Citizen Action Southeast Organizing Cooperative

06/11/2026

Following the Tick Report, Robert updates us on Trump’s pattern in Iran of threatening escalation and then pulling back.

Wisconsin unveiled its new procedures for dealing with BadgerCare work requirements in the Big Ugly Bill. But the Trump/Kennedy HHS’s last minute changes to the final rule makes it much worse than the language of the bill, risking coverage for people with serious conditions such as life threatening cancer. With health care at risk for hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites, including people too frail to work, is Wisconsin prepared? We revisit the last minute budget gimmick engineered by the big hospital lobby, Evers, and Vos but disallowed by the Trump Regime.

Listen now >> https://soundcloud.com/citizen-action-of-wi/bg744

We dive into a new Brookings Report finding 45.5% of U.S. households did not earn enough to make ends meet. The report concludes that moving the needle on affordability requires action on both sides of the equation: lowering costs of living and dramatically increasing household incomes. We preview 4 newly scheduled $20 Wage Town Halls in Fond du Lac, Madison, and two in the Milwaukee.

We close with an in-depth interview with Bryan Rogers, the environmental justice director at Milwaukee’s Walnut Way. Bryan, who is a regular podcast listener, tells us more about Walnut Way and discusses why they are co-hosting a governor candidate forum on Saturday, June 27th, 10am at North Division High School. Bryan explains why their members are so deeply involved in fighting climate change and higher utility costs that fall disproportionately on predominantly Black neighborhoods in Milwaukee.

Listen to the show >> https://soundcloud.com/citizen-action-of-wi/bg744

06/11/2026

Attend a $20 Minimum Wage Town Hall.

FOND DU LAC: Monday, June 22 at 6pm - Fond du Lac Labor Temple, 50 E Bank Street.

MADISON : Thursday, July 2 at 6pm - Madison Labor Temple, 1621 S Park Street.

MILWAUKEE : Monday, July 13 at 6pm - Turner Hall, 1040 N. Vel R. Phillips, Milwaukee.

ST. FRANCIS: Thursday, September 10 at 6pm - La Finca Coffeehouse, 3558 E. Sivyer Ave, St. Francis.

More Town Hall dates to be announced soon, including the Northside of Milwaukee.

06/10/2026

Join Anodyne workers in Milwaukee on roving picket lines this Saturday, June 13th, 10 am - 4 pm

The Anodyne workers union continues their fight to win a fair contract and asks you to mobilize. FairWave (owners of Anodyne) continues to act in bad faith and is refusing to bargain over major changes they made to jobs, staffing levels and compensation.

Anodyne workers voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike against unfair labor practices by their employer, if necessary.
We are asking you to join them on the picket lines between 10 am and 4 pm. They will conduct roving picket lines at three cafes at the busiest times.

* 10am: at the Bay View cafe (2920 S Kinnickinnic Ave)
* Noon: the Walkers Point cafe (224 W Bruce St).
* 2pm: at the Public Market (400 N Water)

Sign up for any one of the roving pickets, for a combination of them >> tinyurl.com/AnodyneWorkerYes

If you have any questions, please contact Peter Rickman at [email protected].

You can donate to the Anodyne workers strike & defense fund >> https://tinyurl.com/AnodyneStrikefund

06/09/2026

State Representative Ryan Clancy is running for re-election in Assembly District 19 as a true Citizen Action champion: continuing to fight for free speech, public education funding, renter’s rights, healthcare, fighting climate change and unregulated data centers, and more.

Ryan is a lifelong Milwaukee resident, as well as a lifelong activist, organizer, and advocate. He has spent his time in the Assembly speaking up and pushing for much needed change - especially when it comes to our most vulnerable communities.

Learn more about Ryan Clancy's campaign and volunteer to help him at clancyforassembly.com

06/09/2026

Join our partners Walnut Way, 350 Wisconsin, Healthy Climate Wisconsin, Reclaiming Our Neighborhoods for a governor candidate forum on fighting climate change and creating good new jobs, high utility rates, and other issues facing the community.

Saturday, June 27th, 10am.

RSVP >> https://www.walnutway.org/events-1/vote-with-wisdom-2
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Watch Citizen Action's governor candidate forum in April >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rtFDNEB5_Y

06/05/2026

Join us TOMORROW, Saturday, June 6th, 10am.

This annual meeting is taking place virtually. Once you sign up, you’ll receive a confirmation email. You will receive the Zoom link via email tomorrow morning.

RSVP now >> https://secure.ngpvan.com/9RBNTPwj9kWcJr_wuixKyw2

06/04/2026

Welcome to June, it’s Pride Month!

We encourage our listeners to RSVP to Citizen Action’s Annual Meeting this Saturday, at 10am.

Robert gives us the latest tick report amid national concern about tick-borne illnesses. Spurred by global warming, tick activity continues to surge in Wisconsin while the national media descends on Martha Vineyard as the island is beset by ticks, and victims are forced to avoid red meat.

Listen now >> https://soundcloud.com/citizen-action-of-wi/bg743

Trump visits Western Wisconsin, the home of Wisconsin’s pivotal Congressional District 3. Is he an anchor on embattled MAGA incumbent Derrick Van Orden and other Republicans on the ballot or does Trump know how to generate a massive turnout of MAGA voters?

We dive into a critically important Wisconsin Health Assessment, a periodic report mandated by the State Legislature.Rarely do such radical findings come from an official state government report. This year’s report finds that a stunning 1 in 10 Wisconsinites skipped needed health care due to cost. The report also contains shocking revelations on low wages, the growing unaffordability of housing, massive under investment in public education (especially in low income BIPOC majority schools), and a chronic under investment in public health. Will the next legislature act on this searing indictment of status quo policies or kick the can down the road?

Milwaukee Area Service & Hospitality Workers Organization president Peter Rickman joins us to discuss the state health assessment, building worker power, and to update us on newly scheduled $20 Wage Town Halls in Fond du Lac, Madison, Milwaukee, Sheboygan, and more locations.

We close with news that Boss Vos vows to try again on the failed surplus budget deal. With Governor Evers continuing to complain about the failure of the first effort, will they get another kick at the cat?

Listen now >> https://soundcloud.com/citizen-action-of-wi/bg743

05/29/2026

Read the latest Citizen Action Weekend '26 Newsletter. We have news on our Annual Member meeting next Saturday, Statewide Healthcare Action Team meeting next Tuesday, Statewide Climate Action Team meeting on June 11th, and more.

Read now https://citizenactionwi.org/2026/05/29/weekend26may29/

05/21/2026

Join us Tonight at 6pm in Racine!

Racine $20 Living Wage Town Hall, Thursday, May 21st, 6pm

State Representative Angelina Cruz and members and supporters of Wisconsin’s Living Wage Coalition for a town hall meeting about affordability and our comprehensive living wage legislation at the Racine Educators United, 1201 West Boulevard, Racine

No matter who you are or where you work, YOU deserve a living wage. The fight will not end until we win living wages for all working Wisconsinites.

RSVP for Racine Town Hall >> https://tinyurl.com/20WageRacineTownHall

Learn more and take action in support of the $20 Living Wage bill >> https://citizenactionwi.org/20-minimum-wage/

05/21/2026

"A failed deal on tax relief and school funding would have left Wisconsin in the red by billions of dollars, according to a memo released Wednesday by the Legislature’s nonpartisan budget office...

According to an analysis prepared by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau, that proposal, combined with preexisting expenditures from the state budget and legislation passed over the last year-and-a-half, would have caused the state to spend an additional $3.5 billion over four years.

The analysis found — assuming no other changes in revenue or spending — that would leave the state with a $2.95 billion deficit...

In a statement to WisPolitics, Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein, D-Middleton, whose caucus sunk the deal, said the Fiscal Bureau’s analysis justifies her members’ concerns."

A failed deal on tax relief and school funding would have left Wisconsin in the red by billions of dollars, according to a memo released Wednesday by the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau.