WORT 89.9FM Madison
by WORT 89.9FM Madison
Listener-sponsored, volunteer-powered, noncommercial community radio broadcasting to south-central Wisconsin at 89.9 FM and online at wortfm.org via our studios in Madison. We provide an outlet for communication, education, free expression, entertainment, training and access for the purpose of sharing music, information, news, and cultural experiences, and strive to give people underrepresented elsewhere in traditional media a voice. NOTE: Most of the content posted at this time are news stories or talk shows. MUSICIANS: We NEVER look on our SoundCloud for music submissions, so it's not a very efficient way to contact us. Please go to www.wortfm.org and click on Music --> Music Submissions for our submission info and guidelines. Thanks and we look forward to hearing your music!
Episodes
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Forecast from Wednesday 11-4-26
Forecast from Wednesday 11-4-26 by WORT 89.9FM Madison
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Wisconsin Democrats secure a trifecta. Now what?
Wisconsin Democrats won a majority in the state Legislature on Tuesday, flipping both chambers. With David Crowley elected to the governorship, the Democrats have secured trifecta control of the state government for the first time in over sixteen years. The “blue wave” is not simply a rejection…
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Madison Democrats applaud ‘blue wave’ in unprecedented midterm
With Governor-elect David Crowley holding court Tuesday in his hometown of Milwaukee, some Madison area Democrats opted for a shorter commute to Josh Kaul’s election night watch party. An energy of giddy nervousness steadily morphed into celebration throughout the night, as the Democratic Party...
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Cardinal Call: UW–Madison organizations hold vigil for lives lost to ICE
This week host Amellia Fowler speaks with Daily Cardinal staff writer, Lilly Nicandri, about her story “‘The day we let killings become normalized is the day we lose our humanity’: Community hosts vigil against ICE detention centers,” in a discussion of a recent vigil held by UW–Madison...
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buzz-11-4-26-Chris-Mills-Rodrigo
Jan Miyasaki chats with Chris Mills Rodrigo, Managing Editor of Inequality.org, about some of the national election results, and the future of the Democratic Party.
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Patrick McGilligan, "The Good Life: Growing Up in a Lost World"
Patrick McGilligan, "The Good Life: Growing Up in a Lost World" by WORT 89.9FM Madison
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buzz-11-4-26-Danielle-Dresden
Playwright Danielle Dresden talks about the upcoming performance of her play "The Caffeinated Book Club of Chestnut Street Performs the U.S. Constitution", a comedy/history lesson with witty insight into the constitution and today's politics. The play runs from November 6-15 at TNW Ensemble...
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apa-10-27-2026
Dana sat down with author Deb McNulty about her new book Final Girl, which unpacks McNulty's experiences of religious trauma and sexual abuse.
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Finding Your Voice Through Religious and Childhood Trauma
Today on A Public Affair, Dana sat down with author Deb McNulty about her new book Final Girl. Final Girl unpacks McNulty's religious trauma and sexual abuse which she experienced growing up in a religious upbringing and how she ultimately confronted her beliefs and paved a path forward for others.
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Queery Music - Chris Housman
Queery Music - Chris Housman by WORT 89.9FM Madison
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Forecast from Monday, 11-2-26
Forecast from Monday, 11-2-26 by WORT 89.9FM Madison
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Get Out And Vote People!
Today on a the Too Turnt Up Tuesday 8:00 Buzz with Tara Wilhelmi featuring Jackie Brodean, Taylor Jackson, Interim President and CEO of Boys and Girls Club of Dane County joins us to tell us her story and looking forward (with Pay It Forward) at what’s going on with Boys and Girls Club in the…
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Madison Voters Flock to the Polls
WORT reporters Kate Paape and Ted Hyngstrom headed into the field today to find out what’s motivating Madison area voters this election cycle.
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“This election will send a message,” AG Josh Kaul says
Wisconsin voters will elect their next governor today, and have the opportunity to flip key seats in Congress and the state Legislature. A number of statewide offices are also on the ballot, including a rematch between incumbent State Attorney General Josh Kaul, a Democrat, and Eric Toney, the...
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Isthmus records request reveals fallout of Tom Tiffany’s drag show post
Madison East High School’s principal received a flood of negative emails earlier this year, after the school’s student drag show caught Tom Tiffany’s ire on social media. Liam Beran, a freelance reporter at Isthmus newspaper, joined our News Producer Faye Parks earlier today to share what he...
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Samir LanGus interview
Hejira world music radio host Jeff Spitzer-Resnick's interview of Samir LanGus about his new album, Gnawa Love.
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Madisonians grapple with firing of interim police monitor
Madison’s Police Civilian Oversight Board held a community listening session last Thursday to hear from the public about what they are looking for in an independent police monitor. The board also dealt with the public fallout, following the Madison city council’s recent decision to fire…
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Public questions utility of body-worn cameras at listening session
A new city council workgroup on policing policies is operating under the assumption that Madison police officers will be outfitted with new body-worn cameras by summer of 2027. But as the workgroup prepares to draft their policy recommendations, several members of the public participating in a...
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Subtle Desi Traits: Brian Benford on Priorities and Values ( Mayoral Race Special )
What does it take to lead Madison differently? In this episode, Ankita Bharadwaj sits down with Brian Benford, candidate for mayor of Madison, to explore the values, experiences, and vision driving his campaign in an increasingly crowded mayoral race. We talk about what inspires him to run, how…
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Stuff Yer Face: Ba'ax Onda in Puerto Morelos, Mexico
This week on Stuff Yer Face, host Emily Tucker visits a friend’s new restaurant in Puerto Morelos, Mexico—a small fishing town on the Yucatán Peninsula. Six months after opening, Karin Canto and his wife, Luisa, are serving up traditional Yucatecan dishes rooted in local flavor. Emily explores…
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Farmers’ share of cheese profits
The gap between what a cheese plant gets paid versus what the cheese is selling for has doubled in two years. This, at a time when farmers’ costs are through the roof. Pete Hardin describes the system as cheese price inflation for the consumer…and cheese price deflation for the cheese plant. He...
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Message From Brazil: Organize!
Mike Elk has spent considerable time in Brazil and he was there observing and writing about what happened during Brazil’s election. He told Norman Stockwell how Brazilians’ resolve to not return to the dark days of Bolsonarism inspired creative efforts to attract nonvoters and Bolsonaro voters to...
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Always Looking for the Endorsements
This week on Mel & Floyd: Choosing candidates based on “well-maintained booties”; Houdini’s greatest escape [from Appleton]; Most political posts coming from bots?; Addams Family as trendsetters; Don’t microwave the fish!; White House manipulates visit from bishops; Idaho choosing an official...
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Laugh While You Vote
With all the coverage of the critical nature of the upcoming midterm elections, are you feeling overwhelmed? Are you agitated and upset? Her Turn reporter Arlene Zaucha talks with Alice Pauser, a long time humor and comedy writer and storyteller on The Moth. She believes humor is incredibly...
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Film Critic Discusses Neo-Noir and the Fascination with Evil
Film critic Eileen Jones discusses film noir, how monsters represent our own fears, and the social political atmosphere in Hollywood. Photo courtesy of Leah of Flickr from a Screenshot taken from the film Phantom Lady, made by Robert Siodmak in 1944.
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Stu Levitan 10302026
Author Stuart Levitan on Volume 2 of “Madison: The Illustrated History,” covering the city from 1932 to 1979.
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Nathan Kalmoe 10302026
Write-in candidate Nathan Kalmoe on challenging Sen. Diane Hesselbein in Wisconsin’s 27th Senate District.
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10.29 Legal Brief
10.29 Legal Brief by WORT 89.9FM Madison
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Planning for John Nolen considers safety, traffic
A small segment of John Nolen Drive could soon get a big makeover, in the second phase of a multiyear construction project redesigning the thoroughfare. Image courtesy: The City of Madison.
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Amanda Living Statue
As the veil between the living and the spirit world gives way this Halloween, those of us who dress for the occasion may want to add another entity to our list. In this episode of Radio Chipstone, contributor Gianofer (JON nah fer) Fields asks you to consider spending less time roaming through…
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Subtle Desi Traits: Common Ground
In this episode, I sit down with Anthony Cooper Sr., Executive Director and CEO of Focused Interruption, an organization dedicated to gun violence and violence prevention that is celebrating its 10th anniversary. We discuss how communities can find common ground through communication, dialogue…
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buzz-10-28-26-Seth-Donnelly
When Trump signed executive order 14203 in February of 2025, it passed sanctions not only on the International Criminal Court (ICC), a court designed to resolve international crimes and with members of 124 countries except the US and two others, but also to individuals or groups supporting the…
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Joey & Auggie Question Everything with guest Emily Mills
Joey & Auggie Question Everything with guest Emily Mills by WORT 89.9FM Madison
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Laura Paisley Beck's First Year with OPEN Foundation Madison
Laura Paisley Beck's First Year with OPEN Foundation Madison by WORT 89.9FM Madison
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Laura Paisley Beck's first year with OPEN Foundation Madison
Laura Paisley Beck's first year with OPEN Foundation Madison by WORT 89.9FM Madison
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Forecast from Wednesday 10-28-26
Forecast from Wednesday 10-28-26 by WORT 89.9FM Madison
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2026 10 13 WORT Norma Interview
2026 10 13 WORT Norma Interview by WORT 89.9FM Madison
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2024 referendum keeps MMSD’s budget balanced, for now
The average Madison teacher will get more than a 5 percent raise this school year, under the final budget the school board approved Monday. At more than 600 million dollars in total spending, it leans on an increase in the tax levy to make up for dwindling state aid. Bob Soldner, the district’s...
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City recommendations restrict AI, disruptive data center development
The deadline is closing in for Madison leaders to decide what kind of data center development would be allowed in the city’s future. They’re working to update city codes before a one-year moratorium expires in January. City staff fielded a slew of questions and concerns Tuesday night, at the last...
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Cardinal Call: Latine Ball at UW-Madison Draws Crowd of Over 250
This week host Lola Rohl speaks with Daily Cardinal Senior Staff Writer Yareli Guttierez about her story, “What Latine Ball means to UW-Madison students”, in a discussion of the Noche de Oro ball, and the more than 250 attendees who celebrated community and Latine Heritage Month through dance,...
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What Do the Questions on Your Ballot Really Mean for Wisconsin?
The election is just six days away. Madison leaders break down each ballot initiative and discuss how they are preparing for Tuesday.
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buzz-10-28-26-Bob-Lord
Bob Lord, an Institute for Policy Studies associate fellow and senior vice president for tax policy at Patriotic Millionaires, talks about his most recent article: "$55 Billion in Stock Buyback Wealth for Google Oligarchs" in which he details how a 1982 SEC rule change has turbocharged America’s...
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buzz-10-28-26-Rischell-Strickland
Dani Rischell, Sr. Exec. Director, and Matthew Strickland, Sr. Vocational Peer Specialist of Chrysalis, in its 46th year of providing counselling for individuals with mental health and substance abuse, joined Jan Miyasaki to talk about their vocational peer support and wellness programs. They…
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Can Disaffected Indian Youth Action Inspire Modi Opposition?
India’s Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) that began with an insult and, with online mockery that mobilized seething dissatisfaction, forced the resignation of the Minister of Education and effectively showed that the Modi government was not invincible. As the world asked, “what will they do next?,”…
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Rebecca Cooke wants to deliver results for working families
The race this fall for Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District is a crowded one. Incumbent U.S. Representative Derrick Van Orden, a Republican who’s represented the southwestern portion of the state since 2023, is headed for a rematch against Democrat Rebecca Cooke. Two independent candidates are...
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After firing the police monitor, Madison alders re-examine oversight
Less than a week after Madison alders voted to fire the city’s interim independent police monitor, finance leaders took steps on Monday to rebuild the office from the ground up. Image courtesy: Brian Standing / WORT News.
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Don’t forget the environment this election; the stakes are high
Our climate crisis is on the agenda in the upcoming election and voting can make a difference when it comes to addressing the issue. Her Turn reporter Arlene Zaucha talks with Ali Simpson, from Clean Air Moms Action, the director of the group’s national field campaigns. They have a simple…
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Stu Levitan, "Madison: The Illustrated History Vol. 2, 1932-1979"
Madison BookBeat host Stu Levitan interviews himself about his new book, "Madison: The Illustrated History Vol. 2, 1932-1979," just out from the University of Wisconsin Press.
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A Lot of Wet Beaks in Eastern Europe
This week on Mel & Floyd: A Nobel laureate in our midst; A weird noise in Ohio; A symbolioc broken globe; Putin a "humanitarian"?; Melania a peacemaker??; Vivek Ramaswamy's vile ad; DOJ attempting to interfere in Alaska; What's the benefit of A.I.?; International Wombat Day; And other random...
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Democrats fight to flip Driftless area congressional district
The race this fall for Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District is widely considered the most competitive in the state. Along with two independent candidates, the ballot features a familiar match-up between Democratic challenger Rebecca Cooke and Republican incumbent Derrick Van Orden, a Trump...
About this show
Listener-sponsored, volunteer-powered, noncommercial community radio broadcasting to south-central Wisconsin at 89.9 FM and online at wortfm.org via our studios in Madison. We provide an outlet for communication, education, free expression, entertainment, training and access for the purpose of sharing music, information, news, and cultural experiences, and strive to give people underrepresented elsewhere in traditional media a voice. NOTE: Most of the content posted at this time are news stories or talk shows. MUSICIANS: We NEVER look on our SoundCloud for music submissions, so it's not a very efficient way to contact us. Please go to www.wortfm.org and click on Music --> Music Submissions for our submission info and guidelines. Thanks and we look forward to hearing your music!
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WORT 89.9FM Madison
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