From March 7 to March 14, 2025, Wisconsin faced a week of relentless challenges and quiet triumphs, as captured in the daily pulse of local and national reporting. A Supreme Court race awash in outsider interest, dairy farmers squaring off against Canadian trade threats, and a state government digging in against federal cuts defined the headlines. Hockey victories and a lunar spectacle offered brief reprieves.
Politics: Supreme Court Race Turns National
The week’s political fire burned hottest around the Wisconsin Supreme Court election, set for April 1.
Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel, a Trump ally, faced Dane County Judge Susan Crawford, a deeply connected Democrat insider riding progressive support. The Associated Press, covering Wednesday’s debate, framed it as a clash with “national significance,” touching individual rights, voting laws, and judicial power.
NBC News analyst Steve Kornacki tied it to Trump’s 2024 flip of Wisconsin, suggesting April’s outcome could signal whether that shift sticks. The race morphed into a proxy war of sorts, fueled by Saul Alinsky-inspired political activism.
Government: Ballots, Budgets, and Borders
Government news kicked off with a jolt. The Associated Press reported the Wisconsin Elections Commission probing 200 uncounted absentee ballots from November, a snafu that sidelined Madison City Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl. No races flipped, but the oversight sparked partisan volleys—conservatives shouted fraud, Democrats shrugged it off as a glitch.
Gov. Tony Evers swung back at federal threats, joining lawsuits against the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump-era outfit eyeing job and funding cuts. WXPR noted Evers’ move as a bid to “protect Wisconsin’s bottom line,” with Democrats in the Legislature pitching bills to shield health care and education.
Sports: Badgers Rule the Ice and Hardwood
Sports carved out a sliver of joy. The New York Times crowned the University of Wisconsin women’s hockey team a “dynasty” under coach Mark Johnson, with wins this week lifting spirits. Fans flocked to the rink, finding solace in a squad that thrives while chaos swirls. Milwaukee Bucks and Green Bay Packers talk hummed, but the Badgers owned the moment—Including UW Green Bay’s women hoopsters to UW Men’s basketball’s resurgence. And while MU men’s team faltered against St. John’s, they too are poised for an NCAA run.
Culture: Land, Sky, and Survival
Culture turned to the land and heavens. WXPR hyped a lunar eclipse late Thursday into Friday, “the first in nearly three years,” peaking at 2 a.m. with a blood moon glow. Devil’s Lake and Kettle Moraine beckoned stargazers, tying Wisconsin’s wild beauty to its enduring spirit. The Associated Press flagged the Knowles-Nelson Lobby Day on Wednesday, with land trusts rallying at the Capitol for conservation funds. “It’s a race against federal cuts,” one advocate told the AP, framing it as a fight for the state’s green soul.
Irish immigration got a nod from the Wisconsin Historical Society and our page as well. Together, these threads wove a tapestry of defiance—holding fast to what’s theirs, be it land or legacy.
We deserve better
The national bias on the Supreme Court race is as disgustingly obvious as the slanted local coverage, and reporters continue to ignore Crawford’s ties to deep-pocketed donors and activists. “This isn’t just about a judge—it’s about who calls the shots.” Schimel’s Trump-fueled surge tested the state’s red lean; Crawford’s bid probed its progressive tether. NBC News’ Kornacki pegged April 1 as a crystal ball for Trump’s grip, a shadow looming large.
Referenced Sources
- NBC News: Musk’s ad spending, Kornacki’s analysis (via March 10 Key Reads)
- The Associated Press: Election probe, Supreme Court debate, Knowles-Nelson Lobby Day (via March 11, 12, 14 Key Reads)
- WXPR: Evers’ lawsuit, lunar eclipse, Irish immigration (via March 13, 14 Key Reads)
- Wisconsin Politics: Legislative gridlock (via March 12 Key Reads)
- CBC News: Freeland’s dairy threat (via March 12 Key Reads)
- Successful Farming: Dairy industry impact (via March 11 Key Reads)
- The New York Times: Women’s hockey dynasty (via March 14 Key Reads)
