Submit columns for consideration to wisopinion@wispolitics.com
John Nichols: Ron Johnson vs. the First Amendment
U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson swore an oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” But the Republican from Oshkosh shows few signs that he takes seriously what is supposed to be a solemn commitment.
Chad Alan Goldberg: Wisconsin must define antisemitism
Gov. Tony Evers and our state legislators should not be afraid of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism. It’s high time that our state joins most other states in adopting it.
Paul Fanlund: A Georgia Democrat finds the perfect way to talk to voters
Before you can do anything, help anyone, you have to, you know, actually win elections. Sounding more like Georgia Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff might help.
WisOpinion: ‘The Insiders’ discuss how election-year politics may shape plans for Wisconsin’s $2.5B surplus
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, discuss how the 2026 legislative elections will shape plans to spend Wisconsin’s $2.5 billion budget surplus. Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
Emily Mills: Attacks on free speech are escalating in Wisconsin
Bills being proposed in the Wisconsin State Legislature would have far-reaching impact on the right to free speech.
Scott Walker: Act 10 reforms broke the power of Wisconsin’s teachers unions and put students first
In Wisconsin, we took power out of the hands of big government special interests and returned it to the hardworking taxpayers and the people they elected to run their schools and local governments.
Richard Moore: PFAS chaos and the politics of liability
The latest version of the Legislature’s PFAS legislation exempts certain local governmental entities while leaving manufacturers and other private businesses fully subject to strict liability, raising serious equal protection concerns.
Julia Harris-Robinson: FoodShare feeds Milwaukee. New bill could make that harder.
Bill that impacts FoodShare raises concerns about food access and may even expand growing food deserts in our area.
Christina Lieffring: Madison needs a wake-up call
The longer we pretend this city is a progressive haven, the more people will be harmed.
David Blaska: Madison goes all Minneapolis on immigration
Envious Madison is determined to stumble in the footsteps of Jacob Frey, the preening mayor of Minneapolis.
Dave Cieslewicz: Social issues can’t save the GOP this time
The social issues that hurt Democrats are on a cold back burner. Try as they might to change the subject, there’s no reason to think the Republicans can do much of anything to save themselves this November.
Bob Chernow: Hegseth’s Pentagon mismanagement fits with Putin’s plans
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth believes he is fighting old warrior wars — no need for those who have more brains than brawn.
Bruce Thompson: What the 2025 elections data tells us
Does stunning change in voters’ preferences foretell fall election results?
Brian Fraley: Time to put the public into DPI
Electing a statewide schools chief may have reflected good governance a century ago. Today it looks more like a constitutional artifact.
Jason M. Walter and Eric Olson: Wisconsin lawmakers are OK with passing utility bills to customers
Wisconsin energy policy needs to increase energy availability, not subsidize utilities’ gambles.
Kristen Billings: Wisconsin energy utilities sacrifice affordability and sustainability to fuel the AI gold rush
Gas plants used to power data centers increase costs for consumers, risk of exposure to pollutants, and accelerate the harms of climate change.
Dave Cieslewicz: Taxpayers shouldn’t bail out UW Athletics
It’s possible that taxpayers will be on the line for most of a $20 million loan given to the UW Athletic Department in 2020.
Jeremiah Cahill: A collaborative approach could heal the wounds at GHC
The conjunction of a member-owned co-op and an employee labor union is unique. Group Health Cooperative has a chance to regard this as an opportunity, find common ground with employee organizers and become a national model for labor-management cooperation.
Ruth Conniff: Wisconsin take note: Here’s how Minneapolis parents prepared for ICE
Before Operation Metro Surge sent thousands of armed federal agents into Minneapolis, terrorizing families and spreading chaos and violence in formerly peaceful residential neighborhoods, local parent organizations were already setting up networks to provide mutual aid and safely transport children of immigrants to and from school.
Mike McCabe: Sueña, mi nación
Couldn’t understand the words, still the message came through loud and clear.
WisOpinion: ‘The Insiders’ discuss Wisconsin Republicans’ election-year legislative agenda
The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, consider the Wisconsin’s GOP-controlled Legislature’s possible agenda for the 2026 election year. Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMTAf4X7aSk… Please log in to access subscriber
Rewind: Your Week in Review for Nov. 7
On this week’s episode of “Rewind,” WisPolitics.com’s JR Ross and Wisconsin Public Radio Capitol Reporter Anya Van Wagtendonk discuss the federal government shutdown, State Superintendent Jill Underly appearing before a Senate committee to address sexual misconduct and grooming in Wisconsin schools, the state Supreme Court taking up a case on race-based scholarships, election-related legislation and more.