Morning Headlines - Wednesday, Mar. 5, 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

Five Takeaways From Trump’s Address To Congress

President Trump delivered the first congressional address of his second term on Tuesday evening.

It was a chance for the president to underscore the sweeping changes he has wrought in the six weeks since he returned to the White House – and to defend those moves from his many critics.

The days preceding the address were dominated by two issues – Ukraine and the economy.

The first topic is in a state of flux amid reverberations from last week’s fractious meeting between Trump, Vice President Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

On the economy, stock markets swooned Tuesday amid concerns about Trump’s newest tariffs, aimed at Mexico, Canada and China.

On Tuesday night, there was much other news too.

Here are the big takeaways.

Who Is Elissa Slotkin, The Democrat Who Responded To Trump's Speech?

Elissa Slotkin, a Senate Democrat, gave her party's response to Trump's congressional address, taking the new Trump administration to task for bringing with it chaos and recklessness.

Early in her remarks, she attacked the White House on the economy and warned that if Trump is "not careful, he could walk us right into a recession".

Ms Slotkin also took a shot at the Department of Government Efficiency, the cost-cutting project led by Elon Musk, saying change is needed "but doesn't need to be chaotic or make us less safe".

Supreme Court Steps Into Debate Over Where To Store Nuclear Waste

The Supreme Court will convene Wednesday to weigh in on a decades-long dispute over what to do with thousands of metric tons of nuclear waste, specifically a plan to store it above one of the world's most productive oil fields, the Permian Basin in Texas.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the company Interim Storage Partners are facing off against the state of Texas and Fasken Land and Minerals Ltd., which owns land in the Permian Basin, in the fight over what to do with the spent fuel generated at nuclear reactor sites. The waste can remain radioactive and pose health risks for thousands of years, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Trump ‘Bump’ Disappears As The S&P 500 Is Now Negative Since The Election

The S&P 500 has now lost all of its post-election gains as President Donald Trump dismayed some investors who hoped he was just bluffing on tariffs and instead ignited a trade war.

The index closed at 5,778.15 in Tuesday’s market sell-off, below the 5,782.76 close on Election Day, Nov. 5.

Lebron James Becomes First To Score 50,000 Combined Points

LeBron James became the first player in NBA history to score 50,000 combined points in the regular season and postseason Tuesday night.

James surpassed the mark with a 3-pointer early in the first quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers' game against the New Orleans Pelicans.

James got to 49,999 points Sunday night when he scored 17 while the Lakers beat the Clippers 108-102 for their sixth consecutive win.

Wisconsin Headlines

Why Does Wisconsin Have Spring Elections?

The November 2024 election was an extensive effort. In Wisconsin, it included races for president, U.S. Senate, Congress and most of the state Legislature. There was even a state constitutional amendment on the ballot.

With so many races on that ballot – and the massive political machinery that goes into such campaigns – voters might wonder why the state would turn around and have another election less than six months later.

So, why does Wisconsin have spring elections?

Evers Blasts Trump Tariffs, Warns They’ll Harm Wisconsin

Gov. Tony Evers says he’s bracing for how President Donald Trump’s tariffs will affect Wisconsin, arguing Tuesday that it will hurt the state’s budget process and several key industries.

Speaking at a WisPolitics lunch event in downtown Madison on the day import taxes went into effect on goods from the United States’ top three trading partners, Evers said there are other ways to make trade fairer for America.

“This is not good for our country. Simple as that,” Evers said. “It sucks. It’s bad. It’s no good. I’m irritated.”

Real ID Deadline Fast Approaching, Wisconsin Transportation Officials Warn

The deadline to get a Real ID is coming soon.

Starting May 7, everyone 18 years and older will be required to have a Real ID or alternative compliant ID in order to fly, Wisconsin transportation officials from the DMV and TSA cautioned at a news conference on Tuesday.

As of today, 63 percent of Wisconsin IDs are compliant with Real ID requirements.

Wisconsin Democrats Vow To 'Punch Back' At Musk's Involvement In 2025 State Supreme Court Race

Democrats promised to “punch back” against Elon Musk in the race for control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, casting the election as a referendum on the billionaire adviser to President Donald Trump.

The Wisconsin Democratic Party on March 4 announced a new $1 million-plus effort to portray the April 1 election as the first chance for angry voters to make their feelings known about what the Trump administration has been doing. The effort comes as Musk — the world’s richest person — and other Republican allies have outpaced Democrats in spending with the election just a month away.

Wisconsin Lawmakers Introduce Bill To Use State Money To Cover Gaps If Trump Freezes Federal Aid

Three Democratic state lawmakers introduced a bill Tuesday that would require the State Legislature to convene into a special session if President Donald Trump were to use an executive order to freeze federal funding for Wisconsin that has already been approved.

Rep. Christian Phelps (D-Eau Claire), Rep. Angelina Cruz (D-Racine) and Sen. Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee) say the legislation would create a state-level "safety net".