WUWM 89.7 FM - Milwaukee's NPR

Capitol Notes

News EN ↓ 329 episodes

There's never a shortage of political news in Wisconsin, from the governor's office to the Legislature to the state's elected officials in Washington, DC. Join WUWM host Maayan Silver and Wispolitics.com editor JR Ross as they highlight and provide context to the latest developments.

Author

WUWM 89.7 FM - Milwaukee's NPR

Category

News

Podcast website

www.wuwm.com

Latest episode

Jun 15, 2026

Where to listen?

Podcasts in the app Replaio Radio Coming soon

Podcasts are coming to the app soon. Install now and be the first to see a whole new take on podcasts

Get it on Google Play Install for free Android 5M+ downloads · 4.8 rating iOS soon

Episodes

Capitol Notes: The final full week campaign sprint edition! 31.10.2022

A former president visits Milwaukee, and current candidates fan out across the state, seeking votes.

Capitol Notes: Wisconsin early voting edition! 24.10.2022

JR Ross of Wispolitics.com sorts out in-person absentee voting and why so many candidates encourage it.

Capitol Notes: Debates, polls and down the ballot contests 17.10.2022

WisPolitics.com editor JR looks at recent developments in Wisconsin elections and what's ahead.

Capitol Notes: A closer look at debates in the contests for Wisconsin Governor and U.S. Senate 10.10.2022

JR Ross, editor of WisPolitics.com, analyzes what's at stake for the candidates running for governor and U.S. Senate.

Capitol Notes: A flurry of lawsuits ahead of Wisconsin's midterms 03.10.2022

Five weeks ahead of Wisconsin's midterms, there are lawsuits over absentee ballots, get out the vote efforts and even a suit by a top Republican to quash a congressional subpoena.

Capitol Notes: Michels lags in funds and TV ads, Evers keeps after Wisconsin's abortion ban 26.09.2022

We dive into how the candidates for Wisconsin governor are faring financially, a rebuked effort by Evers to get the Wisconsin legislature to create a new referendum process for voters by special session and the start of a review of Wisconsin's rules for election observers.

Capitol Notes: Analyzing Wisconsin U.S. Senate race ads and campaign messaging 20.09.2022

In negative attack ads, incumbent GOP U.S. Senator Ron Johnson attempts to paint Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes as "dangerous." What is that all about? JR Ross, editor of WisPolitics.com explains the rationale, the messaging in that race and the governor's race, voting rights litigation and what's at stake in the attorney general's race.

Capitol Notes: Midterms heat up, check-in on the state supreme court race & voting law cases 12.09.2022

JR Ross, editor of WisPolitics.com, explains how the Wisconsin governor's race is similar, yet different to 2018, talks Barnes-Johnson and unpacks several Wisconsin voting law cases.

Capitol Notes: Political implications of student loan forgiveness & latest on Wisconsin's big midterm races 29.08.2022

JR Ross, editor of WisPolitics.com, weighs in on President Joe Biden's order on student loan forgiveness, the big news on the campaign trails for Wisconsin governor and U.S. Senator, and the latest on the Republican election probe.

Capitol Notes: Wisconsin's key midterm races heat up, convention cooperation & end of election probe 22.08.2022

JR Ross of WisPolitics.com addresses the week's big political news from the latest on write-in and independent candidate challengers in big races to the litigation that remains after the firing of the special counsel of the GOP-led election probe.

Capitol Notes: A look at Wisconsin's key midterm match-ups 15.08.2022

The primary is over, what's next? This week's Capitol Notes breaks down what to expect from the big races for U.S. Senate and Wisconsin governor.

Capitol Notes: What you need to know ahead of the Wisconsin primary 08.08.2022

The Democratic U.S. Senate primary may have fizzled out, but the Republican race for governor and all the down-ballot races are still game-on. Hear more from WisPolitics.com editor JR Ross.

Capitol Notes: Who's left in the primary races for U.S. Senate and Wisconsin governor, and why it matters 01.08.2022

WUWM speaks with the president of WisPolitics.com, Jeff Mayers, about frontrunners in key Wisconsin races.

Capitol Notes: GOP Frontrunners in primary for Wisconsin governor tough in TV ads, tame in debate 25.07.2022

This week's Capitol Notes takes on the debate between GOP candidates for Wisconsin governor. Former President Donald Trump has endorsed one of the candidates, will the Wisconsin Republican base get behind him as well?

Capitol Notes: The latest on Wisconsin's U.S. Senate race and Milwaukee hosting the RNC 18.07.2022

On return of Capitol Notes this midterm election year, we hear about Sunday night’s debate of Democratic senate candidates and get some insights into Milwaukee’s potential Republican National Convention hosting gig.

Capitol Notes: Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson soon to announce whether he'll seek a third term 16.11.2021

In this week’s Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM’s Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of wispolitics.com why U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson could announce a decision to run for a third term earlier than in the past.

Capitol Notes: Poll shows Governor Evers' approval ratings slide, while Senator Ron Johnson's remain low 09.11.2021

The latest Marquette Law School Poll shows the incumbents in Wisconsin’s most high-profile elections next year are losing support. According to the survey of about 800 registered voters, Democratic Governor Tony Evers’ approval rating slid from 50% in August to 45%. Meanwhile, Republican U.S. Senator Ron Johnson’s approval numbers remained at 36% from August.

Capitol Notes: Rhetoric ramps up in Wisconsin governor's race 01.11.2021

Former Republican Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, who has formally announced she is running, called on Republicans to “hire mercenaries” and practice “ballot harvesting” in the same aggressive way she believes Democrats did in the 2020 presidential race. That prompted Republican Kevin Nicholson, who is considering getting into the race, to slam the idea, saying anyone who supports it is “dumb as a bag...

Capitol Notes: GOP and Democrats cite different takeaways following Wisconsin election audit results 25.10.2021

A nonpartisan audit of the 2020 presidential election in Wisconsin has turned up no evidence of widespread fraud. In this week’s Capitol Notes conversation, JR Ross of wispolitics.com tells Marti Mikkelson that both sides are parsing different takeaways from the findings.

Capitol Notes: Trump urges former Wisconsin Republican US Representative Sean Duffy to run for governor 18.10.2021

Former President Donald Trump shook up the Wisconsin governor’s race over the weekend by urging former Republican Wisconsin U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy to challenge Democratic incumbent Tony Evers next November. Trump's endorsement of Duffy could make things difficult for the only high-profile Republican candidate in the contest so far — former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch.

Capitol Notes: Status of Wisconsin's 2020 presidential election probe 'up in the air' 11.10.2021

There’s been a whirlwind of developments in former State Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman’s quest to investigate the 2020 presidential election in Wisconsin. Gableman abruptly canceled plans last week to interview the mayors and election clerks of the state’s five largest cities, just days after he subpoenaed them.

Capitol Notes: Gableman issues subpoenas to some Wisconsin election clerks 04.10.2021

The investigation into the 2020 presidential election in Wisconsin is heating up. Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos hired former conservative state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman to lead the probe.

Capitol Notes: U.S. Supreme Court May Get Involved in Wisconsin's Redistricting Case 27.09.2021

Republican state lawmakers have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to throw out a redistricting lawsuit that Democrats brought, which asks a federal court to draw the political boundaries in Wisconsin for the next decade. The request came after the Wisconsin Supreme Court agreed to directly take a redistricting case brought by a conservative group.

Capitol Notes: Field Of Potential GOP Gubernatorial Hopefuls Narrows 20.09.2021

Former Wisconsin Commerce Secretary Bill McCoshen has decided not to seek the Republican nomination for governor next year. That leaves former GOP Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch as the lone Republican so far to formally challenge Democratic incumbent Tony Evers in 2022.

Capitol Notes: Investigator Wants Election Officials To Safeguard Data From 2020 Presidential Contest 13.09.2021

Former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman wants the Wisconsin Elections Commission to preserve all 2020 presidential election evidence. Gableman is leading a GOP-requested investigation into the election. He sent a letter to commissioners last week, urging them to tell local clerks to preserve “any and all” voting records, so he can use them to determine whether any alleged fraud occurre...

Listen to the Capitol Notes podcast in Replaio

Radio and podcasts in one app - free, with no sign-up. Install today and do not miss the launch

Get it on Google Play

Replaio is not a podcast publisher; show names, artwork and audio belong to their authors and are distributed through public RSS feeds.