Morning Headlines - Wednesday, Jan. 22, 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 Signs Orders Ending Diversity Programs; Federal DEI Staffers Being Placed On Leave

President Trump signed executive orders Monday and Tuesday that aim to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs within the federal government. "We will forge a society that is colorblind and merit-based," Mr. Trump said in his inauguration speech on Monday.

A memo from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management Tuesday evening called for all federal DEI employees to be placed on leave by Wednesday evening. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the move in a post on X, citing CBS News reporting.

How Trump's Plans For Mass Deportations And ICE Raids Are Playing Out

Immigration raids that were expected to target major sanctuary cities immediately after President Donald Trump’s inauguration had largely failed to materialize as of Tuesday evening.

But after Trump signed a raft of executive orders relating to border security on his first day in office, the administration began setting groundwork for further immigration actions.

The Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday it was ending a policy that restricted Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents’ ability to arrest undocumented people at or near so-called sensitive locations, including houses of worship, schools and hospitals.

Here’s What Will Get More Expensive From 25% Tariffs On Mexican And Canadian Goods

President Donald Trump said Monday he still intends to move forward with an across-the-board tariff of 25% on Mexican and Canadian goods, though he said those levies would come on February 1 rather than his previous day-one threat, Trump said in an Oval Office signing ceremony.

The tariffs, if enacted, could strain Americans’ wallets, especially given Mexico and Canada are two of America’s top three trade partners. Collectively, they accounted for 30% of the value of all the goods the US imported last year, according to federal trade data.

Six Trump Executive Orders To Watch

Donald Trump has signed sweeping executive orders on his return to the US presidency, vowing swift action on some of his top campaign issues.

Among the directives that have gained the most publicity are an immigration crackdown and rollbacks of some climate-friendly policies.

But even presidential powers have their limits - and in some cases, he faces hurdles before his plans can become reality.

Here are six of Trump's eye-catching actions with analysis by BBC reporters, who give their verdict on whether each order could take effect.

Netflix Is Raising Prices After Reporting Its Biggest-Ever Subscriber Jump

The price increases announced Tuesday will see the standard monthly membership without advertisements increase from $15.49 to $17.99, while a standard account with ads will rise one dollar to $7.99. Its highest-priced premium tier, which includes 4K video quality, will increase by $2 to $24.99.

The price hike is the latest for consumers as streaming services increasingly ratchet up monthly costs and push subscribers toward lower-priced ad-supported plans to increase profitability. In recent years, Disney, Max, Peacock, Apple and others have all raised their prices. Netflix last increased the price of its standard plan in 2022.

Wisconsin Headlines

Wisconsin Supreme Court Refuses To Release Voter Records Sought By Conservative Activist

The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Friday rejected an attempt by a conservative activist to obtain guardianship records in an effort to find ineligible voters, but the case could return.

The court did not rule on the merits of the case, instead saying in its 5-2 decision that a lower appeals court did not follow proper procedure when it issued a ruling saying the records should be released.

Here’s what to know:

Republican Lawmakers Propose Changing Law To Allow State And Federal Candidates To Get Off The Ballot In Wisconsin

Republican lawmakers in battleground state Wisconsin want to change state law to allow candidates to remove their names from the ballot, addressing an issue that arose after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. tried to get off the presidential ballot in 2024 but couldn’t.

Kennedy wanted to rescind his name from the ballot in Wisconsin and six other swing states after dropping his independent bid\ in late August and endorsing Republican Donald Trump in the tight contest. Kennedy did not fight for removal in most states where the presidential race was not competitive.

DPI Candidates Weigh In On Top Issues Ahead Of Feb. 18 Primary

State schools Superintendent Jill Underly said the state owes the more than $4 billion she has requested in the DPI budget to public schools, even though that would eat up all the state’s projected surplus.

Meanwhile, Sauk Prairie Superintendent Jeff Wright blasted the proposal as unrealistic. And Underly’s other challenger to lead the Department of Public Instruction, Wauwatosa education consultant Brittany Kinser, didn’t directly weigh in on the dollar amount but said she’s focused on “ensuring funding that goes into the classroom, not bureaucracy.” 

WisPolitics spoke with all three candidates for state superintendent about their stances on education policy and how they would lead the Department of Public Instruction. They meet in a Feb. 18 primary that will narrow the field to two candidates. The general election is April 1.

How Do Trump’s Executive Orders Affect Climate And Clean Energy Funding In Wisconsin?

Federal funding and incentives for climate and clean energy projects in Wisconsin face an uncertain future after President Donald Trump signed a slate of executive orders to revoke policies, including the Inflation Reduction Act.

Following the hottest year on record, Trump once again ordered the nation’s withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement, which aims to ward off the worst impacts of global warming. He also ended former President Joe Biden’s 2021 order to ensure electric vehicles make up half of all vehicles sold in the nation by 2030. Trump also ordered agencies to pause and review funding spent under the Inflation Reduction Act, or IRA, and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Some Wisconsinites Among Those Receiving Jan. 6 Pardons

Nearly a dozen Wisconsinites were pardoned by President Donald Trump Monday when he issued a sweeping executive order pardoning more than 1,500 people charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Those pardoned include: