Jim Malewitz
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Jim Malewitz
@jmalewitz.bsky.social
Managing editor of @wisconsinwatch.org and amateur old man baseball player. Alum: Bridge Michigan, Texas Tribune, Stateline, Iowa Watch.

Following Vanilla Ice's call to collaborate and listen.
UPDATE: After asylum win, judge rules ICE must release Madison woman who fled Venezuela. Her husband will remain detained. wisconsinwatch.org/2025/12/madi...
UPDATE: After asylum win, judge rules ICE must release Madison woman who fled Venezuela. Her husband will remain detained.
After an immigration court judge granted asylum to Dailin Pacheco-Acosta and Diego Ugarte-Arenas, she is set to return to Madison. But he will remain jailed indefinitely.
wisconsinwatch.org
December 11, 2025 at 12:26 AM
“Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the Biden-era move to the sans serif typeface “wasteful,” casting the return to Times New Roman as part of a push to stamp out diversity efforts.” www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/u...
At State Dept., a Typeface Falls Victim in the War Against Woke
www.nytimes.com
December 10, 2025 at 1:52 PM
A judge has granted asylum to a Madison couple who fled persecution in Venezuela, but ICE is still detaining them as the Trump administration defends a policy blocking thousands from seeking bond. wisconsinwatch.org/2025/12/madi...
Madison couple who fled Venezuela win asylum, but ICE detention continues
An immigration court judge granted asylum to Dailin Pacheco-Acosta and Diego Ugarte-Arenas. But they remain jailed — hundreds of miles apart — as Trump administration officials defend a policy bloc…
wisconsinwatch.org
December 10, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Students are flocking to public policy classes as polarization paralyzes legislative action. So UW-Madison is launching an undergrad major focused on civil dialogue and finding common ground. wisconsinwatch.org/2025/12/wisc... (@Wisconsinwatch.org)
New UW-Madison major will teach students to bridge partisan divides
Young people are flocking to public policy classes at a time when polarization and gridlock can paralyze legislative action. To meet the demand, the La Follette School of Public Affairs will launch…
wisconsinwatch.org
December 9, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Wis Supreme Court races are everything they were never meant to be — partisan, astronomically expensive national political battles in which candidates’ ideologies overshadow their qualifications.

Why, and what can we do about it? Read our series Supreme Costs wisconsinwatch.org/supreme-cost...
Supreme Costs: Wisconsin’s pricey and partisan high court elections
Wisconsin Watch examines record spending in state Supreme Court elections, how Wisconsin became a national outlier and what can be done about it.
wisconsinwatch.org
December 8, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Wisconsin refugee advocates brace for impact from federal limits on food aid.

Aid groups wonder how long refugees and asylees will continue receiving FoodShare now that a Trump ban on assistance has taken effect. wisconsinwatch.org/2025/12/refu...
Refugee advocates brace for impact from federal limits on food aid
Aid groups wonder how long Wisconsin refugees and asylees will continue receiving FoodShare now that a Trump ban on assistance has taken effect.
wisconsinwatch.org
December 8, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Good name for a Wisconsin-specific dating app.
December 6, 2025 at 6:53 PM
This story is so random and fun. www.theatlantic.com/science/2025...
No NFL Game Has Ever Ended in a Score of 36–23
A scoreboard mystery
www.theatlantic.com
December 6, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Foxconn, Trump’s ‘America first’ factory, is moving to AI. It’s giving lawmakers some pause.

A rare example in which Democratic Rep. Mark Pocan and Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden are sharing similar concerns/sentiments.

wisconsinwatch.org/2025/12/wisc...
Foxconn, Trump’s ‘America first’ factory, is moving to AI. It’s giving lawmakers some pause.
Members of Congress said Wisconsin should first address serious concerns from constituents about manufacturers’ energy and water use, which could strain existing infrastructure and leave consumers …
wisconsinwatch.org
December 6, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Reposted by Jim Malewitz
Sick of those Wisconsin Supreme Court campaign attack ads?
Nonpartisan commissions nominate top judges in 11 states. And 12 states use independent performance reviews by experts to help voters determine judges’ competence. Part 3 @wisconsinwatch.org wisconsinwatch.org/2025/12/wisc...
Sick of those state Supreme Court campaign ads, Wisconsin? Here’s how other states avoid them
Polls show Wisconsin prefers to elect justices, but the timing, term limits and vetting of candidates could be different.
wisconsinwatch.org
December 5, 2025 at 2:28 PM
🧑‍⚖️🧵
In 2007, every WI Supreme Ct Justice, conservative and liberal, asked for public financing of Court elections. They worried a $5 million negative ad campaign had left the impression that justices would be more beholden to their sponsors' interests than the law wisconsinwatch.org/2025/12/wisc...
Unlimited donations, weak recusal rules led to record Wisconsin Supreme Court spending
Democrats seek to revive public financing of Supreme Court elections after previous attempts failed.
wisconsinwatch.org
December 4, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Wisconsin Supreme Court to weigh sheriffs’ cooperation with ICE.

The ACLU sued on behalf of the immigrant rights group Voces de la Frontera. The lawsuit challenges detention practices in Brown, Kenosha, Marathon, Sauk and Walworth counties. wisconsinwatch.org/2025/12/wisc...
Wisconsin Supreme Court to weigh sheriffs’ cooperation with ICE
The ACLU sued on behalf of the immigrant rights group Voces de la Frontera. The lawsuit challenges detention practices in Brown, Kenosha, Marathon, Sauk and Walworth counties.
wisconsinwatch.org
December 4, 2025 at 12:16 AM
" Kiel Ald. Kathy Schuette resigned Tuesday, ending a month-long dog poop scandal." fox11online.com/news/local/k...
Kiel alderperson resigns after month-long dog poop scandal
It comes after her husband was determined to have been leaving dog feces on the doorstep of a local pet store.
fox11online.com
December 4, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Wisconsin Supreme Court elections have drawn an ‘obscene’ amount of spending. Here’s why & what can be done about it.

Loose campaign finance laws, lax recusal rules, a purple electorate and the spring election cycle help explain record spending on these races.
wisconsinwatch.org/2025/12/wisc...
Wisconsin Supreme Court elections have drawn an ‘obscene’ amount of spending. Here’s why and what can be done about it.
Loose campaign finance laws, lax recusal rules, a purple electorate and even the spring election cycle all help explain why high court races have become so expensive.
wisconsinwatch.org
December 3, 2025 at 5:48 PM
“One hundred and fifty one children under the age of 18 have been arrested between January and October, with a steep increase beginning in May.”
December 3, 2025 at 2:55 AM
“Even for Mr. Trump — who has a long history of insulting Black people, particularly those from African countries — his outburst was shocking in its unapologetic bigotry.” www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/u...
Trump Calls Somalis ‘Garbage’ He Doesn’t Want in the Country
www.nytimes.com
December 3, 2025 at 1:14 AM
This day — it’s giving…Tuesday.
December 2, 2025 at 8:56 PM
WI leaders want to offer more college-level courses to high schoolers. But teachers need the same qualifications as college instructors.

Many would be required to enroll in grad school, even if they already have a master’s degree. wisconsinwatch.org/2025/12/wisc... (via @wisconsinwatch.org)
Wisconsin high schools want to offer more college classes. First, teachers must go back to school.
School officials statewide want to give more students a jump start on college with dual enrollment classes. But they say they lack qualified teachers, and for busy teachers, grad school is a hard s…
wisconsinwatch.org
December 2, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Reposted by Jim Malewitz
Tomorrow is #GivingTuesday. Free, independent local news supports every other worthy cause by helping communities stay informed and connected. Will you help us do more for Wisconsin in 2026? Thanks to matching funds, whatever you can afford to give will have twice as much impact. ❤️
Support Wisconsin Watch
Now more than ever, Wisconsin needs fearless, independent reporting. When you support Wisconsin Watch, you are fueling nonpartisan investigative journalism that holds power to account and connects …
wisconsinwatch.org
December 1, 2025 at 6:45 PM
As living costs soar, tax relief shrinks for low-income Wisconsin residents.

The homestead credit, a crucial source of property tax relief, has withered due to inflation and legislative inaction.

wisconsinwatch.org/2025/12/wisc...
As living costs soar, tax relief shrinks for low-income Wisconsin residents
The homestead credit, a crucial source of property tax relief, has withered due to inflation and legislative inaction.
wisconsinwatch.org
December 1, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Why do so many local officials run for reelection unopposed?

How a Madison woman’s question sparked the Wisconsin Civics Games — a growing contest to get young people interested in government. wisconsinwatch.org/2025/11/how-... (@wisconsinwatch.org)
How a Madison woman’s question sparked a growing statewide civics contest
The annual quiz game about government and democracy has doubled in size since the Wisconsin Newspaper Association started it. The brainchild of a retired teacher-turned-reporter, it encourages youn…
wisconsinwatch.org
November 25, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Another deeply reported and beautifully told story from Eli Saslow.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/u...
Two Men. One Identity. They Both Paid the Price.
www.nytimes.com
November 23, 2025 at 4:30 PM
"The subpoena seeks contact information for employees who have filed complaints about discrimination based on Jewish faith, those who belong to Jewish clubs or groups on campus, and anyone who works in the university’s Jewish studies program." www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/u...
Federal Suit Seeking Names of Some Jewish Employees at Penn Sparks Backlash
www.nytimes.com
November 22, 2025 at 7:23 PM
"Vos did not respond to multiple requests for comment." isthmus.com/news/news/ad... (via @liamberan.bsky.social)
Vos is blocking breast cancer screening bill, advocates say
The bill would require insurance companies in Wisconsin to cover supplemental diagnostic examinations for women with dense breast tissue.
isthmus.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:52 PM
As ICE ramps up enforcement nationwide, Wisconsin courts are increasingly left with loose ends: defendants without their day in court, victims without a chance to testify and thousands of dollars in forfeited bail paid by family, friends and employers.

wisconsinwatch.org/2025/11/wisc...
Courts left with loose ends when ICE detains criminal defendants
When defendants sit in ICE custody, their criminal cases generally continue without them — sometimes with no explanation of their absence to the court.
wisconsinwatch.org
November 21, 2025 at 2:46 PM