Citizen Dave
19 loaded handguns
J.D. Vance’s story about his ‘Mamaw’ best illustrates the vast gulf between people who show up at Republican conventions and the rest of America. Read more
Jul 19, 2024
We need some conservatives in Madison
No one is asking hard questions about the Madison school district’s performance even as it is going to referendum to add an additional $1,300 on tax bills by 2028. Read more
Jul 10, 2024
The curse of partisanship
While virtually every liberal and center-left commentator is calling for President Joe Biden to abandon his bid for a second term, Democratic politicians insist he’s fit for the job. Read more
Jul 3, 2024
Density backlash underway in Madison
The rhetoric against growth in Madison reflects a fundamentally anti-urban, back-to-the-land kind of vibe. Read more
Jun 28, 2024
Chill the Madison referendums
Local governments in Madison have to back off from the referendums they’re considering for the November ballot. Or risk helping elect Donald Trump for president. Read more
Jun 20, 2024
The mess at the Wisconsin Department of Corrections
The Dodge County Sheriff has filed charges against recently retired Waupun prison warden Randall Hepp and eight of his staff members in the deaths of two inmates. But the state’s top administrators need to explain how the alleged abuse happened. Read more
Jun 13, 2024
UW athletics can afford fairness
In a recent historic settlement of an antitrust case, college sports programs agreed to pay their athletes up to $21 million a year. They also agreed to pay damages of $2.8 billion to some former athletes. It’s a good start but could go further. Read more
Jun 5, 2024
1:30 PM
Build despite the F-35 noise
Dane County needs to produce about 7,000 housing units every year just to keep up with demand and we’re currently producing only 5,000. Read more
May 29, 2024
2:30 PM
City of Madison budget crisis averted?
The city was estimating a large budget hole for 2025. But when the books were closed for 2023 it turned out the city was about $31 million in the black. You can thank inflation. Read more
May 15, 2024
9:00 AM
In praise of pork
Tammy Baldwin is a master at bringing home the bacon. She even touts it on her own website. Read more
May 1, 2024
7:00 PM
AJ Storr should have had a contract
Last week Bucky buckets lost AJ Storr, its leading scorer and only genuine NBA-caliber player, to Kansas, and it lost its veteran point guard and team leader, Chucky Hepburn, to the transfer portal. Read more
Apr 26, 2024
8:00 AM
What happened to NPR and PBS?
The NewsHour and the NPR news shows were, in their best days, the gold standard for what broadcast journalism — or any journalism — should be. Read more
Apr 18, 2024
3:00 PM
In the July issue
The connector
Jason Ilstrup came to Downtown Madison Inc. out of the hospitality industry, and it’s evident. Read more
Madison’s first designated art district?
Over the last decade cultural options have blossomed in the Capitol East Corridor, about half a mile from downtown. Now there are plans afoot to market the bounty. Read more
House music
Kiki’s House of Righteous Music, located in Kiki Schueler’s basement, will mark its 400th show on July 21. The intimate space is adored by musicians and viewers alike. Read more
Behind the Isthmus cover: July 2024
Chase A. captures the mood at sundown on a Memorial Union dock for Isthmus' July 2024 cover illustration. Read more
A league of their own
The Madison Women’s Cricket League boasts four teams. Round robin play is coming up later this month. Read more