Capitol Notes
News & Politics
About
There's never a shortage of political news in Wisconsin, from the governor's office to the Legislature to the state's elected officials in Washington, DC. Join WUWM host Maayan Silver and Wispolitics.com editor JR Ross as they highlight and provide context to the latest developments.
Episodes
- Capitol Notes: Wisconsin Senate sours on plan to spend budget surplus
Right here, folks: Everything you need to know about the $2 billion spending plan that would have increased school spending, lowered property taxes and resulted in $300 rebates went bust last week in the Wisconsin Senate. Why was it signed…
- Capitol Notes: Mail-in voting could be slower in upcoming midterms
There were small numbers of ballots that didn't get counted after the spring election in Wisconsin. Several voters even sued. What's the message for clerks and voters alike?
- Capitol Notes: Could Democrats take over the Wisconsin Legislature? And more
What the national Marquette Law School Poll shows about a potential blue wave and how it could affect state legislative and governor’s races.
- Capitol Notes: The 2026 Wisconsin Supreme Court race matters, people. OK?
Conservative-backed appellate judge Maria Lazar is running against Chris Taylor, an appellate judge who has support from liberals.
- Capitol Notes: Some Wisconsin Republican legislators not seeking reelection
Some legislators, including GOP Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, announced they won't be running again. How does that change the outlook for Democrats ahead of the fall election?
- Capitol Notes: How could Iran war influence Wisconsin elections?
Find out why the Iran war may pose a problem for Republicans this midterm year, and the latest on the state Supreme Court race.
- Capitol Notes: A new leaf in Wisconsin politics
A look at the legacies and impacts of Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers and longtime GOP Assembly Speaker Robin Vos who both aren't seeking reelection.
- Capitol Notes: Wisconsin Congresspeople, DHS funding and the SAVE Act
This week's Capitol Notes asks politics whiz JR Ross to lay out what's happening in Congress and how Wisconsin's representatives are approaching it.
- Capitol Notes: DEI on the ballot in Wisconsin
The Wisconsin GOP-led Legislature wants to put a constitutional amendment before voters that would change the state government's approach to diversity, equity and inclusion.
- Capitol Notes: The year ahead in Wisconsin politics
Midterms. Governor's race. Control of the Legislature. Legislative action on big issues. All that's ahead in 2026. Find out about it on Capitol Notes.
- Capitol Notes: A brand new challenge to Wisconsin's congressional maps
Democrats are bringing a new argument in their challenges to congressional lines in Wisconsin. Will it change anything before the 2026 midterms?
- Capitol Notes: Political implications of data centers in Wisconsin
Tech companies are trying to build data centers all over Wisconsin. Here's what to know.
- Capitol Notes: The shutdown continues
Some states have declared a state of emergency as FoodShare benefits pause because of the federal government shutdown. Wisconsin has not taken action. Why is that?
- Capitol Notes: How could the government shutdown affect Wisconsin?
The federal government has been shut down for about two weeks. This week’s Capitol Notes digs into the politics behind it and the potential effects in Wisconsin.
- Capitol Notes: Vaccines, free speech and the governor's race
How is Gov. Tony Evers' executive order on vaccines affecting access to COVID shots? What to watch for as the race to replace him in 2026 shapes up.
- Capitol Notes: How does the Wisconsin budget protect healthcare funding?
As the federal government sliced health care coverage over the next decade, Wisconsin, too, passed its budget. How will it impact people with Medicaid coverage, SNAP benefits or child care needs?
- Capitol Notes: Can Wisconsin pull a budget together?
Legislators in the GOP-led Joint Finance Committee are working to get a budget finalized. It then needs to go before the Assembly and Senate, and then the Democratic governor.
- Capitol Notes: The ABCs of school funding and tax cuts in Wisconsin
The GOP-controlled Joint Finance Committee is putting its stamp on the state budget. Last week, it took up K-12 funding and tax cuts. Will the plans survive Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' veto pen?
- Capitol Notes: Wisconsin & the federal tax and spending bill
The U.S. House passed a reconciliation bill in May. The U.S. Senate is taking it up. There's a lot that's unknown about what will actually pass, but this week's Capitol Notes lays out how it could impact the Dairy State.
- Capitol Notes: Latest on Wisconsin's budget and more!
Have you been thinking about how Wisconsin's going to pay for stuff, like Medicaid, given that the federal government is working to slice its budget? JR Ross of WisPolitics.com unpacks that and more on this week's Capitol Notes.
- Capitol Notes: A win for the governor's veto pen
What does a Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling upholding the governor's ability to set up a 400-year school funding increase with his veto pen mean for this year's state budget process?
- Capitol Notes: Can Wisconsin expect congressional redistricting ahead of 2026?
Supporters of conservative-backed Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel included the possibility that liberal-backed Susan Crawford would sign on to new congressional district maps for Wisconsin. As JR Ross of WisPolitics.com deta…
- Capitol Notes: Big takeaway from the spring election and a look forward
Susan Crawford won the state supreme court race by nine percentage points. JR Ross chimes in on what it all means and what to keep an eye on from Wisconsin's high court.
- Capitol Notes: 3, 2, (April) 1 — Countdown to the Wisconsin Supreme Court election
Hear about the donors, issues, ads and comments affecting Wisconsin's race that could, again, affect the ideological balance of the state's highest court.
- Capitol Notes: Updates on statewide races and the most-lobbied issue in the Wisconsin Legislature
A look at the latest in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, the race for superintendent of the Department of Public Instruction and what's fascinating JR Ross right now in the Wisconsin Legislature.
- Capitol Notes: Voters needed! Vacancy on the Wisconsin Supreme Court
On April 1, 2025 voters will go to the polls for yet another election for Wisconsin Supreme Court justice. Whoever wins will, again, determine the ideological balance of the court.
- Capitol Notes: Check out 'Swing State of the Union' Season 2
On this special edition of "Capitol Notes," learn about Season 2 of WUWM's "Swing State of the Union" podcast.
- Capitol Notes: A Wisconsin take on chaos in the federal government
This week, WUWM asks JR Ross how President Trump and Elon Musk's efforts to downsize the federal government could affect us in Wisconsin, including through the state budget or DEI efforts.
- Capitol Notes: Wisconsin response to Trump's actions on immigration
Republican President Donald Trump has signed a flurry of executive orders in his first week in office, including one seeking to end birthright citizenship. Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul has joined other states in suing to have the…
- Capitol Notes: A fountain of ballot questions and a session preview
Republicans want the electorate to weigh in on whether voter ID should be added to the state constitution. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers says the public should be able to get their own questions on the ballot. Which issue is likely to become…
- Capitol Notes: What's next for the Act 10 battle and Ben Wikler's candidacy for DNC Chair?
This episode of Capitol Notes examines the future of Wisconsin's Act 10 law following a recent court challenge and Ben Wikler's bid for DNC chair.
- Capitol Notes: We talk turkey on state taxes and (yes) more elections
Some are thankful for what could be an interesting fight over reducing state taxes, and upcoming competitive elections in Wisconsin.
- Capitol Notes: Here's what happened on Election Day in Wisconsin
“The signs were there:” Post-results analysis from JR Ross of WisPolitics.com on why Tuesday’s election may signal new coalitions in Wisconsin and what it could mean for future elections.
- Capitol Notes: How to read the Wisconsin election tea leaves
We're in the thick of "worry season" — aka a big election — and while WisPolitics.com editor JR Ross can't make predictions, he can tell us about the trends and what to watch for as results come in.
- Capitol Notes: Wisconsin is a political jump ball
It's "worry season" for both parties, says JR Ross, editor of WisPolitics.com. He explains how the campaigns are dealing with that in the dwindling weeks ahead of the November election.
- Capitol Notes: The presidential race, the U.S. Senate contest and the case of the 400-year veto
JR Ross, brings us up to date, less than 30 days before the election.
- Capitol Notes: There are just over 40 days until the election, so let's update a lot of races
A Team Trump bus is coming, Kamala Harris was just here, GOTV efforts are underway, legislative races are heating up, and there's a key House race debate this week.
- Capitol Notes: Every little thing could determine who wins Wisconsin
RFK Jr. left the race and is asking to be taken off the ballot in Wisconsin; Biden, Vance, Harris, Walz, and their surrogates are all crisscrossing the state. What's it going to take to win here?
- Capitol Notes: Wisconsin ballot controversies, post-convention bounce? Highlight this week
Before there can be a presidential election this November, there are disputes to be resolved over who can be on the Wisconsin ballot.
- Capitol Notes: What's at stake in Wisconsin's partisan primary?
This week's Capitol Notes is all about Tuesday's partisan primary and the slightly bigger one in November that may be overshadowing it. Tune in to find out about candidates and constitutional amendments.
- Capitol Notes: The RNC was here. What now for the GOP?
From now-official Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's speech to the VP pick of JD Vance, Capitol Notes
- Capitol Notes: The RNC's coming to Milwaukee. Here's what to know.
Delegates will officially nominate former President Donald Trump as the GOP's presidential candidate, take three. What else do you need to know about the RNC?
- Capitol Notes: Wisconsin Democrats mobilize for high stakes races at this year's state convention
Tune in for a preview of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin's state convention this weekend in Milwaukee from elections to resolutions and everything in between.
- Capitol Notes: Trump's been found guilty. What will it mean to Wisconsin voters?
It's the 34 convictions heard around the country. Or in some cases, muted. This Capitol Notes discusses what to look for in Wisconsin and national politics.
- Capitol Notes: What to expect when you're state GOP convention-ing
Wisconsin Republicans hope to drum up the base at their state convention in Appleton this weekend. Will it affect infrastructure this big election year? Fundraising? Give insights into GOP priorities ahead of November? JR Ross of WisPoliti…
- Capitol Notes: Protests, fundraising gap result in political headwinds in Wisconsin
What do protests on Wisconsin campuses mean for Wisconsin Democrats, and how will the state's Republicans deal with a fundraising shortfall? Find out on Capitol Notes.
- Capitol Notes: Introducing 'Swing State of the Union'
On this special edition of Capitol Notes, learn about a new politics podcast from WUWM — Swing State of the Union.
- Capitol Notes: What's the hold up on PFAS? And the latest on Wisconsin Congressional Races!
Millions of dollars in state funding to clean up groundwater contamination are going unused in Wisconsin. Why? We also look into how Democrats and Republicans are trying to leverage their candidates in the state's competitive congressional…
- Capitol Notes: What to know about Wisconsin's U.S. Senate race, effect of constitutional amendments
Do you want to know about the candidates for U.S. Senate in Wisconsin, what U.S. Senators actually do for people on the ground here, and how the candidates are approaching their campaigns? Tune into Capitol Notes this week!
- Capitol Notes: Primaries, drop boxes and recalls, oh my!
JR Ross, editor of WisPolitics.com gives the big picture on the upcoming presidential primary election in Wisconsin, the new lawsuit over drop boxes and the latest in the recall effort against GOP Assembly Speaker Robin Vos.