We discuss the state of the Democratic Party in rural Wisconsin heading into the critical 2022 election with State Senator Jeff Smith and State Assembly candidate Jayne Swiggum.

MILWAUKEE - We welcome Citizen Action Movement Politics Director Priscilla Bort back as a guest panelist. We discuss the push back against the onslaught of racist Republican ads against Mandela Barnes. Citizen Action’s “deep canvass” election program is one of the most effective counters for combating the lies. We urge listeners to donate and/or volunteer to this pivotal program. Trump-backed millionaire authoritarian Tim Michels wants to end parole, even if it violates state law, and Republican state senate candidate Dave Estenson is the subject of a Department of Justice investigation into his sexual harassment of women.

In an ominous sign, every Wisconsin House Republican votes against bi-partisan bill preventing the overturning of elections. We close with our special interview with Wisconsin Examiner journalist Henry Redman to discuss whether the billions of dollars invested in broadband are actually going to cover unserved areas of Wisconsin.

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Despite Republican efforts to undermine public education in our state, Superintendent Underly and Governor Evers have put our kids first, says Agard.

MADISON - I was impressed with Gov. Evers’ move this week, endorsing binding referendums. It’s one of the solutions I proposed in my book, “12 Ways to Save Democracy in Wisconsin.” As I noted there, and as I note in my posting this week, another progressive Wisconsin governor called for this reform more than 100 years ago:

Evers Right About Direct Democracy

But I’ve been disgusted, as I’m sure you have been, too, about the sleazy and racist ads that the GOP and their outside groups have been running against Mandela Barnes. One of the groups is a PAC funded by Diane Hendricks and Richard Uihlein, which adds a layer of corruption on top of the racism, as I explain here:

Hendricks, Uihlein Go After Mandela Barnes

Meanwhile, our research team has come up with a list of the largest outside groups in non-federal races here in Wisconsin, both on the Republican and Democratic side. Just take a look:

Outside Electioneering Groups Have Spent $37M+

I hope you find this info useful!

Best,

Matt Rothschild
Executive Director
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P.S. I’ve enjoyed speaking in person recently to the Ozaukee County Dems, the Washington County Dems, and the Kiwanis Club of Madison on the “Anti-Democracy Movement in Wisconsin, and How to Defeat It.” If you’d like me to speak to your group, please let me know.

Gov. Evers is right to call for binding referendums, and how this call echoes one from another progressive Wisconsin governor 111 years ago! - Matt Rothschild

Would allow voters to directly repeal Wisconsin’s 1849 criminal abortion ban.

On today’s POW/MIA Recognition Day, remember and honor the bravery and sacrifice of our service members.

MILWAUKEE - We shed light on the misleading media coverage of the latest MU Law Poll, which finds both the Governors and U.S. Senate races are a dead heat. Did the TV saturation of racialized attacks on Mandela Barnes influence any specific subset of voters? We applaud Sarah Godlewski’s new PAC to expose Sen. Johnson on abortion and support 6 women candidates running for important state legislative seat. Robert reviews new campaign contribution data that reveals Corporate America as the real power behind MAGA and the assault on democracy.

We welcome UW Health nurse Shari Signer to discuss this week’s narrowly avoided strike, next steps for the nurses, and their role in helping inspire a rebirth of labor organizing. New data reveals the lowest child poverty rate in America ever measured thanks to President Biden’s policies, especially the Child Tax Credit. Will Democrats in the Senate make it permanent? We close with Matt ranting again against the un-elected Federal Reserve Bank.

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http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/coronavirus-nurse-tired-s448.jpgScheduled strike to start Tuesday averted by agreement.

MADISON - Our research team just did an interesting study of the top 10 donors to the legislative campaign committees in Wisconsin. See if you can guess who was number 1. Also on the list: a Wal-Mart heir who lives in Arkansas. Here’s our post:

Check Out the Top Contributors to the Wisconsin Legislative Campaign Committees

This week, as you may have heard, a judge down in Waukesha tied the hands of municipal clerks, forbidding them from fixing even the most picayune errors that the witness – not the voter! – made in filling out their address. Here’s what I had to say about that:

Waukesha Judge Sides with Republicans on Petty Disqualifications

I’d also like to share with you what I wrote about Pres. Biden’s speech late last week in Philadelphia:

Three Cheers for Biden in Defending Democracy

Biden and all of us need to keep calling out the anti-democracy forces for what they are. Now’s not the time to pussyfoot around!

I hope you have a nice weekend.

Best,

Matt Rothschild
Executive Director
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P.S. If you appreciate the work we do, please send us a tax-deductible donation by clicking here, where you can pay by credit card or PayPal.