WISCONSIN (MacIver Institute) -- Our hearts are heavy in mourning after the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Charlie played a crucial role in the conservative movement in the last several years, and his loss will be felt for years to come. We at the MacIver Institute send our prayers out to his family and everyone he touched.
Spotlight
Reflecting on the public assassination of Charlie Kirk last week, MacIver's Michael Lucas writes about a quote that serves as a personal motto. The quote, from the Aeneid, translates to "Do not give in to evil, but proceed ever more boldly against it."
Michael writes about the backstory of the quote and applies it to the aftermath of Kirk's assassination. Read it here.
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Deep Dive
Livestock Producers in the Bureaucratic Crosshairs
The administrative bureaucratic state is at it again in Madison -- this time targeting Wisconsin livestock industry with proposed fee increases that run as high at 1700%. That's not a typo.
Richard Moore writes that should those fee increases take effect, it could strike a fatal blow to many livestock producers in the state.
Take a look at some of the worst increases:
- An Animal Market Class A license jumps from $420 to $7,430, or a 1,669 percent increase.
- The late fee for Class A markets would rise from $84 to $1,486, or a 1,670 percent increase.
- The registration fee paid by truckers transporting livestock in the state would increase by 517 percent, from the current price of $60 to $370.
- Animal dealer licenses would climb from $220 to $670, a 205-percent increase. A vehicle permit for livestock haulers hikes from $20 to $79, a 250-percent increase.
All done without any legislative oversight, thanks to the liberal Supreme Court's ruling in the recent Evers v. Marklein case. Read Richard's full report here.
You Should Know
Sen. Wimberger Suspects Politics at Heart of Homeless Vets Funding Fight
Sen. Eric Wimberger is worried that there’s more than finances at the heart of the fight over two homeless veterans’ shelters in the state.
“It’s not a coincidence how orchestrated that was,” Wimberger said of the governor’s close work with Democrats on the issue. “There’s a lot of politics being played. There’s no justification, financially, for what’s going on here.”
Coming Soon
Judge Hannah Duggan's trial is set for mid-December for her role in attempting to help an illegal immigrant evade federal law enforcement. Dan O'Donnell analyzes her shifting story.
Quick Click
Rep. August Criticizes Sen. Larson over “words matter”
Assembly Majority Leader Tyler August on Friday chastised Sen. Chris Larson after Larson took to X with a post calling Republicans at the Capitol in Madison “corrupt.” Larson has a history of posting inflammatory things on social media, and in the aftermath of the Charlie Kirk assassination, Rep. August was in no mood for his theatrics.
About MacIver Institute: The MacIver Institute is a Wisconsin-based think tank that promotes free markets, individual freedom, personal responsibility, and limited government. Through research, analysis, and community engagement, we work to advance these principles and positively impact the lives of all Wisconsinites.
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Last Update: Sep 15, 2025 1:45 pm CDT
