Election anxiety
The assignment was not to repeat 2020. The assignment was not to create an outcome close enough that we have to fear another Trump coup attempt. It looks like Harris will at best win another squeaker, enabling Trump to rile up a seething mass of violent resentment that endangers everyone in this country.
That is a failure. It is a failure of the Harris/Biden team, an unacceptable failure.
Islamophobia from Milwaukee Common Council
This is a public statement by government officials excusing criminal acts. They acknowledge that the vandals with the paint violated Atta’s rights, but then say that Atta should have expected this violation. They reframe and minimize his property being attacked as him “not being welcomed with open arms.” This is how government officials build a permission structure for hate crimes, which then occurred with the more brazen attack that very night.
Assembly District 93 Spotlight
While it can be easy to mobilize against electing a fascist, of which there are many running in Wisconsin, we must be equally excited to vote against the more ‘boring’ Republicans like Rolbiecki. Even though Rolbiecki as an individual might be ‘moderate’ by Republican standards, he has tied himself to an extremist party. He has given us no evidence that once elected to office, he would do anything other than vote alongside his extremist colleagues.
We must stop the Racist & Xenophobic Constitutional Amendment
No one is defending immigrants now. Rejecting this amendment is one way we can stand in solidarity with immigrants and tell Republicans (and Democrats) we reject your fear mongering and scapegoating. We welcome newcomers to this country with open arms.
Whodunit? The Mayor, in the Council Chambers, With a Lead Pipe!
Why are there lead pipes in Milwaukee in the first place!? There is a great deal of history behind this but ultimately it comes down to capitalist greed from the time of Milwaukee's founding. Removing lead laterals should not be a partisan issue, and we intend to continue holding the city accountable to the public interest through grassroots, frontline organizing.
Removing Lead Laterals - Still a Pipe Dream?
We believe in robust public oversight of city projects. Citizens should be able to go and see exactly what people are up to, so we can hold them publicly accountable. Maybe you never want to attend a lead lateral removal committee meeting, but some of us do, and take seriously our role as watchdogs of the public good. Community oversight is the way that we let our elected officials know that they work for us, and no matter what, we want these lead pipes out in ten years or less.
Assembly District 61 Spotlight
The race for Wisconsin Assembly District 61 is another vital race in Democrat’s path to take the Assembly. On the Republican side you have the power hungry, career politician, carpetbagger, current State Representative, Bob Donovan. Running on the Democrats side is LuAnn Bird who is also not a newcomer to Wisconsin politics. Unlike Donovan though, Bird’s history as a “career politician” is filled with heartfelt advocacy to actually improve the lives of those she represents.
Law enforcement harms Milwaukee
In Wisconsin, our racial caste system is exceptionally brutal. It is more invasive, restrictive, and more racially targeted than most other states. Police are the front line of that caste system, pulling people into it, and keeping them churning through it.
Law enforcement does not keep Milwaukee safe
Youth programming, mental health resources, infrastructure projects, affordable housing, basic human needs keep taking a back seat to law enforcement funding in both city and county budgets. Those things are actual sources of public safety, but we cannot invest in them when we’re giving nearly half of our budgets to the illusion of safety provided by the police.
Mayor Johnson’s budget recap - AART
African American Roundtable highlighted that police were bankrupting Milwaukee in our report in 2021, yet nothing has changed and no one has seemed to listen. Police are the only department where results or metrics don’t matter. If crime is up, we need more police; if crime is down, we need more police. This logic fails to keep us safe, and this narrative fails to acknowledge what residents need and deserve.
Why Do Cavalier Johnson and Republicans Want Cops in MPS Schools?
Mayor Johnson is making a cynical calculus that is unfortunately typical with liberals: that tacking to the right’s benefits outweigh the political costs. He’s doing what the Milwaukee Police Association and Republican legislators want, maybe gaining him a bit of credibility with Wisconsin’s power structure –but losing only a few principled, abolitionist voters/elected officials/organizations/etc in the process.
Milwaukee’s Budget Fight
The local manifestation of the 2020 rebellion painted defund the police in ten foot letters on the street outside city hall. Many might dismiss this demand as just local people jumping on a national trend, but it wasn't. It was a mass mobilization behind authentic community demands that existed prior to 2020, and persist to this day.
Assembly District 92 Spotlight
While almost any Democrat would be better than electing Republican Moses back to office in District 92, Democrat Plouff seems to have the kind of credentials we admire which makes him someone to actually be excited about electing to office. We hope that his election will be able to help us in turning the Assembly blue and prying it from the weird and dangerous Republicans.
Democrats Don’t Imprison People for Mental Illness
Another faultline has recently opened up in the maybe too big, big tent Democratic Party (imagine the fault line is opening up under a circus –this metaphor is actually really good, shut up.) On the one hand, you have reasonable, empathetic people who understand that the unhoused and housing insecure among us deserve dignified treatment, kindless –and housing, if it’s wanted.
This edition:
Democrats Do Spend Public Money on Actual Public Services
Democrats Don’t Imprison People for Mental Illness
Liberals killin democracy
Democracy in America is dying because it is a system that relies on the participation of the electorate. If the electorate is too vocal and active however, then liberals may have to pass laws that decrease their comfort and wealth, they may have to enact policies that could even cost them their donors, cushy do-nothing jobs, and friendships with republicans.
Wisconsin’s Weird Batch of Republican Hopefuls
From stopping webinars and keeping kids from having free bikes, to banning abortion, and attacking trans folks; the Republicans running for Assembly are as weird and fascist as ever. We must keep these weirdos out and turn the Assembly blue!
Democrats Do Refuse to Follow Fascist Laws
Sometimes all you need to do with a bad law is ignore it –pretend it doesn’t exist, and its power might just go away. Often this is as simple as jaywalking across a badly designed street, but it can also be done with something as seemingly toothy as a commandment from the state legislature and Governor Tony Evers.
This edition:
Democrats Do Refuse to Follow Fascist Laws
Democrats Don’t Commit Fraud (Again!) for Charter Schools
Re- introducing Milwaukee Beagle
Welcome to Milwaukee Beagle! We know we have a number of new followers, so we want to reintroduce ourselves. At its core, Milwaukee Beagle is a political media project that sniffs out corruption, detects money in politics, and holds public officials accountable. In our writing we don’t hide our opinions, but our opinions are informed by facts. And we are looking to grow!
Primary Debrief
We are excited about what the future holds. Whether its Ryan Clancy’s defense of his seat and Wisconsin Assembly’s socialist caucus, to Nate Kieso’s near victory in a three way race, to Deisy Espana and Amillia Heredia’s raising issues and elevating unheard residents, each of them ran hard and made a difference.
Not all Democrats are the same
There are two very different types of Democrats in Milwaukee politics. Corporate and Populist. Corporate Democrats' policies usually profit, or at least do not upset the interests financially backing them. Populist Democrats instead seek deep systemic change. They prioritize results and real impact over appearing ‘bipartisan.’ Taking power away from private interests and returning it to the general public is their driving motivation.