Morning Headlines - Thursday, Dec. 4, 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

Frustrated Gop Barrels Toward Key Health Insurance Vote Without A Clear Plan

Some Senate Republicans are expressing frustration that their conference hasn’t been able to unify behind a health care plan ahead of a vote next week on a Democratic proposal to extend health insurance premium subsidies that will expire in January.

Republicans are worried the subsidies, and health insurance and costs more broadly, could become a major issue in the 2026 midterms that — in a worst-case scenario — could cost them the Senate majority.

U.S. Health Care Is Broken. Here Are 3 Ways It's Getting Worse

One year after UnitedHealthcare's CEO was shot and killed, the crisis in U.S. health care has gotten even worse — in ways both obvious and hidden.

People increasingly can't afford health insurance. The costs of both Obamacare and employer-sponsored insurance plans are set to skyrocket next year, in a country where health care is already the most expensive in the developed world.

Yet even as costs surge, the companies and the investors who profit from this business are also struggling financially.;

Wall Street Pulls Near Its All-Time High

U.S. stocks rose near their record levels on Wednesday as mixed data on the economy kept alive hopes that a cut to interest rates is coming soon.

The S&P 500 gained 0.3% and pulled within 0.6% of its all-time high set in late October. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 408 points, or 0.9%, and the Nasdaq composite added 0.2%.

The biggest jump in the S&P 500 came from Microchip Technology, which leaped 12.2% after saying it expects sales and profit for the final months of the year to come in at the high end of the forecasted ranges it earlier gave.

Australia To Enforce Social Media Age Limit Of 16 With Fines Up To $33 Million

Social media platforms must report monthly how many children’s accounts they close once Australia begins enforcing its 16-year age limit next week, a minister said Wednesday.

Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X and YouTube would face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($33 million) from Dec. 10 if they fail to take reasonable steps to remove accounts of Australian children younger than 16. Livestreaming service Twitch was added to the list of age-restricted platforms less than two weeks ago.

Shredded Cheeses Voluntarily Recalled From Target, Walmart And More Due To Possible Metal Contamination

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has assigned a risk classification to a previous voluntary recall of various shredded cheese products sold at ALDI, Target, Walmart and other national retailers due to potential metal contamination.

Below, find out what to know about the recall, as well as what steps to take if you have any impacted product in your fridge.

Wisconsin Supreme Court To Decide Whether Local Jails Can Hold Immigrants For ICE

A divided Wisconsin Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to take a case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of an immigrant rights group arguing that it is illegal for local jails to hold immigrant detainees at the request of federal authorities.

The Wisconsin lawsuit comes as federal agents have launched high-profile immigration crackdowns in cities including Chicago and Charlotte, North Carolina. Another operation is expected in the coming days in Minnesota, targeting Somali immigrants. The enforcement tactics have been met with protests and lawsuits.

40-Month Prison Sentence For Menominee Man Convicted Of Assault Resulting In Serious Bodily Injury

Brad D. Schimel, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on December 1, 2025, Darryl D. Smith (age: 53), formerly of Keshena, received a 40-month sentence for a violent crime on the Menominee Indian Reservation. The sentence, imposed by Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach, came after Smith entered a guilty plea to assault resulting in serious bodily injury on December 1, 2025. After his prison sentence, Smith will be on supervised release for an additional 36 months.

According to court documents, Smith, a former girlfriend, and her children were temporarily residing at a shelter on the reservation when Smith and his former girlfriend began arguing. Smith punched the woman in the nose, causing fractures and displacement to nasal bones and significant pain. The woman received medical treatment for her injuries.

WILL Jumps Into New Wisconsin Redistricting Fight

The legal arguments over redistricting in Wisconsin are once again flowing.

The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty on Wednesday said it has filed its briefs in the case that could see the Wisconsin Supreme Court redraw the state’s congressional map.

WILL has filed “motions to intervene” in the two lawsuits that are looking to change the maps. One case says the congressional map is unfairly drawn. The other says the congressional map is too favorable for Republicans.

WILL’s Lucas Vebber said not only has Wisconsin’s map already passed constitutional muster and previous court challenges, the move to redraw the map is being rushed.

Those Challenging Congressional Map As Gerrymander Want Hearing As Soon As Dec. 15

Those seeking to overturn Wisconsin’s congressional map as an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander want a hearing before a three-judge panel as soon as Dec. 15.

In a motion filed with the panel, the Dem attorneys argued the parties in the case have had their motion for summary judgment since Sept. 5 and “time is of the essence” to have a new map in place for next fall if the judges rule the current lines are unconstitutional.

But an attorney for the state’s GOP House members called the proposed briefing schedule and request for a hearing “patently unreasonable” after the state Supreme Court just last week appointed the three-judge panel that will hear the suit.

Lawmakers Push Bill To Raise Legal Nicotine Age In Wisconsin To 21

Wisconsin lawmakers are reintroducing a bill to align state tobacco law with federal regulations that have required buyers to be at least 21.

Since 2019, federal law has prohibited tobacco sales to anyone under 21, but Wisconsin state law still lists the legal purchasing age as 18. Assembly members say these conflicting regulations create confusion for retailers and law enforcement.

Advocates for the bill also say raising the age will give local law enforcement more defined authority to issue tickets and keep nicotine out of young people’s hands.