“It is risky for the Republicans to write off Dane County entirely,” said Barry Burden, a professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “There are simply too many votes here.”
Category: Experts Guide
Michael Wagner on how AI can be used and misused in politics
UW-Madison journalism professor Michael Wagner explains how generative artificial intelligence tools by political campaigns raise questions of honesty and transparency that are difficult to answer.
The importance of science, and a weather update
Both advancements in science and the rejection of science have been a factor in U.S. politics. UW-Madison emeritus professor of chemistry Bassam Shakhashiri returns to talk about the connection between scientific understanding, reasoning and responsible citizenship.
Rob Ferrett is all over the map with Wisconsin’s state cartographer
Interview with Howard Veregin on “Wisconsin Today.” Veregin iss Wisconsin’s state cartographer, based at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and he’s mapping Wisconsin, real and imaginary.
New farmer survey could signal slowdown in Wisconsin dairy farm losses
Chuck Nicholson, ag economist and professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said the strong survey response could signal a change for the industry, even if the state is likely to continue seeing farms exit the dairy industry.
Opinion: Tim Walz and JD Vance have a chance to spotlight fatherhood during VP debate
Written by Alvin Thomas, an Associate Professor of Human Development & Family Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a consulting editor at the Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology.
2 years after fall of Roe, Democrats campaign on abortion rights, ‘freedom’
During an interview with WPR, UW-Madison Professor of Sociology Emerita Myra Marx Ferree said when Roe fell, “it was like this bucket of cold water poured on the public consciousness” and Americans began seeing the abortion issue as far deeper than simply having a choice.
“It’s fundamental, it’s freedom, it’s rights. It’s respect for you as a human being. It’s justice,” said Marx Ferree. “Freedom is not about buying coats or shoes or taking a vacation or not taking a vacation. Freedom is about determining the course of your life.”
Study: Past housing discrimination affects present childhood asthma risk
Dr. Jim Gern, pediatrics professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and one of the study’s authors, said the findings could influence the current public health approach to preventing asthma.
Trump expected to hammer border security during stop in Prairie du Chien
During a recent interview with WPR, University of Wisconsin-Madison Sociology Professor Michael Light said anecdotes used by politicians don’t always reflect the broader trends related to crime and immigration.
“Yes, immigrants have committed crimes. And immigrants commit less crimes than native born U.S. citizens,” Light told “Wisconsin Today” in July. “Both (of) those can be true.”
Elections can be polarizing. How are Wisconsin teachers bringing them into the classroom?
Wisconsin students aren’t required at the state level to take a government class. Some districts may have their own requirements, or government classes may be offered as an elective, but that lack of a state requirement can prevent students from learning about government itself, much less discussing and understanding current political events, said Jeremy Stoddard, a professor of curriculum and instruction at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a researcher in the Wisconsin Center for Education Research.
Overcoming distrust of West, one tribe in Wisconsin is partnering with UW for health care
These historic injustices continue to fuel distrust among Indigenous peoples toward Western institutions.
As a result, University of Wisconsin health officials were pleased when the leadership of one tribal community in northern Wisconsin recently agreed to meet about the possibility of signing up tribal members for clinical health trials. The entire tribal council for the Sokaogon Mole Lake Ojibwe Nation visited with health professionals at UW-Madison Sept. 11 and 12 to help build a cooperative relationship between the tribe and the UW Health system.
New York Post campaign reporter was a paid consultant for the Wisconsin GOP
Kathleen Culver, director of the Center for Journalism Ethics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said it is rare for political operatives or issue advocates to become news reporters.
“As a news consumer myself, I’m questioning whether the New York Post’s reporting is fairly covering races in our critical swing state,” Culver said. “That’s not a question for this staffer alone but for the overall content and tenor of the material the Post is putting out.”
When might the leaves start to change color in Wisconsin this autumn?
Expect the leaves to really start showing off their radiant yellow, orange and red hues in mid-October, says an expert at UW-Madison.
“It’s really early October when we start seeing the peak colors across the state — particularly in parts of northern Wisconsin,” said Steven Ackerman, emeritus professor with the UW-Madison Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences.
Study finds streamlining energy regulations could ease poverty on tribal lands
A group led by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison found historic federal policies deprived tribes of lands rich in natural resources like precious metals and fossil fuels. Even so, tribes were often left with lands most favorable for wind and solar development.
How a Florida lawyer with a checkered past became the go-to attorney for Wisconsin prisoners
The types of allegations Story has laid out can lead to expensive and difficult-to-win lawsuits, according to Steven Wright, a law professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and former attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.
“These are very hard cases to bring, both in terms of they’re expensive to develop the facts. The law is against your side,” said Wright. “It’s unequivocal that horrible things are happening at Waupun … But I am not certain, as somebody who’s a civil rights lawyer and who has worked for federal judges, that this is a problem that the federal courts are going to weigh in to solve.”
Autumn events and activities; Psychologist explains the ‘Olympic mindset’
First, it’s a roundup of fall events and activities with Anne Sayers, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism. Then, psychologist Shilagh Mergain of UW-Madison is back to help you build an “Olympic mindset,” and tackle whatever comes your way.
Janesville plans to take ownership of GM Assembly Plant site by early 2025
Carolina Sarmiento, who studies urban development’s impacts on working-class cultural spaces at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said redevelopment plans rarely include supports for existing businesses.
‘Rest is not necessarily best’: A new approach to concussion treatment
Long before anatomist Julie Stamm wrote a book about youth concussions, she was an athletic trainer. One fall, during her undergraduate training at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she treated a high school football player who got a concussion, and didn’t get better.
Survey: Demand for child care outpaces providers’ capacity
Hilary Shager, author of the report and associate director of the University of Wisconsin Institute for Research on Poverty, said not having enough staff was a primary reason for not expanding capacity, mostly among group providers. She said providers pointed to low compensation as one of their top issues.
Voter frustration fueled by lack of policy details on issues like health care, climate
The town hall meeting featured a panel discussion with two faculty members from the La Follette School of Public Affairs at UW-Madison who focus on climate change and health care policy, Morgan Edwards and Yang Wang, and Laura Olson, chief business development officer at Eneration, a subsidiary of Gundersen Health System that helps health care companies reduce their energy costs.
Trump, Harris drop big ad money in Madison media market
According to UW-Madison political science professor Kathy Cramer, political ads aim to achieve two primary goals.
“One is activate people who are already leaning towards them or their party — and ads can definitely help kind of remind people both that an election is coming up and reconnect them with their party and the leading candidate. But the other thing that they do is persuade people on the margins,” Cramer told the Cap Times.
A UW-Madison student’s racist video stirred outrage. Now, new ideas have been offered to improve campus climate
A racist social media video featuring a University of Wisconsin-Madison student consumed the campus in spring 2023. A Black student advocacy organization formed. Protests staged. A petition signed, to the tune of 67,000 signatures. And an ad-hoc group formed to study the Black experience on campus.
Rural Wisconsin Naloxone boxes, Understanding Noncompete decision, 1982 Brewers Doc
Last month, a district court judge in Texas struck down a new rule from the Federal Trade Commission banning noncompete clauses in employment contracts. A legal scholar from the UW School for Workers explains what this means for workers in Wisconsin.
Do presidential debates actually matter?
“It’s hard to say,” said UW-Madison Journalism Professor Michael Wagner. “Most of the literature in political science has suggested that debates don’t tend to matter in terms of who people vote for.”
Wisconsinites have lower blood PFAS levels than found in other states, new study finds
Wisconsinites have lower concentrations of “forever chemicals” in their blood than residents of other states, according to a new study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Wisconsin eggs cause multi-state salmonella outbreak
Ron Kean, poultry specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said many farms will choose to cull an infected flock after a recall to ensure the bacteria does not continue spreading.
In Focus with Corey Pompey: Directing the UW Marching Band
Murv Seymour talks with Corey Pompey at the Hamel Music Center about leading the University of Wisconsin Marching Band and crafting its musical direction in practice and on the field for Badgers fans.
Healthy lawns; update from the UW Arboretum
Turf expert Doug Soldat is back with his annual fall lawn tutorial. We talk with him about the latest in lawn care research.
In the last half hour Native Plant Garden Curator at the UW-Madison Arboretum, Susan Carpenter is back. She’ll have updates on classes and tours, and what’s happening in the fall native gardens.
Wisconsin towns are trying to limit CAFO growth. Big Dairy is fighting back.
“Demand for dairy products overall, both United States domestic and export demand, continues to grow,” said Charles Nicholson, an agriculture and economics professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Quagga mussels found in Wisconsin inland lake for first time
Jake Vander Zanden directs UW-Madison Center for Limnology — the study of lakes. He says both zebra and quagga mussels feed on phytoplankton, the base of the aquatic food chain.
“In effect, what they do is they will undermine the basis of the food web, and that can have impacts on fisheries,” Vander Zanden said. He added that the mussels create good conditions for algae growth, which gets smelly when washing up on beaches.
Wisconsin social studies teachers face restrictions, complaints for teaching elections
Whether information on elections and current events comes from a dedicated civics course or another type of social studies class, University of Wisconsin-Madison education researcher Jeremy Stoddard said covering those topics is vital to creating informed, engaged citizens. It can also reduce political polarization.
“Schools might be the only place where they actually get exposed to different views on key issues of the day,” Stoddard told “Wisconsin Today.” “Otherwise, people get their news filtered in through one way … If they’re not doing it in schools, that’s a real problem.”
Is a Postmodern building historic? The answer might determine a downtown office tower’s fate
The building’s homage to Flemish Renaissance Revival architecture − City Hall’s design − resonated with board member Sissel Schroeder.
“I think that’s what made this stand out compared to other Postmodern buildings in Milwaukee,” said Schroeder, a University of Wisconsin-Madison anthropology professor who voted to support 100 East’s nomination.
Wisconsin’s prison population swells as other states limit incarceration
Extended periods of supervision after release from prison do little to improve public safety, according to Cecelia Klingele, a University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School professor of criminal law. The long terms “may interfere with the ability of those on supervision to sustain work, family life and other pro-social connections to their communities,” she wrote in a 2019 study examining 200 revocation cases.
“Fewer, more safety-focused conditions will lead to fewer unnecessary revocations and more consistency in revocation for people whose behavior poses a serious threat to public safety,” she added.
J. Michael Collins on the US economy and low wage workers
UW-Madison La Follette School of Public Affairs professor J. Michael Collins discusses low unemployment, higher pay and stock market growth as economic indicators amid experiences of low wage workers.
Wisconsin voter ID law still causing confusion, stifles turnout in Milwaukee, voting advocates say
“It’s a small factor compared to not liking the candidates or not caring about the outcome,” said Barry Burden, a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and director of the Elections Research Center. His university colleagues published a 2017 study on the effect of the law.
Former croplands could be ‘sweet spot’ for renewable-energy production
Tyler Lark, research scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and one of the report’s co-authors, said some lands have been restored to natural ecosystems. Others, those perhaps currently populated by invasive species, could be the answer to big questions the country is facing about where to house increasing renewable-energy development.
“We ideally want to avoid our best and most productive ag lands but we also don’t want to encroach on pristine or native ecosystems,” Lark explained. “Formerly cropped lands might hit that sweet spot in the middle.”
Best personal loans for students
Do you have any advice for students shopping for a personal loan?
“Be realistic. Make sure you understand the terms of the loan and have calculated your expected loan payment,” says James M. Johannes, a professor emeritus at the Wisconsin School of Business. “Recognize that these scheduled debt payments will in almost all cases severely and adversely impact your ability to borrow to fund a car, house, etc. after you graduate until the loan is repaid. Be patient! Recognize that life is a journey, and you might have to live frugally until the loans are repaid.”
Column: A new era at California Endowment as longtime leader Robert K. Ross retires
One of those O.C. activists was Carolina Sarmiento, a community studies professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who sits on the board of El Centro Cultural de México. The Santa Ana nonprofit uses music and art classes to organize residents around issues such as gentrification and cultural identity, and it also puts together one of the biggest Día de los Muertos commemorations in Southern California.
“There were few foundations that would allow us to do the work we do, the way we do, and the endowment allowed us to do that,” Sarmiento said. She credits Ross with “leading the conversation in philanthropy on how to gift responsibly in a way that they’re not co-opting social movements but letting community-based groups lead.”
Food poisoning: Salmonella risk increasing, microbiologists warn
“Climate change will increase the risk of foodborne illness from consumption of raw produce,” said study author Professor Jeri Barak, of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
“It’s not surprising that a host is altered by disease,” said Barak. “What’s interesting is how these changes affect other members of the bacteria community, in addition to the pathogen causing the disease.”
Capitol Hill Campaign Committees explained by Barry Burden
Barry C. Burden, a professor of political science and director of the Elections Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, explains what the process of targeted races means.
Adult summer camps bring you back to fun, simple moments of childhood
“The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated loneliness among adolescents, young adults and older people,” said Bradford Brown, UW-Madison professor emeritus of human development.
“Dog Smart;” Treating common cardiac issues in cats and dogs
Interview about heart health for dogs and cats with Dr. Heidi Kellihan, a UW-Madison veterinarian.
Will independent presidential candidates swing Wisconsin results?
“I think all of these non-major party candidates are quickly shrinking away (in voter support),” said Barry Burden, a professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
How Black women In higher ed support each other with Rachelle Winkle-Wagner
Host Karma Chávez returns to chat with Rachelle Winkle-Wagner, a professor of educational leadership and policy analysis at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, about her new book, The Chosen We: Black Women’s Empowerment in Higher Education. They talk about how, as a white woman, Winkle-Wagner built trust with the Black women she interviewed for the book, and how her relationship to Black feminist theory–especially the idea of collective liberation–developed over the years.
New COVID-19 vaccine coming to Wisconsin pharmacies soon. Here’s what to know.
“If we go all the way back to the beginning of COVID, we are now starting to see that every year we’re having two peaks: a big peak in the wintertime and a lesser peak in the summertime,” Dr. Jonathan Temte said in an interview on WPR’s “Wisconsin Today.” “We’re right in the middle of that summer peak right now.”
Temte is associate dean for public health and community engagement at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. He also serves on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 Vaccine Work Group and the Adult RSV Vaccine Work Group.
Next round of COVID vaccines, Social media warnings for minors, Wisconsin folk songs in the National Recording Registry
A Wisconsin doctor explains what you need to know about the next round of COVID vaccines. Then, we explore the effectiveness of warning labels for social media sites. Then, we hear some Wisconsin folks tunes that were recently added to the National Recording Registry.
Harris, Trump in a tug-of-war for Wisconsin union voters
Historically, union leaders have been closely aligned with the Democratic Party, said Barry Burden, a professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. But the modern rank-and-file members, much like those at Local 180 in Racine, are more split, Burden said.
“There’s a little bit of a gap, I would say, between where unions as organizations stand relative to the Democratic Party and Kamala Harris, and where average union voters are,” he said.
Best savings accounts for kids
What advice do you have for parents who want to open a bank account for their child?
“To put into their children’s minds the importance of compounding of interest and that time is the great help in building wealth. also, to discuss the importance of FDIC insured banks vs. non,” says Phil Greenwood, senior lecturer in the Management and Human Resources Department at the Wisconsin School of Business.
Nearly 900 Wisconsin folk tunes part of the National Recording Registry in Library of Congress
What constitutes “folk music”?
Though musical genres are, by nature, difficult to define, University of Wisconsin-Madison professor emeritus Jim Leary gave WPR’s “Wisconsin Today” a fairly succinct answer: “Fundamentally, folk music is the grassroots music; the musical vernacular of distinctive locales and cultural groups.”
When and where to get the latest COVID-19 vaccines in Wisconsin
In general, people in higher-risk groups such as older patients or people with compromised immune systems should get the new shot as soon as possible, said Ajay Sethi, a professor of population health sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who studies infectious diseases. He advised those who recently had COVID-19 to wait to get the new shot until three months after infection.
UW study asks: How much of an inner voice do you have?
Gary Lupyan, a UW-Madison psychology professor, is looking at why some people report high levels of inner speech and others have little or none. In a recent study involving UW students, those with more inner speech did better at two language tests than those with less inner speech, but there was no difference on more visual and math-oriented tasks.
For many Latinas, Alverno College is a symbol of hope. Now, its financial future is unclear.
Achieving the designation is only half the battle, said Anthony Hernandez, educational policy studies professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The other half is competing against a pool of more than 500 other Hispanic-serving institutions for federal funding.
Wisconsin joins new federal online program for filing income tax returns
Direct, free and easy to use online filing was blocked for two decades in a lobbying campaign by the tax preparation industry, ProPublica reported in 2017. Former University of Wisconsin-Madison professor Don Moynihan has also written an account of how the original free-filing program hobbled.
Although PFAS in Dane County lakes are a concern, you can still enjoy the waters
WPR’s “Wisconsin Today” checked in with Christy Remucal, professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, about whether Madisonians should be concerned, and if so, to what degree.
Wisconsin’s inmate population swells as other states limit incarceration and close prisons
Extended periods of supervision after release from prison do little to improve public safety, according to Cecelia Klingele, a University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School professor of criminal law. The long terms “may interfere with the ability of those on supervision to sustain work, family life and other pro-social connections to their communities,” she wrote in a 2019 study examining 200 revocation cases.
“Fewer, more safety-focused conditions will lead to fewer unnecessary revocations and more consistency in revocation for people whose behavior poses a serious threat to public safety,” she added.
The surprising depth of human-insect relationships with Heather Swan
On today’s show host Douglas Haynes sits down with Heather Swan to talk about her new book “Where the Grass Still Sings: Stories of Insects and Interconnections.” Heather Swan is a poet, writer, and lecturer in the University of Wisconsin – Madison’s English Department. Her book tells stories of human-insect connections through the lens of science and art, with a focus on the way we can connect across species.
Physical therapists talk about treating wrist fractures, and surgeons research new burn wound treatment
Photodynamic therapy, used to kill skin cancer cells, may also be effective for healing burn wounds. That’s what our guests, UW-Madison surgeon Angela Gibson and medical physics professor Brian Pogue, hope to confirm through their newly funded research.
First of its kind ‘energy dome’ storage project takes another step forward in Wisconsin
Beyond partnerships between the utilities, Alliant is also working with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison College, Shell Global Solutions U.S. and the Electric Power Research Institute.
Oliver Schmitz is a professor in nuclear engineering and engineering physics at UW-Madison and director of the university’s Clean Energy Community Initiative. He said the Clean Energy Community Initiative helped Alliant craft its proposal for federal funding, and is providing support to the community benefits portion of the plan.
After RNC spotlight, Milwaukee Democrats Cavalier Johnson and David Crowley head to DNC
For those who are able to seize the moment, the attention can serve as a type of political currency to open doors and build credibility within the Democratic Party, according to University of Wisconsin-Madison journalism professor Michael Wagner.
“Politicians are ambitious. Politicians who are local leaders in places where there’s a national convention have an opportunity to parlay that ambition into some dollars, into some connections. But it’s not a silver bullet to the next step up the political rung,” Wagner said.
Wisconsin businesses say high interest rates have slowed expansion plans
Steven Deller, a professor of agricultural and applied economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said the Fed increased interest rates to slow the economy and bring inflation down — and it looks like it’s working.
“They wanted to put the brakes on the economy,” Deller said. “They didn’t want to slam the brakes. That’s what happened in the early 1980s (when) inflation was so out of control.”