Morning Headlines - Monday, Nov. 17, 2025 | 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

Trump Says House Republicans Should Support The Release Of Epstein Files Ahead Of Key Vote

President Donald Trump on Sunday called on House Republicans to support the release of files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, dramatically changing course on a flashpoint issue he has long opposed.

“House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide, and it’s time to move on from this Democrat Hoax perpetrated by Radical Left Lunatics in order to deflect from the Great Success of the Republican Party,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump Rolls Back Tariffs On Groceries, But Price Drop Will Take Time

The Trump administration is rethinking its flagship economic policy and rolling back some tariffs, but households across the nation are unsure when to expect their cost of living to reflect the move.

Trump has relied on sweeping new tariffs to remake the economy during his second term, but the White House announced Friday it was reversing course in a bid to lower grocery prices.

Products no longer subject to tariffs include coffee, tea, tropical fruit, beef, bananas, wood and iron.

Hundreds Of National Guard Troops Will Leave Portland And Chicago

The Defense Department is scaling back the number of federalized National Guard troops in Chicago and Portland, Ore., as weekslong court battles have stalled their deployments.

A defense official, not authorized to speak publicly, confirmed to NPR that 200 California National Guard members in Oregon and 200 Texas National Guard members in Illinois will return to their home states in the coming days.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Surprised Investors With A ‘Half A Trillion’ Forecast. It’ll Come Up At Earnings

CEO Jensen Huang revealed in October that his company has $500 billion in orders, in 2025 and 2026 combined, for its chips that are at the heart of the AI boom.

For a company that has seen its quarterly revenue grow nearly 600% over the past four years, Huang’s statement was a sign that Nvidia is confident of another year of strong — but slowing — growth for its next cycle of chips, implying that the AI boom still has room to run.

What’s In Ohio’s Proposal Banning AI Personhood

A new poll of Americans across nine states by Heartland Forward finds that Americans are generally wary of artificial intelligence but are more positive about the potential in specific economic sectors. (Getty Images)

An Ohio state lawmaker is trying to ensure people, businesses or developers are held accountable for what they do with artificial intelligence. In effect, his bill aims to outlaw “it wasn’t me, the AI did it” as a legal defense.

State Rep. Thaddeus Clagget, R-Licking County, gets there in part by barring artificial intelligence tools from any form of legal personhood.

Assembly To Vote On Bill Blocking SNAP Recipients From Buying Candy, Soft Drinks And Energy Drinks

With the government reopened and uncertainty about federal food assistance payments fading, Republicans in Wisconsin are holding a vote this week on a bill restricting what recipients can buy with that money.

Under the proposal up for a vote in the Wisconsin Assembly Wednesday, soft drinks, candy and energy drinks would no longer be allowed to be purchased using money from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

Republicans behind it say it’s about improving low-income residents’ health and argue taxpayers shouldn’t have to foot the bill for junk food. Critics call it an effort to punish people living in poverty.

Landmark Only U.S. Citizens Vote Victory In Wisconsin

On October 3, 2025, Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Michael P. Maxwell issued a landmark ruling in Cerny v. Wisconsin Elections Commission, granting a writ of mandamus compelling the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) to verify U.S. citizenship for every new voter registration using Department of Transportation records, or any other lawful means, while prohibiting any registration without such confirmation. The decision also required WEC to collaborate on auditing the state's nearly four million existing voter rolls to identify and remove non-citizens, with the process ordered to be substantially completed before the next statewide election.

However, rather than comply with Judge Maxwell’s Order, WEC and Attorney General Josh Kaul immediately appealed on inappropriate grounds. They did so despite the fact that WEC provided affidavit testimony explicitly stating that they would be able to do everything ordered by Judge Maxwell! The appeal was clearly a partisan decision by Attorney General Kaul and the only purpose it can have is to ensure that out voter rolls remain bloated and full of non-citizens.

Financial Advisor Sentenced For Investment Fraud Scheme

Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on November 5, 2025, Robert C. Starnes (age: 66) was sentenced to 40 months’ incarceration for an investment fraud scheme that resulted in a loss of more than $3 million to more than a dozen victims.

According to court records, Starnes operated Robert C. Starnes Financial Services in Wauwatosa, holding himself out as a legitimate investment broker and retirement advisor. Over the course of years, Starnes convinced friends, friends of friends, and family members to invest their retirement savings with him. He promised that he would increase the value of their retirement savings through his investment strategies. As part of his scheme, Starnes gave his victims fake statements, showing that their investments were growing. In reality, Starnes accepted checks from his victims and simply deposited them in his personal bank account, where he then used the funds to pay for his own expenses.

Safeguarding Democracy: The Urgent Need To Clean Voter Rolls And Prevent Non-Citizen Voting

In an era where trust in democratic institutions is paramount, election integrity stands as the bedrock of a fair and representative government. With the 2026 midterm elections on the horizon, concerns over bloated voter rolls, including the potential for illegal immigrants to cast ballots, have intensified. According to a recent Gallup Poll, 83% of those Americans surveyed endorse early voting voter identification.

Failure to address these vulnerabilities not only risks diluting the votes of lawful citizens but also undermines public confidence in the electoral process. Recent court decisions, executive actions, and enforcement operations underscore the critical importance of purging ineligible voters—particularly non-citizens—from registration lists to ensure only American voices shape America's future.

Jordan Love Throws 2 TD Passes As Packers Beat Giants 27-20 To End Their Skid

Jordan Love returned from a shoulder injury to throw two touchdown passes, backup Malik Willis had one of his own while filling in and the Green Bay Packers ended their losing streak at two by defeating the New York Giants 27-20 on Sunday.

Love provided some heroics on the go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter, connecting with rookie Savion Williams on a 32-yard gain under pressure on third-and-10 and finding Christian Watson in the end zone with 4:02 left to take the lead.