Civic Media Today - Oct. 10, 2025

The government shutdown continues. Plus: As you can find every Friday, check out our weekly journalist panel on "Mornings with Pat Kreitlow" and Dan Shafer recombobuling on "Matenaer On Air."

Oct 10, 2025

Civic Media is a pro-democracy statewide radio network and digital media outlet based in Wisconsin, featuring local news, thoughtful commentary, and much more. Learn more here.

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Some landing pages for various federal government agencies blame ”the Radical Left” for the ongoing government shutdown. // Chali Pittman, Civic Media

It’s Friday, Oct. 10, and here’s what’s happening in Wisconsin and across the Civic Media network today.

NBC News keeps a shutdown clock, tracking the screeching grind to government functioning down to the second. At the time of writing this sentence, the federal government has been shut down for 09 days, 09 hours, 10 minutes, and 52 seconds.

In 2019, the longest shutdown in history lasted 35 days, resolved only after air traffic controllers started calling in sick.

This time, President Trump has threatened that workers may not be reimbursed after a reopen. Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Wisconsin’s former Congressman, is warning air traffic controllers that calling in sick could get them fired.

Democrats say they are fighting to keep health care subsidies, with U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan and Sen. Tammy Baldwin warning about the expiration of ACA tax credits. Health experts say an expiration could cost tens of thousands of Wisconsinites their health insurance.

That nuance doesn’t quite make it into the messages posted to various federal agencies. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the shutdown is due to “The Radical Left in Congress.” According to the US Department of Agriculture, this is a “Radical Left Democrat shutdown.” Others, like NASA and the FCC, offer more neutral explanations.

Republican U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman, in a recent interview with WRPN, called it “normal” for a budget to not be passed by Sept. 30. He admits, though, “It’s frustrating all the way around.”

- Chali Pittman, Civic Media News Director

Who Pays for Toxic Cleanups: Industrial Polluters or Wisconsin Taxpayers? (Teri Barr)
All you wanted to know about Wisconsin’s cranberry harvest (Melissa Kaye)
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month (Isabela Nieto)
Oakleaf Completes Construction on Surgery Center in Altoona (James Kelly)
Wisconsin author uses his story to fight workplace stigma (Isabela Nieto)
Richland Center graduate inducted into UW-Oshkosh Hall of Fame (Adam D. Hess)
Menomonie Housing Committee Shares Recommendations (James Kelly)
Supreme Court Candidate Lazar Misstates History of Dred Scott Decision (Teri Barr)

Find daily news roundups from your community here.

A federal judge has blocked the deployment of National Guard troops to Chicago, reports the Wisconsin Examiner.
A Wisconsin author is using his story to fight workplace stigma, reports Isabela Nieto.
Experts predict that tens of thousands of Wisconsinites could lose their health care if ACA subsidies expire, reports the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman told Civic Media’s Bob Nelson yesterday that there will likely be movement on the shutdown when checks to military personnel come due next Wednesday.

Political Talk and Commentary

Every weekday, four original news/talk broadcasts air statewide on the Civic Media network — “Mornings with Pat Kreitlow” (6-9 a.m.); “Matenaer On Air” (9-11 a.m.); “The Todd Allbaugh Show” (2-4 p.m.); and “The Maggie Daun Show” (4-6 p.m.).

Coming soon this afternoon:

On “The Todd Allbaugh Show,” the program is joined by UW-Madison Badger Athletics Announcer Mike Mahnke, as well as former Badger football player and two-time Big Ten Champion Bradie Ewing.
On “The Maggie Daun Show,” Urban Milwaukee’s Jeramey Jannene, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Director of Health Coverage Access Jennifer Sullivan, and Civic Media multimedia journalist Teri Barr join the show.

Listen / Watch

On “Mornings with Pat Kreitlow”:

Guests include: “Matenaer On Air” co-host Greg Bach, Civic Media sports reporter Mike Clemens, “The Dr. Kristin Lyerly Show” host Dr. Lyerly, journalists Mark Jacob and Jennifer Schulze, and “Amicus: A Law Review” host Jim Santelle.

On “Matenaer On Air”:

Guests include: Civic Media Political Editor and “The Recombobulation Area” founder Dan Shafer.

ICYMI from Thursday, Oct. 9

On “The Todd Allbaugh Show”:

Todd is joined by Julius Shieh of the Right To Repair Campaign at Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group (WISPIRG), The Lincoln Project’s Trygve Olson, and Sean Hanish, producer of the upcoming film “No Packers, No Life.”

On “The Maggie Daun Show”:

Maggie welcomed to the show University of Wisconsin Assistant Professor of Law Josh Braver.

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Podcasts and weekly shows

On “The Rapids Report,” host James J. Malouf is joined by Anna Mitchell, Regional Natural Resource Educator at University of Wisconsin Division of Extension Wood County.

James also welcomed actors Tom Bray, Brent Frankenhoff, Beth Habhegger, and director Kenny Voss to the show. The troupe promoted the next Variety Productions Mainstage show, “Rumors.”

On “BustED Pencils,” Producer Jakob asks two extremely knowledgeable guests, Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci, a question: should teachers and administrators be paid bonuses for the success of their students?