Liam Beran

Could Trump ‘nationalize’ elections in Dane County? President Donald Trump has called on Republicans to ‘take over the voting’ in several jurisdictions.

The Dane County clerk's response to Trump's calls to "take over the voting" in local jurisdictions: "There is no ‘nationalizing’ the elections.”

Still, some local officials are worried, even given notable political and legal blockades to such an effort.

isthmus.com/news/news/co...

This was a fun convo! Give it a listen

What to do if a large data center comes knocking? A Dane County committee has been tasked with ‘impartial fact-finding, researching, analyzing, and recommending the implications of data center development in Dane County.’ Their work will last through...

A new committee is looking to get ahead of data centers in Dane County. They're trying to make a roadmap for local communities, and their work will continue through 2026.

New from me in your favorite local newspaper, @isthmusmadison.bsky.social!

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Does ICE have access to Flock data? Flock data captured in Dane County has been shared as far away as Tennessee. That raises some flags for those worried about immigration enforcement.

new: Dane County Flock data has, per sharing agreements made by the sheriff's office, been shared with law enforcement agencies in 7 states (as far as Tennessee).

That's raising concern among cybersecurity and civil liberties advocates.

@isthmusmadison.bsky.social

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Hong Kong Café, Choles Floral could be demolished for 113-unit apartment building on Regent Street Development continues to transform one of Madison’s busiest corridors, as Chicago-based developer Peerless Development plans to build a mixed-use apartment building on the sites of Hong Kong Café and ...

Hong Kong Café, Choles Floral could be demolished for 113-unit apartment building on Regent Street

@isthmusmadison.bsky.social

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obligatory: this is why every vote counts!

There were also three Dane County board primaries. Each incumbent took the lead, including interim District 15 supervisor Amy Larson.

The race between Sean Burke and Otis Harris Jr., both challenging incumbent Tommy Rylander, came down to 11 votes; Burke came out on top.

In an interview Tuesday night, Jones says he plans to "get out and meet as many voters as I can" to secure the victory.

“Nothing about my message changes. I'm as fair, as impartial as I was before tonight, as I'm going to be tomorrow.”

Ahsan notes that she would be the first Muslim-American judge in Wisconsin and one of the few Asian judges. She says "so much of our court system, particularly in Dane County, has been controlled by the powerful and the elite.”

Huma Ahsan vows grassroots challenge in Dane County Circuit Court race Incumbent Dane County Circuit Court Judge Ben Jones had a sizable lead over challenger Huma Ahsan in Tuesday night’s primary.

Incumbent Dane County judge Ben Jones led last night's primary with a 17-point lead.

Challenger Huma Ahsan tells me she plans to make up the difference by April 7 with grassroots campaigning: "We are the Mamdani of this whole campaign."

@isthmusmadison.bsky.social

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source request: If you or anyone you know has received an invite to the new Harry Styles album listening party in Madison, shoot me a DM!

Democratic lawmakers propose data center moratorium • Wisconsin Examiner Wisconsin Democratic lawmakers on Thursday proposed legislation that would put a moratorium on data center construction.

As opposition to data centers in Wisconsin grows, Democrats propose statewide moratorium via @henry-redman.bsky.social wisconsinexaminer.com/2026/02/12/d...

College athletes’ NIL deals would be exempt from public records law under Wisconsin bill An Assembly bill would establish regulations in Wisconsin regarding name, image and likeness deals. It would hide such deals from the public eye.

College athletes’ NIL deals would be exempt from public records law under a bill supported by UW-Madison and recently introduced in Wisconsin.

Universities have scrambled to keep such records private, citing "competitive interests."

@isthmusmadison.bsky.social

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Madison mayor: paying damages for uncounted votes sets a dangerous precedent Madison’s argument that leaving absentee votes uncounted does not represent a constitutional violation drew sharp backlash. In response, Madison’s mayor suggests that perhaps the state should change i...

Madison mayor: paying damages for uncounted votes sets a dangerous precedent

@isthmusmadison.bsky.social

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Disclaimer missing on likely AI-generated Tom Tiffany campaign ad Though a campaign ad for gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany contains irregularities that ‘point toward an AI-generated video,’ the ad contains no disclaimer, as is required by Wisconsin state law.

A Dec. Tom Tiffany campaign ad contains irregularities that “point toward an AI-generated video,” an AI expert told @liamberan.bsky.social of @isthmusmadison.bsky.social.

But it contains no disclaimer that generative AI was used, as is required by Wisconsin law.

isthmus.com/news/news/di...

Disclaimer missing on likely AI-generated Tom Tiffany campaign ad Though a campaign ad for gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany contains irregularities that ‘point toward an AI-generated video,’ the ad contains no disclaimer, as is required by Wisconsin state law.

SCOOP: An ad for Tom Tiffany's gov campaign contains anomalies that "point to an AI-generated video," per a UW expert. But the ad doesn't contain a disclaimer required by state law.

Tiffany's campaign didn't respond to a request for comment.

@isthmusmadison.bsky.social

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DeForest announces it won’t move forward with controversial $12 billion data center The village president had said the board had only known about the project for weeks, but records obtained by Wisconsin Watch showed it had been discussed by staff for months.

NEWS: DeForest says it will drop controversial $12 billion data center plan.

The village president had said the board had known about the project for only weeks, but @tomkertschernews.bsky.social obtained records showing it had been discussed for months. wisconsinwatch.org/2026/01/defo...

What is Madison doing to prepare for ICE? There is no indication that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is currently planning operations in Madison. City officials are preparing for what they’d do if such a situation arose.

What is the Madison doing to prepare for ICE?

One option the mayor's office is currently examining: "Options for restricting the use of city-owned property for federal enforcement purposes available within local, state and federal law."

@isthmusmadison.bsky.social

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College Republicans of Wisconsin receives $1 million in Uihlein money The group began July with just $3,100 in the bank, but will head into election season with much more.

The College Republicans of Wisconsin began the July filing period with $3,100 in the bank.

They headed into 2026 with $1 million, thanks to two $500k donations from conservative megadonors and Illinois residents Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein.

isthmus.com/news/news/co...

Why has WisconsinEye gone dark and what can be done about it? Other states continue to broadcast legislative sessions and committees while Wisconsin’s service seeks public and private funding to continue.

Enjoyed this piece by Brittany Carloni via @wisconsinwatch.org about the WisEye shutdown and how neighboring state legislatures handle recording/archiving floor and committee proceedings.

wisconsinwatch.org/2026/01/wisc...

Have questions or thoughts on data centers, what to do about them, etc.? Let me know — we'll almost certainly be revisiting the topic in the near future.

Should Wisconsin stop — at least temporarily — or regulate large data centers? Madison just placed a one-year moratorium on data centers. Dueling state bills are seeking to regulate them statewide. And one gubernatorial candidate is proposing a statewide moratorium.

There's a lot of talk around what to do with data centers in WI. Here's a piece overviewing different proposals in the statehouse and the moratorium that was just enacted here in Madison.

@isthmusmadison.bsky.social

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inbox: Madison's city council is launching a newsletter on "topics being considered by the Common Council, opportunities to engage with alders, and other timely updates." Will summarize introduction items and give info from city staff on current legislative discussions.

Who’s running for office in Madison this spring? The April 7 election includes races for state Supreme Court, the Madison city council, Dane County board and Madison school board.

There's an election on April 7 in Madison, with a primary on Feb. 17.

Here's who's running for what, by @liamberan.bsky.social:

isthmus.com/news/news/wh...

New federal mandates may make breast cancer screening bill unnecessary, says Vos A bill requiring insurance coverage for advanced breast cancer screenings easily passed the state Senate in October. But Speaker Robin Vos has refused to advance it in the Assembly.

scoop: Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says new federal guidelines may make a widely-supported breast cancer screening bill unnecessary, telling @isthmusmadison.bsky.social he's "looking into whether or not Wisconsin has to do it."

Advocates for the bill disagree.

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Watch: Why Wisconsin Supreme Court elections are breaking national records Watch a video explaining why Wisconsin’s Supreme Court elections are so expensive and what can be done about it.

If you're wondering why Wisconsin Supreme Court elections are breaking national records for campaign spending, watch our new video explainer. wisconsinwatch.org/2025/12/wisc...

Green Bay podcasters dig up long-buried tales in their own neighborhood Residents of Green Bay’s Astor neighborhood produce a podcast uncovering forgotten — and sometimes spooky — tales tied to Astor’s historic homes. They hope to create a sense of wonder and pride amo…

Always read @mirandadunlap.bsky.social, who has a particular knack for finding and telling stories about people who are building community. wisconsinwatch.org/2025/12/wisc...

Madison nonprofit EXPO moves into housing to address recidivism Madison nonprofit EXPO has opened two housing projects within the last two years. So far, no residents have returned to prison.

"So far, no current or former residents have returned to jail or prison. And two women once estranged from their families have been reunited with them since leaving the house." isthmus.com/news/news/ex... (via @liamberan.bsky.social)

Madison mayor to propose one-year moratorium on data center construction The city council and mayor are moving to place a one-year moratorium on zoning certificates for data centers while the city develops changes to its zoning code to address such uses.

NEWS: Madison's mayor and 10 alders are proposing a one-year moratorium on data center construction at the city council tonight. If enacted, it would make the city one of the largest in the U.S. to adopt such a ban.

@isthmusmadison.bsky.social

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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.

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...