Have we lost the plot? Time to recombobulate with Angela Lang

With just days to go before the Aug. 11 primary, we have reached the silly season of the Democratic gubernatorial campaign. So, Angela Lang joined the podcast to ask: Have we lost the plot?

We pondered that questioned, Angela had a few things to say about David Crowley’s recent comments on “the establishment” as a “slur,” what the term “the establishment” even means anymore, Tony Evers’ involvement in the primary, what was the real turning point in the race, and more.

Plus: As fellow Milwaukeeans, we wondered: Who is going to win Milwaukee County? As folks will often reference, Bernie Sanders won 71 of 72 counties in the 2016 presidential primary in Wisconsin. The one county to go for Hilary Clinton? Milwaukee County. Could results next week show a similar map? Could Crowley carry Milwaukee? Or, could the emergence of Democratic Socialists in the city bring stronger results for Hong?

Much to discuss, folks.

For a beat-by-beat breakdown, check out our topics and timestamps below:

00:01: Intro, and catching up — last time they podcasted together (May 28th)

01:52: Plug for Dan’s article on down-ballot primary races (Assembly, Senate, congressional)

02:32: “Losing the plot” — old Thanksgiving tweets dominating coverage of Francesca Hong

07:19: Whether Hong should keep doing national media (CNN interview) as the race nationalizes

09:39: What they’d rather be discussing: Trump’s endorsement of Tom Tiffany, policing, ICE and local response

11:44: David Crowley calling “establishment” a slur — the clip and the reaction

15:10: What does “establishment” even mean anymore? — buzzword fatigue and the DSA-vs-establishment framing

21:46: Sara Rodriguez’s campaign finance scandal and exit as the real turning point

23:14: The legislative bill that split Democrats over the summer, and Tony Evers’ involvement in the primary

27:24: Milwaukee’s role in the race — 2016 Bernie Sanders comparison, union endorsements, yard-sign spotting

33:17: The generational divide — Marquette poll numbers among younger voters

35:11: “Blue no matter who” — does it cut both ways for moderates if Hong wins?

37:22: Wisconsin’s ideological extremes — comparison to Sens. Baldwin and Johnson

39:05: Marquette polling: Hong essentially tied with Tiffany in head-to-head matchups

41:35: Roots of polarization — the Scott Walker recall and a decade of gerrymandering

42:28: The independent streak in the Fox Valley and western Wisconsin

43:47: The “attention economy” and Trump-era campaign tactics (wedge issues like Thanksgiving)

46:47: Candidate forums and how much the Democratic field actually agrees on policy

48:20: Sign-off — closing thoughts on primary-season Facebook posts