PODCAST · news
Brutal Wisconsin
by CJ Lan, Evan Oakeson, Kent Taylor
Join hosts Evan and C.J. (formerly also Chris) as they take a look behind the mask of "Midwest-Nice" to reveal the true, brutal, face of Wisconsin. Through exploring everything from the strange to politics, we'll learn with a few laughs!
Episodes
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Fusion Power, Drought, and a Ponzi Scheme
This week C.J. and Kent discuss a Ponzi scheme, a future fusion power plant, drought throughout the state, and the threat posed by Trump's beef imports to the cattle industry.
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What the Flock?
This week Kent and C.J. discuss lawsuits over prediction market, Evers and the DNR releasing PFAS money, and some of the perils of Flock cameras.
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Barnes Drops Out
This week C.J. and Kent discuss police violence in Madison, drought and wildfires, as well as Mandela Barnes dropping out of the upcoming Democratic primary.
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Storms and Politics
This week Kent and C.J. discuss the recent spate of thunderstorms, a seemingly pointless lawsuit, and the Democratic gubernatorial primary.
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The Beer Goes Flat at the End of the World
This week Kent and C.J. discuss the rising dystopia that is encountered upon engaging with the news.
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The Rise of InfOnion
This week Kent and C.J. discuss the Onion's purchase of InfoWars and the context around it. For the main topic they continue to discuss Stalin's Daughter Svetlana and her life.
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Stormstravaganza 2026
This week Kent and C.J. discuss the recent severe weather in Wisconsin, and then transition to other current events in the end.
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Boo Brad Schimel
This week C.J. and Kent stick with the news again, this time talking about Brad Schimel's tenure as US attorney ending, Annette Ziegler's retirement from the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and ICE arresting a woman who had previously been released on a judge's orders.
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Welcome to 2026
This week Kent and C.J. talk about the possibility of Democratic control of Wisconsin's government, the push to regulate where ICE can execute administrative warrants, and the rights we can exercise with ICE.
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The News Makes Kent Irritated
This week, Kent and C.J. are back at it again! This week, they talk about Hannah Dugan's resignation, protests against the shooting by ICE, Dane County's coming population boom, and the prevalence of stranded assets in the State of Wisconsin.
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The Copper Culture and Eurocentric Mythmaking
This week Kent and C.J. discuss the Copper Culture and the implications, and the news.
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Let's Get Spooky
This week Kent and C.J. discuss efforts to fund Snap in Wisconsin, the return of legal abortion, and the Enbridge pipeline reroute. For the main topic they discuss a few spooky Wisconsin stories.
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Data Centers and the Dissolution of Democracy
This Week Kent and C.J. discuss issues people are raising with the Lighthouse data center in Port Washington, the stalking of Chief Justice Jill Karofsky, the sharp rise in the price of gold, and the impact of the shutdown of the federal government on the FoodShare program.
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Freedom and the Future
This week Kent and C.J. discusses the uncounted absentee ballots, Tammy Baldwin's proposal to restore 988's LGBTQ+ counselors, and Microsoft's plans for the Mount Pleasant Foxconn facility.
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Show Me a Warrant
This week C.J. and Kent discuss the recording of Walworth County Court Commissioner Peter Navis insisting that deputies provide a federal warrant before arresting two men making a traffic court appearance, the $284 million in losses to Wisconsin due to federal spending cuts, and nanobubble...
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The Threats to Our Democracy
This week Kent and C.J. talk about four news stories that speak baton threats to our democracy, like Elon Musk, but also potential solutions, like the recent Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling that effectively bans conversion therapy.
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News Update: July Fourth Edition
This week C.J. and Kent stick to the news and discuss the rise in alcohol-related liver disease deaths in Wisconsin, Ron Johnson's opposition to the increased Medicaid tax, and a Republican-proposed bill intended to expand access to treatment over incarceration for the mentally ill people who...
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Harry Houdini Part VI: The Demise of a Legend
This week Kent and C.J. discuss the ongoing assault on our democracy, the wildfire smoke hanging in the air, and Aaron Rodger' signing with the Steelers. For the main topic, they discuss the events that lead to Harry Houdini's death.
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Harry Houdini V. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
This week Kent and C.J. discuss upcoming cuts to BadgerCare, a death in the Milwaukee County Jail, and the online community that helped sow the seeds of the ALCS shooting. For the main topic, they discuss the beginnings of the feud between Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini over Spiritualism.
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Hannah Dugan and Civil Disobedience
This week Kent and C.J. discuss the evils of the Trump administration, alongside a pair of palate cleansing paranormal tales.
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Harry Houdini Part IV: Houdini and Spiritualism
This week C.J. and Kent discuss the practice of police in rural Wisconsin of dropping unhoused people off in cities with no support and Aaron Jones' return to the City of Green Bay for the NFL draft. For the main topic they discuss an article Harry Houdini wrote about his debunking of…
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Harry Houdini Part One
This week C.J. and Kent talk about the lack of transparency in police misconduct as well as Robin Vos considering holding off deciding on the budget until after a court case about an Evers veto. For the main Topic they discuss a brief overview of the life of Harry Houdini.
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GOAT and Mothman
This week C.J. and Kent discuss GOAT, the Wisconsin version of DOGE, the Supreme Court election, and some tales of Mothman.
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Surrealism in Wisconsin: Art as Subversion
This week Kent and C.J. discuss an anti-trans bill and the lies of a $5k check from DOGE. They also discuss Surrealism and the ways in which art can be a form of resistance.
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Surrealism in Wisconsin Part One
This week C.J. and Kent discuss bipartisan support for atomic energy as well as the upcoming Wisconsin Supreme Court election. For the main Topic, they discuss Surrealism and its impact on Wisconsin.
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A Surreal Update
This week C.J. talks about the next few episodes for Brutal Wisconsin, as well as new episodes for Historaholics, and nonfiction on Substack at Syntax & Sorcery.
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The Poems of Ella Wheeler Wilcox
This week, C.J. reads a few of Ella Wheeler Wilcox's poems and shares his thoughts. Next week, the boys will be back with a regular episode!
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Ella Wheeler Wilcox Part II: Perspectives on New Thought
This week Kent and C.J. discuss the other Ron Johnson, the kayaker who faked his own death, and the first confirmed case of H5N1 Bird Flu in Wisconsin. For the main topic, they discuss Ella Wheeler Wilcox and the belief system she propagated, New Thought.
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Ella Wheeler Wilcox Part One
This week, C.J. and Kent return to discuss the overturning of Act 10 and the results of this year's deer season. The main topic they discuss is the Wisconsin-born poet Ella Wheeler Wilcox.
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Election Results and Two Stories About Mothman
This week C.J. and Kent discuss the election results and then cleanse their palates with two tales of the Mothman.
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Halloween and the Horror of the Coming Election
This week Kent and C.J. discuss the upcoming election through the lens of the most recent Marquette University poll and the differences between Trump and Kamala's crowd sizes in Wisconsin. For the main topic they get a bit outside Wisconsin and discuss the witchcraft allegations leveled against...
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The Badger State: Electoral Battleground
This week C.J. and Kent talk about the recent election-related news affecting our state, including an update about the Wausau ballot drop box removal, a recent visit from Trump to Waunakee, an upcoming visit from Harris, and the most recent Marquette poll.
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The Assault on Our Democracy
This week C.J. and Kent discuss some election related news including the removal of a Wausau ballot drop box by the mayor, the referendum about noncitizen voting, and the duplicate absentee ballots accidentally sent out.
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The Worst Midwife
This week C.J. and Kent discuss RFK Jr.'s appeal to be removed from the ballot, our state's poor infrastructure, and a terrible midwife.
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Sidney Gottlieb: UW graduate & Poisoner in Chief
This week, C.J. and Kent discuss the most recent Marquette poll and the rise of race-baiting in Wisconsin. Then, for the main topic, they discuss UW Madison graduate Sidney Gottlieb and his role in the CIA's research into mind control: MK ULTRA.
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Let's Get Spooky: Wisconsin Ghost Stories Part Ten or Something
This week, Kent and C.J. get spooky and talk about some ghost stories from Wisconsin. For the news, they discuss Biden's plans to fund green energy in rural Wisconsin, as well as what caused the recent drop in gas prices, RFK Jr.'s lawsuit to have himself removed from the ballot to aid Trump, as...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Join hosts Evan and C.J. (formerly also Chris) as they take a look behind the mask of "Midwest-Nice" to reveal the true, brutal, face of Wisconsin. Through exploring everything from the strange to politics, we'll learn with a few laughs!
HOSTED BY
CJ Lan, Evan Oakeson, Kent Taylor
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Brutal Wisconsin have?
Brutal Wisconsin currently has 249 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Brutal Wisconsin about?
Join hosts Evan and C.J. (formerly also Chris) as they take a look behind the mask of "Midwest-Nice" to reveal the true, brutal, face of Wisconsin. Through exploring everything from the strange to politics, we'll learn with a few laughs!
How often does Brutal Wisconsin release new episodes?
Brutal Wisconsin publishes regularly with 249 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Brutal Wisconsin?
You can listen to Brutal Wisconsin on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Brutal Wisconsin?
Brutal Wisconsin is created and hosted by CJ Lan, Evan Oakeson, Kent Taylor.
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