Morning Headlines - Wednesday, Aug. 27, 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

Key Takeaways From Tuesday’s Special Elections In Iowa And Georgia

Democrats continued their winning streak in key special elections this year with another victory in a contested state Senate seat in Iowa.

The party eyed the seat as a pickup opportunity to break up a Republican supermajority in the body and demonstrate further enthusiasm among the Democratic base in an off-year election. The party’s candidate in a Georgia state Senate election also appears poised to advance to a runoff against a Republican opponent in a deeply conservative district.

Here’s what to know from Tuesday night’s results.

Cracker Barrel Says It Will Go Back To Old Logo Amid Redesign Controversy

Cracker Barrel said Tuesday it will be going back to its old logo, amid a public backlash to the restaurant and country store's recent logo change and redesign.

"We thank our guests for sharing your voices and love for Cracker Barrel. We said we would listen, and we have. Our new logo is going away and our 'Old Timer' will remain," the company said in a statement, referring to the classic illustration of a man, known as Uncle Herschel.

"At Cracker Barrel, it’s always been -- and always will be -- about serving up delicious food, warm welcomes, and the kind of country hospitality that feels like family," the statement continued.

The Framers Wanted The House Closest To The People. Redistricting May Undermine That

President Trump's push for Texas Republicans to redraw congressional lines ahead of next year's midterm elections has triggered a redistricting arms race. Democrats in California have already moved to counter Texas with a new map of their own, and leaders of both parties are intensifying similar efforts in states across the country.

In a more typical political climate, redistricting happens just once every 10 years. The burgeoning redistricting fight is instead happening mid-decade, and comes with control of the House in 2026 resting on a dwindling number of competitive seats.

Bipartisan warnings about the fallout from mid-decade redistricting often focus on the impact on voters in new districts losing responsive representation.

Other observers warn that more partisan congressional maps could also further erode the constitutional power of the people's House.

Fed Responds To Trump Effort To Fire Lisa Cook, Notes President Needs ‘Cause’

The Federal Reserve said it would abide by any court decision on whether President Donald Trump has the legal authority to fire Board of Governors member Lisa Cook.

Trump said on Monday night he was removing Cook as Fed governor because of allegations that she committed mortgage fraud.

The Fed noted that presidents can only remove the central bank’s governors “for cause.”

Cook has vowed not to quit her post.

Trump Hits India With Punishing 50% Tariffs For Buying Russian Oil

President Donald Trump's promised 50% tariffs on India took effect on Wednesday, as the U.S. risks blowing up a relationship considered crucial in its effort to counter the rise of China.

Trump started the tariff rate at 25% but doubled it earlier this month as punishment for India buying Russian oil, making it one of the highest of the many tariffs imposed during Trump's ongoing global trade war.

India, one of the world's fastest growing economies and a key partner for the West in the Indo-Pacific region, is heavily reliant on trade with the U.S., its largest export market.

Wisconsin's 2025 Budget Deal Highlights Politicization Of Conservation Funding

Wisconsin’s 2025-27 state budget doesn’t include the extension of a popular land conservation program, but it does include two earmarks for environmental projects in the home district of the state’s most powerful Assembly Republican.

After Republican legislators declined to reauthorize the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund in the state budget, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers vetoed five natural resources projects, criticizing the Legislature for choosing “to benefit the politically connected few” instead of supporting stewardship through the statewide fund.

Judge Refuses To Dismiss Dugan Charges

Judge Hannah Dugan is a big step closer to a trial on the charges that she helped a wanted, illegal immigrant escape from her courtroom.

A federal judge on Tuesday refused to dismiss the charges against Dugan.

Judge Lynn Adelman shot down Dugan’s defense that she cannot be prosecuted because she is a Milwaukee County judge.

"There is no basis for granting immunity simply because some of the allegations in the indictment describe conduct that could be considered 'part of the judge's job,'" Adelman wrote in his ruling. "As the magistrate judge noted, the same is true in the bribery prosecutions, concededly valid, where the judges were prosecuted for performing official acts intertwined with bribery."

State GOP Election Review Calls For Seeking More Out-Of-State Donations, Direct Contributions To Party, Candidates

The state GOP has concluded it needs more out-of-state donors and should play a bigger role in campaigns to help turn around a losing streak in off-year elections, according to the postmortem it did on the spring state Supreme Court race.

That includes encouraging donors to prioritize direct contributions to campaigns or RPW rather than outside groups and that third parties should “reinforce, rather than overshadow, candidate and party messaging.”

The party on Friday sent a summary of the report to supporters that laid out recommendations for the state party, county chapters, candidates and third parties.

Bill Introduced To Reauthorize Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program

A group of Democratic state representatives is pushing to renew the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, introducing a bill to do so. This program, which funds conservation and green spaces in Wisconsin, faces expiration next year if not reauthorized.

Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee removed the program from the 2025–2027 state budget. Democrats have introduced a bill to reinstate it, proposing $72 million over six years to protect natural areas and ensure public land access.

Man Who Faked His Own Death In Green Lake Sentenced To 89 Days In Jail

A Wisconsin man who faked his own death in Green Lake last year has been sentenced to 89 days in jail — the same amount of time he evaded law enforcement.

During his sentencing hearing Tuesday, Ryan Borgwardt was also ordered to pay $30,000 for costs related to the investigation into his disappearance.

The 45-year-old, who was living in Watertown at the time, carried out an elaborate plan to make it appear he drowned when he flipped his kayak in Green Lake. But while a search for his body went on for weeks, Borgwardt had actually fled to Europe, leaving behind his wife and children.