Morning Headlines - Wednesday, Apr. 2, 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

House Cancels Rest Of Votes For Week After GOP Floor Rebellion

House Republican leaders on Tuesday canceled votes for the rest of the week after a band of GOP lawmakers staged a rebellion on the floor, bringing legislative action to a screeching halt.

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) informed lawmakers the next vote in the House would be Monday evening.

The announcement came minutes after nine Republicans joined all Democrats in opposing a procedural rule that would have killed a bipartisan effort to allow proxy voting for new parents. The vote also blocked planned votes on GOP priorities to limit the power of federal judges and to require proof of citizenship to vote.

Three Big Unknowns Ahead Of Trump's 'Liberation Day' Tariffs

Donald Trump says tariffs are coming. That message from the US president has been consistent.

But what tariffs and when? Import taxes have come so thick and fast since he took office that it can be hard to keep track.

Trump has already raised duties on Chinese imports, steel, aluminium and some goods from Canada and Mexico. Higher levies on cars are due to go into effect this week.

We're now waiting for Trump to unveil the details of his plan for a wider set of tariffs, which his team has spent the last few weeks developing.

The White House is calling it "Liberation Day". So what might we learn on Wednesday?

Sen. Cory Booker Breaks Record With Marathon 25-Hour Speech On Senate Floor To Protest Trump Policies

Democratic Sen. Cory Booker delivered a record-breaking marathon speech on the Senate floor, which started Monday evening and continued more than 25 hours before wrapping up Tuesday night, in a protest against the Trump administration's policies.

At 25 hours and five minutes, the speech now marks the longest on Senate record, surpassing Sen. Strom Thurmond's 24 hour and 18 minute address in 1957.

While many senators have historically used long speeches to filibuster a bill or nomination, Booker's speech was not a filibuster since it did not occur during debate on a specific measure to block proceedings.

Val Kilmer, Of 'Top Gun' And 'Batman Forever' Fame, Dies At 65

Val Kilmer, the movie star known for roles in blockbusters like “Top Gun" and “Batman Forever,” and as Doc Holliday in a memorable performance in the western “Tombstone,” died Tuesday night at the age of 65, his daughter told the Associated Press.

Kilmer died from pneumonia in Los Angeles, surrounded by family and friends, daughter Mercedes Kilmer said in an email to the news agency.

Fasting Every Other Day Outperforms Calorie Cutting, Clinical Trial Indicates

Fasting every other day can prompt more weight loss than simply cutting calories, a new clinical trial shows.

People who undertook 4:3 intermittent fasting lost just under 8% of their body weight within a year, compared to a 5% loss among people who cut their daily calories by about a third, researchers reported.

In 4:3 intermittent fasting, people restrict their calorie intake by 80% three days a week, alternating between days with no dietary restrictions at all.

Susan Crawford Wins Wisconsin Supreme Court Race, Maintaining Liberal Majority

Susan Crawford, who was endorsed by the Democratic Party, won the closely-watched Wisconsin Supreme Court race Tuesday night in what was the most expensive judicial election in American history.

What would have normally been a sleepy nonpartisan judicial race turned into an expensive battle between Crawford, a Dane County judge, and Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel, who was endorsed by the Republican Party. The campaigns and their supporters have spent more than $81 million, attracting endorsements and campaign appearances from Elon Musk, Vermont Democratic Sen. Bernie Sanders and other national political figures.

Democrats' Win In Wisconsin Court Race Also Is A Big Loss For Elon Musk

Judge Susan Crawford preserved liberals’ narrow majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court Tuesday by defeating conservative Brad Schimel, but in a way the real loser of the election was billionaire Elon Musk.

Musk and his affiliated groups sunk at least $21 million into the normally low-profile race and paid three individual voters $1 million each for signing a petition in an effort to goose turnout in the pivotal battleground state contest. That made the race the first major test of the political impact of Musk, whose prominence in President Donald Trump's administration has skyrocketed with his chaotic cost-cutting initiative that has slashed federal agencies.

Voter ID Requirement Will Be Added To Wisconsin Constitution After Referendum Passes

The newly approved amendment will cement rules already laid out in state law.

Under that 2011 law, Wisconsinites are required to provide an acceptable form of photo identification when voting.

But, compared to changing a state law, a constitutional amendment will be harder to undo. And Republican sponsors of the amendment say constitutional language is necessary to protect voter ID rules against future legal challenges.

Underly Wins Reelection In State Schools Superintendent Race

Incumbent State Superintendent Jill Underly today won her reelection bid against education consultant Brittany Kinser in the race to lead the Department of Public Instruction.

Underly, who’s held the post since 2021, had 53% of the votes compared to Kinser’s 47%, with 84% of votes reporting.

Underly was backed by the state Dem Party, while Kinser received support and donations from the state GOP and backers of private school choice. Underly will earn another four-year term.

Missed Opportunity: JFC Bunts On Agency Briefs

The Joint Committee on Finance (JFC) had the opportunity to pose some tough questions to the Evers’ administration on Tuesday, and it more or less took a pass.

JFC’s first significant step in the state’s budget process is to hold agency briefings. This is an opportunity for the heads of major state agencies to make their case for their funding requests in the next budget. It’s also a chance for lawmakers to find out exactly what’s going on at the agencies and whether taxpayers are getting their money’s worth out of them.

Ordinarily, JFC spends three to five days on these briefings, inviting the agencies that are asking the most from taxpayers or have the most to explain. The Public Instruction, Health Services, and Transportation typically participate. JFC usually starts holding public hearings a week after the agency briefs. This year, however, JFC took a very different approach.