Battleground Wisconsin Podcast

At the top we celebrate the decades of permanent community organizing of Voces de la Frontera that makes May Day so powerful in Milwaukee and Wisconsin. This annual celebration of multiracial democracy has helped prepare us to meet the moment in these times of Trump.

Next, we update the latest in the fight to protect Medicaid from slashing cuts to pay for tax giveaways to the rich, including a new report demonstrating how cuts to Medicaid would harm patients and increase health costs in Wisconsin.

Robert gives a report on this week’s final JFC public hearings on the state budget and we preview the next steps in the process. We continue to encourage Governor Evers to use his powerful veto to win concessions on properly funding public schools and expanding Medicaid. We hope many of our listeners will join our upcoming Capitol Lobby Day, May 27th to support our state budget organizing.

Robert closes with a run down of this week’ worst Trump fallout, including: Wisconsin joining a lawsuit on Trump’s unilateral cancellation of Americorps; the arrest of Judge Hannah Dugan and its aftermath, putting Wisconsin at center of immigration fight.

Robert Kraig begins the program with observations on Donald Trump's assault on democratic institutions . Some major institutions, such as elite universities, major law firms, and corporate media companies, have tried to cut deals while others have stood their ground. Those that have capitulated have found that giving in only results in more outrageous demands. On the Battleground Wisconsin Podcast this week our theme is the moral imperative to stand and fight at both the national and state level. First, Robert interviews Heather DuBois Bourenane, Executive Director of Wisconsin Public Education Network (WPEN) to discuss the battle for education funding in the state budget. In their discussion, Heather and Robert conclude that the only way to get sufficient school funding and to win BadgerCare Expansion is for Governor Evers to use his veto power to stand and fight. Next, Robert interviews Citizen Action Healthcare Action Coordinator Timothy Faust on the battles for postpartum care, BadgerCare Expansion, and proposed massive cuts to Medicaid to fund tax cuts for the wealthy.

The boss of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Association of Commerce (MMAC) says 99% of business leaders are “afraid to speak out” against Trump. We discuss why these big business cowards take no responsibility for the neo fascist political party they have supported and financed for their own benefit.

While the corporate elites cower, a Federal judge blocked the deportation of UW-Madison engineering students, one of the first victories against mass deportation of international students. The Milwaukee County Board moved to safeguard due process rights after the ICE arrest at Milwaukee County Courthouse. But one conservative County Supervisors abstains, fearing reprisals from the Trump regime.

As utility shutoff season commences in Wisconsin, we discuss the increasing concern about the future of home energy assistance, which had been disseminated by DOGE, and is so complicated only a third of those eligible in Wisconsin enroll. We preview state legislation being drafted to enact a 2% of income cap utility bills which will be far more effective in reducing the energy burden on hard pressed households.

We welcome State Representative Christian Phelps to discuss shameful Republican state legislation that would add many new hoops to jump through to qualify for Medicaid, forcing many to go without critical health care and long term care. The public reaction to this destructive bill prompted Republicans to put it on hold for the time being, yet another sign that the backlash against proposed national cuts to Medicaid to fund tax giveaways for the rich and the failure to enact BadgerCare Expansion are becoming third rails for the MAGA GOP.

We welcome back to the show Tobita Chow to discuss how Trump’s 125%+ tariff on China fits into the escalating spiral of dangerous conflict between the United States and China. We review the main currents of thought within the current administration and potential outcomes. Is Trump setting up an inevitable military conflict with China?

Robert reviews the top Trump impacts on Wisconsin this week, including revoking student visas for over two dozen UW Students for no stated reason; Executive Order targeting state renewable energy initiatives; and the Impact of Trump’s deportation frenzy in Wisconsin, including the state of fear among Wisconsin dairy workers, and the revocation of legal status for Haitian refugees who have become an important part of the community in New London.

We close with Marquette University Theology professor, Chris Gooding, who is a member of the academic staff’s union organizing committee. Marquette continues to refuse to recognize the faculty union. The members are planning a protest of their new anti-union president on Monday, April 28th, 10 am in front of the Al Center on the university’s campus.

Why does Senator Cory Booker’s filibuster this week matter and how is it connected to the Wisconsin election this Tuesday?

We take a deep dive in the epic State Supreme Court election that saw a landslide win for Citizen Action endorsed Susan Crawford. The victory was essential to the future of the state with the balance of the court at stake. However, we discuss our concern with the current playbook that clearly can deliver progressive court candidate victories, but with high spending shit shows where virtually all paid communication is trashy crime and sexual predator ads that debase and erode the credibility of the court, a vital pillar of our democracy. And what about Elon?

We review the first Joint Finance Committee public hearing on the State Budget this Wednesday and heads to West Allis’ State Fair Park this Friday. At the hearing, support for funding Medicaid and increasing public education dollars dominated public testimony.

We welcome Milwaukee County Supervisor Anne O’Connor to discuss her support for the Milwaukee County Climate Action Plan which is up for a vote in April and her opposition to the proposed We Energies gas plants that are at odds with the County’s Climate plan goals.