Gaza, Israeli forces have violated the terms of the ceasefire at least 80 times, killing dozens of Palestinians since the ceasefire was announced on October 10.

Featured image of a 2024 Stop the Genocide protest in Helsinki, Finland via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).

Don’t Mistake the Gaza Ceasefire for a Peace Plan

Professor Stephen Zunes, scholar, writer and speaker on the politics of various regions of the world - particularly on the Middle East - as well as on globalization, non-violence and conflict resolution, talked to World View about Palestine.

He spoke of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, noting that neither the Israelis nor the Palestinians had been signatories of and of the ongoing Israeli blockage of necessary food, water and medicine, not to mention the continuous killing of Palestinians.

Asked about Israeli military and settler attacks in the West Bank, Zunes cited the ability of the U.S. to stop the aggression there and in Gaza but the lack of U.S. government political will to do so. He also talked about the U.S. attempt to appear to accept and support a two state solution without actually doing anything to make that possible.

Professor Zunes discussed the international legal rulings against Israel and the fact that neither U.S. Republicans nor Democrats have backed international law in the case of Palestine. He also discussed the potential leaders who might unify a Palestinian state.

In conclusion Professor Zunes was asked what citizens and activists might do to contribute to a just and peaceful outcome in Palestine to which he replied that he thinks the best hope is solidarity with the Palestinians and activism for their cause. He cited the shift in the position of Democrats and recommended being involved in raising awareness and continuing efforts to pressure Democrats to support justice for Palestine in upcoming elections. Professor Zunes said we can’t hope to change Trump administration policy without Democrats on the side of the Palestinians.

He reminded us that “People eventually have been able to change.”

Bio http://www.usfca.edu/faculty/stephen-zunes

Substack http://stephenzunes962006.substack.com/

On X  @SZunes

Article The Progressive: A Shaky Ceasefire Is Better Than An Ongoing Genocide
https://progressive.org/latest/a-shaky-ceasefire-is-better-than-an-ongoing-genocide-zunes-20251016/

Recent appearances Thinkers Forum http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfewdh29uec 

Sanctuary Radio http://www.mediasanctuary.org/stories/2025/zunes-on-gaza-israel-ceasefire/ 

BBC http://drive.google.com/file/d/1CqIyAliefRmCR7JlRDXaQDaAtdsv6Gnm/view

KPFA The Sunday Show http://kpfa.org/episode/sunday-show-october-19-2025/

Stephen Zunes Tells Activists for Palestine to Keep On

In this edition of The Perpetual Notion Machine, sixth-generation farmer and business manager Chris Wilson describes the journey to regenerative farming on the land that his extended family has worked since homesteading in 1848. The broad implications of viable, sustainable agriculture and associated environmental benefits are discussed with Citizens’ Climate Lobby activists Stan Frey and Steve Lewis with host Patrick Sajbel.

Regenerative Agriculture

1) BLAME THE MOON by Cain Culto
Cain culto is a favorite instagram follow. Kentucky raised Colombian American with some of the best yallternative fashion and expression I've seen. Withy pop art excellence. Heavy day? Blame the moon.

2) PULSE by Michelle
Michelle is an indie pop collective of cutie pies who celebrated their last show at Webster Hall the beginning of this month. But this bop among many others will live on. Much love to Sofia, Julian, Charlie, Layla, Emma, and Jamee.

3) SOUTHPAW by Ivy Sole (too spicy for radio, find it on the internet)
I love hard spitting queer folk in hip hop and Ivy Sole is that and more. Ivy is nonbinary and poetic as heck. I encourage you to check out more of their music, as Southpaw is just one slice of the immense layers they weave through. Including complimentary archival visuals of thee James Baldwin on another one of their video features. As they come to understand more of their transness, I can’t wait to see how they continue to evolve.

4) MONKI by King Isis
MONKI has been a punk favorite. Straight from their bandcamp profile: "king isis is queer, Black genre-bending afrofuture. refreshing fusion, from alt-rock to RnB, to boho indie-pop. Through each song, Isis takes you on a journey, with haunting vocals, vulnerable lyrics, and expansive musical abilities. A counter-culture weirdo, King Isis creates for those outside the margins."

5) Canción Desaparecida by Juanes and Mabiland
This song is about forced disappearances in both artists' native Colombia. The music video will give you chills. Women, mothers, daughters, wives, sisters, grandmothers lead the search for their loved ones for decades. The US has faced criticism for their involvement in Columbia, contributing to human rights abuses by paramilitary groups related to security forces the US funded and trained.

6) Oyster by Francesca Wexler
Set your timer and clock in at 1:44 of this song for a Wisconsin Alma mater shout out. Francesca has been on repeat in my car for months. Never turning her down at the stoplight sorry not sorry, yall need Francesca Wexler in your life, you're welcome.

7) Body Move by Dizzy Fae
This is my post work and weekend grove when I've been dissociating on the way home from work and bed rotting a little more than usual. Shoutout to a Midwest baddie, Dizzy Fae is making music in Minneapolis, and her socials are rich with art and videos reminiscent of the stuff 90s kids grew up on.

8) What It Is by Amber Mark
This song is top 3 sexiest songs of all time. No notes. Amber Mark is gorgeous, so is her music, a 93 baby, finessing the smoothest rnb soul bossa nova and more through tangled webs of feelings and all that makes us ethereal. If the song cuts off as I come up at the end of this show, you know where to find it, play it again.

TransQueer Playlist by Hale, Queery

Do body-worn cameras actually change police officers’ behavior on the job?

That question was at the center of a small pilot conducted in summer of 2024, which outfitted officers on Madison’s north side with body cameras to gauge whether they’re worth the expense.

Nearly a year after the Madison Police Department released their study on the pilot, the city’s Office of the Independent Monitor (or OIM) is weighing in with a report of their own.

And according to the office’s data analyst Greg Gelembiuk, MPD’s study had some glaring flaws. He joined WORT News Producer Faye Parks to share his findings.

Image courtesy: BodyWorn by Utility via Pixabay.

Independent monitor finds “severe flaws” in MPD’s body-cam pilot study

Back in July, author and academic Zara Chowdhary introduced us to Zohran Mamdani, who won the Democratic primary for mayor of New York City at the end of June. Then she spoke about the qualities that gave him the victory. 

Now, with the election just two days away and millionaires and billionaires throwing money at Zohran’s opponents, Gil Halsted and Amitabh Pal checked back to see what Zara thinks will happen on election day and why.

Zara on Zohran July 6, 2025  http://www.wortfm.org/zara-on-zohran 
Zohran for New York City website  http://www.zohranfornyc.com/#about 
Zara’s website  http://www.zarachowdhary.com/the-lucky-ones 
Photo: Kara McCurdy for Zohran for New York City campaign 



More Zara on Zohran

In May 2026 the UW-Plattville campus at Baraboo will close its doors. It’s the 13th UW branch campus to close since 2023. On the show today’s we’re joined by Wisconsin State Representative Karen DeSanto to talk about how this closure will impact the constituents of her district and by Neil Kraus who discusses the flawed messaging the UW System is sending about enrollment, its budget, and the need for AI and tech in education. 

Featured image of the UW Platteville-Baraboo Sauk County campus and buildings via Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0).

UW System Betrays the Wisconsin Idea

Four years after at least a dozen women accused David Henzie-Skogen of sexual misconduct and grooming, the former Madison-area musician and drum corps instructor is back in the public eye.

He’s currently on an international tour with Youngblood Brass Band, a group that had previously cut ties with him. And according to new reporting from Tone Madison, Henzie-Skogen has started a new career in sex addiction treatment and recovery.

But his accusers are still waiting for accountability, Tone contributor Scott Gordon tells our News Producer Faye Parks.

Image courtesy: Steve via Flickr, shows Henzie-Skogen performing in 2014 with Youngblood Brass Band.

David Henzie-Skogen’s accusers still waiting for accountability, Tone Madison reports

Professor Anatoly Detwyler, an assistant professor of modern Chinese Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, came into the WORT studio to talk to us about recent China-U.S. exchanges in what appears to be an adversarial relationship. Perhaps a “trade war” or the end of one. 

Amitabh Pal and Gil Halsted peppered Detwyler with questions and he answered, giving us a clearer idea of what might be happening and what we might expect to see in the relationship between the two big economies of the modern world.

China is an enormous country with a huge population (1.4 billion vs. the U.S. 347 million), so the conversation was fairly general but Professor Detwyler urged us to try to look at things from a Chinese perspective: China’s government wants access to the U.S. market and also wants to maintain popularity at home. It doesn’t want competition just for competition.

They also talked about the leadership styles of Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, Taiwan in the future, Hong Kong, potential military clashes, Chinese students in the U.S. and bilateral cooperation. Professor Detwyler can pack a lot into a short time!

Anatoly Detwyler at the UW-Madison http://alc.wisc.edu/staff/anatoly-detwyler/

Last time he was at WORT: http://www.wortfm.org/civilizations-dont-clash-empires-do/ 

Anatoly Detwyler’s book recommendation: Breakneck: China's quest to engineer the future by Dan Wang		http://wwnorton.com/books/9781324106036



China Update with Professor Anatoly Detwyler

Cary Segall, "A Walk In The Woods: Voices From the Appalachian Trail"

Consultant Molly Stentz explains WORT’s financial crisis, new debt disclosures, and the path toward station stability.

Molly Stentz

Today on A Public Affair, we bring you a special feature produced by Matvei Mozhaev. He tells the story of Brian Deschane, a Madisonian who experienced homelessness for three years.

Unhoused by Design

Rhett Miller talks vocal recovery, songwriting, and his new album ahead of his December 3 Atwood Music Hall show.

Rhett Miller

This week on Mel & Floyd: What SmartyPants is thankful for; Cryptocurrency as money laundering tool; The positive side of Hitler?; The Batman effect; Camps in Gaza where you might “concentrate” people; WORT 50th birthday bash December 7 at Atwood Music Hall; And other random topics; Notice something missing?  For the complete Mel and Floyd Experience, buy the CD “The Very Best of James Brown” and play it on your Hi-Fi while listening to this podcast!  Or listen live at 89.9 FM or wortfm.org/listen-live/ every Friday from 1 to 2 PM Central Time.

Photo courtesy Jess Bailey on Unsplash

Butter versus Margarine

WORT’s journey into a half a century on the radio hasn’t been without some bumps along the road.  The station continues to face new challenges as it prepares for its next 50 years.  WORT Board of Directors President Grant Foster joins us for an explanation of where WORT is headed in its immediate future.

WORT's Present and Future with Board President Grant Foster

MCP More Perfect Union Dec 2025

Author Michael Perry talks about his new book on unlikely mentors, the craft of storytelling, and the lessons learned from paying attention.

Michael Perry

World View recorded an interview with Professor Cathy Day last week about the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference or COP30 held in Belém, Brazil last month. Cathy was actually a student here at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is now teaching at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, with a few important stops along the way. 

Cathy has a wealth of knowledge and experience in ecology and sustainable agriculture and the effects of climate change on life on earth.

After listening, you can watch her talk about measures we can take to manage and mitigate climate change and work to prevent it personally with some of her suggestions on her YouTube channel, Sowing Tomorrow at http://www.youtube.com/@SowingTomorrow/playlists?app=desktop&view=1&sort=dd&shelf_id=5

Image by WikiImages from Pixabay


Messages from COP30

Our own Nicholas Wootton previews his upcoming all-nude Access Hour.

Nicholas Wootton Previews His All Nude Access Hour

Hale sits down with Eli, Becky, and Emrys of Transform Dane, a new nonprofit that works to support incarcerated people and transform local carceral systems in Wisconsin through direct mail outreach, community advocacy, and uplifting voices.

Share your story: https://transformdane.com/transform-dane/share-your-experiences/ 

Read Eli’s blog: https://transformdane.com/blog/ 

Support direct mail: https://transformdane.com/transform-dane/supportmail/

MOSES conditions of confinement task force: https://www.mosesmadison.org/tf-wisdom-conditions-of-confinement/ 

Tone Madison’s reporting on the Smart Communications contract: https://tonemadison.com/articles/propaganda-hoedown-how-the-dane-county-sheriff-tried-to-sell-the-smart-communications-contract/

Transform Dane:  supporting incarcerated people and transforming local carceral systems

World View hosts Gil Halsted and Amitabh Pal had a conversation on Venezuela with perhaps the most knowledgeable American scholar on the subject in the country, Professor Miguel Tinker Salas, who has taught, written and spoken on Venezuela for decades.

He is the author of Venezuela: What Everyone Needs to Know; The Enduring Legacy: Oil, Culture and Society in Venezuela; co-editor with Steve Ellner of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez and the Decline of an Exceptional Democracy; and more as well as many articles and papers.

He is also an authority on the political and social issues confronting Latin America. His research expertise includes contemporary Latin America, society and politics in Venezuela and Mexico, oil, culture and politics in Venezuela, the drug war in Mexico, Mexican border society, Chicanos/as and Latinos/as in the United States and Latin American immigration policies.

And he is generous with his time and his knowledge. We are really grateful to him for sharing it with us.

World View conversation with Professor Miguel Tinker Salas in September 2024 http://www.wortfm.org/whats-really-happening-in-venezuela/ 

A December 19, 2025 Public Affair conversation between Esty Dinur and Marc Becker of Truman State University http://www.wortfm.org/oil-motivates-us-attacks-on-venezuela/

Miguel Tinker Salas website http://www.migueltinkersalas.com/




What's Best for the People of Venezuela?

Interview with Sean Kleve of the Diapason Trio by Peter Haney, Aired on WORT 12/30/2025. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

2025 12 30 Sean Kleve

From Queery, with Love on New Year's Eve

On today’s show, guest host Bert Zipperer speaks with dairy journalist Pete Hardin. They recap the big issues in the agricultural industry over 2025, in an extension of their coverage on their weekly feature on WORT, The Milkweed. 

Featured image of the Old Country Cheese plant in Cashton, Wisconsin via Rawpixel. 

Hungry Farmers and Hungry Consumers

Madison in the Seventies: A Special Report

Charlie Sykes joins the Friday Eight O’Clock Buzz to assess political damage from 2025 and offer a look at what may define 2026.

Charlie Sykes 01022026

Calling in to wish the show and its listeners a Happy New Year, The Guy Who Can't Say Goodbye does that thing that he does.

Guy Who Can't Say Goodbye 01022026

Ankur Malhotra shares his picks for the best music events happening around Madison the over next week.

Ankurs Picks 01022026

Mermaid Kitchen owner Lisa Jacobson joins the Friday Eight O’Clock Buzz to talk bagel craft and history.

Mermaid Kitchen

In 2025, the state of Montana voted for Trump by nearly 20 points. But Montanan’s support for the president is waning because of the administration’s policies on public lands. To unpack the effects of DOGE cuts to public land agencies, host Esty Dinur is joined by journalist Cassidy Randall, author of a recent article, ‘I Didn’t Vote for This’: A Revolt Against DOGE Cuts, Deep in Trump Country. 

Featured image of a sign for the Pryor Mountain Range in Montana via the Bureau of Land Management on Flickr (CC BY 2.0).

The Fight for Public Lands Could Rewire Montana’s Politics

This week on Mel & Floyd: Luke sits in for ‘Pants and Saga visits; Real life midwestern horror movie experiences; Creationist “thinking” and catching measles at the Ark Encounter; Yellow brick road at bottom of ocean??; The real reason trump hates windmills; More guns than Bibles?; And other random topics; Notice something missing?  For the complete Mel and Floyd Experience, buy the CD “The Very Best of James Brown” and play it on your Hi-Fi while listening to this podcast!  Or listen live at 89.9 FM or wortfm.org/listen-live/ every Friday from 1 to 2 PM Central Time.

Photo courtesy Mikhail Preobrazhenskiy on Unsplash

The Road to Atlantis

Listener-sponsored, volunteer-powered, noncommercial community radio broadcasting to south-central Wisconsin at 89.9 FM and online at wortfm.org via our studios in Madison. 

We provide an outlet for communication, education, free expression, entertainment, training and access for the purpose of sharing music, information, news, and cultural experiences, and strive to give people underrepresented elsewhere in traditional media a voice. 

NOTE: Most of the content posted at this time are news stories or talk shows. 

MUSICIANS:  We NEVER look on our SoundCloud for music submissions, so it's not a very efficient way to contact us. Please go to www.wortfm.org and click on Music --> Music Submissions for our submission info and guidelines. Thanks and we look forward to hearing your music!

WORT 89.9FM Madison

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