Morning Headlines - Thursday, Aug. 21, 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

Democrats Alarmed Over New Data Showing Voters Fleeing To GOP

Democrats are sounding the alarm on new data showing they are losing voters to Republicans across the country.

A devastating New York Times report Wednesday showed that of the 30 states that maintain voter registration records by political party, Democrats fell behind Republicans in all of them between the 2020 and 2024 elections.

In total, Republicans added up to 4.5 million voters compared to Democrats, creating a huge hold that could set Democrats back for years.

California Democrats Prepare To Pass Their Redistricting Plan After Texas House Approves New Maps

California Democrats are taking up their proposed constitutional amendment to temporarily redraw their congressional maps, hours after Republicans in the Texas House passed new maps of their own.

After weeks of opposition and days of heated committee meetings and floor debates, lawmakers in both states are on track to pass their redistricting efforts Thursday.

Texas House Passes GOP Redistricting Plan After Weeks-long Standoff

The Texas House of Representatives gave final passage on Wednesday to House Bill 4, a controversial Republican-backed proposal to redraw the state's congressional maps and potentially add up to five new GOP-leaning districts.

Entering Wednesday, the bill needed to pass two votes in the House to advance to the Senate. Each vote passed 88-52.

Gov. Newsom Reacts To Bed Bath & Beyond's Refusal To Open Stores In California

Bed Bath & Beyond announced that its comeback will not include locations in the largest state in the nation.

Marcus Lemonis, Bed Bath & Beyond Executive Chairman said in a statement issued Aug. 20 that the company will not open a brick-and-mortar location in California. Lemonis said that the state, home to over 39 million people, will be served solely through delivery.

Sony Raises Playstation 5 Prices In U.S. As Tariffs Start To Hit

PlayStation 5 game consoles will cost $50 more in the U.S. starting this week, Sony announced on Wednesday.

The price for an entry-level PlayStation 5 Digital Edition will increase from $450 to $500, and a PlayStation 5 with a disc drive is going up to $550 from $500. Sony’s high-end PlayStation 5 Pro will cost $750, up from $700. The PlayStation 5 was first released in 2020.

In Rule Overhaul Blitz, Gov. Tony Evers Tells Agencies Not To Wait For GOP Committees

Gov. Tony Evers is telling state agencies not to wait for Republican-led legislative committees to sign off on a backlog of administrative rules covering topics ranging from wolf management to professional licensing.

Some of the rules had been held up for years, but Evers argues a Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling last month cleared the way for him to give final approval to the proposals without also getting a legislative committee’s OK.

Wisconsin Secretary Of State Sarah Godlewski Enters The 2026 Race For Lieutenant Governor

Wisconsin Democratic Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski, who passed up a chance to run for the open governor’s seat, announced Aug. 20 that she instead will go for the No. 2 slot in 2026.

Godlewski is the first candidate from either party to announce for lieutenant governor, although others are considering getting in. The seat is open since the incumbent, Sara Rodriguez, is running for governor.

WILL Asks Trump DOJ To Look Into Wisconsin Voter Roll Red Flags

There’s now a request for the federal government to come-in and take a look at Wisconsin’s voter rolls.

The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty last week sent a letter to the Department of Justice, asking for a review.

We have read your June 17, 2025, request for information to the Wisconsin Elections Commission (“WEC”) related to HAVA compliance and WEC’s July 2, 2025, response," the letter begins. "We are sending you this letter to suggest some areas for potential follow-up questions that you might consider sending to WEC."

Wisconsin Legal Expert Breaks Down The Latest On The Madison Father Charged In Connection To ALCS Shooter

The father of the ALCS shooter is being charged and ordered to stand trial after his daughter shot and killed two people and hurt multiple others using a gun he bought.

Now, Jeffery Rupnow’s attorney is working to have those charges dismissed.

WMTV contacted legal expert Cole Ruby, who is not a part of this case, to review the court documents.

Ruby said that the motion to dismiss Rupnow’s charges could mean that he will never face trial.

Bernie Sanders Will Join Rebecca Cooke In Pitch To Rural Voters Of 3rd Congressional District

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont says Democrats have to shift their message to win back rural voters, and he’s arguing that congressional candidate Rebecca Cooke can do just that in southwest Wisconsin.

The former presidential candidate will join Cooke at a town hall Saturday in Viroqua, a left-leaning town with a population of just under 5,000 people.