Mornings with Pat Kreitlow

The party’s over. We wrap things up with a preview from Mike Clemens of Saturday’s Packers-Bears matchup. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guest: Mike Clemens

We’ll have one more go-round with our Week In Review panel and ask them “what have we learned” in 2025 — and how can we take those lessons and apply them toward getting our country back on track in 2026. Given that the president just renamed a nationally cherished facility as the Trump Kennedy Center, we clearly have our work cut out for us. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guests: Jim Santelle, Mark Jacob, Jennifer Schulze

They say the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice… but that doesn’t mean there won’t be some injustices along the way. Donald Trump’s police state wins a round by securing a felony conviction for a judge who stood up for independent courts free from chaos, interference, and intimidation. We begin our goodbyes as “Mornings with Pat Kreitlow” ends its run on Civic Media. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guests: Greg Bach, Luke Mathers

It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy for those who want government to fail: Slash what’s working, blame government itself for being dysfunctional, rinse, repeat. We’ll talk to Joe Zepecki about the latest moves that reduce customer service and increase cynicism about how things work in Madison. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guests: Joe Zepecki, Chad Holmes

A new report by a nonpartisan research group needed more than 2,300 words to describe why this month’s property tax bills for 2025 are so much higher than last year. They really only needed a handful of words to connect the dots: A Republican Legislature passed the buck. Rather than contribute a fair share to local governments and the education of our children, GOP lawmakers once again forced municipalities and educators to look like the bad guys just to maintain current services. Also: Sean O’Malley has the latest view of a still-slumping job market. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guest: Sean O’Malley

In Congress, a discharge petition is an extremely rare tool. A majority of members can sign it to force a full vote on a matter, even if the leadership wants to keep it bottled up. For the fourth time, House Speaker Mike Johnson has had his hand forced by members of his own party joining with Democrats. This time, it’s to allow an up-or-down vote on resurrecting the tax credits that helped keep health insurance affordable for 20 million Americans. It’s only the latest sign of economic dysfunction from GOP lawmakers and the president, as we’ll show with some end-of-the-year Wisconsin numbers. Also: Grumpy president screams at TV cameras in a not-at-all unhinged “speech” about the economy. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guest: Cherita Booker

One of our favorite long-running stories on this show got the nickname “Pigeon Quest” because Melissa Kaye, from our Civic Media station in Wisconsin Rapids, embarked on a detailed mission to adopt a rescue pigeon. So, yes, we learned that rescue pigeons are a thing. Before we sign off, we wanted to get a final update from Melissa and LeeLu, who had been slow to acclimate to its new surroundings. We’ll ask if LeeLu has finally taken flight… around the living room, anyway. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guests: Melissa Baldauff, Melissa Kaye, Earl Ingram

We mark the final installment of Homeroom, our weekly segment about protecting public education in Wisconsin, with the two people most responsible for making it a prime focus of our show: Heather DuBois Bourenane, Chris Hambuch-Boyle and many more from the Wisconsin Public Education Network. We’ll explain the stakes of the 2026 election on property taxes and the future health of our community schools. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guests: Heather DuBois Bourenane, Chris Hambuch-Boyle, Ellie Bourdo

There have been more unusual events in 2025 than we care to count — and one of the stranger ones took place Tuesday when Vanity Fair published the result of 11 (yes, eleven) interviews conducted with Trump’s chief of staff. Susie Wiles was extremely candid about the president and almost everyone in his inner circle — and none of it makes them look better. So what’s been the MAGA reaction? Attack the report and the writer, while not claiming that anything in the piece was factually wrong. Sure, Susie. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube.

There is no bottom: Donald Trump will always find a way to sink even lower than the last time you thought he’d couldn’t be worse. This time, Trump is getting a fair amount of criticism from fellow Republicans for a social media post about murdered director Rob Reiner. Makes you wonder who the real “Meathead” is now. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guests: Dan Shafer, Cam Stevenson

There are lots of holiday gifts you can wrap, but others you need to experience. We’ll talk to Sheila Everhart of the Wisconsin Agricultural Tourism Association about giving the gift of events in rural Wisconsin. We’ll also hear from Hans Breitenmoser about last weekend’s Wisconsin Farmers Union annual convention. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guests: Hans Breitenmoser, Sheila Everhart

As we often say here: Those who hate government the most should be trusted the least to run it competently. The latest example comes from Republicans in the Legislature who refused a request to allocate the funds to speed up customer service for professional licensing. It’s easy to say government doesn’t work when you’re the one throwing sand in the gears. Lawmakers also announced an “investigation” into Attorney General Josh Kaul, conveniently timed to happen during an election campaign. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube.

The CEO of WisconsinEye talks to us about the network going dark — unable to continue its work of covering state government due to a lack of funding. We’ll ask why such a vital service has to beg for financial support. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guest: Jon Henkes

Former GOP Congressman Reid Ribble joins us to talk about the lack of a serious Republican healthcare plan — something he says shouldn’t be the case. We’ll hear his suggestions to his old colleagues. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guests: Salina Heller, Reid Ribble

CBS could have used their time Saturday to honor Dick Van Dyke on his 100th birthday, given his many shows over many years. Instead, the new right wing regime chose to turn the airwaves over to the widow of Charlie Kirk. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guest: Dr. Kristin Lyerly

A lot of Wisconsin political insiders sure like asking questions about Mandela Barnes: Can he win a general election? Can he raise $50 million to run for governor? Is the attention he’s getting from Republicans a sign of weakness or strength? How about if we ask him directly — because he joins us live this morning. Also: Mike Clemens previews the Packers in Denver on Sunday… and then playing again six days later in Chicago. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guests: Mandela Barnes, Mike Clemens

We’ll ask our Week In Review panel about some of the headlines of the past few days. Republicans had to back off their desire to force grieving women to scoop up the remains of a miscarriage and put it in a medical waste bag. President Trump lost two more court cases involving persecution without due process. And is the White House ever going to live up to its promise to tackle inflation — or will they stick with the laughable argument that affordability worries are just a hoax? Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guests: Dr. Kristin Lyerly, Jim Santelle, Joan Esposito

Some of us are old enough to remember when the United States Senate had a vaunted reputation as the world’s greatest deliberative body. Weighty issues would be debated by senators with the security of six-year terms, resistant to the political winds of the moment, and grand compromises could be achieved. Those days, of course, are gone — put on display most tellingly Thursday when a majority of 51 votes still wasn’t enough to stop Republicans’ plans to make Americans pay exhaustingly higher health insurance premiums, just to make a political point. Courier Newsroom’s Keya Vakil gives us a summary. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guest: Keya Vakil

With Joel Brennan joining the race for governor, we’ll ask political strategist Joe Zepecki if there’s anyone else in the pipeline or are we seeing the likely field of candidates between now and the primary next August. He’ll also react to another “interesting” week in Washington, DC. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guests: Joe Zepecki, Chad Holmes

Joel Brennan, a former top official in Gov. Tony Evers' administration, joins us live — after making it official that he’s joining a crowded field of Democrats hoping to succeed Evers. Brennan said he can differentiate himself from his rivals with his 25 years of experience in the private sector that includes time as president of the Greater Milwaukee Committee. And Sean O’Malley gives us an update on your money and the markets — and a market bubble powered by hype more than any genuine government data. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guests: Joel Brennan, Sean O’Malley

There is a major typographical error on every Wisconsin property tax bill that people are seeing this week. The numbers are correct — they are higher, but the people responsible for the higher property taxes aren’t listed on the bill. We’ll explain how the line that lists the name of your local school district should be replaced with “Here’s the cost of 15 years of Republicans running the Legislature.” Also: Cherita Booker outlines some more great events happening around our state this week. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guest: Cherita Booker

When it comes to expensive political campaigns, Wisconsin shatters more records than a jukebox pushed down the stairs. Candidates have to raise big bucks — Mandela Barnes told our Earl Ingram he plans to raise $50 million — but they’ll still be dwarfed by outside groups with seemingly limitless piles of money. We’ll find out what else Earl asked the candidate for governor. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guests: Melissa Baldauff, Earl Ingram

For all of the partisan disagreements about the state budget, there was one area (one!) that seemed to have bipartisan agreement: raising the level of state reimbursement to local school districts to help offset the heavy expense of special education. But the actual reimbursement level this year isn’t close to what was sought in the budget. We’ll ask Rep. Angelina Cruz (D-Racine) why that happened and what her “Keep Our Promise” bill would do to change the way special education is funded in Wisconsin. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guests: Angelina Cruz, Ellie Bourdo

It’s back to the future for Wisconsin license plates. We’ll talk about the unveiling of two new designs for Wisconsin vehicles. Well, not exactly new. Our state has seen both yellow plates with black numbers and black plates with white numbers over the years. But both retro looks appear poised to become instantly popular. Also: President Trump holds a campaign style rally in Pennsylvania to make claims that he’s doing something about inflation. We’ll provide the necessary fact-checks. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has agreed to take up a case that could freeze ICE out of using space in county jails for the people it rounds up in order to meet arbitrary and racist quotas from the Trump administration. Taking note of how masked federal agents are aiming guns at civilians, smashing out car windows, dragging parents from their children, putting people who haven’t committed crimes behind bars, and flying people out of the country without due process, Wisconsin Examiner editor-in-chief calls it a campaign of terror that the state Supreme Court would be right to rein in. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guests: Ruth Conniff, Cam Stevenson

We’ll be joined by Mayor Jim Paine of Superior, first to discuss a weekend incident that left a police officer shot and wounded. Then we’ll discuss the community reaction to his detailed social media post, where he outlined the things he thinks should be high priorities issues when trying to address the shortage of affordable housing in his community. As always, the topic is accompanied by the thorny issue of homelessness in our hometowns. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guests: Dan Hagen, Jim Paine

Wisconsin has continually smashed its own records for expensive political races, in part because the US Supreme in the past has been hostile toward limits on campaign contributions. Now, it’s as if Justice Kavanaugh is saying, “Hold my beer.” The court will hear arguments Tuesday that could wipe out the remaining barrier and allow billionaires to bypass limits on campaign donations by letting them use political parties as legal laundering tools. Former Sen. Russ Feingold filed a brief in the case that could have simply said, “Told you so.” Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube.

When Republicans decided to allow health insurance premiums to skyrocket starting next month, they put a load of pain on small business owners who can’t offer coverage to their workers. From local merchants to mid-sized manufacturers to farmers, they’re all facing sharply higher costs. We’ll talk to the national director of Main Street Alliance about how they plan to tell voters to be aware of the members of Congress who voted to make their lives more expensive, including a key race in western Wisconsin. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guest: Richard Trent

Our Question of the Week is about wedding barns. Around Wisconsin, entrepreneurial families are converting barns or creating scenic rural venues for events — but a major conflict has erupted over liquor licensing and sales. The barn operators say these businesses can’t compete with full-time bars and banquet halls if they can’t rely on food and beverage sales as well as rental fees. Others disagree and say these venues can choose not to follow the law and let customers bring their own alcohol instead. We’ll ask what you’d do if you were a legislator deciding which side to support. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guests: Dr. Kristin Lyerly, Salina Heller

The United States may be on the verge of losing the independent agencies that oversee consumer protection, worker protection, and environmental protection — replaced with nothing but lackeys of whichever politician has the most power. A right-wing group that favors unitary executive power — at least when a conservative is president — will argue their case Monday before the US Supreme Court, with a Chief Justice in John Roberts who has been pushing for this for 40 years, dating back to his days working in the Reagan administration. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guest: Dr. Kristin Lyerly

Once upon time, baseball teams had two uniform colors: white uniforms at home, gray uniforms on the road. How times have changed. We now know what the Milwaukee Brewers will be wearing when they’re the visiting club. The question is whether powder blue uniforms deliver some level of intimidation or if they’re simply a nice way to turn nostalgia into revenue from fans. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guests: Dr. Kristin Lyerly, Mike Clemens

The US Supreme Court has a process for handling emergency cases that need quick and temporary rulings while the larger case works its way up from lower courts. But right-wing justices have taken the “shadow docket” in a sharply political direction, including a Thursday ruling that allows Texas Republicans to use a newly-rigged map for its 2026 congressional elections. That’s one of the many stories we’ll cover with our Week In Review panel. We also continue our 12 Days of Kindness by talking with Amery Hospital & Clinic Foundation. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guests: Jim Santelle, Mark Jacob, Jennifer Schulze, Lisa Ruehlow

Is the wood-paneled station wagon on the verge of making a comeback? Sean Duffy hopes so. The Trump administration this week rolled back environmental rules on automobiles, and his transportation secretary told an interviewer it’s all about choice and that even the ol’ “woodie” might make a comeback. Needless to say, the folks on the interwebs had a field day with Duffy’s dream of a gas guzzler that smells of Virginia Slims and hopelessness. Also: Greg Bach joins for our history lesson and gives an update on the Laughing Tap and their fundraiser for their new location. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guests: Greg Bach, Keya Vakil

We’ll talk to political strategist Joe Zepecki about this week’s announcement that former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes is joining a crowded field of Democrats hoping to be elected governor next year. And we’ll ask financial expert Sean O’Malley about the latest economic data that isn’t doing anything to dispel the concerns that an AI stock bubble is the only thing keeping the US economy from teetering toward a recession. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guests: Joe Zepecki, Sean O’Malley

The pardon power of the president is absolute, which makes it the perfect target for absolute abuse. President Obama issued 212, President Biden granted 80, President Trump pardoned 144 people in his first term. So far in his second term, Trump has issued more than 1,500 pardons to people convicted of crimes. We’ll ask Congressman Mark Pocan whether anything can be done or if we should resign ourselves to knowing that electing a convicted criminal as president would lead to the prison gates being swung open. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guest: Mark Pocan

Mistakes happen to all of us — and most of us try to make a correction when they’re caught. But in MAGA World, you’re supposed to hold firm to your assertions, even when facts get in the way. How else to explain why a Wisconsin Supreme Court justice (a former chief justice, in fact) used a fake quote to give a US Supreme Court ruling the opposite interpretation of what it really did? And she still hasn’t fully corrected the record in a case that could lead to an overdue breakup of Wisconsin’s congressional maps gerrymandered by the far-right. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guest: Cherita Booker

Pediatrician Dr. Kellie Snooks joins us with an update on her UpNorthNews video series, Raising Wisconsin. This month, she reviews the misinformation being spread about Tylenol use in children by people who should know better. Same goes for flu shots. We’ll also have this week’s Climate Check with Melissa Baldauff. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guest: Kellie Snooks

Political trivia: It was in 1913 that US Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis first coined the phrase “sunlight is the best disinfectant” when it comes to politics and shining a public light on matters that others would rather have staying in the dark. To that end, we’ll have an update in our Homeroom segment on the growing push to make sure taxpayers know about the growing price tag of private school vouchers that drain resources from Wisconsin’s public schools. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guests: Chris Hambuch-Boyle, Donna Ambrose

A Wisconsin-based movie might be the feel-good film of the holiday season. We’ll talk about how actor Hugh Jackman is in Milwaukee for the premiere of “Song Sung Blue,” telling the story of a couple whose Neil Diamond tribute band was a bit of a local sensation in the 1980s and ‘90s. With a host whose mom raised him on a steady diet of Neil Diamond tunes, we’ll ask about your guilty musical pleasures. It’s okay, you can admit you still listen to a lot of the Carpenters — or worse, Nickelback! Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube.

Dan Shafer will react to the news about an expanded Democratic field of candidates for governor. Pat also reacts to some of the pardons that president Trump has signed. Later, we begin our 12 days of kindness and talk to folks from Feeding America. We also talk a little Bucks as they slip and fall in Washington. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guests: Dan Shafer, Cameron Wengrzyn

While there was some activity during the recent fall legislative session, there were plenty of matters that didn’t get addressed. That includes new restrictions on “wedding barns” and other special venues that could put them out of business at a time when the rural economy needs all the help it can get. We’ll talk to wedding barn owner Jean Bahn, farmer Hans Breitenmoser, and Sheila Everhart of the Wisconsin Agricultural Tourism Association. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guests: Hans Breitenmoser, Sheila Everhart, Brian Lemek, Jean Bahn

This morning, former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes formally announced his entry into the 2026 race to be Wisconsin’s next governor. He joins the current lieutenant governor, a county executive, a couple of legislators, and others running in the Democratic field. We’ll hear Barnes’ opening pitch to do things the “Wisconsin Way” rather than Donald Trump’s “Washington Way.” Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube.

As much as we might want to put some troublesome history in our rearview mirror, the fact remains that America is still haunted by the events of 2020: an unchecked pandemic, a fiery public pushback against police violence, and a president willing to fan the flames. Few know the weight of local leadership during that time any better than Wauwatosa Mayor Dennis McBride who underwent a baptism by fire as a newly-elected city leader that was a microcosm of American unrest. His new book provides a five-year look back at the events that put him under siege in his own home for nearly 100 days. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guests: Emily Berge, Dennis McBride

To slightly modify the lyrics from Wicked: “Donald, why couldn't you have stayed calm for once? Instead of flying off the handle!” The president loves to defy the rules of politics — not to mention basic human decency — but defying the gravity of current polling in next year’s midterms might be something even a wizard couldn’t pull off. We’ll talk to Craig Gilbert, longtime political writer for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, about what the latest Wisconsin polling shows for 2026. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guests: Craig Gilbert, Salina Heller, Maria Haskins

It’s Cyber Monday, a date dedicated to online shopping for holiday gifts. But is that really a big deal anymore? Or Black Friday, for that matter? Don’t we all now shop online all year long? Or is there still some kind of novelty about these Thanksgiving weekend shopping dates? Also: the president goes on a Thanksgiving racist rant, winks at a war crime, pardons a billion-dollar money launderer after only 12 days in prison, and is about to pardon a former corrupt Central American leader responsible for 20 years worth of cocaine being brought to the US. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guest: Dr. Kristin Lyerly

We spend some time with Dr. Kristin Lyerly as we wind down for the week. As we prepare hunker down for the winter we talk with author Laura Bird. She recommends reading as a good way to get through the cold snowy weather. To read she points to: "How to Winter" by Kari Leibowitz, "Aflame" by Pico Iyer, "Wintering" by Katherine May, "The Correspondent" by Virginia Evans, "Seasoning" by Angela Clutton, "Strata: Stories from Deep Time" by Laura Poppick, "Meditations for Mortals" by Oliver Burkeman and "Beyond Anxiety" by Martha Beck. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube.

Our weekly panel of Mark Jacob, Jim Santelle and Joan Esposito discuss news from the week. They talk about the investigations that are pursuing Democrats who told soldiers not to follow illegal orders because, you know, it is illegal to follow illegal orders. Also: our Friday quiz with Dr. Kristin Lyerly and senior producer Frank Gargano. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guests: Jim Santelle, Mark Jacob, Joan Esposito