These will be real, unscripted conversations, built to get past the talking points and give Wisconsinites real answers to questions about:

●Cost of living: What would a Crowley administration do about affordability?

●Public schools: From funding fights to teacher shortages, where does he stand on the future of Wisconsin’s classrooms?

●Healthcare: How he plans to lower costs and protect access to care across the state, from Milwaukee to rural hometowns.

●Reproductive freedom: We’ll ask about his support for a constitutional amendment.

●Democracy: In one of the country’s true swing states, we’ll ask how he would protect the freedom to vote.

Admission is FREE, but space is very limited. Register here ASAP: https://luma.com/courier-kmmd

Can’t make it in person? Catch the livestream on COURIER’s YouTube channel.

Have a good weekend and stay on top of our social media feeds on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and more.

Preparing for possible Trump election interference in Wisconsin

Legal teams, voting rights groups, and other organizations are mobilizing in case they need to call attention to, document, or even try to resist attempts by President Donald Trump and his allies to intimidate voters, disrupt vote counting, or even seize ballots in Wisconsin during the Nov. 3 midterm elections.

From Capitol Hill to the Wisconsin Elections Commission to small groups scattered between Milwaukee and small rural communities in the western part of the state, preparations are being made to address a variety of scenarios: federal law enforcement being present at polling sites, ICE officers interrogating minority voters in line about their citizenship status, election “observers” challenging voters and voting machines inside of polling stations, and even ballots being seized.

“If the FBI runs off with ballot boxes before they’re tabulated or certified, [the election results] will be a dispute forever,” said Citizen Action Wisconsin Executive Director Robert Kraig, using western Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District as an example. “Who won the election? You could have Rebecca Cooke defeat Derrick Van Orden, but literally not be seated because the Republican Congress will say, ‘We think that she didn’t win the election, and therefore we’re going to seat Van Orden.’” 

Read my full story on our website.

The President of the United States has provided countless reasons why people are concerned that Donald Trump or his allies will try to interfere in the Nov. 3 election. Others say the concerns are overblown and the president is simply trying to provide an excuse for Republican losses.

What is your level of concern about all of this?

Click the box above to be taken to our website where you can select your response. Feel free to say more in the comment box—and leave your first name and hometown so we can share your answer in our next newsletter.

We asked you to describe yourself when it comes to political conversations.

54% said A – I’m becoming more outspoken and more comfortable about it, even with strangers.

35% said B – I want to talk more about political issues, but I’m wary of the pushback.

5% said C – I could probably be more expressive, but I don’t want to. 

6% said D – Full introvert: I don’t initiate conversations and would rather be left alone.

👉🏼 Darrel in Melrose: “I used to be afraid to share my opinion on politics. I no longer feel that way as I see so many folks with young children and the elderly just making ends meet on a fixed income. A person can only stand idle so long!”

👉🏼 Brian in Verona: “I am wary of engaging in political discussions because many people cannot have a civil conversation when it comes to politics. I will try to gauge reactions before fully engaging.”

👉🏼 One “D” response said: “We’re in a rural area. I don’t need to get punched or my windows shot out.”

👉🏼 Duke in Spooner: “Being a citizen in these times makes dialogue essential.”

Thank you for your participation!

Watch this space next week for a list of the various “No Kings” rallies planned across Wisconsin for Saturday, Oct. 17. 

Send your events and announcements to Abigail Deatrick, UpNorthNews’ regional community development organizer, at least one week before the event to see them here.

📱 Remember, you can stay up to date all day with all of our team’s work through our social media feeds, including Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

🏁 Thanks for reading our update.

Have a great weekend!