Battleground Wisconsin
by Brian Wooldridge
Latest episode
Funding Wisconsin’s Public Schools and expanding BadgerCare
Funding Wisconsin’s Public Schools and expanding BadgerCare
About this podcast
Battleground Wisconsin is Citizen Action of Wisconsin’s weekly podcast that features the latest political news from the front lines in the embattled state of Wisconsin.
Episodes
The newest 50 of 500 episodes
- Funding Wisconsin’s Public Schools and expanding BadgerCare · 60 minWe review a media event Citizen Action held with GROWW (Grassroots Organizing Western Wisconsin), Wisconsin Public Education Network, and WISDOM to highlight how across…
- Populist wave drowns billionaire money · 54 minWe debrief this week’s historic blue wave that swept across the entire country and creates an unparalleled opportunity for progressive populist change that shifts power away from…
- David slays Goliath · 49 minLong suffering and tired Milwaukee Brewer fan Matt Brusky expresses his sheer joy the morning after the big victory. The first ever World Series victory means more than words can…
- What’s debatable? · 55 minFollowing our weekly Tick Report, we debrief the one and only Wisconsin Governor candidate debate on Wednesday night. We assess the debate, it will not go down in the analysis of…
- Organizing Democracy Defenders · 44 minWe celebrate in amazement at the low payroll Milwaukee Brewers who are rolling through the playoffs with a great team that is beating a high payroll franchise stacked with the…
- Badgers for Healthcare · 52 minWe celebrate the late night victory of the Milwaukee Brewers that has Matt tired during the morning recording of the podcast. Go Brewers! Robert has a packed Tick report this…
- David Crowley embraces a BadgerCare Public Option · 52 minIn this week’s Tick Report, Trump declares “war” on ticks and mosquitos through an executive order promising a 90% reduction in the populations of the “foreign, invasive”…
- How Does Ideology Impact Elections? · 51 minMuch of the media debate about the 2026 elections presumes voters are making ideological choices between moderate and progressive Democrats, and democratic socialists. This…
- Working Families vs. Oligarchs: An Interview with Lori Wallach · 55 minFollowing the latest Tick Report where the explosion of ticks and involuntary veganism rages into fall, we take a deep dive into the state of our economy. First: We talk about…
- Tiffany backs Trump before Wisconsin · 50 minWe reflect on the 25th anniversary of 9/11, focusing on how the country has fundamentally changed since that fateful day and how we failed the first responders and civil servants…
- Labor Day · 54 minWe open with the tick report, including MAGA conspiracy theories about the supposed nefareous actors behind tick-bourn diseases that conveniently deflect attention from big oil…
- Wisconsinites vs. Billionaires & G20 · 52 minIn our weekly Tick Report, we remind listeners that It may be the end of summer but don’t let your guard down on ticks and authoritarians. Robert updates us on authoritarian…
- Embracing Commutations · 53 minThis week we dig into the criminal justice reform most needed in the next legislation session with Mark Rice, WISDOM’s Transformational Justice Coordinator. Before we get to that…
- Primary Election: What happened & the roadmap forward · 56 minFollowing our weekly tick report, we do a deep dive into the stunning primary election outcome in the race for governor. We unpack why the Francesca Hong campaign was so…
- Keeping the throttle twisted towards the primary election · 50 minFollowing the tick report where we learn, in the words of a CDC scientist, that “the ticks are winning,” we discuss a new study finding wildfire smoke is now the primary…
- Meet Laurel Wales · 51 minWe welcome Laurel Wales, Citizen Action's Managing Director, to the show as a guest panelist. Following the tick report, we dive into the latest developments in Wisconsin’s…
- Elections > Polls · 50 minWe take a deep into the latest MU Law Poll, which finds Francesca Hong and Mandela Barnes distancing themselves from the field. What does the MU poll clearly tell us and what…
- Special Interview with Citizen Action endorsed candidate for governor, Francesca Hong · 52 minWe welcome Citizen Action’s newly endorsed Governor candidate, State Representative Francesca Hong, to discuss her historic campaign and why Citizen Action members endorsed her…
- Civil War in the Democratic Party? · 59 minWith Matt on vacation this week Robert welcomes special Guest State Rep Christian Phelps to discuss the new "improved" Trump immigration crackdown, huge Wisconsin budget deficits…
- Organizing the democracy we need the next 250 years · 50 minRobert gives us the 250th July 4th Tick Report, nature’s revenge for climate change. This week’s report includes a menacing headline from the Boston Globe, There’s a terrifying…
- Progressive Caucus in Wisconsin · 51 minRobert opens the show with the latest Tick Report (aka Nature’s Revenge) Report) which includes a rash of tick-related livestock deaths in TN, a DMV region tick infestation to…
- Celebrating Climate Action: An Interview with Ted Kraig · 51 minWe wish everyone a happy Juneteenth Day and encourage everyone to attend an event near you. Look for us at Milwaukee and Eau Claire events. Robert provides us with the latest…
- Climate Justice at Walnut Way: Special Interview with Bryan Rogers · 54 minFollowing the Tick Report, Robert updates us on Trump's pattern in Iran of threatening escalation and then pulling back. Wisconsin unveiled its new procedures for dealing with…
- Low wages and worker power · 50 minWelcome to June, it’s Pride Month! We encourage our listeners to RSVP to Citizen Action’s Annual Meeting this Saturday, at 10am. Robert gives us the latest tick report amid…
- Tom Tiffany Embraces the Trump slush fund. · 45 minFollowing the tick report, we dive into a wild week for MAGA lackey Tom Tiffany who said he was open to Trump slush fund payouts to January 6th insurrectionists and those who…
- Special Interview w/ State Rep. Christian Phelps: Funding public schools in the next state budget · 52 minThis Memorial Weekend we open with Robert’s tick report, which finds the nation experiencing a surge in tick bites and news that half of deer ticks tested in Sconie carry Lyme…
- Don’t you let that deal go down · 50 minWe discuss the failed State Budget surplus deal that left few happy, under cut the next Governor, and left most wondering who asked for it? What does the deal say about Evers’…
- Organizing Worker Power & Political Expectations · 53 minWe welcome Peter Rickman, president of the Milwaukee Service and Hospitality Union (MASH) to discuss the union’s big organizing victory this week at Landmark Theater in…
- May Day 2026 · 54 minA packed U.S. Supreme Court guts what is left of the Voting Rights Act while cynically claiming not to overturn it. We delve into the the implications for civil rights and for…
- Electability Trap · 47 minWe discuss the death of long-time Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel political reporter Daniel Bice and reflect on his unique combination of skilled writing, muckraking journalism, and…
- Battleground Wisconsin Podcast Special Edition: Governor's Candidate Forum · 1 h 48 minListen to Citizen Action of Wisconsin's Governor Candidate Forum, featuring the 7 leading Democratic candidates. Before the debate, Citizen Action's executive Director, Robert…
- Election Day Ceasefire? · 45 minWe reflect on Trump's flirtation with Armegeddon in Iran and the unstable ceasefire announced on Election Day. We review this week’s Spring General Election that resulted in a…
- Voting and organizing the Wisconsin we need · 50 minIn the final stretch run toward election day Tuesday, April 7th, we have a deeper discussion on why Chris Taylor will be a great Supreme Court Justice. We autopse Trump’s…
- Everyone's an election pundit · 50 minWe revisit the Iran War escalation and review the current Department of Homeland Security shutdown snarling airports as Trump shoots down every legislative deal to fund TSA…
- Always Organizing · 55 minWe open with a discussion of this week's Trump Regime lowlights, including the dangerous Iran war escalation and Brad Schimel not leaving his U.S. Attorney's post despite being…
- Public money for NIL, as public schools make cuts · 50 minWe discuss the growing opposition to the Iran War and new data revealing the war cost $11 billion in the first week. A coalition of antiwar groups launched a national campaign on…
- Fighting authoritarians with healthcare · 52 minAfter a brief discussion of Trump and Netanyahu’s war with Iran, we turn to defeating authoritarianism by fighting for policies that help people with their most pressing…
- Vos retires · 50 minWe discuss the retirement of Speaker Robin Vos after a decade of ruthless control of the Legislature. Vos was the most powerful and successful state politician since Scott…
- Remembering Jesse Jackson, Postpartum Medicaid victory, $20 Wage Legislation launch, and data centers public hearing · 52 minWe remember Jesse Jackson for carrying the tourch for the multi-racial working class long after the hopes of the Civil Rights Era faded, his prophetic oratory which still speaks…
- Bondi Bombast Boomerang · 48 minHoly Bondi! Following a recap of Attorney General Pam Bondi’s surreal Congressional hearing, we dive into this week in the Trump Regime, including: ICE agents are flowing into…
- Governor candidates embrace a BadgerCare Public Option · 48 minWe discuss how Democratic candidates for Governor are competing with each other to embrace the BadgerCare Public Option bill, which will soon be introduced in the state…
- The Bitter Fruits of Failing Democracy · 51 minThis week we put the tragic events and courageous resistance to tyranny in the Twin Cities in the context of our failing democracy. A new report from the Urban Institute shows…
- Freddy Peralta trade, wage floors, and the politics of MLB · 50 minThe Milwaukee Brewers’ billionaire owner traded All-Star Freddy Peralta yesterday for prospects, leaving fans upset at the trade and the financing of Major League Baseball that…
- Greenleaf Data Center: Organized People Win! · 49 minWe applaud a victory for local democracy this week in little Greenleaf, Wisocnsin. When Big Tech came calling, local residents pushed back so quickly on a proposed data center…
- Venezuela, ICE shooting and taxing the rich to fund schools and public goods · 58 minWe lead off with Trump’s gun boat diplomacy in Venezuela and the shocking bloodshed perpetrated by ICE in Minneapolis. What does it mean and how is the resistance to…
- Representative Cruz fights for promised public school funding · 50 minWe start with an analyis of the latest health care melodrama in D.C., where four House Republicans unexpectedly broke ranks, joining Democrats in forcing a vote on the renwal of…
- Caring about democracy · 49 minWe welcome Corrine Hendrickson, with Main Street Alliance, to talk about the upcoming Wisconsin Early Childhood Action Needed (WECAN) Lobby Day on January 20, 2026 at the state…
- People vs Power · 51 minWe discuss the latest shocking affront to basic human decency by the Trump Regime, starving food insecure American families by cutting off SNAP to states that have not shared the…
- Organizing a labor revival · 50 minWe lead-off with Milwaukee Area Labor Council President Pam Fendt to discuss a successful organizing campaign by union workers at the City of Milwaukee to win a Common Council…
- Wisconsin populist revival heats up · 47 minWe discuss the pathbreaking Utility Rate Cap bill which is currently circulating for co-sponsors in the state legislature. We praise the current co-sponsors and encourage our…
