WisPolitics Capitol Chats

In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Department of Natural Resources Secretary Karen Hyun talks about her top priorities for the state budget and the prospects for her confirmation by the state Senate.

In this week's Capitol Chats episode, former Gov. Scott Walker says the Republican Party needs to work on its grassroots organizing following the spring election. He also says he won't be running for governor next year, and isn't endorsing a particular candidate at this point.

In this week's Capitol Chats episode, longtime Legislative Fiscal Bureau Director Bob Lang discusses the bureau's role in the budget process and says accurately evaluating the impact of tariffs on revenue estimates will be "critical."

In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Marquette Law School Poll Director Charles Franklin says Elon Musk's involvement in the state Supreme Court race "doesn't look like it reshaped voting patterns in the state very much at all," but says his intense campaign could take some credit for the high voter turnout.

In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Rep. Angelina Cruz, D-Racine, says public education is at a "concerning crossroads." The former teacher and union leader is a freshman in the Assembly and serves on the Education Committee.

Rep. Lindee Brill, R-Sheboygan Falls, who is the vice-chair of the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Prevention Committee, says in a new Capitol Chats episode that addressing addiction in the state is important to her because of how many people are impacted each day.

In this week's Capitol Chats episode, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, criticizes cuts to federal funding and tariffs under the Trump administration. Baldwin also says Dems will fight to prevent cuts to Medicaid.

In this week's Capitol Chats episode, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh, discusses his concerns about retaliatory tariffs and the impact on Wisconsin. He also praises President Donald Trump's cost-cutting efforts.

In this week's Capitol Chats episode, freshman Rep. Angelito Tenorio, D-West Allis, talks about his milestone as the first Filipino American in the state Assembly and his priorities in office.

Rep. Dean Kaufert, R-Neenah is returning to the Legislature after 10 years away. He is now the chair of the Committee on Corrections and discussed his plan to address prison reform working with both parties.

Freshman Rep. Margaret Arney, D-Wauwatosa, discusses her priorities, including expanding Medicaid, addressing climate change and providing resources to Wisconsinites.

In this week's Capitol Chats podcast, Rep. Rob Kreibich, R-New Richmond, discusses tax cuts, returning to the Legislature and priorities the chair of the Commerce Committee.

In this week's Capitol Chats episode, freshman Rep. Karen DeSanto, D-Baraboo, talks about her priorities for the legislative session and her past role as a professional clown.

In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer, D-Racine, discusses her priorities for the legislative session and working with Republican leadership.

Outgoing Sen. Rob Cowles, R-Green Bay, in an interview for WisPolitics's Capitol Chats podcast says while there's "definitely a danger" to breaking party lines, lawmakers can't be afraid to "lose a committee appointment because of your principles."  Cowles, the longest-serving Wisconsin state lawmaker currently in office, has been elected to the state Senate for the past 37 years since winning an...

In this week's Capitol Chats episode, freshman U.S. Rep. Tony Wied says Americans want the policies President-elect Donald Trump has proposed. The De Pere Republican also says he wants to develop a good relationship with Democrats, and condemns President Biden decision to pardon his son Hunter.

In this week's Capitol Chats episode, soon-to-be Democratic Party of Wisconsin Executive Director Sarah Abel says Tammy Baldwin would have won reelection against Republican Eric Hovde even if America First candidate Thomas Leager, who Dem donors helped put on the ballot, hadn't been in the race. Hovde has blamed Leager for his loss.

In this week's Capitol Chats, GOP strategist Bill McCoshen and Dem strategist Joe Zepecki join a special edition of the podcast on this week's elections in Wisconsin. McCoshen credits President-elect Donald Trump for winning over more voters in rural areas and Zepecki touts Dem U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin winning reelection despite Trump carrying the state. Baldwin is the first Wisconsin candidate for...

In this week's Capitol Chats episode, former Dem U.S. Senate candidate and Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes talks about his The Long Run PAC, which aims to support nontraditional candidates. Barnes says his experience running for U.S. Senate puts him in a position to support candidates who feel things aren't going their way or are being bombarded by racist or misogynistic attack ads.

In this week's Capitol Chats episode, UW-La Follette School Director Susan Webb-Yackee shares how the Main Street Agenda program, a partnership between the La Follette School and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, has sought to bring Wisconsinites together across political lines.

In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Republican 8th CD candidate Tony Wied says his opponent, Dem Kristin Lyerly, is a "rubber stamp" for the Biden-Harris administration. Wied also declined to share his thoughts on a GOP proposal to ask voters to weigh in on a 14-week abortion ban.

In this week's Capitol Chats episode, 8th CD Dem candidate Kristin Lyerly, an OB-GYN, says she believes her message in support of abortion resonates in the district, arguing abortion "is not something rare and unusual." This interview was conducted before Lyerly and GOP opponent Tony Wied agreed to a debate.

In this week's Capitol Chats episode, American Bar Association president-elect Michelle Behnke shares her thoughts on being the second Wisconsinite to lead the organization and what she hopes to accomplish. Behnke also reflects on her milestones as the first person of color and fourth woman to lead the State Bar Association.          

A special edition of Capitol Chats reviews the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. WisPolitics President Jeff Mayers speaks with Stan Milam of the Janesville Gazette, Grace Segers of The New Republic, Ruth Conniff of the Wisconsin Examiner and Matt Smith of WISN TV, co-host of WisPolitics partner show, "UpFront."

In this week's Capitol Chats episode, state GOP Chair Brian Schimming says while there may be a honeymoon period around Dem presidential nominee Kamala Harris' candidacy, he expects it to be cut short once voters learn more about her record.