Morning Headlines - Monday, Jan. 29, 2024

U.S. and World Headlines

Political Pressure Builds On Biden To Strike Iran After US Deaths

The killing of three U.S. troops and wounding of dozens more on Sunday by Iran-backed militants is piling political pressure on President Joe Biden to deal a blow directly against Iran, a move he's been reluctant to do out of fear of igniting a broader war.

Biden's response options could range anywhere from targeting Iranian forces outside to even inside Iran, or opting for a more cautious retaliatory attack solely against the Iran-backed militants responsible, experts say.

American forces in the Middle East have been attacked more than 150 times by Iran-backed forces in Iraq, Syria, Jordan and off the coast of Yemen since the Israel-Hamas war erupted in October.

Democrats Endorse Their First Slate Of Challengers In The Fight For The House Majority

House Democrats are officially issuing their first 17 endorsements of candidates to take on Republicans in competitive districts Monday, launching their "red-to-blue" program as part of a quest to regain control of the chamber this fall.

The candidates hail from districts that were hotly contested in the 2022 election and are likely to decide the majority in November. Some, but not all, were carried by President Joe Biden in 2020.

The endorsements, first reported by NBC News, give these contenders the official stamp of approval from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, planting a flag with donors, activists and party loyalists about whom they see as best positioned to win in critical districts.

House Republicans Release Impeachment Articles Against Mayorkas Amid Push To Remove Him Over The Border

House Republicans on Sunday released two articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas -- accusing him of "willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law" and "breach of public trust" and taking another step toward a historic attempt to remove him from office while he denies wrongdoing.

"These articles lay out a clear, compelling, and irrefutable case for Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas' impeachment," House Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green, R-Tenn., said in a statement.

X Blocks Searches For Taylor Swift

X blocked searches for Taylor Swift after sexually explicit AI-generated images of the singer circulated on the social media platform, an executive said on Sunday.

It was not immediately known whether X has taken such blocking action before, but the platform formerly known as Twitter has been criticized for its content moderation policies since the 2022 Elon Musk-led takeover.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called the fake images on Friday "alarming" after some were viewed millions of times. She urged social media companies to act against "the spread of misinformation and nonconsensual, intimate imagery of real people."

SNL Roasts Trump On E. Jean Carroll Verdict, DeSantis Endorsement In ‘Weekend Update’

The latest episode of “Saturday Night Live” took aim at former President Trump over the E. Jean Carroll verdict and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) for endorsing the former president.

Co-host Colin Jost roasted Trump on the show’s segment of “Weekend Update” for being ordered by a jury last week to pay $83.3 million to Carroll in his defamation lawsuit. He also poked fun at him for campaigning off of the jury’s ruling.

“The jury in his defamation case has ordered Donald Trump to pay writer E. Jean Carroll $83.3 million. And Trump is a billionaire — so obviously he immediately hit up your grandma for five bucks. They ordered Trump to pay $83 million. That’s how unlikable he is. For perspective, OJ Simpson only had to pay $33 million for a double murder,” Jost said.

Wisconsin Headlines

Senate GOP Looks To Wisconsin To Set 2024 Candidate Map In Stone

Senate Republicans are expecting the final piece to their 2024 puzzle to fall into place in short order, as they ready themselves for a November fight against Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D) in the key battleground state of Wisconsin.

Eric Hovde, a Madison-based businessman, is expected to enter the race next month with the full support of the Senate GOP campaign apparatus, as it tries for a third time to defeat Baldwin, who has proven a difficult out for Republicans. Multiple sources indicated that he will launch his bid in February, with one source familiar saying that it is expected between the Super Bowl and the end of the month as he has been hiring staff and gearing up for a run.

Wisconsin Faces Redistricting Battle: Supreme Court Decision Looms

The battle over fair redistricting maps in Wisconsin intensifies as both Democrats and Republicans are accusing each other of drawing unfair district maps.

If a compromise is not reached by February 1st, the Wisconsin Supreme Court will step in, making a final decision based on recommendations from external consultants.

Derek Clinger, a Senior Staff Attorney at the State Democracy Research Initiative at the University of Wisconsin Law School, specializing in political and election law, state constitutional law and state courts says that this process is not uncommon.

Proposed Wisconsin Specialty License Plate Offers Throwback White-On-Black Design

Wisconsin motorists would be able to add a new type of specialty license plate to their vehicles, a “blackout” plate that’s proven incredibly popular in neighboring states, under a bill being circulated in the state Legislature.

The plates could also prove to be a valuable source of revenue for future state road projects, the bill's co-authors say.

"Inspired by the success of this trend in Iowa and Minnesota, it is clear that the blackout plates have the potential to be a tremendous asset for our state," the proposal's co-authors Sen. Dan Knodl, R-Germantown, and Rep. Paul Melotik, R-Grafton, wrote in a memo seeking cosponsors for the bill.

Wisconsin Teen Is First In State To Earn Women International Master Chess Title

A Milwaukee area teen has been making all the right moves.

Aradh Kaur, 16, is the first female in Wisconsin to be awarded the Women International Master chess title. The University School of Milwaukee sophomore finished first at the North American Youth Chess Championships in Mexico City last month.

Kaur’s goal was to finish in second or even third place. That would have gotten her a Women Fide Master, or WFM, title — the third-highest female title in chess.

Van Orden Announces Campaign, Opens Headquarters

Representative Derrick Van Orden officially announced his run for the House of Representatives on Saturday.

He made the announcement at his new headquarters at the Village Shopping Center in La Crosse. He addressed his plans for Congress to a group of enthusiasts and supporters.

Along with touching on economic and agricultural issues, Van Orden stressed the importance of working together as Americans, regardless of status.