Representation matters. I know that there are so many Black women and girls that look at the success of Justice Brown Jackson, and realize that they can also make history, says Madison Democrat.

MADISON, WI- On April 7th, the United States Senate confirmed The Honorable Ketanji Brown Jackson to the US Supreme Court, making her the first Black woman to hold this office. On this decision, Representative Shelia Stubbs (D-Madison) gave the following statement:

“History was made today. Justice Brown Jackson is eminently qualified to be the next Supreme Court Justice and will execute her office faithfully. She is a product of our public schools, a former public defender, a cum laude graduate of Harvard law, a district judge for 8 years, sat on the D.C court of appeals, and has the highest possible rating from the American Bar Association. Judge Brown Jackson has a history of dutiful and diligent practice, and I trust she will be a valued voice on the Supreme Court.

“While it is an honor to witness the ascent of the Supreme Court’s first Black woman justice, I am appalled at the rhetoric surrounding her confirmation. Justice Brown Jackson’s qualifications, credentials, and experience were thrown into question throughout this process. This is a stark reminder that Black women today are still expected to be twice as qualified to be considered suitable for the same positions. The attacks that have been levied against her are an embarrassment, and further prove the need to increase the presence of Black women in positions of power.”

“Representation matters. I know that there are so many Black women and girls that look at the success of Justice Brown Jackson, and realize that they can also make history. As Thurgood Marshall said “none of us got where we are solely by pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps. We got here because somebody – a parent, teacher, an Ivy League crony, or a few nuns – bent down and helped us pick up our boots.” Justice Brown Jackson has now fought to get into a position where she too can help pick up our boots.”

“I am inspired by Justice Brown Jackson’s incredible poise and grace throughout this process and throughout her career. I know she will be a powerful role model to many young women in America. I applaud the Senate for her swift confirmation, and I applaud President Biden for his selection and commitment to expanding diversity in our courts. I look forward to seeing the trailblazing legacy Justice Brown Jackson will build on the highest court in the land.”

MILWAUKEE - We debrief the Spring Election, including the right wing’s effort to take over local schools boards on shameful culture war conspiracies and the watershed election of Milwaukee’s first Black mayor. The panel takes stock in the historic U.S. Senate vote confirming the first Black woman, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, to the Supreme Court. Disgraced former judge Michael Gableman shamefully speaks at Trump’s Florida resort and is praised by the insurrectionist ex-president. How can Republicans continue the pretense that Gableman is leading an impartial and objective investigation? Claire educates us on the important health care policy behind the big Barack Obama/Joe Biden media event at the White House this week. A Citizen Action member from our North Central Wisconsin Organizing Co-op directly impacted by unaffordable health insurance costs gets a trip to the White House to see the Obama-Biden event. We discuss critical Biden agenda items that still need to be addressed before November 2022. Finally, the panel discusses the implications of new reports linking COVID-19 deaths to poverty, plus the latest Ron Johnson follies.

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MILWAUKEE - Speaker Vos is found in contempt of court for failing to turn over records related to his sham 2020 election “investigation.” Will the political boss of the State Assembly comply with the court order to comply with Wisconsin’s open records laws? We have an exclusive interview with Eau Claire school board president Tim Nordin about the right wing attacks on school board members, and the death threat against him that is making national and international news. Claire tells us why COVID boosters were authorized for Americans 50+ while the world continues to wait for a World Trade Organization waiver to allow the production of affordable COVID vaccines. We call out Congressional inaction on expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies that could impact the healthcare of 14 million Americans weeks before the critical November elections. Can the Democrats summon the unity to fulfill their campaign promises to make health care more affordable and to prevent a political catastrophe at the polls? We close discussing Sen. Baldwin’s fight to protect Kohl’s workers from the looming threat of vulture capitalists seeking to dismantle a profitable company.

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http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/clarence-thomas-scotus-justice-s450.pngWife's involvement leaves no way Clarence Thomas can be a neutral arbiter in any future Jan. 6 cases says Executive Director of Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.

MILWAUKEE - We discuss this historic week where the U.S. Supreme Court surprisingly reversed Wisconsin’s redistricting maps in its scandalous shadow docket. What is going on and where do we go from here? Next, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson appeared before the U.S. Senate for ground-breaking confirmation hearing and faces shameful tactics from the Trump wing of the GOP. Will she survive the awful politics of the U.S. Senate? The panel reviews the Congressional Progressive Caucus’ new blueprint for executive action that includes 55 different items President Biden can implement without Congress. In Wisconsin, Speaker Vos hints that his GOP sham investigation may end soon. Will former President Trump let him get away with it? The Affordable Care Act (ACA) turns 12 this week and early voting has started for the April 5th Spring Election.

Episode #535
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Madison, WI – Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) struck down the state legislative redistricting plans presented by Governor Evers after being selected by the Wisconsin Supreme Court earlier this month. Senator Agard released the following statement:

“I am incredibly disappointed with the SCOTUS’s decision to overturn the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s selection of Governor Evers’ legislative maps. These maps were desperately needed for the sake of democracy after the GOP’s grossly gerrymandered maps that have presided over Wisconsin for the last ten years. After refusing to take up other states’ legislative maps, SCOTUS has contradicted its previous argument in an unprecedented and democratically harmful decision.

“SCOTUS has instead perpetuated the disenfranchisement of Wisconsin democracy– and disenfranchising Wisconsin voters— to prevent our state from having the most competitive districts that would move us forward in having the will of the people represented in our legislature. This decision only advances Republican interests and demonstrates how blatantly politicized SCOTUS, the highest court in our land, has increasingly become.

“This isn’t justice, and this ruling will only further harm our voters. This decision from SCOTUS deepens Wisconsin’s desperate need to implement non-partisan redistricting to truly allow Wisconsin to be a representative democracy.”

MADISON, WI – The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin’s executive director, Debra Cronmiller, issued the following statement in response to the SCOTUS decision to throw out the legislative maps chosen by SCOWI.

“The most important thing for Wisconsin voters to know is that this new development will not change how or where you vote on April 5. Continue to learn about the candidates and races in your community and have a plan to vote this spring.

“SCOTUS has made an irresponsible decision to throw out the legislative maps chosen by our state supreme court just mere weeks before candidates begin circulating nomination papers.

“This will cause confusion for clerks, candidates and voters as the fall primary and election approach.

“The League will continue to fight for fair redistricting maps and keep voters informed as the Courts make decisions.

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The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin is a nonpartisan political organization that advocates for informed and active participation in government. There are 20 local Leagues throughout Wisconsin. More information at lwvwi.org.

Washington, D.C. — Wednesday, Eric H. Holder, Jr., the 82nd Attorney General of the United States and chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, released the following statement in response to a ruling from the Supreme Court of the United States reversing the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s choice of state legislative maps based on an alleged misapplication of the Voting Rights Act: 

“The Supreme Court continues to put its legitimacy at risk. Its ongoing willingness to act in an inconsistent manner and to ignore precedent raises real questions about its functioning. Today’s Court action in Wisconsin is grounded in an unprecedented process and a failure to adhere to precedent. Just last month, the Court’s conservative majority wrongly claimed it was too close to an election for a federal district court to remedy a violation of the Voting Rights Act in Alabama – an action that would have benefited black Alabamans. Today, the Court took a contrary position when it acted as close to the time of an election with the effect of harming black Wisconsin voters’ meaningful participation in the political process. This unprecedented act and inconsistent application of judicial power are manifestly and sadly undemocratic.”

MADISON - I was so appalled at Robin Vos’s latest lie about the 2020 elections that I had to sit down at the computer and write about it. You can read what I said here:

Vos Lies to Placate the Far Right

But mostly I wanted to write you today to invite you to our annual celebration, Thursday, May 19, at Lussier Family Heritage Center, 3101 Lake Farm Road, south of South Towne in rural Madison. (You also have the option to attend remotely via Zoom.)

Go here to register and view program details.

Check in is at 5:30 p.m. in person, and we’ll have appetizers.

The program starts at 6:00 p.m.  I’ll be giving a talk, “The Assault on Democracy in Wisconsin.”

And then there’s going to be a great panel with Mel Barnes from Law Forward, Angela Lang from BLOC, and Christine Neumann-Ortiz from Voces de la Frontera, moderated by Iuscela Flores, our Racial Equity and Economic Justice Advocate.

We’ll end around 7:30 p.m., and afterwards, I’ll be signing my book, “12 Ways to Save Democracy in Wisconsin.”

I sure hope you can make it! Feel free to forward this invite to a friend.

Best,

Matt Rothschild
Executive Director
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Podcast panel discusses conservative conspiracy theorists who are urging illegal decertification of the 2020 presidential election.

MILWAUKEE - Our panel discusses Speaker Robin Vos’ meeting with conservative conspiracy theorists who are urging illegal decertification of the 2020 presidential election. Will Trump be returned to power via midterm coup? The Wisconsin Election Commission does not pursue charges against Wisconsin’s fake electors. What does it mean? We review the implications of Gannett closing its West Milwaukee printing plant where it prints the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and numerous other Wisconsin newspapers. Is there any future for corporate-owned newspapers? Finally, the progressive firebrand brewer Kirk Bangstad from the Minocqua Brewing Super PAC joins us to talk about the PAC’s lawsuit alleging U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson and U.S. Reps. Scott Fitzgerald and Tom Tiffany are barred from holding public office by the post Civil War 14th Amendment. Will they suffer the fate of confederate leaders?

Listen Now - Episode #534

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