Morning Headlines - Monday, Oct. 17, 2022

U.S. and World Headlines

Kyiv Hit By Multiple Blasts As Ukraine Reports "Kamikaze" Drone Strikes

Russia has hit Ukraine with a wave of attacks, including Iranian-made "kamikaze" drones on the capital, Kyiv.

The strikes hit critical infrastructure in three regions, cutting off electricity in hundreds of villages across the country, according to Prime Minister Denys Shmygal. Several people have been killed, says the Ukrainian interior minister.

A week ago, the capital was hit by Russian missiles at rush hour, part of nationwide attacks which left 19 dead.

Mr Shmygal said the Russian strikes had hit regions of Kyiv, Dnipro and Sumy with strikes.

Russia said it had hit "all designated targets" in the latest attacks, confirming that Ukraine's "military command facilities and energy system" had been targets.

Trump Attacks American Jews, Says They Must 'Get Their Act Together' On Israel 'Before It's Too Late'

Former President Donald Trump attacked Jews in the U.S. on his Truth Social platform Sunday, writing that they need to “get their act together” and “appreciate” Israel “before it is too late.”

“No President has done more for Israel than I have. Somewhat surprisingly, however, our wonderful Evangelicals are far more appreciative of this than the people of the Jewish faith, especially those living in the U.S.,” Trump wrote.

“Those living in Israel, though, are a different story — Highest approval rating in the World, could easily be P.M.!” he continued.

It is unclear what prompted the post.

GOP Sees Parents’ Rights As Sleeper Issue In Midterms

Republicans are seizing on the issue of parents’ rights ahead of November, arguing it could swing key Senate and House races toward their party and help them win back power in Congress.

The descriptor covers an array of issues that bubbled to the forefront after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, but broadly argues in favor of giving parents a say in their children’s education, including where they attend school, what they are taught and how LGBTQ issues are discussed.

“Parents want education, not indoctrination, and we should expect this movement to have a major impact in the midterm elections. This is one of many issues causing voters to support conservatives — the same people who care about education care about others like inflation and crime,” Jessica Anderson, executive director of the conservative group Heritage Action, said in a statement to The Hill.

Soaring Inflation Has Wiped $2.1 Trillion - An Average Of 25% - Off American Workers' Retirement Savings

Inflation has taken an average of 25 percent - at least $2.1trillion - off the 401Ks of American workers, despite President Joe Biden's insistence Sunday that the 'economy is strong as hell.'

The analysis was done by conservative economists Stephen Moore and EJ Antoni, who said that the balance of Americans' 401ks will 'ruin your whole day, week and month.'

Moore and Antoni note that inflation has been going at 8 percent for the past seven months, despite the White House claiming things were temporary.

They argued that over the past 20 months, the average American family has lost nearly $6,000 in 'purchasing power' due to the rise in prices over wages.

The average American's 401k plans have lost a colossal $34,000 in value - more than 25 percent of where it was a year ago - to a total of $2.1 trillion in losses.

Five Years On, What Happened To The Men Of #MeToo?

Some of the most galvanizing early #MeToo cases suggested that a thorough and eternal discrediting would be the fate of every accused man, like the now-imprisoned producer Harvey Weinstein or former "Today" show host Matt Lauer, who has barely been seen in public since his 2017 firing. But others have reclaimed some of their careers and public esteem. And outside of a bad news cycle, others haven't really been affected at all.

Attempts to catalogue the high-profile men accused of sexual misconduct or harassment have been exhaustive and exhausting. The New York Times counted 201 men by late 2018. Vox compiled a roster of 262 before it stopped updating the list in 2019.

Gretchen Carlson argues that the fascination with these men's fates is misplaced.

"We talk all about rehabilitating the men," the former Fox News host said in an interview, "but the real question is, where are all the women and why aren't they working again?"

Wisconsin Headlines

6 Takeaways From The Wisconsin Governor’s Debate Between Tony Evers And Tim Michels

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers of Wisconsin and his Republican challenger, Tim Michels, clashed in a debate Friday night over the swing state’s election administration, as Michels vowed to sign into law a series of restrictive voting measures that the incumbent has vetoed.

The stylistic differences between the two nominees were on display in Madison in their first and only debate.

Evers demonstrated his technocratic approach, diving into detailed proposals to issue child care tax credits, share state government revenue with local governments, eliminate the “minimum markup” law that requires gas stations to charge at least 9% more than what they pay for gas, and reduce state income taxes for middle-class earners by 10%.

Michels was much shorter on specifics, promising “massive tax reform” without offering details. Instead, he sought to portray Evers as a weak leader.

“I’m a businessman. I understand macroeconomics. I understand how to read a balance sheet,” Michels said.

The outcome of Wisconsin’s race for governor could have significant implications for the 2024 presidential election – a contest in which Wisconsin could reprise its role as a marquee swing state.

Here are six takeaways from Friday’s gubernatorial debate in the Badger State.

Wisconsin Has Record $4.3B Budget Surplus

Wisconsin ended its fiscal year with a record $4.3 billion budget surplus.

The state Department of Administration released the numbers Friday covering the 2022 fiscal year, which ended on Jun. 30. The state's rainy day fund also hit its highest number in Wisconsin's history at $1.73 billion.

"The State of Wisconsin is in the best financial shape we’ve ever been in," Department of Administration Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld said in a written statement accompanying the release.

Jason Stein, research director for the Wisconsin Policy Forum, said the surplus was generated as the state saw higher-than-expected tax revenues, with taxes flowing into the general fund growing by 5 percent. That growth was driven largely by increases in sales tax revenues. He said that that increase was likely helped by inflation, which drove up the cost of goods, in turn pushing up sales tax collections.

"It's a little different when you do have those really rapid rises in consumer prices, because that's going to, in some degree, drive up the surplus somewhat artificially," Stein said.

Although the state cut state income taxes this year, overall income tax revenue fell by less than 1 percent.

Josh Kaul, Eric Toney And Wisconsin's 2022 AG Race

Protecting the rule of law is central to the state attorney general election, but the Democratic incumbent and Republican challenger seeking the office offer distinct visions about what that means.

"I think public safety is the most important issue for the attorney general," said Josh Kaul. "It's been my top priority since I took office, and it continues to be.

"Josh Kaul has decided that's not going to be his top priority," said Eric Toney. "Politics has been his top priority — and that's why we need a prosecutor and not a politician as our top cop."

The attorney general leads the Wisconsin Department of Justice, and while that may sound imposing, the DOJ is typically not on the frontline of the fight against crime. They often play a support role, stepping in to assist local police and county district attorneys when needed.

"What we want to do is focus on Milwaukee County," said Eric Toney, who wants a more direct role.

If elected, he plans to ask the Legislature for the authority to step in and prosecute any case in Milwaukee.

Michigan State Outlasts Wisconsin In Double Overtime 34-28

Quarterback Payton Thorne threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jayden Reed in the second overtime Saturday to lift Michigan State to a 34-28 victory over Wisconsin.

The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Spartans (3-4, 1-3 Big 10 Conference). It is the first loss for Wisconsin’s interim coach Jim Leonhard who replaced Paul Chryst two weeks ago.

The game-winning throw was set up after Michigan State’s Jacoby Windmon stripped the ball from Braelon Allen on the first play of the second overtime and defensive tackle Dashaun Mallory pounced on the ball. Three plays later, Thorne hit Reed in the right corner of the end zone with the game-winner.

Aaron Rodgers: Simplifying Things Might Fix Packers' Offense

Aaron Rodgers thinks there's a way to fix the Green Bay Packers' offense.

"Simplify some things," Rodgers said.

At this point, Rodgers said the Packers need to try something. And it's not just because of Sunday's 27-10 loss to the New York Jets during which they were repeatedly booed at Lambeau Field.

It has been six weeks' worth of offensive struggles. The Packers have scored 107 points (or 17.8 per game) so far this season. That's their fewest in any six-game span with Rodgers as their starting quarterback, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.

Sunday's loss, which left the Packers at 3-3, marked the first time in coach Matt LaFleur's four seasons that the Packers have lost consecutive regular-season games.