Some personal news: Today is my last day with @wisconsinwatch.org. I've decided to pursue a career opportunity outside of journalism. Thanks to everyone who has engaged with me during this wild ride on the Wisconsin politics beat. Support local news. It's more important than ever.

NEWS: Retiring liberal Justice Ann Walsh Bradley is going out on top. Her colleagues elected her today to serve a two-month stint as chief justice. Justice Jill Karofsky will become chief this summer after AWB steps back from the role in anticipation of retirement.

After 30 years, today is liberal Justice Ann Walsh Bradley's final oral argument on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. She received a genuinely nice tribute from conservative Chief Justice Annette Ziegler. (Reposted for clarity)

Susan Crawford’s win on Tuesday paves the way for the court’s liberal majority to continue to flex its influence over WI politics. The Dane County judge’s victory guarantees that liberals will control the court until at least 2028. Here's what the means for Wisconsin. For @wisconsinwatch.org:

What Susan Crawford’s Wisconsin Supreme Court win means

The Dane County Circuit Court judge’s victory guarantees that liberals will control the court until at least 2028.

wisconsinwatch.org

The results are in for Wisconsin's Supreme Court election. @byjackkelly.bsky.social on what Susan Crawford’s victory could mean for some key issues.

What Susan Crawford’s Wisconsin Supreme Court win means

The Dane County Circuit Court judge’s victory guarantees that liberals will control the court until at least 2028.

wisconsinwatch.org

Wisconsin's Democratic attorney general Josh Kaul said he planned to seek a court order Friday to stop Musk from handing over two $1 million checks on Sunday at a rally in the state two days before the Supreme Court election. apnews.com/article/wisc...

Musk changes reason for visiting Wisconsin to hand out $2 million ahead of Supreme Court election

Billionaire Elon Musk has clarified his reasons for visiting Wisconsin two days ahead of its hotly contested Supreme Court election.

apnews.com

A story worth your time this morning. Jones said a 14-year-old trans kid helped to change his perspective at the hearing. “This kid was actually suffering,” he said. “And I thought to myself, nobody has to do that. You’re only a kid.” Hallie Claflin for @wisconsinwatch.org:

Wisconsin man's testimony about gender-affirming care went viral

Retired Milwaukee prison maintenance worker Larry Jones sat through seven hours of committee testimony before changing his mind.

wisconsinwatch.org

Early/absentee voting in the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court race continues to surge: 193,143 ballots have been returned so far (11 days out). That's a 39% jump compared to the same point in the 2023 race. Waukesha County has seen a 50% increase. Dane up 34%. Milwaukee up 32%.

NEW for @wisconsinwatch.org: Vicious ads, record spending, Elon Musk: Wisconsin Supreme Court race reflects nasty, new normal. I take a look at why a nationally watched race with such high stakes is focused on... issues largely irrelevant to the high court's work:

Wisconsin high court election: race to bottom with ads, spending

Susan Crawford and Brad Schimel have traded attacks that have little connection with what Supreme Court justices actually do.

wisconsinwatch.org

Gov. Evers wants to overhaul Wisconsin’s corrections system, pushing a plan to close one of the state’s two oldest prisons, renovate the other and convert the state’s troubled youth prison into a facility for adult men. wisconsinwatch.org/2025/02/wisc... via @byjackkelly.bsky.social

Tony Evers to propose $500 million prison overhaul, closing Green Bay facility by 2029

The plan would complete a Dane County youth facility, convert Lincoln Hills from juveniles to adults and renovate Waupun’s troubled prison

wisconsinwatch.org

Wisconsin is among coalition of Dem-led states challenging Trump's executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship (which he can't do unilaterally; the U.S. Constitution would need to be amended). “We must defend Americans’ constitutional rights," says @govevers.wisconsin.gov. Filing:

This comes after Schimel launched a $1.1 million ad buy last week -- the first meaningful buy from a candidate during the campaign.

Jack Kelly@byjackkelly.bsky.social · 2y ago

Liberal WI Supreme Court candidate Susan Crawford launched a 7-figure ad buy today. In her first ad, the narrator declares "she’ll look at the facts and uphold the law." In the second, she attacks her opponent, Brad Schimel, saying he's "too extreme for the Wisconsin Supreme Court."

Liberal WI Supreme Court candidate Susan Crawford launched a 7-figure ad buy today. In her first ad, the narrator declares "she’ll look at the facts and uphold the law." In the second, she attacks her opponent, Brad Schimel, saying he's "too extreme for the Wisconsin Supreme Court."

Punchbowl News reporting John Boehner, Newt Gingrich and Kevin McCarthy, all GOP former speakers, are at Trump's second inauguration today. It appears Wisconsin's Paul Ryan, who was speaker during Trump's first term, is not in attendance. 👀

The Wisconsin Department of Justice has filed 10 additional felony charges against two attorneys and an aide who advised President-elect Donald Trump following his 2020 loss in Wisconsin. Each of the charges is for defrauding the 10 GOP electors who met to cast votes for Trump

Two lawyers and a former Trump aide are scheduled to appear in court Thursday, each facing a felony charge for their roles in a scheme that generated documents falsely claiming Donald Trump won Wisconsin’s 2020 election. One defendant is fighting the charge: wisconsinwatch.org/2024/12/wisc...

Former Trump attorney fights 2020 ‘fake electors’ felony charge

Michael Roman and attorneys Jim Troupis and Kenneth Chesebro are scheduled to appear in a Dane County court to face charges stemming from a plan to overturn the 2020 election.

wisconsinwatch.org

GOP asks court to determine when Trump’s electors are supposed to cast their votes https://www.votebeat.org/wisconsin/2024/12/09/presidential-elector-meeting-date-dec-17-ecra-republican-lawsuit/

When must Trump’s Wisconsin electors cast their votes? Two laws are in conflict.

Wisconsin law says the state’s electors have to meet Dec. 16 to cast ballots. Federal law says Dec. 17. A lawsuit from the state GOP seeks to straighten it out.

votebeat.org

I didn't previously wonder how much the Wisconsin Capitol's "holiday tree" weighs, but I'm now blessed with the knowledge that it's about 1,500 pounds — thanks to @byjackkelly.bsky.social.

It's looking very festive here at the Capitol. The 🎄 is lit! 📷: @josephmtimmerman.bsky.social for @wisconsinwatch.bsky.social:

“No judge wants to send a kid to Lincoln Hills,” said a MKE County judge, who has presided over juvenile cases. “You feel like you’re damning the kid. And if you look at the recidivism rates that come out of Lincoln Hills, you pretty much are damning a kid.” From @mkoran.bsky.social and Devin Blake:

Wisconsin Watch@wisconsinwatch.org · 2y ago

Wisconsin budgets nearly $463,000 a year to incarcerate each child at the state’s Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake schools. Why have costs ballooned? How much do other states spend to incarcerate youth? How else could Wisconsin spend on troubled youth? Answers to those questions and more in our report.

Did Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Susan Crawford try to overturn Act 10? Yes, reports @tomkertschernews.bsky.social for @wisconsinwatch.bsky.social: wisconsinwatch.org/2024/12/did-...

Did Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Susan Crawford try to overturn Act 10?

Yes. Susan Crawford was among attorneys who sued seeking to overturn Act 10, which effectively ended collective bargaining for most Wisconsin public employee unions.

wisconsinwatch.org

Fact-checking a Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate on Act 10. wisconsinwatch.org/2024/12/did-...

Did Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Susan Crawford try to overturn Act 10?

Yes. Susan Crawford was among attorneys who sued seeking to overturn Act 10, which effectively ended collective bargaining for most Wisconsin public employee unions.

wisconsinwatch.org

Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Annette Ziegler on the passing of former Justice David Prosser: "Many knew him as a Wisconsin Supreme Court justice, a position which he held for 18 years. But to me, David was more than that: he was my friend. I will miss him greatly."

Former Supreme Court Justice David Prosser, who also served as Assembly speaker, passed away yesterday, according to former aide Brian Schimming. A formal statement is planned later today. See more in today's AM Update: www.wispolitics.com/2024/mon-am-...

MON AM Update: Prosser passes away; Rothman previews UW financial report on ‘UpFront’

From WisPolitics ... -- Former Justice David Prosser, who served as GOP speaker of the state Assembly before his 18-year career on the state Supreme Court, died yesterday. He was 81. State GOP Chair B...

wispolitics.com

Cool new project from @wisconsinwatch.bsky.social and @josephmtimmerman.bsky.social: Public Square, "an occasional photography series introducing your neighbors from across Wisconsin." More here: wisconsinwatch.org/2024/11/wisc...

Public Square: Portraits of your neighbors from across Wisconsin

We’re launching Public Square, an occasional photography series introducing your neighbors from across Wisconsin.

wisconsinwatch.org

The sale of raw or unpasteurized milk generally is illegal in Wisconsin, although “incidental sales” are legal. Our latest fact brief has a list of reliable sources for anyone who wants to understand the debate over raw milk sales.

Is there a legal way to get raw milk in Wisconsin?

Yes. But only at a farm. Otherwise it is illegal to sell in the state of Wisconsin.

wisconsinwatch.org

Gov. Tony Evers has arrived on Bluesky:

Governor Tony Evers@govevers.wisconsin.gov · 2y ago

Holy mackerel. Where are all the Wisconsinites at? 🫡

Wisconsin state employees should be in the office at least 3 days per week, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos tells @wisn12news.bsky.social, because many "aren't working, or they're working only from home and not doing it very well, with little supervision." youtu.be/IPJNTljGLr4?...

And so it begins: The Democratic Party of Wisconsin endorses Judge Susan Crawford in April's state Supreme Court race. DPW spent heavily to elect Justice Janet Protasiewicz in 2023. Expect a similar playbook this year.

In a video posted on X (TwitterO, Republican candidate Eric Hovde conceded Wisconsin's U.S. Senate race to Tammy Baldwin — almost two weeks after Election Day. A Baldwin campaign spokesperson told @wisconsinwatch.bsky.social he did not call the senator to notify her Video: x.com/EricHovde/st...