WPT Midweek Moment
The WPT Midweek Moment is a weekly editorial run-down of the latest Wisconsin state government news, hosted and distributed by Wisconsin Property Taxpayers, the state's largest taxpayer advocacy organization. Each season runs the length of the current legislative session.
06-10-26 WPT Midweek Moment
This week, we look at how the governor's race is keeping it weird, how some dairy farmers are sticking up for themselves, and a story from the "you can't make this stuff up file".
Then, we wrap it all up with a quote from a founding father with no middle name about what our leaders need to do differently, and all in less time than it takes to go from sunny skies to tornado sirens in Wisconsin

…and as always, thanks for listening.
06-3-26 WPT Midweek Moment
This week, we are still gawking at the slow motion car crash that has been the surplus tax rebate bill. You know Governor Evers is angry when he starts throwing around words like "untenable".
Next, we look at what state government is consistently good at (but wish they weren't). Then, a quick update on the UW System stepping into some future drama.
Then, we wrap it all up with a quote for all my loyal farm listeners on what is killing the soul of rural America, and all in less time than it takes to...
05-20-26 WPT Midweek Moment
I might just change the name of this to the you just can't make this stuff up podcast. Probably not, but seriously. This week we:
start with something cool in Wisconsin. see how politicians are twisting themselves into pretzelssee how Governor Evers is frustrating crime victims throughout the state.Then we wrap it all up with a quote from the shortest U.S. President, and all in less time than it takes for the annual tradition of rain on Memorial Day Weekend to show up in the forecast.
…and as...
05-14-26 WPT Midweek Moment
In case you don't get to listen, here's a quote to summarize what happened with multiple tax rebates that weren't given to Wisconsin taxpayers:
If you are a taxpayer... "No matter what side of the aisle you sit on, your lawmakers and every candidate for governor have failed you."
This week we look at the political debacle that was the pro-taxpayer legislation that got killed by politics…
we almost had no tax on tips and no tax on overtime.instead, we get duckie ties and turduckens in the of...05-06-26 WPT Midweek Moment
This week we look at only ridiculous stories…
a ridiculously disappointing story about the farm bill.a ridiculously cool story about a new type of police dog.a ridiculously lucky story about being in the right place at the right time.and maybe the most ridiculous "you can't make this stuff up file" story of the year.We wrap it all up with a ridiculously great quote from a Nobel prize winner about freedom, and all in less time than it takes to make Mother's Day brunch reservations.
…and as a...
04-29-26 WPT Midweek Moment
This week we look at…
some cool things happening in Wisconsin this weekend.why the federal government is suing Wisconsin for suing sites for sports gambling.yet another court ruling on legislative maps in Wisconsin.why there are multiple people announcing that they are running for a state office that is two years away from an election.an article that plainly says what people want from local government.how Appleton made an international headline that landed it in the "you can't make this up file.We wrap it all up with a great qu...
04-22-26 WPT Midweek Moment
This week we look at…
how much of your energy bill hikes are going directly to the company's stockholders.some of the interesting and boring press releases flying around WI.a "you can't make this up", better late than never story from the Governor's office.a funny look at how the media take your words and paint you in whatever light they want.the massive consequences the UW Board of Regents should expect.We wrap it all up with a quote from John Locke on the consent of the people, and all in le...
04-15-26 WPT Midweek Moment
This week we look at…
how Wisconsin roads compare to the rest of the nation.how the Milwaukee Public School Superintendent is starting to make everyone else look bad. how our pension fund is making most of the other states look bad, for now.We wrap it all up with a quote from Samuel Adams on the power of taxation, and all in less time than it takes for the temperature to drop 15 degrees before a thunderstorm rolls in.
…and as always, thanks for listening.
04-08-26 WPT Midweek Moment
This week we look at…
what is between the lines of the firing of the UW System President.the massive consequences the UW Board of Regents should expect.the absolutely, without a doubt, most surprising veto of the year.We wrap it all up with a quote from Alexander Hamilton on the power of the people, and in less time than it took for my NCAA Men's Basketball Bracket to bust.
…and as always, thanks for listening.
04-01-26 WPT Midweek Moment
This week we look at…
something cool in Wisconsin this week.how much the spring election is a shadow of previous years.an update on the infinite stream of jerrymandering lawsuits.since the Legislature has adjourned for the year, we do a superficial comparison Wisconsin's lawmaking body to other states.We wrap it all up with wisdom from our nation's knowledge repository, and all in less time than it takes for April showers to switch to wintery mix.
…and as always, thanks for listening.
03-18-26 WPT Midweek Moment
This week we look at…
something cool in Wisconsin this week.we get conflicting information about the health of Wisconsin's economy.we see an example of how not to do good tax reform.dive back into the "You Can't Make This Stuff Up" fileWe wrap it all up with some very relevant wisdom from a former presidential advisor and ambassador, and all in less time than it takes to get the snow thrower back out of storage.
…and as always, thanks for listening.
03-11-26 WPT Midweek Moment
This week we look at…
a new voter information hub from the Wisconsin Elections Commission.a new school referendum tool that tracks past spending and current requests for each school district.the MPS Superintendent makes choices that are opposed by the unions but good for taxpayers to correct their overspending problem.Wisconsin has a good surge of population growth at the end of 2025.We wrap it all up with some very relevant wisdom from a POTUS that reminds Congress that the power of the purse isn't a infinite resource, and all in less ti...
03-04-26 WPT Midweek Moment
This week we look at…
recent quotes on how the Governor views you and your tax money.a tax rebate update.how laughable some of the recent political rhetoric is.Legislative Democrats breaking ranks at the first hints of wielding power.We wrap it all up with some very relevant wisdom from a POTUS that had to hang his laundry in the East Wing, and all in less time than it takes for fifty degree temps to become five inches of snow.
…and as always, thanks for listening.
02-26-26 WPT Midweek Moment
This week we look at…
the latest property tax rankings and see where Wisconsin landed.latest Marquette Law School poll and read between the lines.what how lawyers sound when there's a "beef" and they have a press release rap battle.We wrap it all up with some very relevant wisdom Abraham Lincoln about the will of the people, and all in less time than it takes to move on from the Olympics.
…and as always, thanks for listening.
02-18-26 WPT Midweek Moment
This week we look at…
the latest on turning the surplus into tax rebates.how Vos and LeMahieu are trying to cooperate.how the Governor is playing politicshow being the squeaky wheel is helping the "little guy" get some wins this week.We wrap it all up with some strong life wisdom from a legendary POTUS, and do it all in less time than it takes for a figure skater to regain their composure after a full blubbering melt down.
…and as always, thanks for listening.
02-11-26 WPT Midweek Moment
This week we look at…
more financial incompetence in the Milwaukee Public Schools.the state surplus going to property tax relief is getting close.how the energy utilities are promising one thing but are showing their true priorities by doing another.We wrap it all up with a quote that every lawmaker should read when making decisions that will increase property taxes, and do it all in less time than an athlete profile story on the Olympics broadcasts.
…and as always, thanks for listening.
02-04-26 WPT Midweek Moment
This week we look at old ideas getting new life…
finger pointing for property taxes increases.marijuana legalization.where to spend our tax dollars.a lawsuit is creating some division amongst friends.We wrap it all up with a quote from one of the "Father of the Constitution" , and do it all in less time than a Super*owl halftime show. Also in less time than it takes the NFL lawyers to sue me for implying the word Super*owl.
…and as always, thanks for listening.
01-28-26 WPT Midweek Moment
This week we discuss whether…
we have actual bi-partisan support for property tax relief?both sides of the aisle received good news in the Governor's race.right to work states prosper more than their counterpartsa lawsuit is creating some division amongst friends.We wrap it all up with a quote from one of the founding fathers on the right to vote and do it in less time than it takes to get frostbite in ten below temps.
…and as always, thanks for listening.
01-14-26 WPT Midweek Moment
This week we tackle some stories on…
what the Governor’s latest rhetoric on property taxes really means, and what it doesn’t.why the Assembly is moving at breakneck speed right out of the gate.find some "You Can't Make This Stuff Up" level of government spending end up buried in plain sight (that has nothing to do with MN).We wrap it all up with a quote from one of the GOATs, POTUS #1, on the best way to avoid debt, and all in less time than it takes to actually feel your f...
01-07-26 WPT Midweek Moment
This week we read between the lines of the headlines, which quickly leads to some reasonable questions…
what a jam-packed Capitol schedule at the start of the year really means,how the familiar property-tax blame game is already playing out,why speculation around leadership at the Capitol matters more than the rumors themselves.We wrap it all up with a quote from a founding father with two first names — a reminder that government rarely shrinks on its own.
All this in less time than it takes to manually fill out...
12-31-25 WPT Midweek Moment
Happy New Year from WPT! This week we read between the lines of the headlines, which quickly leads to some reasonable questions....
will the latest moves from AG Josh Kaul (that is getting NO reporting) come back to haunt him in next year's election?I'm not exaggerating - from the You Can't Make This Stuff Up File: is this proposed mandate from the DNR the worst idea of 2025? You will have to decide.All this in less time than it takes for the back window to completely defrost.
<...12-17-25 WPT Midweek Moment
This week we read between the lines of the headlines, which quickly leads to some reasonable questions....
the Madison Metropolitan School Districts shows us exactly what bureaucracy looks and sounds like,a report that breaks down some of the property tax burden and identifies who is to blame,and a great quote from a founding father that had nothing to do with the industry that made him a household name.All this in less time than it takes to go from frozen temps to sunny and ice melting.

... and as...
12-10-25 WPT Midweek Moment
This week we look at...

the surprising lengths Milwaukee goes to tax it’s residents,
an idea for your new years resolutions (or) a gift for the person that has everything,
a look at a surprising level of financial ignorance from government officials,
and a quote from a POTUS that wrote his own epitaph and purposely left his service as President off his tombstone.
All this in less time than it takes to spread salt over all a layer of pesky ice.

...
12-04-25 WPT Midweek Moment
This week we look at some of the most un-surprising news of the year, how AI is making things more efficient for government, we have the initial numbers from deer hunting to see how it stacked up compared to last year, and more.
As if that wasn't good enough, I give you a reason to party this weekend and we wrap it up with a quote from POTUS 39 who seemed to have better foreign policy success after he left office.
All this in less time than it takes for the remote...
11-26-25 WPT Midweek Moment
This week we have another "you can't make this stuff up file" story, a proposal of new permit fees to cover a $16 million DNR budget deficit, and a quick update on "opening weekend".
We also look at the long term results of Wisconsin government's efforts to protect energy ratepayers.
Spoiler: Wisconsin had the lowest energy rates in the Midwest 25 years ago. We are currently 2nd highest in residential rates, and that's before the 2025 and 2026 rate hikes approved by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission.
All this in less...
11-18-25 WPT Midweek Moment
This week we start with some fascinating numbers from WE Energy's plan to quickly increase energy production to keep up with the coming demands from data centers.....
Next, we look at some of the bills making their way through the Senate and the GOAT Committee, and wrap it all up with a quote from the founding father with two first names, and do it all in less time than it takes for your pile of leaves to start blowing back across your yard.

... and as always, thanks for listening.
11-12-25 WPT Midweek Moment
Enough is enough already.
This week we look at:
How taxpayers are taking out frustration at the ballot box.How taxpayers are taking out their frustration in polls.How taxpayers are voicing their frustration to elected officials.We also look at a possible solution to a decades year old problem and wrap it up with another quote from the same founding father as last week. The one that served as Vice President and that I bet you don't remember, and do it all in less time than it takes for a Northern Lights picture from...
11-05-25 WPT Midweek Moment
This week we look at:
A couple of made up holidays with overly long names.A couple new bill proposals.A couple recent land rights stories.A little bit about government spending.After all that, we wrap it up with a quote from founding father that served as Vice President, and do it all in less time than it takes for the "take one candy" Trick or Treat bowl on the front porch to get completely raided.

... and as always, thanks for listening.
10-30-25 WPT Midweek Moment
Let's look at how checked out people are on politics at the national and statewide levels, as well as opening up the the "You Can't Make This Stuff Up File" again and see how Josh Kaul is doubling down on an argument that the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled against,
After all that, we look at a quote from the mad scientist founding father, all in less time than it takes for the "take one" bowl of Halloween candy to get completely emptied.
... and as always, thanks for listening.
10-22-25 WPT Midweek Moment
Poor Milwaukee can't get out of it's own way. The city and county have been bad at money for so long, they just stick with what they're good at.
This week we recap a deep dive into the county budget and how Milwaukee Public Schools are so bad with money that they are screwing things up for the rest of the state.
After that, we wrap it up with a quote from a POTUS about government spending, all in less time for the autumn temperature to drop 15 degrees after sunset.
<...10-15-25 WPT Midweek Moment
This week we we look at what the Legislature was up to on Tuesday, an incredibly interesting study on vehicle fatalities, and a story about when politicians probably know better but just can’t help themselves.
After that, we wrap it up with a quote from the founding father that authored Common Sense and all in less time than it took for the the Brewers' playoff momentum to come to a screeching halt.
... and as always, thanks for listening.
10-08-25 WPT Midweek Moment
This week we look at some surprising developments in the Governor's race, we look at how Milwaukee is sticking it to taxpayers again, and check in with one of the most popular men in Wisconsin putting datacenters on blast.
Lastly, we wrap it up with a quote from the first wine connoisseur in the United States who just happens to be a founding father and past President, and all in less time than it takes for the fire to reach ideal marshmallow roasting glory.
...and as always, thanks for listening.
10-1-2025 WPT Midweek Moment
This week we:
Open the You Can't Make This Stuff Up FileLook at some national polls and see where you stand compared to other registered voters.Look at some numbers of how much property values are jumping locally and nationallyLastly, we wrap up with a quote from POTUS #34, probably the 2nd most famous and important Army General in US history, and all in less time than a commercial break in the MLB Playoffs.
... and as always, thanks for listening.
09-24-25 WPT Midweek Moment
This week we see what lawmakers have been up to all summer and give some quick highlights on:
Bill packages that addresses:education.housing shortages and affordability.all sorts of election related topics.merging old and new sustainable industries in the NorthWoods.One of the most entertaining Capitol press conferences I have seen all year.The disappointing reality of what Milwaukee is doing with their "special permission" sales tax.Lastly, we wrap up with a quote from the Founding Father made famous for a beer named after him, and all in...
09-17-25 WPT Midweek Moment
This week we wade into the sensitive topics:
A week after the Charlie Kirk assassination, has the rhetoric on either side of the aisle changed? What does a politician doing a full 180 look like? We found an example and a blatant act of journalism at the Journal Sentinel.We give updates on the Governor's race and some cold hard truth for one of the candidates in a way we can all understand.Lastly, we wrap up with a quote from likely the most important man in the history of our nation, and all in less time than...
09-03-25 WPT Midweek Moment
This week we look at a couple local stories about how state government is spending, spending, spending your tax dollars:
How many millions of acres does Wisconsin already own and how much is being proposed to continue these purchases?How many tens of millions of dollars are being spent by the DNR Fish and Wildlife fund every year, and how far in the red is it?All that and we finish with a quote one of the Federalist Papers, all in less time than it takes to get through a Starbucks drivethrough.
<...08-27-25 WPT Midweek Moment
This week we look at a couple local stories with national ties:
We learn that there will be a new USS Wisconsin and what kind of strength it will have for the USA.One paperwork request caused half of an entire factory to quit on the spot! We learn what happened in Monroe this month.We open the You Can't Make This Stuff Up File a surprising examples of a judge abusing their power to settle a score for a friend.All that and we finish with an entertaining quote from POTUS #40, all in less...
08-20-25 WPT Midweek Moment
This week we look at a collection of crazy stories:
The best free publicity a politician could possibly want just happened.A couple of AI related scientific articles that aren't sci-fi.Some crazy jumps in property re-assessments are showing up throughout Wisconsin.All that and we finish with an entertaining quote from an entertainer, all in less time than it takes to make the perfect smores over a campfire.
... and as always, thanks for listening. 
08-13-25 WPT Midweek Moment
This week we look at:
A couple DNR updates. One is interesting and one was very random.What's happenin' in Milwaukee and, to their credit, it's not total chaos! Just chaos.Some nationwide surveys that reinforce the assumption that people aren't necessarily logical beings.All that and we finish up with a quote from Thomas Jefferson, all in less time than a Brewers at bat.
... and as always, thanks for listening.
08-06-25 WPT Midweek Moment
This week we look at:
An update on the Washburn County Board Cease and Desist Letter sent to a teenager selling bait at the end of his grandpa's driveway on the weekends.The latest stock update from your publicly traded energy company.A couple of updates on the health of the Wisconsin economy.Something almost got accomplished during the Legislature's summer recess.
Lastly, we finish up with a quote from Lyndon B Johnson. All in less time than it takes to get that golden marshmallow roasted just right.
... and as...
