MILWAUKEE - We discuss this historic week where the U.S. Supreme Court surprisingly reversed Wisconsin’s redistricting maps in its scandalous shadow docket. What is going on and where do we go from here? Next, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson appeared before the U.S. Senate for ground-breaking confirmation hearing and faces shameful tactics from the Trump wing of the GOP. Will she survive the awful politics of the U.S. Senate? The panel reviews the Congressional Progressive Caucus’ new blueprint for executive action that includes 55 different items President Biden can implement without Congress. In Wisconsin, Speaker Vos hints that his GOP sham investigation may end soon. Will former President Trump let him get away with it? The Affordable Care Act (ACA) turns 12 this week and early voting has started for the April 5th Spring Election.

Episode #535
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Madison, WI – Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) struck down the state legislative redistricting plans presented by Governor Evers after being selected by the Wisconsin Supreme Court earlier this month. Senator Agard released the following statement:

“I am incredibly disappointed with the SCOTUS’s decision to overturn the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s selection of Governor Evers’ legislative maps. These maps were desperately needed for the sake of democracy after the GOP’s grossly gerrymandered maps that have presided over Wisconsin for the last ten years. After refusing to take up other states’ legislative maps, SCOTUS has contradicted its previous argument in an unprecedented and democratically harmful decision.

“SCOTUS has instead perpetuated the disenfranchisement of Wisconsin democracy– and disenfranchising Wisconsin voters— to prevent our state from having the most competitive districts that would move us forward in having the will of the people represented in our legislature. This decision only advances Republican interests and demonstrates how blatantly politicized SCOTUS, the highest court in our land, has increasingly become.

“This isn’t justice, and this ruling will only further harm our voters. This decision from SCOTUS deepens Wisconsin’s desperate need to implement non-partisan redistricting to truly allow Wisconsin to be a representative democracy.”

MADISON, WI – The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin’s executive director, Debra Cronmiller, issued the following statement in response to the SCOTUS decision to throw out the legislative maps chosen by SCOWI.

“The most important thing for Wisconsin voters to know is that this new development will not change how or where you vote on April 5. Continue to learn about the candidates and races in your community and have a plan to vote this spring.

“SCOTUS has made an irresponsible decision to throw out the legislative maps chosen by our state supreme court just mere weeks before candidates begin circulating nomination papers.

“This will cause confusion for clerks, candidates and voters as the fall primary and election approach.

“The League will continue to fight for fair redistricting maps and keep voters informed as the Courts make decisions.

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The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin is a nonpartisan political organization that advocates for informed and active participation in government. There are 20 local Leagues throughout Wisconsin. More information at lwvwi.org.

Washington, D.C. — Wednesday, Eric H. Holder, Jr., the 82nd Attorney General of the United States and chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, released the following statement in response to a ruling from the Supreme Court of the United States reversing the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s choice of state legislative maps based on an alleged misapplication of the Voting Rights Act: 

“The Supreme Court continues to put its legitimacy at risk. Its ongoing willingness to act in an inconsistent manner and to ignore precedent raises real questions about its functioning. Today’s Court action in Wisconsin is grounded in an unprecedented process and a failure to adhere to precedent. Just last month, the Court’s conservative majority wrongly claimed it was too close to an election for a federal district court to remedy a violation of the Voting Rights Act in Alabama – an action that would have benefited black Alabamans. Today, the Court took a contrary position when it acted as close to the time of an election with the effect of harming black Wisconsin voters’ meaningful participation in the political process. This unprecedented act and inconsistent application of judicial power are manifestly and sadly undemocratic.”

MADISON - I was so appalled at Robin Vos’s latest lie about the 2020 elections that I had to sit down at the computer and write about it. You can read what I said here:

Vos Lies to Placate the Far Right

But mostly I wanted to write you today to invite you to our annual celebration, Thursday, May 19, at Lussier Family Heritage Center, 3101 Lake Farm Road, south of South Towne in rural Madison. (You also have the option to attend remotely via Zoom.)

Go here to register and view program details.

Check in is at 5:30 p.m. in person, and we’ll have appetizers.

The program starts at 6:00 p.m.  I’ll be giving a talk, “The Assault on Democracy in Wisconsin.”

And then there’s going to be a great panel with Mel Barnes from Law Forward, Angela Lang from BLOC, and Christine Neumann-Ortiz from Voces de la Frontera, moderated by Iuscela Flores, our Racial Equity and Economic Justice Advocate.

We’ll end around 7:30 p.m., and afterwards, I’ll be signing my book, “12 Ways to Save Democracy in Wisconsin.”

I sure hope you can make it! Feel free to forward this invite to a friend.

Best,

Matt Rothschild
Executive Director
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Podcast panel discusses conservative conspiracy theorists who are urging illegal decertification of the 2020 presidential election.

MILWAUKEE - Our panel discusses Speaker Robin Vos’ meeting with conservative conspiracy theorists who are urging illegal decertification of the 2020 presidential election. Will Trump be returned to power via midterm coup? The Wisconsin Election Commission does not pursue charges against Wisconsin’s fake electors. What does it mean? We review the implications of Gannett closing its West Milwaukee printing plant where it prints the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and numerous other Wisconsin newspapers. Is there any future for corporate-owned newspapers? Finally, the progressive firebrand brewer Kirk Bangstad from the Minocqua Brewing Super PAC joins us to talk about the PAC’s lawsuit alleging U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson and U.S. Reps. Scott Fitzgerald and Tom Tiffany are barred from holding public office by the post Civil War 14th Amendment. Will they suffer the fate of confederate leaders?

Listen Now - Episode #534

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MILWAUKEE - From the conservative leaning WI Supreme Court making up the new “least changes” redistricting criterion to the Republican attempt to funnel public dollars to private schools, it seems the Sith Lords of the WI GOP are embarrassing the dark side…again! We delve into the new political maps for Wisconsin and give some political insider perspective of the new districts pros and cons. Our eye-rolling won’t stop with the newly released Galbegate records showing Gableman’s massive spending of public money on himself, while continuing to drive his big-lie partisan election review into the toilet. And the hits keep rolling as we call out RoJo’s past pro-Putin support and how he continues to show his unworthiness to be in office (don’t forget to Vote Nov 8th!). Speaking of terrible leadership…did you hear about the one where a bunch of white people who don’t live in Milwaukee want to dismantle the multi-racial Milwaukee School district? Join us as we try to find the punchline.

LISTEN NOW - EPISODE #533
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A session of missed opportunities says Madison Senator.

Madison, WI – Tuesday the Wisconsin State Senate had their last session day for the 2021-22 legislative session. Senator Agard (D-Madison) released the following statement:

“Every two years as legislators, we have the opportunity to prioritize the issues affecting our state. Instead of continuing to work for the Wisconsin people during the worst pandemic we’ve experienced in a century, Republican leadership has gaveled out for the rest of the session.

“This is a session of missed opportunities for Wisconsinites across the state. Instead of working towards a common vision during this legislative session, my Republican colleagues failed to prioritize the big issues affecting our state: from clean water and green environmental practices, to reliable infrastructure and transportation, to legalizing cannabis and raising the minimum wage. Despite deep bipartisan support for these policies, many of them did not even receive a public hearing from the Republican majority.

“This isn’t right, and Wisconsin deserves better. My Democratic colleagues and I have been working hard for our state and are committed to working for the interests of all Wisconsinites. While Republicans have dedicated this session to advancing corporate interests and perpetuating conspiracy theories and harmful policy—such as making it more difficult to vote—Democrats and Governor Evers have stayed vigilant for the interest of the people and the greater good.

“My legislative agenda will always reflect the will of the people, and I look forward to continuing to address the issues that matter most in Wisconsin in the next legislative session.”

Contract extension from Speaker Vos is outrageous and a gross abuse of taxpayer dollars, says Sen. Agard.

Madison, WI – Tuesday, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) signed a new contract with Former Justice Michael Gableman to extend his review of the 2020 November election. This extension follows Gableman’s original contract that expired on December 31, 2021. Senator Melissa Agard (D-Madison) released the following statement:

“After Former Justice Gableman presented his embarrassing sham of an investigation to the Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections last week, I had sincerely hoped that we put the conspiracies regarding the November 2020 election to rest.

“This extension from Speaker Vos is outrageous and a gross abuse of taxpayer dollars. Instead of using these funds to invest in and better our state, Republicans continue to fund conspiracy theories and harmful rhetoric with taxpayer dollars. Over half a million taxpayer dollars have cushioned Gableman’s pockets for the last eight months, and the GOP is inciting this corruption.

“Do the right-wing extremists realize that their taxpayer dollars are quite literally paying for Gableman’s Costco membership, Netflix subscriptions, and Uber rides? We know from recent records that Gableman is grifting Wisconsinites in the name of an election investigation. This abuse is disgusting and cannot continue.

“I am calling on Former Justice Gableman to pay back the taxpayers of Wisconsin for these frivolous expenses and stop stealing from us.”

Maps adopted by Court on Thursday are still hyper-partisan and preserve a built-in advantage for one party, say Conservation Voters.

MADISON – Today, the Wisconsin State Supreme Court adopted the “least change” version of Gov. Tony Evers’s legislative maps.

Civic Engagement Director Anjali Bhasin had this to say about today’s decision:

“While the Supreme Court ruled to adopt the better option under a “least change” framework today, these maps are still hyper-partisan and preserve a built-in advantage for one party.

The court’s decision earlier this year to use a “least change” approach ensured that the maps adopted will further unfairly entrench a hyper-partisan state legislature. This is a clear example of decision-making rooted in the desire to centralize and consolidate Republican single-party power without considering the will of the people and well-being of Wisconsinites, further eroding Wisconsinites’ ability to choose their own representatives.

Over the last decade, we have observed the perilous effects and impacts of gerrymandering on the lives of Wisconsinites especially when it comes to issues like clean air, clean water, and voter access. Overall, we are disappointed by the court’s decision to adopt maps that subvert the will of the people.”

You can access the court’s ruling here.