Wisconsin appeals court won't stop Musk's $1 million payments to voters after attorney general sues
A Wisconsin appellate court denied the state Democratic attorney general's request to stop billionaire Elon Musk from handing over $1 million checks to two voters at a rally planned for Sunday, just two days before a closely contested Supreme Court election. READ MORE: https://wgntv.com/news/national/ap-us-news/ap-wisconsins-attorney-general-asks-the-state-supreme-court-to-stop-musks-1-million-payments/
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Axios
37 minutes ago
- Axios
Freshman wishlist: Adam Schiff vs. Trump 2.0
Sen. Adam Schiff has some advice for President Trump when attempting to demean him: Pick one nickname. Why it matters: Schiff rose to cable TV stardom as an anti-Trump foil while leading the first impeachment. "Shifty Schiff" or "Watermelon Head" learned to give as good as he got. Trump called Schiff names. Schiff ensured he was impeached — twice. "[T]he cardinal rule of nicknames is: Just stick with one," Schiff told Axios in an interview. Schiff translated his MAGA notoriety into a safe Senate seat, first battling through a tough, expensive primary. Now he's ready for round two with Trump. "I've been thrust back into a lot of that responsibility again because what he's trying to do in the second term is even worse than what he tried to do in the first term," Schiff said. Zoom out: Before Trump dominated the national conversation, Schiff considered himself a fairly nonpartisan national security expert. He endorsed Jim Mattis for Secretary of Defense in 2016 when other Democrats didn't. Schiff had hoped for another rebrand in the Senate. "I was expecting a Biden or a Harris presidency, and the ability to just focus exclusively on what positive things I could get done," he told Axios. What to watch: He is enjoying visiting redder areas of the state after spending years representing just a slice of heavily Democratic Los Angeles. He shared about one such visit in the state's northeast. "I knew I had made progress when one of the farmers looked at me and said, 'I don't know why he calls you watermelon head. You have a perfectly normal-sized head.'" But it's doubtful he'll revert back to a less partisan posture, given the direction of Trump's second term. Driving the news: Two days after our interview, Trump deployed National Guard troops to tamp down on ICE protests in Los Angeles in opposition to Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.). "This action is designed to inflame tensions, sow chaos, and escalate the situation," Schiff posted on X on Saturday. He also repeatedly called for violence to stop at protests. "Assaulting law enforcement is never ok," he posted Sunday. Zoom in: Schiff tried to pass a resolution shortly before our interview to stop the administration from stripping civil rights leader Harvey Milk's name from a Navy ship. He has demanded financial disclosures from the White House, written letters to stop DOGE from shutting down USDA offices and tried to block the repeal of EV rules. "Most of my days are spent trying to walk this line between stopping the administration from violating the law and ignoring the Constitution on the one hand," Schiff said, "and continuing to deliver for Californians..." Schiff recognizes that his clashes altered his career trajectory. "I have my brand pre-Trump and my brand post-Trump," Schiff told Axios. Between the lines: Schiff's leadership in the House's first Trump impeachment made him a mortal enemy to Trump and his allies, leading to a "weirdly personal" dynamic, Schiff said.
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Lawmakers disagree over medical marijuana picks
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — There was friction aplenty on Monday about should be on the latest version of the South Dakota Legislature's Medical Marijuana Oversight Committee. Just three of panel's 11 members will be returning from last year's group — medical doctor Francine Arneson of Sioux Falls, addiction counselor Kristi Palmer of Sturgis and Sioux Falls police chief Jon Thum. Teen sentenced to 20 years for fentanyl death The Legislature's Executive Board makes the appointments. Lawmakers voted 15-0 for the first nominee, Republican Sen. Lauren Nelson with no discussion. But after that, there was a lot of disagreement. The appointment of Republican Sen. John Carley went through 9-6, with nays from Republican Rep. Mellissa Heermann, Republican Rep. Brian Mulder, Republican Sen. Randy Deibert, Republican Sen. Steve Kolbeck, Democratic Sen. Liz Larson and Democratic Rep. Erin Healy. The dissension further surfaced when Healy nominated Republican Rep. Terri Jorgenson. Republican Rep. Scott Odenbach called for Republican Rep. Josephine Garcia instead. Odenbach, the House Republican leader, said he had conversed by text with several applicants from the House and they eventually settled on Garcia and Republican Rep. Travis Ismay as those applicants' preferences. Garcia went through on a 9-6 vote, drawing nays from the same lawmakers as Carley had. Odenbach next nominated Ismay, who has repeatedly tried to derail South Dakota's medical marijuana program, after nearly 70% of voters approved it in the 2020 election. 'There's no doubt Representative Ismay is a passionate person on this issue,' Odenbach said. Healy said she didn't want to appoint someone opposed to medical marijuana. Emmett Reistroffer, representing Genesis Farms, a medical marijuana producer with retail outlets in various communities, spoke against Ismay's appointment. Reistroffer claimed that Ismay has used profanity at times in describing the medical marijuana industry and wouldn't meet with its lobbyists. 'We just feel this nomination is not appropriate,' Reistroffer said. Healy reminded other Executive Board members that it was up to the board to make the appointments. 'Ultimately, we are here for a reason and we need to make the best decision that we can,' she said. Kolbeck noted that the Legislature a few years ago came up with the current slots for the committee when some lawmakers were trying repeal the program altogether. 'It's how it should run,' Kolbeck argued, saying the board shouldn't appoint someone who isn't willing to respect the voters' wishes. Mulder then nominated Republican Rep. Bobbi Andera instead. Republican Sen. Tom Pischke said Andera was very busy with other things in her life and questioned whether she didn't apply because 'she doesn't have the bandwidth to serve' on the panel. Both Mulder and Republican Rep. Aaron Aylward said they had texted with Andera last week and she confirmed her interest. Reistroffer, representing Genesis Farms, told the lawmakers he was 'relieved' to hear Andera's name, describing her as 'fair' and said she 'listens.' He added that she was the only legislator to attend the medical marijuana industry's briefing earlier this year and said she sometimes voted yes and sometimes voted no on their proposals. Odenbach said he thinks well of Andera but she didn't apply and he said that was why he would vote against her. The board's chair, Republican Rep. Jon Hansen, the House speaker, said he had promised to support Ismay's nomination but also thought that Andera would make a great member. Republican Sen. Ernie Otten also said he couldn't support Andera. 'Without any application no,' he said. Andera nonetheless was appointed 10-5, with nays from Republican Rep. Spencer Gosch, Odenbach, Republican Sen. Jim Mehlhaff, Otten and Hansen. The board voted 11-4 for Dr. Arneson, with nays from Gosch, Hansen, Mehlhaff and Republican Sen. Chris Karr, the Senate's top member. The skirmishing seemed to have ended with 15-0 votes for physician assistant Andrew Schock of Hill City, certified nurse practitioner Julie Bostic of Hartford, police chief Thum, Meade County Sheriff Pat West and counselor Palmer. But the board split again on who should serve as the committee's qualifying patient — someone who is a current cardholder. Karey Entwisle of rural Canistota drove to the meeting at the Capitol accompanied by her father, a U.S. Marine who served two tours in Vietnam a half-century ago and now suffers from kidney disease. She wanted the qualifying patient seat. Mehlhaff questioned whether Entwisle had a conflict of interest because her husband operates Pitbull Acres, a state-licensed cultivator of medical marijuana. Entwisle minimized her role there. 'I'm strictly by the books providing facts,' she said. However, research after the meeting by KELOLAND News of public records on file with the South Dakota Secretary of State office found only her name listed as organizer for Pitbull Acres. Entwisle spoke of her father, who was in a wheelchair. 'This plant has been healing him,' she said. Mehlhaff asked her again how she would compartmentalize the roles of qualifying patient and spouse of a licensed cultivator. 'I am focused on the facts and the situation,' she replied. Karr wanted someone else. He offered Nicholas Cardova instead, saying, 'I just think it's cleaner to avoid any potential conflicts.' The majority of board members disagreed, splitting six for and nine against Cardova. Reistroffer, from Genesis Farms, was invited to the witness mic to address the board a third time. He said he'd gotten to know Entwisle during the past year. 'Clearly she supports the relief her father is finding,' he said. Then Reistroffer spoke from a broader perspective. 'This entire (medical marijuana) committee is stacked from top to bottom. She's the only one we've got,' he said. Mehlhaff said it was important that Entwisle had addressed the conflict question. 'I think she would be a good candidate,' he said. He had served on the panel the past two years and clearly wasn't a supporter of some of the ways that the medical marijuana industry conducts business in South Dakota. Mehlhaff said it was easy for medical marijuana to bleed over to recreational marijuana and he was 'comfortable' that Entwisle would try to minimize that as much as possible. With that, the board voted 14-1 — with only Karr saying nay — for her appointment. In other appointments on Monday, the board chose: Circuit Judge David Wheeler, a former senator from Huron, to fill an opening on the state Code Commission; Brett Koenecke, from the May Adam law firm in Pierre, and Thomas Geu, a former dean at the University of South Dakota law school, to continue serving on the national Uniform Law Commission; and Michael Anderson of Watertown to the state Investment Council. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
GOP lawmakers uneasy about package to codify DOGE cuts ahead of House vote this week
Multiple Republican lawmakers are voicing concerns about backing a high-profile measure later this week to codify Elon Musk's DOGE cuts – raising questions about whether it can pass the House at all. Two Republicans – Reps. Mark Amodei of Nevada and Nicole Malliotakis of New York – separately told CNN they have concerns with the White House's push to defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. 'Still mulling,' Amodei said when asked if he would support the package of cuts. 'The impact on local PBS stations appears to be significant.' Other Republicans have heartburn about how it could cut the Bush-era program, PEPFAR, devoted to fighting HIV and AIDS globally. 'If it cuts PEPFAR like they're saying it is, that's not good,' GOP Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska told CNN last week. House GOP leaders plan to put the package of cuts, totaling $9.4 billion, on the floor as soon as Thursday, according to two people familiar with the plans. But Speaker Mike Johnson will need near unanimity in his conference for the package to pass the House, where he can only lose three votes. Johnson said on Monday that he's 'working on' getting enough votes for the Department of Government Efficiency spending cuts package he hopes to bring to the floor this week. 'The only concern I heard initially was some wanted a little more specificity and detail on what was in the package,' Johnson continued. Asked how he would persuade members that wanted more specificity in the package, Johnson replied, 'I'm gathering up all their questions and we'll try to get them all answered. I mean, that's what we do in every piece of legislation.' If it can survive the House, it will face major obstacles in the Senate. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine told CNN on Monday that she has major misgivings about the global health cuts, including PEPFAR. 'I think we can change it. We're still figuring out what the set rules are,' Collins said. The White House sent its long-awaited spending cuts request to Congress as it seeks to formalize a slew of DOGE slashes to federal funding. The $9.4 billion package – known as 'rescissions' on Capitol Hill – would claw back previously appropriated government funding. The move to cancel the funding through Congress would insulate the administration from legal challenges related to its cuts to federal funding. Johnson said on Monday, 'We'd like to do multiple rescissions packages, and this first one I'm sure will be successful.' This initial request, however, is far more limited in scope than the more than $1 trillion in spending cuts that DOGE has promised. The lengthy time it took the White House to send over a first round of cuts underscores the uphill battle for even a Republican-led Congress to codify DOGE's work. CNN's Molly English contributed to this report.
