A Public Affair

Dec 11 2024 10 ep. 53 mins 78
A Public Affair Podcast artwork

A Public Affair is WORT's daily hour-long talk program. It aims to engage listeners in a conversation on social, cultural, and political issues of importance. The guests range from local activists and scholars to notable national and international figures.

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Educator Labor with MTI’s Jeff Knight and Michael Jones

Dec 11 2024 53 mins  
On Ali Muldrow’s last show of 2024, she speaks with representatives from the union that represents educators in the Madison Metro School District. Madison Teacher Inc. President Michael Jones and Executive Director Jeff Knight join the show to talk about the recent Act 10 decision and the quick appeal, the restrictions on collective bargaining that have been in place for the

A Conversation with Susan Abulhawa

Dec 10 2024 52 mins  
On today’s show, Susan Abulhawa, human rights activist and author of the international bestseller Mornings in Jenin, joins host Christa Bruhn to discuss her recent visit to Gaza and the dire conditions she witnessed and that continue. In the conversation, Abulhawa emphasizes the dehumanization of Palestinians by Western media and the influence of Zionists in shaping public p

Act 10: What’s New and What’s Next

Dec 09 2024
Last week, Dane County Circuit Court Judge Jacob frost struck down more than 60 sections of Act 10–the 2011 Wisconsin law that severely limits public employee unions. However, the implications of this ruling are complex, and it has already been appealed, making it too early for public employee unions to celebrate. On today’s show, Douglas Haynes speaks with two guests

Fighting Against Oil Pipelines with Paul DeMain and Greg Mikkelson

Dec 06 2024 54 mins  
Last month the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced the decision to issue Enbridge Inc a wetland and waterway permit with hundreds of conditions to replace a segment of its Line 5 liquid petroleum pipeline in Ashland and Iron counties. This happened while the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians has two legal cases against Enbridge. On

Senator Chuck Chvala on the 2024 election

Dec 05 2024 52 mins  
On today’s show, host David Ahrens speaks with former Wisconsin State Senator and Democratic Caucus Leader Chuck Chvala. They discuss the outcome of the 2024 presidential election and the Democratic Party’s failure to address economic concerns effectively and the overuse of emotional ads on both sides. Chvala suggests Democrats should shift their focus to working-class

Humanizing Political Issues to Counteract Divisive Rhetoric with John ...

Dec 04 2024 53 mins  
On today’s show, friend of the station John Nichols joins Ali Muldrow to talk about the currently political climate and discuss where we go from here. They get into the impact of campaign finance, the role of media in holding power to account, and what’s at stake in the upcoming Wisconsin Supreme Court Race. John Nichols is associate editor at The Capital Times, nation

Robert Creamer on Progressive Campaigning

Dec 03 2024 52 mins  
On today’s show, host Nada Elmikashfi speaks with Robert Creamer about his book Nuts and Bolts: The Formula for Progressive Electoral Success. Creamer cut his organizing teeth on Saul Alinsky’s campaign in early 1970s Chicago. Creamer is the founder of the Illinois Public Action, and is the co-founder of Democracy Partners, a political consulting firm still guiding pro

What to Know About the US Bill Threatening Nonprofit Status

Dec 02 2024 54 mins  
On today’s show, journalist Isaiah Thompson and Associate Professor of Law Maryam Jamshidi join host Douglas Haynes to discuss HR 9495. The bill, passed by the US House of Representatives, would allow the Treasury Secretary to strip nonprofits of their status if deemed to support terrorism. It has faced significant opposition, particularly from Democrats, and will likely fai

The State of U.S. Empire with Col. Lawrence Wilkerson

Nov 29 2024 53 mins  
 On today’s show we’re joined by Col. Lawrence Wilkerson, a self-identified Republican who was awakened to the “imperial hubris” of the United States after 9/11. He has since criticized aspects of US foreign policy, especially the Iraq War, and is in favor of holding military officials accountable. Col. Wilkerson and host Esty Dinur talk about the role of AIPAC in US for

Annual Fireside Chat with Will Williams

Nov 28 2024 53 mins  
We’re joined today by Will Williams for the 13th (or is it the 15th) annual fireside chat with host Allen Ruff. They reflect on the changes they’ve seen in the last few years,including the recent presidential election, and they discuss the settler colonial history of Thanksgiving. From the first official Thanksgiving in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1637 to President Abraham