Center Stage, with Milfred and Hands

Center Stage, with Milfred and Hands

They're the "Click and Clack" of Wisconsin politics. Scott Milfred, editorial page editor for the Wisconsin State Journal, and Phil Hands, the newspaper's political cartoonist, analyze the most important issues and debates from the Badger State with political independence and a sense of humor. Instead of tedious talking points from the left and the right, "Center Stage" broadcasts from the sensible center with audio clips from the Wisconsin Capitol, from State Journal editorial board meetings, and from political events across the state.

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Episodes

How secure are Wisconsin's elections?

How secure are Wisconsin's elections?

Milfred and Hands tackle the integrity of Wisconsin's elections with top municipal clerks from Kohler and Sun Prairie. The two clerks rank the security of your vote on a scale of 1 to 10.

Yoga in the middle of State Street? That's just one idea for a pedestrian mall in the heart of Madison this summer

Yoga in the middle of State Street? That's just one idea for a pedestrian mall in the heart of Madison this summer

Milfred and Hands highlight last week's discussion at the Edgewater Hotel about the future of State Street. Prominent landscape architect Ed Freer and Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway offer their visions as the city plans to test the concept of a true pedestrian mall on the bottom half of State Street this summer. Buses no longer roll down and crowd the three blocks closest to the UW-Madison campus. So the possibilities are ripe for a grand promenade and urban park similar to Pearl Street in Boulder, Colorado. Milfred and Hands play clips from and react to the Edgewater forum, including Freer's playful suggestion for yoga in the middle of the street.

Wisconsin's Ron Johnson tag teams with Elon Musk

Wisconsin's Ron Johnson tag teams with Elon Musk

Milfred and Hands react to U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson's social media event with Elon Musk on Musk's digital platform X. They sought to undermine the U.S. Senate's bipartisan support for military aid to Ukraine against Russian aggression. Hear clips from Johnson and Musk, who insist Ukraine can't win and Russian President Vladimir Putin can't lose. Milfred and Hands aren't buying it.

The case for more condos, especially in Madison

The case for more condos, especially in Madison

Milfred and Hands 'go condo' by urging state and federal officials to encourage more condo development, rather than favoring endless apartment buildings. Despite Madison's rapid growth, virtually no condominiums have gone up in the capital city in recent years. And that's true across much of the country. Regulatory and legal rules favor rentals -- especially following the Great Recession. Nobody wants another financial crisis like 15 yeas ago. But it's time to update our laws and let more people buy and build equity in their homes. Condos generally cost less than single-family homes. Our political podcasters highlight a recent Madison resolution proposed and steered through the City Council by Ald. Derek Field. Milfred and Hands play and comment on audio clips from Field and a Keller Williams real estate specialist. They also speculate on where Hands might live once he's an empty nester.

Biden is old, and that's not ageism

Biden is old, and that's not ageism

Milfred and Hands respond to criticism that a recent political cartoon was ageist. It depicted Joe Biden's presidential lectern as a walker. Our political podcasters agree that making assumptions about older people is wrong. But when it comes to the president of the United States, lots of evidence from public appearances suggest he's lost a step, they contend. And Donald Trump isn't getting any younger, either. Age is a legitimate issue in this campaign, and Biden isn't helping his case to voters by avoiding press conferences that could prove his vigor. Our podcasters also address feedback on recent Wisconsin State Journal editorials about the Monona police and renaming Madison's airport.

Songs of holiday jeer target Biden, Trump, OzempicRob who? Meet the GOP senator who lauds UW-MadisonRobin Vos flips the script on fair maps in WisconsinMaking sense of Madison's housing crisis with UW's Kurt PaulsenWho's going to take on Tammy Baldwin?
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