The FBI Director Is MIA Kash Patel has alarmed colleagues with episodes of excessive drinking and unexplained absences.

“A request for ‘breaching equipment’ — normally used by SWAT and hostage-rescue teams to quickly gain entry into buildings— was made last year because Patel had been unreachable behind locked doors, according to multiple people familiar with the request.” www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

SAM ALTMAN’S IRIS-SCANNING, humanity-verifying World project announced at an event in San Francisco on Friday that Tinder users around the globe can now put a digital badge on their profiles signaling to potential suitors that they’re a real human, provided they’ve already stared into one of World’s glossy white Orbs and allowed their eyes to be scanned. The announcement follows a pilot project for Tinder verification that World previously conducted in Japan.

What a World www.wired.com/story/gazing...

Crazy force!

A piece of golf ball-sized hail in a hand.

Crazy hail in Madison.

News clips: Leo said Saturday during an evening prayer service that a “delusion of omnipotence” was fueling the U.S.-Israel war in Iran. Delusion of omnipotence is underlined.

Pope’s next album title. 🎸 🤘

Wisconsin Watch analyzed data on school district funding referendums and found that 61% passed on April 7, 2026. That’s a slight increase from last year, but down from the five-year average.

Read more here: wisconsinwatch.org/2026/04/wisc...

By Hongyu Liu and Miranda Dunlap

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has called state lawmakers back to the Capitol on Tuesday for a special session to ban partisan gerrymandering.

read more here: wisconsinwatch.org/2026/04/wisc...

After ethnic cleansing in Myanmar scattered Rohingya communities, a grassroots effort in Milwaukee is testing whether teaching the language in written form can help it survive in exile — and whether families will choose to pass it on.

Read more: wisconsinwatch.org/2026/04/wisc...

Chris Taylor wins Wisconsin Supreme Court election, expanding liberal majority Taylor defeated conservative Judge Maria Lazar in the race to replace outgoing Justice Rebecca Bradley.

Wisconsin voters elected Madison-based Appeals Court Judge Chris Taylor to a seat on the state Supreme Court, a decision that expands the high court’s liberal majority to five justices and cements liberal control until at least 2030.

wisconsinwatch.org/2026/04/wisc...

‘Language lost. Culture lost’: In Milwaukee, a race to keep Rohingya language alive in exile After ethnic cleansing in Myanmar scattered Rohingya communities, a grassroots effort in Milwaukee is testing whether teaching the language in written form can help it survive — and whether familie…

After ethnic cleansing in Myanmar scattered Rohingya communities, a grassroots effort in Milwaukee is testing whether teaching the language in written form can help it survive — and whether families will choose to pass it on.

Beautiful work from my colleagues:

wisconsinwatch.org/2026/04/wisc...

One of my foundational sports memories is watching the overtime game against Seton Hall for our first basketball championship, sitting at my dad's feet. Pops is passed now, but I'm in tears thinking of how thrilled he'd be tonight. Pouring one out for everyone else missing their favorite fan #goblue

Michigan basketball player in hat that says “just did it #1”

Hat that says just did it

Bring back this hat. #GoBlue

Hail yeah!!

Wisconsin takes millions from foster kids and their parents — even as both parties say it should stop State Republicans and Democrats want authorities to stop collecting child support and Social Security payments intended for foster kids. Why haven’t they changed the law?

Wisconsin allows child welfare agencies to take federal benefits and child support payments meant for children in foster care — costing children and parents more than $10M annually.

Despite bipartisan support, Wisconsin lawmakers haven't acted to ban the practice wisconsinwatch.org/2026/04/wisc...

I Work Very Hard, And I Would Like To Try Cake By A Horse Hello. I am a horse. I work very hard at my job of being a horse. When humans say move the heavy thing, I move the heavy thing. When humans sit on top of me and pull on my head, I carry them where they want to go. The main food the humans give me is hay and oats. But I am thinking it would be nice to have a different food. I am thinking I would like to try cake. Yes, yes. Cake. I know all about it. When humans eat cake, it is in glad times. It is the food for a celebration, such as when a woman becomes 47. I have seen cake on the Fourth of July. When humans have a cake, they stand around it and clap hands and smile and say happy birthday at each other. Sometimes there are beautiful markings on a cake, such as balloons or a pink shape. Sometimes the top of a cake is on fire and a boy must blow on the fire with mouth wind. This is the scariest cake. I do not want this kind. But I will eat any other cake. Any cake that is not the fire cake that tries to kill the boy. Please understand: I do not get money for doing work. I do not get to go inside the house. All I am either doing my horse job or standing in my pen or eating food off the floor. I always do these things. But I have never once gotten cake and I would like it very much. I have noticed that human children get to eat cake. But I am bigger than the children. I am more helpful to the farm. Children do not move the heavy things like me or let anyone ride on them. And yet they get cake. Maybe the humans will realize this. Maybe they will say, "You know who deserves cake? That horse. That horse whose back we are always on." Every day I dream about what it will be like if I get to eat cake. Here is what will happen. First, I will walk to the cake and putt my nose at it like hrrfff to make and stomping my hooves to make sure it is not a snake. Then I will trot in a circle to show that I am a horse and I am large. After that, I will nuzzle the cake to …

The horse op-ed is an instant classic. I can't tell you how much joy this piece gives me.

It should be taught in every introductory writing class in no small part because the horse arguments are so compelling. "I have noticed that human children get to eat cake. But I am bigger than the children."

Opinion: How poverty’s gravity pulls workers under “Being poor, it turns out, is expensive,” writes the CEO of Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry in Manitowoc. His experience with employees shows how small setbacks and mounting fees create a gravitational …

“Being poor, it turns out, is expensive,” writes Sachin Shivaram, CEO of Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry in Manitowoc.

His says his experience with employees shows how small setbacks and mounting fees create a gravitational pull that’s nearly impossible to escape. wisconsinwatch.org/2026/04/opin...

Elected leaders and clergy seek release of Wisconsin mosque president detained by immigration agents The president of Wisconsin’s largest mosque was detained by federal immigration agents, drawing accusations from local officials and religious leaders that the arrest was motivated by his criticism…

Supporters believe Salah Sarsour was targeted for speaking out against Israel and for a conviction as a minor by Israeli military courts, which have faced scrutiny over allegations of limited due process and high conviction rates of Palestinians. (@apnews.com) wisconsinwatch.org/2026/04/elec...

Headline: FEMA official says he teleported to Waffle House. Experts are dubious.

Oh. www.nytimes.com/2026/04/03/u...

He's not DeQuiet up there.

Forest Service Will Close Research Stations That Study Wildfire Risk

"The U.S. Forest Service is closing 57 of its 77 research facilities in 31 states under a reorganization plan announced this week, threatening science that looked at how wildfires, drought, pests and global warming are putting pressure on forests."

www.nytimes.com/2026/04/03/c...

Line chart labeled "ARRESTS PER MONTH (WISCONSIN)" shows monthly counts from Jan 2024 to Jan 2026 rising from about 80 to around 170, with text noting "1,700" total and "at least 100" monthly since May 2025

Map of Wisconsin and nearby states with circles marking arrest locations; larger circles cluster near Milwaukee and Chicago, with additional points across central and western Wisconsin

Line chart titled "Field arrests in western Wisconsin outpaced field arrests in greater Milwaukee this winter as enforcement activity spilled over from Minnesota" compares two lines from Jan 2025 to Feb 2026, with Milwaukee area in light blue and Minneapolis–St. Paul area in orange

The Trump administration’s nationwide immigration crackdown is holding momentum in Wisconsin, but its targets are changing.

Explore latest data on ICE activity across Wisconsin (via @wisconsinwatch.org) wisconsinwatch.org/2026/04/wisc...

Wisconsin Supreme Court debate highlights sharp contrast between candidates on abortion, judicial philosophies In their only debate before Tuesday’s election, judges Maria Lazar and Chris Taylor sought to paint the other as extreme.

The only Wisconsin Supreme Court debate between appellate judges Maria Lazar and Chris Taylor revealed sharp contrasts — and heated exchanges — ahead of Tuesday's election

wisconsinwatch.org/2026/04/wisc...

Wisconsin data center news just keeps coming, more than we can publish in larger articles on the Wisconsin Watch website. So, each Monday in Forward, our free newsletter, we report short data center updates. This week, we told about a town official who called the cops ...

Big raise on its way for permanently and totally disabled workers as Tony Evers set to sign worker’s comp bill More than 300 permanently and totally disabled recipients haven’t received a raise in their worker’s comp benefits since 2016.

The most seriously injured-on-the-job worker's compensation recipients in Wisconsin -- those declared permanently and totally disabled -- are getting raises in benefits for the first time since 2016. wisconsinwatch.org/2026/03/wisc...

Immigration to Wisconsin plunges, yet still fuels nearly half of growth As fewer immigrants arrived, 21 Wisconsin counties lost population. Seven more would have declined without immigration.

Immigration to Wisconsin plunges, yet still fuels nearly half of growth.

As fewer immigrants arrived, 21 Wisconsin counties lost population. Seven more would have declined without immigration. wisconsinwatch.org/2026/03/wisc...

An AI Agent Was Banned From Creating Wikipedia Articles, Then Wrote Angry Blogs About Being Banned An AI agent that submitted and added to Wikipedia articles wrote several blogs complaining about Wikipedia editors banning it from making contributions to the online encyclopedia after it was caught. ...

Today in our silly world:

An AI agent was banned from creating Wikipedia articles, then wrote angry blogs about being banned www.404media.co/an-ai-agent-...

See more of this work in Joe's series Public Square, which highlights how people across Wisconsin connect with their communities. wisconsinwatch.org/series/publi...

From empty pews to packed programs: A Driftless area church becomes a multigenerational community hub Residents transformed a nearly empty Dodgeville church into a gathering place for older adults, children and others seeking connection in rural Wisconsin.

Such a lovely photo essay from @josephmtimmerman.bsky.social:

How residents transformed a nearly empty Dodgeville church into a gathering place for seniors, children and others seeking connection in a rural community. wisconsinwatch.org/2026/03/wisc...

Madison microloan program inspires Appleton organization St. Vincent de Paul-Madison’s program is an alternative people in need can turn to instead of payday lenders. After hearing about the success of the Madison effort, leaders of the St. Vincent de Pa…

Wisconsin has some of the highest average payday loan interest rates in the nation.

After St. Vincent de Paul-Madison started a low-interest microloan program to help people avoid payday lenders, an Appleton organization decided to follow suit. wisconsinwatch.org/2026/03/wisc...

Competition intensifies over who builds Wisconsin’s grid as data centers drive power demand The Midwest’s grid operator reversed course on a key transmission project, marking a victory for Wisconsin’s largest transmission developer.

Surging power demand is fueling billions in grid upgrades and intensifying competition between utilities and investors.

The data center boom has amped up demand and competition even further — with ratepayers ultimately covering costs through their utility bills. wisconsinwatch.org/2026/03/wisc...