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PODCAST

Civic Media Spotlight

Civic Media is a pro-democracy radio network serving local communities in Wisconsin. Hear a sample of our best programming from the past week from across our statewide network. Listen Live: 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm Saturday Sunday

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All Episodes

41:08

Labor Struggles & Hope in a Divided America

Civic Media Spotlight ·

2025/08/29

In a gritty discussion, Maggie Daun and Rick Smith delve into the bleak state of the labor movement in America. They lament the erosion of union rights amid a political climate favoring billionaires like Musk and Bezos. Despite the bleak landscape, they express hope for solidarity and change through shared struggles. And we wrap up the week with a round of Ask Maggie and a visit from Teri Barr to tell us all what's good, local, and overlooked!Check out the Rick Smith Show here. The Maggie

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41:28

Local Governance and Democratic Party Woes

Civic Media Spotlight ·

2025/08/29

Maggie Daun explores the nuances of local versus state governance with Representative Bob Donovan, highlighting the immediacy of local government in addressing community issues. Donovan emphasizes the impact and swift problem-solving at the local level compared to the slower state processes. Shifting gears, political editor Dan Shafer and Supervisor Jack Eckblad dissect the Democratic Party's struggles, pinpointing the consultancy class and purity tests as barriers to unity and effectiveness. They

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0:00

Tariffs, Turmoil, and a Packer Trade Shock

Civic Media Spotlight ·

2025/08/28

Maggie tackles the economic squeeze as tariffs hit back-to-school shopping, driving prices sky-high while Trump's broad, indiscriminate tariffs fail to incentivize U.S. manufacturing. With the de minimis exemption's abrupt closure causing shipping chaos, consumers face order cancellations or surprise costs. Meanwhile, the CDC is in turmoil, with mass resignations over leadership upheaval and vaccine policy changes, leaving the U.S. vaccine program critically weakened. Amidst this, the Packers make a

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42:06

Billionaires Over Workers: The Big Brutal Bill

Civic Media Spotlight ·

2025/08/28

Maggie takes a hard look at the controversial “Big Brutal Bill” and its devastating impact on American workers, with a special focus on Wisconsin’s manufacturing and agricultural sectors. Joined by Heidi Shierholz of the Economic Policy Institute and Aurelia Glass from the Center for American Progress, Maggie unpacks how the bill slashes Medicaid, food assistance, and labor protections — all to benefit billionaires. She also examines the Trump administration’s ongoing attacks on unions and worker

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42:05

Defending Democracy: Bipartisan Efforts and Political...

Civic Media Spotlight ·

2025/08/27

Maggie leads a powerful conversation with former Republican Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen and former Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Mike Tate about the Democracy Defense Project, an initiative working to strengthen trust in elections across key swing states. Both guests stress the importance of bipartisan cooperation in countering misinformation and assuring voters that mail-in ballots, drop boxes, and other secure voting methods remain safe and reliable. Maggie also takes on Donald Trump’s

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0:00

Guns, Politics, and the Human Connection

Civic Media Spotlight ·

2025/08/27

In this hour, Maggie confronts the heartbreaking reality of gun violence in the wake of a tragic school shooting in Minneapolis. She shares her frustration with the nation’s reactive approach to gun control and echoes Trey Gowdy’s call for preventive action. Maggie makes a passionate case for common-sense reforms — including stronger background checks and closing dangerous loopholes. Later, Rep. Jodi Emerson joins Maggie to discuss her ongoing work to combat human trafficking, highlighting how

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44:13

CEO Pay and the Erosion of the Social Contract

Civic Media Spotlight ·

2025/08/26

Maggie takes on the issue of growing economic inequality, focusing on the massive gap between CEO pay and worker wages. Across the country, top executives at companies that rely heavily on low-wage workers are pocketing millions, while the employees who keep these businesses running struggle to make ends meet. Maggie is joined by Sarah Anderson from the Institute for Policy Studies to break down how corporate practices like stock buybacks inflate CEO compensation without doing anything to improve

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0:00

Data Breaches, Political Chaos, and Common-Sense...

Civic Media Spotlight ·

2025/08/26

In this first hour -- heads are spinning after a whistleblower revealed a massive data breach exposing the sensitive information of 300 million Americans, with allegations tying the failure to Elon Musk. Despite repeated warnings, cybersecurity lapses are pushing the nation toward a full-blown privacy crisis. At the same time, Wisconsin Republicans are looking to pull in more out-of-state donations, raising fresh questions about corruption and outside influence. Jim Santelle joins Maggie to discuss

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0:00

Rocking Therapy: Beats and Healing

Civic Media Spotlight ·

2025/08/25

Live from Milwaukee’s legendary Cactus Club, Maggie and guest Caitlin Taylor, music therapist at Children’s Wisconsin, explore how music transforms lives—from helping autistic children connect to regulating heartbeats. With stories of redemption through sound (like the stirring force of Stravinsky’s Firebird) and a spotlight on Ladies Rock band Middle Reader, this hour celebrates music’s power to heal, unite, and spark creative defiance.To find out more about Girls Rock and Ladies Rock or to see

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0:00

Rocking the Status Quo with Girls Rock

Civic Media Spotlight ·

2025/08/25

Maggie breaks the political mold with a vibrant live episode from Milwaukee’s Cactus Club, celebrating women in rock. She spotlights Girls Rock, an organization empowering young women through music, and features original songs from Concentration 64—a band formed at a summer camp built on creativity and collaboration. The conversation dives into the challenges of writing and performing, the importance of inclusive spaces like the Cactus Club, and the power of music as personal expression. To find

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44:02

Tariffs, Trade Wars, and Walmart Woes

Civic Media Spotlight ·

2025/08/22

Maggie and Dr. Gbenga Ajilore break down the far-reaching impact of Trump’s tariffs, from Walmart’s pricing strategies to the struggles facing Wisconsin’s family farms. As Jerome Powell hints at future interest rate moves, businesses are bracing for higher costs and uncertain trade policies. Walmart’s latest earnings call underscores the challenge of keeping prices low under tariff pressure, foreshadowing a difficult stretch for small businesses and consumers alike. Expect higher prices and shifting

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44:02

The Maxwell Mystery and Todd’s Tactics

Civic Media Spotlight ·

2025/08/22

This hour unpacks the explosive release of transcripts from Todd Blanche’s interview with convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell. Maggie Daun and Jim Santelle scrutinize Blanche’s ineffective questioning—raising the question of whether it reflected incompetence or a deliberate effort to shield powerful figures, including Donald Trump. Maxwell’s evasive responses offer little substance while conveniently absolving both Trump and Bill Clinton from Jeffrey Epstein’s scandalous orbit. Maggie and Jim

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0:00

Heroes and Hypocrisy: A Deep Dive into Rights and...

Civic Media Spotlight ·

2025/08/21

Maggie explores the importance of knowing your rights during protests, including guidance from veterans on how to safely interact with National Guard troops. She contrasts Donald Trump’s self-proclaimed “war hero” status with the real courage of people like Officer Daniel Hodges, who defended the Capitol on January 6. She also covers breaking news on California’s redistricting efforts and a Supreme Court ruling impacting NIH grants. Maggie challenges all of us to reflect on America’s shifting

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0:00

Brewers, Burgers, and Political Hustle

Civic Media Spotlight ·

2025/08/21

This hour captures Milwaukee’s energy—from the thrill of a live Brewers game update to the frenzy surrounding George Webb’s free burger giveaway. Maggie then shifts to the fast-emerging 2026 Wisconsin gubernatorial race, spotlighting Democratic contenders Josh Kaul, Sara Rodriguez, and David Crowley, and contrasting their centrist appeal with progressive voices like State Senator Kelda Roys and Francesca Hong. As Trump stirs controversy with new executive orders, local politics come into focus with

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42:04

Data Wars and Baseball Magic

Civic Media Spotlight ·

2025/08/20

Maggie Daun takes on the dangerous manipulation of government data under Donald Trump, unpacking Project 2025’s authoritarian blueprint with guest James Goodwin. They explore how efforts to scrub and distort federal data threaten both democracy and economic stability. Shifting gears, Maggie celebrates the Milwaukee Brewers’ remarkable season with team president Rick Schlesinger, diving into the team’s on-field success, financial impact, and future expansion possibilities. The hour closes by

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42:19

Trump’s Data War: Manipulation and Consequences

Civic Media Spotlight ·

2025/08/20

Maggie begins this hour by unpacking Trump’s escalating war on data, focusing on his unprecedented firing of the Bureau of Labor Statistics chief and replacement with E.J. Antoni—a partisan appointee with limited experience. This alarming move jeopardizes the reliability of economic data that businesses, the Federal Reserve, and government agencies rely on to make critical decisions. Maggie explores the far-reaching consequences of politicizing data: threats to economic stability, diminished

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41:46

Democracy, Detainers, and Détente

Civic Media Spotlight ·

2025/08/19

Democracy may rest on the people’s power, but why is Medicaid facing cuts despite broad bipartisan support? Maggie unpacks the contradictions while guests tackle ICE detainers and the growing reach of government surveillance in Wisconsin. The Brewers fall to the Cubs, but the bigger showdown is political: Trump doubles down on mail-in voting attacks, sparking pushback from former Wisconsin leaders as new contenders emerge for 2026. Dr. Melinda Brennan of the ACLU Wisconsin pulls back the curtain on

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41:33

Voting Wars, Trump Tantrums, and ICE Detainers

Civic Media Spotlight ·

2025/08/19

Maggie kicks off with the Milwaukee Brewers’ tough loss before diving into the political storms dominating headlines. Trump’s latest tirade against mail-in voting takes center stage, a move critics say targets marginalized communities. Maggie also skewers his eyebrow-raising appointment of Nick Adams as U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia—a decision already sparking protests. Back in Wisconsin, the political landscape shifts with new gubernatorial hopefuls and congressional challengers emerging. Guest

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42:26

Gerrymandering Showdown: Democrats’ Dilemma

Civic Media Spotlight ·

2025/08/18

Maggie and guest co-host Matt Rothschild square off over one of the most divisive issues in American politics: mid-decade gerrymandering. Should Democrats fight fire with fire in response to Texas Republicans’ aggressive maneuvers? Daun argues it’s a necessary strategy to safeguard democracy from Trump-fueled GOP tactics, while Rothschild warns that stooping to the same level erodes democratic principles and drags politics into the gutter. The hour also spotlights Justice Rebecca Bradley’s costly

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0:00

Trump, Putin, and the Ukraine Dilemma: A Heated Debate

Civic Media Spotlight ·

2025/08/18

Maggie and guest co-host Matt Rothschild wade into the murky waters of international politics, dissecting Donald Trump’s faltering negotiations with Vladimir Putin over the Russia–Ukraine war. As Trump fumbles for a deal, a pressing question emerges: should Ukraine concede territory to end the conflict? With geopolitics in the spotlight, they critique Trump’s cozy rapport with Putin and the emptiness of his diplomacy. Listeners join the fray, sparking fiery debate on the moral and strategic stakes

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942 results

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