☀️ Good morning!

It’s Sunday, December 7, 2025

As we say a lot in this space, thank you for wanting to stay updated on the latest political headlines from around Wisconsin — but it’s also nice to remember that not every weighty matter in our state revolves around politics. Who would have guessed that one of the noteworthy controversies late in the week would involve a baseball uniform committing an error?

The Milwaukee Brewers introduced a new road uniform for 2026, replacing the gray jersey with one that’s powder blue. Fine enough, but then the wardrobe change comes off the rails.

You see the problem, right? You don’t? Well, once we point it out, you won’t be able to unsee it.

Hundreds of online comments took issue — vehemently! — with how the Brewers kept the pants gray instead of changing them to a matching powder blue. The horror!

Who knew there were so many baseball fashionistas in Wisconsin? It’s enough to send someone like me back to the relative calm of… politics!

Anyway, only 76 days to go ’til the start of spring training. In the meantime, have a great start to the week. And as always, we invite you to stay up to date with our social media posts and morning radio show, too.

⏮️ Last Week: What’s your outlook on the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) on society?

The answers weighed heavily toward pessimism, even among those who noted that AI has potential to bring advancements in technology, medicine, and other fields. People are concerned about data centers and also the amount of power going to just a few “big tech” companies.

Barb in New Berlin: Mostly optimistic – “I’m thinking/hoping it’s A (mostly optimistic). We’ve had other cutting edge, controversial developments in the past which overall have been mostly an asset. Does the potential exist for a downside? Definitely… so let’s hope those developers are mindful of the possibility of unintended consequences.”

Bob D.: “I would have to go optimistic.  My stocks are all AI and they are making great money.” 

Jim D. said: “D (mostly pessimistic), for sure. Far too many modern inventions have come with a higher price tag than anyone anticipated. I don’t see AI being any different, especially since nobody is putting up any guardrails.”

⏭️ This Week: Wedding barns

Two years ago, the Wisconsin Legislature gave a long-overdue update to laws regarding alcoholic beverage production, distribution, and sales. But individuals who run private venues often referred to as wedding barns say the new rules put up significant barriers that threaten these small, rural businesses that depend on rental fees and food and beverage sales for income. 

WATCH: Jean Bahn from Farmview Event Barn in Berlin on our radio show this past week.

Which statement is closest to your initial reaction?

A – The legislature should modify the law. These kinds of family-run businesses are facing new, severe limits on the number of days they can operate, the kinds of beverages they can serve, and the kinds of licenses they must have. They are not taverns and should not be regulated like one.

B – Wedding barns may not be open every day like a regular tavern, but they compete with banquet halls and should abide by similar rules or not serve alcohol. (Customers could bring their own.)

We’ll also accept answers like, “I need to know more, but right now I’m leaning toward ___”

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.

Ending months of speculation, former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes announced his campaign for governor on Tuesday. This makes Barnes the sixth Democratic candidate, though arguably a front-runner based on name recognition, in this primary race.

“Seems like the harder you work, the more Washington looks the other way: lower taxes for billionaires, higher prices for working people,” Barnes said in an announcement video. In an accompanying release, Barnes said he would push to expand Medicaid healthcare coverage for Wisconsin families, close tax loopholes for the very wealthy, and cut taxes for middle class families.

Read more on our website about Barnes’ near-upset of Sen. Ron Johnson in 2022 and see a rundown of all of the current candidates for governor.

A conservative justice on the Wisconsin Supreme Court used a quote that didn’t actually exist in a US Supreme Court case when she was arguing against redrawing Wisconsin’s congressional maps. 

Justice Annette Ziegler, a former chief justice, was trying to argue that when it comes to congressional redistricting, the 2003 case Moore v. Harper said the role of state courts should be “exceedingly limited.” But that quote appears nowhere in the decision and the case actually says courts play an important role, according to a Slate magazine article that broke the story. 

Slate writer Mark Joseph Stern called it “a patently inaccurate summary of Moore’s holding. To justify her hostility toward judicial redistricting, Ziegler resorted to a make-believe version of the law.”

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🏁 Thanks for reading our update.

Have a great week!