Wisconsin Watch
Episode Archive
Episode Archive
70 episodes of Wisconsin Watch since the first episode, which aired on October 7th, 2020.
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‘When it’s rigid, it breaks’: How federal rules and market dominance fueled Wisconsin’s baby formula shortage
August 3rd, 2022 | 15 mins 39 secs
baby formula, children, infants, market, shortage, wisconsin, wisconsin watch, women
The Women, Infants, and Children program funds about half of U.S. formula purchases. Wisconsin contracts only with Abbott Nutrition, whose recall and plant shutdown jolted the market.
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Are abortions ever medically necessary? Wisconsin doctors say yes.
August 3rd, 2022 | 8 mins 36 secs
abortion, doctor, law, life-threatening condition, news, pregnancy, system, wisconsin, wisconsin watch
Life-threatening conditions can develop or be exacerbated during pregnancy — and childbirth itself is high risk for some patients, they say.
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Wisconsin’s ‘chronic Lyme’ patients embrace alternative treatments, rack up big bills
August 3rd, 2022 | 20 mins 56 secs
chronic, long-term effects, lyme disease, news, symptoms, wisconsin, wisconsin watch
Sufferers say they go down ‘rabbit holes’ to diagnose a condition that many doctors say does not exist.
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Wisconsin faces a ‘tangled series’ of abortion laws dating back to 1849 as it heads into a possible post-Roe future
July 14th, 2022 | 21 mins 59 secs
abortion, law, news, overturn, roe v wade, supreme court, system, wisconsin, wisconsin watch
Wisconsin Watch reporter Phoebe Petrovic examines the “tangled” system of abortion laws and court decisions dating back to 1849 that could take effect in Wisconsin if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade.
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‘Toxic work environment’ in Dane County Medical Examiner’s Office pushes employees to the brink
June 7th, 2022 | 22 mins 24 secs
bullying, dane county, employees, medical examiner, mental health, news, wisconsin, wisconsin watch
Staffers say county refused action as yelling, insults and unrelenting demands damaged their mental health; alleged behavior causes other counties to cut ties
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‘They can bring so much’: Despite barriers, Afghan evacuees enrich Wisconsin’s workforce
May 24th, 2022 | 16 mins 52 secs
afghan, afghanistan, diversity, education, evacuee, green bay, immigration, jobs, news, resettle, wisconsin, wisconsin watch
Wisconsin is in a labor crunch. Evacuees and other immigrants can help — if they can navigate transportation and other obstacles.
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‘They can bring so much’: Despite barriers, Afghan evacuees enrich Wisconsin’s workforce
May 24th, 2022 | 16 mins 52 secs
afghan, afghanistan, diversity, education, evacuee, green bay, immigration, jobs, news, resettle, wisconsin, wisconsin watch
Wisconsin is in a labor crunch. Evacuees and other immigrants can help — if they can navigate transportation and other obstacles.
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A controversial doctor. A disputed abuse diagnosis. Two convicted Wisconsin men say they are innocent.
May 10th, 2022 | 28 mins 24 secs
abusive head trauma, child abuse pediatrician, dr. barbara knox, news, wisconsin
Dakota Black and Joshua Gehde are in prison for homicide after former UW Dr. Barbara Knox accused them of inflicting abusive head trauma on children. They both insist they are innocent. In the latest installment of our series "Flawed Forensics," Wisconsin Watch reporter Brenda Wintrode investigates Knox's findings of "abusive head trauma" — a controversial diagnosis which one New Jersey judge recently described as “junk science.”
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‘Blurring of lines’: Private lawyer plays starring role in taxpayer-funded Wisconsin election probe
April 26th, 2022 | 20 mins 24 secs
election, election integrity, erick kaardal, michael gableman, news, thomas more society, wisconsin, wisconsin watch
In this investigation by reporter Matt Mencarini, Wisconsin Watch examines the unofficial — but central — role played by the nonprofit Thomas More Society law firm and its attorney, Erick Kaardal, in the state investigation into Wisconsin’s 2020 presidential election.
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‘We’ve got to get gaming out of our blood’: Pandemic shock pushes Wisconsin tribes to diversify economy
April 20th, 2022 | 28 mins 57 secs
casino, gaming, ho-chunk nation, indian country today, news, tribal economy, wisconsin
In this story by reporter Mario Koran, Wisconsin Watch takes a look at how Wisconsin tribes are contemplating a future beyond gaming after the pandemic showed a risk of overreliance on casinos. This story is part of a collaborative series, “At the Crossroads," from the Institute for Nonprofit News, Indian Country Today, Wisconsin Watch and eight other news partners, examining the state of the economy in Indian Country.
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The history of Lyme disease has a Wisconsin chapter. It’s still being written.
April 5th, 2022 | 6 mins 53 secs
chronic lyme, lyme, lyme disease, ticks, wisconsin
In this latest installment of our series "Living with Lyme" Wisconsin Watch reporter Zhen Wang explores Wisconsin’s key role in the discovery and ongoing research into Lyme disease.
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Doctors debate, patients suffer: The fight over chronic Lyme disease in Wisconsin
March 28th, 2022 | 24 mins 32 secs
chronic lyme disease, lyme, lyme disease, news, tick, wisconsin
In this story, Wisconsin Watch reporter Zhen Wang profiles Maria Freitas, a woman who for years has suffered from joint pain, brain fog, fever and other maladies. Freitas attributes the symptoms to Lyme disease. But mainstream physicians insist she has rheumatoid arthritis — a diagnosis that she said does not explain many of her symptoms. It's part of Wisconsin Watch's series: "Living with Lyme."
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‘I don’t know what will happen’: After months at Ft. McCoy Afghan family resettled in separate states
March 16th, 2022 | 22 mins 23 secs
afghan, afghanistan, evacuee, ft. mccoy, news, resettle, rockville, wisconsin
In this story, Wisconsin Watch reporter Zhen Wang profiles an Afghan evacuee family who was resettled in separate states after a months-long stay at Wisconsin’s Fort McCoy — illustrating major challenges within resettlement agencies to help evacuees start their new lives. The story follows the Nabizada family as they seek housing, jobs and food — while applying for permanent residency.
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Embattled former UW child abuse pediatrician resigns Alaska position
February 1st, 2022 | 7 mins 26 secs
alaska, anchorage daily news, child abuse pediatrician, dr. barbara knox, false accusation, news, wisconsin
Wisconsin Watch brings you the latest news about former University of Wisconsin pediatrician, Dr. Barbara Knox. On Jan. 27th, Knox resigned from her position leading Alaska’s forensic child abuse clinic — days after Wisconsin Watch and the Anchorage Daily News reported on a couple who lost custody of their two young children after Knox wrongly diagnosed their 3-week-old baby as being abused.
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‘We were robbed’: Alaska couple loses custody of kids after erroneous abuse diagnosis from former UW doctor
February 1st, 2022 | 19 mins 57 secs
anchorage daily news, child abuse pediatrics, dr. barbara knox, false accusations, flawed forensics, news, wisconsin
In our latest installment from our series "Flawed Forensics," we feature a Fairbanks, Alaska, couple accused of abusing their 3-week-old daughter, prompting authorities to remove baby Izabel and her 18-month-old brother Ezekiel from their parents. Experts hired by Emilly and Justin Acker found former University of Wisconsin child abuse pediatrician Dr. Barbara Knox’s diagnosis of abusive head trauma was wrong and ignored Izabel’s serious birth injuries. A forensic psychologist found Emily Acker no danger to her children — and a judge agreed.
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Wisconsin debates cash bail changes in wake of Waukesha parade tragedy — as some states ditch system entirely
January 26th, 2022 | 18 mins 9 secs
bail, bond, cash bail, criminal justice, darrell e. brooks, news, pretrial detention, waukesha, wisconsin
Wisconsin Watch brings you a story about a revived debate surrounding cash bail after Darrell E. Brooks was released from jail while facing charges related to domestic violence — just days before he allegedly drove through a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, killing six people and injuring dozens.