http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/gerrymander-elections-redistricting-s5.jpgCourt is considering a proposal that would likely lead to another gerrymander in Wisconsin. Let them know how you feel.

MILWAUKEE, WI - As COVID-19 surges dangerously out of control, we look forward to national and state course corrections. Next, we discuss the prospects for national healthcare reform in the coming Biden/Harris Administration. We evaluate Gov. Evers’ new COVID-19 Executive Orders, as health care workers and hospitals to the brink. We preview the 2021-22 state budget process and the importance of pushing to include BadgerCare Public Option and other structural reforms in Governor Evers’ next two year budget.

Listen Episode #467
Download Mp3
Press Clips

The contempt for the very essence of democracy by some Republicans has reached new depths as they enable Trump fantasy.

MADISON - This week, a Republican member of the Wisconsin Legislature actually said, on camera, that the election results should be invalidated!

This contempt for the very essence of democracy has reached new – and frightening – depths, as I write here:

Shame on Wisconsin Coup Enablers

Please write Rep. Joe Sanfelippo and tell him what you think about his comment on tossing out the elections. You can email him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Our research team has tabulated all the spending by outside groups in the elections. You can see those results here:

Electioneering Groups Spent Nearly $9.9M on Legislative Races

While the Democrats managed to outraise the Republicans in Wisconsin this time around, we don’t want the Democrats to get the wrong idea about the need for campaign finance reform, so we wrote the following:

State Dems: We Still Need Campaign Finance Reform!

I hope you like what we’ve posted this week, and I thank you for all that you do to uphold democracy in these challenging times.

Best,

Matt Rothschild
Executive Director
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

****

P.S. If you like the work we’ve been doing, please make a tax-deductible gift today to the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. Just click here. Or donate the old-fashioned way by sending a check to us at 203 S. Paterson St, Suite 100, Madison WI 53703. Thanks!

MADISON —​ On Thursday, Gov. Tony Evers delivered the Democratic Radio Address on Executive Order #94, advising Wisconsinites to stay home to save lives.

Audio file of radio address.

Hello, Wisconsin. Governor Tony Evers here.

As you know, earlier this year, we took steps to contain COVID-19 by issuing a safer at home order. Unfortunately, that order was struck down by the Wisconsin Supreme Court—a decision that hamstrung our ability to respond to the virus.

Since then, Wisconsin has become a national hotspot.

The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation estimates 5,000 Wisconsinites could be lost to COVID-19 by January 1^st if no further actions are taken to get this virus under control. That means another 2,500 people who might not be with us on New Year’s Day.

Wisconsin, this is serious. This crisis is urgent.

That’s why I signed Executive Order #94 advising Wisconsinites to stay home to save lives.

We must get back to the basics of fighting this virus just like we did last spring, and it starts at home.

So, please, cancel the happy hours, dinner parties, sleepovers, and playdates at your home. And if a friend or family member invites you over, offer to hang out virtually instead.

And if you think you might be exposed to COVID-19, please go get tested. And then make sure you’re quarantining at home while you’re waiting for your results and for 14 days after you’ve been exposed.

It’s important to remember that just because you test negative today doesn’t guarantee a negative test tomorrow, so please stay home.

Otherwise, if you have to leave your home, limit it to essential needs and errands, and always wear a mask and stay six feet apart.

We must offer our neighbors the promise of a better tomorrow—a promise that each of us must play a part in delivering by doing everything we can.

Right now, we’ve got plenty to prove and a lot to lose. Let’s get to work, and let’s move forward, together.

Thank you, Wisconsin.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/voting-2020-538-s5.jpgAlthough Americans may have different reactions now that the election is over, it’s important that we continue having conversations to move forward together.

STATEWIDE - We review this week’s historic election that saw huge turnout nationally, including Wisconsin. We discuss how the blue wave this year was met by an almost equal red wave resulting in some disappointing results down ballot based on expectations buoyed by failed polling and the Trump campaign’s ability to expand its base.

We shout out Milwaukee and other cities where Black and Brown communities successfully organized and turned out in large numbers putting Biden over the top. We analyze significant progressive gains in the Milwaukee suburbs that resulted in 2 new state assembly members and some heartbreaking narrow defeats for Emily Siegrist and few other state legislative candidates. The panel previews healthcare reform in a Biden Administration that must contend with a likely GOP U.S. Senate. We close with a call to action to get serious about combating COVID-19 outbreak in Wisconsin and America.

Listen Episode #466
Download Mp3
Press Clips

MADISON - Donald Trump showed his true colors Thursday night. Even as Joe Biden was on the brink of winning the election, Trump kept up his effort to discredit that victory. To say the least, this was not normal or acceptable behavior, as I wrote about here:

Trump’s True Colors

Here in Wisconsin, one result you might not have seen is the success of all the non-binding referendums to ban gerrymandering. Here’s that good news:

14 Referendums to Ban Gerrymandering Pass in Wisconsin

And here’s an important non-election story that you might have missed: A judge threw out the so-called “Marsy’s Law” amendment to our state constitution. And that’s a good thing, as I noted here:

Judge Tosses Martial Law

Well, it’s been quite a week! And I hope you’re able to finally get some rest after the election drama that we all just watched.

Best,

Matt Rothschild
Executive Director
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/tony-evers-students-back-s5.pngAs COVID-19 rages, the choices you make every day could be the difference between preventing a hospitalization or even saving a life says Governor.

MADISON - It looks like Robin Vos is getting a run for his money, as outside groups supporting his Democratic challenger are all of a sudden spending big against the Speaker, as we noted here:

Outside Groups Escalate Spending Against GOP Speaker Vos

That’s one of the more interesting developments in Wisconsin politics this week.      

Another development, which was a blow for voting rights, was the U.S. Supreme Court decision not to allow an extension for Wisconsin to count ballots, though it oddly has allowed other states an extension. Here’s what we wrote about that:

U.S. Supreme Court Slams Door on Wisconsin Voters

This decision by the Supreme Court makes it all the more vital that you exercise your right to vote right away.

If you haven’t voted yet, I’m urging you to do so by the end of the day tomorrow.

Most clerks’ offices are open for early voting till 5:00 p.m. on Friday, and some, especially in bigger cities, are open on Saturday and Sunday, too.

If you don’t know where your local clerk’s office is, you can easily find it at https://myvote.wi.gov/en-US/MyMunicipalClerk.

If you have an absentee ballot, and you haven’t mailed it in yet, DON’T PUT IT IN THE MAIL. Instead, drive it to your local clerk’s office and hand it in, in person, or put it in an official drop box if there is one.

Of course, if you’d prefer to vote on Election Day, as I’ve always done until this year, please go ahead.

And while you’re at it, please urge all your family members to vote. I know I texted my sons this week to make sure they voted!

Democracy works best when everybody votes.

Happy voting!

Best,

Matt Rothschild
Executive Director
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/vote-47-mb1-s5.jpgFrom the disinformation we read on social media to the “issue ads” we see on TV, it’s important that we do our research and stay vigilant before casting our ballot.