Up North Podcast

Ep 10: Are Voucher Schools Really Good for Students of Color?

Sun, 19 Nov 2023 22:38:29 GMT

In Patti and Kirk’s last episode covering the "Right Wing War on Education,” they talked to Dountonia Batts and Dr. Preston Green about the issue of race as it relates to voucher schools.

This is important because private school vouchers are often presented as opportunities specifically advantageous for students of color. So it is fair to ask … Are they? Hint hint, they aren’t.

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Ep 9: Up North Vouchers - and why are our legislators voting for this?!

Sun, 12 Nov 2023 16:12:00 GMT

On this episode of The Right Wing War on education, Michael Johnson, Superintendent of the Eau Claire school district, John Gaier, Superintendent of the Neillsville school district, and with Chris Hambuch Boyle, the Northern Wisconsin Regional Coordinator for the Wisconsin Public Education Network, talk about how our public school tax dollars are flowing out of rural small towns #upnorth to support private (and often religious) schools in their communities and in urban areas far away from their districts.

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Ep 8: Milwaukee - Ground Zero for Vouchers in America

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 05:37:36 GMT

Patti and Kirk talked to Marva Herndon, President of the Milwaukee Public School Board, and Ingrid Walker Henry, Vice President of the Milwaukee Teacher Education Association and a member of Schools & Communities United, about what has happened to Milwaukee public schools since the first voucher school program in the country was implemented in Milwaukee over 30 years ago. Hint, it ain’t pretty.

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Ep 7: Racine is losing out and this seems intentional

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 18:13:14 GMT

Patti and Fred, MBC’s Lawyer aka the “Irrepressible Ginger,” talk to Cory Mason, Mayor of Racine, and Angela Cruz, President of the Racine Educators Association, about the gaping hole in the Racine’s public education budget due to the parasitic private voucher school programs.

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Ep 6: Deep dive into our voucher lawsuit complaint

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 20:07:34 GMT

This week we talked to our lawyers about the lawsuit we just filed as original action to overturn the voucher system in Wisconsin’s Supreme Court, and we also talked to two plaintiffs to get their story and why they wanted to participate in this very important lawsuit.

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Ep 5:Wisconsin Vouchers and Special Education: How kids are kept out, kicked out, and not served

Sun, 15 Oct 2023 07:52:45 GMT

Patti and Kirk spoke with Nicki Vander Meulen and Martha Siravo. Nicki is an attorney, advocate for kids with special needs, and member of the Madison Metropolitan School District Board. Martha coordinates Madtown Mommas and Disability Advocates which supports parents and caregivers of students with disabilities.

They helped us understand how why the voucher system has decimated the funds available for special education, and how the voucher system all-to-frequently hurts kids with special needs.

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Ep 4: How the a parasitic private school voucher school system hurts teacher and students

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 05:29:14 GMT

Kirk and Patty talked to Bob Baxter, Executive Director for the Wisconsin Teacher's Union, aka the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC), and Heather Dubois Bourenane, Executive Director for the Wisconsin Public Education Network.

They helped us understand how the growth of the parasitic private voucher school program has hurt both Wisconsin teachers and kids over the last 30 years.

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Ep 3: Do They Want to Destroy Public Ed? Looking at Voucher School Movement from a National Perspective

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 13:29:19 GMT

Patti and Kirk spoke with Attorney Jessica Levin from the Educational Law Center, who is also Director of "Public Funds Public Schools," a national campaign to ensure that all public funds are used to support public schools, about who and what is driving this push for parasitic private voucher school programs across the country.

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Ep 2: From $0 to $444 million, how did we get here? Story of voucher school privatization in Wisconsin

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 12:16:26 GMT

UW-Madison Professor Emerita Julie Mead joins Patti and Kirk to discuss the history of the parasitic school voucher system in Wisconsin

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Ep 1: Inaugural Show: The Right Wing War on Education

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 14:59:28 GMT

Patti and Kirk introduced the legal team who will sue to overturn the parasitic private voucher school program in Wisconsin, and asked them to explain why they think they will win.

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Ep 77: Don’t let the them SLAPP you!

Sat, 25 Mar 2023 02:56:00 GMT

In this week’s episode of the Up North Podcast, Kirk talked primarily about power imbalances, both in his ongoing battle with the Town of Minocqua and Oneida County to build a beer garden, and also at the judicial level where he is being sued by the Lakeland Times for defamation. He' spoke with a few of his lawyers to update everone on the defamation suit, and then he spoke to a national expert on Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP), a type of legal harassment which he believes this defamation suit ultimately is.

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EP 76: Time to Fight for Our Homes

Sat, 18 Mar 2023 00:08:53 GMT

On this week’s episode of the Up North Podcast, Kirk, Kristin, and Sarah spoke with former Wisconsin US Senate candidate Sarah Godlewski about her new Political Action Committee called Women Win Wisconsin, and the rallies they're having around the state. Next, they spoke with political veteran Robert Kraig on how to get plugged into volunteer activities with Citizen Action of Wisconsin and help elect a reasonable judge and finally balance Wisconsin’s Supreme Court. Finally, they wrapped up with a few thoughts on why we all need to fight hard for our home state.

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Ep 75: Time to End the 12 Year Temper Tantrum (and Expand Medicaid)

Sat, 11 Mar 2023 04:37:52 GMT

On this week’s Up North Podcast, Pat and Kirk spoke with Elder Law Expert Paul Sturgul and Family Practitioner Dr. Ann Reitz about how Wisconsin is one of only 11 states that hasn't adopted Medicaid expansion, and the only Midwestern state left. We then discussed how changing the balance of Wisconsin's Supreme Court could make Republicans more accountable to the health of their constituencies and heal our state, both literally and figuratively.

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Ep 74: Up North Podcast Goes to Sonoma to Drink Wine

Sat, 04 Mar 2023 01:10:58 GMT

In this special episode of the Up North Podcast, Kirk spoke with Melissa Kuhn, the winemaker behind Choice Sauvignon Blanc, and Matt Grove, owner of Equality Vines--the company that partnered with the Minocqua Brewing Company to make Choice wine. They tasted the new wine and talked about how Equality Vines was created as a cause-based winery that supports not only women’s reproductive rights, but also LGTBQ+ organizations and more.

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EP 73: Love Always Wins, But We Gotta Keep Fighting For It.

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 18:18:59 GMT

This week’s Up North Podcast featured Jim Obergefell from the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that gave us marriage equality, Obergefell v. Hodges.

We talked to Jim about how he became the plaintiff for this case, and what he's doing now.

We also talk about how we got to know him as a co-owner of Equality Vines, a caused based winery out of Sonoma, CA, and our partnership in creating CHOICE, a pro-choice Sauvignon Blanc, which you can buy here. https://choice.equalityvines.com/

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EP 72: Believing in a Bipartisan Budget to Fix Wisconsin

Sat, 18 Feb 2023 01:31:32 GMT

This week’s episode was a special late-night reaction to Governor Evers’ budget address to Wisconsin. State Representative Jodi Emerson from Eau Claire joined Pat, Kristin, and Kirk to dig through the proposed budget and what it would mean to our rural areas “Up North.” We also discussed how wonderful it would be if the right-wing gerrymandered legislature would finally ignore special interests, end their faux outrage, and help Evers’ solve our tough problems.

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EP 71: Defying Gravity to Lift Up Public Education

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 14:43:14 GMT

On this week's episode of the Up North Podcast, we talked about how we might be able to re-litigate some of the terrible things that have happened to our public schools and public school teachers over the past 14 years if we elect a progressive Supreme Court Justice on February 21st (primary) and April 4 (general).

Our guests were WEAC (Teacher's Union) President Peggy Wirtz-Olsen and Dr. Julie Underwood, Professor Emerita of Educational Law and Policy Analysis and former Dean of the School of Education at UW-Madison.

We talked about opportunities to undue ACT 10, which took away teachers' ability to collectively bargain, private school vouchers that are bleeding our public schools dry, and education funding formulas that create inequalities throughout the state.

And finally, we talked about Defying Gravity, and how we can no longer accept the political status quo.

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EP 70: Let’s Make Our Garden Grow

Sat, 04 Feb 2023 07:18:28 GMT

On this week’s Up North Podcast, we talked to Madison Senator Kelda Roys about what Wisconsin can do to help women get their reproductive rights back after we elect a progressive Supreme Court Justice. We also spoke with Jodi Habush Sinykin, who is running for the special election to replace Alberta Darling in the Milwaukee suburbs, about how important this race is. Finally we remembered that to make our state garden grow, we need to nourish it with a healthy democracy.

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EP 69: In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing.

Sat, 28 Jan 2023 02:45:34 GMT

In this week's Up North Podcast, we talk to representatives of Nates's Mission, a survivor led group that hopes to bring justice to clergy abuse victims in Wisconsin, and is frustrated with what they see is a lack of action from the Wisconsin Department of Justice.

We then talk about the need for courage among politicians to not just throw feel-good press conferences, but to risk failure to do what is right

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EP 68: Wisconsin Tribes Need Fair Maps

Sat, 21 Jan 2023 15:20:36 GMT

Kirk and Kristin talk with former United States Attorney Jim Santelle about how Wisconsin’s Tribes may be able to sue to end gerrymandering if we can elect a progressive Wisconsin Supreme Court judge on February 21 and April 4. Then they spoke with Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Member and member of Govern Evers’ Fair Maps Commission, Janson Bisonette, about how the tribes would benefit from Fairer Maps.

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EP 67: We Can Re-litigate Fair Maps

Sat, 14 Jan 2023 03:08:27 GMT

Kirk and Kristin talk to former United States attorney Jim Santelle, and former State Senate candidate Kelly Westlund about how we can finally get Fair Maps in Wisconsin if we elect a progressive Supreme Court Judge on April 4. And we think the the people of Douglas, Bayfield, and Ashland counties have a great reason to lead the charge.

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EP 66: Getting the House in Order for the Holidays

Sat, 10 Dec 2022 00:20:29 GMT

Kirk, Pat, and Kristin are embarking on a new format for the podcast, so used this week as a tech rehearsal which provided many funny bloopers. They also promoted their holiday music extravaganza that will be airing on Dec. 21 at 8:15 am live on the Minocqua Brewing Company Facebook page, and talked about their focus for the New Year: The Wisconsin Supreme Court Race.

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EP 65: The Underdogs that Could Save Democracy

Fri, 04 Nov 2022 03:46:25 GMT

Kristin and Kirk talked to “Iron Stache” Randy Bryce, the iron worker that tried to warn Wisconsin that former Governor Scott Walker was trying to break the unions, and how he thinks labor will get out the vote in this election. We then talked to two state assembly candidates, Leah Spicer and Joel Jacobsen, who were once considered underdogs but have a real chance at winning their races and saving the Governor Evers’ veto from a gerrymandered Republican supermajority.

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EP 64: Drop a Pebble in the Water

Fri, 28 Oct 2022 14:28:19 GMT

Pat, Kirk, and Kristin spoke with Senator Chris Larson about the grass roots energy needed to fuel progressives to vote during these last two weeks before the election. He told the story of how that energy was white hot when he and the other Democratic senators left the state in 2010 to try and stop Scott Walker from passing Act 10--the bill that stripped collective bargaining rights from state employees including teachers. We concluded with a poem that reminded us that a simple conversation with a neighbor to vote for “reason over treason” could be the ripple that creates a blue wave.

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EP 63: We Have to Protect Wisconsin from a Veto-Proof Republican Majority

Sat, 22 Oct 2022 02:30:48 GMT

Kirk, Pat, and Kristin talk to candidates Kelly Westlund and Laura Gapske from the Superior/Ashland area of Northwest Wisconsin about how they must win their traditionally blue State Senate and Assembly races in order to protect Governor Evers’ veto from a badly gerrymandered Republican state legislature. Later, they discuss how Gapske’s opponent has been extremely vicious and reminiscent of another mean politician, Marjorie Taylor Greene.

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EP 62: The Doomsday Scenario if Evers Loses

Sat, 15 Oct 2022 03:58:31 GMT

Kirk, Pat, and Kristin talk to Jim Santelle, Former US attorney for Wisconsin’s eastern district, on how there is a likely chance that if Wisconsin ends up with three right-wing branches of government, the will of the people may be ignored in future elections

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EP 61: Public Opinion be Damned

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 13:32:50 GMT

Pat and Kirk spoke with Charles Franklin, the Director of Wisconsin’s gold standard Marquette Law School Poll, about how negative ads can hurt candidates’ poll numbers, and how Wisconsin’s Republican Majority legislature has often ignored issues that large numbers of Wisconsinites support. Rep. Jodi Emerson came on next to talk about how the same legislature ignored Governor Evers’ special session to discuss ways to have all Wisconsinites weigh in on our 172 year old law that bans abortions through a statewide referendum—a idea that Republican leaders “said” they supported until actually were called up to do it.

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EP 60: Que Sera Sera, Whatever Will Be Will Be

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 01:55:08 GMT

Pat and Kirk talk to Jill Normington, a professional political pollster currently working for Senator Tammy Baldwin and recently for democratic primary candidate Alex Lasry, on how difficult it had become to do political polling in Wisconsin. She explains how the the closer the race is, the less accurate the poll, and most voters don’t want to pick up the phone or answer an online survey.

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Ep 59: Nurses Stand Up for their Rights

Sat, 24 Sep 2022 19:20:25 GMT

Pat, Kristen, and Kirk speak with Becky Schacter, a nurse at UW Health, about the reasons nurses felt they needed to unionize. She then discusses how a strike was averted with the help of Governor Evers.

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Ep 58: When Judges Play Politics

Sat, 17 Sep 2022 00:39:55 GMT

Kirk, Kristin, and Pat talked to former US Attorney Jim Santelle in Milwaukee about the decision to grant Trump a “Special Master” and hindering the DOJ investigation into him stealing confidential documents. We then examined the Trump-appointed Judge who made the ruling, and why it wasn’t based in American Law. Has our federal judicial system been tainted by unqualified, partisan judges, and if so, what are we to do? Listen to this podcast to find out.

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Ep 57: Losing Our Innocence

Fri, 29 Jul 2022 01:21:14 GMT

Kristin and Kirk talked to Congressman Mark Pocan about his reactions to the January 6th hearings, and then talked to the Executive Director of the Wisconsin High Speed Rail Alliance about our opportunity to finally get things right after throwing away a great opportunity to expand Wisconsin passenger rail in 2010. What connects these two debacles? The misinformation coming from Wisconsin Republicans that confuse voters. Wisconsin has lost its political innocence and we’re going to need thicker skins to make it great again.

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Ep 56: When Zealots Gain Power

Fri, 22 Jul 2022 16:36:43 GMT

Kirk, Kristin and Pat discuss the different ways that people who used to be considered on the extreme fringes of the political spectrum are now in some powerful positions—not just at the state and national levels, but local, too. Two concerned citizens from Sparta talk about how their community has been hijacked by a group dedicated to killing public education. And we’ll have the latest on the consequences of repealing reproductive health care rights for women.

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Ep 55: Peaceful Transition? Not These Guys

Fri, 15 Jul 2022 19:26:59 GMT

Kirk, Kristin and Pat discuss the latest Jan. 6 Committee hearing on the Trump campaign’s connection to the violent extremist groups. They talk to Deb Baldus McGrath, a former CIA officer and candidate for Congress. Pat shares interview clips with the other three Democratic candidates in the 3rd District. And Gov. Evers comments on how Republican legislators have been hostile to democracy.

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Ep 54: Battle Cry

Sat, 02 Jul 2022 00:13:32 GMT

Kirk, Kristin and Pat discuss the right-wing takeover of the US Supreme Court and how the illogical repeal of Roe v. Wade is a harbinger of other rights sure to be targeted next. Also, how the Roe repeal and the Jan. 6 Committee revelations should serve as a battle cry to become more active in protecting democracy.

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Ep 53: Fake Electors and Real Mules

Sat, 25 Jun 2022 01:26:39 GMT

Kirk, Kristin and Pat visit again with attorney Mel Barnes of Law Forward to review the case of the fake electors, and attorneys Mark Leitner and Joe Goode also comment on the other new findings from the special congressional committee investigating the attack on the US Capitol.

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Ep 52: I May Have Committed Some Light Treason

Fri, 17 Jun 2022 04:30:32 GMT

Kirk, Kristin and Pat talk to attorneys Mark Leitner and Joe Goode for a Wisconsin interpretation of what’s happening with the special congressional committee investigating the attack on the US Capitol. (Note: The show was recorded live on radio as severe weather was rolling through, so you will hear some interruptions about watches and warnings.)

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Ep 51: Be a Light

Fri, 10 Jun 2022 10:39:39 GMT

Kirk, Kristin and Pat talk to Denise Gaumer Hutchison of the Wisconsin Public Education Network about the reality behind the claim that schools are awash in pandemic relief funds. A pro-choice pastor talks about her faith journey that has her advocating for abortion rights. And after a lengthy list of the misdeeds done before and after the Jan. 6 insurrection, it’s time to remind ourselves we can always be a light in someone else’s darkness.

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Ep 50: Running on Empty

Fri, 03 Jun 2022 19:25:02 GMT

Kirk, Kristin and Pat talk about the exhausting but rewarding process of getting on the ballot to run for office—and how some people who've tried to take shortcuts failed at it. They also discuss three important elections that are under the radar of most voters. And after a review of Ron Johnson's new website about "truth," they discuss the declining value of law enforcement endorsements in a period where the politicians they endorse may be hostile to some voters' rights... or voting itself.

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Ep 49: Playground Politics

Fri, 27 May 2022 05:35:02 GMT

Kirk, Kristin, and Pat talk about what some are doing in Wisconsin to ensure that our students stay safe when politicians fail to address the school shooting epidemic themselves. Also, the former chair of the Brown County Republicans talks about exposing Ron Johnson hypocrisy on the 2020 election.

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Ep 48: Doctors, Lawyers, Guns, and (UW) Money

Sat, 21 May 2022 05:09:42 GMT

The lawyer is our own Sarah Yacoub, who is joined by Dr. Kristin Lyerly for some important updates. The guns on our streets are causing endless tragedy, but the politicians squawking the loudest about crime have done the least to fix the issues. And a new chancellor for UW-Madison isn’t exactly news up north, but Republicans appear to be using the news to prepare for big changes that could hurt every campus across Wisconsin next year.

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Ep 47: Taking Time to Save Democracy

Fri, 13 May 2022 17:39:07 GMT

Call them advocates, activists, or “democracy’s little helpers,” there are some folks who pay extra attention to policy issues and inform other voters. But now the time they’d spend helping people is being spent trying to save democracy. We talk to seven plaintiffs in a lawsuit against three insurrection supporters in Wisconsin’s congressional delegation. Guests: Jim Kurz, Cheryl Maranto, Rick Bechen, Paul Demain, James Botsford, Dan Russler, and Lisa Mueller.

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Ep 46: Enjoy in Moderation

Sat, 07 May 2022 05:09:50 GMT

Kirk, Sarah, and Pat talk about the leaked Supreme Court document indicating Roe v. Wade is about to be overturned. Dr. Kristin Lyerly, an obstetrician-gynecologist, talks about the impact on her patients. Former moderate Republican state Sen. Dale Schultz talks about what has happened to his party. And the 7th Congressional District race has a new candidate, Ty Kunelius, a moderate Republican challenging right-wing Rep. Tom Tiffany in the August primary.

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Ep 45: Gone Country

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 16:19:00 GMT

Kirk, Sarah, and Pat talk about how the issues of rural Wisconsin should matter to everyone—especially certain big-city political types who keep writing off a big chunk of the state. Darin Von Ruden of the Wisconsin Farmers Union is a guest along with Kelly Westlund, who was the longtime northern Wisconsin representative for Sen. Tammy Baldwin—until last week when she announced her campaign for state Senate in the 25th District.

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Ep 44: Authoritarianism on the March

Sat, 23 Apr 2022 01:27:20 GMT

Kirk, Sarah, and Pat talk about the Wisconsin Supreme Court conservatives locking in criminally rigged maps for another decade. Conservatives are also blatantly moving into book banning in places like the Wausau school district. And the Marathon County Board has solved racism—in their minds—by abolishing the committee working on a resolution to speak out against racism. In lighter news, can Pat make a newscast work on TikTok?

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Ep 43: Socioflakes!

Fri, 15 Apr 2022 16:36:16 GMT

Kirk, Sarah, and Pat talk about how tough-guy conservatives lose their credibility when they lose their cool and encourage violence. They also talk to Kathleen Cooper and Tony Rio, two candidates who ran for the Oneida County Board, about the low blows and the high achievements when good people stand up to bullies and engage with their neighbors.

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Ep 42: No Peace for the Insurrectionists

Fri, 08 Apr 2022 04:43:04 GMT

Kirk, Sarah, and Pat talk to John Bonifaz, president of Free Speech for the People, about the ongoing efforts in multiple states including Wisconsin to hold insurrectionists accountable for trying to undermine our elections.

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Ep 41: Vote April 5 Like You Remember January 6

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 03:49:20 GMT

Kirk, Sarah, and Pat talk to the outgoing mayor of Merrill about the creeping authoritarianism that’s being found at all levels of government—federal, state, and local. Chris Hambuch-Boyle of the Wisconsin Public Education Network talks about the wild rhetoric coming from right wing groups and school board candidates. And state Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler discusses the importance of not staying home during crucial local elections on April 5.

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Ep40: Oconto or Encanto?

Fri, 25 Mar 2022 21:00:00 GMT

Kirk, Sarah, and Pat debate their favorite counties. But first, the more serious topics of a US Supreme Court striking down new maps that were good enough for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and one of Kirk’s employees talks about reentering the workforce after a prison sentence—especially when one county refused to let him have a new path forward.

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Ep 39: May the 14th (Amendment) Be With You

Fri, 18 Mar 2022 04:13:56 GMT

Kirk, Sarah, and Pat talk to Milwaukee lawyers Joe Goode and Mark Leitner about the federal lawsuit they filed against Senator Ron Johnson and Congressmen Tom Tiffany and Scott Fitzgerald for aiding the attempted presidential coup that culminated with the insurrection of January 6, 2021. Our guests first piece together the story on how these three defendants played their part in an orchestrated conspiracy, and then discuss why they think they can win this case.

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Ep 38: New Maps, Who Dis?

Thu, 10 Mar 2022 15:19:01 GMT

Kirk, Sarah, and Pat talk to attorney Mel Barnes of Law Forward and political analyst Joe Zepecki about the new political maps Wisconsin voters will have for the next 10 years.

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Ep 37: Wisconsin’s Real Main Street Voice

Fri, 04 Mar 2022 14:30:21 GMT

Kirk, Sarah, and Pat talk to Shawn Phetteplace of the Main Street Alliance about being a small business alternative to the big corporate lobbying giant. And they discuss how Ron Johnson has helped Donald Trump undermine Ukraine over the years, leading us to the recent Russian attacks.

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Ep 36: Thank a Teacher

Sat, 26 Feb 2022 13:29:56 GMT

Kirk, Sarah, and Pat talk to state Sen. Chris Larson about holding responsible the fake electors who tried to sabotage the 2020 election. Larson and WEAC president Peggy Wirtz-Olsen then discuss a new package of proposals to recruit and retain teachers in Wisconsin.

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Ep 35: Nobody’s Senator

Sat, 19 Feb 2022 01:47:20 GMT

Kirk, Sarah, and Pat talk to Bob Lynk, President of UAW local 578, and Tim Jacobson, Chief Steward, UAW local 578 about Oshkosh Defense jobs not coming to Oshkosh because Ron Johnson won’t lift a finger. Mike Crute joins the conversation to discuss Sen. Johnson’s history of outlandish actions and statements.

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Ep 34: Matters of Honor and Trust

Sat, 12 Feb 2022 03:52:52 GMT

Kirk, Sarah, and Pat talk to former DNR Secretary George Meyer about how Republicans have destroyed the honor system that guided state Senate confirmation of secretaries and board members. Then, Charles Carlin of Gathering Waters talks about a Republican proposal that undermines the land trusts that enable pristine land to be preserved for recreation.

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Ep 33: Protecting Choice in Wisconsin

Sat, 05 Feb 2022 00:21:08 GMT

After introducing Minocqua Brewing Company’s new hard seltzer called Choice, where 5% of the profits go to Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, Kirk and Sarah talk to Tanya Atkinson, President of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, about the implications for Wisconsin Reproductive Rights if Roe V. Wade is overturned by the Supreme Court of the United States. They then talk to Dr. Morgan Mandigo, a Harvard/Oxford/Johns Hopkins trained obstetrician and gynecologist who has worked in African countries where abortion is illegal. She explains in graphic detail the horrors we’d see in American if abortion rights were taken away.

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Ep32: Fighting the Real Election Fraud

Fri, 28 Jan 2022 15:50:29 GMT

Sarah, Kirk and Pat are joined by Congressman Mark Pocan to discuss his call for a federal investigation into Trump supporters who fraudulently posed as Wisconsin electors. Then, state Sen. Jeff Smith discusses the election “fraudit” being done by Republican legislators.

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Ep 31: Slaying the Gerrymander

Fri, 21 Jan 2022 05:27:47 GMT

Kirk and Pat are joined by Dr. Kristin Lyerly and former GOP State Sen. Dan Theno to talk about ongoing efforts to build public support for nonpartisan redistricting so that rigged, gerrymandered maps become a relic in Wisconsin someday.

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Ep. 30: King for a Day—and Then Some

Sat, 15 Jan 2022 01:50:12 GMT

Sarah, Kirk and Pat talk to Scott Thompson of Law Forward about the fraudulent electors in Wisconsin and elsewhere who tried to help Donald Trump overturn an election. And Mark Thomsen of the Wisconsin Elections Commission gives a further update and discusses his new weekly radio program.

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Ep 29: Battleground: Wisconsin

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 17:31:23 GMT

Sarah, Kirk and Pat talk to Ann Jacobs, chair of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, about the anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection and how the “investigation” by former state Supreme Court Justice Mike Gableman is seen by many as a slow-motion extension of this ongoing attack on our democracy.

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Ep 28: Christmas Is More Than Words

Fri, 24 Dec 2021 22:05:51 GMT

Sarah, Kirk and Pat talk to Pastor Kris Kramer about the original lyrics to cherished Christmas songs and how those messages should guide our actions today. The show takes a holiday break and returns on January 5, 2022.

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Ep27: Of Maps and Mayors

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 19:47:50 GMT

Kirk and Pat talk to Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes Conway about Chief Inspector Gableman’s bumbling election investigation—and Law Forward attorney Doug Poland about the latest moves to prevent gerrymandered maps for another decade in Wisconsin.

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Ep 26: Local Control? You Believed That?

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 01:14:24 GMT

Kirk, Sarah, and Pat talk about how conservatives used to claim they fought for local control, until they got control of the levers of power. Also, an infectious diseases specialist talks about fighting both the coronavirus and vaccine misinformation.

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Ep 25: Shop Local, Serve Local

Fri, 26 Nov 2021 14:52:11 GMT

Kirk, Sarah and Pat discuss ways to shop local with a Marshfield coffee shop owner. And they talk to a Lincoln County Board member about how people can get on the ballot and serve in local government rather than allow Trumpists to dismantle vital local services.

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Episode 24: Murderous Vigilante or Self Defense?

Sat, 20 Nov 2021 06:18:10 GMT

Kirk, Sarah and Pat talk to Portage Co. District Attorney Louis Molepske and Keith Findley, a criminal law professor at UW-Madison about the Kyle Rittenhouse trial—and how carrying automatic weapons in public is now "normal" enough to warrant a claim of self-defense.

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Ep. 23: Follow the Money

Sat, 13 Nov 2021 10:00:50 GMT

Kirk and Sarah talk to retired Wausau executive Lon Newman about why some his city’s elite are still donating to a member of the sedition caucus (Tom Tiffany), and then talk to Matt Rothschild of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign about how the infusion of dark money has hurt Wisconsin’s democracy.

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Ep. 22: What's Next, Kids in Coal Mines?

Sat, 06 Nov 2021 09:00:48 GMT

Kirk, Sarah and Pat talk to the author of a book about labor history in light of a Republican proposal to let 14-year-olds work until 11 p.m. Also, former state Sen. Patty Schachtner talks about how public health experts planned for a pandemic but couldn't have planned for such political denial and obstruction.

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EP 21: What Does and Doesn't Belong Up North

Sat, 30 Oct 2021 17:00:34 GMT

Kirk, Sarah and Pat talk to UpNorthNews reporter JT Cestkowski about his road trip covering stories in Ashland, Washburn, and a Culver's where he tried the latest trend in burgers. And a guest from the Ashland area gives background on the controversial Enbridge Line 5 project.

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Ep 20: Inspector Gableman

Fri, 22 Oct 2021 19:34:05 GMT

Get ready for frequent appearances by the Pink Panther theme song because Inspector Clouseau's replacement is on the case of the nonexistent election fraud. Sen. Jeff Smith and Attorney Chris Bremer are our guests.

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Ep. 19: Schools Under Siege: A Right-Wing COVID Love Story

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 11:00:08 GMT

The politicians who’ve literally created toxic work environments are finally getting blowback. Kirk, Sarah, and Pat talk to a parent who’s filed the latest lawsuit against schools ignoring pandemic safeguards, and to a teacher forced to resign in that same district.

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Ep. 18: - The Legal Calvary

Fri, 08 Oct 2021 11:00:03 GMT

Kirk, Sarah, and Pat talk to Doug Poland of Law Forward, a group dedicated to protecting Wisconsin from right-wing court assaults on democracy and safety.

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Ep. 17: The Brewery vs. the Wayward School Boards

Fri, 01 Oct 2021 11:14:56 GMT

Only in Wisconsin could a brewery care more about kids' safety than some of our state's school boards. Kirk talks to his SuperPAC director and an attorney handling the lawsuit being brought against school boards who fail to protect kids from COVID.

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Ep. 16: - Wake Me Up When September Ends

Fri, 24 Sep 2021 10:00:38 GMT

The Green Day song has never felt more relevant. Guest host Dr. Kristin Lyerly joins Kirk and Pat to discuss a long month and a long summer of watching neighbors fight to prolong a pandemic. Pattie Forsberg discusses her decision to resign from a school board in St. Croix County rather than deal with a recall election pushed by safeguard blockers.

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Ep. 15: - What Have We Learned?

Fri, 02 Jul 2021 22:06:34 GMT

Kristin, Kirk, and Pat talk to Rep. Jodi Emerson of Eau Claire about the final state budget bill passed by Republicans in our season finale. They cover the missed opportunities of a squandered surplus. and then review what else we've learned about this session of the Legislature before the summer break.

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Ep. 14: - How to Blow a $4 Billion Surplus

Fri, 25 Jun 2021 11:00:00 GMT

Wisconsin has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to use a budget surplus to fix long-running problems. Instead, school students aren't getting anything extra for education. Heather DuBois Bourenane of the Wisconsin Public Education Network explains the GOP proposal to Pat, Kirk, and Kristin.

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Ep. 13- PFAS and Clean Water Up North

Thu, 17 Jun 2021 21:48:14 GMT

Kirk, Kristin, and Pat talk to Zach Vruwink, city administrator in Rhinelander, and Doug Oitzinger, former mayor of Marinette, about GOP and WMC efforts to block clean-up of industrial chemicals called PFAS.

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Ep.12- Farmers, Fair Maps, and Fair Taxes

Fri, 11 Jun 2021 11:30:56 GMT

Kirk and Pat talk to Hans Breitenmoser, a Lincoln County dairy farmer and activist for putting an end to gerrymandered political maps. Kristin files a report on a big, fat corporate tax break that survives even as GOP legislators try to take away pandemic relief from families.

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Ep. 11 The Laundry List of Badness

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 11:30:10 GMT

Pat, Kristin, and Kirk talk to Jorna Taylor about Pride Month and inclusiveness. They also review the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad list of headlines about politicians who would rather exclude people than solve problems and bring people together.

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Ep. 10: C’mon, White People

Fri, 21 May 2021 11:30:25 GMT

Kirk, Kristin, Kirk and Pat talk with Marathon County Board member Ka Lo about the difficulties and divisions that opened up when the board was asked to make a simple statement of openness, diversity, and inclusion. Also, Sen. Jeff Smith on a bill to end gerrymandering in Wisconsin.

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Ep. 9: What's This Button Do?

Thu, 13 May 2021 20:57:51 GMT

Kristin, Kirk, and Pat talk to Rep. Francesca Hong about the so-called labor shortage which is actually a red flag to fix our broken system for paying hospitality workers. And our last segment got lost when someone hit a button in a burst of energy!

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Ep. 8: Ladies' Night!

Fri, 07 May 2021 11:30:57 GMT

Kristin, Kirk, and Pat talk about the resumption of social activities for those who’ve been doing the right things. Also, Rep. Evan Goyke about massive Republican cuts to the proposed state budget and its impact on the state.

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Ep. 7: - Cheeseheads and Chuckleheads

Sat, 01 May 2021 11:30:21 GMT

Kirk, Kristin, and Pat talk about the assorted characters who do everything from block vaccination progress to complain about Cardi B. Our guest is attorney Christine Bremer who outlines how Gov. Tony Evers makes judge appointments differently than the former guy.

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Ep. 6: - Holy Balls

Fri, 23 Apr 2021 14:41:15 GMT

Kristin, Kirk and Pat are joined by Wausau Mayor Katie Rosenberg. Topics include goats, buckthorn, local government in northern Wisconsin, our new email address and much more.

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Ep. 5: - Feel The Power... of Getting Nothing Done

Sat, 17 Apr 2021 11:00:09 GMT

Kirk and Pat are joined by State Rep. Jodi Emerson of Eau Claire to discuss the many ways Assembly Speaker Robin Vos wants to wield power: governor, attorney general, elections chair, school board… everything, it seems, but state legislator.

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Ep. 4: - Radioactive

Sat, 10 Apr 2021 11:00:04 GMT

Kristin, Kirk and Pat on the radio! The show touches on fish fries, elk hunting, and even the pros and cons of what cheese should be the state cheese!

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Ep. 3: - Trails and Tribulations

Sat, 03 Apr 2021 11:00:50 GMT

Kristin, Kirk and Pat discuss how local governments have to balance listening to businesses that want to attract trail riders, and residents who want peace and quiet. Also, local elections are sexy!

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Ep. 2: Squeaky Cheese and Smoking Meat

Sat, 20 Mar 2021 11:00:35 GMT

Pat Kreitlow from Up North News is joined by Kirk Bangstad of the Minocqua Brewing Company and Kristin Brey from “As Goes Wisconsin” in the Up North podcast focusing on state politics and culture through the eyes of progressive Northern Wisconsinites. The podcast touches on vaccine availability, the child tax credit, the minimum wage and much more.

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Only One Fishing Shanty Left On Lake Wissota

Fri, 12 Mar 2021 01:00:11 GMT

Pat Kreitlow from Up North News is joined by Kirk Bangstad of the Minocqua Brewing Company and Kristin Brey from “As Goes Wisconsin” in their first podcast focusing on state politics and culture through the eyes of progressive Northern Wisconsinites. The show touches on the stimulus package, the wolf hunt, and even the pros and cons of daylight savings time.

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