MILWAUKEE - Senator Chris Larson joins us to commemorate the life of a major figure in Democratic politics who passed this week, former State Representative and Judge Fred Kessler.  Fred was one of the great political organizers of his generation, and left behind a legacy of young progressive leaders he mentored and helped elect to office.  We next turn to a deep dive into rural organizing with leaders of Grassroots Organizing Western Wisconsin (GROWW). Joining us are Executive Director Jenelle Ludwig Krauss and Organizing Director Bill Hogseth. We discuss a deeper organizing approach to reaching rural voters, and the crisis in affordable housing in rural Wisconsin.  What are the implications for the path forward from the 2024 election?

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MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today, in recognition of Veterans Day this week, celebrated Wisconsin’s 300,000 veterans and their families and honored the holiday with a video message thanking them for their service and sacrifice and reaffirming his commitment to supporting veterans and their loved ones. Gov. Evers also proclaimed Nov. 5-11, 2024, as Veteran Recognition Week and Nov. 11, 2024, as Veterans Day in Wisconsin. A copy of the governor’s Veteran Recognition Week and Veterans Day proclamation is available here.

MILWAUKEE - With heavy hearts, we remember Milwaukee leader Jonathan Brostoff, who tragically passed away this week.

We debrief the 2024 Election, looking at the results from the presidential, U.S. Senate and State Legislative elections. What does it all mean and where do we go from here?

We discuss the reality that rural Wisconsin and most of rural America is continuing its realignment with the Republican Party. We are joined by People’s Action Rural Strategist, Kellon Patey, who lives in southeast Ohio, to discuss the pressing need for progressive organizations and donors to seriously invest in long term, permanent organizing and community building in rural places.

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http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/vote-election-worker-opens-s450.pngIn Wisconsin, our election workers are our friends and neighbors who answer the call to serve and go above and beyond to ensure our elections are safe and secure.

MILWAUKEE - We discuss the final stretch of the voting phase of the 2024 election. It all comes down to people like our listeners talking to other voters and helping them make meaning of this election. Sign up to volunteer from home on phones or join us on the doors.

We discuss yet another healthcare merger as minnows, Black River Memorial Hospital and the Krohn Clinic, merge in an effort to survive all the bigger fish in the pond.

Marge Rogenbuck from Lincoln County, Wisconsin joins us to discuss conservative Board Members efforts to privatize the public county nursing home. Marge is a lifelong Lincoln County resident and had both her parents stay at Pine Crest. She tells us why she joined “People For Pine Crest” and is fighting back to protect a vital and excellent public institution in her community.

We close with a very special guest, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. He is jointed by Milwaukee County Sustainability Director Grant Helle, and Citizen Action Climate Coordinator Kat Klawes, to discuss the incredible new federal investments making it possible for cities, counties, and school districts to address the climate change emergency. As you will see, climate change is on the ballot on November 5th!

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http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/healthcare-physician-asst-s5.pngWisconsinites can sign up for affordable, high-quality health insurance from Nov. 1, 2024, to Jan. 15, 2025. Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration the average person who qualified saved more than $570 on their monthly premiums last year.

MILWAUKEE - Early voting is now underway, as Trump/Vance and Harris/Walz crisscross the battleground states, including Wisconsin. The first day of early voting saw record turnout of over 100,000 voters this Tuesday. We encourage our listeners to volunteer in Citizen Action’s final voter contact activities on phones and doors talking directly to targeted voters we need to win.

In spite of 2 historic hurricanes and warming temperatures, Climate change as an issue is the worst casualty of the 2024 election season. We discuss why and its impact.

The second most ignored issue in the 2024 election is the current hospital and health system crisis hitting our communities. We discuss how the hospital closure crisis is hitting the Madison area as another health system merger is announced with Marshfield Clinic Health System & Sanford Health combining.

We close by welcoming Milwaukee Area Technical College educator Luz Sosa to discuss the discrimination Latinos are experiencing at MATC and how it connects to Act 10 and not properly funding public education in Wisconsin.

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MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today delivered his weekly radio address encouraging Wisconsinites to make a plan to vote. Election Day is November 5, but early, in-person voting—otherwise known as in-person absentee voting—began this week across Wisconsin. Wisconsinites can vote early at their municipal clerk’s office or another site designated by their municipal clerk. Dates and hours vary by municipality, so Wisconsinites should visit myvote.wi.gov for more information about local voting locations and what’s on their ballot.

MILWAUKEE - We discuss another climate charged hurricane hitting Florida. We question whether this epic month of hurricanes will lead to a climate reckoning in America, as climate change conspiracy theories and their politicians seem to be successfully altering the debate by shifting attention from systemic causes to convenient scapegoats that play well on social media and play into established conspiracy theories and MAGA ideology. We reflect on how this directly impacts everyone in Wisconsin.

Robert tells more about the details and significance of Kamala Harris’ new Medicare plan to provide long-term care in the home, plus vision and dental coverage. What else should she do to capitalize on the public’s desire for accessible and affordable care – whether that is health care, home care , or child care.

We debrief last week’s We Energies PSC public hearings where Citizen Action members testified against outrageous rate increases and supported ZERO rate increases until there is a 2% of income rate cap for utilities. Wausau mayor Diny goes national for his removal of voter drop boxes, as the public descended upon this week’s city council meeting protesting the drop box removal.

Billionaire Elon Musk drops millions into trashy ads for Trump in Wisconsin. Fight back, talk to voters with Citizen Action every Tuesday and Thursday at 5pm and knock doors with us. RSVP.

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MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today delivered his weekly radio address celebrating Manufacturing Month in Wisconsin. Gov. Evers proclaimed October as Manufacturing Month in Wisconsin and Oct. 4, 2024, as Manufacturing Day. A copy of the governor’s Manufacturing Month and Manufacturing Day proclamation is available here.