Citizen Action just launched our volunteer field campaign in support of our progressive candidates and “no votes” on damaging state constitutional amendments. We discuss the pivotal State Legislative primary races and the influence activists ca

Judicial Coup

11 days ago 52m 34s

On this special 4th of July edition of Battleground Wisconsin, Robert Kraig has a bracing interview with former federal prosecutor Dennis Aftergut on the Supreme Court's judicial coup against American democracy. Aftergut, who has argued cases b

Hot Summer Primaries in the State Legislature

18 days ago 47m 46s

With the launch of the presidential debates this week, the fall election is in full gear nationally and in Wisconsin! We discuss Citizen Action’s newly announced state legislative candidate endorsements. We focus on some key Democratic Primary

Educating Every Kid

25 days ago 48m 57s

Senator Chris Larson joins us to discuss the current financial reporting crisis at Milwaukee Public Schools and the direct link to nearly two decades of under-funding from the state and the lack of serious investment in democracy's most importa

System Change

Jun 13th, 2024 50m

We continue our look at the deeper systemic issues afflicting Wisconsin government and politics.We discuss the financial reporting problems with Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS). Why did the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) not

System failure

Jun 7th, 2024 57m 14s

We welcome David Liners, executive director of WISDOM, to discuss the stunning news that the Waupun prison warden and eight other staff were charged this week with crimes over multiple inmate deaths. Our discussion focuses on how this isn’t jus

Challenging Monopolies

May 31st, 2024 49m 40s

Robert joins us from New Mexico where he was at a People’s Action leadership retreat and a well deserved vacation to hike and bike in New Mexico.Yet another Walker-appointee refuses to leave office when their term expires, this time a Green B

Fighting Hospital Costs and Closures

May 21st, 2024 23m 10s

We review the launch of a new statewide campaign for Hospital and Health system accountability. Big hospital chains have used their lobbying and political clout to excuse themselves from public oversight, with disastrous results for patients an

Protect Public Health, Stabilize Wisconsin Hospitals

May 16th, 2024 49m 44s

We take a dive into the deepening crisis in the Wisconsin hospital system. Neither political party is talking about the fundamental cause, the insatiable appetite by the hospital industry for windfall profits? Will state leaders step up to the

Leaders needed

May 10th, 2024 52m 16s

We discuss President Biden’s visit to Wisconsin for the 4th time this year on Wednesday and his highlighting the difference of his successful economic policies which passed Congress including Infrastructure, CHIPS and Inflation Reduction Acts.

Organizing people, the only solution

May 3rd, 2024 55m 28s

In Mt. Horeb this week guns, death, and middle school kids in lockdown. We reflect.We recap Tuesday’s 40th Anniversary event in Eau Claire. Thanks to everyone who attended one of the 5 celebrations of our proud history. As always, we are insp

Generational Opportunity for Change

Apr 25th, 2024 45m 47s

We preview the final 40th Anniversary event next Tuesday, April 30th, 6pm, in Eau Claire. Robert reminds connects our 40th birthday to the abuses of the large hospital monopolies who recently ripped a huge hole in the health care safety net in

Staring at our electoral future

Apr 18th, 2024 50m 2s

In a potential preview of November, MAGAite Steven Campbell refuses to step down following losing his Green Bay City Council election, even after losing the recount he paid for. Trump has been encouraging his acolytes to seek fraud claims every

Workers, unions, and the public interest

Apr 12th, 2024 49m 24s

We discuss the WIsconsin Voters approval of 60% of Spring 2024 Election school referendums and the analysis done by the Wisconsin Policy Forum of referendum performance over the last couple of decades. Robert reviews the latest MAGA efforts to

Spring Election, Sarah Godlewski, free home weatherizations, and flowers

Apr 5th, 2024 48m 23s

We debrief this week’s Spring General Election. We look at the implications of the high ‘Uninstructed Vote” in the Democratic Presidential primary. Will it put additional pressure on President Biden to change course on the unfolding humanitaria

The Terror Blueprint for Trump's 2nd Term

Mar 27th, 2024 46m 23s

On this special edition of the podcast, Robert Kraig interviews Anne Nelson, the author of the critically-acclaimed Shadow Network and one of the top experts on the right-wing movement to end democracy. During the conversation, Nelson explain

Getting up stream to win

Mar 21st, 2024 47m

We preview our 40th Anniversary celebration in Green Bay this Thursday evening at the Greater Green Bay Labor Council. If you live in the Northeast, our Battleground Wisconsin panel will be there. We would love to see you.We next dig into the

Taxing the wealthy and corporations

Mar 14th, 2024 48m 7s

We review Citizen Action of Wisconsin’s 40th anniversary events in Milwaukee and La Crosse this week and preview the third event in Green Bay next Thursday evening. President Biden’s new budget was released and includes increased taxes on the w

40 years of Citizen Action Wisconsin

Mar 8th, 2024 40m 46s

We reflect on the 13 year history of the Battleground Wisconsin Podcast and how it is an important piece of Citizen Action’s history that is at the heart of our 40th Anniversary events that start next week. We are celebrating on Monday, March 1

Immunity Blues

Mar 1st, 2024 52m 21s

On a special edition of Battleground Wisconsin, Matt is away on a field trip to North Carolina, and our producer, Brian, has a speaking role for the first time in our 13 year history. Robert and Brian dig into the latest Trump-McConnell packed

Generational opportunity for progressives

Feb 23rd, 2024 47m 55s

New polling from a very trusted source finds the top public economic concern is the high cost of health care and crippling medical bills. What does this mean for the 2024 elections? We also urge the Governor to call a special session on accepti

Making the gerrymander disappear

Feb 15th, 2024 48m 21s

We do a deep dive on the redistricting drama, where Robin Vos has adopted Governor Evers’ position and Democrats are divided. Is Governor Evers falling into a trap that could provide a pretext for intervention by Trump appointed Federal Judges,

Purplesconsin

Feb 8th, 2024 50m 34s

We debrief the new MU Law Poll which has Biden and Trump locked in a statistical dead heat in the battle for Wisconsin's all important Presidential Electors. What does the poll's finding that there are very few undecided voters 10 months ahead

Reviving our sick democracy will improve our health

Feb 2nd, 2024 47m 20s

The national media is touting a Child Care Tax Credit that passed the House of Representatives Wednesday, but long time child poverty advocate Gwen Moore and Mark Pocan voted no. Why were the champions of President Biden’s Child Tax Credit agai

Gerrymandering is bad for your health

Jan 26th, 2024 51m 58s

We discuss the end of the traditional Republican Party and the reality of the new Party of Trump. Exhibit one is that every Wisconsin Republican House of Representative member voted to shut down the federal government rather than full their con