It’s getting a bit strange that in this critically important swing state, no major GOP challenger has launched a campaign to run against Tammy Baldwin.

Ronald Reagan had it. Mike Johnson seems to have it, too. Not the angry face of the early Barry Goldwater. Not the glowering criminal mug shot of the Sore Loser who vows to be your vengeance. But a family man of real faith.

Part of me is relieved that House Republicans finally got their dysfunctional caucus functioning well enough to elect a new Speaker. The other part of me laments that it’s a radical conservative.

All too often, we Americans take our freedom for granted. Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly. So many have been willing to sacrifice these fundamental liberties in the past few years.

While states around us have upped their minimum wages — Illinois is at $13, Minnesota at $10.59, and several other states are on track to increase the minimum to $20 — our Legislature keeps insisting that it’s not necessary to raise the minimum because the free market is taking care of it.

Wisconsin hospitals are proud to provide some of the best care in the country. Let there be no doubt: Our hospitals and their dedicated teams will continue doing their part to make high-quality health care affordable and accessible to all.

Even though Gov. Tony Evers will ultimately veto this cruel, transphobic piece of legislation, the very fact that every Republican Assembly member and state senator voted in favor of it shows how much Republicans feel the need to discriminate against trans kids.

Lawmakers in Washington and Madison are playing games while our climate crisis grows.