For 37 years, the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program has helped protect Wisconsin’s land and water.

A program that’s been renewed every two years as part of the state budget — until now. 

Republicans in the state Legislature are letting it expire. They stripped it from the last budget to pass as a standalone bill and then never passed it out of the Senate.

We dive into what the program does, how it got started under GOP Gov. Tommy Thompson and how all the Democratic governor candidates are hoping it can be renewed next year with control of the government.

For 37 years, the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program has helped protect Wisconsin&rsquo;s land and water.
A program that&rsquo;s been renewed every two years as part of the state budget &mdash; until now.&nbsp;
Republicans in the state Legislature are letting it expire. They stripped it from the last budget to pass as a standalone bill and then never passed it out of the Senate.
We dive into what the program does, how it got started under GOP Gov. Tommy Thompson and how all the Democratic governor candidates are hoping it can be renewed next year with control of the government.

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

GOP lets Wisconsin's Knowles-Nelson program end after 37 years

Political advertising has reached a new low — and Republicans are spending millions to make sure voters are angry, misinformed and distracted.

That’s especially clear in Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District, where roughly $42 million has already gone into the race between Democrat Rebecca Cook and Republican incumbent Derek Van Orden. Van Orden is relying heavily on attack ads and AI-generated content while maintaining his close alliance with Donald Trump — and keeping his campaign appearances away from the kind of open town halls where constituents can ask him tough questions.

From misleading attack ads and AI-generated videos to manufactured culture-war controversies, the 2026 campaign is becoming a test of just how far Republicans will go to hold onto power. We look at examples from Wisconsin, Ohio, Texas and beyond — and what Democrats are facing in the fight to take back Congress.

The topics:


$42 Million in Wisconsin’s 3rd CD: The staggering amount of money poured into the race between Rebecca Cook and Derek Van Orden — and the fight for control of Congress.


Elon vs. Soros: Musk’s massive investment in Republican politics, the role of wealthy donors and the double standard Republicans apply when criticizing Democratic megadonors.


The Politics of Personal Trauma: The disturbing Ohio attack ad using the estranged mother of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton — and the family history behind it.


Van Orden Stoops to Deepfakes: AI-generated videos targeting Rebecca Cook, Van Orden’s attack-heavy campaign strategy and his continued alignment with Donald Trump.


Democrats Take Congress. Then What? What Democrats could realistically accomplish — and what would remain out of reach — if they win control of Congress.

Political advertising has reached a new low &mdash; and Republicans are spending millions to make sure voters are angry, misinformed and distracted.
That&rsquo;s especially clear in Wisconsin&rsquo;s 3rd Congressional District, where roughly $42 million has already gone into the race between Democrat Rebecca Cook and Republican incumbent Derek Van Orden. Van Orden is relying heavily on attack ads and AI-generated content while maintaining his close alliance with Donald Trump &mdash; and keeping his campaign appearances away from the kind of open town halls where constituents can ask him tough questions.
From misleading attack ads and AI-generated videos to manufactured culture-war controversies, the 2026 campaign is becoming a test of just how far Republicans will go to hold onto power. We look at examples from Wisconsin, Ohio, Texas and beyond &mdash; and what Democrats are facing in the fight to take back Congress.
The topics:
<ul>
<li>
$42 Million in Wisconsin&rsquo;s 3rd CD: The staggering amount of money poured into the race between Rebecca Cook and Derek Van Orden &mdash; and the fight for control of Congress.
</li>
<li>
Elon vs. Soros: Musk&rsquo;s massive investment in Republican politics, the role of wealthy donors and the double standard Republicans apply when criticizing Democratic megadonors.
</li>
<li>
The Politics of Personal Trauma: The disturbing Ohio attack ad using the estranged mother of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton &mdash; and the family history behind it.
</li>
<li>
Van Orden Stoops to Deepfakes: AI-generated videos targeting Rebecca Cook, Van Orden&rsquo;s attack-heavy campaign strategy and his continued alignment with Donald Trump.
</li>
<li>
Democrats Take Congress. Then What? What Democrats could realistically accomplish &mdash; and what would remain out of reach &mdash; if they win control of Congress.
</li>
</ul>

Republican campaign tactics: Big money, deepfakes and dirty politics

Across Wisconsin, data centers, surveillance and AI are taking over — literally and in politics. 

But in one corner of the state, it's a 190-mile power line that everyone cares about and nobody wants.

We open though with a sharp look at how politicians are walking a tightrope on data center developments due to campaign cash — calling out Republican Derek Van Orden for publicly defending "super intelligence" in social media comment sections, while contrasting his stances with leaders like Rebecca Cooke pushing for a moratorium.

That set the stage for this massive 765-kilovolt MariBell transmission line proposal across southwest Wisconsin, that threatens farmland, private property and the Driftless Region — even as electricity use in the state has barely budged in two decades.

Residents are united in opposing the project. But will that be enough?

While politicians across the aisle claim to oppose the build, Democrats like David Crowley and Cooke are the ones actually equipped to protect local communities. 

Because local ordinances can't legally block the project, the decision comes down to the state Public Service Commission, and Republicans take campaign cash from out-of-state tech billionaires. Crowley is looking to empower local towns and appoint utility regulators who stand up to energy developers rather than rubber-stamping their demands.

Across Wisconsin, data centers, surveillance and AI are taking over &mdash; literally and in politics.&nbsp;
But in one corner of the state, it's a 190-mile power line that everyone cares about and nobody wants.
We open though with a sharp look at how politicians are walking a tightrope on data center developments due to campaign cash &mdash; calling&nbsp;out Republican Derek Van Orden for publicly defending "super intelligence" in social media comment sections, while contrasting his stances with leaders like Rebecca Cooke pushing for a moratorium.
That set the stage for this massive 765-kilovolt MariBell transmission line proposal across southwest Wisconsin, that threatens farmland, private property and the Driftless Region &mdash; even as electricity use in the state has barely budged in two decades.
Residents are united in opposing the project. But will that be enough?
While politicians across the aisle claim to oppose the build, Democrats like David Crowley and Cooke are the ones actually equipped to protect local communities.&nbsp;
Because local ordinances can't legally block the project, the decision comes down to the state Public Service Commission, and Republicans take campaign cash from out-of-state tech billionaires. Crowley is looking to empower local towns and appoint utility regulators who stand up to energy developers rather than rubber-stamping their demands.

The MariBell transmission lines, and who's going to stop it

Republicans have, once again, thrown three very manipulative and confusing "yes-no" constitutional amendments on the fall ballot. 

Everyone on the state will see them on their ballots and you should vote no. We get into why.

Also, city of La Crosse residents will see a Community Healthcare Action Plan question to create a healthcare committee. Around 5,000 residents signed a petition to get it on the ballot. 

That one is a vote yes. 

It reads: “Shall the city establish a citizens advisory health care action committee to develop a biennial health care action plan and provide a public process for community input on health care?”

Back to the three GOP constitutional amendments, they were written by Republicans to confuse you enough to both not quite know what they're saying but also somewhat sway you to think you should vote yes. None of them had Democratic input. 

Republicans have, once again, thrown three very manipulative and confusing "yes-no" constitutional amendments on the fall ballot.&nbsp;
Everyone on the state will see them on their ballots and you should vote no. We get into why.
Also, city of La Crosse residents will see a Community Healthcare Action Plan question to create a healthcare committee. Around 5,000 residents signed a petition to get it on the ballot.&nbsp;
That one is a vote yes.&nbsp;
It reads: &ldquo;Shall the city establish a citizens advisory health care action committee to develop a biennial health care action plan and provide a public process for community input on health care?&rdquo;
Back to the three GOP constitutional amendments, they were written by Republicans to confuse you enough to both not quite know what they're saying but also somewhat sway you to think you should vote yes. None of them had Democratic input.&nbsp;

GOP lets Wisconsin's Knowles-Nelson program end after 37 years

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