Capitol Notes
280 episodes - English - Latest episode: 19 days ago - ★★★★ - 3 ratingsThere's never a shortage of political news in Wisconsin, from the governor's office to the Legislature to the state's elected officials in Washington, DC. Join WUWM host Maayan Silver and Wispolitics.com editor JR Ross as they highlight and provide context to the latest developments.
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Episodes
Capitol Notes: What to know about Wisconsin's U.S. Senate race, effect of constitutional amendments
April 08, 2024 15:03 - 20 minutes - 27.6 MBDo you want to know about the candidates for U.S. Senate in Wisconsin, what U.S. Senators actually do for people on the ground here, and how the candidates are approaching their campaigns? Tune into Capitol Notes this week!
Capitol Notes: Primaries, drop boxes and recalls, oh my!
March 25, 2024 10:37 - 15 minutes - 21.2 MBJR Ross, editor of WisPolitics.com gives the big picture on the upcoming presidential primary election in Wisconsin, the new lawsuit over drop boxes and the latest in the recall effort against GOP Assembly Speaker Robin Vos.
Capitol Notes: A settlement in Wisconsin fake electors lawsuit
March 11, 2024 13:54 - 14 minutes - 20.2 MBLawyers for former President Donald Trump and ten Wisconsin Republicans who served as false electors had to affirm President Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election. Find out more about that settlement, important 2024 potential legislative races and this week's upcoming senate floor session.
Capitol Notes: Trump Political Action Committee, other Republicans, implicated in potential Wisconsin campaign finance scheme
February 26, 2024 15:51 - 15 minutes - 21 MBWisconsin's Ethics Commission referred former President Trump's joint fundraising committee, GOP legislator Janel Brandtjen and other Republicans to local district attorneys for potential felony charges involving fundraising during the 2022 midterm elections.
Capitol Notes: Would legislative Republicans pass Gov. Tony Evers' redistricting maps?
February 12, 2024 15:43 - 11 minutes - 15.4 MBLast week brought developments in the redistricting lawsuit in the state supreme court over state legislative lines. With ongoing litigation in the court, Legislative Republicans weigh the idea of passing Democratic Governor Tony Evers' maps. This week's episode explores why.
Capitol Notes: Republicans try on abortion, redistricting bills. But Gov. Tony Evers has the veto pen
January 29, 2024 15:17 - 14 minutes - 19.3 MBDivided Republican lawmakers attempt a referendum on an abortion ban and don't exactly like legislative redistricting maps submitted by Gov. Tony Evers.
Capitol Notes: Rolling out and rolling back? A medical marijuana bill. Also, Vos recall launched
January 16, 2024 14:51 - 12 minutes - 16.8 MBAssembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Racine County) is in the thick of state political news—again.
Capitol Notes: Redistricting, elections, the RNC — our picks for 2024 political stories to watch
January 02, 2024 15:59 - 7 minutes - 9.89 MBJR Ross of WisPolitics has been making a list of political stories to watch in 2024, and it's lengthy.
Capitol Notes: It was a very Milwaukee year for Madison
December 18, 2023 19:27 - 12 minutes - 16.6 MBStories and people from Milwaukee were part of many big state stories in 2023.
Capitol Notes: A new day, a new lawsuit — this time over Wisconsin's collective bargaining law
December 04, 2023 15:07 - 16 minutes - 23 MBSeven unions representing teachers and other public workers in Wisconsin have sued to end the state’s near-total ban on collective bargaining for most public employees.
Capitol Notes: What to know as Wisconsin redistricting lawsuit advances
November 20, 2023 15:04 - 13 minutes - 18.8 MBWisconsin's state supreme court takes up a lawsuit that could affect how state legislative lines are drawn. Find out what's key to know, from the big picture to the nitty gritty.
Capitol Notes: What do the courts have to do with it?
November 06, 2023 11:00 - 19 minutes - 26.3 MBThree important political stories in Wisconsin right now involve the courts, whether they're taking up lawsuits between the other branches of government or they're the subject of legislation themselves.
Capitol Notes: What does house speaker debacle mean for key WI U.S. congressional races?
October 23, 2023 15:07 - 12 minutes - 17.8 MBFreshman Wisconsin U.S. Representative Derrick Van Orden is likely to have a key race for reelection in 2024. This week's Capitol Notes explains the importance of that race and how it could be impacted by the struggle over house speaker.
Capitol Notes: Wisconsin GOP's approach to Megan Wolfe reflects larger fracture
October 09, 2023 13:38 - 14 minutes - 20.5 MBA new week brings new efforts to challenge the state's nonpartisan top elections official. Jeff Mayers, president of WisPolitics.com gives a round up of where we're at.
Capitol Notes: A swing and a miss on the Brewers funding plan?
September 25, 2023 14:05 - 17 minutes - 24.1 MBHear the latest on the GOP Brewers' stadium proposal and their "Iowa-style" redistricting reform plan.
Capitol Notes: The 'I' word
September 11, 2023 13:52 - 14 minutes - 20.2 MBWeeks into Justice Janet Protasiewicz's tenure as a state Supreme Court justice, and before she has even ruled on a case, Wisconsin Republicans have pulled out the "I" word. Impeachment. It's something they can do with a two-thirds majority in the state Senate.
Capitol Notes: Will Wisconsin's top elections official keep her job? The latest in GOP efforts to oust her
August 28, 2023 15:39 - 14 minutes - 20.1 MBThis Tuesday, the State Senate has scheduled votes to confirm or reject top elections official Megan Wolfe. The state's Democratic attorney general says the law doesn't support such a vote, and she gets to stay in her post indefinitely. What can we expect this week?
Capitol Notes: Democratic control of Wisconsin state senate could stem from new redistricting lawsuits
August 14, 2023 13:14 - 18 minutes - 25 MBWithin a week of liberals taking control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, law firms and groups representing mathematicians and statisticians filed two redistricting lawsuits. This week's Capitol Notes digs into what they're hoping to get out of it.
Capitol Notes: A new day on the Wisconsin Supreme Court
July 31, 2023 13:35 - 15 minutes - 21 MBLiberal-backed State Supreme Court justice Janet Protasiewicz gets sworn into the role on Tuesday, Aug. 1. Litigation is already in the works for Democrats as Republicans defend a conservative legacy in place since the 2010s.
Capitol Notes: Milwaukee's sales tax hike, Wisconsin's tax breaks, what does it all mean?
July 17, 2023 14:45 - 10 minutes - 14.6 MBThis week's Capitol Notes looks at taxes: Milwaukee's vote to raise sales taxes and Evers' actions on GOP tax breaks for the wealthy in the 2023-2025 budget. How will this affect Milwaukeeans and what can we expect going forward?
Capitol Notes: The sizable power of the governor's veto pen
July 03, 2023 14:04 - 7 minutes - 10.3 MBJR Ross, of WisPolitics.com, looks at how Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers might apply vetoes to the state budget.
Capitol Notes: the uncertain future of Wisconsin's top election official
June 19, 2023 13:00 - 15 minutes - 20.6 MBAfter baseless complaints of fraud by former President Donald Trump and a tumultuous pandemic election cycle in 2020, Wisconsin Republicans have reportedly "lost confidence" in the state's top election official. JR Ross of WisPolitics.com explains the politics behind this, and what the GOP might do going forward.
Capitol Notes: GOP version of Wisconsin's capital budget slights UW-Madison
June 05, 2023 14:23 - 13 minutes - 18.9 MBThis week's Capitol Notes digs into the partisan discord over the state's capital budget, which funds state-building projects and looks into what's next for the GOP-controlled Joint Committee on Finance as they look to finalize the budget before the end of June.
Capitol Notes: The latest on Wisconsin's shared revenue debate
May 22, 2023 13:37 - 16 minutes - 23 MBMilwaukee is facing a fiscal cliff in 2025. What will the state government do about it (and for money to other counties and municipalities, as funds have been frozen for 30 years)? Hear about shared revenue politics, progress, and procedure on this week's Capitol Notes.
A look at Wisconsin Assembly Republicans' shared revenue bill and how it would affect Milwaukee
May 08, 2023 14:25 - 15 minutes - 20.6 MBIt's all things budget and shared revenue in the Wisconsin state capitol as local governments try to stave off fiscal cliffs after years of frozen state funding.
Capitol Notes: Is medical marijuana legalization possible in Wisconsin?
April 24, 2023 13:31 - 14 minutes - 19.9 MBThe end of April has been busy for state legislators, the Assembly and State Senate have been taking up bills on everything from public safety to open records, and Republicans opened the door slightly to medical marijuana.
Capitol Notes: Opposing takes on guns and welfare in Wisconsin
April 17, 2023 13:38 - 13 minutes - 18.3 MBThis week's Capitol Notes looks at GOP attempts in the state Legislature to advance their positions on school safety and welfare work requirements. Democrats are not on board. Also, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin announces reelection run.
Capitol Notes: What's the next big thing under the dome?
April 10, 2023 14:26 - 13 minutes - 18.5 MBWith the Supreme Court election over, JR Ross guides us through other big matters ahead in Madison.
Capitol Notes: All things Wisconsin Supreme Court race
April 03, 2023 13:41 - 14 minutes - 20.2 MBWhat is staggering spending telling us about the Wisconsin Supreme Court race? Where's it coming from? Who's doing it better? How is it related to the outcome?
Capitol Notes: Sec. of State office, capital budget, anti-LGBTQ laws in Wisconsin
March 27, 2023 14:19 - 13 minutes - 18.5 MBThis week's Capitol Notes looks into Republican calls for a special election for secretary of state, a GOP rejection of Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' capital budget proposal and the state of anti-LGBTQ laws in Wisconsin.
Capitol Notes: Wisconsin Republicans try to make headway on abortion ban, get shut down
March 20, 2023 14:40 - 11 minutes - 15.4 MBJR Ross, editor of WisPolitics.com explains why abortion law developments have been difficult for Republicans in the state.
Capitol Notes: What does baseball have to do with it? A Wisconsin budget refresher
March 13, 2023 16:32 - 12 minutes - 17.4 MBDemocratic Gov. Tony Evers and GOP Legislative leaders are pitching alternate takes on what to do to keep the Brewers in Wisconsin. JR Ross, editor of WisPolitics.com explains the politics behind that and details how the budget process works.
Capitol Notes: What does record-breaking spending mean for the Wisconsin Supreme Court race?
March 06, 2023 15:14 - 12 minutes - 16.6 MBSpending in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race is through the roof. JR Ross, editor of WisPolitics.com, breaks down what that means for the campaigns, ads and voters. Meanwhile, the state budget is chugging through the system, and we'll break down the latest on that.
Capitol Notes: What to make of tactics in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race?
February 27, 2023 14:00 - 10 minutes - 14.1 MBTurnout, money and messaging, it's all at play in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race. This week's Capitol Notes looks into the prevailing campaigns.
Capitol Notes: How's that primary looking, Wisconsin?
February 20, 2023 13:00 - 12 minutes - 17.6 MBAhead of Election Day Tuesday, JR Ross, editor of WisPolitics.com lays out what to know about the statewide state Supreme Court primary race as it stands as well as a special election for the state's 8th Senate district.
Capitol Notes: Is there hope for more state aid for Wisconsin's local governments?
February 13, 2023 15:28 - 12 minutes - 16.5 MBGov. Evers will unveil his full two-year spending plan to the GOP-controlled legislature on Wednesday and has already revealed several priorities. For example, he's calling for 20% of the state's sales tax collection to go toward municipalities and counties. What are the chances these will push through the legislature?
Capitol Notes: Big spending underway in Wisconsin Supreme Court and State Senate primaries
February 06, 2023 14:42 - 12 minutes - 17.7 MBThe ads buys are getting bigger in some key races ahead of voters going to the polls on Feb. 21.
Capitol Notes: Ads start in Wisconsin Supreme Court race, and 'judging' Evers' State of State speech
January 30, 2023 14:36 - 12 minutes - 17.2 MBWisPolitics.com Editor JR Ross has his watchful eye on the Supreme Court race and state spending.
Capitol Notes: Republicans continue their controversial ways in Madison and Milwaukee
January 17, 2023 14:48 - 7 minutes - 9.77 MBMid-January doldrums? WisPolitics.com Editor JR Ross says not at the State Capitol.
Capitol Notes: It's the constitutional amendments edition
January 09, 2023 15:00 - 5 minutes - 6.88 MBWisconsin voters may have some state constitutional amendments to consider this April.
Capitol Notes: A review of Tuesday's inauguration and a look at what we might expect in 2023
January 04, 2023 18:01 - 13 minutes - 18.1 MBWisPolitics.com Editor JR Ross analyzes Tuesday's speeches and gets out the crystal ball.
Capitol Notes: It's inauguration time at the state Capitol
January 02, 2023 15:49 - 5 minutes - 7.09 MBAfter Tuesday's swearing-in, comes the intrigue of speeches and future political roles.
Capitol Notes: The top political stories of 2022 include one leftover from 2020
December 27, 2022 16:39 - 6 minutes - 8.44 MBJR Ross, of WisPolitics.com, recaps the 2022 elections and the 2022 probe of the 2020 election.
Capitol Notes: A look of possible items Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers may place in state budget stocking
December 19, 2022 15:47 - 10 minutes - 15 MBState agencies and some members of the public are making their wish list for the next two years.
Capitol Notes: Milwaukee leaders Johnson & Crowley head to Madison to discuss state financial aid
December 12, 2022 16:44 - 11 minutes - 15.9 MBPlus, there are major changes in Wisconsin GOP leadership and in the race for 8th state Senate district.
Capitol Notes: It's getting crowded in the Wisconsin Supreme Court contest
December 05, 2022 15:01 - 8 minutes - 11.7 MBFour candidates are now running for Wisconsin Supreme Court. JR Ross takes a look on Capitol Notes.
Capitol Notes: What Darling's departure means for the Wisconsin Legislature
November 28, 2022 15:29 - 9 minutes - 12.5 MBRiver Hills GOP Sen. Alberta Darling leaves the legislature this week, prompting political intrigue.
Capitol Notes: It's the Republicans making headlines edition
November 21, 2022 15:19 - 7 minutes - 9.64 MBState Rep. Janel Brandtjen (R-Menomonee Falls) and GOP Chairman Paul Farrow are in the news.
Capitol Notes: GOP plans and possible Gov. Evers reaction highlight this post-election edition
November 14, 2022 14:52 - 14 minutes - 20.5 MBGOP proposals for abortion restrictions and school vouchers may be headed for difficulty in Madison.
Capitol Notes: How did Tony Evers and Ron Johnson win reelection in Wisconsin?
November 10, 2022 14:51 - 4 minutes - 5.93 MBIn this bonus edition of Capitol Notes, JR Ross looks at Tuesday night's election results.