The Wisconsin Idea

Culture

On the Air with All (or Most) Things Considered

To mark the 50th anniversary of National Public Radio, we revisit this 1979 story on the station and its flagship program "All Things Considered," which at the time was known as "Sesame Street for adults."

Beth Bogart

LaborFeatureClimate

This Old Steel Mill Town is Now a Hub for Green Energy

Sick of poison runoff and toxic beaches, a former steel town near Baltimore fights for clean jobs.

Dharna Noor

Rural America

As Meatpackers Stoked Fears of a Shortage, U.S. Meat Exports Increased

Citing imminent shortages, the meat industry lobbied to keep packing plants open as Covid-19 tore through workers’ ranks. At the same time, U.S. meat exports increased.

Madison McVan

Viewpoint

Biden’s Infrastructure Plans Are a Good Start—But We Must Ensure Democratic Control

President Biden has laid out an ambitious agenda for rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure. To succeed, the projects should be put under public ownership.

Thomas M. Hanna

Viewpoint

Biden's First 100 Days Have Been a Tale of Two Presidencies

When it comes to economic issues, the Biden administration has shown some surprising progressivism. On foreign policy, not so much.

Max B. Sawicky

Dispatch

How Police "Gang Databases" Are Being Used to Wage War on Immigrants

Wearing a certain colored hat or sporting the wrong tattoo can be enough to get somebody in the system—and eventually deported.

Maurizio Guerrero

LaborFeature

How Chicago Teachers Won a Safer Reopening

The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) has reached the end of a bitter struggle with Mayor Lori Lightfoot over reopening during the pandemic.

Catherine Henderson

Labor

Myanmar Workers Face Down a Military Dictatorship

Members of the Federation of General Workers Myanmar share their stories of resistance following the coup d'etat of February 1.

Maximillian Alvarez

Dispatch

In Rochester, A Police Alternative Delivers ... Police

Activists were excited about the launch of a new Person in Crisis team in a city that's suffered a string of police violence incidents—but so far, it's fallen short on its promises.

Sam Mellins