Sheriff Mahoney - Last Night At The Capitol

Sheriff Mahoney was instrumental last night in keeping the public safe and allowing protesters to exercise their 1st amendment rights. Mahoney has shown tremendous leadership during these trying times, we are lucky to call him our Sheriff.

John Nichols - Peaceful Show Of Democracy At State Capitol

John Nichols and I look ahead to what's happening this week at State Capitol, where the momentum is swinging, and how protesters won a crucial battle last night.

State Rep. Mark Pocan

State Rep. Mark Pocan gives us a preview of likely cuts in Walker's budget, which he will announce tomorrow, and gives his thoughts on the protesters who successful stayed in the Capitol last night despite Walker's edict to kick them out.

Lori Wallach - Public Citizen

Wisconsin native Lori Wallach from Public Citizen joins me to talk about the difference between employees in the public vs. private sector, what happened to defined pensions, and how we got in this budget mess in the first place. Public employee unions are the group du jour for Republicans to go after nowadays but don't forget the assault on union organzing has steadily increased since Reagan took office.

Miracle On The Hudson Pilot Jeff Skiles

You need to forward this video to all your friends who are still supporting Governor Walker. This might be the best speech from all the rallies these past two weeks and Skiles message needs to be spread across the State.

Glenn Grothman - Protesters At Capitol Are "Slobs"

Republican State Senator Glenn Grothman tells me why he thinks protesters occupying the Capitol should of been thrown to the curb last night. I also ask Grothman if he thinks Walker will budge on his budget "repair" bill that strips public employee unions of almost all of their collective bargaining rights.

John Nichols - Bill Passes Assembly

John Nichols joins me to talk about the insanity that ensued after Republicans rapidly passed Walker's bill in the Assembly even though some Democrats were not present to vote. We talk about the rallies happening today & Saturday, and the long term impact this will have on Walker's term as governor.

Craig Gilbert - 2012 Election

Craig Gilbert of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is on the live line to talk about how the current division in Wisconsin might translate at the polls in 2012. Walker can be credited with forever changing the political landscape of Wisconsin, we'll see how it all shakes out once this crisis at the Capitol reaches a conclusion.

Attorney Lester Pines - Walker's Koch Call

Madison defense attorney Lester Pines gives his opinion on the possible illegality of some of the comments Governor Walker made to the now infamous Koch impersonator. I also ask Lester about how civil service laws compare to union representation in terms of protecting workers' rights.

Mike O'Brien - Artist Behind One Day Longer Anthem

One Day Longer - performed by OB and Kill the Autocrat

We have adopted Mike O'Brien's "One Day Longer" anthem (that he wrote for the USW strike in Sudbury) for our current labor strife here in Wisconsin. Mike will be here Saturday to perform for the protesters and I'm happy to have him on the program to explain what prompted this song and why he stands with labor in Wisconsin.

General Strike NOW!

Walker's union-busting bill passed in the Assembly in the wee hours of the morning to cries of "shame" from Democrats. It is time to call for a general strike to amp up the pressure on Walker. The Senate 14 can't stay in Illinois forever and it's time labor play their high card.

John Nichols - Day 11

John Nichols gives his commentary on the Koch call and gives us the details on the demostrations today at the State Capitol. ONE DAY LONGER.

Rally at the Koch Brothers Office Today!

• 10 E. Doty Street - One block off the Capitol Square
• Meet at 3:45pm in front of the Walgreens on E. Main Street on the Square
  

Former Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager

Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager talks about the possible ethical and even legal ramifications of the information Walker revealed in his conversation with the David Koch impersonator.

For more information from Ms. Lautenschalger read this article from the Cap Times:
Ex-AG sees ethics, labor law violations in Walker-Koch conversation, suggests inquiry

USW President Leo Gerard

The head of the Steelworkers Leo Gerard joins me from Pittsburgh to comment on Walker's now infamous conversation with a David Koch impersonator. Leo has seen some scary even criminal strategies used to bust unions and Governor Walker is reading right out of their handbook.

State Senator Jon Erpenbach

I speak to Senator Jon Erpenbach, who is still in Illinois, about one of the tactics Walker told the Koch impersonator he was contemplating to lure the 14 brave State Senator back to the Capitol.

Koch Call

Walker got punk'd by a Buffalo blogger and it has revealed the true character of our Governor. He is willing to use deceitful even illegal tactics to bust public employee unions and this was never about the budget. What do you think this says about Walker and what kind of impact will this have on the ongoing crisis at the Capitol?

Marty Beil - Day 10

AFSCME Head Marty Beil responds to Walker's fireside chat and whether a general strike will be called if this union-busting bill passes.

Ben Manski - Protests At WMC

Ben Manski from Wisconsin Wave is hosting a protest against Wisconsin Manufacturing & Commerce who has spent millions supporting the corporate takeover of our state government. I ask Manski about the growing corporate influence in Wisconsin and Walker's handouts to his big campaign contributors.

Join Manski & Wisconsin Wave to Protest WMC
Today - February 23rd
Picket from Noon to 1:00pm
Rally at 4:30pm Madison's Monona Terrace, MLK Blvd. entrance
wisconsinwave.org/

Jim Palmer - Wisconsin Professional Police Association

Jim Palmer, Executive Director of Wisconsin's Professional Police Association, is on the live line to talk about why the PPA and a majority of the officers they represent are against ending collective bargaining for most public employees. I also ask Jim how the Capitol police will be affected and what happens if Walker orders the evacuation of the Capitol.

John Nichols

John Nichols gives us more troubling details out of Walker's Budget "Repair" bill and tells us what happened in the State assembly yesterday.

Labor Protests Spread Across The Midwest

Ohio, Indiana, and Minnesota have all had protests this week in solidarity with our demonstrations at the State Capitol. Don't be fooled, there is a national movement to end labor rights across the country and people are starting to wake up.

Republican State Senator Glenn Grothman

I speak to a State Senator who believes Walker's union-busting bill doesn't go far enough. I ask Grothman for his thoughts on Walker's fireside chat and what it's been like working at the Capitol this week.

The Latest From John Nichols

John Nichols talks about Rev. Jesse Jackson's visit to East High and what's happening at the state capitol today.

ONE DAY LONGER

Maine State Rep. Diane Russell

County Board Supervisor Dianne Hesselbein & Maine State Rep. Diane Russell are live in the studio to talk about the state of labor on the national level and why Ms. Russell was so inspired by the protests in Madison that she drove here to show her solidarity.

Scott Hassett & Jim Olson from Lawton & Cates

Former AG candidate Scott Hassett & Attorney Jim Olson, both with Lawton & Cates, talk about the history of collective bargaining in the State. Lawton & Cates has represented labor unions as well as individuals for the better part of 50 years now. If this bill does go through, the labor peace we have enjoyed for decades might be coming to an end.

Peter Rickman- Teaching Assistants' Association

I speak to Peter Rickman, a UW TA, who has helped organized the overnight stays for over a week now at the Capitol. We talk about how Walker's bill would impact the UW system, whether the Governor will remove the Capitol protesters by force, and what the atmosphere has been like in the rotunda.

Takin' It To The Streets

It's been a crazy week and we have been forgoing our usual caller-centric programming to give time to union leaders & politicians who have news about the continuing struggle for workers rights in Wisconsin. I did devote some time today to your calls and we play some outrageous clips from FOX and those freedom-loving radio hosts out of Milwaukee.