Just recently, Donald Trump endorsed Derrick Van Orden for the 2026 US House election in Wisconsin's 3rd District here, which comes at a peculiar time. Trump, if you haven't noticed, isn't all that popular right now — as compared to the past 80 years of presidents. We talk about why that is, how Van Orden has pretended to do town halls and positioned himself on upcoming votes to cut benefits for things like Medicaid. 

We began the episode with a note about a recent incident Van Orden shared, saying a letter he received was a "credible threat" to his family and is being handled by the proper authorities. This podcast was recorded before that news and we do not condone violence. 

Just recently, Donald Trump endorsed Derrick Van Orden for the 2026 US House election in Wisconsin's 3rd District here, which comes at a peculiar time. Trump, if you haven't noticed, isn't all that popular right now &mdash; as compared to the past 80 years of presidents. We talk about why that is, how Van Orden has pretended to do town halls and positioned himself on upcoming votes to cut benefits for things like Medicaid.&nbsp;
We began the episode with a note about a recent incident Van Orden shared, saying a letter he received was a "credible threat" to his family and is being handled by the proper authorities. This podcast was recorded before that news and we do not condone violence.&nbsp;

From La Crosse to Madison to D.C., La Crosse County Democratic Party chair William Garcia and WIZM's Rick Solem break down the politics impacting Wisconsinites.

From La Crosse to Madison to D.C., La Crosse County Democratic Party chair William Garcia and <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/">WIZM's</a> Rick Solem break down the politics impacting Wisconsinites.

The Democratic Voice Podcast

From La Crosse to Madison to D.C., La Crosse County Democratic Party chair William Garcia and WIZM's Rick Solem break down the politics impacting Wisconsinites.

The Democratic Voice

A Trump endorsement for Derrick Van Orden at a peculiar time

They fly under the radar until they end up on the ballot. The 2026 midterm elections will see three more Wisconsin Republican constitutional amendments for voters, trying to rile up their base with culture war nonsense. We discuss the absurdity of each amendment, the word salad written by the GOP to manipulate voters into confusion, and how this is just another reason why Democrats need to take control of the Legislature. In 2023 and 2024, the Wisconsin GOP put seven constitutional amendments on the ballot. The rest of the midwest — Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Minnesota — had a total of six. 

They fly under the radar until they end up on the ballot. The 2026 midterm elections will see three more Wisconsin Republican constitutional amendments for voters, trying to rile up their base with culture war nonsense. We discuss the absurdity of each amendment, the word salad written by the GOP to manipulate voters into confusion, and how this is just another reason why Democrats need to take control of the Legislature. In 2023 and 2024, the Wisconsin GOP put seven constitutional amendments on the ballot. The rest of the midwest &mdash; Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Minnesota &mdash; had a total of six.&nbsp;

Wisconsin Republicans put 3 more ridiculous constitutional amendments on ballot 

Following the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis mother by an ICE agent on Jan. 7, the federal harassment of Minnesota residents has only intensified. We discuss the ongoing military-style occupation of Minneapolis, the administration’s racially-profiled focus on the Somali community, and the growing dangers to both citizens and refugees, as President Donald Trump threatens to invoke the Insurrection Act.

Following the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis mother by an ICE agent on Jan. 7, the federal harassment of Minnesota residents has only intensified. We discuss the ongoing military-style occupation of Minneapolis, the administration&rsquo;s racially-profiled focus on the Somali community, and the growing dangers to both citizens and refugees, as President Donald Trump threatens to invoke the Insurrection Act.

The occupation of Minneapolis: Fatal shootings and Trump’s insurrection threat

We talk with public education advocate Kristina Reser-Jaynes, who pulls back the curtain on Wisconsin’s private school voucher system.

While Republicans frame the recent property tax spikes as "the Evers 400-year tax hike," this conversation digs into a much more complex reality — a systematic shift of public funds into private hands that is leaving local taxpayers to pick up the tab.

We talk the "hidden" costs of vouchers that many Wisconsin residents may not see on their bills — from rural districts writing checks to Milwaukee-based online academies to the $200,000 the La Crosse School District spends just to bus private school students.

Reser-Jaynes argues that while public schools are held to strict standards of transparency and must serve every child, voucher schools are operating with a "free pass" — legally allowed to discriminate.

From the "double-dipping" of extracurricular activities to the lack of teacher certification requirements in private systems, this episode is a wake-up call for anyone who values the local school as the heart of their community. 

We talk with public education advocate Kristina Reser-Jaynes, who pulls back the curtain on Wisconsin&rsquo;s private school voucher system.
While Republicans frame the recent property tax spikes as "the Evers 400-year tax hike," this conversation digs into a much more complex reality &mdash; a systematic shift of public funds into private hands that is leaving local taxpayers to pick up the tab.
We talk the "hidden" costs of vouchers that many Wisconsin residents may not see on their bills &mdash; from rural districts writing checks to Milwaukee-based online academies to the $200,000 the La Crosse School District spends just to bus private school students.
Reser-Jaynes argues that while public schools are held to strict standards of transparency and must serve every child, voucher schools are operating with a "free pass" &mdash; legally allowed to discriminate.
From the "double-dipping" of extracurricular activities to the lack of teacher certification requirements in private systems, this episode is a wake-up call for anyone who values the local school as the heart of their community.&nbsp;

A Trump endorsement for Derrick Van Orden at a peculiar time

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