Last week state lawmakers passed several bills in a lame-duck extraordinary session that will give the legislature more authority, a move that takes place a month before Governor-elect Evers and Attorney General-elect Josh Kaul are set to take office. Writer and journalist Dan Kaufman was in Madison to follow this extraordinary session, and he joins […]
Election Recap: Key Victories in Wisconsin
Hot off the press, we bring you the election results! WORT news director Molly Stentz hosts the hour with post-victory footage from the races for governor (Tony Evers, D), the U.S. Senate (Tammy Baldwin, D), and attorney general (Josh Kaul, D). For the second half of the show, she catches up with Dan Kaufman, author […]
How Progressive Politics Came Crashing Down in Wisconsin
If you walk into the Wisconsin State Historical Society Museum in Madison, you’ll find a good chunk of the building dedicated to the socialist and progressive politics of the Badger State. Historically, Wisconsin led the nation in thoughtful, progressive and pragmatic policy. Wisconsin was home to early abolitionists, was the first state to ratify the […]
The Future of American Politics: A Follow-Up Chat with Dan Kaufman
Last week, Thursday host Allen Ruff interviewed Dan Kaufman about his book The Fall of Wisconsin: The Conservative Conquest of a Progressive Bastion and the Future of American Politics. Their conversation largely focused on Wisconsin’s progressive past and the history of the Wisconsin Idea. This week, we invited Dan back for another telephone interview to hone […]
The Fall of Wisconsin, with author Dan Kaufman
What happened to the Wisconsin Idea? On today’s show, Allen interviews author Dan Kaufman about Wisconsin’s progressive roots. The people of Wisconsin have long believed in protecting natural resources and supporting public education and the university. However, Kaufman argues that the rise of Scott Walker and other conservative influences in the state have led to the dismantling of […]
Journalist Dan Kaufman on The Fall of Wisconsin
Tony Castañeda speaks with journalist Dan Kaufman, who’s reported on Wisconsin’s recent political changes for The New York Times and The New Yorker. His new book The Fall Of Wisconsin: The Conservative Conquest Of A Progressive Bastion And The Future Of American Politics gives a deep political history of state, from the formation of the […]