Viterbo's Keith Knutson joined us to talk Trump losing his 47th high-profile administration official, a special election in N.C. and how that relates to one coming up in Wisconsin. We also hit on gerrymandering and Constitution Day at Viterbo.

Viterbo's Keith Knutson joined us to talk Trump losing his 47th high-profile administration official, a special election in N.C. and how that relates to one coming up in Wisconsin. We also hit on gerrymandering and Constitution Day at Viterbo.

Listener conversations about the days events in and around the La Crosse area.  Weekdays from 5-6pm on WIZM 1410AM and 92.3FM

La Crosse Talk PM WIZM

Rick Solem talks about the days events in and around the La Crosse area. Weekdays from 5:07-6pm on 1410 WIZM

Rick Solem talks about the days events in and around the La Crosse area. Weekdays from 5:07-6pm on 1410 WIZM

WIZM - La Crosse

In studio, Viterbo political science prof. Dr. Keith Knutson

It’s data centers now, because it’s not Francesca Hong.

That looks to be how the Wisconsin governor’s race is shaping up, and state Republican leader Ryan Huebsch stopped in studio to analyze the fight between Tom Tiffany and David Crowley.

Huebsch, the GOP Vice Chair of the 3rd Congressional District, weighed in on whether early Republican attacks against Hong backfired by clearing a path for Crowley, while outlining how Tiffany's team plans to leverage Crowley’s remarks on data centers — plus how a “Double T” strategy, looking back to the GOP Gov. Tommy Thompson days, could be coming.

We also talked about whether voters will get to see Derrick Van Orden and Rebecca Cooke debate, and the partisan argument for avoiding them and town halls. Additional topics included Huebsch's argument that local Assembly lines were redrawn to favor Democrats, as well as the divide over whether state parties should endorse candidates in primary races. which Republicans do and Democrats don’t in Wisconsin.

Episode Highlights:


The Early Ad Backfire: Concedes that early Republican attack ads during the primary may have accidentally weeded out a weaker opponent.


The "Double T" Strategy: Details how Tom Tiffany is leaning into his shared initials with Tommy Thompson to build momentum across the state.


Data Center Showdown: Explores why data centers unexpectedly became the biggest talking point in the governor's race.


The Map Battle: Argues new legislative boundaries divide rural and urban communities to help Democrats retain key Assembly seats.


Party Endorsement Pitfalls: Weighs whether official primary party endorsements actually help candidates or trigger grassroots voter backlash.


Town Halls & Debates: Why candidates on both sides avoid partisan forums, and whether Van Orden and Rebecca Cooke will ever end up on a debate stage.

It&rsquo;s data centers now, because it&rsquo;s not Francesca Hong.
That looks to be how the Wisconsin governor&rsquo;s race is shaping up, and state Republican leader Ryan Huebsch stopped in studio to analyze the fight between Tom Tiffany and David Crowley.
Huebsch, the <a href="https://wisgop.org/the-wisconsin-gop-team/">GOP Vice Chair of the 3rd Congressional District</a>, weighed in on whether early Republican attacks against Hong backfired by clearing a path for Crowley, while outlining how Tiffany's team plans to leverage Crowley&rsquo;s remarks on data centers &mdash; plus how a &ldquo;Double T&rdquo; strategy, looking back to the GOP Gov. Tommy Thompson days, could be coming.
We also talked about whether voters will get to see Derrick Van Orden and Rebecca Cooke debate, and the partisan argument for avoiding them and town halls. Additional topics included Huebsch's argument that local Assembly lines were redrawn to favor Democrats, as well as the divide over whether state parties should endorse candidates in primary races. which Republicans do and Democrats don&rsquo;t in Wisconsin.
Episode Highlights:
<ul data-path-to-node="13">
<li>
The Early Ad Backfire: Concedes that early Republican attack ads during the primary may have accidentally weeded out a weaker opponent.
</li>
<li>
The "Double T" Strategy: Details how Tom Tiffany is leaning into his shared initials with Tommy Thompson to build momentum across the state.
</li>
<li>
Data Center Showdown: Explores why data centers unexpectedly became the biggest talking point in the governor's race.
</li>
<li>
The Map Battle: Argues new legislative boundaries divide rural and urban communities to help Democrats retain key Assembly seats.
</li>
<li>
Party Endorsement Pitfalls: Weighs whether official primary party endorsements actually help candidates or trigger grassroots voter backlash.
</li>
<li>
Town Halls &amp; Debates: Why candidates on both sides avoid partisan forums, and whether Van Orden and Rebecca Cooke will ever end up on a debate stage.
</li>
</ul>

GOP state leader Huebsch on Wisconsin governor's race: Data centers, ads, and 'Double T' strategy

She’s searching for the building blocks of life in deep space, and now UW-Madison astrochemistry Ph.D. student Alejandra Lopez Olguin is bringing that search to Trempealeau.

Lopez Olguin joined The Rick Solem Show to share her journey from a small town in Mexico to studying interstellar molecules — and to preview her hosting Friday’s free “Universe in the Park” event at Perrot State Park.

Lopez Olguin also breaks down the science of her search for life in deep space — including whether she gets to name any new discovery something like “Lil Alejandra” — plus we had to talk space movies — her love for Interstellar and why we’re not living on Mars like in The Martian.

EVENT DETAILS
WHEN: Friday, Aug. 28 at 8 p.m.
WHERE: Perrot State Park in Trempealeau
COST: Free (No registration required, open to all ages)
WHAT TO EXPECT: A 30-to-40-minute interactive talk exploring how the chemical elements inside our bodies were forged in stars, followed by guided outdoor telescope viewing (weather permitting).

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
Odds of life in space: Why discovering precursor organic molecules floating around space means life could easily exist well beyond Earth.
Alejandra’s Project Hail Mary: How a chemical engineer with zero astronomy background sent 100 cold emails, survived 98 rejections, and landed the single life-changing internship that launched her career.
Space Detective: What it’s actually like using giant radio telescopes to hunt down hidden molecules in deep space.
We’re Not Moving to Mars: Breaking down why Elon Musk’s colonization plans hit a wall when faced with real-world space environment realities.

She&rsquo;s searching for the building blocks of life in deep space, and now UW-Madison astrochemistry Ph.D. student Alejandra Lopez Olguin is bringing that search to Trempealeau.
Lopez Olguin joined&nbsp;The Rick Solem Show&nbsp;to share her journey from a small town in Mexico to studying interstellar molecules &mdash; and to preview her hosting Friday&rsquo;s free &ldquo;Universe in the Park&rdquo; event at Perrot State Park.
Lopez Olguin also breaks down the science of her search for life in deep space &mdash; including whether she gets to name any new discovery something like &ldquo;Lil Alejandra&rdquo; &mdash; plus we had to talk space movies &mdash; her love for Interstellar and why we&rsquo;re not living on Mars like in The Martian.
EVENT DETAILS
<ul>
<li>WHEN:&nbsp;Friday, Aug. 28 at 8 p.m.</li>
<li>WHERE:&nbsp;Perrot State Park in Trempealeau</li>
<li>COST:&nbsp;Free (No registration required, open to all ages)</li>
<li>WHAT TO EXPECT:&nbsp;A 30-to-40-minute interactive talk exploring how the chemical elements inside our bodies were forged in stars, followed by guided outdoor telescope viewing (weather permitting).</li>
</ul>
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
<ul></ul>
<ul>
<li>Odds of life in space:&nbsp;Why discovering precursor organic molecules floating around space means life could easily exist well beyond Earth.</li>
<li>Alejandra&rsquo;s Project Hail Mary:&nbsp;How a chemical engineer with zero astronomy background sent 100 cold emails, survived 98 rejections, and landed the single life-changing internship that launched her career.</li>
<li>Space Detective: What it&rsquo;s actually like using giant radio telescopes to hunt down hidden molecules in deep space.</li>
<li>We&rsquo;re Not Moving to Mars:&nbsp;Breaking down why Elon Musk&rsquo;s colonization plans hit a wall when faced with real-world space environment realities.</li>
</ul>

From Mexico to UW through deep space with Astrochemist Alejandra Lopez Olguin

We got the guy to blame for all the chaos in the Wisconsin primary election in studio to defend why he chose not to run for governor.

Attorney General Josh Kaul played along with the bit that his decision not to run caused multiple people to drop out of the Democratic primary, before David Crowley got back in and eked  out a win over Francesca Hong.

Kaul was also asked how many times he’s sued Donald Trump and, while his answer was alarming, the AG got into some of those lawsuit “wins,” (that hit home over PFAS and homelessness) along with explaining another high-profile fight over Elon Musk’s $1 million voter giveaways — and why La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke ended up taking the lead as special prosecutor on the case.

Key Topics:
Suing Trump & Local Impact: How federal lawsuit victories over funding freezes safeguard local projects, including housing dollars tied to La Crosse's Pathways Home initiative.


The Elon Musk Lottery Case: Why the legal challenge over Musk's $1 million voter giveaways landed on the desk of La Crosse County DA Tim Gruenke as special prosecutor.


PFAS & Industrial Contamination: Holding polluters like Tyco and 3M accountable in places like Marinette, and how local suits connect to the widespread cleanup on French Island.


CDL Privacy & Tech Guardrails: State pushback against federal attempts to access truck driver data, local concerns over Flock license plate cameras, and the push for statewide data center standards.


Following His Mom's Footsteps: Reflecting on the actual day-to-day scope of the Wisconsin DOJ and serving in the same AG role his mother held in the early 2000s.

We got the guy to blame for all the chaos in the Wisconsin primary election in studio to defend why he chose not to run for governor.
Attorney General Josh Kaul played along with the bit that his decision not to run caused multiple people to drop out of the Democratic primary, before David Crowley got back in and eked&nbsp; out a win over Francesca Hong.
Kaul was also asked how many times he&rsquo;s sued Donald Trump and, while his answer was alarming, the AG got into some of those lawsuit &ldquo;wins,&rdquo; (that hit home over PFAS and homelessness) along with explaining another high-profile fight over Elon Musk&rsquo;s $1 million voter giveaways &mdash; and why La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke ended up taking the lead as special prosecutor on the case.
Key Topics:
<ul data-path-to-node="6">
<li>Suing Trump &amp; Local Impact: How federal lawsuit victories over funding freezes safeguard local projects, including housing dollars tied to La Crosse's Pathways Home initiative.</li>
<li>
The Elon Musk Lottery Case: Why the legal challenge over Musk's $1 million voter giveaways landed on the desk of La Crosse County DA Tim Gruenke as special prosecutor.
</li>
<li>
PFAS &amp; Industrial Contamination: Holding polluters like Tyco and 3M accountable in places like Marinette, and how local suits connect to the widespread cleanup on French Island.
</li>
<li>
CDL Privacy &amp; Tech Guardrails: State pushback against federal attempts to access truck driver data, local concerns over Flock license plate cameras, and the push for statewide data center standards.
</li>
<li>
Following His Mom's Footsteps: Reflecting on the actual day-to-day scope of the Wisconsin DOJ and serving in the same AG role his mother held in the early 2000s.
</li>
</ul>

In studio, Viterbo political science prof. Dr. Keith Knutson

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