The Maggie Daun Show

In a gritty discussion, Maggie Daun and Rick Smith delve into the bleak state of the labor movement in America. They lament the erosion of union rights amid a political climate favoring billionaires like Musk and Bezos. Despite the bleak landscape, they express hope for solidarity and change through shared struggles. And we wrap up […]

Guests: Rick Smith, Teri Barr

Fri Aug 29, 2025

41:08

Maggie Daun explores the nuances of local versus state governance with Representative Bob Donovan, highlighting the immediacy of local government in addressing community issues. Donovan emphasizes the impact and swift problem-solving at the local level compared to the slower state processes. Shifting gears, political editor Dan Shafer and Supervisor Jack Eckblad dissect the Democratic Party’s […]

Guests: Bob Donovan, Dan Shafer, Jack Eckblad

Fri Aug 29, 2025

41:28

Maggie tackles the economic squeeze as tariffs hit back-to-school shopping, driving prices sky-high while Trump’s broad, indiscriminate tariffs fail to incentivize U.S. manufacturing. With the de minimis exemption’s abrupt closure causing shipping chaos, consumers face order cancellations or surprise costs. Meanwhile, the CDC is in turmoil, with mass resignations over leadership upheaval and vaccine policy […]

Guest: Alex Jacquez

Thu Aug 28, 2025

42:44

Maggie takes a hard look at the controversial “Big Brutal Bill” and its devastating impact on American workers, with a special focus on Wisconsin’s manufacturing and agricultural sectors. Joined by Heidi Shierholz of the Economic Policy Institute and Aurelia Glass from the Center for American Progress, Maggie unpacks how the bill slashes Medicaid, food assistance, […]

Guests: Aurelia Glass, Heidi Shierholz

Thu Aug 28, 2025

42:06

Maggie leads a powerful conversation with former Republican Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen and former Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Mike Tate about the Democracy Defense Project, an initiative working to strengthen trust in elections across key swing states. Both guests stress the importance of bipartisan cooperation in countering misinformation and assuring voters that mail-in ballots, […]

Guests: JB Van Hollen, Mike Tate

Wed Aug 27, 2025

42:05

In this hour, Maggie confronts the heartbreaking reality of gun violence in the wake of a tragic school shooting in Minneapolis. She shares her frustration with the nation’s reactive approach to gun control and echoes Trey Gowdy’s call for preventive action. Maggie makes a passionate case for common-sense reforms — including stronger background checks and […]

Guest: Jodi Emerson

Wed Aug 27, 2025

41:32

Maggie takes on the issue of growing economic inequality, focusing on the massive gap between CEO pay and worker wages. Across the country, top executives at companies that rely heavily on low-wage workers are pocketing millions, while the employees who keep these businesses running struggle to make ends meet. Maggie is joined by Sarah Anderson […]

Guests: Jim Santelle, Sarah Anderson

Tue Aug 26, 2025

44:13

In this first hour — heads are spinning after a whistleblower revealed a massive data breach exposing the sensitive information of 300 million Americans, with allegations tying the failure to Elon Musk. Despite repeated warnings, cybersecurity lapses are pushing the nation toward a full-blown privacy crisis. At the same time, Wisconsin Republicans are looking to […]

Guests: Clinton Anderson, Jim Santelle

Tue Aug 26, 2025

42:13

Live from Milwaukee’s legendary Cactus Club, Maggie and guest Caitlin Taylor, music therapist at Children’s Wisconsin, explore how music transforms lives—from helping autistic children connect to regulating heartbeats. With stories of redemption through sound (like the stirring force of Stravinsky’s Firebird) and a spotlight on Ladies Rock band Middle Reader, this hour celebrates music’s power […]

Guests: Caitlin Taylor, Mary Joy Hickey, Middle Reader

Mon Aug 25, 2025

0:00

Maggie breaks the political mold with a vibrant live episode from Milwaukee’s Cactus Club, celebrating women in rock. She spotlights Girls Rock, an organization empowering young women through music, and features original songs from Concentration 64—a band formed at a summer camp built on creativity and collaboration. The conversation dives into the challenges of writing […]

Guests: Concentration 64, Kelsey Kaufmann, Mary Joy Hickey

Mon Aug 25, 2025

0:00