A Public Affair

A Public Affair


Latest Episodes

Oil Motivates US Attacks on Venezuela
December 19, 2025

On today’s show, host Esty Dinur is joined by scholar Marc Becker to talk about the Trump Administration’s rapidly escalating attacks on Venezuela. He puts the strikes on boats allegedly trafficking drugs in the context of Venezuela’s oil economy and Lat

From Tips to Gigs to the Picket Line
December 18, 2025

More than 3,800 Starbucks baristas have joined a nationwide strike since mid-November. Theyre demanding increased staffing, more predictable hours, and better wages. To talk about the exploitation of service workers like baristas, host Allen Ruff is joi

The Tragic Repetition of School Shootings
December 17, 2025

WORT 89.9FM Madison The Tragic Repetition of School ShootingsThis week marks the 1-year anniversary of the shooting at the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison. Meanwhile the search for the Brown University shooter is ongoing. To talk about these

One Man Stalled Healthcare Expansion For New Moms
December 16, 2025

WORT 89.9FM Madison One Man Stalled Healthcare Expansion for New MomsCurrently, Wisconsin and Arkansas are the only two states that have not expanded healthcare coverage for new moms. On todays show, host Dana Pellebon speaks with ProPublica reporter

College Students Say Radio Still Has a Lot to Offer
December 15, 2025

As WORT celebrates its 50th birthday this year, weve been reflecting on what the last half-century has meant to our community. But on todays show, host Douglas Haynes asks, what will the next 50 years look like? Hes joined by the next generation of ra

Indigenous Voices Speak Out at COP 30
December 12, 2025

On todays show, host Esty Dinur is joined by Ojibwe elder, Great Grandmother Mary Lyons, who recaps what happened at the United Nations Climate Conference of Parties (COP 30) in Belm, Brazil last month. The gathering of world leaders and representative

The Transformative Power of Black History with Nicholas Powers
December 11, 2025

In the news this week, the Presidents birthday was added to the list of free entry days at the National Parks, meanwhile Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth were removed from the list. On todays show, host Allen Ruff is joined by activist and sch

Aren’t Youth Sports Supposed to be Fun?
December 10, 2025

On todays show, host Ali Muldrow speaks with Dionne Koller about her new book, More Than Play: How Law, Policy, and Politics Shape American Youth Sport. As a former athlete who signed her kids up for youth sports, Koller says she wrote the book to make

What Does the County’s Human Services Department Do?
December 09, 2025

On todays show, host Dana Pellebon is joined by Dane County Human Services Director, John Schlueter, to help listeners understand the breadth of the largest department in our county. Schlueter is a long-time Madison resident whose service to the communi

Teaching Kids a Love of Growing Food, Even Okra
December 08, 2025

On todays show, host Douglas Haynes takes an inside look at innovative local efforts to teach young people through urban agriculture. Our guest is Brian Emerson of Rooted, a local nonprofit developing community connections through agriculture and food a