Wisconsin isn’t the only place dealing with a shortage of affordable homes—and it’s also not the only place trying to confront one of the causes: hedge funds purchasing properties and converting them to rentals. It reduces the number of single-family homes available in an area, driving up prices for what remains.

We interviewed state Sen. Sarah Keyeski on our radio show about her bill, similar to proposals elsewhere, that seeks to limit the degree to which Wall Street can be a landlord in Wisconsin. She argues the move is a healthy one to protect local capitalism from the excesses of hedge fund activity often criticized as “vulture capitalism.”

Laura Benjamin of Eau Claire, the most recent entry into the 2026 3rd Congressional District race, says it’s time to make America work for working Americans.

The former city council member and owner of a marketing and communications company, was a recent guest on our radio show, where she outlined her priority issues and the reasons why she believes Democratic primary voters will want to make a change next year when they decide who should take on second-term Republican US Rep. Derrick Van Orden.

Rebecca Cooke, the party’s 2024 nominee, has already announced her 2026 campaign, as has Eau Claire City Council President Emily Berge for the district that takes up much of western and parts of central Wisconsin.

BUDGET BAIT & SWITCH – State Sen. Jeff Smith (D-Eau Claire) is calling out majority Republicans for not being transparent about getting public input on the state’s next biennial budget.

The Joint Finance Committee recently finished holding four public hearings around Wisconsin, but Smith points out that nobody there could actually comment on what the final budget bill is likely to be since Republicans haven’t written it yet.

Smith says instead of talking about general concepts, Republicans should allow public input on the specifics of a bill once they write it.

That Republican bill, whenever it’s written, is what will likely be passed by the Senate and Assembly and sent to Gov. Tony Evers for his signature or some form of a veto.

NATURE AND SERVICE VOLUNTEERS CUT – The latest cuts from President Trump and Elon Musk affect more than 400 community volunteers in Wisconsin.

They are part of nationwide cuts to AmeriCorps, a program that for more than 30 years has allowed more than 1 million Americans to participate in community service with nonprofit groups, ranging from conservation to health care, from homelessness to helping youth in crisis.

In many instances, Trump and Musk have claimed the programs they are cutting are engaged in waste, fraud, and abuse or specialize in diversity, equity, and inclusion programs that they oppose.

State Rep. Jodi Emerson, an Eau Claire Democrat, said no one can figure out what would prompt a president to make cuts that impact Beaver Creek Reserve, Western Dairyland, Girl Scouts, and other service and education projects.

Penny Wise, Pound Foolish-Wisconsin health officials are raising red flags over a proposed $880 billion in federal budget cuts—saying the move would gut Medicaid, shift billions in costs onto Wisconsin taxpayers, and make it harder for working adults, kids, and seniors to access care. Nearly 1 in 5 people in Wisconsin rely on Medicaid programs like BadgerCare Plus for everything from checkups to nursing home support.

There's new and historic legislation about the freedom to bodily autonomy in Wisconsin.

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin (PPAWI) supports the Abortion Rights Restoration Act.

“This bill is about protecting a patient’s ability to decide for herself what kind of reproductive health care she needs,” said Tanya Atkinson, President of PPAWI.

“This bill is also about protecting health care professionals from criminal punishments for providing patient-centered and medically indicated health care for their patients."

Meanwhile, PPAW is asking the Wisconsin Supreme Court to interpret an 1849 law that banned abortions.

"The right to life and liberty, including the right to make one’s own decisions about whether or not to give birth and medical decisions related to pregnancy or abortion care from a chosen health care provider,” the organization asserts, “is fundamental.” Planned Parenthood also argues that if it operated as a ban, the 1849 law would violate the constitutional rights of doctors to practice their chosen profession.

✏️: Salina Heller