Here & Now

Marquette Law School Poll Director Charles Franklin describes results of polling voters about the 2026 candidates for Wisconsin Supreme Court and governor along with high-profile issues in the state. For transcripts, video, and more information about this episode please visit our episode page at: https://pbswisconsin.org/podcast_episode/charles-franklin-on-an-early-2026-poll-of-wisconsin-voters/?s...

On "Here & Now," PBS Wisconsin senior political reporter Zac Schultz discusses Assembly Speaker Robin Vos announcing he will not run for another term, Tony Evers and Devin LeMahieu speak to K-12 school funding and property taxes, Community Immigration Law Center Board President and attorney Grant Sovern considers changes to the immigration system and for people applying for citizenship, Zac Schult...

On "Here & Now," U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald Scott Fitzgerald discusses debate in Congress on law enforcement de-escalation rules and funding, and Wisconsin Court of Appeals Judge Chris Taylor discusses her perspectives on the law and the politics of judicial elections. Plus, Chairwoman Nicole Boyd of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa delivers the 2026 State of the Tribes Address. For tr...

On "Here & Now," U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore discusses debate in Congress over funding the Department of Homeland Security funding, and Wisconsin Court of Appeals Judge Maria Lazar discusses her perspectives on the law and the politics of judicial elections. Plus, Steven Potter reports on debates over energy-intensive data centers that are a backbone for tech business. For transcripts, video, and more in...

On "Here & Now," Wisconsin Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin and Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson responded to Homeland Security funding given actions in Minneapolis, UW-Madison political science professor emeritus Howard Schweber considers the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti and the Bill of Rights, Erica Ayisi reports on how immigration raids and protests are weighing upon communities in...

On "Here & Now," Latino Forward National President Darryl Morin discusses potential for federal agents to conduct immigration raids in Wisconsin, the National Weather Service issues an Extreme Cold Warnings, and Zac Schultz interviews UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin and Athletic Director Chris McIntosh about the performance of Wisconsin Badgers football. Plus, candidates in Wisconsin's 2026...

On "Here & Now," U.S. Senators Ron Johnson and Tammy Baldwin discuss ACA tax credits and federal actions in Minnesota and Venezuela, and Gov. Tony Evers has set a list of priorities for his final year in office. Plus, Zac Schultz talks to candidates in Wisconsin's 2026 race for governor about what policies they would pursue first. For transcripts, video, and more information about this episode ple...

On "Here & Now," U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson on an ICE agent who shot and killed a woman in Minneapolis, Speaker Robin Vos and state Rep. Greta Neubauer discuss what policies their caucuses are prioritizing going into 2026, Wisconsin State Public Defenders Office attorney Eileen Fredericks considers concerns in youth prisons after an incident in Racine County, and Elijah Pines repo...

On "Here & Now," WisconsinEye CEO Jon Henkes considers a funding shortfall causing WisconsinEye to go offline and future options. Plus, former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, former WEDC CEO Missy Hughes, state Rep Francesca Hong, D-Madison, and former state Dept. of Administration Sec. Joel Brennan discuss running for Wisconsin governor in 2026 and politics of the race. For transcripts, video, and more...

On "Here & Now," Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and state Sen. Kelda Roys, D-Madison, discuss running for Wisconsin governor in 2026 and politics of the race, and Dr. Ryan Westergaard explains continuing guidance to vaccinate newborns for hepatitis B. Plus, Steven Potter reports on family and therapists who are increasing efforts to offer help to farmers facing d...

On "Here & Now," U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-7th Congressional District, and Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann discuss running for Wisconsin governor in 2026 and politics of the race, and UW-Madison political science professor and Elections Research Center director Barry Burden explains two lawsuits that seek to redraw Wisconsin's congressional district maps. Plus, Murv Seymore covers resear...

On "Here & Now," Zac Schultz reports on shifts in the state government's balance of power, Steven Potter covers Milwaukee Public Schools cleaning up lead contamination, and Murv Seymour covers how a community with PFAS contamination is seeking support. Plus, Erica Ayisi covers how the Tribal Education Promise at UW-Madison addresses a history of coercion. For transcripts, video, and more informati...

Marquette Law School Poll Director Charles Franklin discusses findings in national polling about perspectives of voters on how President Donald Trump has handled documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. For transcripts, video, and more information about this episode please visit our episode page at: https://pbswisconsin.org/podcast_episode/charles-franklin-on-polling-voters-about-the-epstein-files/?s...

On "Here & Now," Wisconsin Policy Forum researcher Mark Sommerhauser describes the legal status of online sports betting in the state, Wisconsin School of Business risk management and insurance professor Justin Sydnor explains why the costs of Health Insurance Marketplace plans continue rising, and Marquette Law School Poll Director Charles Franklin discusses approval ratings for President Donald...

On "Here & Now," U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, explained why most Democrats held out during the 2025 government shutdown, U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, R-5th Congressional District, discusses the funding deal that ended the 2025 federal government shutdown, Wisconsin Department of Administration Assistant Deputy Secretary Diana Maas discusses the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program's fe...

Murv Seymour talks with Wisconsin Veterans Museum Director Chris Kolakowski at PBS Wisconsin about artifacts and landmarks that celebrate and tell stories of Wisconsinites who served in the military. For transcripts, video, and more information about this episode please visit our episode page at: https://pbswisconsin.org/podcast_episode/in-focus-with-chris-kolakowski-honoring-wisconsin-veterans/?s...

On "Here & Now," The River Food Pantry Executive Director Rhonda Adams details how grocery prices and SNAP confusion are raising demand at food pantries, Southwestern Wisconsin Community Action Program Head Start Director Tawny Hardyman describes how the federal government shutdown is causing early learning programs to halt, state Sen. Jesse James, R-Thorp, discusses a bill that would make the act...

On "Here & Now," Steven Potter covers how a plan to close or repurpose Wisconsin Department of Corrections prisons is advancing, Gov. Tony Evers promises collaboration on prison restructuring and state Sen. Mary Felzkowski discusses Republican lawmakers wanting a larger role Plus, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation President Brad Olson considers tariffs, soybeans and beef markets, health insurance a...

On "Here & Now," U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman and U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan discuss the federal government shutdown and political stances of Republicans and Democrats, respectively, and UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin describes a program to support dialogue amid free speech concerns on campus. Plus, Murv Seymour reports on how residents of a lake community with PFAS contamination are seeking support...

On "Here & Now," Pediatrician Dr. Dipesh Navsaria considers impacts of food assistance on nutrition and mental health of children, Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities Executive Director Beth Swedeen considers impacts of the U.S. Department of Education cuts on special education, and Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich describes lowering barriers to owning a home by leasing land to...

On "Here & Now," U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin discusses the federal government shutdown and Affordable Care Act tax credits, Wisconsin Elections Commission member Don Millis discusses a court order to verify citizenship of Wisconsin voters by a 2026 election, and Bill McCoshen and Scot Ross consider candidates who are — and aren't — running for governor. Plus, Clean Wisconsin program director Chelsea C...

"Here & Now" political panelists Bill McCoshen and Scot Ross discuss the emerging field of Republican and Democratic candidates who have — and haven't — announced 2026 runs for governor of Wisconsin. For transcripts, video, and more information about this episode please visit our episode page at: https://pbswisconsin.org/podcast_episode/mccoshen-ross-wisconsins-2026-gubernatorial-landscape/?series...

On "Here & Now," U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson discusses the federal government shutdown and his proposed Eliminate Shutdowns Act, Zac Schultz covers how Wisconsin soybean farmers are enjoying a bumper crop but are in the middle of a trade war, Roseholm-Wolfe Dairy owner John Rosenow discusses reliance of dairy farms on immigrant labor and the prospect of raids, and Missy Hughes and Maria Lazar announce 2...

On "Here & Now," FBI and ICE conducted a joint raid in Manitowoc County and arrested 21 people, State Rep. Scott Krug discusses a set of Wisconsin election policy proposals on counting of ballots and drop boxes, Tom Tiffany and Brett Hulsey announced their candidacies in the 2026 gubernatorial race, UW-Madison College of Engineering professor Line Roald describes electricity needs of data centers...

On "Here & Now," state epidemiologist Dr. Ryan Westergaard described an order requiring insurance to cover access to COVID-19 vaccine, Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Chairman Robert Blanchard discusses challenges to permits for a reroute of the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline and Enbridge Director of Tribal Engagement U.S. Jennifer Smith describes Enbridge's plans to reroute its line around tri...