Morning Headlines - Thursday, Jan. 15, 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

Senate GOP Kills War Powers Effort To Limit Trump On Venezuela, With Vance Breaking Tie

Senate Republicans killed a war powers resolution to limit President Trump's ability to further strike Venezuela after the White House put pressure on a handful of GOP senators who supported it.

Republican Sens. Josh Hawley of Missouri and Todd Young of Indiana flipped their support Wednesday after initially voting to advance it. Vice President JD Vance had to step in to break the 50-50 tie.

24 Members Of Congress Are 80 Or Older. More Than Half Are Running For Re-Election.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 85, is heading for the exits after nearly four decades in Congress. So is her longtime deputy, Rep. Steny Hoyer, 86, and former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, 83.

But of the two dozen members of the Silent Generation now serving in the 119th Congress, more than half (13) have decided to run again in 2026, according to an NBC News analysis.

US Supreme Court Moves Closer To Transgender Sports Ban

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in two big cases—Little v. Hecox out of Idaho and West Virginia v. B.P.J.—that challenge state laws banning biological males, including those who identify as transgender women or girls, from competing on girls' and women's sports teams in public schools and colleges.

These laws, pushed through by Republican-led legislatures in Idaho and West Virginia—and now in place in more than 25 states—base team eligibility on biological sex. The goal is to protect fairness, safety, and real opportunities for women and girls in sports. The states point out that biological differences—like greater muscle mass, bone density, lung capacity, and other physical advantages—don't fully disappear even after hormone therapy, which creates an inherent edge when biological males compete against females.

Pentagon Moving Carrier Strike Group Toward Middle East Amid Iran Tension

The Pentagon is moving a carrier strike group from the South China Sea to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, which includes the Middle East, as tensions escalate between the Trump administration and Iran, NewsNation has learned.

Moving the carrier strike group — a naval formation centering around an aircraft carrier, with a variety of other vessels, including at least one attack submarine — is expected to take about a week, a source said. The USS Abraham Lincoln reportedly is the aircraft carrier that is on the move.

The Risks Of AI In Schools Outweigh The Benefits, Report Says

The risks of using generative artificial intelligence to educate children and teens currently overshadow the benefits, according to a new study by the Brookings Institution's Center for Universal Education.

The sweeping study includes focus groups and interviews with K-12 students, parents, educators and tech experts in 50 countries, as well as a literature review of hundreds of research articles. It found that using AI in education can "undermine children's foundational development" and that "the damages it has already caused are daunting," though "fixable."

Wisconsin Headlines

Assembly Passes Child Grooming Bill, Judges’ Pay Suspension In Year’s First Session

The Wisconsin Assembly passed a bill Wednesday aiming to define and ban the grooming of children in its first floor session of 2026.

Assembly Bill 677 prohibits anyone from conditioning, seducing or enticing a child for sexual purposes or child sexual-abuse materials.

It passed 93-6 and now heads to the Senate.

State Rep. Amanda Nedewski (R-Pleasant Prairie) was one of the bill’s authors.

Rodriguez Calls For Bans On Immigration Enforcements At Specific Locations

Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Tony Evers is questioning whether a proposal from his own lieutenant governor to ban federal immigration enforcement actions around courthouses, schools, day cares and other locations can, or should, be done.

Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, a Democrat, is running for governor in 2026 after Evers decided against seeking a third term. She is one of several Democrats vying to succeed Evers in the open race. Evers and Rodriguez were elected together in 2022 after Rodriguez won the lieutenant governor primary.

Bills To Restrict Transgender Rights Spark Emotional Testimony At Wisconsin Capitol

Activists packed a hearing room at the state Capitol Wednesday as state lawmakers took testimony on three proposed bills that would restrict transgender students’ participation in school sports and prohibit minors from accessing gender-affirming health care.

The Wisconsin Senate’s labor committee heard hours of testimony on the proposed state legislation. Conservative organizations argued that the medical bill protects children from making irreversible health care decisions, and that the sports bills protect girls’ ability to compete. Opponents of the legislation argue that the medical bill will harm trans kids’ mental health, and that the sports bills demonize trans students over an activity that is quite rare.

Vos Says Evers Would Need To Help Reverse His 400-Year Veto Before Republicans Consider Guv’s Property Tax Proposal

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says Dem Gov. Tony Evers would have to help Republicans reverse his 400-year veto before they entertain any effort to address property tax bills.

“One of the things that has to happen is we need Governor Evers to admit he made a mistake,” the Rochester Republican told reporters Tuesday during a pre-session availability.

Evers told reporters Monday that state revenues are on pace to come in nearly $1 billion more than what was expected when he signed the budget six months ago. He called on lawmakers to put that money toward $1.3 billion in property tax relief that he proposed in the 2025-27 state budget – a plan Republicans rejected.

Rep. Tranel: Evers’ 400-Year Funding Increase Won’t Fix Wisconsin School Funding

Schools across Wisconsin are entering their second year of a 400-year school funding increase, but one southwestern Wisconsin lawmaker says the coming flood of new money won’t fix what is wrong with the state’s school funding problems.

Rep. Travis Tranel, R-Cuba City, said schools across the state will continue to be in a bind because Wisconsin pays for schools on a per-kid basis, and Wisconsin doesn’t have enough kids.

“Funding is not the largest challenge, the demographic crisis looming ahead [is],” Tranel said. “There are 421 Wisconsin school districts and about two-thirds have declining enrollment. From 2013-23, the Wisconsin school population declined by approximately 53,000 students. By 2050, the Wisconsin Department of Administration projects the Wisconsin population to decrease by 200,000, due to declining birth rates.”