Wisconsin is an island of prohibition in a sea of legalized cannabis. But that hasn’t stopped entrepreneurs from selling weed-adjacent products in the state legally. This gray zone in which Wisconsin operates has left many calling for proper legalization and regulation of cannabis. Gov. Tony Evers outlined two paths for legalization in his 2025 budget proposal, though they’re not likely to make it past the Republican-controlled State Assembly. So where do we go from here? Phillip Scott, the owne...
Apr 09, 2025•30 min
The federal budget cuts just keep coming, and this time the axe is swinging at our nation’s libraries and museums. In March, the Trump administration moved to gut the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Locally, IMLS has given grants and other funding to the Madison Public Library, Madison Children’s Museum, Wisconsin Historical Society, Wisconsin Veterans Museum, Chazen Museum of Art, Olbrich Botanical Gardens, and MMoCA. To get a sense of how this funding cut will be felt — if it ...
Apr 08, 2025•30 min
Budget cuts at the federal level just keep coming. Recently, hundreds of millions of dollars were slashed from a U.S. Department of Agriculture program that supports schools purchasing food from local farmers. The move will directly affect Wisconsin schools and farms. To get the scoop on these ripple effects, host Bianca Martin sat down with Allison Pfaff Harris, the Farm To School Director for REAP Food Group . Want to join the conversation? Register for REAP’s zoom call April 8. Wanna talk to ...
Apr 07, 2025•27 min
The election is over but we’re not done talking about it. In this Friday news roundup, the City Cast Madison team is once again rounding up the results of the spring election and its implications. We’re also celebrating Madison’s celebration of transgender visibility , and talking about Madison Public Market delays (yes, again). Plus, Madison is getting a bathhouse ?! Let’s take the plunge. Mentioned on the show: Once common, now unusual: Conservative candidate publicly quashes shouts that the o...
Apr 04, 2025•33 min
Did you know Madison has a secret when it comes to finding the best bagels? Mermaid Bagels has built up a loyal fanbase through the isthmus despite not having a physical storefront. Lisa Jacobson, owner of Mermaid Kitchen, joins host Bianca Martin to talk about how bagels became her thing and what it actually takes to make a good bagel. You can order bagels via Mermaid Kitchen’s website . This episode originally aired March 7, 2024. Join us every Thursday as we explore Madison's food culture, fr...
Apr 03, 2025•25 min
The spring election is officially over. The results are in and the whole City Cast Madison team is here to round them up for you. Host Bianca Martin, executive producer Hayley Sperling, and newsletter editor Rob Thomas dig into the key takeaways from the April election. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm . We’re also on Instagram ! You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the Madison Minutes mo...
Apr 02, 2025•25 min
Happy April, Madison! We’re not fooling you when we say there’s plenty going on this month in our city. We’re kicking off the month with an election , but that’s not all we’re excited about in April. The City Cast Madison team has handpicked some of the best things to do, see, and eat in Madison this month. From Earth Day celebrations to local theater recommendations , we’ve got you covered. Mentioned on the show Why Susan Crawford Wants To Be Wisconsin’s Next Supreme Court Justice [🎧City Cast ...
Apr 01, 2025•35 min
On Tuesday, April 1, Wisconsinites will vote in the most expensive state Supreme Court race in U.S. history. The election between Dane County Judge Susan Crawford and Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel has drawn mega donors from across the country who have flooded the campaigns with cash. Will this record level spending make a difference? And how will it affect future elections? We sat down with Wisconsin Democracy Campaign’s Executive Director Nick Ramos to get some insight. *This interview was...
Mar 31, 2025•27 min
Spring election season is almost over. We’re just days away from voting on a Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice, a constitutional amendment, every Madison City Council seat, and more. But there’s more to the news than just the election. On this week’s Friday news roundup, Madison Minutes newsletter editor Rob Thomas tells us who’s hot and who’s not in Badger athletics. Host Bianca Martin digs into the city’s State Street pedestrian mall experiment (will it continue?!). And of course, executive prod...
Mar 28, 2025•32 min
Winter is over! Madisonians are coming out of hibernation and hungry for adventure.Sometimes those adventures carry late into the night. But after the sun sets and hunger kicks in, where can an adventurer get a bite to eat? In this episode, host Bianca Martin is joined by our Executive Producer, Hayley Sperling, and Emma Waldinger of Madison Magazine to go over our favorite late-night dining. From fanciful full meals to quick midnight bites, we’ve got you covered. Mentioned on the show: Second d...
Mar 27, 2025•27 min
Many Americans had never heard of the United States Agency for International Development, or USAID, until the Trump administration gutted its funding. While some of those cuts are being battled out in court, the real-life implications of the administration’s actions are already being felt around the world and right here in Madison. To get a better understanding of the impact of these cuts,, we sat down with Dr. Jatinder Cheema, a Madisonian who worked at USAID for nearly three decades . Wanna ta...
Mar 26, 2025•24 min
The Wisconsin Film Festival brings eight days of cinematic wonders to screens across Madison starting next week. Tickets for the 100+ movies are on sale now. But with a lineup that spans genres, languages, and decades, it can be hard to know where to start. To get the scoop on what to watch at this year’s fest, we caught up with the fest’s Operations Director Ben Reiser. Plus, we hear festival diehard fans talk about their favorite memories and what makes the fest so special. Wanna talk to us ab...
Mar 25, 2025•34 min
It’s been dubbed the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history and it’s happening right here in Wisconsin. Of course, we’re talking about the race for state Supreme Court Justice. Today, host Bianca Martin sits down with one of the candidates in the race, Dane County Judge Susan Crawford. The two get into the politics of this (allegedly) non-partisan race, why she thinks she’s the best fit for the job, and the money pouring in from billionaire donors on both sides of the political aisle. Wann...
Mar 24, 2025•17 min
Happy Friday! The City Cast Madison team is here to round up the news of the week and by news, of course we’re talking about elections. Host Bianca Martin has the latest on the Wisconsin Supreme Court race (Spoiler: it’s an expensive one!). And executive producer Hayley Sperling digs into some of the responses we got from our City Council candidate questionnaire . Plus, Madison Minutes newsletter editor Rob Thomas gives the details on a new vision for the Regent Street area . Mentioned on the sh...
Mar 21, 2025•30 min
Few frills, no gimmicks, just good food. That’s what you’ll find at Madison’s many strip mall eateries. But which ones are the best? Truthfully, it depends on who you ask. These spots are special and deeply personal. To get the scoop on Madison’s best strip mall restaurants, we turned to the lovely readers of our Madison Minutes newsletter to get their takes. To dig deeper into these recommendations, we spoke with none other than Cap Times food and culture editor Lindsay Christians, who also jus...
Mar 20, 2025•33 min
Madison is said to have more bikes than cars. And with 200 miles of bike trails in the area, there’s a lot for cyclists to explore. So as spring gets in gear, we turned to biking aficionado Grant Foster for his favorite Dane County trips. He’s got ideas for everyone from newbies to those ready to make a weekend out of it. Plus, he shares some tips for basic bike maintenance. Grant’s recommendations If you’ve got 30 minutes or less: Downtown Loop along State Street and Capitol (2 miles) Lake Mend...
Mar 19, 2025•22 min
Everyone knows the satirical news outlet The Onion. But did you know that The Onion’s roots are in Madison? The online behemoth was started in 1988 by a group of UW-Madison students and their friends simply as a way to earn some extra cash. But little did they know it would grow to be something so much bigger than they could have ever imagined. To get the details on the origins of The Onion and why it still strikes a nerve with folks, we sat down with Christine Wenc, author of “Funny Because It'...
Mar 18, 2025•26 min
In-person absentee voting starts tomorrow and we are officially in full election mode. We’ve covered the statewide races and talked City Council , so today we’re digging into the only contested school board race on the ballot, between Bret Wagner and Martha Siravo. Host Bianca Martin chats with both candidates to get their thoughts on the issues facing Madison’s schools. Learn more about Bret’s campaign here , and Martha’s campaign here . Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail a...
Mar 17, 2025•37 min
It’s been a rough week for the City Clerk’s office. With investigations underway and its leader put on leave, City Cast Madison host Bianca Martin outlines the events that got us here. Speaking of investigations, executive producer Hayley Sperling gives the latest on a federal inquiry into alleged antisemitism at UW-Madison and other universities across the country. But it’s not all bad news this week — our snowplows have names! Plus, newsletter editor Rob Thomas has the details on all the St. P...
Mar 14, 2025•29 min
Brandy Old Fashioned? Check. Friday fish fry? Of course. Enduring nostalgia? Yes, please. These are just a few of the things that make Wisconsin supper clubs special. But supper clubs are so much more than strong drinks and indulgent food. They represent part of Wisconsin’s identity. To get the dish on what elevates a spot from simply being a restaurant to being a full supper club, we caught up with Madison Magazine Editor-in-Chief, Andrea Behling, who recently published the definitive Wisconsin...
Mar 13, 2025•25 min
The bagpipes will be back on the Capitol Square this weekend for the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. With the official holiday mere days away, how are you celebrating? If you’re Fitchburg alder Gabriella Gerhardt, you’re adding to your world-record-setting four-leaf clover collection. Four-leaf clovers, technically a genetic mutation of the common three-leaf variety, are considered lucky due to their rarity. Gerhardt already holds the Guinness Book of World Record honors for “Most four-leaf clo...
Mar 12, 2025•22 min
Election Day is April 1. In case you missed it, every single Madison City Council seat is up for grabs. But what does the City Council do anyways? And how can you stay engaged with the people making the decisions that impact your daily life? We caught up with outgoing District 2 Ald. Juliana Bennett to get the scoop. Want to know about the statewide elections on your ballot? Check out our conversation with Cap Times reporter Andrew Bahl . Find your alder here . And don’t forget to vote! You can ...
Mar 11, 2025•31 min
In case you somehow missed it, the spring election is right around the corner! Early voting starts March 18. There’s plenty to be excited about, from the hotly contested state Supreme Court race to the proposed constitutional amendment on voter ID. To get a better understanding of the statewide choices all Wisconsinites will see on their ballots, we spoke with Cap Times state government reporter Andrew Bahl. Mentioned on the show Cap Times election coverage MyVote Wisconsin Wanna talk to us abou...
Mar 10, 2025•22 min
Another Friday means it’s time for another Friday news roundup! This week, the team dives into the drama unfolding at Kavanaugh's Esquire Club as well as how federal job cuts are impacting Wisconsin . Plus, the Madison community remembers Tony Robinson Jr. 10 years after his death. Mentioned on the show: GoFundMe for Esquire Club Staff Federal Funding Cuts Could Be “Disastrous” for UW [🎧 City Cast Madison] Why Tony Robinson's Grandmother Is Still Fighting [🎧 City Cast Madison] 17 teen leaders ...
Mar 07, 2025•25 min
Spring is on its way, which means farmers' markets, CSA boxes, and fresh local produce will be here soon. One local non-profit is gearing up for a busy growing season with new leadership at the helm. State Representative Francesca Hong is stepping into the role of board president for Rooted , which offers opportunities for urban farming and distributes produce to underserved local communities. Host Bianca Martin chats with Rep. Hong and Rooted Co-Executive Director Hedi Rudd about the changes to...
Mar 06, 2025•19 min
When it comes to cities getting what they want from the Wisconsin state Legislature, it’s all about who you know. To help get the right people paying attention to its needs, the City of Madison recently hired The Welch Group , a high-profile, conservative-led lobbying firm. To get his take on whether or not this is a good move for the city, we spoke with former Madison mayor Dave Cieslewicz. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm . We...
Mar 05, 2025•26 min
Across Wisconsin and across the nation, local TV news teams are shrinking. Earlier this year, Allen Media Group — which owns Madison’s WKOW — announced it would scrap local meteorologists and turn weather forecasts over to The Weather Channel in Atlanta. The media giant later reversed its decision but had many people wondering: is the future of local TV news at risk? We caught up with media expert and UW-Madison journalism professor Mike Wagner to find out. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Lea...
Mar 04, 2025•25 min
National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants partially fund hundreds of research projects at UW-Madison each year. NIH covers about 55% of the indirect costs of research funding on campus, but last month they announced a new standard indirect rate of 15% across all NIH grants. What does this mean for researchers at the university? Host Bianca Martin sat down with the Director of the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery Dr. Jo Handelsman and Teaching Assistant Association co-president Madeline Topf to...
Mar 03, 2025•32 min
We’re saying goodbye to February with a Friday news roundup! This week, the team is talking about transportation in its many forms. Executive producer Hayley Sperling is on the Metro beat, giving details on an east side bus crash and the latest on contract negotiations between Metro workers and the city. Meanwhile, newsletter editor Rob Thomas digs into why the Dane County Regional Airport had a near-record-breaking year in 2024 . Finally, host Bianca Martin has the details on the money flying i...
Feb 28, 2025•30 min
March is almost here, which means spring is just around the corner and Madisonians are itching to emerge from their winter hibernation and dive into everything the city has to offer. In our monthly guide, the City Cast Madison team has recommendations on what to do, see, and eat in March. Host Bianca Martin has the scoop on film fest activities, newsletter editor Rob Thomas may have found his new favorite restaurant, and executive producer Hayley Sperling has the story on a new bookstore in town...
Feb 27, 2025•28 min
