WORT 89.9FM Madison

Wisconsin’s largest utility provider We Energies is requesting yet another rate hike – their sixth since 2020, if state regulators approve it. At a time when many Wisconsinites are already struggling to afford basic expenses, the average residential customer would end up paying an additional 262 dollars per year by 2028. Corporate greed and data center development are to blame, according to Wisconsin Conservation Voters’ new digital ad campaign. Deputy Director Seth Hoffmeister joined our News Producer Faye Parks to explain why they’re speaking up. Image courtesy: We Energies.

Benjamin Skroch, Beloit Janesville Symphony Pops on the Rock July 4 concert WORT 89.9FM Madison with Ava Borell

Today on the Too Turnt Up Tuesday 8:00 Buzz with Tara Wilhelmi, Alex Carter A/K/A Twenty85 joins us in studio to talk about his story, music, and what it’s like making music in 2026. Keep up with Twenty85 on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lockinwit20/ and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/alex.carter.779940/ and YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@twenty1985 .. and find his music on all the major platforms! Keep up with Antoine’s comedy on Facebook: https://facebook.com/AntoineMcNeail Keep your eyes and ears out for more information on Tara’s next event at the Elks Club, coming up July 25th! Save the date for Chris Davis Sr Day on August 31st, more info coming up on the Buzz soon! Music from today’s show: https://spinitron.com/WORT/pl/22620236/Tuesday-8-O-Clock-Buzz Listen in Madison at 89.9FM or online anywhere at wortfm.org. Support your community radio with a donation online at wortfm.org!

ABC for Health is a Madison-based law firm that helps people navigate health coverage and medical debt issues. Their staff voted unanimously last Wednesday in favor of unionization – seeking better pay, more promotion opportunities, and a voice in the firm’s strategic planning. To learn more about the union campaign and how management has responded, our News Producer Faye Parks sat down this afternoon with staff attorney Tim Hennigan. Image courtesy: ABC for Health via Facebook.

Norman Stockwell, publisher of The Progressive Magazine recorded a quick interview with Trita Parsi, vice president and co-founder of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. They talked on Tuesday, June 16th and the Memorandum of Understanding or MOU of an agreed upon ceasefire was scheduled to be signed on Friday, June 19th. As it turned out, the President signed the MOU on Wednesday, June 17th at the Palace of Versailles in France during a dinner hosted at the G7 summit. Although they mention the agreement in the conversation, Norm and Trita Parsi spoke in more depth about the U.S.-Iran relationship over time than about the specific terms of the agreement, much of which was not known at the time. Parsi is a well-known scholar and expert on Iranian-U.S. affairs and we appreciate his taking time to present his analysis to our audience. For an update on the specific situation, see the Quincy Institute webinar with regional experts from Tuesday, June 23rd at http://quincyinst.org/events/breakup-will-the-iran-war-accelerate-us-efforts-to-craft-an-independent-foreign-policy/ Quincy Institute: http://quincyinst.org/ Trita Parsi Books: http://www.tritaparsi.com/books Trita Parsi’s Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trita_Parsi The Progressive Magazine: http://progressive.org/

A group of local historians are hard at work unearthing and preserving the rich histories of Madison’s neighborhoods. Using maps and oral histories, Make History Madison is a crowd-sourced, place-based public history initiative that encourages people of all ages to contribute photos, research, testimonials, and observations about the places in Madison that matter to them. On today’s show, host Douglas Haynes speaks with four guests involved in the project, Martín Alvarado, James Levy, Angela Richardson, and John Wedge.

A flavored cheese that earned a blue ribbon in the latest World Championship Cheese Contest will soon be available in supermarkets across the country. It was developed at a modern cheese plant located about thirty miles west of Madison. Bert Zipperer and Pete Hardin explain how Arena Cheese earned its reputation for innovation and creativity, in this edition of “The Milkweed.” Image courtesy: Arena Cheese Factory.

Madison’s new men’s shelter could clear one of the last hurdles before opening day, and city officials get feedback on the recent slew of budget engagement events. Brenda Konkel has the rundown on this week’s meetings, in this edition of “Forward Lookout.”

The Field to Frock Festival returns to Madison for its 2026 edition. We’ll talk with Leslie Schroeder and Jessica Becker of the Midwest Linen Revival.

The data on remote work is in. Economist Emma Harrington tells us the good, the bad and the ugly about working from home.

This week on Mel & Floyd: The Juneteenth episode; A solution for the reflecting pool; Schrodinger’s peace deal; A four ton elephant communicates its feelings at a GOP convention; Odd man out at the G7, And other random topics; Notice something missing? For the complete Mel and Floyd Experience, buy the CD “The Very Best of James Brown” and play it on your Hi-Fi while listening to this podcast! Or listen live at 89.9 FM or wortfm.org/listen-live/ every Friday from 1 to 2 PM Central Time. Photo courtesy Becky Phan on Unsplash

DJ Cooper Talbot joins guest host Jason Joyce to share her thoughts on Juneteenth, the Black National Anthem, and the DJ collective model.