Morning Headlines - Monday, May. 4, 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

Trump’s Disapproval Rating Hits New High: Poll

President Trump’s disapproval rating has reached a new high according to recent poll results.

An ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll released Friday found that 62 percent of Americans disapprove of the president. Survey results reflect an increase of 2 percentage points from February, and respondents’ concerns include the cost of living, affordability and inflation.

Warsh’s Take On Fed Independence Is Met With Confusion And Some Concern

Kevin Warsh, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Federal Reserve, has described the Fed’s independence as being at its peak in certain areas, but much lower elsewhere.

Several former Fed officials told CNBC that Warsh’s view isn’t entirely clear, but taken to extremes it could mean the Fed would lose control of vital tools such as its balance sheet.

A plan by Warsh to strike a deal between the Fed and the U.S. Treasury is also raising questions.

Rudy Giuliani Hospitalized In Critical Condition

Rudy Giuliani is hospitalized in critical condition, his spokesman said on Sunday. 

The 81-year-old former New York City mayor is critical but stable, spokesman Ted Goodman said in a statement.

The statement does not say what led to the hospitalization.

Walmart Phasing Out Self‑checkout At Some Locations

As Walmart prepares to remodel hundreds of its stores nationwide, at least one location will eliminate self‑checkout entirely.

The move comes as several major retailers — including Target, Dollar General and Five Below — have scaled back self‑checkout options, with some pointing to high rates of theft as a factor.

Your Complete Guide To The 2026 Met Gala

The biggest stars are ready to strike their best poses on the steps of the Met for fashion’s biggest night.

The 2026 Met Gala is here — which means it’s time for daring looks, possible baby bump debuts and some meme-worthy moments.

Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s affair.

Wisconsin Headlines

Wisconsin Lost Thousands Of Manufacturing Jobs In 2025

Wisconsin lost thousands of manufacturing jobs in 2025, driven in part by an aging workforce and hesitancy to expand hiring in an uncertain economy. 

Between January 2025 and January 2026, the state’s manufacturing workforce shrank by about 9,500 jobs, falling from 461,100 workers to 451,600, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics compiled by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. The manufacturing workforce nationally declined by about 91,000 jobs over the same period.

Minocqua Brewing Company Owner Enters Race For Governor

Kirk Bangstad, owner of the Minocqua Brewing Company, announced he is running for governor of Wisconsin at his northern Wisconsin brewery.

On a livestream, Bangstad said he made the decision after being visited by the Secret Service and FBI following controversial social media posts he made about an alleged assassination attempt on President Trump.

Federal Agents Interview Kirk Bangstad Over Post On Attempted Trump Assassination

Agents with the U.S. Secret Service and FBI interviewed liberal Wisconsin activist Kirk Bangstad Thursday, for a Facebook post suggesting either someone “in the Resistance needs to work on their marksmanship” or the latest assassination attempt of President Donald Trump was “faked.”

The post from Bangstad that drew federal investigators’ interest came Saturday night, just after prosecutors allege would-be assassin Cole Tomas Allen attempted to storm the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner to kill the president.

Rothman Accuses UW Regents President Of Misleading Committee On Tuition Hike

Former UW President Jay Rothman accused Regents President Amy Bogost of misleading a state Senate committee when she said a 2% tuition increase for the 2026-27 school year wasn’t “written in stone,” according to an email obtained by WisPolitics.

Rothman wrote that the UW administration had been working on a 2% tuition increase “for a number of months” before Bogost testified April 9 at the Universities and Technical Colleges Committee. He added the board planned to vote on the proposal this month and Bogost had signed off on sharing the proposed tuition increase with other regents.

School District Lawsuit Part III: A "Right" To An Education & How To Fund Schools

Finding #3 shows that the Framers placed no obligation on the state to fund schools at all. It also addresses the Plaintiffs' assertion that the children of this state have a "right" to an education.

With respect to the former, comments made by the Chairman of the Education Committee are especially revealing. Others on the Committee also acknowledge that funding is, and will be, sparse.

As for "rights", the misunderstanding of but a single word where this right is asserted has led the Plaintiffs, and some judges, to defend and advance a right which they have created de novo. The Framers' assertion of this "right" was substantially different from what people believe today.