Supreme Court Shakeups, Amtrak Speeds Up Madison Expansion, and Weird Buildings Up for Discussion

·33 min·3 clips

Justice Ziegler's sudden retirement could shift Wisconsin's Supreme Court to a 6-1 liberal majority.

Host Haley Sperling leads a Friday news roundup with producer Jade Iseri-Ramos and newsletter editor Rob Thomas. They cover Wisconsin Supreme Court developments, a contentious building debate, and updates on Amtrak's expansion to Madison. Justice Annette Ziegler, a conservative on the court since 2007, announced she will not seek re-election in 2027. This follows the earlier departure of conservative Justice Rebecca Bradley, who cited the court's changing ideological balance as a reason for leaving. An election on April 7th will fill Bradley's seat, featuring liberal candidate Chris Taylor and conservative candidate Maria Lazar. Taylor has raised ten times more funds than her opponent, according to the AP. If Taylor wins, the liberal majority on the court would expand to 5-2, with a potential to become 6-1 after the 2027 election. The court is expected to rule on upcoming cases involving abortion rights, collective bargaining, and redistricting. The panel discusses the Maste Hall apartment building, a rare example of brutalist architecture in Madison, which faces demolition for a new 16-story development. The Madison Trust for Historic Preservation seeks landmark status for Maste Hall, citing its unique design and relatively affordable studio apartments for students. A proposed new apartment building at 999 South Park Street features a distinctive, "weird" design with barrel roofs and triangular patios, described as part Art Deco and part "Jetsons" space-age. This design passed the Urban Design Commission unanimously, though some neighbors oppose it for not being "seamless" with the area. Amtrak plans to bring service to Madison by 2030, with a temporary station possible as early as 2029. The city's preferred station location is on Wilson Street, near the John Nolen corridor, for its central, walkable downtown access. Developers have proposed incorporating the station into the historic, Art Deco-style State Office Building at 1 West Wilson, which is currently for sale. The expansion is part of Amtrak's plan to extend the Hiawatha line from Chicago to Milwaukee and eventually to Minneapolis. The hosts express excitement over the potential for a grand, central station-like gateway in the historic building. They note the timing of Justice Ziegler's announcement could influence turnout for the April 7th election, either mobilizing conservatives or liberals. The conversation highlights the tension in Madison between preserving unique architecture and addressing the need for new, dense housing development. The tone is conversational, informal, and locally focused, featuring friendly banter between the hosts. Listeners interested in Wisconsin politics, urban development, and public transportation updates would enjoy this episode. Those seeking deep, single-topic analysis or national news perspectives might find it too broad or casual.

As heard by us

A Madison debate over a distinctive building that keeps preservation and replacement on equal footing.

City Cast Madison spends its time on a local development fight with real stakes: a distinctive building, the case for preserving it, and the pull of a larger apartment project.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Need Madison news that centers on a rare building fight and what it means for downtown?

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from City Cast Madison