Right-wing media's information war hits a limit
Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Wisconsin) won reelection to his seat in November by a 22-point margin. So he probably wasn't expecting that he'd be booed upon his arrival at a town hall event near Oshkosh on Friday.
The ensuing conversation with his constituents was not much friendlier than his initial reception. Wisconsinites challenged Grothman's claims about the month-old administration of President Donald Trump and, particularly, criticized Trump adviser Elon Musk's efforts to oust thousands of federal employees from their positions. Wisconsin Public Radio reports that Grothman's defenses often met with hostility from the crowd.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Gov. Evers responds to Republicans' decision to back out of bipartisan budget negotiations
MADISON, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX) – Republicans in the Wisconsin State Legislature on Wednesday backed out of months' worth of bipartisan budget negotiations with Gov. Tony Evers toward reaching bipartisan compromise on the 2025-27 Biennial Budget. Despite having secured the governor's support for Republicans' half of the proposal, which included an income tax cut targeting Wisconsin's middle-class and working families and eliminating income taxes for certain retirees, Republican lawmakers are unable to reach consensus with their caucuses in order to support the governor's half of the proposal, which included meaningful increased investments in child care, K-12 schools, and the University of Wisconsin (UW) System. Republicans' decision to cease discussions comes after meetings between Gov. Evers and Republican leaders, as well as several staff-level meetings with leaders, have occurred over the span of several months and ramped up in recent weeks, including meetings every day this week. Gov. Evers Wednesday released the following statement responding to Republican leaders' decision: 'I am grateful to the legislators and legislative staff for their efforts over the past several weeks to reach a bipartisan agreement that would have delivered on key priorities for Wisconsinites. 'The concept of compromise is simple—everyone gets something they want, and no one gets everything they want. 'I told Republicans I'd support their half of the deal and their top tax priorities—even though they're very similar to bills I previously vetoed—because I believe that's how compromise is supposed to work, and I was ready to make that concession in order to get important things done for Wisconsin's kids. 'Unfortunately, Republicans couldn't agree to support the top priorities in my half of the deal, which included meaningful investments for K-12 schools, to continue Child Care Counts to help lower the cost of child care for working families, and to prevent further campus closures and layoffs at our UW System. So, today, Republicans decided not to move forward with any more bipartisan negotiations with me. 'We've spent months trying to have real, productive conversations with Republican lawmakers in hopes of finding compromise and passing a state budget that everyone could support—and that, most importantly, delivers for the people of Wisconsin. I am admittedly disappointed that Republican lawmakers aren't willing to reach consensus and common ground and have decided to move forward without bipartisan support instead. 'I will always try to do the right thing—and compromise in order to get good things done. Wisconsinites expect their elected officials to show up, act in good faith, and work together across the aisle to get things done—that's what I've been committed to doing in these bipartisan negotiations from the get-go, and that remains my commitment.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
New York judge halts Job Corps closings; 100 Milwaukee staffers spared for now
After thinking they were going to get laid off, staff members at the Milwaukee Job Corps Center might still have jobs after all, even though the U.S. Department of Labor announced it was cancelling contractor-operated centers. On June 4, U.S. District Judge Andrew Carter Jr. granted a temporary restraining order halting the Labor Department and Secretary Lori Chavez-Deremer from closing the facilities without congressional approval. The Job Corps center in Milwaukee, 6665 N. 60th St., is operated by Horizons Youth Services based in Virginia; it has about 100 staffers that could be affected by any changes. 'We were pleased and excited with the court's decision to grant the Temporary Restraining Order and that the closure of Job Corps Centers has been stopped," Nolyn Fueller, president of Horizons, said in a statement. "The students that we serve deserve and need the opportunities that Job Corps provides. I hope that the facts and figures contained in the Transparency Report are further reviewed and more accurate statistics are shared regarding the success and safety of Job Corps campuses. Job Corps positively changes lives.' On May 29, the Labor Department announced it was closing contractor-operated centers due to low graduation rates, high costs and safety issues. 'Job Corps was created to help young adults build a pathway to a better life through education, training, and community,' Chavez-DeRemer said in a statement at the time. 'However, a startling number of serious incident reports and our in-depth fiscal analysis reveal the program is no longer achieving the intended outcomes that students deserve. We remain committed to ensuring all participants are supported through this transition and connected with the resources they need to succeed as we evaluate the program's possibilities.' Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, has been a strong supporter of the Jobs Corps program and sent a letter to Chavez-Deremer on June 3 urging that the decision be reversed. After the court's June 4 ruling, Baldwin issued a statement: 'Gutting a program that is a proven way to connect Wisconsinites with careers and helps businesses and the trades get the skilled workers they need is a huge mistake. While students and employers are both left in the lurch about whether the training, housing, and support they were promised will continue, President Trump could stop this chaos if he just ended this crusade to make room in his budget for big corporate tax cuts, and instead prioritized Wisconsin working families and businesses.' The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reached out to the Labor Department but has not received any comment. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: New York judge halts Job Corps closings affecting 100 Milwaukee staff
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
We know how to fix the biggest lie about Wisconsin's elections
Wisconsin has long been a battleground for political power, and its role in shaping the nation's future remains as critical as ever. As skepticism and partisan divisiveness continues dominating the discussion about elections, a recent poll from the bipartisan Democracy Defense Project highlights a potential path forward for restoring public trust in the state's election process. News story after news story about late night Milwaukee County reporting has given Wisconsin a black eye and it's time to manage our reputation problem. The reality is our state runs a tight ship throughout the election season and faith in election integrity is rising. With the 2024 and 2025 elections just behind us, the poll shows a strong majority of Wisconsinites, across party lines, favor allowing election officials to process absentee ballots one day earlier than current law permits, showing a desire to streamline election procedures and boost voter confidence. Seventy-six percent of voters support allowing election officials to begin the absentee ballot verification process a day before Election Day, though tabulating the results would still be held until the official counting begins. This reform would reduce delays, improve efficiency and could diminish the confusion and would eliminate the fallacy of insidious 'ballot dumps.' Opinion: We asked readers about wake boats on Wisconsin lakes. Here's what you said. The poll also showed improvement in voter confidence in election integrity. Public confidence in the handling of elections rose from 47% to 54%, accompanied by a shared belief in the importance of election workers. The poll found a 10-point increase in voters who see these individuals as 'important volunteers' in the democratic process. This increase was visible among Republicans and Independents, suggesting a broader acceptance of and appreciation for election workers as both parties work to increase their roles in election processes. Voters do remain uneasy which is why it's more important now than ever to take even the smallest step forward with popular reforms. Forty-eight percent of respondents were skeptical of election procedures in Milwaukee County, which has been a focal point for accusations of electoral irregularities. Early pre-processing will directly impact this perception. There have been calls in this state for reforms that follow a strictly partisan ideology. Resolutions including those from the recent Republican Party of Wisconsin convention send a message to voters and legislators that does not align with the values Wisconsin voters have shown in our poll. These resolutions drive an unfounded narrative when voters would prefer leaders come together instead of divide. The call for reform is clear: voters want their elections to be safe, transparent, efficient, and consistent. The proposal to begin pre-processing absentee ballots one day earlier and the push for standardized drop box rules are simple but important ways to address public concerns while reinforcing faith in the electoral system. Letters: Real issue behind need for retail lockboxes ignored. Don't make excuses. Leaders in Madison would be wise to act on these lessons. With an electorate that is increasingly united in its desire for reform, bipartisan cooperation will be crucial in continuing to restore confidence in the state's elections. The path forward is clear: it's time to act now to educate voters and bring before the next election marred by confusion and distrust. As we move closer to another election cycle, Wisconsin will yet again be in the headlines. Let's make sure it's because we took steps to increase confidence in our elections. The poll, by Tarrance Group and Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz and Associates, was conducted among 600 registered likely voters statewide, April 7 to 10. See the full poll as well as highlights. The Democracy Defense Project is a new organization led by a bipartisan group of former elected officials and leaders across Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin who will work to defend the transparency, safety, security and validity of our nation's electoral system. The Wisconsin board includes former Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes, former Attorney General JB Van Hollen, former U.S. Representative Scott Klug and former Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Mike Tate. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin voter confidence grows despite 'ballot dump' lies | Opinion
