Morning Headlines - Thursday, Sept. 4, 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

GOP Lurches Toward Shutdown As Democrats Vow They Won’t Be Rolled

Democrats are taking a much tougher stance on the looming deadline to keep the government open than they did earlier this year, warning there will be a shutdown if Republicans attempt to jam them with another partisan stopgap funding measure from the House.

Spurred on by disgruntled progressives who want to see them fight, Democrats are breathing fire after President Trump thumbed his nose at Congress last week by proposing a pocket rescission, which would allow his White House budget director to rescind $5 billion in previously appropriated funding without any input from Capitol Hill.

RFK Jr. Set To Testify Before Senate Finance Committee Amid CDC Turmoil, Vaccine Changes

After a week of fast-moving shakeups at the nation's health agency, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will come before the powerful Senate Finance Committee, which has oversight over his department, on Thursday for hours of questioning that is sure to center on his vaccine policy.

It comes a week after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) significantly narrowed access to the COVID-19 vaccine, a move that precipitated a public fallout and ousting of the newly installed director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Susan Monarez. Four top CDC officials also resigned in protest.

Trump Administration To End Temporary Status Of Another 268,000 Venezuelan Migrants, Urging Them To Self-Deport

The Trump administration on Wednesday moved to terminate the legal status and work permits of nearly 270,000 Venezuelan migrants enrolled in the Temporary Protected Status program, urging them to self-deport from the U.S.

The announcement marked the latest effort by the Trump administration to revoke humanitarian protections granted to hundreds of thousands of migrants from countries plagued by political turmoil, war and other crises, making them eligible for potential deportation.

Powerball Jackpot Jumps To $1.7B After Another Night Without A Big Winner

The Powerball jackpot has jumped to an eye-popping $1.7 billion, after yet another drawing passed without a big winner Wednesday.

The numbers selected were: 3, 16, 29, 61 and 69, with the Powerball number being 22.

Since May 31, there have been 41 straight drawings without a big winner.

The next drawing will be Saturday night, with the prize expected to be the third-largest in U.S. lottery history.

Apple Has Survived Trump's Tariffs So Far. It Might Raise iPhone Prices Anyway

When Tim Cook gifted President Donald Trump a gold and glass plaque last month, the Apple CEO was hailed by Wall Street for his job managing the iPhone-maker’s relationship with the White House.

Cook, Wall Street commentators said, had largely navigated the threat of tariffs on Apple’s business successfully by offering Trump an additional $100 billion U.S. investment, a win the president could tout on American manufacturing. But despite the 24-carat trophy Cook handed Trump, the true costs of those tariffs may finally show up for Apple customers later this month.

Republicans Furious With Wisconsin DHS Language On Mothers

Republicans at the Wisconsin Capitol are once again angry with Gov. Evers over the word “mother.”

A pair of Republicans on Wednesday accused the governor of discounting moms, and being too woke with a new rule that tweaks Wisconsin’s rules for prenatal and child care coordination.

“Fresh off of the State Supreme Court’s ruling that strips state lawmakers of their oversight ability of administrative rules, the Evers-Rodriguez administration is using their newfound power to enact their radical gender agenda through the rulemaking process without legislative approval,” Rep. Amanda Nedweski, R-Pleasant Prairie, said in a statement. “After becoming a national laughingstock for proposing a state budget which referred to mothers as ‘inseminated persons,’ the Evers-Rodriguez administration is doubling down on erasing mothers while using administrative rule to advance their unpopular political ideology.”

AdImpact Predicts $253m In Wisconsin Ad Spending For 2026 Election Cycle

AdImpact predicts $10.8 billion will be spent on political ads during the 2026 cycle, a 21% increase on the $8.9 billion it tracked in 2022.

That includes $253 million in Wisconsin, which will see an open guv’s race, as well as at least one competitive congressional seat. That includes $113 million projected for Wisconsin’s gubernatorial race and $40.5 million for legislative and down-ballot campaigns with control of both houses of the state Legislature up for grabs.

Michigan is projected to see $936 million in spending with open seats for the U.S. Senate as well as the guv’s office. That’s just behind California at $1.1 billion.

Labor Activists Call For $20 Minimum Wage In Wisconsin

Service workers and liberal organizers are calling on state lawmakers to raise Wisconsin’s minimum wage from $7.25 to $20 an hour.

Wisconsin is one of 20 states that haven’t raised their minimum wages higher than the federal rate set in 2009. The push for a higher minimum wage comes as 25 states raised their minimum wages last year.

“A $7.25 minimum wage is absurd in this day and age,” said Troy Brewer, a cook at Fiserv Forum. “Let’s stop playing politics. Let’s stop playing Republicans versus Democrats. Let’s do what’s right by people.”

U.S. Attorney’s Office Obtains Settlement In Housing Discrimination Matter

Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on August 22, 2025, the United States entered into a settlement agreement in United States v. Estrada (E.D. Wis.). The complaint, which was filed on November 19, 2024, alleged that defendants Tammy Estrada and Ramiro Estrada—the owners and managers of a rental property in Appleton, Wisconsin—discriminated on the basis of disability in violation of the Fair Housing Act (FHA).

In particular, the complaint alleged that the Estradas denied tenants’ reasonable accommodation requests related to emotional support animals and retaliated against the tenants when they attempted to exercise their rights under the FHA, among other violations. The case was referred to the Department of Justice after the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) received a complaint, conducted an investigation, and issued a charge of discrimination. Under the settlement, the tenants will be paid $20,000 and the defendants are required to adopt a reasonable accommodation policy and attend fair housing training.

December Trial Set For Milwaukee Judge Accused Of Helping Man To Evade Arrest In Courtroom

A Wisconsin judge accused of helping a man evade arrest in her courtroom by U.S. immigration agents will stand trial in December after she decided against appealing a federal judge’s ruling rejecting her attempt to dismiss the case.

Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan’s attorneys said in federal court on Wednesday that she would not appeal the ruling at this time, but could later. U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman then scheduled her trial to begin Dec. 15. It is expected to last about a week. Jury selection is set for Dec. 11 and Dec. 12.