WisPolitics Capitol Chats

In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Rep. Brent Jacobson, R-Mosinee, shares what motivated him to run for office and his key priorities in the Legislature.

In this week's Capitol Chats, Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski touts her ability to be "part of team" in her run for lieutenant governor.

In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Marquette Law School Poll Director Charles Franklin talks about the political environment in 2026 and challenges for gubernatorial candidates seeking to succeed Gov. Tony Evers.          

In this week's Capitol Chats, Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez says child care funding was a win in the budget, but she would have liked more funding for schools.

In this week's Capitol Chats episode, GOP governor candidate Bill Berrien, who is a Navy SEAL veteran and manufacturing business owner, says he is confident he can raise enough finances and get President Donald Trump's endorsement.

In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein, D-Middleton, talks about her role in state budget negotiations and pros and cons of the document.

In this week's Capitol Chats, Sen. Chris Kapenga, R-Delafield, explained why he voted against the state budget, and his frustration with the negotiation process.

In this week's Capitol Chats episode, former Republican state Sen. Dale Schultz talks about political violence and rhetoric and possible solutions following the shootings of Minnesota lawmakers.

In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Rep. Christian Phelps, D-Eau Claire, says the 60% special education reimbursement Gov. Tony Evers is proposing should be a minimum, instead of the current 30% rate.

In this week's Capitol Chats episode, freshman Rep. Duke Tucker, R-Grantsburg, talks about his motivations for seeking public office, his priorities in the Assembly, and how his background as a veteran has made him a better elected official.

In this week's Capitol Chats, Wisconsin Medicaid Director Bill Hanna says the reconciliation bill will cost the state $8 million in Medicaid-related costs in the first year of implementation.

In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Washington County Executive and a Republican gubernatorial candidate Josh Schoemann says "disappointed" is a mild way to describe how he feels about Gov. Tony Evers work, and he'd like to make changes if elected governor.

In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Rep. Jim Piwowarczyk, R-Hubertus, talks about a bill he co-authored that would require local sheriffs to comply with federal immigration enforcement policies, at the risk of losing state funding.

In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Department of Revenue Secretary David Casey talks about the challenges of measuring tariffs' impact, the agency's budget priorities and more.

In this week's Capitol Chats, Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities President Eric Fulcomer  expresses concerns with the impact of federal funding cuts on college grants, and says he hopes the state budget can support more grant money.          

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.