WisPolitics Capitol Chats
617 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 days ago - ★★★★★ - 7 ratingsWisPolitics Capitol Chats provides political insights from political movers and shakers around Wisconsin in about 10 minutes.
Quality interviews brought to you each week by the reporting team at WisPolitics.com.
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Episodes
Capitol Chats: Wisconsin College Dems chair: Claims young voters won't turn out in '24 'dead wrong'
April 24, 2024 20:31 - 12 minutes - 17.5 MBIn this week’s Capitol Chats episode, Wisconsin College Democrats Chair Matthew Lehner says one of the biggest misconceptions about young voters is that they won’t turn out to vote in November. He also says he shares concerns about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza but noted there are many other issues at stake in the upcoming presidential election, such as abortion, LGBTQ+ and racial equality and climate change.
Capitol Chats: Dane GOP Chair Maly says voters will get behind Trump, GOP needs to get engage youth
April 17, 2024 19:20 - 18 minutes - 25.4 MBOn this week's Capitol Chats podcast, Dane County Republican Party Chair Brandon Maly, 24, says Republican voters, even so-called "RINOs," will likely rally behind Trump in the November general election as long as they can clear the abortion hurdle. Maly says voters aren't pleased with how the White House is handling many current issues, especially the economy. He also says Republicans should meet younger voters where they are, instead of talking about banning TikTok.
Capitol Chats: Zepecki confident Biden will earn support of uninstructed voters in November
April 10, 2024 15:59 - 14 minutes - 20 MBIn this week’s Capitol Chats episode, Dem strategist Joe Zepecki shares his takeaways from the April 2 presidential primary. Zepecki says he believes President Joe Biden will earn support from uninstructed voters in November. He also points out the percentage of voters who cast ballots in the GOP primary for candidates that are no longer in the race was higher than the margin of uninstructed votes in the Dem primary.
Capitol Chats: Group pushing for uninstructed Dem primary vote still wants Biden to win
April 03, 2024 18:55 - 13 minutes - 18.8 MBIn this week's Capitol Chats: Kyle Johnson, political director for Listen to Wisconsin, says voters who checked the 'uninstructed' box this April primary want President Joe Biden to remember and listen to those who helped elect him to office. They're protesting Biden’s policies toward Israel and Gaza. Johnson also says the movement still wants to see Biden earn a second term, but he needs to meet their demands before they can align to defeat former President Donald Trump. More than 47,000 ...
Capitol Chats: Kelly says new maps could be 'challenge,' Dems should recognize voucher benefits
March 27, 2024 16:56 - 13 minutes - 19 MBIn this week’s Capitol Chats episode, School Choice Wisconsin President Nic Kelly says new legislative maps that favor Dems could be a challenge. But he argues Dems should remember their constituents benefit from the state's private school voucher programs. Kelly also reviews the group's efforts during the legislative session.
Capitol Chats: WEAC's Wirtz-Olsen says more school referendums ahead without funding formula changes
March 20, 2024 19:25 - 9 minutes - 13.4 MBIn this week's Capitol Chats podcast, Wisconsin Education Association Council President Peggy Wirtz-Olsen says the $1.4 billion in combined school budget referendum requests across Wisconsin is a sign public schools need more funding and the funding formula is broken. A WisPolitics review found this year to be the third-highest ask from schools since 2000. Wirtz-Olsen also talks about a new AAPI curriculum bill and the Senate's rejection of Gov. Tony Evers' nomination of John Miller to the ...
Capitol Chats: Neubauer announces reelection bid, talks priorities and new maps
March 13, 2024 19:22 - 11 minutes - 15.4 MBIn this week's Capitol Chats podcast, Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer, D-Racine, announces her bid for reelection after talking about what her caucus wants to work on for the remainder of the year. She also says she's not too worried the Dem Assembly members leaving this year will impact her caucus' ability to make significant gains with the new legislative maps. Published on March 13, 2024.
Capitol Chats: Pfaff says he's "hell bent" on providing relief for PFAS contamination
March 06, 2024 19:47 - 12 minutes - 17.6 MBIn this week’s Capitol Chats episode, Sen. Brad Pfaff discusses his bill aiming to fight PFAS contamination. The Onalaska Dem says the Legislature must act on the issue amid a standoff between Republicans and Gov. Tony Evers over PFAS funding.
Capitol Chats: Assembly Corrections Committee Chair Schraa on high vacancy rates, aging prisons
February 28, 2024 20:02 - 15 minutes - 21.4 MBIn this week's Capitol Chats podcast, Assembly Corrections Committee Chair Michael Schraa, R-Oshkosh, talks about some of the most pressing issues facing the Wisconsin's prisons. He talks about what it will take to continue driving security staff vacancy rates down and how likely it is a longterm push to replace maximum security prisons from the 19th century in Waupun and Green Bay with one newer facility. He also briefly touches on what's to come from his committee.
Capitol Chats: WISDOM's Rice says there have been no significant improvements on prison lockdowns
February 21, 2024 20:00 - 14 minutes - 19.9 MBIn this week's Capitol Chats episode, WISDOM Transformational Justice Campaign Coordinator Mark Rice says long term lockdowns amount to torture for inmates. He also says there has been no significant progress to lift the nearly yearlong lockdowns at Wisconsin's two oldest maximum security prisons, and argues former Parole Commissioner John Tate II created a better climate on the Parole Commission.
Capitol Chats: Gustafson says artificial intelligence could address workforce issues
February 14, 2024 20:31 - 11 minutes - 16.1 MBIn this week’s Capitol Chats episode, freshman Rep. Nate Gustafson discusses recommendations from the Speaker's Task Force on Artificial Intelligence he chairs. The Fox Crossing Republican also shares his thoughts on how AI could be used to address the state's workforce shortage.
Capitol Chats: AFP's Novak says Wisconsinites' biggest concern is inflation ahead of election
February 07, 2024 19:39 - 12 minutes - 16.5 MBIn this week's WisPolitics Capitol Chats podcast, Americans for Prosperity State Director Megan Novak says most voters are thinking about inflation on regular goods and services such as groceries and energy heading into the presidential election. She argues the federal government has got to stop growing the national debt and should also focus on providing more American energy while. She also blasts President Joe Biden for what she calls anti-worker freedom policies.
Capitol Chats: Shankland says Van Orden "not serving the people of Wisconsin"
January 31, 2024 16:22 - 15 minutes - 21.5 MBIn this week’s Capitol Chats episode, state Rep. Katrina Shankland, D-Stevens Point, talks about her campaign to unseat U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien, and touts her credentials as a state legislator. Shankland is one of three Dems vying for the seat.
Capitol Chats: WILL's Esenberg talks about redistricting, abortion cases
January 24, 2024 20:04 - 17 minutes - 23.7 MBIn this week's WisPolitics Capitol Chats WILL President and General Counsel Rick Esenberg talks about the legislative redistricting lawsuit his office is party to. Esenberg also talks about what to watch for in the lawsuit seeking to make Wisconsin's 1849 abortion law unenforceable. A Dane County judge late last year ruled the law doesn't apply to consensual abortions, but Sheboygan DA Urmanski is appealing the decision.
Capitol Chats: Redistricting expert Johnson assesses maps submitted in Supreme Court legislative remap lawsuit
January 17, 2024 20:24 - 13 minutes - 18.7 MBIn this week's Capitol Chats episode, Marquette University Law School Lubar Center Research Fellow John Johnson gives his first impressions of maps submitted to the Supreme Court for a redistricting lawsuit. He says the court laid out criteria the maps must meet, but did not detail how to gauge the criteria. He also says he'd be surprised if the federal government weighed in on the issue as Republicans have said they are ready to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Capitol Chats: Cronmiller says legislative maps case is opportunity to eliminate gerrymandered maps
January 10, 2024 15:29 - 12 minutes - 17.7 MBIn this week’s Capitol Chats episode, Debra Cronmiller, executive director of the League of Women Voters and chair of the Fair Maps Coalition, discusses a case before the Supreme Court challenging the state's legislative maps. The court has ordered new maps ahead of the 2024 elections.
Capitol Chats: DWD Secretary Pechacek says 4-year UI modernization plan is on track
December 20, 2023 22:00 - 18 minutes - 25.9 MBIn this week's Capitol Chats episode, Department of Workforce Development Secretary Amy Pechacek says the department's plan to modernize its unemployment insurance claims program is on track to finish within the 4-year goal. But she says that won't be the end of modernization efforts as new technologies to improve efficiencies and protect against fraud come about.
Capitol Chats: Wimberger says PFAS grant measures must include legal protections for land owners
December 13, 2023 20:19 - 12 minutes - 16.8 MBIn this week's Capitol Chats podcast, Sen. Eric Wimberger, R-Green Bay, says it's crucial to include protections for innocent property owners who discover PFAS contamination in their wells in his grant bill. He rips those who argue the protections would give polluters a legal pass, noting many who find contamination are not the source of the pollution. His bill to issue remediation grants would protect homeowners from being labeled as polluters and being forced to disclose the pollution on t...
Capitol Chats: Democracy Found's Eskrich says final five voting would help voter confidence, engagement
December 06, 2023 19:56 - 15 minutes - 21.3 MBIn this week's Capitol Chats episode, Democracy Found Executive Director Sara Eskrich says ranked choice voting has proven successful in other states such as Alaska. Final five, a subset of ranked choice voting, would also decrease the odds candidates who mostly appeal to their party's extremes end up on the general election ballot, she added.
Capitol Chats: Steffen charges Evers admin politics are stopping replacement of aging prisons
November 29, 2023 20:13 - 16 minutes - 22.4 MBIn this week's WisPolitics Capitol Chats podcast, Rep. David Steffen, R-Green Bay, argues the state has delayed replacing the aging Green Bay maximum security prison, built in the 1890s, too long. He says the politics of constructing a new prison while the administration has focused on criminal justice reform have let long term infrastructure, safety and staffing issues languish.
Capitol Chats: Burress says GOP bill to combat PFAS has loophole that would benefit polluters
November 20, 2023 21:19 - 10 minutes - 14.8 MBIn this week's Capitol Chats podcast, Wisconsin Conservation Voters Government Affairs Manager Peter Burress explains why the group opposes a GOP bill to combat PFAS contamination. Burress argues a provision in the bill would protect polluters and shift the cost to fight pollution to taxpayers.
Rock County Clerk Tollefson talks about latest election bills' impact on clerks, 2024 elections
November 15, 2023 19:58 - 17 minutes - 24.6 MBIn this week's Capitol Chats episode, Rock County Clerk Lisa Tollefson, also the Wisconsin County Clerks Association's Legislative Committee co-chair, says a bill to allow absentee ballot processing before election night will absolutely help clerks do their jobs. But she says she's not sure if clerk protections the Legislature recently passed will do enough to deter harassment that has driven many election workers away since the 2020 election.
Pocan says he wants to see Israel's end game plan to deal with Hamas, blasts new speaker
November 08, 2023 19:59 - 16 minutes - 22 MBIn this week's Capitol Chats podcast, U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Town of Vermont, says he and other House members are asking Israel to describe what the end of its latest conflict with Hamas will look like. He argues the Israeli bombing campaigns that have taken innocent lives "isn't a plan." The Congressional Progressive Caucus chair emeritus also says the White House should also do more to bring a ceasefire to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Capitol Chats: Quinn says abortion-related bills would support women, families
November 01, 2023 15:05 - 9 minutes - 13.3 MBIn this week's Capitol Chats podcast, Sen. Romaine Quinn says his package of abortion-related bills would provide support for women and families. The Cameron Republican also pushes back on a lawsuit arguing abortion is legal in Wisconsin, saying abortion is clearly prohibited under state law.
Acting Public Defender York say raises helped staffing issues, but there are still some problems
October 26, 2023 19:02 - 11 minutes - 15.6 MBIn this week's Capitol Chats podcast, acting State Public Defender Katie York is in the office to talk about how she's doing since outgoing SPD Kelli Thompson gave her the reins earlier in the year. She says recent pay raises have helped some with staff vacancy issues, but she has a lot of other projects to work on now too.
Rep. Stubbs hopeful to establish task force on missing and murdered African American women and girls
October 18, 2023 19:35 - 11 minutes - 16.3 MBIn this week's Capitol Chats episode, Rep. Shelia Stubbs discusses a bill she has reintroduced to establish a task force on missing and murdered African American women and girls. The Madison Dem says she is hopeful the bill will be signed into law considering its bipartisan support.
Marquette Lubar Research Fellow John Johnson talks future of legislative redistricting
October 11, 2023 20:01 - 17 minutes - 24.4 MBThis week's Capitol Chats podcast features an interview with redistricting expert John Johnson. The Marquette University Law School Lubar Center research fellow says the state Supreme Court could take a few different paths to tackling how to redraw the state’s legislative boundaries if it rules against the current maps. He said if the court draws new districts, he would expect to see “a map that bears no relation to what we currently have.”
Myers hopeful future maps won't dilute Black, Latino votes
October 04, 2023 18:20 - 14 minutes - 20.5 MBIn this week's Capitol Chats episode, Rep. LaKeshia Myers explains why she voted with Republicans on a nonpartisan redistricting bill. The Milwaukee Dem also explains her past concerns with Gov. Tony Evers' People's Maps Commission.
Vos skeptical about releasing impeachment panel report
September 27, 2023 18:58 - 15 minutes - 21.8 MBIn this week's Capitol Chats episode, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos in his first interview for the podcast says he's skeptical about releasing any kind of report or findings from the panel looking into impeachment. The Rochester Republican also says he doesn't want it to come to impeachment, but he still wants to know what sort of conduct might be impeachable.
Brooks details proposal to fund Brewers' stadium maintenance and keep the team in Wisconsin
September 20, 2023 20:35 - 13 minutes - 19.1 MBIn this week's Capitol Chats episode, Rep. Rob Brooks, R-Saukville, talks about the details in a proposal to spend more than $600 million on Milwaukee Brewers stadium maintenance and improvements efforts. The deal would keep the team in Wisconsin through 2050 and proponents argue it would bring a major economic boost to the local area and the rest of the state.
Wikler says Republicans pushing to impeach Protasiewicz could be opening a door they can't close
September 13, 2023 19:45 - 13 minutes - 18.7 MBOn this week's Capitol Chats episode, Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler says Republicans pushing to impeach liberal Supreme Court Justice Janet Protasiewicz are basically shooting themselves in the foot. If they go through with an impeachment, Wikler says it will likely turn many voters away from the GOP and open the door to more impeachments he says will also be politically motivated.
Krug says biggest priority is to ensure 2024 is "not a repeat of 2020"
September 06, 2023 16:24 - 14 minutes - 20.3 MBIn this week's Capitol Chats episode, Assembly Campaigns and Elections Committee Chair Scott Krug says the committee is focused on bipartisan solutions to election issues going into 2024. The Nekoosa Republican says allowing absentee ballots to be counted before Election Day is one priority.
Gallagher says U.S. will always have trade with China, but needs to reduce reliance
August 30, 2023 19:01 - 13 minutes - 19.1 MBIn this week's Capitol Chats episode, U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Allouez, says the U.S. will always been a trade partner with China since the country relies on American goods such as Wisconsin soybeans. Still, he argues America must reduce its reliance on Chinese manufacturing and production to insulate itself against a possible economic and demographic collapse that Gallagher says could lead Chinese leader Xi Jinping to make volatile moves.
Kaul won't say if or when he'll bring fake elector charges, talks clergy abuse probe, abortion suit
August 23, 2023 19:44 - 12 minutes - 17.5 MBIn this week's Capitol Chats episode, Dem AG Josh Kaul won't say if he plans to charge any of the 10 fake electors in Wisconsin as other AGs have brought similar cases in their states. He also talks about pushing for closure for survivors of clergy abuse and the future of his lawsuit to make the state's 1849 abortion ban unenforceable.
Ratcliff says transgender parent task force formed to fight ignorance and bigotry
August 16, 2023 18:51 - 11 minutes - 16.2 MBIn this week's Capitol Chats episode, freshman Rep. Melissa Ratcliff, D-Cottage Grove, talks about why she and Rep. Ryan Clancy, D-Milwaukee, formed the Transgender Parent and Non-Binary Advocacy Caucus. She also talks about the importance of expanding broadband access.
Godlewski says she wants to use her office to support state election officials and promote democracy
August 09, 2023 19:29 - 15 minutes - 21.9 MBIn this week's Capitol Chats episode, Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski talks about how she plans to run her new office, specifically how she wants to help clerks and other election workers do their jobs. She also talks briefly about her role as chair of the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands.
Leiber warns Sanborn could be canary in the coal mine on tribal member property tax issue
August 02, 2023 20:34 - 17 minutes - 23.4 MBIn this week's Capitol Chats episode, State Treasurer John Leiber warns the Town of Sanborn's property tax revenue issue could be just the beginning of revenue problems for municipalities that previously collected the taxes from tribal members. A recent federal court ruled tribal members don't have to pay property tax, which leaves Sanborn looking to fill a huge hole in its budget. Leiber also talks about the other work his office handles.
Cooke seeks to reach across the aisle in 3rd CD race
July 26, 2023 18:58 - 12 minutes - 17.2 MBIn this week's Capitol Chats episode, nonprofit owner Rebecca Cooke talks about her second bid for western's Wisconsin's 3rd CD -- this time to unseat U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien. The Eau Claire Dem also talks about finding shared values with voters across the aisle.
LWM's Herkert talks about why the state shared revenue deal is so important for municipalities
July 19, 2023 19:04 - 14 minutes - 19.8 MBIn this week's Capitol Chats episode, League of Wisconsin Municipalities Government Affairs Director Toni Herkert talks about why the shared revenue deal that increases state aid to local governments is so important. She also talks about why some municipalities got more than others and why the Milwaukee-specific provisions are so contentious.
DHS Sec. Johnson laments lack of Medicaid expansion in budget
July 12, 2023 18:00 - 13 minutes - 18 MBOn this week's Capitol Chats podcast, Department of Health Services Sec. Kirsten Johnson talks about the importance of expanding Medicaid coverage in Wisconsin, which would save Medicaid recipients money. She also said the state's abortion ban could make Wisconsin less attractive to medical students, arguing the lack of abortion access is a "travesty."
LaTonya Johnson wants lawmakers to understand Milwaukee is crucial to state success
July 06, 2023 19:36 - 15 minutes - 21.2 MBIn this week's Capitol Chats episode, Sen. LaTonya Johnson, D-Milwaukee, talks about how Republicans' budget doesn't give Milwaukee the help it needs. She argues the state's most populous city is the economic driver, and other lawmakers should give Milwaukee the respect and resources it needs to keep boosting the rest of the state.
Johnson says Hunter Biden investigation compromises President Joe Biden
June 28, 2023 19:09 - 13 minutes - 19 MBOn this week's Capitol Chats podcast, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh, argues the recent investigation that resulted in charges against Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden's son, compromises the president. He also says several members of Biden's cabinet should be impeached.
Newly elected DNC Committee member Lasry says Dems have a strong track record to carry into 2024
June 21, 2023 19:11 - 12 minutes - 17.6 MBIn this week's Capitol Chats, Wisconsin's newly elected DNC Representative Alex Lasry says he wants to help carry national Dems to victory on a wave of past success. The former Milwaukee Bucks exec. also talks about possible plans to retake CD3 and battle for CD1 before talking a little bit about how he likes living on Milwaukee's east side.
LGBTQ+ Caucus Chair Spreitzer signals possible conversion therapy ban compromise
June 14, 2023 20:00 - 14 minutes - 19.7 MBOn this week's Capitol Chats episode, Rep. Mark Spreitzer, D-Beloit, talks about proposed symbolic and substantive legislation aimed at improving the lives of LGBTQ+ Wisconsinites. He also talks about a possible deal being reached between Dems and Republicans on a conversion therapy ban, which has been a hotly contested issue in the Capitol.
Clean Wisconsin's Kanter pleased with $125 million PFAS trust fund, but concerned with policies
June 07, 2023 19:29 - 15 minutes - 21.1 MBOn this week's Capitol Chats episode, Clean Wisconsin Government Relations Director Erik Kanter talks about a proposal to spend $125 million on a state PFAS trust fund. Kanter says the money is important, but he's concerned with the proposal's restrictions on how the Department of Natural Resources can regulate PFAS contamination and cleanup efforts.
Hereth says DSPS worked to resolve licensing backlog with technology and process improvements
June 01, 2023 18:00 - 15 minutes - 21.9 MBIn this week's Capitol Chats episode, Department of Safety and Professional Services Secretary Dan Hereth talks about how his agency has been working to address a backlog of license approvals that arose during the pandemic. Hereth says DSPS has implemented several technology and process improvements to speed the process along and ensure those who need help get it.
Goyke says shared revenue deal could work if lawmakers get rid of policy restriction for Milwaukee
May 24, 2023 19:09 - 17 minutes - 23.5 MBOn this week's Capitol Chats episodes, Rep. Evan Goyke, D-Milwaukee, explains why the shared revenue proposal floating around the Capitol is so important for Milwaukee. He also expresses some of his frustration with policy and spending restrictions that specifically target Milwaukee in the Assembly's version of the shared revenue deal.
League of Wisconsin Municipalities' Deschane says this session most consequential in a generation
May 17, 2023 13:47 - 14 minutes - 19.6 MBLeague of Wisconsin Municipalities Executive Director Jerry Deschane says this session is turning out to be one of the most consequential for local governments in a generation. Several bills are circulating the Capitol to address shared revenue, workforce housing and PFAS "forever chemical" contamination.
Tiffany says what it'll take to get his vote on a debt ceiling increase
May 10, 2023 19:00 - 13 minutes - 19 MBIn this week's Capitol Chats episode, U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Minocqua, says he'll need to see a border security bill included in the debt limit increase for him to support it. He also talks about a possible Senate bid for next year's election.
Bond says Veterans Affairs wants to focus on improving care, addressing Union Grove issues
May 03, 2023 19:02 - 12 minutes - 13.5 MBOn this week's Capitol Chats episode, Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary James Bond says many of DVA's budget requests focus on improving housing, medical, substance abuse and other veteran care. He also says he's conducting a survey at the troubled Union Grove home to address issues lawmakers have raised about the quality of care there.