The Recombobulation Area

08/01/2026

With WisconsinEye currently down, some in the state legislature have been recording or streaming committee hearings.

Today, however, "Assembly Republicans barred members of the public and legislators from recording committee proceedings," according to State Representative Clinton Anderson.

“Just yesterday, I livestreamed the Committee on Local Government with no issues. Today in the Agriculture Committee, we were told livestreaming is no longer allowed, and we’re now hearing that this will become standard practice across committees. If that’s the direction Republican leadership is heading, it represents a clear move to restrict public access."

08/01/2026

A transformational moment is in play for Democrats this year. Can they seize the opportunity?

2025 was bleak. 2026 is starting out…also bleak. But this year, Wisconsin Democrats have their first real chance at a trifecta in a generation, and liberals could solidify their state Supreme Court majority through the 2020s.

In his new column, Dan Shafer sorts through the big picture of the year ahead, analyzing why 2026 could be the year where Democrats win a trifecta for the first time in a long time.

06/01/2026

Wisconsin’s 2026 governor’s race is officially underway.

On Jan. 21, The Recombobulation Area’s Dan Shafer will moderate a candidate forum aimed at helping Wisconsin voters make an informed decision at the ballot box about who will be the state's next governor.

The event is hosted by the Main Street Alliance, an organization that advocates for small businesses and family farmers. Join us later this month at The Cooperage in Milwaukee for a key event in Wisconsin politics. FREE registration is open now!

05/01/2026

It's 2026, and folks, it seems like we're headed for yet another discombobulating year.

But in these discombobulating times, we need a place to recombobulate.

Subscribe to The Recombobulation Area (link in comments).

30/12/2025

Founding editor and Civic Media political editor Dan Shafer reflects on 2025, a year he describes as “a horrible year, perhaps one of the worst in American politics that many observers can remember.”

Rather than getting bogged down in the details of a typical year-end retrospective, this review focuses on the bigger picture: It was a remarkably bad year — but was it the worst year for American politics this century?

Let’s discombobulate 🗑️🔥

22/12/2025

Wisconsin has a choice.
It’s high time for Wisconsin to legalize it.

A looming federal ban could hit Wisconsin hard — unless lawmakers act now. Guest columnist Emily Mills makes the case for why it’s high time to legalize h**p and ma*****na.

Let's recombobulate 🌿

19/12/2025

Last night in Milwaukee, Clean Wisconsin hosted a discussion on AI data centers. It’s a timely conversation, happening on the same day as a groundbreaking for a $15 billion data center in Port Washington.

The panel discussion featured Joel Brammeier, president and CEO of the Alliance for the Great Lakes; Chelsea Chandler, the climate, energy and air program director at Clean Wisconsin; Tom Content, executive director of the Citizens Utility Board; and Prescott Balch, a resident of the Village of Caledonia who was one of the spokespersons for the effort opposing Microsoft’s data center there.

Topics discussed included:
📌 The unconventional political coalitions forming in opposition to data centers, the latest analysis on how much energy is used to serve AI data centers

📌 Whether or not the water consumption issue with data centers is overblown

📌 Ways the state government can be more proactive about data center legislation

📌 Lessons from the effort opposing Microsoft’s data center in Caledonia

📌 How communities should respond when data centers are proposed, and much more

The event was moderated by The Recombobulation Area’s Dan Shafer. Watch the livestream of the full discussion at Clean Wisconsin’s YouTube channel.

18/12/2025

TONIGHT: Data centers are emerging as a major issue in Wisconsin, and Clean Wisconsin has assembled a terrific panel to talk more about it.

The Recombobulation Area's Dan Shafer will be the event's moderator. Find more information (and a link to the livestream, if you can't be there in person) below.

16/12/2025

Mid-decade redistricting has turned into one of the defining political stories of 2025. Other states are racing to redraw their maps. There have been many challenges to Wisconsin’s congressional maps. This one is different.

In his new column, Dan Shafer examines where Wisconsin fits into the national gerrymandering arms race, why Tony Evers says he won’t play that game, and how the real fight over the state’s congressional maps is now moving through the courts — with insights from Law Forward’s Doug Poland.

Let’s recombobulate 🗺️

16/12/2025

Data centers are expanding rapidly across Wisconsin, but what does that mean for our water, energy costs, land, and impact on the environment?

Big infrastructure decisions deserve public discussion. This Thursday at 6 PM, join Dan Shafer and expert panelists for a timely conversation about AI data centers and their growing footprint in Wisconsin.

PANELIST ADDED! Join us this Thursday for an expert panel discussion taking a hard look at how AI data centers could harm our air quality, drinking water, energy systems, land and climate.

This event is FREE and will be moderated by The Recombobulation Area's Dan Shafer.

Panelists include:
- Joel Brammeier, Alliance for the Great Lakes
- Chelsea Chandler, Clean Wisconsin
- Tom Content, Citizens Utility Board of Wisconsin
- Prescott Balch, Village of Caledonia Resident

RSVP as soon as possible to save your seat! https://www.cleanwisconsin.org/resources-at-risk-ai-data-centers-in-wisconsin/

13/12/2025

We’ve been memed!

13/12/2025

Happy JANE MATENAER DAY to all who celebrate.

Watch and listen to Jane Matenaer's final show hosting Matenaer On Air on Civic Media, capping a remarkable 44+ year career in broadcasting.

December 12 has been officially proclaimed "JANE MATENAER DAY" in the City of Milwaukee.