Morning Headlines - Friday, Oct. 31, 2025

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

What The US-China Deal Means For Rare Earths, Soybean Farmers And TikTok

A short-term agreement struck between the U.S. and China early Thursday appeared to dial back a monthslong trade war between the world’s two largest economies, carrying implications for everyone from smartphone buyers to soybean farmers.

The deal came after a high-stakes meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, the first in-person gathering of the two leaders since Trump took office for his second term.

A Year Ahead Of The Midterms, Americans’ Dim Views Of Both Parties

With the 2026 midterm elections a year away, neither the Republican nor Democratic Party is widely seen as having good ideas. And both are viewed by majorities as too extreme and not governing honestly and ethically:

• 39% of Americans describe the Republican Party as governing ethically and honestly – and about the same share (42%) say this about the Democratic Party.
• Majorities continue to view both parties as too extreme in their positions – though more apply this to the GOP (61%) than the Democratic Party (57%).

Feds Charge 14 Cops, Including 2 Sheriffs, In Mississippi Drug Sting

Two elected sheriffs were among 14 Mississippi law enforcement officers indicted for allegedly assisting drug trafficking across the state’s Northwestern Delta region, federal authorities announced Thursday.

In cases unveiled by Acting U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner, the indicted officers are accused of taking bribes of up to tens of thousands of dollars to allow the transportation of what they thought were illegal drugs. Joyner said the FBI launched the yearslong investigation, which he described as a sting, after suspects complained about having to pay kickbacks.

Disney Content To Go Dark On YouTubeTV After Contract Talks Collapse

Disney content, including ABC and ESPN, was removed from YouTube TV after the companies failed to renew their contract before the Oct. 30 deadline.

YouTube TV accused Disney of using blackout threats to force higher pricing, while pledging a $20 credit to subscribers if the outage persists.

The standoff follows months of tense negotiations and comes amid a broader industry battle over streaming costs and market share.

The Numbers Show Xbox’s Current Plan Isn’t Working

It’s time for Xbox to eat some humble pie and perform some real soul-searching.

Microsoft released its latest quarterly earnings report and proved the worst of our fears about its gaming brand. Not only are Xbox hardware sales down significantly, but the brand itself is barely treading water. Gamers are voicing their displeasure with their wallets, but Microsoft’s top brass is still only thinking about the margins.

Wisconsin Headlines

Rep. Born Clarifies Agreement With Gov On Prisons

One of the Republican leaders at the Wisconsin Capitol says Gov. Evers is over-selling the bipartisan agreement on prisons in the state.

Rep. Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam, who is one of two chairmen of the Joint Finance Committee on Thursday released a column that spells-out where Republicans agree with the governor, and where they don’t on Evers’ planned prison overhaul.

"Republicans agree that Green Bay Correctional Institution (GBCI) is outdated and must be replaced, but what we will not support is another blank check to an administration that has failed to deliver transparent, detailed plans for how to move forward," Born wrote.

State Democrats Call On Government To End Shutdown As Wisconsinites Could Lose Foodshare Benefits

Wisconsin is one of 25 states suing the Trump administration over the suspension of funding for SNAP benefits during the ongoing government shutdown.

The judge’s decision could come as soon as Thursday, with that case being heard at a federal courtroom in Boston.

Elected officials across northeast Wisconsin are weighing in on the growing concern over FoodShare benefit delays caused by the shutdown.

They say the ripple effect could hit thousands of families and even put more strain on local food pantries.

As Wisconsin Voters Question Data Centers, Tech Companies Tout Research, Community Gains

Three companies behind planned and ongoing data center developments on Thursday separately announced efforts aimed at supporting Wisconsin researchers and communities.

The announcements come as new polling shows most Wisconsin voters believe the costs associated with data center projects outweigh the benefits of those developments.

Microsoft, with venture capital firm TitletownTech, will connect researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a new artificial intelligence tool designed to accelerate research and development. According to Microsoft, UW-Madison is one of two universities in the nation that will gain early access to the new AI platform, dubbed “Microsoft Discovery.”

38 Arrests During Investigation Into Northeast Wisconsin Drug Ring Tied To Mexican Cartels

Dozens of people were arrested during an investigation into a large-scale drug trafficking organization that operated in parts of Northeast Wisconsin.

On Wednesday, the Brown County Drug Task Force and Lake Winnebago Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group announced the results of their 14-month-long investigation. Officials say this drug ring has ties to Mexican drug cartels and "was responsible for distributing large amounts of cocaine and marijuana throughout Northeast Wisconsin communities."

High Prices? Polling Shows It’s In The Eye Of The Partisan Beholder

A new survey of Wisconsin residents shows even basic questions about things like the cost of food have become heavily influenced by political partisanship.

Longtime polling expert Charles Franklin says it’s an example of how much partisanship has filtered people’s perceptions about the real world.

Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced supermarket food prices in August were 2.7 percent higher than they were in August of 2024. But when the Marquette University Law School asked 846 registered Wisconsin voters this month whether they’ve seen grocery prices change, their answers ran the gamut.