Capitol Notes
Wisconsin Public Radio
There's never a shortage of political news in Wisconsin, from the governor's office to the Legislature to the state's elected officials in Washington, DC. Join WUWM host Maayan Silver and Wispolitics.com editor JR Ross as they highlight and provide context to the latest developments.
Location:
Milwaukee, WI
Genres:
News & Politics Podcasts
Networks:
Wisconsin Public Radio
Description:
There's never a shortage of political news in Wisconsin, from the governor's office to the Legislature to the state's elected officials in Washington, DC. Join WUWM host Maayan Silver and Wispolitics.com editor JR Ross as they highlight and provide context to the latest developments.
Language:
English
Episodes
Capitol Notes: The 2026 Wisconsin Supreme Court race matters, people. OK?
4/6/2026
Conservative-backed appellate judge Maria Lazar is running against Chris Taylor, an appellate judge who has support from liberals.
Duration:00:17:15
Capitol Notes: Some Wisconsin Republican legislators not seeking reelection
3/23/2026
Some legislators, including GOP Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, announced they won't be running again. How does that change the outlook for Democrats ahead of the fall election?
Duration:00:12:34
Capitol Notes: How could Iran war influence Wisconsin elections?
3/9/2026
Find out why the Iran war may pose a problem for Republicans this midterm year, and the latest on the state Supreme Court race.
Duration:00:15:30
Capitol Notes: A new leaf in Wisconsin politics
2/23/2026
A look at the legacies and impacts of Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers and longtime GOP Assembly Speaker Robin Vos who both aren't seeking reelection.
Duration:00:14:04
Capitol Notes: Wisconsin Congresspeople, DHS funding and the SAVE Act
2/9/2026
This week's Capitol Notes asks politics whiz JR Ross to lay out what's happening in Congress and how Wisconsin's representatives are approaching it.
Duration:00:14:40
Capitol Notes: DEI on the ballot in Wisconsin
1/26/2026
The Wisconsin GOP-led Legislature wants to put a constitutional amendment before voters that would change the state government's approach to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Duration:00:16:30
Capitol Notes: The year ahead in Wisconsin politics
1/5/2026
Midterms. Governor's race. Control of the Legislature. Legislative action on big issues. All that's ahead in 2026. Find out about it on Capitol Notes.
Duration:00:15:45
Capitol Notes: A brand new challenge to Wisconsin's congressional maps
12/8/2025
Democrats are bringing a new argument in their challenges to congressional lines in Wisconsin. Will it change anything before the 2026 midterms?
Duration:00:15:30
Capitol Notes: Political implications of data centers in Wisconsin
11/17/2025
Tech companies are trying to build data centers all over Wisconsin. Here's what to know.
Duration:00:12:44
Capitol Notes: How could the government shutdown affect Wisconsin?
10/13/2025
The federal government has been shut down for about two weeks. This week’s Capitol Notes digs into the politics behind it and the potential effects in Wisconsin.
Duration:00:13:50
Capitol Notes: Vaccines, free speech and the governor's race
9/22/2025
How is Gov. Tony Evers' executive order on vaccines affecting access to COVID shots? What to watch for as the race to replace him in 2026 shapes up.
Duration:00:17:15
Capitol Notes: The shutdown continues
8/11/2025
Some states have declared a state of emergency as FoodShare benefits pause because of the federal government shutdown. Wisconsin has not taken action. Why is that?
Duration:00:13:35
Capitol Notes: How does the Wisconsin budget protect healthcare funding?
7/14/2025
As the federal government sliced health care coverage over the next decade, Wisconsin, too, passed its budget. How will it impact people with Medicaid coverage, SNAP benefits or child care needs?
Duration:00:13:30
Capitol Notes: Can Wisconsin pull a budget together?
6/30/2025
Legislators in the GOP-led Joint Finance Committee are working to get a budget finalized. It then needs to go before the Assembly and Senate, and then the Democratic governor.
Duration:00:14:30
Capitol Notes: The ABCs of school funding and tax cuts in Wisconsin
6/16/2025
The GOP-controlled Joint Finance Committee is putting its stamp on the state budget. Last week, it took up K-12 funding and tax cuts. Will the plans survive Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' veto pen?
Duration:00:14:40
Capitol Notes: Wisconsin & the federal tax and spending bill
6/2/2025
The U.S. House passed a reconciliation bill in May. The U.S. Senate is taking it up. There's a lot that's unknown about what will actually pass, but this week's Capitol Notes lays out how it could impact the Dairy State.
Duration:00:14:10
Capitol Notes: Latest on Wisconsin's budget and more!
5/19/2025
Have you been thinking about how Wisconsin's going to pay for stuff, like Medicaid, given that the federal government is working to slice its budget? JR Ross of WisPolitics.com unpacks that and more on this week's Capitol Notes.
Duration:00:21:30
Capitol Notes: A win for the governor's veto pen
4/21/2025
What does a Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling upholding the governor's ability to set up a 400-year school funding increase with his veto pen mean for this year's state budget process?
Duration:00:15:50
Capitol Notes: Can Wisconsin expect congressional redistricting ahead of 2026?
4/7/2025
Supporters of conservative-backed Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel included the possibility that liberal-backed Susan Crawford would sign on to new congressional district maps for Wisconsin. As JR Ross of WisPolitics.com details, that may not be so easy.
Duration:00:16:50
Capitol Notes: Big takeaway from the spring election and a look forward
4/2/2025
Susan Crawford won the state supreme court race by nine percentage points. JR Ross chimes in on what it all means and what to keep an eye on from Wisconsin's high court.
Duration:00:04:00