DeepSummary
The episode features an interview with Ben Wikler, the chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party. Wikler discusses the history of Republican control in Wisconsin, including gerrymandering voting maps to maintain legislative majorities despite losing the popular vote. He explains how the party is organizing to secure a win for Joe Biden in the critical swing state.
Wikler outlines the Republican assault on voting rights in Wisconsin, including strict voter ID laws and efforts to suppress Black and young voters. He highlights the importance of the 2023 state Supreme Court race, which enabled fair voting maps for the first time in over a decade by overturning the gerrymandered maps.
Wikler also talks about his personal history, including his work with Al Franken on the book 'Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them' and his involvement in various progressive organizations. The discussion covers the party's fundraising efforts, the upcoming Senate and gubernatorial races, and the pivotal role Wisconsin could play in determining control of the Senate and presidency.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Wisconsin is a pivotal battleground state that could determine control of the presidency, Senate, and House in 2024.
- Republicans gerrymandered voting maps and enacted restrictive voter ID laws to suppress Democratic votes, especially among Black and young voters.
- The Wisconsin Democratic Party regained a state Supreme Court majority in 2023, enabling them to overturn the gerrymandered maps and establish fair voting districts.
- The party is undertaking intensive organizing efforts across the state, including door-knocking, phone banking, and relational outreach, to mobilize voters.
- The 2024 races in Wisconsin, including the presidential and Senate elections, are expected to be extremely close.
- Ben Wikler has a long history of progressive activism, including working with Al Franken and organizations like MoveOn.
- Fundraising from both grassroots donors and major Democratic allies is crucial for the party's efforts in this cycle.
- Key issues like abortion rights are expected to be significant factors driving voter turnout and choices.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “So there was a whistleblower who was working for a republican legislator in 2011 who said that when republican legislators found out the impact on black voters and young voters of the law that they'd proposed, they were giddy. That was the intended effect.“ by Ben Wikler
- “Wisconsin is literally tied, uh, jobs. With a lot of other research that we have, it's going to be most likely another razor thin margin. This election is. We're both the tipping point, potentially, in the presidential election and in the Senate majority and in a couple of house races and in state legislative races, we have a chance to try to. To flip the state assembly for the first time in a generation.“ by Ben Wikler
- “I personally wear floor shines, not for that reason. They're just excellent.“ by Ben Wikler
Entities
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Episode Information
The Al Franken Podcast
ASF Productions
4/14/24
The Republican Party has spent years undoing the will of the people in the state of Wisconsin. With gerrymandered voting maps, they've been able to lose the popular vote and still have a huge majority in the state legislature. But things are changing thanks to Ben Wikler and the Wisconsin Democratic Party! In our first Battleground State episode, Ben explains the work that is being done to preserve democracy in this critical swing state and how they are organizing to secure a win for Joe Biden in November.
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