WisPolitics Capitol Chats

On this week's "Capitol Chats," Republican strategist Bill McCoshen and Democratic strategist Joe Zepecki break down the state and national factors that handed Wisconsin Democrats their first trifecta in 16 years (and two more U.S. House seats), discuss what Democrats will choose to do with that newfound power, and predict Republican soul-searching after Tuesday's blowout.

This week's "Capitol Chats" features an excerpt from WisPolitics-State Affairs' Oct. 15 polling summit. Hear from Marquette Law School Poll Director Charles Franklin and pollsters Amanda Iovino and Jesse Klein about Iovino and Klein's survey of voters ahead of next week's election, including how voters feel about the political parties, the president, and Wisconsin's gubernatorial candidates. You c...

On this week's "Capitol Chats," voting patterns expert John Johnson discusses the first day of early, in-person voting data from across Wisconsin as well as mail-in absentee ballot counts from preceding weeks, and breaks down what it could mean for the November election. Johnson is a research fellow at Marquette University Law School's Lubar Center for Public Policy Research and Civic Education.

On this week's episode of "Capitol Chats", Rep. Robyn Vining, D-Wauwatosa, talks about her campaign to succeeed retiring state Sen. Rob Hutton, R-Brookfield, a potential BadgerCare public option, funding public schools and addressing affordability concerns.

On this week's "Capitol Chats," U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, town of Vermont Democrat and vice chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, discusses the state of play in the state's congressional races, Republicans' cash advantage in Wisconsin elections, how some national Democrats are talking about transgender issues, and more. 

On this week's "Capitol Chats", emergency room nurse and 1st CD Democratic candidate Mitchell Berman discusses running against a longtime incumbent, his support for unions and how he plans to create an economy that "works for everyone." Berman is set to face U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil, R-Janesville, in November.

On this week's "Capitol Chats," Sen. Howard Marklein discusses constituent and lawmaker pushback against two proposed transmission lines that would cross his district, his thoughts on school funding issues, and what he thinks should happen with the state's budget surplus.

On this week's "Capitol Chats", Dan Lennington of the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty discusses the three constitutional amendments on the November ballot.  WILL is backing all three amendments, which would outlaw "preferential treatment" based on race within governmental entities; limit the governor's partial veto power; and prohibit the government from regulating worship gatherings during...

On this week's "Capitol Chats", Debra Cronmiller, executive director of the League of Women Voters Wisconsin, discusses three constitutional amendments on the November ballot. The League is urging voters to vote 'no' on an amendment that would outlaw "preferential treatment" based on race within governmental entities. The two other amendments limit the governor's partial veto power and disallow th...

On this week's "Capitol Chats," Milwaukee Police Association Vice President Joel Moeller discusses Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson's proclamation setting new limits on Flock camera usage by city police and how state lawmakers should respond to public backlash against the automated license plate readers.   

On this week's "Capitol Chats," Wisconsin Elections Commission member Ann Jacobs discusses recent litigation by states, including Wisconsin, seeking to block a Trump administration effort to require the U.S. Postal Service only deliver mail-in absentee ballots to people on a citizenship list. 

On this week's "Capitol Chats", Jennie Mauer, executive director of the Wisconsin Head Start Association, discusses a federal proposal that would increase Head Start class sizes and eliminate non-English instruction, among other changes. 

On this week's "Capitol Chats," Robert Dempsey, national political director for the progressive political action group Our Revolution, discusses democratic socialist Francesca Hong's loss in Tuesday's Democratic gubernatorial primary, what it means for the progressive movement, and what comes next for Hong and Dem guv nominee David Crowley. 

On this week's "Capitol Chats," Dem state treasurer candidate and Wisconsin Heights School Board member Dylan Helmenstine discusses his plans to increase the visibility of the treasurer's office, managing state trust funds and the upcoming primary election.

On this week's "Capitol Chats," Dem state treasurer candidate and Marathon County Supervisor Yee Leng Xiong discusses the upcoming primary election, his plans to increase fiscal transparency and his Hmong heritage.

On this week's "Capitol Chats," Tom Content, executive director of the Citizens Utility Board of Wisconsin, talks about why the consumer advocacy group pushed to require data centers to post billions of dollars of collateral for new power plants, Oracle's lawsuit to weaken those rules, and how utilities are proposing to bill data centers for their power needs. 

On this week's "Capitol Chats," physical therapist and GOP candidate for the 5th SD Mike Roberts discusses how he wants to improve health care, reduce the state's property tax burden, and how to pay for increasing police staffing and prison reforms. 

On this week's "Capitol Chats," freshman Rep. Ben Franklin, R-De Pere, talks about school funding, bipartisanship, and how he's making the case to voters to grant him a second term.

In this week's Capitol Chats, Fair Wisconsin Executive Director Abigail Swetz talks about the group's work to support LGBTQ+ Wisconsinites, which candidates Fair Wisconsin PAC is backing this fall, and political rhetoric and ads targeting the transgender community.

On this week's "Capitol Chats," De Pere School Board member Brandy Tollefson talks about her campaign for the 88th AD as a Democrat, what she thinks the Legislature can do for public schools and affordability, and what she's doing to distinguish herself from incumbent GOP Rep. Ben Franklin.

On this week's "Capitol Chats," Rep. Todd Novak, R-Dodgeville, says he expects Democrats to take the blame for the failure of the $1.8 billion surplus spending package that failed in the Senate last month, though he said he'd "love to come back with the same deal." Novak, a regular target for Dems, also discussed his election strategy, school funding and the future of GOP leadership in the Assembl...

In this week's Capitol Chats, Rep. Jenna Jacobson, D-Oregon, who is running for the 17th Senate district, explains her vote for a failed $1.8 billion surplus deal, touts her support for education funding and says incumbent GOP Sen. Howard Marklein is "scared" going into his reelection bid.

On this week's "Capitol Chats," UW Law Prof. Robert Yablon breaks down where Wisconsin stands amid the national mid-decade redistricting race and discusses how a pair of lawsuits and a possible Democratic trifecta could decide the future of the state's congressional maps.

In this week's "Capitol Chats" episode, U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Milwaukee, discusses the impact of a Supreme Court ruling narrowing a key provision of the Voting Rights Act, debate over immigration enforcement funding and more.    

On this week's "Capitol Chats," U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman, R-Glenbeulah, defends congressional Republicans' push to funnel more than $70 billion in new funding to ICE and Border Patrol and answers questions about immigration enforcement reform and why the GOP is pushing this legislation now.