WisPolitics Capitol Chats

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 April 1987 special election. Before that, he served in the Assembly from 1982-1987. He will retire next month after deciding not to seek reelection when he was drawn into a district with fellow Green Bay GOP Sen. Eric Wimberger. Cowles joined WisPolitics’ Capitol Chats podcast to talk about his time in office, how the state of politics has changed over the course of his career, and his history of bucking party norms.

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 U.S. Senate since 1968 to win an election when the nominee for the other party won the presidential race.

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.

In this week's Capitol Chats episode, State Dem Party Chair Ben Wikler says Wisconsin DNC delegates who haven't formally endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential campaign have "absolute clarity" that they support her over former President Donald Trump.

A special edition of Capitol Chats reviews the 2024 Republican National Convention. WisPolitics President Jeff Mayers speaks with WisPolitics reporter Kate Morton; Lou Jacobson, who covers politics for US News, PolitiFact and Sabato's Crystal Ball; and Taurean Small, campaign reporter at CBS News.

In this week’s Capitol Chats episode Trygve Olson, a senior adviser for anti-Trump group The Lincoln Project, compares former President Donald Trump to an autocrat and says Wisconsin voters will decide whether democracy continues in the 2024 presidential election.

In this week’s Capitol Chats episode, Wisconsin Policy Forum VP and Research Director Jason Stein weighs in on the Universities of Wisconsin's budget challenges. Stein raises concerns that the state has reduced the capacity for universities to serve the labor market and discusses the closures of two-year campuses over the past few years.

In this week’s Capitol Chats episode, Angela Lang, executive director of Milwaukee-based Black Leaders Organizing for Communities weighs in on Milwaukee and Black and Brown voters' importance in the 2024 election. Lang also shares her thoughts on what President Joe Biden could do to appeal to Black voters.

In this week’s Capitol Chats episode, Rick Abrams, CEO of the Wisconsin Health Care Association and Wisconsin Center for Assisted Living (WHCA/WiCAL) shares concerns about Wisconsin’s nursing homes’ ability to meet new minimum staffing standards in the midst of a worker shortage.

In this week’s Capitol Chats episode, Forward Analytics Director Dale Knapp says the state will need to build more housing to meet an increased need due in part to the baby boom of the mid-20th century. Knapp said some challenges are building enough housing that’s also affordable and people with a “not in my backyard” attitude toward new housing projects.

In this week's Capitol Chats podcast, Wisconsin Young Republicans Chair Kyle Schroeder says young GOP voters are enthused and ready to get behind former President Donald Trump. He also says their biggest issues right now are abortion, the economy and issues at the southern border. He also says many are disappointed with the Biden administration isn't cracking down harder on pro-Palestinian protests around the country.

In this week’s Capitol Chats episode, Wisconsin College Democrats Chair Matthew Lehner says one of the biggest misconceptions about young voters is that they won’t turn out to vote in November. He also says he shares concerns about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza but noted there are many other issues at stake in the upcoming presidential election, such as abortion, LGBTQ+ and racial equality and climate change.