Morning Headlines - Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022 | Recent News

U.S. and World Headlines

Supreme Court Blocks Biden Administration For Now From Ending Migrant Expulsions Under Title 42

In a blow to the Biden administration's ability to set the nation's immigration policy, the Supreme Court on Tuesday said the government could not halt the expulsion of migrants for public health reasons under the controversial Title 42 program.

That program, which has been in place since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, must continue while courts assess a lawsuit filed by Republican officials in 19 states who say that unwinding the Title 42 policy would unleash a national "catastrophe."

The emergency intervention from the high court came days after the Trump-era program was set to expire. The justices announced they will hear arguments about the program in the upcoming year, but limited their review to whether the conservative states may intervene in the litigation. Oral arguments are expected in February. In the meantime, expulsions will continue.

States Aim To Define Sex, Restrict Care In New Wave Of LGBTQ Bills

Republican-controlled statehouses passed a record number of restrictions on transgender people in 2022 — from sports to health care — and conservatives aren’t slowing down.

Take South Carolina, where the Legislature may try out a new tactic next year: defining what it means to be a woman. Other conservative states may follow.

State Sen. Danny Verdin, a Republican, filed a joint resolution this month that would amend the South Carolina Constitution to establish that male and female be defined “in the context of reproductive potential… without regard to an individual’s psychological, chosen or subjective experience of gender.”

As Southwest Flight Cancellations Continue, Buttigieg Vows To Hold Airline Accountable

Relief is still a few days away for passengers booked with Southwest Airlines this week, as the beleaguered airline continues to grapple with what US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has referred to as a complete meltdown of the system.

Out of the 2,743 cancellations already made for Wednesday flights within, into or out of the United States as of 5:30 a.m. ET, 2,505 of them are operated by Southwest, according to flight tracking website FlightAware. Meanwhile, the website shows the airline has already canceled another 2,348 flights for Thursday.

Airports most affected by the Wednesday cancellations are Denver International, followed by Chicago Midway International, Baltimore/Washington International, Nashville International, Dallas Love Field, Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas and Phoenix Sky Harbor International.

Duchess Of Sussex Fans Brand Politico Racist And Demand Outlet Apologize For Publishing Essay Branding Royal A 'Narcissist'

Fans of the Duchess of Sussex are demanding Politico apologize for a piece where Meghan Markle was branded a 'narcissist' akin to Donald Trump, Kanye West, Elizabeth Holmes and Sam Bankman-Fried.

The article, titled '2022 Is The Year We All Finally Got Tired of the Narcissists,' suggests that, for the likes of Markle in 2022: 'Some of them got their comeuppance and some of them got worse: our disinterest.'

And now some of Markle's fans are asking for an apology, while deeming writer Joanna Weiss' piece 'racist.'

Christopher Bouzy, who appears in the 'Harry & Meghan' Netflix documentary, wrote on Twitter that while he believes Trump, Bankman-Fried and Holmes are criminals and West an anti-Semite, Markle's only offense is having 'defended herself while being black.'

A New Chapter Of U.S.-China Competition Begins

The Chinese government no longer appears as invulnerable as it did at the height of the global pandemic, and Beijing's major policy changes could alter the calculus in U.S.-China competition.

Facing economic headwinds at home and increasingly unified opposition abroad, Beijing appears to be softening its tone and offering some concessions to the international community. China is also emerging from three years of self-imposed COVID lockdowns, following widespread protests.

Tectonic shifts in geopolitical strategy are underway as both Washington and Beijing try to manage superpower competition — and come out on top.

Schimming Aims To Boost Fundraising As State GOP Chair

Brian Schimming says money will drive everything.

The new state GOP chair said the first weeks of his term have been focused on several things. But perhaps nothing is more important than improving the party’s fundraising.

That includes rebuilding a national network and bringing back the Chairman’s Club that the party used years ago to cultivate donors. As he’s taken a first look at the party’s operations, he sees a donor network that has atrophied and needs to be rebuilt.

“I’ve got to do what it takes in fundraising to do what it takes in everything else that we do, right?” Schimming said in a new WisPolitics.com interview. “If we don’t have high levels of funds coming in the door, if I don’t do what it takes there, I can’t do what it takes in turnout, phones and other operations that we need to do to win.”

Schimming, who was elected Dec. 10 to take over the party, will be the first paid chair in modern history. He told WisPolitics.com his compensation package was still being worked out, but “I haven’t lost any sleep on it.”

Food Pantries Experiencing Extremely High Demand This Holiday Season

With inflation pushing up the price of groceries, more people in Wisconsin are turning to food pantries for help. The cost of food at home has gone up 12.4 percent since this time last year, according to the Consumer Price Index.

Suzanne Becker is the executive director of Feed My People Food Bank, which serves 14 counties in west central Wisconsin. Rising costs have many people turning to the food bank for the first time, she said.

"Imagine if your family was just getting by before, and now all of a sudden, they're having to pay so much more to fill up their car, or just to buy regular groceries," she said. "We're just seeing a real increase in families who have not ever had to ask for help before."

Feed My People has seen a steady increase in clients throughout 2022, and expects to serve 18 percent more people this year than last, Becker said.

It's a problem that food banks across the state and nationwide are experiencing.

Wisconsin Teen Survives Shark Attack, Goes On To Win WIAA Swimming Title

In swimming, it takes plenty of laps and monotonous work.

"What we got next is two rounds of this deal," Walter Schroeder Aquatic Center Head Coach/Director Dave Anderson says.

All for the possibility of a huge roar as Lucy Art won the WIAA State Swimming 50 Free Title. Art swims for University School/Brown Deer.

"At first, I like looked up on the board. I couldn't, like right after you're so tired, I couldn't really tell," Art says. "So it took me a few minutes to process, and then I was so happy."

Robin Vos On Wisconsin's 2022 Vote, 2023 Legislative Agenda

Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, discusses the conduct and outcome of the last election and shares Republican policy and budget priorities as the Legislature starts a new session.

Wisconsin Beats Oklahoma State 24-17 In Guaranteed Rate Bowl

Wisconsin had a new coach on the sideline, with the interim coach still calling the shots. The Badgers had several new players in key positions, including quarterback.

A long, sometimes-difficult season came to a conclusion with more adversity – and, eventually, a win.

A 17-point lead nearly erased, Wisconsin dug down for one last defensive play to beat Oklahoma State 24-17 in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl on Tuesday night.