Frederica Freyberg
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John Johnson on Issues Touching Sovereign Nations
John D. Johnson Sr., President of the Lac du Flambeau band of Lake Superior Chippewa, touched on several issues affecting Wisconsin sovereign nations that include COVID-19, addiction, and social issues.
Friday May 14, 2021
Republican Congresswoman Voted out of Leadership Position
As Wyoming Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney has been voted to be removed from her Conference leadership position following voiced opinions on Former President Trump’s claims of fraud in the 2020 election, Democratic Representative Mark Pocan has opinions that the vote to remove Liz is a sign of a party in disarray.
Friday May 14, 2021
Legislators Weigh Changes to Election Laws
Laurel White, Capitol reporter for Wisconsin Public Radio, recounts a busy week at the state Legislature, which included multiple Republican proposals to change how elections are conducted.
Friday May 14, 2021
Covid-19 Vaccines for 12-to-15-Year Olds
University of Wisconsin Medical School pediatrician Dr. Jim Conway discusses federal approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for youth ages 12 to 15 and what it means for vaccination efforts.
Friday May 14, 2021
Republican Priorities for the 2021 Budget
State Rep. Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam, and co-chair of the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee, speaks to its first 2021-23 budget session and why Republicans removed many proposals by Gov. Evers.
Friday May 7, 2021
Democratic Priorities for the 2021 Budget
State Rep. LaTonya Johnson, D-Milwaukee, and member of the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee, speaks to its first 2021-23 budget session and the push by Democrats for Medicaid expansion.
Friday May 7, 2021
Tourism in a Second Pandemic Summer
Romy Snyder, president and CEO of the Wisconsin Dells Visitor & Convention Bureau, talks about what might be expected for the summer tourism season as vaccinations help control the pandemic.
Friday May 7, 2021
Affordable Housing and Rural Development
Steve Peterson of Wisconsin Rural Partners discusses efforts to promote economic development in rural communities and how affordable housing plays a role in supporting greater prosperity.
Friday May 7, 2021
Oneida Tribe Remembers Lost Ones
A shooting at the Oneida tribe’s casino last Saturday left two people dead and one injured in the hospital. The tribe held a healing and blessing ceremony with burning tobacco and prayers. The Oneida said the ceremony is a responsibility of the tribe to acknowledge the recovery and spiritual needs of the community.
Friday May 7, 2021
State Law Enforcement to Review Use of Force
Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes explains an executive order by Governor Evers requiring state law enforcement agencies to review their use of force policies and update their standards and training.
Friday April 23, 2021
How Will Police Change Their Use of Force?
Police-community relations consultant Noble Wray, a former Madison police chief, discusses how use of force by law enforcement officers could change following guilty verdicts in the Chauvin trial.
Friday April 23, 2021
Mental Health of Black Men in Wake of Current Events
Dr. Alvin Thomas, Clinical Psychologist and Assistant Professor at the UW-Madison School of Human Ecology, speaks to the trauma and the psychological toll on Black people related to repeated news headlines, video, and coverage of the Chauvin trial and ongoing killing of Black persons by police.
Friday April 16, 2021
Republicans and Democrats Differ on COVID Spending
Republicans pass several new bills regarding COVID relief and state election procedures. Governor Tony Evers claims government oversight would only delay the release of money. Republican Senator Devin LaMahieu shares his thoughts on why the legislature should control COVID funding.
Friday April 16, 2021
Tug of War Over Control of Federal COVID Funds
Assembly Minority Leader Gordon Hintz refutes the spending bills passed by Legislative Republicans exerting control of how to spend a large part of the over $3 billion federal COVID relief stimulus money.
Friday April 16, 2021
J&J Vaccine Update: Vaccinating Children
Dr. Jim Conway, Professor of Pediatrics at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health talks about concerns surrounding the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and the new important of vaccinating children against COVID.
Friday April 16, 2021
LeMahieu Discusses State Coronavirus Legislation
Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, discusses the pandemic-related bills passed by the Legislature, which includes a proposal to have the Legislature exert more control over how federal pandemic aid is spent.
Thursday April 15, 2021
What’s Next for School Funding and Policy?
Superintendent of Public Instruction-elect Jill Underly shares her agenda for education policy in Wisconsin and how she plans to navigate the politics of state budgets and school funding.
Friday April 9, 2021
Genetic Research on Coronavirus Variants
UW-Madison AIDS Vaccine Research Laboratory researcher Katarina Braun speaks about the science of genomic sequencing and how this tool is being used to track coronavirus variants.
Friday April 9, 2021
Expanding Vaccine Eligibility and Access
Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Karen Timberlake discusses expanding coronavirus vaccine eligibility to all Wisconsinites as well as the ongoing threat to progress from the virus variants.
Friday April 9, 2021
The 2021 Candidates for State Superintendent
Wisconsin superintendent of schools candidates Deborah Kerr and Jill Underly discuss the top issues in the state, including reopening schools, achievement gaps and the contentious nature of the race.
Friday April 2, 2021
McCoshen and Ross on the Superintendent Election
Political panelists Bill McCoshen and Scot Ross break down the “Here & Now” interviews of schools superintendent candidates Deborah Kerr and Jill Underly, and discuss the political dynamics of their campaigns.
Friday April 2, 2021
George Floyd and the Racial Disparities Task Force
With law enforcement conduct the focus of the Derek Chauvin trial, Rep. Shelia Stubbs, D-Madison, discusses George Floyd and her work as co-chair of the Speaker's Task Force on Racial Disparities as it prepares new police reform bills.
Monday March 29, 2021
Vaccine Expansion in Milwaukee
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley releases list of zip codes where residents are eligible for vaccines; neighborhoods that are declared the most vulnerable according to the CDC Health Index.
Friday March 26, 2021
Expanding Vaccine Access for Hispanic Wisconsinites
Racine County Supervisor Fabi Maldonado explains the need for distributing more coronavirus vaccines among Hispanic residents in southeast Wisconsin.
Friday March 26, 2021
Tensions at the U.S.-Mexico Border
Erin Barbato, Director of the Immigrant Justice Clinic at the UW Law School, speaks about tension – both real and politically - at the U.S.-Mexico border and the politics of immigration in 2021.
Friday March 26, 2021
Republicans Call for Election Investigations
Republican Co-Chair of the Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections Joe Sanfelippo talks about the newly designated committee to investigate Wisconsin elections laws.
Friday March 26, 2021
Investigating Wisconsin’s Election Laws
State Rep. Kristina Shelton voices opposition by Wisconsin Democrats to the Republican-controlled Assembly’s plan for an investigation into state elections procedures.
Friday March 26, 2021
McCoshen and Ross on Political Divides
Political panelists Bill McCoshen and Scot Ross talk about the politics of the stimulus money, anti-vax politics, and the political implications of U.S. Senator Ron Johnson's recent, controversial comments.
Friday March 19, 2021
How Eau Claire Plans to Use American Stimulus Dollars
Kathryn Schauf, Eau Claire Couty administrator, discusses how much COVID stimulus relief funding she expects and where those dollars will be spent in the area.
Friday March 19, 2021
American Rescue Plan’s Impact on Affordable Care Act
Bobby Peterson, executive director of ABC for Health – a non-profit, public interest law firm focused on healthcare access, on how the federal COVID-19 stimulus package will affect the affordability of the ACA.
Friday March 19, 2021
Lambeau Field now a Vaccination Destination
Dr. Michael Landrum, infectious disease specialist, talks about partnership with Bellin Health and Green Bay Packers to turn Lambeau Field into vaccination clinic for the Brown County area.
Friday March 19, 2021
Vaccine Eligibility Starting March 29
Wisconsin Department of Health Services Interim Secretary Karen Timberlake will answer questions about the supply of COVID-19 vaccines in the state, new eligibility rules starting at the end of the month and how to find a vaccine.
Friday March 12, 2021
COVID-19 Variants are Cause for Concern
University of Minnesota epidemiologist Dr. Michael Osterholm discusses how COVID-19 variants are circulating in Wisconsin and across the country as vaccine distribution continues and restrictions are lifted.
Friday March 12, 2021
Gov. Evers COVID Relief Distribution Plan for Wisconsin
Now that the “American Rescue Plan” has been signed into law, Governor Tony Evers intends to act quickly to disperse the three-billion dollars headed to Wisconsin for COVID relief.
Friday March 12, 2021
Democrat and Republican Views on the Final Relief Package
The “American Rescue Plan” was passed by Congress without Republican support. We hear reactions from both sides of the aisle in written statements from U.S. Representatives, Democrat Ron Kind and Republican Mike Gallagher following passage of the COVID-19 stimulus bill.
Friday March 12, 2021
What Legislation Means for Transgender Students
Executive Director of Fair Wisconsin Megin McDonell talks about her opposition to proposed legislation that would prevent transgender students from participating in Women’s sports.
Friday March 5, 2021
Ron Johnson on the Stimulus Legislation
Republican Senator Ron Johnson forced the U.S. Senate to hear the COVID-19 stimulus package be read aloud.
Friday March 5, 2021
Mental Health Impacts of the Pandemic
Ken Ginlack is the Director of Outpatient Treatment Programs at the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division and talks about what impact the pandemic has had on Wisconsinites’ mental health.
Friday March 5, 2021
Denise Jess, the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired, discusses the challenges visually impaired Wisconsinites face registering for a vaccination appointment.
Friday March 5, 2021
Restrictions Loosen in Wisconsin
As the amount of COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin and Dane County continue to remain low, public gathering restrictions have loosened. Restaurants can now serve up to 50% and Taverns can reopen for 25%. So far, over 1 million Wisconsinites have received the vaccine, which is accountable for 17% of people over the age of 16.
Friday March 5, 2021
What Do Changes to Indefinitely Confined Voting Mean?
Barbara Beckert of Disability Rights Wisconsin talks about how proposed changes to the state’s indefinitely confined voting status would impact disabled voters in Wisconsin.
Friday February 26, 2021
Wisconsin Senator on U.S. Capitol Attack
Republican Senator Ron Johnson previously claimed that he didn’t believe the Capitol attack to be an armed insurrection because attackers were using flagpoles and sticks versus guns. After a hearing this week, Johnson was accused of spreading conspiracy theories.
Friday February 26, 2021
Underly on Race for Superintendent
General election candidate Jill Underly discusses her run for State Superintendent of Schools.
Friday February 26, 2021
Republicans Propose Voting Changes
Republican Senator Kathy Bernier, chair of the Senate’s elections committee, discusses a Republican proposal that would redefine how voters are considered for indefinitely confined status.
Friday February 26, 2021
Republican Reaction to Evers’ Budget
Co-Chair of the state’s budget writing committee Republican Mark Born discusses the Republican approach to the state budget plan Governor Tony Evers released on Thursday.
Friday February 19, 2021
Kerr on Race for Superintendent
General election candidate Deborah Kerr discusses her run for State Superintendent of Schools.
Friday February 19, 2021
President Joe Biden on Public School Plans and Vaccines
Earlier this week President Joe Biden spoke in Milwaukee about public schools during his town hall appearance. The President said it would be ideal for “the majority” of K-12 schools to be fully open by the end of his first 100 days in office. He also claimed that teachers should be moved up in the “hierarchy” for vaccinations as well as the plan for getting all Americans vaccinated.
Friday February 19, 2021
Charles Tubbs was the Chief of the Capitol police during the 2011 protests that drew thousands to the Capitol Square. He shares insight and how he ensured safety and that the protests remained peaceful.
Friday February 19, 2021
Biden Holds Milwaukee Town Hall During First Official Visit Back to Wisconsin
In a town hall hosted by CNN, the president fielded questions on the coronavirus, the vaccine rollout, and how to reopen schools safely.
Wednesday February 17, 2021
Did Act 10 Create Extreme Partisan Divide?
In 2011, former Republican Governor, Scott Walker, issued a budget repair bill known as Act 10. The Act cut 900-million dollars from funding K-12 schools in Wisconsin and hobbled public employee unions and their coffers. What Walker claimed was a “modest change” ended with a history-making storm of protest at the State Capitol.
Saturday February 13, 2021
Reflecting on a Decade of Act 10
Ten years ago, thousands of protesters flooded the State Capitol to protest a budget repair bill that later became 2011 Act 10. Former State Capitol reporter Jason Stein, who is now the Research Director for the Wisconsin Policy Forum, reflects on the impact Act 10 has had on Wisconsin in the decade since.
Saturday February 13, 2021
How Divisive Is a Second Impeachment
Former conservative talk show host for WTMJ, Charlie Sykes, provides his observations on Trump’s second impeachment trial and the future of the Republican party.
Saturday February 13, 2021
Wisconsin State Budget Proposals
The Joint Finance Committee backed a Republican measure that would connect some federal COVID relief dollars to the amount of in-person instruction a given school district conducts. The committee declared it as an “incentive” for districts currently operating under a virtual setting.
Saturday February 13, 2021
Yesterday Governor Tony Evers reinstated a new mask mandate immediately after Republican legislatures cancelled previous order.
Friday February 5, 2021
Karen Timberlake took over as DHS interim secretary last month, a post she had in the Doyle administration. She talks about the state's COVID response and what Wisconsin is doing to speed up the vaccine rollout.
Friday February 5, 2021
Dr. Amy Falk, a Wisconsin Rapids pediatrician, discusses the study she co-authored for the CDC showing schools as unlikely vectors of transmission for the coronavirus.
Friday February 5, 2021
Shon Barnes Takes Over as Madison’s Police Chief
On Monday, Shon Barnes was sworn in as Madison’s new Chief of Police, following the immediate departure of Mike Koval last year. Barnes shares his confidence about the new position as Madison and the U.S. are fighting the coronavirus and historically challenging issues of race relations.
Friday February 5, 2021
Vos on Mask Mandate, COVID Bill
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos weighs in on Republicans’ plans to throw out the state’s mask mandate and provides an update on the status of the state’s COVID-19 relief bill as it works through the state Legislature.
Friday January 29, 2021
The Democratic Assembly Minority Leader Gordon Hintz talks about the back-and-forth discussions of a COVID-19 response bill, the state’s mask mandate, and a plan to keep FoodShare benefits for hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites.
Friday January 29, 2021
UW-Madison School of Journalism Professor Mike Wagner breaks down the impeachment vote as it turns heads to the Senate, and what that means for Trump and the future of the Republican Party.
Friday January 29, 2021
Tribes Work to Distribute Vaccines
Dr. Amy Slagle, tribal public health officer for the Menominee Nation, discusses ways the Menominee and other Wisconsin tribes are working to procure and distribute vaccine doses.
Friday January 29, 2021
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley discusses ways to bolster equity in the state’s largest county, and how a new presidential administration may help those goals.
Friday January 22, 2021
Wisconsin’s Dem. U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin weighs in on the new administration and priorities she hopes to tackle, including COVID Executive orders, while in a Democratic-controlled Senate.
Friday January 22, 2021
UW-Madison Ups the COVID Testing for Students and Faculty
As students begin returning to campus for the spring semester UW-Madison implements new COVID testing protocols for faculty and students to lessen the degree of COVID that was experienced on campus during the fall semester.
Friday January 22, 2021
Political Panel on Polarization
“Here & Now” political panelist Bill McCoshen and Scot Ross weighs in on the political polarization the country has seen since the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, as well as what to make of the new Biden administration.
Friday January 22, 2021
Wisconsin COVID Legislation Gains Bipartisan Support
Governor Tony Evers speaks to COVID legislation. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says Senate changes went too far to please the Governor.
Friday January 15, 2021
The state Senate passed a COVID-19 bill this week which the governor supports but received pushback from Assembly Republicans. Senate majority leader Devin LeMahieu talks about the status of COVID-19 relief in Wisconsin.
Friday January 15, 2021
Possibility of Further Violence
Dane County Emergency Management Director and former chief of the Wisconsin Capitol police Charles Tubbs discusses the possibility of further politically motivated violence, that could see the state Capitol as a target; and the preparations being made in the face of potential violent protests.
Friday January 15, 2021
Deputy Health Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk talks about the procurement and distribution of the coronavirus vaccine in Wisconsin and what the state is doing to get more shots in arms.
Friday January 15, 2021
Full Interview: Noble Wray on His Jacob Blake Decision
Former Madison police chief Noble Wray breaks down his decision that officers used appropriate force in the Jacob Blake shooting, as well as weighing in on the police response as a crowd overtook the U.S. Capitol this week.
Monday January 11, 2021
U.S. Rep. Grothman’s Reaction to Calls of Removing Trump
In the aftermath of unsettling events at the U.S. Capitol, U.S. Representative Glenn Grothman (R-Glenbeulah) answers questions about the efforts to remove the President and whether Trump poses a national security risk.
Friday January 8, 2021
Noble Wray on The Jacob Blake Decision
National policing expert Noble Wray breaks down his decision that officers used appropriate force in the Jacob Blake shooting, as well as weighing in on the police response as a crowd overtook the U.S. Capitol this week.
Friday January 8, 2021
U.S. Rep. Pocan and Democrats Call to Remove Trump
In the wake of the chaos at the U.S. Capitol, U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (D-Madison) details why he thinks Democrats should pursue removing President Trump from office with only 12 days left in his term.
Friday January 8, 2021
In a tumultuous year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Tony Evers takes a look back at 2020.
Friday January 1, 2021
Bayfield Mayor Gordon Ringberg talks about the challenges faced by his and other Wisconsin cities, and what he hopes 2021 will bring.
Friday January 1, 2021
Racial Disparities and the COVID-19 Vaccine
Milwaukee Health Services, Inc. Dr. Tito Izard discusses the ongoing disparities seen among minority communities amid the pandemic, and how that will impact efforts to vaccinate the state.
Friday January 1, 2021
McCoshen and Ross Round Up 2020
Political panelists Bill McCoshen and Scot Ross made political predictions at the beginning of the year, and with 20/20 hindsight, revisit those predictions and prognosticate on the year to come.
Friday January 1, 2021
How 2020 Will Shape the Presidency
UW-Madison Political Science professor Ken Mayer, an expert on American elections, discusses the continued false claims of election irregularities and how 2020 will shape the presidency in the future.
Friday December 18, 2020
State epidemiologist and Wisconsin Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ryan Westergaard talks about the first doses of the COVID vaccine in Wisconsin and what is next for the state regarding the pandemic.
Friday December 18, 2020
As positive COVID cases spike at state nursing homes among residents and staff, State Director of AARP Wisconsin, Sam Wilson, talks about how the virus impacts seniors, as well as those living in long term care facilities.
Friday December 18, 2020
Restaurants Weather the Pandemic
Joanne Palzkill, who owns three restaurants in the Eau Claire area, talks about the struggles of staying open amid the pandemic and what another round of coronavirus aid would mean for the restaurant industry.
Friday December 18, 2020
Courts Rule on Wisconsin Election Challenges
Here & Now Senior Political Reporter Zac Schultz discusses the swirl of Trump campaign court challenges to the Wisconsin election result. He also speaks to the GOP legislative hearing on elections that took place Friday.
Saturday December 12, 2020
UW Health’s Dr. Matt Anderson discusses plans to store and distribute the first round of COVID-19 vaccines in Wisconsin starting as soon as next week.
Saturday December 12, 2020
Director of the Immigrant Justice Clinic at the UW Law School Erin Barbato breaks down a recent Supreme Court ruling that allows applications to the DACA program to continue.
Saturday December 12, 2020
Climate Change Task Force Releases Report
The Governor’s Task Force on Climate Change released a report this week includes 55 recommendations, which chair of the task force Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes discusses.
Friday December 11, 2020
Homeland Security Committee Approves Vaccine Therapies
U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson talks about this week's Homeland Security Committee hearing where medical clinicians voiced support of therapies that have been dismissed as unsafe by the FDA.
Friday December 11, 2020
Health Officials Forecast Rollout of Vaccine in Wisconsin
The first doses of COVID-19 vaccine are soon headed to Wisconsin and plans are being finalized for how to distribute them. “Distributing the COVID-19 vaccine is the most significant public health undertaking of our lifetimes,” Department of Health Services Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk said. The Pfizer vaccine, which ...
Monday December 7, 2020
Court Challenges to Election Results
Here & Now senior political reporter Zac Schultz breaks down the multiple suits in both state and federal court that are challenging Wisconsin's election results.
Friday December 4, 2020
Realities in Private, Falsehoods in Public
Former Brown County Rep. Chairman Mark Becker wrote an article about his phone con. with U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, during which he acknowledged Joe Biden’s presidential win. Becker writes: “We can’t move forward together when we acknowledge reality in private and then peddle falsehoods in public.” He discusses the current political state as members of the Rep. party extend questioning election result
Friday December 4, 2020
Tiffany Weighs in on November Election
U.S. Republican Representative Tom Tiffany talks about the results of the November election and how some Republicans are declining to acknowledge a Biden victory. He also responds to Gov. Tony Evers' letter calling for more federal COVID relief.
Friday December 4, 2020
Pocan on Election, COVID Relief
U.S. Democrat Representative Mark Pocan weighs in on the pending court cases challenging the state's election, as well as the possibility of more coronavirus aid being passed in Washington.
Friday December 4, 2020
COVID Timeline, Flow of COVID in Wisconsin
Wiscontext partners show a timeline of how coronavirus cases have grown within the 72 counties of Wisconsin on a daily basis.
Friday December 4, 2020
Wisconsin Hits Record Daily Deaths, Bringing Death Toll to 3,420
Wisconsin hit a record daily number of COVID-19 deaths Tuesday, with the state Department of Health Services reporting 107 people died of the virus. That brings the total number of deaths to 3,420 as of Dec. 1. Daily positive tests were reported at 4,078 and DHS officials said hospitals across ...
Tuesday December 1, 2020
Revisiting Politics of Resentment
UW-Madison Political Science Professor Katherine Cramer's 2016 book "Politics of Resentment" investigated disillusionment felt by rural Wisconsinites. Four years and a presidential cycle later, she discusses the current political landscape of the Badger State.
Friday November 27, 2020
Presidential Recount and Marginalized Communities
Marquette University Law School Professor Atiba Ellis discusses what the presidential recount means for marginalized communities working to have their voices heard in the political landscape.
Friday November 27, 2020
Is COVID Affecting Those with Mental Illnesses
Dr. Ned Kalin, the Chair of the Dept. of Psychiatry at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health discusses the impact of COVID of those with mental illness and their care providers.
Friday November 27, 2020
Feeding America of Eastern Wisconsin President Patti Habeck talks about the struggles Wisconsinites face as they head into the fall and winter amid continuing pandemic stress.
Friday November 27, 2020
UW System President Thompson on Rapid Test Sites
UW System President Tommy Thompson talks about surge COVID-19 rapid test sites on UW campuses and support they are getting from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Students who decide to go home for the holidays must plan to get tested to prevent spreading the virus to their families and must take two tests upon returning to campus.
Friday November 20, 2020
Planning for Vaccine Distribution
While the COVID-19 surge in Wisconsin does not appear to be relenting, help is on the way. New vaccines are in the final stages of approval. State Department of Health Services Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk talks about the complicated planning for distribution of a vaccine.
Friday November 20, 2020
Trump Campaign Allegations and Recount Process
Wisconsin Public Radio News Capitol Bureau Chief Shawn Johnson details the recount process requested for Dane and Milwaukee Counties by the Trump presidential campaign which is alleging mistakes and fraud in counting and return of votes. They'll also discuss the legislative logjam related to state management strategies for COVID-19.
Friday November 20, 2020
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