UpNorthNews Radio with Pat Kreitlow

40 Episodes
Subscribe

By: Pat Kreitlow

"UpNorthNews Radio with Pat Kreitlow" is Wisconsin's new home for daily conversations about the state's latest headlines and stories. It's a radio extension of what UpNorthNews founding editor Pat Kreitlow premiered in January 2020 as a website, social media posts, and a daily newsletter—a place for fact-based news coverage that is informative, conversational, and not afraid to stand for something. While dedicated to Wisconsin hometown radio, the daily UpNorthNews Radio program can also be heard live on multiple online platforms. Pat is a longtime Wisconsin journalist and former state legislator who lives in and produces the show from along Lake Wi...

Beat the Press-They Don’t Mind (Hour 2)
Yesterday at 1:00 PM

We’ll talk to Mark Jacob about his new column for Courier Newsroom, “A New Idea in Political Interviews: Ban the Liars,” which makes the case that media sites don’t mind booking known liars on their airwaves so long as it brings them big ratings. And state superintendent Jill Underly fires back at DEI critics in […]Guests: Mark Jacob, Dan Schumacher


Impeachment-palooza (Hour 1)
Yesterday at 12:00 PM

Not content with talking about impeaching a president or a state Supreme Court justice, now a few Republicans are passing around a note asking if they should impeach the administrator of the Wisconsin Elections Commission. Their resolution is 23 pages full of recycled misinformation about 2020—because some people are still working publicly to undermine American […]Guest: Keya Vakil


A Glimmer of Legislative Hope (Hour 1)
Last Thursday at 12:00 PM

To the surprise of many, Republicans did not bring a quick end to Gov. Tony Evers’ request for a special session to focus on the child care crisis and a middle class tax cut. We’ll talk to Joe Zepecki about that and the role of Wisconsin members of Congress in the fight to avoid (or […]Guests: Joe Zepecki, Kristin Lyerly


Registration Inclination (Hour 2)
Last Wednesday at 1:00 PM

National Voter Registration Day was marked this week with activities designed to support one of the most non-partisan acts of civic engagement out there: Register to vote. We’ll talk to people from two groups that are spending this week helping people check their status, get registered, and save themselves from confusion or chaos in 2024.Guests: Todd Allbaugh, Sam Liebert, Hannah Fried, Funmilola Olorunfemi


Ron Johnson Pours Gas on the Fire (Hour 1)
Last Wednesday at 12:00 PM

Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson is in the center of the push by right-wing extremists to force a government shutdown—by single-handedly blocking essential spending measures so that it’s easier to demand significant budget cuts that would hurt Americans who don’t share his multi-millionaire status. We’ll have the latest. And our Climate Check segment looks at […]Guests: Melissa Baldauff, Melissa Kaye


Gimme a Double Shot (Hour 2)
Last Tuesday at 1:00 PM

It’s that time of year—to see if a responsible fella can get a flu shot and a COVID booster, and lift his arms the next morning! Also: Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes Conway talks about the jobs and improvements that are coming to Wisconsin because of President Biden’s emphasis on American infrastructure. And Hans Breitenmoser reviews […]Guests: Hans Breitenmoser, Satya Rhodes-Conway


The Stadium Plan Needs Teamwork (Hour 1)
Last Tuesday at 12:00 PM

After months of delays, Republicans have released a plan to pay for much-needed renovations to American Family Field. But there are lessons to be learned—or relearned—before we can feel comfortable that the Brewers will stay in Wiscosin. Also: Christina Lorey has The UpLift, our weekly look at the uplifting stories found in our daily newsletter. Guest: Christina Lorey


Staying on Offense to Defend Democracy (Hour 2)
Last Monday at 1:00 PM

We’ll visit with Scot Ross about the need for progressives to rise to the challenge of calling out misinformation and insisting on better coverage that doesn’t let assaults on democracy sound like “business as usual.” Guests: Kristin Lyerly, Scot Ross, Terry Bell, Salina Heller


Meet the New Press, Same as the Old Press (Hour 1)
Last Monday at 12:00 PM

Once seen as an institution of public affairs journalism, NBC’s “Meet the Press” passes the torch to a new host—only to see it give a virtually-unchecked platform to a four-times indicted, twice-impeached, former president who tried to overturn an American election. Guests: Kristin Lyerly, Cherita Booker


Weekly Best of UpNorthNews Radio with Pat Kreitlow for Sep 16
09/16/2023

This week on UpNorthNews Radio, we hear from several guests on multiple topics including youth gun violence prevention, the ongoing situation with Wisconsin Elections Chair Megan Wolfe, and an update on sports.Guests: Kristin Lyerly, Dan Schumacher, Kate Duffy, Danielle Linn


Far From Over (Hour 2)
09/15/2023

After a judge determined that the arcane language in an 1849 law is not about abortion, Planned Parenthood announced Thursday it would resume abortion care services at two Wisconsin clinics. Dr. Kristin Lyerly is a party in that lawsuit and warns that there is still much to be done before women are not treated as […]Guests: Kristin Lyerly, Mark Jacob, Dan Schumacher


Wolfe Hunt to Be Thwarted (Hour 1)
09/15/2023

Republican state senators believe they fired state Elections Commission administrator Meagan Wolfe on Thursday, but she said she’s not going anywhere as Attorney General Josh Kaul files a lawsuit so that a court can note that the Senate just made everything up in order to appease 2020 conspiracy theorists.Guests: Kristin Lyerly, Keya Vakil


Talk It Out, Talk It Up (Hour 2)
09/14/2023

This week’s Hometown Health guest is a radio personality in the Fox Valley who’s very open about his struggles with depression. By baring his soul, he’s hoping others will avoid bottling up their troubles and frustrations—because talking out what’s bringing you down is the first step toward lifting yourself up.Guests: Kristin Lyerly, Luke Mathers, Dan "Huggie" Amsden


I Call Shenanigans (Hour 1)
09/14/2023

A Republican leader changes course and embraces a reform to the political process. In some instances that would garner praise and applause. But not for Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, who today will try to fast-track a half-hearted proposal to change how legislative maps are drawn in order to stop any real reform that could come […]Guests: Joe Zepecki, Kristin Lyerly


Tara Johnson Joins the Race (Hour 2)
09/13/2023

T We’ll visit with Tara Johnson, the latest Democrat to throw her hat in the ring for the 3rd Congressional District seat in western and central Wisconsin.   Also: Legislative Republicans move closer to passing warmed-over versions of their previously rejected plans for childcare and taxes.Guests: Todd Allbaugh, Tara Johnson


An Epic and Disingenuous Flip-Flop (Hour 1)
09/13/2023

For 12 years Republicans have drawn their own legislative districts and rejected every suggestion to reform the process that leads to gerrymandered maps. Now, facing a state Supreme Court under liberal control, GOP leaders say they’re ready to allow a nonpartisan group to draw maps for 2024. Also: House Republicans move closer to impeaching President […]Guests: Melissa Baldauff, Melissa Kaye


Opportunity Out in the Country (Hour 2)
09/12/2023

The Rural Democracy Institute is a coalition of dozens of groups working to lay out a roadmap of policies that could renew America’s rural communities and help the country with some of its big challenges. We’ll talk to two Wisconsin individuals who played a part in the new 2023 report about improving the rural economy […]Guests: Shawn Phetteplace, Chad Holmes, Colleen Bies


A 9/11 Vote to Attack Democracy (Hour 1)
09/12/2023

Leave it to Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature to take a vote on September 11 designed to undermine democracy. Their renomination of the state’s top election official before the Wisconsin State Senate is imaginary. The legal drama is real—and will probably get real expensive.Guest: Christina Lorey


The Lives We Could Save (Hour 2)
09/11/2023

Wisconsin lawmakers are about to begin their fall session with so much potential—including the ability to pass gun safety legislation that could save the lives of children, law enforcement officers, and more. We’ll talk to a pediatric critical care physician, the kind of doctors who see far too many children whose lives have been lost […]Guests: Terry Bell, Kate Duffy, Danielle Scampini, Salina Heller, Kellie Snooks


All You Need Is Love (Hour 1)
09/11/2023

Whatever history writes of the Jordan Love Era, at least it will have started with a win against the Chicago Bears. We’ll also recap disappointing results from the Badgers and Brewers—10-plus innings of no-hit baseball and they still lose? Plus a review of Wisconsin news headlines to start the week.Guests: Kristin Lyerly, Cherita Booker


The Right Way to Do Tax Relief (Hour 2)
09/08/2023

We’ll talk to state Assembly Rep. Mike Bare (D-Verona) about Democrats offering alternatives to the Republican tax cuts for the very rich—expand the Homestead and the Earned Income Tax Credits so that working middle class families benefit from the state’s record budget surplus.Guests: Mark Jacob, Dan Schumacher, Mike Bare


When You Embolden Nazis… (Hour 1)
09/08/2023

It is not necessary for a politician to openly call for support from members of hate groups. But when people in those groups start openly supporting the politician, he might have a problem. We’ll also talk to Courier Newsroom national correspondent Keya Vakil about the national attention being put on Wisconsin Republicans for even considering […]Guest: Keya Vakil


The Blessings of Difficult Journeys (Hour 2)
09/07/2023

We never know when something will happen that upends our lives, but sometimes that burden turns out to be a blessing. We’ll talk to a cultural anthropologist at UW-Stout about how his daughter’s disabilities are helping him remind all of us of the value of every person—and the benefits that come with being more inclusive.Guests: Kristin Lyerly, Luke Mathers, Salina Heller, Thomas Pearson


The Impeachment Hail Mary (Hour 1)
09/07/2023

For a party that has tried nullifying past election results, even this move would be drastic—trying to impeach a newly-elected state Supreme Court justice. We’ll talk to Joe Zepecki about whether Republicans are bluffing in their threat to try to undo the will of the voters who overwhelmingly elected Janet Protasiewicz less than six months […]Guests: Joe Zepecki, Kristin Lyerly, Salina Heller, Tara Johnson


The Real Cost of Voucher Schools (Hour 2)
09/06/2023

Over the years, what started as a small, experimental program in Milwaukee has metastasized to the point where Wisconsin taxpayers are funding two parallel school systems. We’ll examine the real cost of the voucher schools program—not only from the standpoint of dollars, but of dignity.Guests: Todd Allbaugh, Julie Underwood, Martha Siravo


Help Us Less (Hour 1)
09/06/2023

There is a childcare crisis in Wisconsin. Good providers can’t afford to stay open. Parents can’t afford rising rates. Employers keep losing good workers who have to quit and stay home because they’ve lost a good childcare provider. There are possible solutions that could be very helpful. And then there’s the proposal from Republicans in […]Guests: Melissa Baldauff, Melissa Kaye


Too Big to Break Up? (Hour 2)
09/05/2023

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul is among 31 attorneys general helping the US Dept. of Agriculture examine ways where companies are trying to remove competitive pressures from the marketplace in the agriculture and food industries. We’ll talk to Hans Breitenmoser about the things that aren’t blatant monopolies but still hurt capitalism and consumers. Also: Heather […]Guests: Chad Holmes, Hans Breitenmoser, Heather Heil


Southeast of Disorder (Hour 1)
09/05/2023

It’s early, but we’ll raise a metaphorical “boat drink” to Jimmy Buffett as Pat talks about losing a favorite artist. Also, Christina Lorey has The UpLift, a review of the uplifting stories she adds to our weekday newsletter. And in the new blackout battle between Spectrum and Disney, is there even a good guy to […]Guest: Christina Lorey


Hey, Newsrooms: Stop Normalizing Authoritarianism (Hour 2)
09/01/2023

It shouldn’t be this hard to recognize that not every American, whose life, liberty and pursuit of happiness is a product of our democracy, would protect and defend our democracy. Some Americans do want to overthrow free elections, and some of those people are in powerful positions. So why do newsrooms cover them as just […]Guests: Mark Jacob, Dan Schumacher


Transparency for Thee, Not for Me! (Hour 1)
09/01/2023

So-called “fiscal conservatives” love the idea of creating dashboards that help show how tax dollars are used—up to a point. When it was suggested recently that a dashboard for school spending should include the real expense of the vouchers that benefit private, usually religious schools, conservatives changed their tune faster than any dashboard could measure. […]Guest: Keya Vakil


Be You (Hour 2)
08/31/2023

Yes, there’s a lot of ugly pushback out there these days over notions of inclusivity, diversity, and acceptance—but it’s only because something stronger is doing some pushing of its own: the right to be yourself. Sometimes people need some guidance in getting to where they think they belong versus what they were assigned at birth. […]Guests: Kristin Lyerly, Luke Mathers, Melissa Hidde


Put Childcare Centers in Coal Mines? (Hour 1)
08/31/2023

First we have Republican proposals to get more kids into the workforce—can’t get ‘em out of the classroom and into serving liquor in bars fast enough, right? Now, instead of using a record surplus to address the childcare shortage, there’s a new GOP proposal to pack more kids into each classroom and reduce the age […]Guest: Kristin Lyerly


More Things Government Does Right (Hour 2)
08/30/2023

Part of our mission at UpNorthNews is to overcome the default level of cynicism about civics—and show what happens when government at any level is operated responsibly by public servants who make good use of our tax dollars. On Tuesday, we listed many positive advancements in care for our veterans. Today we look at the […]Guests: Todd Allbaugh, Julie Lassa


The Return of the Clown Car (Hour 1)
08/30/2023

We already knew Republican legislators were going to spend Tuesday talking about an imaginary nomination to the state Elections Commission, so imagine our surprise when the committee also busted out its Greatest Hits album of imaginary claims about the 2020 election—with live performances from many of the conspiracy theorists you thought had returned to the […]Guest: Melissa Kaye


Giving Veterans the Care They’ve Earned (Hour 2)
08/29/2023

We’ll talk to veteran and former candidate Ben Murray about recent actions by the Biden administration to help veterans—and get his take on what else needs to be done at both the federal and state levels.Guests: Chad Holmes, Ben Murray


Imaginary Appointments, Real Meltdowns (Hour 1)
08/29/2023

Legislative Republicans will take action Tuesday on a job appointment that doesn’t exist. In their quest to fire the head of the state Elections Commission, they’ll pretend she’s up for renomination—when she’s not. Also, the right-wing Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court continues her very public meltdown about losing control to a new liberal […]Guest: Christina Lorey


Waukesha Schools in Crisis (Hour 2)
08/28/2023

Our “Motherhood Monday” segment looks at what can happen when a quality school district becomes infected with politics. Some things are eye-catching—like rejecting free school lunches for kids. Some things are odd—like banning a song about rainbows. But the more troubling “canaries in the coal mine” take the form of teachers leaving the district because […]Guests: Kate Duffy, Salina Heller, Danielle Linn, Rusty Edlund


A Weird Plan to Win Over Young Voters (Hour 1)
08/28/2023

For all the talk about Republicans doing more to reach young voters, their actions sure seem to get in the way. Taking away healthcare rights, doing nothing about school shootings, making it harder to vote, opposing broadband expansion—and now a major presidential candidate wants to raise the retirement age, but just for young workers.Guests: Kristin Lyerly, Cherita Booker


Weekly Best of UpNorthNews Radio with Pat Kreitlow for Aug 26
08/26/2023

Voters in Ohio recently turned back a right-wing attempt to rig the way their state Constitution gets amended. Now they’ll be going back to the polls this November to once again protect women’s healthcare. Dr. Kristin Lyerly introduces us to a fellow obstetrician/gynecologist in that state about the need to never take basic rights for […]Guests: Kristin Lyerly, Cherita Booker, Amy Burkett


More Election Interference (Hour 2)
08/25/2023

Republicans in Madison and Washington, DC are working overtime to interfere in elections that have been—and continue to be—safe, secure, and accurate. Wisconsin state senators are pushing ahead with an illegal effort to fire the administrator of the state Elections Commission. And House Republicans have announced an investigation into the Atlanta district attorney investigating Trump’s […]Guests: Mark Jacob, Dan Schumacher, Henry Redman