Welcome to our weekly DC Wrap, where we write about Wisconsin’s congressional delegation. Sign up here to receive the newsletter directly.
Quotes of the week
We don’t want to get into a trade war with them. But if they want to get into a trade war and not treat us properly, we will destroy their economies.
– U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien, on Trump administration tariffs on Canada and Mexico.
The risks of a recession have practically DOUBLED since Donald Trump took office. He took an economy poised for a soft landing and drove it in to the ground.
– U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Milwaukee, in a post on X on the economy under Trump.
This week’s news
— Wisconsin Republicans voted to pass a bill to limit the reach of injunctions federal judges issue as GOP lawmakers knocked rulings that have halted or paused Trump administration efforts.
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The “No Rogue Rulings Act” would prohibit federal judges from issuing national injunctions, instead requiring injunctions to apply to the parties of a particular case. The bill passed 219-213, with one Republican joining Dems in opposition — U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio.
U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Minocqua, in a post on X said the bill would “rein in activist judges.”
“The People voted for President Trump’s agenda on Nov. 5th. House Republicans are protecting YOUR voice,” Tiffany said.
Dem U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan’s office declined to comment on the vote. U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Milwaukee, did not immediately return a request for comment.
U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien, is an original cosponsor of the bill. He also introduced a resolution to impeach U.S. District Court Judge Paul Engelmayer of New York in February after Engelmayer blocked DOGE from accessing sensitive Department of Treasury data.
Republicans have also strongly criticized Washington, D.C. Judge James Boasberg for an order stopping President Donald Trump from deporting alleged Venezuelan gang members under the Alien Enemies Act. The U.S. Supreme Court has since allowed the deportations to continue, but with opportunities for other challenges.
— U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Town of Vermont, and Dem colleagues are asking for a briefing with Elon Musk. The request was made in a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson this week.
The letter, which Pocan led with 55 colleagues, cited “significant damage” they said Musk has inflicted through DOGE and noted members of Congress are frequently hearing from constituents.
“These actions have had a direct impact on people across the country, and our constituents are reaching out in record numbers to express their opposition and outrage over Musk’s role in the federal government and the harm he is causing to their communities,” the letter said.
The letter also called for more transparency from Musk and DOGE to hear constituent concerns.
“Many are also asking for a public contact for DOGE so that they may register their concerns with Mr. Musk and his team directly, the leader read. “Unfortunately, there is no public contact for DOGE, and even Members of Congress are finding it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to get any straight answers for our constituents.”
The letter asked Johnson to bring Musk before Congress so members can ask him questions about his role and actions as head of DOGE.
— U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson says “there’s no way to sugarcoat” Brad Schimel’s loss to Susan Crawford in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, criticizing the Republican turnout statewide.
“It was a disappointing loss,” the Oshkosh Republican told WISN’s “UpFront,” produced in partnership with WisPolitics. “I know Brad Schimel worked his tail off. A lot of other people did as well. It’s just the sad fact, sad reality that more than 600,000 people that voted for President Trump, they want to see him succeed, either weren’t aware or weren’t energized or just didn’t feel important enough to try and make sure that he would be able to be effective for the full four years and put at risk a couple of House seats.”
Johnson said he gives Dems credit for the win.
“They were energized. They’re all angry about the fact that President Trump won in November, and I guess that fired them up,” Johnson said. “And then they have renewed anger over Elon Musk as well, though I think Elon’s efforts were very welcome, I think, and in general, they were a net positive. But when you can’t — when you don’t turn people out — you can lead a horse to water; you can’t make him drink.”
— House Dems’ campaign arm announced GOP U.S. Reps. Bryan Steil, of Janesville, and Derrick Van Orden, of Prairie du Chien, are on its 2026 target list of 35 GOP-held seats.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee also targeted both lawmakers in 2024. Steil won reelection in the 1st CD by 10 points, while Van Orden won the 3rd CD by 2.7 points.
Van Orden was the only GOP incumbent in the Wisconsin delegation to underperform Donald Trump last fall in their district.
Dems now have 213 seats with two vacancies in deep-blue districts. They would need to pick up another three seats in 2026 to flip the majority.
The DCCC also announced options for donors to contribute to the eventual nominees in the 1st and the 3rd.
So far, Dem Rebecca Cooke has announced plans to again run in the 3rd after losing to Van Orden last fall and finishing second in the primary in 2022.
House Republicans announced last month they’re targeting 26 Dem-held seats; none are in Wisconsin.
Posts of the week
ICYMI
Spectrum News: Sen. Johnson calls tariffs a ‘blunt instrument,’ raises concerns along with Democrats
Herald Times Reporter: Hundreds protest Trump, Musk in Manitowoc. ‘I just don’t think that’s the majority of Americans,’ congressman says.
NBC 26: Congressman Wied’s office calls “The Dr. Kristin Lyerly Show” her ‘desperation to stay relevant’
WPR: Trump administration will fast-track reviews to ramp up logging in Wisconsin
