🥩 Of course, a good supper club always keeps the salad bar well-stocked for our vegan friends, too — but we’ve got a story to share about local beef producers in Wisconsin. (Yes, we’re the dairy state, but we have our share of steers to go along with all those cows.)

🐂 Unfortunately, we have a president who is letting down beef producers as well as consumers. Remember his promise to lower prices on Day 1? Well, today is Day 620. In June, he told a Chippewa County audience that prices would be lower when the war ends in Iran. But consumers are still hurting, as are the roughly 12,000 farmers in Wisconsin whose activities also include beef production.

Trump’s decision to import 300,000 tons of foreign beef trimmings is a kick in the teeth to farmers and ranchers, even sparking criticism by the normally conservative-leaning Wisconsin Farm Bureau, whose president said Trump should “reconsider this approach.”

(He should also reconsider his diet. Trump famously prefers his steaks well-done and with a side of ketchup. Yikes!)

Between the market disruptions and the foreign mystery meat, it’s no wonder Wisconsin’s beef farmers like AJ Kangas of Barron County are worried about their future.

Our Salina Heller has a story on our website and a video report on Instagram and Facebook that says much more about the markets, the Kangas family, and the option for all of us to purchase more of our meat from local producers. Keep that in mind the next time you’re making dinner plans.

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

Congratulations! By reading this newsletter, you’ve demonstrated a sense of political curiosity, public service, and wanting to stay informed. (It also means you walk a little taller and are 38% better looking than people who do not read political newsletters, as far as we can tell from research that we just made up.)

Being politically literate is a good thing. It makes us sought after when our friends come around and ask us things like, “Who’s on the ballot?” “What’s this constitutional referendum about?” And, “Can I vote for that Talarico guy?” (Answer: Only if you live in Texas.)

Do you feel appreciated for wanting to be better informed? Or has our political climate left you gun shy when it comes to conversations about civics? These questions were the focus of a recent tailgate party at Lambeau Field, and the takeaway was simple: We shouldn’t be afraid to engage in conversations that center on our shared values, even when we have political differences.

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 to know to what degree you think the cost to fill the tank will be a factor in November.

3% said A – Prices will be lower, but not in time to help Republicans.

6% said B – Prices will be lower and it will help Republicans.

👉🏼 Tom in Reedsburg said B: “Same old pattern. Prices will drop before the midterms. Trump will say he lowered the prices. The political short-term memory will kick in and some Republicans will be spared.”

67% said C – Prices will still be high and hurt Republicans. 

👉🏼 Kim in Green Bay said C: “There is no indication that Iran is in any big hurry to cave into Trump’s demands or bullying and they seems to have support from Putin to enable them to hold out. I only pray that Trump is not stupid enough to actually think that he can use a nuclear weapon to resolve the situation.”

24% said D – Prices will still be high but Republicans will do better than expected anyway.

👉🏼 Pam in Wind Lake said D: “There are too many MAGA supporters who refuse to see the Republican Party for who they are. Supporting a convicted criminal and a pedophile in the White House speaks loudly about their lack of moral judgment.”

Thank you for your participation!

🗳️ If Michael Alfonso wants to lead some kind of youth movement in Wisconsin politics, he may have to get there with extra votes from his elders after telling an audience in New Richmond he could be happy with raising the voting age from 18 to 21.

At 26, Alfonso, the Republican candidate in Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District and son-in-law of former Congressman Sean Duffy, is barely old enough to meet the age 25 threshold for serving in the US House. But in making a point at how there should be a consistent age for voting, legal drinking, and carrying firearms, Alfonso was ambivalent on whether 18-year-olds, who can be drafted and sent to war, deserve all the privileges of adulthood.

😐 “I would absolutely support constitutional carry [of guns] for 18 and up,” he said in audio obtained by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “But I’m also happy to move the voting age to 21, if that’s what we think is the best to do. And sometimes I don’t know if that’s such a horrible thing.” 

Alfonso’s Democratic opponent, former state Rep. Fred Clark, blasted the idea of removing voting rights from young adults aged 18-20.

“It’s clear that Michael has no understanding of our history, or the importance of the hard-earned rights that we enjoy as Americans. During an economic downturn, Michael has no solutions other than making life even harder by dis-enfranchising an entire generation of voters. Michael is not ready to serve in Congress.”

Saturday, Oct. 3

Langlade Co. Democrats – Community Canvass: Antigo Farmers Market (8 a.m.-12 p.m.) Join us at the Antigo Farmers Market to talk to voters about the upcoming election.

Monday, Oct. 5

Middleton Democrats – Make a No Kings Rally Sign (6-8 p.m.) The next round of No Kings rallies will be held on Oct. 17, so now is the time to bring a friend and bring your ideas. October 5: Beer and Brushes. October 14 Wine and Winning!

Wednesday, Oct. 7

Young Democrats of Northeast Wisconsin – Candidate Panel and Conversation (6-8 p.m.) Featuring candidates David Crowley, Brad Smith (6th Cong. Dist.), Rick Crosson (8th Cong. Dist.), and Emily Tseffos (19th Senate Dist.). Link available on the signup page to submit questions for the candidates.

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!