Like many other events in the wake of COVID-19, this year’s State of State looked much different. For the first time in state history, Democratic Governor Tony Evers gave the annual address virtually, starting his speech with some lightheartedness on the situation. “Tonight’s speech will take a heckuva lot less time and since you’re watching […]
“It’s a mess:” Unpacking Wisconsin’s redistric...
Next year, Wisconsin will begin redrawing legislative and congressional district lines. The once-every-decade process uses returns from the U.S. Census to redistrict voters throughout the state. The effort is often bogged down in bureaucratic and political machinations — as lawmakers jockey for the ability to choose their voters for the next decade. This year, in […]
Democratic Candidates for Open Assembly Seat Present Their Positions i...
The Capital Times held a forum last night for the seven Democratic candidates running to represent Wisconsin’s 76th Assembly District. The incumbent, state representative Chris Taylor, is leaving the seat to serve on the Dane County Circuit Court. The 76th Assembly District contains the northeast parts of Madison, including the Truax Air Force Base. In […]
Michael Li on COVID-19, the census, and redistricting
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all parts of life, including the 2020 census and subsequent redistricting. Michael Li, Senior Counsel at the Brennan Center for Justice, has researched this in his report “How Changes to the 2020 Census Timeline will Impact Redistricting”. He also reports on redistricting litigation in the courts.
What You Need to Know About the 2020 Census
We’re in the midst of a United States Census year—what does that mean for social and political life? For this episode, we get a historical perspective on the census with historian Margo Anderson and a peek into local efforts to make sure everyone is counted with Brenda González, chair of the City of Madison’s Complete […]
Counted But Not Represented: Prison Gerrymandering in Wisconsin
With the 2020 census shortly underway, we spend today’s episode exploring an overlooked aspect of representation and democracy: prison gerrymandering. Our first guest is independent journalist Natasha Haverty, who recently reported on prison gerrymandering in Wisconsin for a segment on Reveal. She and Carousel discuss the prison population in Wisconsin, how the census is used […]
