Morning Headlines - Thursday, Mar. 20, 2025

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

Trump To Sign Order To Begin Dismantling Education Department

President Trump will sign an executive order to begin dismantling the Department of Education on Thursday, according to the White House.

The signing has been in the works for weeks and will be marked by an event at the White House in which several Republican governors, including Mr. Trump's former rival Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, are expected to attend.

"President Trump's executive order to expand educational opportunities will empower parents, states, and communities to take control and improve outcomes for all students," White House spokesperson Harrison Fields said in a statement Wednesday.

Four Key Takeaways From Newly Released JFK Files

More than 2,000 newly released documents related to the investigation into President John F Kennedy's assassination are notable not just for what they contain - but for what is omitted.

As many experts expected, this latest release by the Trump administration does not answer all lingering questions about one of America's historic turning points - the 1963 killing of Kennedy in Dallas.

But the latest batch does include documents that are now mostly or fully unredacted - original material is included instead of blacked-out words or blank space.

4 More Progressive Groups Pressure Schumer To ‘Stand Up’ Or Resign As Leader

Liberal youth groups are piling onto Chuck Schumer, urging the Senate minority leader in a new letter to fight more aggressively against President Donald Trump or resign as leader.

“Chuck Schumer, your leadership is failing to meet the moment,” reads the memo, which was first shared with POLITICO. “Gen Z voters want leaders with a backbone who will stand up to billionaires and fight for working people. But it’s not just us. You have lost the trust of millions of voters and many of your colleagues in Congress.”

Republicans Want Musk To Shut Up About Social Security

Senate Republicans want Elon Musk to stop talking about Social Security, and the Department of Government Efficiency to leave it alone.

Musk’s statement that Social Security is a “Ponzi scheme” and plans to cut up to 12 percent of the Social Security Administration’s workforce is giving GOP lawmakers heartburn.

They warn that Social Security reform is known as the “third rail” of politics for a reason: Any party that touches it is likely to get zapped come Election Day.

Greenpeace Ordered To Pay More Than $660 Million Over Dakota Access Pipeline Protests

A jury on Wednesday ordered environmental campaign group Greenpeace to pay more than $660 million in damages to Energy Transfer, the developer of the Dakota Access Pipeline.

The outcome found Greenpeace liable for hundreds of millions of dollars over actions taken to prevent the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline nearly a decade ago.

It marks an extraordinary legal blow for Greenpeace, which had previously warned that it could be forced into bankruptcy because of the case.

Wisconsin Headlines

Wisconsin State Superintendent Candidates Face Off In Only Public Forum Before April 1 Election

At the first and likely only public forum before the election, State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly and her challenger Brittany Kinser made their pitch to become the next leader of Wisconsin’s public schools.

The public forum came just hours after President Donald Trump indicated he would sign an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education on Thursday, although neither candidate mentioned the news during the one-and-a-half-hour-long forum.

Rather, candidates focused on a key difference that has emerged in their race—school vouchers.

NE Wisconsin Residents Concerned After Receiving Political Mailer Disguised As Newspaper

Some people are expressing concern over a political mailing that seems to be disguised as a newspaper.

It’s circulating just ahead of the April 1st election to decide the political balance of the state Supreme Court, where spending of $59 million has already set a new record for a judicial seat.

No one receiving it actually subscribes, but experts say the goal isn’t about making money, it’s to influence your vote.

Wisconsin Clerks See Surge Of Early, In-Person Voting Ahead Of April Supreme Court Election

More than twice as many Wisconsinites cast in-person absentee ballots on the first day of early voting for Wisconsin’s April Supreme Court election compared to the same period two years ago.

All told, clerks across the state report receiving nearly 29,000 more votes this year than at the same point in 2023’s Supreme Court race.

While absentee ballots for the Supreme Court, state superintendent of schools and local races have already been circulating, Tuesday marked residents’ first chance to cast their absentee ballots in-person.

Schimel Says Any Endorsement From Trump, Others Wouldn’t Earn Them His Favor On High Court

Conservative state Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel says his pursuit of endorsements by political figures such Trump wouldn’t curry any favor with him if he’s elected.

Appearing at the Milwaukee Rotary Club Tuesday, Schimel said anyone running for statewide office needs a support network to deliver their message. While he doesn’t back political candidates, he argued there’s nothing wrong with “political candidates supporting judicial candidates. That’s perfectly legal. It’s just not a two-way street.”

Schimel appeared at a rally Monday with Donald Trump Jr. and has been open in saying an endorsement from the president would be helpful in his efforts to get out Trump supporters for the April 1 election.

A Student's Guide To The Wisconsin State Budget

The Wisconsin state budget impacts everything from roads to schools to healthcare, but for as important as this document is, very few people understand the process that creates it. MacIver intern Rebecca Draeger breaks it all down so that even a UW-Madison college student could understand it.