Political scientists often study voter and lawmaker behavior — and report on it after the fact. But now, as Wisconsin state lawmakers consider radically changing the balance of power in state government, some are speaking out about what they see as threats to the democratic system itself. They’re taking to Twitter, they’re writing op-eds […]
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 […]
Pledge Drive Kick-Off: Democracy and the Media
On today’s episode, we kick off the fall pledge drive with a conversation about the importance of independent media in the current political landscape. Allen is joined in the studio by John Nichols and Bob McChesney to discuss the threats to democracy, battling the 24-hour news cycle, and the role of media in culture and […]
Rebroadcast: Let’s Talk Big Data with Cathy O’Neil
Today’s episode is a rebroadcast from October 24, 2016. Patty is joined in the studio by Cathy O’Neil, author of Weapons of Math Destruction, to talk about big data. O’Neil argues that algorithms perpetuate inequality through their influence on advertising, jobs, education, voting, and democracy at large. Cathy O’Neil is a mathematician who has worked as […]
UW Students Investigate: Is Democracy Dying In Wisconsin?
For years, Wisconsin prided itself as a model for open, transparent government. The State has had one of the strongest open records laws and open meetings laws on the books since 1981, and its elections were generally seen as competitive and fair. But beginning in 2010, with the Republican party seizing control of all branches […]
The ascent of the alt-right
How did Donald Trump inspire the rise of the “alt right”? What role will they play in the upcoming Trump presidency? Today’s guest is Chip Berlet, an investigative journalist, research analyst, and activist scholar specializing in the study of extreme right-wing movements in the United States. As a human rights activist, Chip Berlet has spent […]