Mornings with Pat Kreitlow

We’ll talk to Mike Clemens about the Milwaukee Brewers and a season that’s gone from potentially mediocre to unexpectedly exciting in just a few short weeks. Also: The Wisconsin Elections Commission releases results of its investigation into nearly 200 ballots that were lost for a time and left uncounted by the now-former city clerk in Madison—an investigation that underscores the importance of election integrity and also make sure there is accountability for violating the rules that keep our elections accurate and fair.

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Childcare providers and parents will be gathering at the state Capitol this morning to rally and outline the next steps needed to address the crisis of affordable childcare. They say what was passed in last week’s state budget is entirely inadequate to prevent continued closures, which will give parents fewer options and make the state’s labor shortage worse. Also: Our Week In Review panel wants headlines to stop playing dumb by using question headlines? Less “Is Trump Violating the Constitution?” and more “Trump Is Violating the Constitution.”

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How is this still a thing? The court case drags on over President Trump’s attempt to declare that American children born in this country are not citizens if their parents aren’t citizens. The Constitution begs to differ, so a federal judge has made a move to circumvent the sympathy coming from Trump’s accomplices on the US Supreme Court.

Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on...

We’ll talk to Joe Zepecki about this week’s political news and Sean O’Malley talks about your money and the markets as President Trump’s hope for a big, beautiful series of trade agreements falls flat.

Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civic...

For a time, Congressman Mark Pocan had a fairly limited role, representing Wisconsin’s 2nd Congressional District around Madison. But lately he’s been filling the void of representation over in the 3rd District, and he continues to grow his influence among the congressional progressive caucus. We’ll also talk to Sondra Goldschein of the Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy about the impact of the Trump agenda on Wisconsin families.

Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscr...

NASA has a new leader, though it’s not clear what former Wisconsin congressman Sean Duffy’s qualifications are to run the space agency, other than having a public argument with Elon Musk—though Duffy is no longer the only Wisconsin Republican to have had a change of heart on the world’s richest man. Also: Cherita Booker tells us about some big weekend events across the state. And the Brewers get out the brooms and sweep a series from the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

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When the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that the state could move forward with a ban on so-called conversion therapy, it was actually ruling on a much broader topic: Republicans abusing the rules in order to allow the Legislature to interfere with state agencies. It’s not the only example of an abuse of power—remember those gerrymandered maps? But the liberal justices now in charge of the court seem to be making it harder for politicians to bend the rules. We’ll talk to state Sen. Kelda Roys. Also: Climate Check with Melissa Baldauff, a check on western Wiscon...

There’s no subtle way to put this: Some of Gov. Tony Evers’ biggest supporters are outraged at how little was done in the new state budget for their high-priority issues like childcare and public education. We’ll talk to two leaders in advocacy who think more could have been done for a budget that would not have passed without help from Democratic legislators.

Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to...

Get in, nerds! We’re taking a deep dive into how a bill becomes a law and how a law comes to life through rules. The rulemaking process is usually boring and routine, but Republicans in the Legislature have rigged it in a way that interferes with how experts at state agencies make the law work for all of us. Our humble editor and host, a former state senator, gives an explanation of the legislature’s Joint Committee for the Review of Administrative Rules (JCRAR) and how the state Supreme Court on Tuesday called out GOP lawmakers for misusing it.<...

There are those who describe the new Wisconsin state budget, quickly adopted last week by the Legislature, as the “least bad” option, given the split between Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and majority Republicans. But others believe Democrats didn’t fight hard enough for more, since GOP leaders needed Democratic votes to pass a budget due to some far-right holdouts. There are many layers to peel back from this legislative onion.

Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the...

We cover the far northwest and southwest corners of Wisconsin this hour. We’ll talk to state Rep. Jenna Jacobson about her newly-announced campaign for the State Senate seat now held by the Republican co-chair of the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee. We’ll visit with Superior Mayor Jim Paine about lead water pipe removal, the Blatnik Bridge project, and using goats to get rid of buckthorn. And Dan Hagen from WJFW-TV will tell us what’s new in the Rhinelander area.

Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civi...

America’s air traffic control system is a fragmented mess that will take many years and billions of dollars to upgrade. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy could spend his entire workday on that project alone, not to mention the nation’s other critical transportation needs. But if you’ll excuse him, the secretary is very busy right now declaring war on sidewalks that have LGBTQ-supported rainbow colors in them.

Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcas...

The world’s richest man once bragged he would use his fortune to solve world hunger, but now Elon Musk is announcing plans to start a new political party. Between his DOGE misadventures, his ill-fated effort to influence the Wisconsin Supreme Court election, and now this—has Elon’s third party become his third strike in an effort to buy his way into political power?

Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure n...

Now that the state budget is done and President Trump’s federal plans are finalized, we’ll return to an area that the president said would be all summed up by now: 90 deals in 90 days. It’s been 90 days and the administration has two half-deals done. Does this ramp up the talk of a trade war with the rest of the world or do the “TACO” memes start pouring out across the internet again?

Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 a...

We’ll recap the holiday weekend, including the threat of disruption to the Minocqua parade that turned out to be a prank. We’ll discuss grilling, biking, streaming, live concerts, and the triumphant return of Brandon Woodruff to the Milwaukee Brewers’ pitching ranks.

Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic...

We’ll talk to financial expert Sean O’Malley about some aspects of the Trump budget boondoggle that aren’t getting as much attention—as limits on student loan borrowing and cuts to research funding accelerate a brain drain from US universities and businesses. Joe Zepecki will offer perspective on the week’s big stories out of Madison and Washington. Chad Holmes gets set for a poker tournament he’s been pursuing for a long time.

Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Frid...

Wednesday’s state Supreme Court ruling invalidating a purported abortion ban provided an early window into the 2026 campaign—with challenger Chris Taylor saying that right wing Justice Rebecca Bradley’s dissent in the case was an “unhinged political rant, devoid of reasoned legal analysis.” We’ll review some of what the justices had to say on both sides of this landmark case. And Todd Allbaugh will get us ready for the 4th of July weekend.

Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from...

The theme this week in Madison and Washington, DC has been late-night sessions in an effort to find enough unified Republicans to pass both state and federal budget bills. In Congress, that meant all-night arm twisting until every last bit of conscience had been wrung out of lawmakers concerned that their big, bloated boondoggle would hurt so many Americans. In Madison, it meant rushing to pass a budget so very far from very good—but having to sign it at 1:30 this morning before the impact of what Congress is doing can be felt. We’ll try to sum it all...

In this week’s Climate Check, a lighter story about adaptation. The knock on solar farms has been that all those panels would restrict crop growth or grazing. It didn’t take long for folks to get creative in ways that make the panel mobile and even provide shade for cows while they graze! And we’ll get updates from Civic Media friends Earl Ingram in SE Wisconsin, James Kelly in NW Wisconsin, Jimmie Kaska in southwest WI with updates on how the new state budget will support UW projects and more.

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Rep. Angela Stroud will give us the full picture of a two-part deal that will lead to the removal of more lead water lines in Superior. It required more than faith in a single bill that didn’t do enough for private homeowners. And we’ll talk to a retired pediatric nurse and school board member about her letter to the WIAA critical of their new restrictions on transgender sports participation.

Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subs...

We’ll review reaction to the new state budget deal, perhaps best summed up as having something for everyone to like—and hate. The Joint Finance Committee passed it on Tuesday, so the full Senate and Assembly will both be in session today to consider it. Meanwhile, the US Senate passed the largest transfer of wealth and ending of healthcare coverage in American history—but that doesn’t mean Republicans in the US House will send it on to President Trump.

Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Me...

We’ll review the newly-announced bipartisan state budget agreement with Dan Shafer of The Recombobulation Area. It’s a deal that falls far short of what you’d see if Gov. Evers and advocates of education, child care, and health care had their way—and it’s far more than what would result if Republicans controlled the governor’s office. But is it enough to quell the voices telling Evers to veto the deal for not going far enough.

Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio networ...

Heavy rain last week put limits on fieldwork for Wisconsin farmers. We’ll review the latest conditions with Hans Breitenmoser. And we’ll congratulate the Trump administration for needing only five months to understand we can’t grow bananas, coffee, or cocoa beans here, so maybe those tariffs that drive up consumer prices need to be adjusted.

Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episod...

It appears Wisconsin will not see a protracted budget crisis—but the deal ain’t done yet. Gov. Tony Evers and Republican leaders in the Legislature announced an agreement on a new plan for taxes and spending. Will it be enough, however, for a couple of far-right Republicans to support it—or will GOP leaders need Democratic votes to get it across the finish line? We’ll detail the package.

Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the p...

We’ll talk to Jeff Mandell of Law Forward about their group’s lawsuit against the world’s richest man, hoping to stop people like Elon Musk from ever again being so bribery-adjacent during Wisconsin elections. We’ll catch up with our Civic Media friends John & Gordy, fresh off their show in Madison, and Jane Matenaer to find out what she’ll be talking about in her 9am show.

Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcas...

On Saturday, North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis seemed like a rare “profile in courage” for the GOP, voting against President Trump’s big bloated boondoggle. On Sunday, Tillis announced he’d decided not to run for reelection next year—adding his Senate career to the hashtag #ETTD, Everything Trump Touches Dies. We’ll talk to a Courier Newsroom colleague about the prospect of a Democratic pickup of an open seat in a swing state. Also: UpNorthNews reporter Salina Heller shares tales from her weekend with the US Navy’s Blue Angels during the Chippewa Valley Air Show.

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The US Supreme Court made a ruling on birthright citizenship that isn’t as broad as President Trump is claiming, but it does stretch out the legal fight to protect yet another basic right. Also: The state budget had potential to be done by today’s deadline, but it’s not happening thanks to Republicans in disarray. Plus Dr. Kristin Lyerly tells us about her weekend excursion to see the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday throug...

Pat and Dr. Kristin Lyerly talk about Emily Tseffos new column in Dan Shafer’s website The Recombobulation Area, calling on Gov. Tony Evers to use all of the tools at his disposal to get a good state budget: the bully pulpit, the veto pen, and the trust of the people. She and others want Evers to define a standard that supports education, childcare, healthcare, and more—and veto a budget bill that falls short rather than trying to fix it with partial vetoes.

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Former US Attorney Jim Santelle takes us through a flurry of US Supreme Court opinions being issued in the final days of their session—some of which reaffirm how extreme the right wing justices are taking American law. And our Week In Review panel looks at how the Trump White House wants those pesky reporters to focus the big bombs used against Iran and not on whether the attack actually worked.

Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Su...

We’re joined by Courier Newsroom’s Keya Vakil to find out what’s with all of the hype about New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. He’s either a refreshing breath of fresh air and authenticity… or he’s a clear and present danger to Gotham City. Plus: President Trump’s big, bloated boondoggle of a budget bill is unpopular with the public. We’ll review new polling numbers from Marquette and Quinnipiac.

Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9...

In this week’s Climate Check, it really is that simple — plastic bag bans work to reduce litter and damage. Also: Despite a Trump administration at war with cleaner energy, one automaker says it’s keeping its plans to expand battery development, even without tax incentives.

Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the progra...

Wisconsin will keep the same congressional map boundaries for at least one more election cycle, even though our 50-50 state has a map that gives 75% of the seats to Republicans. We’ll review the state Supreme Court’s refusal to tackle one gerrymandered map, even though it was willing to correct the one for legislative boundaries.

Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To l...

A new state Supreme Court decision has potential to radically change the way Wisconsin’s state budget process will unfold in the future—allowing the Legislature to expand a slush fund that gets around checks and balances from the executive branch.

Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media netw...

We’ll update the progress of state budget negotiations at the Capitol and ask Joe Zepecki about our politics being so broken that moderate legislators have to let their most extreme colleagues drag down their progress rather than working across the aisle to do things they know would do the most good. And we’ll have our usual check on Civic Media stories being covered around southeast Wisconsin with Earl Ingram and northwest Wisconsin with James Kelly.

Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Mond...

We’re joined by Dr. Kristin Lyerly, who testified in Washington, DC on Tuesday as part of the marking of the three-year anniversary of the Dobbs decision, when right wing US Supreme Court justices repealed women’s healthcare rights protected for nearly 50 years by Roe v. Wade. Also: Members of the Wisconsin Public Education Network announce plans for this year’s Summer Summit, an annual education conference dedicated to new skills, fresh information, and making connections.

Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday throug...

For the better part of 15 years, it would not have been a surprise to report that the Wisconsin Supreme Court, then under conservative control, was considering a rollback of clean water regulations. But with a progressive majority in place, the court on Tuesday upheld the state’s spills laws that ensure faster cleanup and accountability when it comes to things like industrial PFAS chemicals in our drinking water.

Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the po...

We’ll talk to Dan Shafer of The Recombobulation Area about a new Washington Post story on Wisconsin’s congressional districts and how the possibility of a mid-decade change in district maps could swing Congress to Democratic control.

Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to c...

There are many ways to illustrate the divide between Democrats and Republicans. One of the more recent ones is now officially at the center of the state budget debate, after Gov. Tony Evers said he would not sign a state budget bill that doesn’t include funding for a program that addresses the shortage of affordable childcare in Wisconsin. We’ll talk to a daycare provider who’s been leading the charge on making this issue more visible.

Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio networ...