Politics

Left perspectives on power and policy across Wisconsin and the Madison area.

Modified screenshot with obscuring, spiraling lines over parts of the front page of the Universities Of Wisconsin main page (https://www.wisconsin.edu). The text "13 Universities" is displayed in black text in a white box on the lefthand side. "Unlimited Opportunity" appears in larger white text on a black background below it. A female student smiles with her arms crossed on the righthand side.

The shady tactics shaping policy in the UW System

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Politics
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November 18, 2025

Unwritten "political deals," perpetual audit threats, and fear are being used to reduce educational opportunities outside of UW–Madison and UW–Milwaukee.

Latest in Politics
A cropped screenshot from a standard-definition online video shows a Black sheriff in uniform speaking directly into the camera. He stands in his office with bright natural light streaming in through the blinds behind him. A blurry American flag borders the video image, along with two sheriff badge seals along the bottom corners. Subtitles appear in between: "the Dane County Sheriff's Office didn't receive anything."
What Dane County needs vs. what Sheriff Barrett wants
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Politics
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November 12, 2025

The Dane County Board's 2026 budget amendments meet the moment.

A small in-construction sustainable home is shown at a medium shot on a bright spring day in Hillsboro, Wisconsin. Interior plywood is visible, as is the housewrap around the windows and front door. A small "For Sale" sign is planted in the leftmost foreground.
While barriers persist, factory-built homes are helping families realize ownership dreams
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Politics
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November 10, 2025

A more efficient, affordable development model helps Habitat for Humanity build more homes during a housing crisis. But some Wisconsin municipalities exclude manufactured homes from neighborhoods.

A white woman with shoulder-length brown hair sits at desk. She raises her left hand upward in a motion and leans forward slightly to speak into a microphone. A chairon at the bottom of the image explains that she is at a Madison Common Council meeting on October 7, 2025.
Another perspective on Dairy Drive
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Politics
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October 27, 2025

Madison Common Council President Regina Vidaver responds to David Rivera-Kohr's October 7 editorial.

A trio of men stand centerstage holding up a Puerto Rican flag and pointing out to a dimly lit audience clapping and holding up phones to record.
Resilience and strength in ethnic studies
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Microtones
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October 24, 2025

Federal attacks on representation can't overshadow visibility, as UW–Madison establishes the first Midwestern Puerto Rican Studies Hub.

A black-and-white illustration of the front of a very symmetrical two-story, brick building that was constructed nearly 100 years ago. Two people are shown at the front entrance. One hands a cardboard box to the other, suggesting that someone is moving.
Hidden Housing Histories: Joyce Funeral Home
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Culture
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October 13, 2025

Living in a 100-year-old ex-funeral home, I uncovered an unusual and dark piece of Madison history.

A black-and-white photo of a large outdoor billboard tilted at a left angle. In large black font, it reads "AUSTERITY ISN'T WORKING." Below that, a winding crowd of people wait at the unemployment office. In the bottom right corner, smaller black font reads "Britain's better off with the alternatives."
Unlearning the impulses of austerity
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Microtones
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October 10, 2025

If we're going to not only survive but thrive, we will have to do it together.

An angled photos shows a grey-black sidewalk that contains an empowering, activist message drawn in various red, yellow, green, and blue chalk. In large capital letters, it reads "HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT." Three purple perennial flowers are drawn below it. To the left of the message is a box of chalk and an upside-down cardboard sign.
Madison deserves better than the alders who voted to demolish Dairy Drive
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Politics
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October 7, 2025

Our current crises require a radical restructuring of the budget to meet the community's needs.

A crowd of protestors gather in the street. They include Illinois Congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh (at the center-right), who shouts into a white and red megaphone. Other protestors carry signs while wearing face masks and eye protection.
Wisconsin’s elected officials need to put themselves on the line
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Microtones
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October 3, 2025

Get disruptive, get arrested, get creative, but don't play along with fascism.

In a living-room area, Juliana Bennett, on the right, takes a selfie with Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Chris Taylor. Both smile widely and stare directly at the camera lens.
Juliana Bennett announces run for Francesca Hong’s Assembly seat
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Politics
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September 30, 2025

Bennett promises to be "a real agitator in a space that tries to constrict innovation."