NORTHWEST WISCONSIN — That’s Debatable with Ben and Emily went live Thursday morning, September 4, 2025, on DrydenWire’s YouTube channel, delivering another round of spirited discussion, timely debates, and a few laughs along the way.
The show opened with some lighthearted Labor Day weekend chatter before the hosts jumped into local government updates. Ben and Emily broke down highlights from recent county board activity — including the Washburn County Jail discussion and Barron County’s zoning votes and board “retreat.”
From there, attention shifted to the Northwoods Policy Network (NPN), with Ben offering an overview of the new advocacy group’s goals. The pair discussed what “Northwoods-first” means in practice, the gaps NPN hopes to fill, and how residents can join the group’s launch list.
The debate of the day asked a big-picture question: What’s the 2025 version of the American Dream? The conversation naturally segued into the new “Sign or Veto” segment, where Ben and Emily weighed a hypothetical Livable Wage Act of 2025. The proposed law would set a $20/hour minimum wage by 2027 with automatic inflation adjustments, plus tax credits for small businesses.
To close things out, the hosts offered their “Unpopular Opinions” segment, ranging from board size to holiday shopping traditions. Highlights included:
- Ben arguing that “as long as you’re happy” is not something a true friend should say.
- Emily declaring “no Christmas on the shelves until after Halloween.”
- Ben suggesting fewer board supervisors.
- Emily admitting her love of sweater weather while taking a stand against pumpkin spice.
As always, viewers joined the discussion live in the YouTube comments, shaping the conversation with questions, reactions, and challenges.
Watch the full episode here:
Last Update: Sep 04, 2025 1:19 pm CDT
