Morning Headlines - Friday, Mar. 20, 2026 | Recent News

Start your day informed with today’s must-read headlines from around Wisconsin and the world. And don’t forget to check out our Meme of the Day at the end for a little humor to go with your news!

U.S. and World Headlines

Pentagon Seeking $200B More For Iran War

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday that the Pentagon will be asking Congress for more money to cover the Iran war, saying he wants to ensure current and future costs are covered "above and beyond." A senior administration official confirmed that a $200 billion request was sent from the Pentagon to the White House.

In Voting Process, Photo ID Gets Wide Support, Republicans More Likely To Believe There's Fraud, CBS News Poll Finds

Requiring photo ID to vote and proving citizenship to register both find wide and often bipartisan support. But that doesn't mean everyone sees problems with the current voting system. It is often Republicans driving the percentages of those who think there is widespread fraud — and often think it's specifically in cities and Democratic areas — but even then, it's not an overwhelming majority of them.

Trump’s Push To Abolish The Education Department Reaches Student Loan Portfolio

One year after President Trump signed an executive order calling for the shuttering of the Education Department, the agency has taken its biggest step yet toward self-elimination. On Thursday, the department announced that it would seek to move its $1.7 trillion student loan portfolio to the Treasury, the latest in a series of interagency agreements shifting programs out of Education, which could only be officially closed by an act of Congress.

Who’s Most Optimistic About AI — And Who Isn’t, According To Anthropic

People in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia are more optimistic about artificial intelligence than those in Western Europe and North America, according to a report by Anthropic that surveyed around 81,000 people in 159 countries. The study revealed how economic gains from AI usage formed the main aspiration for most respondents, but analysts also warned that not everyone stands to benefit equally.

Fury As Walmart Wins Approval For Patent Paving Way For Uber-Style Surge Pricing

‘Everyday low prices’ might not always stay low under Walmart’s latest push into AI-powered pricing. The retail giant has secured two new patents that give computer algorithms a bigger role in how prices are set - sparking fears among shoppers that surge pricing is coming to stores.

Support Grows For November Veto Amendment Vote

The campaign to reign-in Gov. Tony Evers’ veto powers is now underway. The Wisconsin Senate on Tuesday approved a constitutional amendment that would stop any future governor from using a veto to create or increase new taxes. The amendment is in direct response to Evers’ 400-year veto that is being blamed for skyrocketing property tax increases across the state.

Republican Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu To Retire From Office

Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu announced he would not seek a fourth term in the 2026 election, another sign of a seismic shift in politics in the state as the two highest-ranking Republicans in the Legislature are retiring along with the Democratic governor.

Microsoft To Stop Using NDAs With Local Governments For Data Center Development

Microsoft will no longer use nondisclosure agreements with local governments in developing data centers, the company announced this week. The company had previously used nondisclosure agreements, or NDAs, during the early stages of data center development. Microsoft says it did so to “protect sensitive commercial information.”

Bondi Appoints Schimel To Different US Attorney Title

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has appointed Brad Schimel, a former state attorney general and state Supreme Court candidate, as first assistant U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Wisconsin as his 120-day term as its U.S. attorney expires.

Baldwin Calls Schimel Appointment ‘Illegal Stunt,’ Johnson Praises Move

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, slammed the “illegal stunt” to keep Brad Schimel in charge of the U.S. attorney’s office in Milwaukee. But U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh, praised the move, saying it would provide time to find a full-time U.S. attorney. U.S. AG Pam Bondi appointed Schimel first assistant U.S. attorney a week after the judges on the Eastern District of Wisconsin declined to extend his appointment as the interim leader of the office. Making Schimel first assistant U.S. attorney means he will have the same role and responsibilities leading the office as he did after Bondi appointed him interim in November.