💰 A lot that can be done with $30 to $40 billion, depending on your values.

President Donald Trump values his friendship with the president of Argentina.

🤪 Javier Milei, nicknamed “El Loco” for his eccentric manners, is one of the few world leaders who attended Trump’s inauguration. Now, with his country facing a dire economic crisis, Trump is sending “El Loco” $40 billion in a not-at-all subtle effort to help him win reelection later this month. 

💸 But here’s the problem: During Trump’s first term, he started a trade war with China. When China responded by buying soybeans from Brazil instead of farmers in Wisconsin and other states, the resulting bailout cost all of us more than $35 billion. Now, Trump’s doing it again, and another bailout is likely.

🚜 America’s soybean crop is worth at least $30 billion. But once again, China pulled back and hasn’t bought a single soybean, much less the $12 billion they typically buy from us. 

Where’d they go? Brazil — and also Argentina, the country now getting $40 billion from us.

🤬 Trump could have used that $40 billion to reinstate the health insurance premium tax credits he insists on letting expire. So the government is shut down, Americans are seeing skyrocketing health insurance bills, and farmers are hoping for a bailout check because the president wants to help a friend in a country that’s taking our spot in the global marketplace.

🙄 At this point, there’s a nickname for folks who still believe the president’s promise to put “America first.”

El Loco. 

👉🏼 Remember, you can stay up to date with our weekday newsletter, our social media posts, and our morning radio show.

⏮️ Last Week:  We asked for your view on whether mining for minerals like copper, zinc, and gold could or should be done up north. 

❌  73% said 🄰  Nope. Don’t need it. Don’t want it. Not worth the risk.

🤔  24% said 🄱  Open to it, with tight regulations.

⛏️  And 3% said 🄲  Drill, baby, drill. Mining companies can police themselves.

Many of the people who were open to the idea emphasized the need for strong oversight and contingencies like pre-paying for a clean-up fund.

David F.: (B) Only if there were stringent rules for the environment and a good track record of the company. If both of those requirements can’t be met, definitely (A). We are huge users of those metals, and they have to come from somewhere.

But most had doubts about the mining companies or pro-mining politicians.

Mike F.: “While (B) seems reasonable, the Republican controlled legislature has proven time after time they are motivated purely by profit over people. Even if strong regulation and controls were put in place, the current powers that be would slowly erode them or allow them to be ignored.”

Tony S.: “We are still dealing with the sand mines here in west central Wisconsin. They have scarred the countryside with the leveling of beautiful ridges.  Some mines are still running and others have packed up, moved on and left their buildings and equipment to rust and ruin!” 

Katie D.: “Our water and wildlife is what makes Wisconsin a great recreational state to visit to hunt, fish, hike, etc. [They] just want to make a profit and don’t care about those that live here.”

And then there’s Gerald: 

“YOU ARE RIGHT IT IS ABOUT HEALTHCARE … FOR ILLEGALS.”

Easy there, friend. Switch to decaf, stay on topic, and read this fact-check from Georgetown University.

⏭️ This Week: Wanna bet on whether online sports gambling will be legal in Wisconsin? 

Four of Wisconsin’s tribal nations have “sportsbooks,” places where you can bet in-person on professional (not college) sports. A bipartisan bill in the Legislature would allow for online sports betting that is connected to a Wisconsin tribal operation, rather than national sites like FanDuel or DraftKings that are technically still illegal here (a misdemeanor betting offense). Should it pass?

🄰  Sure. It’s legal in 39 other states, so why not raise some revenue here?

🄱  No. It only opens the door to more problems with addiction, crime, and financial turmoil for families.

🄲  I honestly can’t wager a guess on whether I support it or not. (Pardon the pun.) 

To answer this week’s question, hit reply or email me directly at pat@couriernewsroom.com, and we may share it in a future newsletter or on our radio show.

These links are cued up to the interviews in the YouTube recordings of our shows…

“If you’re a 60-year-old couple in Wisconsin and you make $82,000 a year, your premium costs are going to increase by $20,000. In America, 74% of Republicans want this economic help (health insurance premium tax credits) to come back. It’s really Republicans in government vs. real Americans. They could fix this if they wanted to, but they won’t even show up for work.”

— Leslie Dach, national chair of “Protect Our Care” on the shutdown

“Well, it’s certainly been more effective than she ever was in the legislature. She never accomplished anything and Superior Days has a lengthy list of accomplishments.”  

— Superior Mayor Jim Paine on former Rep. Angie Sapik (R-Lake Nebagamon) claiming the annual Superior Days lobbying trip to the state capitol “is just not as effective as it was.”

“A lot of these folks are friends of mine. They’re folks I’ve worked with in recent years, folks I’ve mentored. We do want to have robust primaries because they make our candidates stronger. I will say I’m the only candidate in the race who has been through a primary like this before and so have had the opportunity to travel throughout the state of Wisconsin… and really connect with people around the state.” 

— Sen. Kelda Roys on being part of a growing field of Democratic candidates for governor.

1️⃣  The state ended fiscal year 2025 with a surplus of $4.6 billion in the General Fund—Wisconsin’s main checking account, according to Gov. Tony Evers. He said the state’s “rainy day” fund now stands at $2 billion, the largest balance in state history and more than six times what it was prior to the governor taking office. 

MY VIEW: The governor’s announcement triggered criticism by Republicans who wanted a larger share of credit — credit they don’t deserve, as I outlined on Friday’s show.

2️⃣  Wausau Mayor Doug Diny violated the city’s code of ethics last year when he removed an absentee ballot drop box from its location, the city’s Ethics Board determined this week. Diny, a critic of drop boxes, claimed he did it because the box wasn’t in a secure place. The board ordered the mayor to conform to ethics rules going forward. While that is short of a specific penalty, the determination puts Diny’s violation on the record. An investigation through the state Department of Justice is ongoing.

3️⃣ Former state Democratic Party chair Ben Wikler announced he will not be joining the crowded field of candidates for governor. After leading the party for six years, Wikler said he wants to spend more time with his family, but he’ll remain involved in helping progressives win election next year.

“I’ll look for other ways to lend my voice to the fight,” he said. “And I hope you will as well. This is an all-hands-on-deck moment. There is a path out of the present darkness, but we can only travel its distance if we walk it together.”

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🏁 Thanks for reading our update.

Have a great week!