Hey there, Wisconsin!

Hasn’t it seemed a lot brighter around here for the past few days? There’s nothing like the feeling when you realize the cycle of nonstop political ads has actually stopped. We’re in the clear for just under a year. (Today’s newsletter has details about Wisconsin’s next state Supreme Court race.

But before we revisit last Tuesday, let’s talk about Saturday and all of those “Hands Off” demonstrations—not only the 1,200+ protests in all 50 states, but also in so many Wisconsin communities. 

Sure, you’d expect to see the thousands who amassed in Milwaukee and Madison, and 1,500 in Eau Claire (photos below from Salina Heller), but there were more than 1,000 in Appleton, a couple hundred in Rhinelander, and big crowds in Rice Lake, Chippewa Falls, Ashland, Maiden Rock, and more.  

It turns out folks get unhappy when they see an administration that moves to fire thousands of federal workers, close Social Security Administration field offices, effectively shutter entire agencies, deport immigrants, scale back protections for transgender people, cut funding for health programs, and tank the stock markets.

And so many clever signs. If necessity is the mother of invention, then I guess frustration is the mother of creativity!

⚖️ Last week: We told you about the five different ways that states choose their Supreme Court justices. Having come through this recent campaign, do you think we should consider a different method?

They say Wisconsin is a 50-50 state, and the answers to this one were positively purple—with 44% wanting to keep elections nonpartisan, 44% wanting to use an independent nominating commission, and many of you saying you couldn’t decide between the two options.

From Lori: “This was a tough one. I went back and forth with it. In some ways, I like E (the commission), but worry about a Republican governor in office, especially these days. So I guess I prefer admitting it’s partisan and letting the people vote, so I’m going with B. None of these are perfect, but I sure wouldn’t trust letting the legislature handle it!” 

Nobody would, Lori—literally nobody chose that option! And only 3% said the governor should appoint justices.

From Laura: “I nominate myself as a member for that commission. So I’ve talked myself into voting for Plan E. I enjoy your Sunday newsletter. It makes me think about random stuff. Thank you.” 

No, Laura—thank you!

💰 This Week: How do you want your taxes cut? With a $4 billion state budget surplus, there’s no shortage of ideas for how to use part of it to provide some form of tax relief. Of the choices we list here, what’s your favorite?

A. Income tax cuts that are geared toward the highest incomes, since higher income filers pay higher taxes.

B. Income tax cuts that are geared toward the middle class; for example, all households with annual income of less than $100,000.

C. Put the relief into the sales tax: Lower it or exempt more products from it.

D. More specific tax credits: medications, utilities, home caregivers, childcare, etc.

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 UpNorthNews Radio.

(AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)

Wisconsin’s Supreme Court will remain controlled by progressive justices as voters on Tuesday elected Susan Crawford and soundly rejected public appeals by the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, on behalf of conservative candidate Brad Schimel. Crawford, a Dane County judge, will assume the seat of retiring Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, keeping intact the court’s 4-3 liberal majority.

Initially framed around issues including abortion rights and criminal justice cases, the race came to be seen as a referendum on Musk and President Trump and their ongoing efforts to fire tens of thousands of federal employees, end critical programs, and threaten future cuts to workers’ and retirees’ benefits.

👉🏼 The next two Supreme Court elections will involve conservatives defending their seats (Rebecca Bradley in 2026 and Chief Justice Annette Ziegler in 2027), so liberal control of the court could be in place until 2028 with this week’s win.

👉🏼 With Ziegler’s two-year term as chief justice ending in a few weeks, the liberal justices elected Ann Walsh Bradley to head the court for two months until her retirement. After that, with Crawford taking Bradley’s place, the next chief justice will be Jill Karofsky.

🔔 Remember 🔔

📻 We talk about all of these stories and more every weekday morning on UpNorthNews Radio, 6-8 a.m. on seven Civic Media stations across Wisconsin, and on our YouTube and Facebook pages. 

📱 And, of course, you can stay up to date every day through our social media feed—pick your favorite platform: Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok.

🎓 In the state’s other noteworthy race, Superintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly won reelection to a second four-year term by defeating charter and voucher schools advocate Brittany Kinser. A constitutional amendment to require Voter ID also passed. (It’s already state law.) And nearly 60% of the state’s 87 school referendums passed.

📻 What’s next? Bryn Horton of the Wisconsin Public Education Network is our guest this Wednesday at 7:30am on UpNorthNews Radio to explain everything the Legislature is considering that could impact schools in our state. 

🏥 A federal judge has temporarily stopped the Trump administration from cutting $11 billion in public health funding, including $210 million due for Wisconsin. Lieutenant Gov. Sara Rodriguez told UpNorthNews Radio the funds are designed to better prepare for the next pandemic, address the opioid crisis, and shore up healthcare infrastructure across Wisconsin.

🗳️ US Rep. Derrick Van Orden told WKBT-TV this week he intends to run for a third term in 2026. Why such an early announcement, barely two months into his second term? Because his 2024 opponent Rebecca Cooke has already started campaigning again and announced this week she’s already raised more than $1 million. 

📉 As stock markets tumble and economists fear a recession — or worse, stagflation — Sen. Tammy Baldwin says she understands what prompts someone like President Trump to consider playing hardball with our trading partners, but says he’s going about it wrong. 

“I agree that we need to address trade cheats like China, bring back Made in America manufacturing, and level the playing field for workers,” Baldwin said. “But Donald Trump’s reckless plan is not going to do that. These across-the-board tariffs are going to mean higher costs for Wisconsin families and start a trade war that will increase input costs for farmers and manufacturers and cut off international markets they can sell to.”

Thanks for reading this week’s update.

Have a great week.