Morning Headlines - Monday, Apr. 13, 2026

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

Oil Prices Surge Above $100 As U.S. Navy To Blockade Iran’s Ports After Peace Talks Fail

The U.S. military will implement a blockade of Iranian ports starting Monday at 10 a.m. ET, according to U.S. Central Command.

The blockade comes after peace talks with Iran failed to produce an agreement.

President Donald Trump said he ordered the Navy to interdict any ship in international waters that has paid Iran a toll to transit the Strait of Hormuz. Trump is considering limited strikes on Iran, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Cuba's President Warns US Against Attacking Island Or Trying To Depose Him

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said the U.S. has no valid reason to carry out a military attack against the island or to attempt to depose him.

Speaking in an interview on NBC News’ Meet the Press program, the president said an invasion of Cuba would be costly and affect regional security. But should it happen, Díaz-Canel said, Cubans would defend themselves.

Swalwell Suspends Campaign For California Governor

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) announced on Sunday that he would be suspending his campaign for governor — just over 48 hours after initial reports alleging that the congressman, and one of the frontrunners for California governor, had twice sexually assaulted a former aide.

“I am suspending my campaign for Governor,” Swalwell wrote in a post on the social platform X. “To my family, staff, friends, and supporters, I am deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past. I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s.”

Pope Leo Responds After Trump Calls Him "WEAK On Crime, And Terrible For Foreign Policy"

President Trump lashed out at Pope Leo XIV in a lengthy social media post Sunday night, calling the pontiff "WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy."

Leo has been critical of the war in Iran and has previously made statements at odds with other priorities of the Trump administration, such as the ongoing crackdown on illegal immigration.

Where Do Americans Get Health Information, And What Do They Trust?

In an era with unprecedented access to health information, the vast majority of Americans still turn to health care providers for health information, according to a new Pew Research Center study. Many also look to major health websites such as WebMD.

But Americans’ health sources aren’t limited to medical experts. Many Americans (66%) also learn from others going through similar health experiences. And some get health information from social media (36%) or AI chatbots (22%) at least sometimes.

Wisconsin Headlines

Thousands Of Wisconsin Voters Conversed With An AI Chatbot Before The Supreme Court Election

In a lopsided Supreme Court race, Wisconsinites overwhelmingly chose liberal Justice-elect Chris Taylor to join the state’s highest court for a decade-long stint. Her win will give liberals a 5-2 majority.

But before election night, a newcomer had entered the race: a virtual assistant powered by artificial intelligence that was texting voters, offering to answer their questions about the election, with an eye toward helping Taylor.

“Got any questions about (Chris Taylor’s) record and why it matters?” a message shared with WPR read. “I’m a virtual assistant standing by to answer your questions any time before you head to the polls on Tuesday. Just reply.”

How To Cut State Spending, Really

Why do Republicans do this? one might ask.

Well, I get it. If you’re a Republican officeholder, it’s a lot more popular to cut taxes or tax rates than it is to cut spending. Actually, cutting spending is downright unpopular. Or, to say it another way, cutting spending generally sounds good until some GOP wunderkind up and tries to cut the program you use or like. That is why Republicans promise in elections to cut spending overall (voters: good) but avoid cutting anything specific in the budget (voters: bad).

So why is it, then, that Republicans keep losing elections, even when they cut taxes and avoid killing sacred cows at budget time?

Port Washington Voters Pass Referendum Fueled By Concerns About Data Center Project

In response to concerns over a massive data center project, voters in Port Washington overwhelmingly supported a referendum Tuesday that gives residents more power over local development incentives.

The referendum passed with about 66 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results from Ozaukee County. The measure, which followed a backlash over the city’s approval of a tax incremental district for a multi-billion-dollar data center project, requires voter approval for certain large development incentives.

Great Lakes Neighbors United, a community group that’s been opposed to the Port Washington data center development, celebrated the referendum’s passage, framing it as a win for “transparency and public participation.”

Reports: Chris Mcintosh Leaving Wisconsin For Big Ten Role After 4 Years As Athletic Director

Wisconsin Athletic Director Chris McIntosh is stepping down from his role and is set to take on a role at the Big Ten.

This is according to reports from the Wisconsin State Journal and the Sports Business Journal. The Sports Business Journal reports that McIntosh will become the deputy commissioner for strategy at the Big Ten.

Doc Rivers Out After Three Years As Bucks Coach

Doc Rivers is departing as the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, sources told ESPN on Sunday.

The Bucks will embark on their third head coaching search in three years. The Bucks will pay Rivers his eight-figure salary for the 2026-27 season. The franchise and Rivers are discussing whether he will move to an advisory role in the organization, sources said.