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Quotes of the week
“They’ll get over it” is what Mitch McConnell has to say to the 16 million Americans who will have their health care terminated because of this disastrous Republican bill. Republicans might not care if our constituents have health care, but I do.
– U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, responding to Republicans’ reconciliation bill.
Illegal aliens should not receive Food Stamps, Medicaid, or any other taxpayer-funded welfare programs. It’s a shame that Democrats support giving these benefits to people who broke our laws.
– U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Minocqua, criticizing Dems amid opposition to the GOP reconciliation bill.
This week’s news
— Wisconsin Dems this week condemned President Donald Trump for approving strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities without approval from Congress, calling the move “unconstitutional” and “reckless.”
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But Republicans supported the move and emphasized the importance of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, said the decision to bomb Iran without congressional approval “ignores the Constitution, is putting our men and women in uniform at grave risk, and puts us on the verge of an all-out war.”
“President Trump owes the American people some answers on why he thinks he can flout the law and what the path forward is to find a peaceful solution. We should be learning lessons from our war in Iraq and what it means to engulf us in a conflict across the globe. I did not support that war, and I don’t support this one,” Baldwin said.
Baldwin joined Dem colleagues in introducing a bill this week to prohibit federal funds from being used for military force in or against Iran without Congress’ approval.
U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Milwaukee, called the strikes “reckless” and “lawless,” urging the House to hold a vote as soon as possible to “stop this madness.”
Both Moore and U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Town of Vermont, have joined a bipartisan resolution led by U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., to prohibit the United States from engaging in “unauthorized hostilities” in Iran.
U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, said the strikes “represent strong, decisive action fully within President Trump’s constitutional authority as Commander in Chief.”
“Now is the time for Iran to reassess its path and choose negotiation over provocation,” Fitzgerald said. “While diplomacy should always remain our preferred path, I fully support President Trump’s use of legitimate, constitutional authority to protect the United States and prevent a far greater conflict down the road.”
Trump touted a ceasefire deal with Iran and Israel this week, while also expressing frustration with both countries.
U.S. Rep. Tony Wied, R-De Pere, said the country’s focus should return to domestic issues following the strikes.
“President Trump took decisive action to end Iran’s nuclear program without starting another endless war,” Wied said. “Now that he has accomplished that, we must return our focus to the challenges we face at home—securing the border, cutting taxes, lowering everyday prices, & putting America First. Our One Big Beautiful Bill delivers all of that for the American people.”
— U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Town of Vermont, called White House adviser Stephen Miller a “racist f**k” and told him to “go back to 1930s Germany.”
Pocan was responding to a post from Miller, who is Jewish, saying, “NYC is the clearest warning yet of what happens to a society when it fails to control migration.”
Miller’s comment came after democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani won the Democratic primary for mayor in New York City. In an earlier post, Miller said commentary on Mamdani’s victory didn’t acknowledge “how unchecked migration fundamentally remade the NYC electorate.”
If elected, Mamdani would be the city’s first Muslim mayor.
NRCC Central Regional Press Secretary Zach Bannon said Pocan “isn’t a public servant, he’s a professional narcissist obsessed with political grandstanding in DC, all while continually failing the people of Wisconsin.”
“Defend that bigoted f**k all you want. Everyone knows what a tool does,” Pocan responded.
— U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin led Senate Dems this week in reintroducing legislation to guarantee abortion access nationwide, calling it a “necessary step” amid efforts to ban the procedure.
Baldwin, D-Madison, and other Senate Democrats introduced the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025, marking the third anniversary of Roe v. Wade being overturned. The legislation would bar states from restricting access to abortion earlier in pregnancy through “arbitrary” waiting periods and mandatory ultrasounds, according to the announcement, among other changes.
In a statement, Baldwin said President Donald Trump and Republicans are “continuing their crusade for a national abortion ban” and taking away women’s choices about their bodies and health care.
“In Wisconsin, we’ve seen how these attacks on women’s reproductive rights and freedoms have hurt our neighbors, friends, and families — and we won’t stand for it,” Baldwin said.
The legislation would also prevent states from limiting access to abortion later in pregnancy, as well, if doing so would jeopardize the life or health of the mother, the release notes. And it would protect women’s ability to travel out of state for an abortion.
— U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman, R-Glenbeulah, joined House colleagues in reintroducing bipartisan legislation to require health insurance providers to cover oral cancer treatments and IV therapies at the same level.
The Cancer Drug Parity Act aims to address higher costs for oral cancer treatments. Washington, D.C., and 43 states have passed similar legislation, according to Grothman’s release.
“Every American deserves access to effective cancer treatments available at the most affordable rate, without outdated health insurance plans standing in the way,” Grothman said. “As oral medications become more widely used and popular among cancer patients, it’s critical that health plans don’t force patients to choose between effectiveness and affordability.”
— Dem state Sen. Brad Pfaff, who ran for the 3rd CD in 2022 and was considered a potential candidate in 2026, has endorsed Rebecca Cooke in her third run for the western Wisconsin seat.
Eau Claire City Council President Emily Berge and former Eau Claire Ald. Laura Benjamin are also running for the Dem nomination to take on U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien.
Posts of the week
ICYMI
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Ron Johnson meets with Trump but maintains opposition to ‘big beautiful bill’
Spectrum News 1: Wisconsin lawmakers react to U.S. strikes on Iran
WPR: US Rep. Derrick Van Orden insults Minnesota governor, spreads unfounded theories after shooting
WXOW: Sen. Bernie Sanders endorses Rebecca Cooke
Spectrum News 1: On 3rd anniversary of Dobbs decision, Senate Democrats introduce abortion access bill
