Center Stage, with Milfred and Hands

Milfred and Hands talk with Joel Brennan, one of the least known Democratic candidates for governor with the most executive experience. Brennan has been far back in the polls and didn’t do well in the straw poll at the recent Democratic Party convention. Yet he’s raising a lot of money and starting to tout his impressive resume in TV ads and at campaign stops across the state. Brennan was secretary of the Department of Administration under Gov. Tony Evers and considers himself a “pragmatic progressive.” “You cut me open,” Brennan says, “I’m going to have Wisconsin values.” He understands that he needs to introduce himself to a lot of Wisconsin voters before the Democratic primary on Aug. 11 because of low name recognition. “That’s the thing I’m up against in this race more than anything else,” he says. The likeable Brennan ran the state’s largest science museum before joining the Evers administration and then leading a Milwaukee business and civic leadership group. He’s fed up with President Donald Trump, but says that’s not good enough for the state’s next governor, even though the Republican president is unpopular because of his war and rising prices. “If what people are looking for is just somebody who wants to howl in the wind about what’s going with Donald Trump, there are plenty of us who can do that,” he says. “But for me, it’s never enough just to be angry. It’s got to be about how do you use that to get something done.” Milfred and Hands ask him about schools, taxes, gerrymandering and his favorite card game.

Milfred and Hands talk to David Crowley about his bid for Wisconsin governor, which he says the GOP fears because of his broader appeal. He won reelection as Milwaukee County executive with 85% of the vote. But only 16% of voters in the Madison region know who he is, according to the Marquette Law School poll. That could change soon, because Crowley led Democrats in fundraising the last time numbers were reported, allowing him to spend money on advertising. Crowley touts his record of improving the finances of Wisconsin's largest county while reducing homelessness. 

Milfred and Hands analyze Gov. Tony Evers' prospects for a third term, should he decide to run for governor again next year. Only one governor in state history -- Tommy Thompson -- has served a third (and part of a fourth) term. Milfred thinks Evers could be well-positioned as the antithesis to President Donald Trump. Hands isn't so sure, suggesting the left is hungry for new faces and younger blood. Evers recently met with the Wisconsin State Journal editorial board, talking about his future, school testing and cellphone distractions.

U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh, calls tariffs a tax. President Donald Trump says they'll make Americans rich and powerful. It's a tale of two tariffs. Milfred and Hands break down the (so far) polite fray on trade between Wisconsin's senior senator and his party's president who backed off -- for at least 30 days -- on imposing 25% tariffs on trading partners and neighbors Canada and Mexico.

Milfred and Hands analyze Donald Trump's comeback win for the White House and why Wisconsin voters also chose progressive U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, who in many ways is his polar opposite. Our political podcasters try to temper lefty Madison's loss by talking up checks and balances as well as states' rights. Milfred loves Trump's flip-flop on electric cars, now that Trump's bromance with Elon Musk has blossomed. 

Milfred and Hands play audio clips from and comment on the Wisconsin State Journal editorial board's endorsement meeting with U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde.

Milfred and Hands assess the Middle America cred of both presidential candidates's salty surrogates. Both VP picks visited Eau Claire, talking guns, drugs, inflation, freedom and what's really weird. Our political podcasters play clips and comment each candidate's points and provocations. Wisconsin is giong to be seeing a lot more of these two, who play better here in many ways than either of their Coastie leaders.

Milfred and Hands play audio clips from the Wisconsin State Journal editorial board's meeting with Madison's new school superintendent, Joe Gothard. The Madison native, former La Follette coach and principal who left the Capitol City for Minnesota and ran the bigger St. Paul, Minnesota, school district. Now he's back for the top job here. Gothard talks about prioritizing all-day 4K, making Madison a "destination district" for families, and says he'll have zero tolerance for guns in school. "Zero tolerance isn't zero care about a human being. But it is about holding people accountable for the rules and expectations we have in school. And I want to be very clear about that."