Some personal news: Today is my last day with @wisconsinwatch.org. I've decided to pursue a career opportunity outside of journalism. Thanks to everyone who has engaged with me during this wild ride on the Wisconsin politics beat. Support local news. It's more important than ever.

NEWS: Retiring liberal Justice Ann Walsh Bradley is going out on top. Her colleagues elected her today to serve a two-month stint as chief justice. Justice Jill Karofsky will become chief this summer after AWB steps back from the role in anticipation of retirement.

After 30 years, today is liberal Justice Ann Walsh Bradley's final oral argument on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. She received a genuinely nice tribute from conservative Chief Justice Annette Ziegler. (Reposted for clarity)

Susan Crawford’s win on Tuesday paves the way for the court’s liberal majority to continue to flex its influence over WI politics. The Dane County judge’s victory guarantees that liberals will control the court until at least 2028. Here's what the means for Wisconsin. For @wisconsinwatch.org:

The results are in for Wisconsin's Supreme Court election. @byjackkelly.bsky.social on what Susan Crawford’s victory could mean for some key issues.

Wisconsin's Democratic attorney general Josh Kaul said he planned to seek a court order Friday to stop Musk from handing over two $1 million checks on Sunday at a rally in the state two days before the Supreme Court election. apnews.com/article/wisc...

A story worth your time this morning. Jones said a 14-year-old trans kid helped to change his perspective at the hearing. “This kid was actually suffering,” he said. “And I thought to myself, nobody has to do that. You’re only a kid.” Hallie Claflin for @wisconsinwatch.org:

Early/absentee voting in the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court race continues to surge: 193,143 ballots have been returned so far (11 days out). That's a 39% jump compared to the same point in the 2023 race. Waukesha County has seen a 50% increase. Dane up 34%. Milwaukee up 32%.

NEW for @wisconsinwatch.org: Vicious ads, record spending, Elon Musk: Wisconsin Supreme Court race reflects nasty, new normal. I take a look at why a nationally watched race with such high stakes is focused on... issues largely irrelevant to the high court's work:

Gov. Evers wants to overhaul Wisconsin’s corrections system, pushing a plan to close one of the state’s two oldest prisons, renovate the other and convert the state’s troubled youth prison into a facility for adult men. wisconsinwatch.org/2025/02/wisc... via @byjackkelly.bsky.social

Wisconsin is among coalition of Dem-led states challenging Trump's executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship (which he can't do unilaterally; the U.S. Constitution would need to be amended). “We must defend Americans’ constitutional rights," says @govevers.wisconsin.gov. Filing:

This comes after Schimel launched a $1.1 million ad buy last week -- the first meaningful buy from a candidate during the campaign.

Liberal WI Supreme Court candidate Susan Crawford launched a 7-figure ad buy today. In her first ad, the narrator declares "she’ll look at the facts and uphold the law." In the second, she attacks her opponent, Brad Schimel, saying he's "too extreme for the Wisconsin Supreme Court."

Punchbowl News reporting John Boehner, Newt Gingrich and Kevin McCarthy, all GOP former speakers, are at Trump's second inauguration today. It appears Wisconsin's Paul Ryan, who was speaker during Trump's first term, is not in attendance. 👀

The Wisconsin Department of Justice has filed 10 additional felony charges against two attorneys and an aide who advised President-elect Donald Trump following his 2020 loss in Wisconsin. Each of the charges is for defrauding the 10 GOP electors who met to cast votes for Trump

Two lawyers and a former Trump aide are scheduled to appear in court Thursday, each facing a felony charge for their roles in a scheme that generated documents falsely claiming Donald Trump won Wisconsin’s 2020 election. One defendant is fighting the charge: wisconsinwatch.org/2024/12/wisc...

GOP asks court to determine when Trump’s electors are supposed to cast their votes https://www.votebeat.org/wisconsin/2024/12/09/presidential-elector-meeting-date-dec-17-ecra-republican-lawsuit/

I didn't previously wonder how much the Wisconsin Capitol's "holiday tree" weighs, but I'm now blessed with the knowledge that it's about 1,500 pounds — thanks to @byjackkelly.bsky.social.

It's looking very festive here at the Capitol. The 🎄 is lit! 📷: @josephmtimmerman.bsky.social for @wisconsinwatch.bsky.social:

“No judge wants to send a kid to Lincoln Hills,” said a MKE County judge, who has presided over juvenile cases. “You feel like you’re damning the kid. And if you look at the recidivism rates that come out of Lincoln Hills, you pretty much are damning a kid.” From @mkoran.bsky.social and Devin Blake:

Did Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Susan Crawford try to overturn Act 10? Yes, reports @tomkertschernews.bsky.social for @wisconsinwatch.bsky.social: wisconsinwatch.org/2024/12/did-...

Fact-checking a Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate on Act 10. wisconsinwatch.org/2024/12/did-...

Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Annette Ziegler on the passing of former Justice David Prosser: "Many knew him as a Wisconsin Supreme Court justice, a position which he held for 18 years. But to me, David was more than that: he was my friend. I will miss him greatly."

Former Supreme Court Justice David Prosser, who also served as Assembly speaker, passed away yesterday, according to former aide Brian Schimming. A formal statement is planned later today. See more in today's AM Update: www.wispolitics.com/2024/mon-am-...

Cool new project from @wisconsinwatch.bsky.social and @josephmtimmerman.bsky.social: Public Square, "an occasional photography series introducing your neighbors from across Wisconsin." More here: wisconsinwatch.org/2024/11/wisc...

The sale of raw or unpasteurized milk generally is illegal in Wisconsin, although “incidental sales” are legal. Our latest fact brief has a list of reliable sources for anyone who wants to understand the debate over raw milk sales.

Gov. Tony Evers has arrived on Bluesky:

Wisconsin state employees should be in the office at least 3 days per week, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos tells @wisn12news.bsky.social, because many "aren't working, or they're working only from home and not doing it very well, with little supervision." youtu.be/IPJNTljGLr4?...

And so it begins: The Democratic Party of Wisconsin endorses Judge Susan Crawford in April's state Supreme Court race. DPW spent heavily to elect Justice Janet Protasiewicz in 2023. Expect a similar playbook this year.

In a video posted on X (TwitterO, Republican candidate Eric Hovde conceded Wisconsin's U.S. Senate race to Tammy Baldwin — almost two weeks after Election Day. A Baldwin campaign spokesperson told @wisconsinwatch.bsky.social he did not call the senator to notify her Video: x.com/EricHovde/st...

What's with the sudden influx of people here? Serious question.

Starting soon: An Assembly committee will hear testimony Tuesday on a final five voting bill. What's that? And what would it mean for Wisconsinites? I've got you covered:

NEW this morning: Gov. Tony Evers vetoes legislation banning gender-affirming care for trans Wisconsin kids Via @phoebepetrovic.bsky.social, who witnessed the veto in person, for Wisconsin Watch:

All Republicans, except Sen. Rob Cowles of Green Bay, voted against Czarnezki serving on the commission. Ten of 11 Democrats voted to support him. Sen. Lena Taylor of Milwaukee did not vote.

Just now: The state Senate voted against confirming Joseph Czarnezki to serve as a Democratic member on the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission. Czarnezki drew GOP ire for abstaining in a vote to renominate Administrator Meagan Wolfe, allowing her to stay in the job.

As the GOP-controlled state Senate prepares to vote this afternoon on a bill banning gender-affirming care for trans kids in Wisconsin — a bill Democratic Gov. Tony Evers will veto — I wanted to once again bump this WisconsinWatch story from @phoebepetrovic.bsky.social:

More court news: Gov. Tony Evers and AG Josh Kaul file a brief in an ongoing lawsuit asking the Wisconsin Supreme Court to declare the state's current legislative districts unconstitutional. See their brief here: content.govdelivery.com/attachments/...

They also admitted that Wolfe is "lawfully holding over" as administrator. Wolfe's term expired on July 1, but procedural moves from Dems on the commission and a recent SCOWIS ruling have kept Wolfe in the job.

NEW: In a legal filing, Republican lawmakers concede that action taking by the state Senate seeking to remove Meagan Wolfe as nonpartisan administrator of the Wisconsin Elections Commission was "symbolic."

The Assembly will vote today on two bills barring trans girls and women from playing girls' and women's sports and another that would ban gender-affirming care for trans kids. Last week, @phoebepetrovic.bsky.social debunked misinfo spread during hearings about these bills. It's a must-read:

“To sum up my views, there should be no effort to impeach Justice Protasiewicz on anything we know now,” a former conservative SCOWIS justice advised Assembly Speaker Robin Vos. From the Associated Press: wisconsinwatch.org/2023/10/jane...

This story is an interesting look at how often-overlooked elected officials can wield real power and influence people’s everyday lives.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Janet Protasiewicz, in her decision *not* to recuse from a pair of redistricting cases, reminds involved parties of her margin of victory. … and, for whatever reason, also reminds folks that Justice Jill Karofsky also blew out Justice Dan Kelly in 2020.