Morning Headlines - Wednesday, Apr. 3, 2024

U.S. and World Headlines

Democrats Fear Israel-Hamas War Could Cost Them In November

Democrats are fearful that Israel’s war in Gaza is turning into a major political liability for President Biden and candidates down the ballot, and one that could get worse if it rages on into the summer and attention turns to his match-up with former President Trump.

Biden is under increasing pressure from Democratic lawmakers over the worsening conditions in Gaza, growing fatalities and Israel’s likely invasion of the southern city of Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians are sheltering.

The Dismantling Of GE, Once America’s Iconic ‘Everything Company,’ Is Now Complete

GE once did almost everything for the typical American family – from providing much of the television they watched, to the light bulbs and appliances they depended upon, the electricity needed to power those household staples, even the subprime mortgage that allowed many of them to buy their homes.

No longer.

With Tuesday’s split into two companies, the break up of the once mighty industrial icon is complete.

4 Takeaways From Tuesday’s Elections

Their nominations secure, Joe Biden and Donald Trump were left to read the tea leaves Tuesday as voters across the country cast primary ballots and, in one critical state, approved Republican-backed changes to election law.

Wisconsin was again in the spotlight, its status as a crucial 2024 presidential battleground meaning that every vote was not only counted but scrutinized for deeper meaning or some insight into what’s to come in November.

Outside the Midwest, a trio of Northeastern states – Connecticut, New York and Rhode Island – also went to the polls Tuesday and an official in Enid, Oklahoma – population: roughly 50,000 – accused of having ties to the White nationalist movement is going to be replaced as commissioner on the city council.

Here are takeaways from Tuesday’s elections:

The Largest Fresh Egg Producer In The U.s. Has Found Bird Flu In Chickens At A Texas Plant

The largest producer of fresh eggs in the U.S. said Tuesday it had temporarily halted production at a Texas plant after bird flu was found in chickens, and officials said the virus had also been detected at a poultry facility in Michigan.

Ridgeland, Mississippi-based Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. said in a statement that approximately 1.6 million laying hens and 337,000 pullets, about 3.6% of its total flock, were destroyed after the infection, avian influenza, was found at a facility in Parmer County, Texas.

Gen Z And Millennials Say Streaming Costs Them Too Much

More than half of Gen Z and millennials believe they are overspending on streaming services each month, a recent poll reports.

As streaming services continue to increase prices, all generations are still forking over money to providers.

58% of viewers would rather watch ads than pay more for ad-free streaming, and 62% prefer free, ad-supported streaming, according to The Harris Poll on behalf of Tubi.

Wisconsin Headlines

Biden And Trump Win Wisconsin's 2024 Presidential Primaries

Voters in Wisconsin weighed in April 2 on their parties’ presidential nominees, a largely symbolic vote now that both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have locked up the Democratic and Republican nominations.

Biden and Trump easily won primaries in Wisconsin, adding to their delegate hauls for their party conventions in the summer.

Voters Amend Wisconsin Constitution To Ban Private Election Funding

The rules for running elections in Wisconsin have changed after voters approved two constitutional amendments Tuesday that will restrict the use of private money, and consultants, to support election administration.

Both amendments are responses to the use of private funds in the 2020 presidential election.

The prohibition on outside funding means that Wisconsin election workers will only be able to access public funds, and cannot apply for or receive private grant money to support their work.

Visits From Trump And Biden In The Same Week Show Battleground Wisconsin Remains Key In Presidential Race

As the presidential race heats up, battleground Wisconsin is the place for candidates to be. Former President Donald Trump is set to hold a rally in Green Bay on Tuesday evening, and President Joe Biden is scheduled for a visit to Madison next week.

For each candidate, turning out their base voters will be key to winning in a state where the 2020 race was decided by less than 1% of the vote. For Biden, that means hitting the Democratic strongholds of Madison and Milwaukee, where he visited last month. The Biden campaign and the Democratic Party have also opened dozens of campaign offices across the state.

Wisconsin Governor Urges State Supreme Court To Revoke Restrictions On Absentee Ballot Drop Boxes

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers urged the Wisconsin Supreme Court on Tuesday to overturn a ruling that banned absentee ballot drop boxes beyond the confines of election clerks’ offices in the presidential battleground state.

In a filing the day of Wisconsin’s presidential primary, Evers asked the court to overturn a 2022 ruling that limited drop box locations. Former President Donald Trump had claimed without evidence that drop boxes led to voter fraud when he lost the state in the 2020 election. Wisconsin’s high court was controlled by conservative justices at the time. It has since flipped to liberal control and the current justices agreed last month to revisit the case brought by Priorities USA, a liberal voter mobilization group, and the Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Voters. Oral arguments are May 13.

Wisconsin's 'Uninstructed' Voters Send Biden A Strong Message On The War In Gaza

The movement to protest President Biden at the primary ballot box in response to his handling of the war in Gaza exceeded its own expectations in Wisconsin on Tuesday.

With more than 90 percent of the votes counted, the "uninstructed" option on Democratic presidential primary ballots has garnered more than 47,000 votes, according to results from The Associated Press. That's just over 8 percent of the Democratic presidential primary vote counted so far.

Those margins may change as the final votes are counted.