One of the reasons Republicans like Walker keep losing in statewide elections is they think Democratic voters only live in Milwaukee and Madison. In reality, many mid-size cities are shifting blue. Walker lost ground in 39 of the state's 40 largest cities when he lost in '18.

He’s also not on the air in his usual time slot right now. www.jsonline.com/story/news/2...

It's a detailed proposal, but it has a lot going for it. It's not a "nonpartisan" commission, which have failed to garner support in the past. It's something different.

With gerrymandering in Wisconsin in the news today, it might be worth revisiting my feature story from last year on the grassroots effort to bring a permanent redistricting reform solution to the state. www.therecombobulationarea.news/p/independen...

A thing I strongly believe, but that was only obvious in retrospect, was that drive-time talk radio was the most valuable propaganda platform in history and a big reason we got into this mess we're in now was because conservatives dominated it in the 1990s and 2000s

My take: This shows there is room for persuasion here for Democrats. People don't know where the party stands on this issue. Make a case *for* something. The numbers are even on your side.

Two revealing questions on deportations in the new Marquette poll: If the question is just on for/against deportations, 64% are in favor. But if you ask about deporting people who have been living and working in the U.S. with no criminal record? Only 41% favor deportation.

It's Friday. Subscribe to The Recombobulation Area. Free subscribers only today, tho. Spend on a subscription next week. Go have a drink today. Enjoy yourself. www.therecombobulationarea.news/subscribe

NEW: "It used to be that all politics was local. Now, all politics are national." @pollsandvotes.bsky.social joined The Recombobulation Area to talk about the latest Marquette poll results. Watch/listen here: www.therecombobulationarea.news/p/podcast-al...

Data center politics are shifting rapidly in Wisconsin. In October, majorities were mildly opposed, similarly across political lines (a rarity). Just a few months later, it’s a 70-30 issue, with Democrats swinging hard against them and independents also saying costs outweigh benefits.

A testament to how right-wing the political media has gotten in Wisconsin that this has not jumped out as a top Marquette poll story.

Tom Tiffany is the only viable gubernatorial candidate for the GOP, he just got Trump’s endorsement, and yet more than 60% of Republican voters are undecided in the primary. Embarrassingly bad poll for him. www.therecombobulationarea.news/p/a-super-si...

I broke down the Democratic primary polling by region of the state. You'll have to subscribe for the full breakdown, but here's a sneak peek for just the city of Milwaukee.

NEW: A deep dive and analysis of the new Marquette poll the likes of which you won't find anywhere else. Breaking down polling on the SCOWIS race, the Democratic primary, a bad poll for Tom Tiffany, Trump's tumbling approval, data centers, ICE, more. www.therecombobulationarea.news/p/a-super-si...

I think people like individual Democrats like Evers and Baldwin, but are broadly down on the larger party. It's also a reflection of some internal dynamics. There are more Democrats who dislike the Democratic Party than there are Republicans who dislike the Republican Party.

Bucks win! Never a doubt!

Thoughts on this?

Net favorability rating in the Marquette poll, ranked: Evers: +2 Baldwin: 0 R. Johnson: -6 Vance: -6 Trump: -9 ICE: -11 Republican Party: -12 MAGA: -14 Democratic Party: -23

Evening, folks. I'm going to post my Marquette University Law School Poll release thread over here on Bluesky. Sound good? Let's hit it. I was there live at the poll release and this is my THREAD.

The state of our union is one of calamitous, rapid, accelerating national decline under a uniquely awful president. The first year of his second term was historically bad and the second year so far has managed to be even worse. These are dark times.

"If you care about access to public land, about hunting and fishing traditions, about the outdoor economy that supports small-town Wisconsin, now is the moment to speak up — especially to Republican state senators who hold the keys to whether or not a compromise moves forward."

NEW from @emtseffos.bsky.social: Senate Republicans pulled a proposal to reauthorize the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program after failing to secure support, putting this bipartisan program in jeopardy. Now, lawmakers must act. Let's recombobulate: www.therecombobulationarea.news/p/the-knowle...

Talked with @patkreitlow.bsky.social of @upnorthnewswi.bsky.social today about Robin Vos retiring and a wild last week in the state legislature: www.youtube.com/watch?v=18go...

An NPR investigation finds the public database of Epstein files is missing dozens of pages related to sexual abuse accusations against President Trump. n.pr/4qTItsU

I am here to torch every soft-focus retrospective on statesman and institutionalist Robin Vos. No one has done more to break the state of Wisconsin than this man.

Calculating and vindictive and disrespectful and malicious. This man is no statesman to be celebrated in his retirement. He is the worst of our politics in Wisconsin. www.therecombobulationarea.news/p/the-end-of...

You couldn't make up a better encapsulation of Robin Vos, petty tyrant. Accolades for letting an overwhelmingly popular bill onto the floor in his final floor session. Meanwhile he's spent 14 years as a one-man veto for stuff like this. www.jsonline.com/story/news/p...

Again, if you are not familiar with Robin Vos & his authoritarian game, here is a 🧵 & a long list of receipts:

@danshafer.bsky.social, who produces some of the very best journalism on Wisconsin politics, has written the definitive piece on Robin Vos, the one man directly responsible for almost incalculably corrosive damage to our state politics, economy, university system, & polity over the last decade.

Get 30% off a subscription to The Recombobulation Area at www.therecombobulationarea.news/southpoleelf

I wrote about my least favorite Wisconsin politician finally retiring. 🔒 www.therecombobulationarea.news/p/the-end-of...

The way Robin Vos has operated as Assembly Speaker is the antithesis of everything politics should be. www.therecombobulationarea.news/p/the-end-of...

NEW: www.therecombobulationarea.news/p/the-end-of...

I joined Kate Duffy of Motherhood for Good (who has been advocating for postpartum Medicaid extension for YEARS) to talk about the bill finally passing, and about the soon-to-be former Assembly Speaker announcing his retirement. Watch here: recombobulationarea.substack.com/p/live-with-...

Feb. 19, 2024: Tony Evers signs new maps into law Feb. 19, 2026: Robin Vos announces he's retiring

I would describe the reaction to Robin Vos' retirement from many on the left in Wisconsin today as downright jubilation. What a day. What a damn day.

I would describe the reaction to Robin Vos' retirement from many on the left in Wisconsin today as downright jubilation. What a day. What a damn day.

With the first fully post-Gerrymander election looming in November, I suppose you could say Robin Vos chose a moment to retire when he would be incredibly safe to go out.

The list of ways in which Robin Vos has acted against the interests of the people of Wisconsin and pulled this state apart are endless. I listed a few of them here, in this Oct. 2024 column.

I do not think Vos retiring means Democrats are favored to flip the Assembly. There are many strong GOP incumbents running for reelection and incumbency matters even more in downballot races. It may move this closer to a "toss-up," but it will still come down to individual races.

The sun is shining in Wisconsin today.

🚨HUGE NEWS: Assembly Speaker Robin Vos just now in a speech at the beginning of the Assembly floor session: “I will not be running for re-election in November.”

VOS CAVES. Greta Neubauer and Assembly Dems’ all-out effort works. Tireless advocacy from so many for so long finally breaks through. Outstanding news. www.jsonline.com/story/news/p...

NEWS: Assembly Republicans left the Capitol mid-session to attend a fundraiser at the Madison Club hosted by Jobs First Coalition. This comes as Assembly Democrats are working to force votes on two bills that have been blocked by Speaker Robin Vos. www.therecombobulationarea.news/p/assembly-r...

Along with blocking health coverage for new moms, Robin Vos is also blocking this breast cancer screening bill from a vote. Republicans are trying to finish their session this week and take their customary nine-month break from legislating in election years. fox11online.com/news/local/n...

NEWS: Gov. Evers announces he’ll be calling a special session this spring to take up a constitutional amendment to “ban partisan gerrymandering once and for all in Wisconsin.”

NEW: I podcasted with @angelalang8.bsky.social. We had a lot to talk about. Let's recombobulate: www.therecombobulationarea.news/p/podcast-st...

check out my new collection

I had a Spanish teacher that would go conspicuously absent the day after every drinking holiday (St Pattys, Cinco de Mayo, etc) and we’d watch “The Mask of Zorro” in English with Spanish subtitles with the sub. Great times.