A Milwaukee talk-radio host is facing scrutiny after posting, then deleting, social media messages that urged followers to "take out" Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, adding that "we will be greeted as liberators." The posts, which circulated widely before they disappeared, specifically targeted Walz and were accompanied by an AI-generated image.
What The Posts Said
Dan O'Donnell, the afternoon-drive host on WISN-AM (1130), wrote in a March 1 social media post: "now take out the supreme leader of Minnesota. we will be greeted as liberators." The messages also featured an AI-generated image of Gov. Walz wearing a black turban alongside the phrase "death to fraud investigations!," and the March 1 posts were later deleted, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Who O'Donnell Is
O'Donnell hosts weekday afternoons on News/Talk 1130 WISN and has become one of the more prominent conservative voices on Milwaukee radio. Industry profiles note that he moved into the station's afternoon slot in early 2026 as part of a broader lineup shuffle at WISN, according to Barrett Media.
Who Walz Is And Why It Matters
The posts took aim at Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who stepped into the national spotlight as the Democratic vice-presidential nominee in 2024 and has remained a high-profile figure in recent political debates, as reported by The Guardian. Walz also announced that he would not seek reelection, a decision that came as Minnesota's social services system faced scrutiny over fraud, according to Newsweek.
Station Response And Ownership
WISN did not immediately respond to requests for comment after the posts began circulating, and as of publication neither the company nor O'Donnell had issued a public statement, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The station is part of iHeartMedia's Milwaukee cluster, and the company lists News/Talk 1130 WISN among its local properties and details its weekday lineup on its own site, per iHeartMedia / WISN.
Past Amplification And Why It Matters
This is not the first time O'Donnell's presence in Milwaukee media has intersected with a social media firestorm. He previously amplified an online controversy that preceded the dismissal of a Milwaukee meteorologist in January 2025, an episode that drew national coverage and spotlighted how talk-radio discussion can intensify viral disputes. That earlier case was cited as an example of how local broadcasters can help escalate online conflicts into real-world consequences, according to reporting by TheWrap.
