Morning Headlines - Thursday, Jun. 1, 2023

U.S. and World Headlines

House Passes Debt Ceiling Bill In Big Win For McCarthy: Five Takeaways

The House’s passage of a debt limit deal Wednesday night marks the end of a pivotal chapter for the new House GOP majority, putting Congress on a path to avoid a default and securing a huge victory for Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) — even as it’s infuriated conservatives in his own conference.

The vote followed months of jockeying between McCarthy and President Biden over the appropriateness of negotiating future spending as part of the effort to extend the government’s borrowing authority — a fight McCarthy won handily, by forcing Biden reluctantly to the table.

But the final agreement also excluded most of the spending cuts and other favored provisions in the partisan debt ceiling package Republicans passed last month, highlighting the political realities — and potential pitfalls — of shepherding big ideas through a divided Washington.

2024 GOP Presidential Contenders Criticize Debt Ceiling Deal

As Congress moves closer to passage of a bill to raise the debt limit and avoid a catastrophic U.S. default, some 2024 Republican presidential hopefuls are weighing in on the legislative deal reached between House Republicans and President Joe Biden – and taking aim at Washington over spending.

After months of standoffs, negotiators reached a deal Saturday ahead of June 5, the date by which the Treasury Department estimates the government will run out of money to pay its obligations. The agreement suspends the debt limit until early 2025 after the presidential election. It also locks in non-defense spending for 2024 at 2023 levels before allowing a slight increase in 2025.

Democratic and Republican leaders are touting it as a victory, but the GOP presidential hopefuls are unimpressed. Here's a round-up of their responses:

Trump Captured On Tape Talking About Classified Document He Kept After Leaving The White House

Federal prosecutors have obtained an audio recording of a summer 2021 meeting in which former President Donald Trump acknowledges he held onto a classified Pentagon document about a potential attack on Iran, multiple sources told CNN, undercutting his argument that he declassified everything.

The recording indicates Trump understood he retained classified material after leaving the White House, according to multiple sources familiar with the investigation. On the recording, Trump’s comments suggest he would like to share the information but he’s aware of limitations on his ability post-presidency to declassify records, two of the sources said.

As The U.S. Government Expands UFO Investigations, A New Group Forms For Pilots Who Spot Them

The first active-duty military pilot to come forward to Congress about his experience with so-called unexplained aerial phenomena is starting a first-of-its-kind nonprofit group to support other pilots who see things they can’t explain, he said.

Airline passengers are encouraged to report suspicious activity in the name of national security, but the pilots on those same planes often face professional stigma and institutional obstacles in reporting unexplained aerial phenomena, or UAPs, that could represent national security threats in the age of drones and spy balloons, advocates say.

Jury Finds Danny Masterson Guilty On 2 Counts In Rape Retrial

A Los Angeles jury has found former "That '70s Show" actor Danny Masterson guilty of two counts of forcible rape in a retrial of a case involving three women.

The third count against Jane Doe 3 has been declared a mistrial.

The jury reached its verdict Wednesday afternoon after deliberating since May 17, over the course of six days total.

Masterson, 47, pleaded not guilty to three counts of felony rape following accusations by three different women, including a former girlfriend. The alleged attacks took place between 2001 and 2003.

Wisconsin Headlines

Rep. Tiffany Statement On Biden-McCarthy Debt Ceiling Deal

Congressman Tom Tiffany (WI-07) released the following statement after voting no on the $4 trillion debt limit increase for President Biden.

“Over a month ago, House Republicans passed the Limit, Save, Grow Act to avoid a default and chart a responsible fiscal future for our nation, but President Biden’s latest debt ceiling gimmick will send the United States over another fiscal cliff,” said Congressman Tiffany. “The latest debt limit deal is a missed opportunity that adds $4 trillion to our national debt, keeps $1.2 trillion in unreliable green energy giveaways, and forces 87% of hardworking Americans without federal student loan debt to pay for those that do.”

Wisconsin Lawmakers Consider Tightening National Guard Sexual Misconduct Oversight

Lawmakers are considering a package of legislation that would tighten prohibitions on sexual assault within the Wisconsin National Guard after a scathing federal report found commanders had for years been flouting federal requirements for handling complaints.

A study committee made up of legislators, district attorneys and military veterans began working on legislation last summer to tighten oversight of sexual assault complaints within the Wisconsin National Guard. The state Assembly’s military affairs committee was began the process toward floor votes with a public hearing on the bills on May 31.

Wisconsin Man Sentenced To 5 Years For Cocaine Conspiracy

Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Larry Dotson, 41, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to five years in prison for attempted distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine. Dotson pleaded guilty to this charge on November 1, 2022.

The government’s investigation revealed that Dotson purchased large amounts of cocaine from co-defendant Winfield Agee between 2018 and 2020. Dotson either drove to Chicago to pick up the cocaine or received it from one of Agee’s drug couriers in the Madison area.

On November 25, 2020, officers stopped a vehicle in Madison after the driver was seen meeting with Agee earlier that day in Chicago. Officers searched the vehicle and found one kilogram of cocaine. The subsequent investigation, including text messages between the driver and Dotson, revealed that the driver planned to deliver the cocaine to Dotson.

Grant County Man Sentenced To 18 Years For Producing Child Pornography

Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that James C. Gibson, 54, Fennimore, Wisconsin was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 18 years in federal prison for using minors to engage in sexual activity and recording the activity. Judge Conley also ordered a life term of supervised release to follow the prison sentence. Gibson pleaded guilty to this charge on January 31, 2023.

In early November 2021, the mother of a minor born in 2010 contacted the Fennimore Police Department about inappropriate content she found on a phone that had been used by the minor. The investigation revealed that James Gibson had been regularly exchanging inappropriately affectionate messages with the minor. Law enforcement interviewed Gibson, who revealed that he previously had a video depicting child pornography on his phone. As a result, the officer seized Gibson’s phone and searched it pursuant to a warrant.

Nearly 300K Wisconsin Kids Need Child Care. As Federal Aid Expires, Finding Care Could Get Even Harder

When Dianna Wells found out she was pregnant in 2018, she did what most parents do: She started searching for reliable child care.

And then she heard horror stories about potential providers in the Madison area being understaffed or unexpectedly shutting down.

"And the cost!" Wells said. "The cost was incredible."

Wells’ journey to find safe, accessible and affordable child care wasn’t easy. She even had to cut back her hours as a teacher in the Verona Area School District to make it work.

Her experience is far from unique as Wisconsin, like the rest of the nation, faces a shortage of child care workers.