Morning Headlines - Monday, Mar. 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

Americans Want Trump's Focus More On Prices, Not Tariffs; Most Approve Of Deportation Efforts — Poll

After a week that brought tough economic news and polling showing Americans' views of the economy are still sour, most say President Trump has focused too much on tariffs — which they believe will end up raising prices — and not enough on lowering prices.

This has Americans collectively skeptical right now about the ability of Mr. Trump's policies to make them financially better off, a sentiment that was key to the success of his 2024 campaign.

Yet that's balanced out for Mr. Trump today by continued majority approval on immigration and on his deportation program, specifically. That comes especially — but not exclusively — from his Republican base, many of whom say that's just as important as the economy in their evaluations.

Trump Won’t Rule Out Seeking A Third Term In The White House, Tells NBC News ‘There Are Methods’ For Doing So

President Donald Trump did not rule out the possibility of seeking a third term in the White House, which is prohibited by the Constitution under the 22nd Amendment, saying in an exclusive interview with NBC News that there were methods for doing so and clarifying that he was “not joking.”

“A lot of people want me to do it,” Trump said in a Sunday-morning phone call with NBC News, referring to his allies. “But, I mean, I basically tell them we have a long way to go, you know, it’s very early in the administration.”

Germany Decides To Leave History In The Past And Prepare For War

A missile launcher sends a cloud of brown dust into the air as it hurtles across a field towards the firing line. Moments later comes a soldier's countdown, from five to 'Fire!', before a rocket roars into the sky.

The blasts and booms from such military training exercises are so constant that locals in the nearby small town of Munster barely notice anymore.

But life here is set to get even louder.

Germany's military, the Bundeswehr, recently got the all-clear for a massive increase in investment after parliament voted to exempt defence spending from strict rules on debt.

The country's top general has told the BBC the cash boost is urgently needed because he believes Russian aggression won't stop at Ukraine.

SpaceX Is Set To Launch 4 People On A First-Of-Its-Kind Mission Around Earth’s Poles

A crew of four passengers — led by a cryptocurrency billionaire — is set to launch aboard a SpaceX capsule that will carry them over the Earth’s poles, marking the first time humans have flown such a mission.

The group is slated to lift off from a launchpad in Florida during a 4.5-hour window that opens at 9:46 p.m. ET Monday.

Malta-based investor Chun Wang is financing the mission, which was dubbed Fram2 after a Norwegian ship that carried key expeditions to the North and South poles around the turn of the 20th century.

The CDC Buried A Measles Forecast That Stressed The Need For Vaccinations

Leaders at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ordered staff this week not to release their experts’ assessment that found the risk of catching measles is high in areas near outbreaks where vaccination rates are lagging, according to internal records reviewed by ProPublica.

In an aborted plan to roll out the news, the agency would have emphasized the importance of vaccinating people against the highly contagious and potentially deadly disease that has spread to 19 states, the records show.

A CDC spokesperson told ProPublica in a written statement that the agency decided against releasing the assessment “because it does not say anything that the public doesn’t already know.” She added that the CDC continues to recommend vaccines as “the best way to protect against measles.”

Wisconsin Headlines

Musk Hands Out $1M Checks After Efforts To Block The Giveaways In Court Are Rejected

Just hours after the state Supreme Court rejected Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul's effort to block Elon Musk from handing out $1 million checks on Sunday night, the billionaire took the stage at a town hall in Green Bay and gave away two $1 million checks to attendees in his latest effort to support conservative candidate Brad Schimel.

Urging the crowd to back Schimel, Musk cast Tuesday as "a vote for which party controls the House of Representatives" and implied "the future of civilization" is at stake.

Musk: Wisconsin Supreme Court Race ‘Might Decide The Future Of America And Western Civilization’

Tech billionaire Elon Musk on Sunday stressed the importance of the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, saying it could determine “the future of America and Western Civilization.”

Musk reposted a report from a right-wing social media account suggesting if Democrats win the Supreme Court seat, they would “redraw up districts and add seats for Democrats.”

“1000%,” Musk wrote in response on the social platform X, which he owns. “What’s at issue here is control of the US House of Representatives.”

“This Wisconsin Supreme Court race might decide the future of America and Western Civilization!” he continued. “It’s a big deal.”

Political Texts And Messaging Ahead Of April 1, 2025 Spring Election

The Wisconsin Elections Commission understands that voters may have concerns about political texts, offers, and messaging they are receiving ahead of the April 1, 2025 election. The WEC is unable to act on or investigate matters that fall outside of Wisconsin election law or that do not meet the statutory requirements of a formal complaint.

The Wisconsin Elections Commission is charged with administering chapters 5–10 and 12 of the Wisconsin State Statutes.

The law allows members of the public to file a formal complaint with the Wisconsin Elections Commission but also requires the complaint to meet specific criteria.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Candidates Spend Day Campaigning Amid Musk Town Hall In Green Bay

Elon Musk stopped in Green Bay Sunday night for a town hall ahead of the Spring Election on April 1. 

The billionaire is supporting conservative Waukesha County Judge and former Republican Attorney General Brad Schimel in the race for a seat on Wisconsin's Supreme Court. 

Musk held the town hall at KI Convention Center in Green Bay where only invited guests were allowed. There, he handed out $1 million checks to two voters. 

"We have this petition against activist judges because judges should be simply interpreting the law, not making the law," Musk said. "In appreciation for the support of people signing this petition against activist judges, we just want judges to be judges. It's a reasonable thing to ask for."

Lawmakers Pitch Full Cigar Bar Exemption To Wisconsin Smoking Ban

There’s a new plan at the Wisconsin Capitol that would allow more people to smoke more cigars at more cigar bars.

State Representatives Nate Gustafson, R-Fox Crossing, and Sylvia Ortiz-Velez, D-Milwaukee, along with Sen. Cory Tomczyk, R-Mosinee, on Friday submitted legislation that would tweak the rules for cigar bars.

“These establishments provide a space for individuals to enjoy cigars and pipe tobacco in a regulated environment. However, due to restrictive language in legislation from the late 2000’s, no new licenses have been issued since June 3, 2009,” the lawmakers said in their co-sponsorship memo. “[This plan] seeks to change this by allowing more of these businesses to open through the issuance of more licenses to meet the increasing demand across the state.”