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John Nichols: Trump’s assault on PBS and NPR chooses oligarchy over press freedom and democracy
As the supporters of speaking truth to power celebrate World Press Freedom Day, Trump seeks to defund public media in the United States.
Dave Cieslewicz: Local public media will pay the price for the sins of NPR
What I’d like to see preserved is the public money that goes to the local stations. They provide valuable local news coverage and local cultural programming. Yes, they’ve followed NPR and PBS in going left, but it’s not nearly as extreme.
WisOpinion: ‘The Insiders’ discuss issues found in audit of Universities of Wisconsin DEI programs
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, take up a recent audit of Universities of Wisconsin diversity, equity and inclusion programs that found a failure to track spending on the initiatives, among other problems. Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
Margaret Arney: Judges must be free to exercise their duties independently
Judge Hannah Dugan’s recent arrest by the FBI raises troubling questions about the motivations behind it and the chilling effect it could have on all judges who aim to uphold the ideals of liberty and justice for all.
Scott Walker: Rogue judges are not above the law
Wisconsin Supreme Court removed the argument that Judge Hannah Dugan was some kind of hero.
Dan Knodl: Governor Evers and Supreme Court play as legislators
A healthy democracy relies on process, balance, and respect for the distinct roles each branch of government plays.
Paul Fanlund: Numbers suggest Madison is failing its Black residents
Black people in the city have a shorter average life expectancy than the national average — 72.6 years versus 74.9 years nationally. That is according to the “Black Progress Index,” a sophisticated Brookings database available online.
Tony Wied: Bipartisan bill helps fix gap in obstetrics care for women in rural areas
Equipping more rural healthcare facilities to provide labor and delivery services means shorter travel times and reduced risks for both mothers and their babies.
Wyatt Eichholz: Milwaukee rents in national spotlight; rent caps not the solution
Economic theory and history show they instead limit supply and raise costs.
Ryan M. Billings: Checks and balances: Embracing our patriotic skepticism
On Law Day, I ask everyone to reflect on the genius of our careful separation of powers and critical checks and balances.
Corrine Hendrickson: Wisconsin’s budget decision: Child care community or continued chaos?
Once more, Gov. Evers has requested investment for child care in the state budget. Will the third time be the charm? Or will Republicans again block it in the legislature?
Bill Barth: Why has talking become unusual?
Sometimes the solution to a problem presents itself through the absurdity of the alternative.
Rick Esenberg and Dan Lennington: Judge Dugan was wrong. Don’t use the courthouse to protest Trump’s policies.
It is regrettable that a sitting judge had to be arrested. If she does not face consequences, it will embolden others and further undermine the rule of law.
Ruth Conniff: ‘Lock her up!’: Trump is determined to arrest democracy and the women who defend it
The least the most timid among us can do is insist that the federal government follow the law before caving in. That’s what Dugan did, when she asked if the agents who came to her courtroom to arrest Flores-Ruiz had a judicial warrant. They did not. Nor do they have proof that Dugan herself broke any laws.
Andrew C. McCarthy: As a Trump DOJ should know, Judge Dugan has a defense
Her team will argue that, when intervening in the case of an illegal immigrant, she was acting within the scope of her official duties.
Tim Vetscher: When people die, openness matters
Milwaukee County’s new medical examiner, Dr. Wieslawa Tlomak, announced the office would stop sharing narrative reports until investigations were concluded and cases closed.
Melissa Agard: Anxious about current events? Here’s a list of things to do
You are not powerless. The strongest response to dysfunction in Washington, D.C., is local action.
Bruce Murphy: Will Richland County turn against Trump?
Wisconsin’s rural counties may suffer — a lot — from his policies.
Michelle Bryant: “Sinners” and the urgency of preserving historical truth
“Sinners” is not just a great movie; it is a case study of why we must fight to preserve and teach history in all its complexity.
Janine P. Geske, John T. Chisholm, and Dean A. Strang: Protecting justice for all: Why access to counsel is fundamental to the rule of law
The column below reflects the views of the author, and these opinions are neither endorsed nor supported by WisOpinion.com. May 1st is Law Day, an opportunity to celebrate a bedrock of our nation, the Rule of Law. As Wisconsin lawyers,
WisOpinion: ‘The Insiders’ preview the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s docket
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, take a look at the docket for the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s 2024-25 session, which ends in June. Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
Rewind: Your Week in Review for April 18
On this week’s episode of “Rewind,” WisPolitics.com’s JR Ross and CBS 58’s Emilee Fannon discuss the Supreme Court upholding Gov. Tony Evers’ 400-year veto, tensions boiling over during this week’s Elections Commission meeting, the Wisconsin GOP’s new code of conduct and planned spring election postmortem, the 2026 election and more.