America’s Fire

Battleground Wisconsin

We open reflecting on the horrific climate generated fires burning in Los Angeles as we record the show. The scale of the fires is unprecedented, yet they are already being politicized by Donald Trump as families are being evacuated, a likely preview of future presidential efforts to divide us when we need unity to make it through such horror and pain. In Wisconsin, we can see how the AI revolution is threatening the climate. Microsoft Data Center will be Wisconsin’s largest energy user, consuming more energy than all the houses and apartments in Milwaukee combined. Can we do this, and a second data center in Port Washington, and meet the climate emergency? We review the latest massive health system merger in Wisconsin that will surely continue to drive up healthcare costs. The state budget battle has begun. This week Speaker Vos took a shot at reasserting total control of the Legislature and the budget process, as he has for the last three state budgets. Vos threatened to do nothing to increase public school funding if he didn’t first get massive tax cuts for the wealthy and large corporations. Will the Governor or other state legislators stand up to Vos’ threats? We preview the 2025 Spring election as nomination papers are submitted and a new Voter ID constitutional amendment passes the Senate and heads to the Assembly for certain placement on the the April 2025 ballot We close by highlighting the great work of the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB), which finalized a new rule so Medical debt will no longer appear on credit reports for all Americans. The effort was part of a broader final push on anti-trust by the Biden Administration.