La Crosse Talk PM WIZM

Political blowhard, small business owner and failed US Senate candidate out of Wisconsin, Adam Murphy is back. It wasn't part of the agenda, but we spent some time on the rise of Artificial Intelligence and just what movie best represents the fall of man. We also discussed Chevron's record profits and $75 billion in stock buybacks, as well as what to do with Wisconsin's now $7.1 billion budget sur...

Viterbo economist John Robinson joins. Spent a lot of the time around the idea from some members of the US House to get rid of federal income tax and to replace that with a 23-30% sales tax on just about everything. Along with that discussion, we talked about filing taxes and who it might help if we did get rid of some of tax systems — like farmers or Hollywood actors. Robinson is a La Crosse nati...

La Crosse School District superintendent, Dr. Aaron Engel joined to discuss the decision by the School Board on a $60 million operating referendum and closing Lincoln Middle School. The referendum question will go on the April ballot and would encompass six years. Closing the middle school is part of the district's consolidation plan, after a referendum to build a new $194.7 million high school fe...

Wisconsin state Sen. Brad Pfaff in studio. After breaking down the history of 4x4s a week after a big snowstorm we got into some Madison business. Pfaff recently voted with Republicans on a bail reform question headed to the ballot that will change the state constitution. Pfaff also voted to add a welfare question to the ballot. We discussed the reasoning for his votes, while Republicans who contr...

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, in studio. Hit on a slew of topics like the southern border, abortion, gerrymandering and the Wisconsin Supreme Court and how they are used politically, versus how the general public feels about such issues. Ended the show with a quick Friday news dump on Wisconsin's 82-year-old Secretary of State doing a thing, as well as our ongoin...

La Crosse School Board president Dr. Juan Jimenez joins. Two big topics included the upcoming elections where four new school board members will be elected out of the pool of nine currently running. Before Jimenez joined, WIZM's Brad Williams talked about the last time he remembers that many new board members coming on, back during the 1992 school board special recall election in July. Along with...

La Crosse County Democratic Party chair William Garcia in studio. Big topic of the day was Garcia revealing he'll be using his electric snow shovel — or "power broom" as we learned — as we get set for snow-pocalypse 2023. Politically, we spent some time on three proposals offered by freshman US House Rep., Republican Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin's 3rd District here in the La Crosse area. We also...

Wisconsin Democracy Campaign executive director Matt Rothschild joined for a bit to discuss Wisconsin Republicans and voter suppression. After that, a rant about the last video rental stores closing in Minnesota. Wrapped up talking about politicians crying about politicking in an argument about dueling ballot measures that apparently only want to turn out the vote. See omnystudio.com/listener for...

La Crosse city council member Dr. Mark Neumann in studio, discussing city development moving forward — like River Point District — as well as the council decisions on the eight-year Climate Action Plan and the senior center building sale offer. Neumann also discussed Mayor Mitch Reynolds' state of the city address. Began the show talking about Neumann the retired pediatric critical care doctor, wh...

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky joins. Hit on an array of topics from the removal of most cameras in the US House to some new businesses popping up in La Crosse. In regards to the House, we also talked about one Congressman lying about his volleyball accolades at a college he didn’t go to and Wisconsin's Derrick Van Orden proposing his first legislation. La Crosse i...

La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke joins. The big topics we hit on all had to deal with potential law changes across the state in regards to theft, drugs and letting people out of jail — bonds/bail. In regards to drugs, Wisconsin is thinking about proposing legislation to legalize medical marijuana, while just about every territory around the state already has it fully legalized. With...

UW-La Crosse outreach coordinator Spencer Wilken joins to talk science. Among the topics was bored scientists trying to determine how smart a Tyrannosaurus rex actually was. We also discussed the Great American Beaver Drop, as well as how beavers are wreaking havoc in the wake of climate change. And in the midst, we hit on space talk, including a green comet that will fly by soon, new black hole i...

Vicki Markussen in studio to discuss her new podcasts that dives into the business world. It dropped last week, BizCast Greater La Crosse, where Markussen talks with business owners and others in the industry about, well, just about anything. We, too, dived into some of those dilemmas local businesses face, like downtown restaurants hampered because of remote work or different aspects of tipping o...

La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds in studio. Spent a majority of the show going over situation between the city, the mayor and the Harry J Olson Senior Center. The city council takes up a proposal to sell the senior center group the city-owned building for $1. Its lease ran out at the end of 2020, and it since rejected a $1 proposal from the mayor since then. Before that, we discussed another council...

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, in studio, while retired-US Congressman calls in. On the show, we break down the US House Speaker drama. We get Kind's opinion on the matter, after he served 26 years in the US House. Also Kind recalls his experience at the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, as well as his opinion on the new, bipartisan-talking Derrick Van Orden. And we, of course...

Environmental planner, Lewis Kuhlman in studio to talk about the city's Climate Action Plan. The city is working on a goal to become carbon neutral by 2050. A stepping stone to that is a multi-faceted, seven-year plan as sort of a road map to get there. Kuhlman discusses that plan — highlighting some of those 170 pages — which goes to the full city council on Jan. 12. See omnystudio.com/listener f...

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Tim Dale, joins. Spent most of the show breaking down Republicans in the US House selecting the Speaker. We touched on the 20 or so defectors, why they don't want Kevin McCarthy, Donald Trump's role and how this might come to an end. Also, we briefly talked about talk radio, sports vs. political coverage and whether or not the Wisconsin has a full-time...

UW-La Crosse political science professor Dr. Anthony Chergosky and Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Steve Doyle join. Chergosky had to be summoned a few days early to help break down Republicans in the US House not agreeing on a Speaker — something that hasn't happened in literally 100 years. Doyle joined to talk about the Legislature meeting for the first time in what seems like 100 years — though i...

First show of 2023, so we recap 2022 one last time with WIZM's Brad Williams — some of the biggest themes of the year will continue on in the area through this and next year. After, Wisconsin Assembly Rep. Jill Billings joined to quickly break down some of her priorities and assignments this term and the Legislature getting back together after 10 months off. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, and the WIZM year-in-review. We discuss the top clicked WIZMnews.com stories of 2022 and also go over Chergosky's Top 10 story themes of the year.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our "political blowhard," Adam Murphy joined for the hour. Murphy is the owner of Big Bang LLC, ran for US Senate in Wisconsin and holds degrees in economics and political science. On the show we discussed Wisconsin's $6.6 billion budget surplus and the low unemployment rate. Also talked about a US House member lying about everything imaginable to get elected and how political power plays a role i...

Wisconsin state Sen. Brad Pfaff in studio. Among the topics covered, including the the projected $6.6 billion budget surplus, whether the state Legislature will have a 10-month "holiday" like it did in 2022 and what Pfaff has for ideas, after just being appointed to the WEDC Board of Directors. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recovering from the Christmas holiday weekend complaining about not getting that Mercedes in the driveway, or any new Lego sets. WIZM's Brad Williams joined to talk about the Lego Masters out of Holmen and how Legos evolved but the Erector set didn't. Also ranted about how Wisconsin's DNR is politicized, somehow, and what the state is missing out on without sports gambling. Ended talking about the...

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, in studio to break down the most disliked Christmas songs, most liked Christmas movies and the US House rep that seemingly lied about everything to get elected.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Central Cares czar and success coach Brad Bryan in studio to talk about food insecurity and running the Central High School's food pantry. Also dropping in was Economic Support Manager Lorie Graff to talk about all the things La Crosse County does to help those in need, including food share, health care, child care and energy assistance.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.