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Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
What's on the ballot? In Wisconsin, your future is at stake in April 1 election.
Maturity is being able to admit when you might have gotten it wrong. And, in this case, I actually really hope I was. Recently, I lamented the fact that the latest Marquette Law School poll found a lot of Wisconsinites still didn't know much about the Wisconsin Supreme Court candidates Brad Schimel and Susan Crawford. I chalked it up to Trump-era attention-suck — the way his administration has been eating up every headline, every chyron, every algorithmic inch of our feeds. I couldn't help but compare it to the 2023 state Supreme Court race, which felt all consuming at the time and ended with record-shattering spring turnout. In turn, I privately predicted this year's turnout would be lower. But if early voting numbers are any indication of what's to come between now and when polls close on April 1, color me dead wrong. As of March 20, the number of early ballots cast — including both in-person and returned absentee — was nearly double what it was at this same point in 2023. Yes, it's only a couple days into early voting. But still – this matters. It's a promising sign that the Wisconsin electorate has not shrunk in the face of overwhelming, exhausting barrage of news and ads surrounding yet another pivotal race. If you haven't voted yet — or if you're still unsure what's even on your ballot — here's a quick rundown. The marquee race pits former Gov. Scott Walker-appointed conservative Waukesha judge and former Attorney General Brad Schimel against liberal Dane County judge Susan Crawford, first elected to the bench in 2018. The winner will shape the ideological balance of the court — which flipped 4-3 liberal in 2023 when Justice Janet Protasiewicz defeated Dan Kelly. The 2023 race broke national spending records, and 2025 has already topped that. There's big money on both sides, but Elon Musk and his Super PAC have spent more than $10 million. Voters will also choose the next Superintendent of Public Instruction — the person who oversees everything from teacher licensing to budgeting for Wisconsin's 421 public school districts. Should the Trump administration fully dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, the Wisconsin DPI Superintendent will have an unmatched degree of control and power over the trajectory of public education in the Badger State. The incumbent, Jill Underly, is backed by Democrats and teacher unions. She's a longtime public educator who supports more school funding, better teacher pay and stronger local control. Her critics would say she's dropped the ball on overseeing MPS and have also denounced her overhaul of school achievement standards last year. Her challenger, Brittany Kinser, is an education consultant and charter school executive who once led a pro-voucher nonprofit. While she calls herself a 'Blue Dog Democrat,' her campaign is backed by the Wisconsin GOP and a number of figures in Wisconsin's right-wing media ecosystem. Her critics argue she would expand private school voucher programs that drain resources from public schools. And what's a Wisconsin election without a statewide referendum? This year's statewide referendum asks whether Wisconsin's existing photo ID law — already among the strictest in the country — should be added to the state constitution. Editorial: Elon Musk's despicable disinformation tampers with WI Supreme Court election You already need an ID to vote in Wisconsin. This change would just make that rule nearly impossible to repeal or adjust, even if future courts or lawmakers tried. Supporters say it protects election integrity. Critics say it's voter suppression wrapped in constitutional permanence. Also? Again … it's already a law. Your ballot may also include local races — city council, school board, circuit judges — and referendums for things like school funding. You can preview your full ballot at So, maybe the story of this election won't be low turnout. Maybe it'll be that — once again — Wisconsinites showed up. In the face of billionaire meddling, disinformation and constitutional sleight-of-hand, maybe we proved (again) that we're paying attention. That we still believe in public schools. In fair courts. In our own ability to shape what comes next. Maybe this election is another reminder that democracy doesn't work unless we work it. And the good news? We still can. So, let's finish strong. Vote early. Vote informed. Vote like your future is on the ballot. Kristin Brey is the "My Take" columnist for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin spring elections will determine our future | Opinion
Fox News
12-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Joe Piscopo admits Trump support was 'the nail in my coffin in Hollywood'
Joe Piscopo was an "old Blue Dog Democrat" in 2016 when he received a phone call from Donald Trump's presidential campaign team. The "Saturday Night Live" alum, who had been longtime pals with "The Donald," was asked to do a speech at the Tampa fairgrounds. At the time, the celebrity businessman was running for president. In his new memoir, "Average Joe," the comic and actor wrote that he knew that publicly supporting Trump would be "the forever death knell, the nail in my coffin in Hollywood." Piscopo, now 73, told Fox News Digital he has zero regrets about supporting Trump, even if it meant getting shut out of Hollywood. "I made the right move, but boy, they don't want to hear it out in Hollywood," said Piscopo. "Now, I don't care. The country's in such a mess. And Donald Trump is doing such a great job at this point… It's not idolization of anybody. It's not me going gaga over anybody. It's the right thing for America. And Donald Trump tapped into what's right for America." "I know, from knowing him all those years, that he loves his country more than anything else," Piscopo shared. "So yeah, I supported him, and they'll shut you down in Hollywood. But that's OK… I did what's right in my heart." In his book, Piscopo wrote, "I thought it was best for the country that Hillary [Clinton] did not become president." His stance on Trump's political rival never changed. "I don't hate Hillary," Piscopo explained to Fox News Digital. "I found Hillary rather charming when I met her. [My conservative friends] go, 'Joe, you can't say that!' But she was. When she was the first lady, I chatted with her. She couldn't have been more charming. There's no hate there. But [I felt] Donald as president could be cool." "Look, Donald Trump tapped into something that was missing in America, and that is the people," he continued. "It was 'We, the people.' People may not like to hear it, but he was so on message with this… All the politicians in Washington… they've forgotten. "Even folks in my old party, they just didn't care about it… When people asked, 'You're going to vote for Donald Trump?' I said, 'Unapologetically, yes.'" Piscopo may have had hesitations initially about switching parties, but his mind was forever changed when he agreed to give that speech. He described arriving at the Tampa fairgrounds and witnessing "roughly 20,000 people" just waiting to hear Trump speak. Piscopo was stunned. "It's like a rock concert," he told Fox News Digital. "I [couldn't] believe it. This is 'The Donald.' So now I'm going over my speech. It wasn't a comedy… Let's bring manufacturing back. Let's believe in blue-collar workers. Let's help out the inner cities – all the things I believe in. WATCH: 'SNL' ALUM JOE PISCOPO DETAILS HIS FRIENDSHIP WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP "I'm reading it [and] my back is to all the people and all the action going on. And then I hear the loudspeakers say, 'And now, let's all join together and say the Pledge of Allegiance.' I go, 'Pledge of Allegiance? Who does that anymore?' I automatically put my hand over my heart, and I pledged allegiance to the flag. And everybody's saying it. The Florida Highway Patrol – everybody." "Look, I'm too old to idolize anybody," he shared. "I just know [Donald] was right for the country. And I don't like when somebody's bashed when they shouldn't be, when I see the reality of it all." In his book, Piscopo wrote that witnessing the "hope and joy" of the crowds that day convinced him he made the right choice. "It's ironic that it took a billionaire from New York City to tap into the heart of these decent, hardworking folks and seem to honestly understand what they stood for," he wrote. "That someone cared enough about the regular men and women of this great country." "I never looked back," he added. In 2017, Trump claimed his place as America's 45th president. Piscopo described Trump as "a loyal friend," someone who has "a real soft side," he insisted. "I've known Donald Trump for a hundred years," the New Jersey native told Fox News Digital. "He was always respectful. He was always kind. He's the guy when we would go, 'We're going to Atlantic City,' and what does Donald Trump do? He'd send a jet up… How respectful is that? He didn't have to send a jet. I could have driven down two hours away. [But] it's Trump-style… It was the best of times. It really was." "He was 'The Donald,' and I was 'Jersey Joe,'" Piscopo chuckled. "That's how I know Donald Trump. He would do charities all the time. They'd go, 'Joe, could you go to the Trump National Bedminster, and can you do a charity?' I'd go, 'Sure, let's go raise some money.' And it was always for charity. And who would show up? Donald and [his wife] Melania. Every single time. "And [every time] he was warm, he was funny. He would remember everybody's name. He'll say, 'How's your uncle John?' 'Remember that guy you told me about? How is he doing?' That's the real Donald Trump. And you're looking back, and you're going, 'Wow, we've got to let America see that.'" Piscopo wouldn't only support Trump at the polls. In 2024, he showed up at Manhattan Criminal Court during Trump's hush money trial as a sign of loyalty and friendship. "When he went through that whole political persecution and the madness… and everything wrong about the political persecution of Donald Trump, I went to the courtroom," he said. "I wanted to protest political persecution. But I [also wanted] to support my friend Donald Trump… It's friendship. It's loyalty. It's not forgetting who you are, where you're from. That's the Donald Trump I know. And if someone doesn't see it, I feel sorry for them because they're missing out on a great thing." In November 2024, Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States. His win against Vice President Kamala Harris, the first woman of color to lead a major party ticket, marked the second time he defeated a female rival in a general election. "I feel sorry for the people who don't want to listen and are going to hate," Piscopo reflected. "I didn't hate Hillary. I didn't hate Biden. I didn't hate Obama. The hate's got to be put aside. You just embrace the goodness that is there."
The Independent
11-02-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Wisconsin's top education official facing challengers on both flanks
The race to become Wisconsin's top education official pits the Democratic-backed incumbent against a school choice advocate aligned with Republicans and a rural school superintendent who has garnered support from teachers unions and school administrators. The top two vote-getters in Tuesday's primary will face off on April 1. Wisconsin 's top education job has uniquely broad authority Wisconsin is the only state where voters elect the top education official but there is no state board of education. That gives the person who runs the Department of Public Instruction broad authority to oversee education policy, which includes dispersing money to schools and managing teacher licensing. The race for the constitutional office is officially nonpartisan, with a single open primary to narrow the field to the top two candidates. But support for the candidates largely breaks down along partisan lines, with more Democrats and backers of increasing funding for public schools on one side and Republicans and conservatives who favor bolstering private school vouchers and other choice programs on the other. Democratic incumbent faces challengers on both flanks The incumbent, Jill Underly, was first elected in 2021 with the support of Democrats and teacher unions. But this year she faces a challenge on the left from Sauk Prairie Superintendent Jeff Wright, a two-time Democratic candidate for state Assembly who has chipped into her base of support. On her right is Brittany Kinser, a consultant for privatizing education through voucher programs and past president of a Milwaukee nonprofit that advocates for and funds charter schools. Kinser described herself as both a moderate and a 'Blue Dog Democrat,' a term that refers to a Democrat who votes conservative. Kinser is the favored candidates of Republicans. The Wisconsin Republican Party has given Kinser's campaign $100,000 and billionaire GOP megadonors Dick and Liz Uihlein, founders of the shipping company Uline, and Diane Hendricks, owner of ABC Supply, all gave the maximum of $20,000 for individual donations. Underly is endorsed by the Wisconsin Democratic Party, which has given her campaign $50,000. In a blow to Underly, the political action committee of the Wisconsin Education Association Council, the state's largest teachers union, recommended supporting Wright, although it stopped short of a full endorsement. Wright also is endorsed by the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators, which did not endorse anyone in the 2021 race. Student achievement and school funding are key issues Kinser let her state administrator license expire last summer, which Wright and Underly have said makes her unqualified to lead the education department. Kinser calls that a 'distraction' and points to her 25 years of educational experience. Underly has tried to position herself as the champion for public schools. She wants to tap nearly all of the state's $4 billion surplus to increase school funding. Republicans who control the Legislature and vote on how much to spend on education funding have said her request will be denied. Underly also overhauled state achievement standards last year. She said better reflect what students are learning now, but bipartisan opposition included Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who served as state superintendent before being elected governor in 2018. Wright and Kinser have both said the new standards lowered the bar for students and made it more difficult to see how schools and districts are performing over time. Kinser said improving student performance is the reason she got into the race. She supports a Republican-authored bill in the state Legislature to restore the previous standards. Wisconsin continues to have one of the nation's largest achievement gaps between Black and white students. Underly argues that her experience makes her the best choice to deal with changes coming from the Trump administration. She held a news conference to criticize Trump's freezing of federal aid for Head Start programs on the same day she skipped a candidate forum with Kinser and Wright. Wright's attempts to peel off Underly's supporters included a television ad accusing her of 'failing Wisconsin schools.' Wisconsin schools don't need the $4 billion Underly requested, Wright said, but he does support increasing funding so that districts don't have to ask voters to increase their property taxes. He also accused Underly of poor management and said the department's relationship with the Legislature is broken. Candidates are divided over future of anti-union law Wright supports overturning the 2011 law known as Act 10 that effectively ended collective bargaining for school teachers and other public workers, with the exception of police, firefighters and sheriffs deputies. Underly also said she thinks the law is unconstitutional. Kinser does not support overturning Act 10. A case seeking to overturn the law is pending before the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The state education superintendent race struggled to get attention alongside the higher profile contest for Wisconsin Supreme Court. There is no primary in that race, which will also be on the April 1 ballot. The winner will determine the court's ideological balance.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Wisconsin's top education official facing challengers on both flanks
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The race to become Wisconsin's top education official pits the Democratic-backed incumbent against a school choice advocate aligned with Republicans and a rural school superintendent who has garnered support from teachers unions and school administrators. The top two vote-getters in Tuesday's primary will face off on April 1. Wisconsin's top education job has uniquely broad authority See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Wisconsin is the only state where voters elect the top education official but there is no state board of education. That gives the person who runs the Department of Public Instruction broad authority to oversee education policy, which includes dispersing money to schools and managing teacher licensing. The race for the constitutional office is officially nonpartisan, with a single open primary to narrow the field to the top two candidates. But support for the candidates largely breaks down along partisan lines, with more Democrats and backers of increasing funding for public schools on one side and Republicans and conservatives who favor bolstering private school vouchers and other choice programs on the other. Democratic incumbent faces challengers on both flanks The incumbent, Jill Underly, was first elected in 2021 with the support of Democrats and teacher unions. But this year she faces a challenge on the left from Sauk Prairie Superintendent Jeff Wright, a two-time Democratic candidate for state Assembly who has chipped into her base of support. On her right is Brittany Kinser, a consultant for privatizing education through voucher programs and past president of a Milwaukee nonprofit that advocates for and funds charter schools. Kinser described herself as both a moderate and a 'Blue Dog Democrat,' a term that refers to a Democrat who votes conservative. Kinser is the favored candidates of Republicans. The Wisconsin Republican Party has given Kinser's campaign $100,000 and billionaire GOP megadonors Dick and Liz Uihlein, founders of the shipping company Uline, and Diane Hendricks, owner of ABC Supply, all gave the maximum of $20,000 for individual donations. Underly is endorsed by the Wisconsin Democratic Party, which has given her campaign $50,000. In a blow to Underly, the political action committee of the Wisconsin Education Association Council, the state's largest teachers union, recommended supporting Wright, although it stopped short of a full endorsement. Wright also is endorsed by the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators, which did not endorse anyone in the 2021 race. Student achievement and school funding are key issues Kinser let her state administrator license expire last summer, which Wright and Underly have said makes her unqualified to lead the education department. Kinser calls that a 'distraction' and points to her 25 years of educational experience. Underly has tried to position herself as the champion for public schools. She wants to tap nearly all of the state's $4 billion surplus to increase school funding. Republicans who control the Legislature and vote on how much to spend on education funding have said her request will be denied. Underly also overhauled state achievement standards last year. She said better reflect what students are learning now, but bipartisan opposition included Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who served as state superintendent before being elected governor in 2018. Wright and Kinser have both said the new standards lowered the bar for students and made it more difficult to see how schools and districts are performing over time. Kinser said improving student performance is the reason she got into the race. She supports a Republican-authored bill in the state Legislature to restore the previous standards. Wisconsin continues to have one of the nation's largest achievement gaps between Black and white students. Underly argues that her experience makes her the best choice to deal with changes coming from the Trump administration. She held a news conference to criticize Trump's freezing of federal aid for Head Start programs on the same day she skipped a candidate forum with Kinser and Wright. Wright's attempts to peel off Underly's supporters included a television ad accusing her of 'failing Wisconsin schools.' Wisconsin schools don't need the $4 billion Underly requested, Wright said, but he does support increasing funding so that districts don't have to ask voters to increase their property taxes. He also accused Underly of poor management and said the department's relationship with the Legislature is broken. Candidates are divided over future of anti-union law Wright supports overturning the 2011 law known as Act 10 that effectively ended collective bargaining for school teachers and other public workers, with the exception of police, firefighters and sheriffs deputies. Underly also said she thinks the law is unconstitutional. Kinser does not support overturning Act 10. A case seeking to overturn the law is pending before the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The state education superintendent race struggled to get attention alongside the higher profile contest for Wisconsin Supreme Court. There is no primary in that race, which will also be on the April 1 ballot. The winner will determine the court's ideological balance.
Associated Press
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Wisconsin's top education official facing challengers on both flanks
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — US--Wisconsin Education Leader TO MOVE THURSDAY. Pursuing photos of Wright and Kinser; Underly image linked; edited by mwarren and approved by sbauer. The race to become Wisconsin's top education official pits the Democratic-backed incumbent against a school choice advocate aligned with Republicans and a rural school superintendent who has garnered support from teachers unions and school administrators. The top two vote-getters in Tuesday's primary will face off on April 1. Wisconsin's top education job has uniquely broad authority Wisconsin is the only state where voters elect the top education official but there is no state board of education. That gives the person who runs the Department of Public Instruction broad authority to oversee education policy, which includes dispersing money to schools and managing teacher licensing. Whoever wins will have to manage Wisconsin's relationship with the Trump administration as it seeks to eliminate the federal Department of Education, which sent the state $X.X xillion in the last fiscal year, making up X% of its public schools budget. The race for the constitutional office is officially nonpartisan, with a single open primary to narrow the field to the top two candidates. But support for the candidates largely breaks down along partisan lines, with more Democrats and backers of increasing funding for public schools on one side and Republicans and conservatives who favor bolstering private school vouchers and other choice programs on the other. Democratic incumbent faces challengers on both flanks The incumbent, Jill Underly, was first elected in 2021 with the support of Democrats and teacher unions. But this year she faces a challenge on the left from Sauk Prairie Superintendent Jeff Wright, a two-time Democratic candidate for state Assembly who has chipped into her base of support. On her right is Brittany Kinser, a consultant for privatizing education through voucher programs and past president of a Milwaukee nonprofit that advocates for and funds charter schools. Kinser described herself as both a moderate and a 'Blue Dog Democrat,' a term that refers to a Democrat who votes conservative. Kinser is the favored candidates of Republicans. The Wisconsin Republican Party has given Kinser's campaign $100,000 and billionaire GOP megadonors Dick and Liz Uihlein, founders of the shipping company Uline, and Diane Hendricks, owner of ABC Supply, all gave the maximum of $20,000 for individual donations. Underly is endorsed by the Wisconsin Democratic Party, which has given her campaign $50,000. In a blow to Underly, the political action committee of the Wisconsin Education Association Council, the state's largest teachers union, recommended supporting Wright, although it stopped short of a full endorsement. Wright also is endorsed by the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators, which did not endorse anyone in the 2021 race. Student achievement and school funding are key issues Kinser let her state administrator license expire last summer, which Wright and Underly have said makes her unqualified to lead the education department. Kinser calls that a 'distraction' and points to her 25 years of educational experience. Underly has tried to position herself as the champion for public schools. She wants to tap nearly all of the state's $4 billion surplus to increase school funding. Republicans who control the Legislature and vote on how much to spend on education funding have said her request will be denied. Underly also overhauled state achievement standards last year. She said better reflect what students are learning now, but bipartisan opposition included Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who served as state superintendent before being elected governor in 2018. Wright and Kinser have both said the new standards lowered the bar for students and made it more difficult to see how schools and districts are performing over time. Kinser said improving student performance is the reason she got into the race. She supports a Republican-authored bill in the state Legislature to restore the previous standards. Wisconsin continues to have one of the nation's largest achievement gaps between Black and white students. Underly argues that her experience makes her the best choice to deal with changes coming from the Trump administration. She held a news conference to criticize Trump's freezing of federal aid for Head Start programs on the same day she skipped a candidate forum with Kinser and Wright. Wright's attempts to peel off Underly's supporters included a television ad accusing her of 'failing Wisconsin schools.' Wisconsin schools don't need the $4 billion Underly requested, Wright said, but he does support increasing funding so that districts don't have to ask voters to increase their property taxes. He also accused Underly of poor management and said the department's relationship with the Legislature is broken. Candidates are divided over future of anti-union law Wright supports overturning the 2011 law known as Act 10 that effectively ended collective bargaining for school teachers and other public workers, with the exception of police, firefighters and sheriffs deputies. Underly also said she thinks the law is unconstitutional. Kinser does not support overturning Act 10. A case seeking to overturn the law is pending before the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
