Civic Media Mid-Mornings

For our last best of, we’re giving you the highlights from our last show with Greg’s thoughts on what they’ve all accomplished as well as a an interview with Congressman Mark Pocan on everything from Wisconsin Congressional Maps to ICE to what he is hearing from the people in an out of his district. It […]

As Greg Bach wraps up Civic Media Mid-Mornings, the final episode feels less like a standard sign-off and more like a strategy session for what’s next. Looking toward 2026, Greg and guest Dan Shafer pull back the curtain on a massive year for Wisconsin, framing the upcoming governor’s race and the fight for legislative control […]

Guest: Dan Shafer

Greg Bach’s final sign-off on Civic Media Mid Mornings felt less like a goodbye and more like a passing of the torch. While he’s stepping away from this specific slot, he assured listeners his voice isn’t disappearing from the airwaves anytime soon. The episode really dug into the grit of Wisconsin politics, featuring a conversation […]

Guests: Dan Shafer, Mark Pocan

Host Greg Bach dives into a heavy-hitting talk with Angela Lang, Co-Exec Director of Black Leaders Organizing Communities, about that controversial amendment aimed at banning DEI practices in Wisconsin, stripping away the political jargon to reveal what’s actually at stake for the state. They get into the weeds of how these proposals are framed and […]

Guests: Angela Lang, Jr Radcliffe

Hello Civic Media Mid-Morning listeners! Henry Redman, a staff reporter for the Wisconsin Examiner who focuses on covering Wisconsin’s towns and rural areas, joins Greg to break down his reporting on how ICE’s Twin Cities office has been expanding its reach deep into rural Western Wisconsin communities (like Baldwin). He’ll explain why these smaller towns are being […]

Guests: Angela Lang, Jr Radcliffe, Henry Redman

Greg Bach sits down with Pete Schwaba, host of NiteLite, to talk about where entertainment and real life collide. Schwaba shares how he went from doing stand-up comedy to writing screenplays, and what it’s actually like trying to make original films in an industry that seems obsessed with sequels and franchises. With the Oscars coming […]

Guest: Pete Schwaba

Greg Bach takes a closer look at the Trump administration’s controversial efforts to reshape how American history is presented — from the removal of the Pride flag at the Stonewall National Monument to changes at Independence Park that critics say downplay the history of slavery. Supporters call it a move to “restore truth and sanity.” […]

Guest: Pete Schwaba

In this episode of Civic Media Mid-Mornings, Greg Bach and Jim Santelle prove that even in the dead of a Wisconsin winter, the news cycle has absolutely no chill. They pivot to the essential stuff: dissecting the Brewers’ trade of Caleb Durbin to the Red Sox—which we’re choosing to view as a strategic masterstroke rather […]

Guest: Jim Santelle

In this episode of Civic Media Mid-Mornings, Greg Bach and legal expert Jim Santelle dive headfirst into the chaotic intersection of sports, politics, and the planet’s slow-motion meltdown. We kick things off with the Olympic-sized drama surrounding skier Hunter Hess. Jim then joins to break down the “Endangerment Finding,” explaining how the administration is trying […]

Guests: Jim Santelle, Dom Lee

In the second half of the show, Greg welcomed Dr. Kristen Lyerly to talk about how expanding Medicaid isn’t just a political talking point—it’s actually saving lives, specifically pointing to a new study showing higher breast cancer survival rates in states that took the leap. After the heavy health talk, they pivoted to the Super […]

Guest: Kristin Lyerly

On today’s show, Greg Bach kicked things off by diving into the local drama of Milwaukee County trying to keep ICE out of the parks. After helping listeners navigate the labyrinth of the February 17th primary, the show brought in Sam Liebert from All Voting is Local to dissect Congressman Bryan Steil’s “MEGA Act,” a […]

Guest: Sam Liebert

Our second hour featured the delightfully “infamous” Naomi Kritzer, a sci-fi author who spends her downtime being the Batman of St. Paul’s down-ballot elections, providing deep-dives on candidates that the mainstream media treats like the fine print on a CVS receipt. We pivoted from local democracy to the big game, debating if your game-day spread […]

Guest: Naomi Kritzer

In our first hour, we tackled the heavy-hitting headlines of Operation PARRIS, which sounds like a rejected Bourne movie title but is actually a very real, very controversial federal push to re-interview refugees who have already been through the geopolitical equivalent of a colonoscopy. Gail Cornelius from World Relief Wisconsin joined us to explain why […]

Guests: Greg Bach, Gail Cornelius, Naomi Kritzer

In our second hour, Jim Santelle is sticking around and we’re discussing more about the drawdown on ICE agents in Minneapolis, The SAVE Act, The MEGA Act and why both of those bills spell doom for our election processes in this country. Then we switch gears to sports with our friend Paul Noonan where we […]

Guests: Jim Santelle, Paul Noonan

In a not so stunning story, a group of business groups are suing a Wisconsin city and county, because the people want more say in what happens to their community. Then, another update on WisconsinEye, this time we have leaders working together to preserve transparency for the public. Then Jim Santelle is here talking about […]

Guests: Jim Santelle, Paul Noonan

In these second hour, we sit down with US Senator Tammy Baldwin about her efforts to reign in spending on ICE, the reaction she’s hearing from the people and why restricting the voting process harms everyone. In news that broke this morning, The US Border Czar has made an announcement regarding ICE agents in Minneapolis, […]

Guest: Tammy Baldwin

For the second time this week, the president has called for the US elections to be nationalized and a Wisconsin Senator doesn’t agree. No, the other one. Then we speak to Cam T.B. who wrote an article on the new policy from USRowing and why it’s a piece to a much bigger puzzle when it […]

Guest: Cam T.B.

Data Centers have been in the news constantly here in the state (and nationwide) and while it can seem insurmountable to take on the battle, groups such as No Data Centers DeForest are proving that when likeminded folks come together, a lot is possible. They join the show to talk about what brought them together […]

Guest: Trish Boehlke

Starting the show with good news, for the time being a deal has been met to fund WisconsinEye, so folks can see what happens in the Capitol. The work isn’t over, but this is a good start from where they were at the beginning of the year. We also introduce you to Michael Alfonso, running […]

Guest: Kristin Lyerly

Chad Holmes is back on the air in Wausau and around the world if you have The Civic Media App! He hosts The Chad Holmes Show and their focus is on community and we talk about what goes on in The Northwoods is a decent indicator for Wisconsin and the country. It’s Groundhog’s Day and […]

Guest: Chad Holmes

In an election year, when we hear from the folks who either want to keep the job or get hired, it’s important to have choices. And regardless of your political alignment, there should always be options. In a Journal Sentinel letter to the editor, we look at how both sides of the political isle are […]

Guests: Chad Holmes, Teri Barr, Terri Barr

We’ve reached another relaxing weekend and to help you enjoy, we put together our favorite moments from this past week! This past weekend, another person was killed by ICE Agents in the streets of Minneapolis, this being the second ICE related death in the city in less than twenty days. We asked Mark Becker, host of Rational […]

In our second hour, we welcome Ojibwe Professor and Author Anton Treuer to the program. He is a public speak and the author of more than twenty books including “Everything You Wanted To Know About Indians But Were Afraid To Ask” where he does just that; address these questions with honesty and compassion. We also […]

In breaking news out of Los Angeles, Journalist Don Lemon has been arrested by the FBI for what is being called by the US Attorney General “in connection with the coordinated attack on Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.” We will have more for you as more details are released, but we also talk about […]

In the second hour, we speak with Civic Media Reporter Isabela Nieto about her origin story and what brought her to Wausau. She also discusses a story regarding a local funding measure, which could feel far away from you, but it reminds us all to pay attention to what’s being decided by our local public […]