Morning Headlines - Monday, Feb. 9, 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

5 Glaring Warning Signs For Republicans In This Year's Midterm Elections

Times Square's digital screens have nothing on the glaring warning signs for Republicans ahead of these upcoming midterm elections.

President Trump, his policies and actions are unpopular. The GOP continues to lose special elections. Republicans are retiring at faster rates than Democrats. And people are saying they'd rather Democrats control Congress.

At this point, all of it adds up to trouble for the party in power.

Musk Jumps Back Into Political Fray With Big Midterm Donations

Billionaire Elon Musk is back in the political fray, giving Republicans a boost in the run-up to the 2026 midterm elections.

The Tesla CEO had injected hundreds of millions into the 2024 election but announced plans last spring to step back from political spending, a potential blow for the GOP ahead of the high-stakes midterms.

Less than a year later, Musk had already given $20 million to two top Republican groups by the end of 2025, according to federal filings, and dropped $10 million into the Kentucky Senate race last month.

Landmark Social Media Addiction Trial To Begin

The world's biggest social media companies face several landmark trials this year that seek to hold them responsible for harms to children who use their platforms. Opening arguments for the first, in Los Angeles County Superior Court, begin this week.

Instagram's parent company Meta and Google's YouTube will face claims that their platforms deliberately addict and harm children. TikTok and Snap, which were originally named in the lawsuit, settled for undisclosed sums.

Super Bowl 60 Recap: Rewatch The Ads After Seahawks Clinch The Championship

The Seattle Seahawks are Super Bowl 60 champions, defeating the New England Patriots on Sunday from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California — home of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers.

This year the game was broadcast on NBC and simulcast on its streaming service Peacock, with the typically lucrative slate of commercials. NBC sold out of ad inventory for the game at an average of $8 million per 30-second spot, CNBC previously reported. As many as 10 ad slots sold for more than $10 million each.

What Happens To All The Losers’ Super Bowl Merch? It’s Being Shipped To Europe

Just moments after the Seattle Seahawks officially clinched their Super Bowl win, T-shirts, hats and other merchandise declaring them champions hit the market.

The exact same thing would have happened had the New England Patriots come out on top.

The NFL plans for both outcomes so they’re ready regardless of who wins. What that inevitably means is a whole lot of merchandise that’s pre-printed and pre-made – but fans won’t ever be able to buy it. What happens to all that swag?

Democratic Gov. Candidate Brennan Pushes “Defend Democracy” Election Plan

One of the Democrats running for governor in Wisconsin is proposing a new raft of state laws which he says will protect election workers in the state from President Trump.

Former Department of Administration Secretary Joel Brennan on Thursday introduced his Plan to Defend Our Democracy.

He said it will "safeguard Wisconsin’s elections in response to President Donald Trump’s call to 'nationalize' elections and allow the federal government to take control of voting in certain states."

Lawmakers Debate Data Center Guardrails, Microsoft Aims To Be ‘Good Neighbor’

Two members of the Assembly’s Science, Technology, and AI Committee disagreed over how fast lawmakers should move on regulating data centers during a Madison luncheon.

Meanwhile, a Microsoft executive said during yesterday’s panel discussion the company aims to be a “good neighbor” as it moves ahead with plans to build 17 data centers in southeastern Wisconsin.

Reps. Darrin Madison, D-Milwaukee, and Nate Gustafson, R-Omro, were joined onstage at the Madison Concourse Hotel by Microsoft Corporate Vice President and General Counsel of Infrastructure Legal Affairs Rima Alaily as the lawmakers parsed out how to approach the rapidly expanding industry.

Wisconsin Lawmakers Consider Age-Related Restrictions For Apps, Social Media

State lawmakers are advancing bills that would add age-related restrictions and protections for digital apps and social media platforms.

Because digital apps and social media platforms are designed to be addictive, additional safeguards are needed to shield kids, supporters of the bill argued.

State Rep. Joy Goeben, R-Hobart, authored a trio of bills that advanced to a public hearing Thursday. She said she’s heard from people who argue the onus should be entirely on parents, not tech companies.

The Local Battles Over Data Center Developments In Wisconsin

As our lives are becoming increasingly more digital — and with the infusion of artificial intelligence — more and more electronic data is being created and consumed.

To feed that growing need, technology companies are building data centers of increasing scale as fast as they can. But some people – particularly residents of rural areas around the country and in Wisconsin – are pushing back on these developments.

Wisconsin Pride Shines Through Team USA Hockey Leadership

Two Wisconsin natives are making their mark at the Olympics, but not as athletes — they're leading Team USA hockey from behind the bench and in the front office.

John Wroblewski from Neenah in Winnebago County will lead Team USA as the women's hockey head coach, making his first Olympic appearance.

"It is the thing that these women were dreaming about since the second they became competitive hockey players. The Olympics is where it is at, so it is a real honor to be a part of," he said.