You could call it an example of “game recognize game” this weekend when the author of your Thursday supper club-themed newsletter visits the dark and cozy confines of The Tornado Room, Madison’s premiere supper club located just off the Capitol Square. 

🍽️ At some point, while covering the state Democratic convention at nearby Monona Terrace, I expect to walk into the joint and gain five pounds just from inhaling a permanent aroma fused into the woodwork thanks to an ongoing parade of sirloin, filet, ribeye, spare ribs, and more. 

👃🏼 Think of the supper club as a charter member of the Wisconsin hall of fame of satisfying smells, along with fresh-cut hay, pine needles, all the yeast, barley, and malt wafting from your local brewery, and the odor olympics of Wisconsin meat: thousands of tailgaters grilling brats, burgers, dogs, and wings.

🤤 Quick, while your mouth is still watering, go update your grocery list! 

Have a great weekend. And be sure to stay up to date with our posts on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

Also from UpNorthNews…

The next time you end up chatting with someone who thinks immigrants are “takers” not “makers,” show them the latest in our video series, “What’s Brewing.” Ellie Bourdo takes you to La Finca Coffee Co. in St. Francis where for nearly a decade two sisters have created a community centerpiece with their small business.

Let us know if there’s a beverage business you’d like to see highlighted as part of our series.

Our daily newsletter is always full of great ways to enjoy Wisconsin. Check it out today!

🥩 As much as we love a good dinner, we can’t escape noticing that those supper club steaks are more expensive than ever. And yet President Donald Trump told a Chippewa County audience he considers affordability to be a “made up word.”

💰 We guess nobody in Wisconsin told the president to dial down the “let them eat cake” vibe because he took it to a new level this week with, “I love the inflation.” 🤷🏻‍♂️

🌽 By the way, because Trump’s speaking style involves meandering across many non-farm topics, we took the time to strip down his remarks to what was actually said about issues important to rural Wisconsin. We outline what was true, what was exaggerated, and what was off-base.

🚜 For example: No, there was never a mandate that all farm tractors someday become electric-powered. 

🏈 US Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) has been a reliable fighter on behalf of corporations fighting federal oversight. But even some fellow Republicans are uncomfortable with his latest assault on a federal business regulation, one that could cripple the National Football League team in its smallest market, the Green Bay Packers.

Read our newly-published article about Fitzgerald taking aim at the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 and its potential negative impact here.

Newsletter subscribers are seeing a preview of this story before anyone else. Read the full version on our website starting Friday.

Wisconsin’s most active Democrats have had it fairly easy the last seven times they gathered at a state convention, with popular incumbents serving as governor, US senator, and state attorney general; and five of the last six state Supreme Court winners had Democratic support. 

But with Gov. Tony Evers stepping aside after two terms, delegates have work to do this weekend in Madison: deciding which of the seven candidates vying for their party’s nomination will earn their support in the Aug. 11 primary election.

The convention is where the party faithful get to exchange their Zoom meetings for face-to-face discussions about candidates, strategy, messaging, and idea swapping. There are speeches, caucus meetings, and breakout sessions that cover topics such as how to run for office. Resolutions are debated across a broad spectrum of issues in order to determine what gets into the party platform. And no political convention is complete without hospitality suites, where candidates and incumbents provide themed decorations, entertainment, and a political food court of appetizers and beverages. 

The candidates understand they’re part of a free-for-all as more than 2,800 delegates give them a thorough review this weekend at the Monona Terrace Convention Center. 

“The convention is a fun time,” said former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes. “It’s a big family reunion. 

“I’m excited about going and having conversations with people at the convention,” said former Secretary of Administration Joel Brennan. “I expect to come out of there with some wind at my back.”

“At the end of the day, I am one of seven candidates,” said Sen. Kelda Roys. “But we’re all on the same team and we’re all going to be working toward the same goal, which is making sure that Wisconsin has a Democratic governor and a Democratic legislature come 2027.”

For more, see this story on our website starting Friday.

🥊 Unlike state Republicans, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin does not normally endorse a candidate at their conventions — an acknowledgement that it’s the voters who should determine who becomes the nominee on the November ballot. The lack of endorsements avoids the nasty public infighting often seen at other conventions, but it means the party will go another eight weeks without a single “face” of the party who would also have earlier access to party resources, donor lists, and other perks.

What do you think? Should state political parties make endorsements at their conventions for elections like governor and US senator?

Click on the box below to go to our website and select the answer closest to your opinion on pre-primary endorsements.

Leave us a comment and your first name and hometown for a chance to see it featured in this newsletter next week.

We asked for your feelings about experimenting with an open primary (aka “top-two” or “jungle” primary), but just 6% of responses were open to trying only that in Wisconsin.

We did not emphasize ranked choice voting, but we tossed it in there as another reform option — and folks like it. And fully one-third of readers expressed support for multiple changes in how we do primary elections.

28% said A) Make no changes at all.

6% said B) We could try a jungle primary for one or two election cycles.

28% said C) We could try ranked choice voting.

32% said D) I’m ready for multiple changes, like ranked choice, open primaries, and maybe more.

👉🏼 Kathy from West Bend: “As an election inspector who works in-person absentee voting, I would like to see elections where there are no “D’s” and “R’s” on the ballot. People need to educate themselves about the candidates rather than just voting for the Democrat or Republican on the ballot.”

👉🏼 Joel from Spooner: “I would be open to a jungle primary experiment. I would not be in favor of ranked voting. I think it opens the door for even more confusion and skullduggery by the two major political parties.”

👉🏼Jim from Appleton: “Back in the day there were good Republicans. Being locked into single-party primaries leads us to the extremes we have reaped.”

Thank you, as always, for some great table talk about the way we choose our candidates.

Our favorite supper clubs often have a bulletin board filled with information about upcoming events and local services. Here’s our version: A “Do Something!” calendar of opportunities to get involved in your community. Find the full calendar on our website.

Friday [June 12]

Waupaca County Action Team: Ice Cream Social (Waupaca, 12-1 p.m.) Enjoy ice cream and coffee while connecting with fellow progressives and learning how you can make an impact in Waupaca County.

Saturday [June 13]

GROWW: Uniting West Wisconsin: A Regional Response to Data Centers (Eau Claire 6 p.m.) Join your neighbors for entertainment and education about data centers in Western Wisconsin, featuring Wisconsin comedian Charlie Berens and local musicians Soren Staff and Beau Janke of Them Coulee Boys and Madilyn Bailey. Pre-registration is already at maximum capacity. Some space will be available for those who didn’t register, but a spot is not guaranteed, so show up early if you would like a spot.

Send your events and announcements to Abigail Deatrick, regional community development organizer at Courier Newsroom at abigail@couriernewsroom.com 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!