Morning Headlines - Wednesday, June 18, 2025 | Recent News

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 Weighs Potential U.S. Military Strike On Iran, Demands ‘Unconditional Surrender’

President Donald Trump is considering whether to launch a military strike against Iran, current and former administration officials told NBC News.

Trump warned Iran’s leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, that he is an “easy target” and “our patience is wearing thin.”

Trump demanded Tehran surrender in its escalating conflict with Israel.

Senate’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Faces House Headwinds: ‘This Is Political Stupidity’

The Senate GOP’s version of the “big, beautiful bill” is facing major headwinds in the House as a growing number of lawmakers stake opposition to the legislation, a troubling sign for Republican leaders as they try to fast-track the package full of President Trump’s legislative priorities.

The Senate Finance Committee on Monday released the final piece of text for the upper chamber’s edition of the legislation. It changed key parts of the House’s blueprint, including beefing up Medicaid cuts, softening the rollback of green energy tax credits and decreasing the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap — a troika of tweaks prompting significant pushback across the House GOP conference.

Judge Blocks Trump Administration Passport Policy Targeting Transgender People

A federal judge in Massachusetts has blocked the State Department from enforcing an executive order that required Americans to select their gender assigned at birth on new passports.

U.S. District Judge Julia Kobick ruled Tuesday that any individual who needs to renew their passport because it expires within one year, apply for a new passport, or change their name or sex designation may choose the gender that they identify with. Applicants can also still select "X" on a passport application form. Kobick's ruling expanded an earlier decision in April that only applied to six of the original plaintiffs.

Tyler Perry Accused Of Sexual Assault In Actor's $260M Lawsuit

US film and TV giant Tyler Perry has been sued for $260m (£194m) by an actor who has accused the mogul of sexually assaulting him while working on his TV shows.

Derek Dixon has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles accusing Perry of using his influence in the entertainment industry to create a "coercive, sexually exploitative dynamic" while he was acting on The Oval and Ruthless.

He alleges Perry promised him a successful acting career but then subjected him to "escalating sexual harassment, assault and battery, and professional retaliation" when he didn't reciprocate Perry's "unwanted advances".

Habit Followed By 18 Million Americans Doubles Risk Of Sudden Heart Disease Death

People who use marijuana are putting themselves at up to twice the risk of having a heart attack, stroke or dying from heart disease.

University of California researchers reviewed 24 studies involving 200million people to investigate the relationship between weed and cardiovascular disease, stroke and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) - a group of heart conditions in which there is reduced or blocked blood flow to the heart, such as a heart attack.

They found there was a 29 percent higher risk of ACS, a 20 percent higher risk for stroke and double the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, which includes coronary artery disease, heart failure and irregular heartbeats.

Wisconsin Republicans Vote To Add New Prosecutors

Republicans who run the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee voted Tuesday to add dozens of new prosecutors and public defender support staff across Wisconsin — but far fewer than Democratic Gov. Tony Evers asked for in his budget.

The vote was another microcosm of the budget debate at large, where GOP lawmakers have said they’re crafting a budget the state can afford while Democrats have accused them of shortchanging areas of need.

A motion approved by GOP lawmakers would add 42 prosecutor positions in 23 counties, though they wouldn’t be spread out equally. Brown County would receive seven new prosecutor jobs and Waukesha County would receive six. Most others on the list would receive anywhere between a half-position to two new jobs.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Strikes Down GOP Law Weakening Attorney General’s Power

A unanimous Wisconsin Supreme Court sided with the Democratic state attorney general Tuesday in a long-running battle over a law passed by Republicans who wanted to weaken the office in a lame duck legislative session more than six years ago.

The court ruled 7-0 that requiring the attorney general to get permission from a Republican-controlled legislative committee to settle certain lawsuits was unconstitutional. The law is a separation of powers violation, the court said.

JFC Approves Budget Language To Send $136M To Department Of Corrections Over Next 2 Years

Wisconsin Republicans largely rejected Gov. Tony Evers' proposed overhaul of the Department of Corrections in the upcoming state budget.

In February, Evers proposed closing Green Bay Correctional Institution, converting Lincoln Hills & Copper Lake schools into an adult prison and transforming Waupun Correctional Institution into a vocational training facility.

He justified the proposal, saying, "Wisconsin spends more on corrections than most states, including all of our Midwest neighbors."

However, on Tuesday, Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee argued the plan focused too much on policy rather than fiscal allocations. They approved budget language that allocates an additional $136 million to the Department of Corrections over the next two years.

Sen. Ron Johnson Opposes Pushing Through Trump’s Budget Bill By July 4 Deadline

Wisconsin Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson wants to pump the brakes on pushing through President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” by July 4 to address concerns about adding trillions to the nation’s deficit.

Senate Republicans introduced their version of the bill Monday that includes more significant cuts to Medicaid in the form of new work requirements to help extend Trump’s $4.5 trillion tax cuts. The proposal would also provide more time to phase out clean energy tax credits than the U.S. House version, which would’ve ended incentives almost immediately.

Sen. Baldwin Sponsoring Bill Banning The Use Of Federal Funds For Military Force Against Iran

Wisconsin's Democratic Senator, Tammy Baldwin, is backing proposed legislation that bans the Trump administration from using federal funds for military force in or against Iran without specific Congressional authorization.

Baldwin is a co-sponsor of the legislation alongside Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Peter Welch (D-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ed Markey (D-MA) and Tina Smith (D-MN).