Friday, July 4, 2025
spot_imgspot_img
Friday, July 4, 2025

Milwaukee Press Club 'Excellence in Wisconsin Journalism' 2020 & 2021 Award Winners

Jason Church: Afghanistan Chaos ‘Rocks Me to the Core’

spot_img

“This place is amazing. It’s worth fighting for. It’s worth dying for,” Jason Church.

If ever a person had standing to speak on Afghanistan, it’s Jason Church. The Afghanistan veteran from Wisconsin lost two lower legs to an IED but finished law school, ran for Congress, and works for a U.S. Senator. He gave an emotional speech at a news conference this week, saying that what he is seeing on television now “rocks me to the core.”

“This has been some of the hardest days of my life,” said Church. “Four days ago when I saw what was going on, I reached out to one of my men who served with me in Afghanistan. I knew based on our mission that there was a videotape of me being injured, of my men coming up to me and putting their lives on the line for their brother in arms. And for nine years I buried the scene. I knew it existed, and I didn’t want to watch it.”

Church described how, the other day, he watched the video at long last with his wife. “We watched that boy, who was a graduate of ROTC, at an institution in this community. A boy on the ground. When I looked at myself in that video, I saw a kid. I saw a young man whose life had changed instantly. Who because he believed so much in what this country could be, he was content with dying.”

Church spoke alongside Derrick Van Orden, a former Navy SEAL who also served in Afghanistan and who is running for Run Kind’s seat in Congress as a Republican. Church has endorsed Van Orden for Congress. “We have seen the tip of the spear. We have seen bad decisions from leaders lead to deaths that could simply be avoided,” said Church.

These issues “are real to us,” said Van Orden. “…This means something to us…I am going to go to Washington D.C. and I am going to fix this, because I know what it means…It means the life and death of American men and women and our allies. And it has got to stop.” Van Orden described how he held his friend’s hand as he died in Afghanistan, holding a satellite phone with his wife crying because she knew she wouldn’t see him again.

“This is possibly the greatest foreign policy debacle in the history of the country,” added Van Orden. “Certainly in my lifetime. Certainly, this did not need to happen. The incompetence of the Biden administration in handling this crisis, it’s impossible to really quantify that, how large of a foreign policy failure this has been. A complete lack of planning and showing in real time how important it is to have competent leaders in Washington D.c. in the executive branch….This did not need to happen…we have 15,000 American citizens unaccounted for in Afghanistan. That’s 288 times the amount of hostages we had in Iran…that stopped the world.”

The National Security Advisor, Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff should resign immediately, said Van Orden, saying they have all underperformed and failed. Van Orden said he is concerned how the Biden debacle is affecting the veterans in the community and in the United States, so he asked Church to come by.

Van Orden called Church an incredible, patriotic American. “He served his nation and has a right to speak to every human being in the Biden administration and all the way down to make sure these things don’t happen again in the future,” said Van Orden.

Church said of what is in that video, “I told my men to aid the others who were screaming around me because I loved them so much and I love this community so much and I love this place so much and to see what is happening on the television right now rocks me to the core. It rocks veterans across this nation to the core. We as a country failed to give them a proper mission. This cuts across political lines. When I laid there and I looked at myself, I forgot what that felt like. The politics of the last few years has eroded our competence in our own institutions, I allowed it to erode in myself. I forgot about it. But there is a way. When I asked the other day whether losing my legs was worth it or not. I can give you an answer. There will be people who are coming into this country down the road from here. They fought for this country. They did it believing in us, on our word, on our integrity as a nation. That to me goes far beyond politics.”

It’s been announced that thousands of Afghan refugees could be coming to Fort McCoy in Wisconsin. Van Orden stressed the importance of screening the refugees.

Church said: “We need to embrace them. The ones that come here and have fought for their country and love their country and who were betrayed by the actions I’m seeing on TV today. You owe it to them and you owe it to us, all of us who have bled over there and who have seen their brothers and sisters in arms die. We all owe it to them and to us. I implore you all…that we don’t isolate them, don’t treat them like second class citizens. We treat them like the Americans I went over and fought in Afghanistan to die for. It’s about time this country grew up. This place is amazing. It’s worth fighting for…prove it to us. This place is amazing. It’s worth fighting for. It’s worth dying for. I ask you all as these events unfold over the next months to keep what I have said in mind.”

Church also ran for U.S. Congress as a Republican. The Wisconsin native was deployed to Afghanistan. On August 23, 2012, in Panjwai (Pan-JA-Way) province, “Jason and nine other members of his platoon were involved in an IED explosion. The IED blast resulted in the amputation of both legs below the knee. Jason went through 21 surgeries at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. On July 31, 2014, First Lieutenant Church received his promotion to Captain and medically retired from the U.S. Army,” his website says. He went on to earn a law degree and serve as State Counsel and Northwest Regional Director for U.S. Senator Ron Johnson.

Van Orden is running as a Republican for Ron Kind’s Congressional seat in western Wisconsin. He lost to Kind by only 11,000 votes in the last election and is considered one of the Republicans most likely nationally to pick up a Congressional seat for the GOP. His combat deployments were to Bosnia Herzegovina and multiple combat tours to Afghanistan and Iraq. Additionally, he served in the Horn of Africa, Asia, Europe, and South and Central America. He starred in the motion picture Act of Valor.

Governor’s Veto Powers Wisconsin Republicans Parental Bill of Rights Outlaw Child Sex Dolls Embrace Them Both Unemployment Reforms Wisconsin’s Professional Licensing Bail Reform Amendment wisconsin covid-19

Conservative Wins in the Wisconsin State Budget Bill That Passed July 3

Wisconsin has a divided government, and, with a Democrat in the governor's mansion, conservatives were not going to get everything they wanted. However, there...

Shorewood Officer Shot; Glendale Pursues Suspect, Who Appears Dead

A Shorewood, Wisconsin, police officer was shot but saved by his bulletproof vest in the early morning hours of July 3. Several hours later, Glendale...
kendall corder

MPD Confirms Sad News That Officer Kendall Corder Has Died; Procession Unfolding

The Milwaukee Police Department has officially confirmed the tragic news that Officer Kendall Corder has died in the line of duty. Earlier in the day,...

Oconomowoc Rotary Refuses to Document ‘Threats’ & There’s No Police Reports

Getting criticized is hard, but reasonable criticism - even heated criticism - is not a threat. And it's what representative democracy is all about,...
kendall corder, tremaine jones

Tremaine Jones: Milwaukee DA Declined to Prosecute Him 4 Times Leading Up to Officer Shooting

KEY FINDINGS: Accused cop shooter Tremaine Jones was given a deferred prosecution agreement for a 2021 Milwaukee case involving a stolen Kia and...
Killed by Milwaukee Reckless Drivers Milwaukee Reckless Drivers Kill Box In Milwaukee Police

2 Milwaukee Police Officers Shot Near 25th & Garfield

Two Milwaukee police officers were shot on the evening of June 26, police confirmed. One officer remains in critical condition and the second does...
josh schoemann Washington County’s Early Vote

2026 GOP Candidate Josh Schoemann Challenges Evers’ Budget Approach

(The Center Square) – Josh Schoemann, the only Republican currently in the race for governor next year, is criticizing Gov. Tony Evers’ approach to the next state budget by comparing it to his plans in Washington County.

“In Washington County our budget cycle starts right now, and it’s not due until November. We will propose our budget goals to the County Board in the next couple of months. We will share ‘This is what we’re thinking.’ It gives them months of time to think those through, give us feedback, and [have] that kind of dialogue,” Schoemann explained in an interview on News Talk 1130 WISN.

Schoemann said that is far better than the approach Evers is taking again this year.

“That’s not how government is supposed to work,” Schoemann said. “It’s not the vision of the governor. It’s not the vision of any one person.”

Evers and the Republican legislative leaders who will write the budget have been involved in on-again, off-again budget talks this month. On Thursday, the governor’s office said those talks were off once again because of gridlock in the Senate.

“Ultimately, the Senate needs to decide whether they were elected to govern and get things done or not,” Evers spokesperson Britt Cudaback said in a post on X.

Schoemann’s criticism of Evers is nothing new. He has long been a critic of the governor and has turned that criticism up since launching his campaign for governor.

But the recent criticism was also aimed at other Republicans who may jump into the 20206 governor’s race later this year.

“Nobody else in this race on the Republican side, being rumored to this point, has the executive leadership of skills and history to be able to show ‘This is how I’ve done it before, and here’s how we’ll do it Madison,’” Schoemann said. “The results in Washington County speak for themselves.”

Northwoods Congressman Tom Tiffany is also rumored to be looking to get into the Republican race. Before he went to Congress, Tiffany was a Republican lawmaker in Madison.

Businessman and veteran Bill Berrien is also on the short list of likely GOP candidates for 2026.

richard van buren

Richard Van Buren Arrested in Dodge County Dog’s Death, Sheriff Says

Richard Van Buren, the chairman of the Chester Town Board in Wisconsin, was arrested in the death of a golden retriever dog in rural...

Rep. Donovan, Greenfield Officials Outraged at Release of Accused Random Stabber

State Rep. Bob Donovan and top Greenfield officials are expressing outrage and concern over the release of a man who is accused of randomly...

Dodge County Dog’s Death Under Investigation by Wisconsin Sheriff

Update: Richard Van Buren, the chairman of the Town of Chester Board, has now been arrested. See the story here. The Dodge County Sheriff's Office...
Anthony LoCoco

Anthony LoCoco Running for WI Court of Appeals to Defend the Constitution

Note: Anthony LoCoco, of Waukesha, has worked for the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty and the Institute for Reforming Government. He is...

Milwaukee Alderman Voices Frustration at ‘Crumbling’ Roads, Massive Cost Estimate

The Common Council’s Finance and Personnel Committee heard from City Engineer Kevin Muhs today "about a newly released report from the Department of Public...

Oconomowoc Rotary Club Apologizes, Reverses Course After July 4 Parade Mess

The Oconomowoc Rotary Club has apologized for the mess surrounding its July 4 parade and will now allow political parties and elected representatives to...
Killed by Milwaukee Reckless Drivers Milwaukee Reckless Drivers Kill Box In Milwaukee Police

Milwaukee Police Officer Shot by Armed Suspect in Foot Chase, Department Says

Two ghost guns were recovered. A Milwaukee police officer was shot by an armed suspect who refused to drop his gun during a foot chase...

Milwaukee Police Association Raises Alarm on Low District 7 Staffing

The Milwaukee Police Association is raising the alarm about severely low staffing levels in District 7, one of the city's busiest police districts. The MPA,...
uw-madison Administrators at UW Schools

UW Employs 495 Foreign Nationals at Almost $43 Million a Year, But Won’t Release Their Names

With salaries ranging as high as $320,000 a year, are the foreign nationals getting taxpayer-funded jobs at UW instead of qualified U.S. citizens? The...
Governor’s Veto Powers Wisconsin Republicans Parental Bill of Rights Outlaw Child Sex Dolls Embrace Them Both Unemployment Reforms Wisconsin’s Professional Licensing Bail Reform Amendment wisconsin covid-19

Wisconsin Budget Negotiations Reach Impasse Between Evers, Legislature

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin budget negotiations have reached an impasse with both sides pointing fingers at the other in Wednesday afternoon statements.

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers said Republican Legislative leaders backed out of negotiations after he agreed to “an income tax cut targeting Wisconsin’s middle-class and working families and eliminating income taxes for certain retirees.” He said Republican leaders would not agree to “meaningful increased investments in child care, K-12 schools, and the University of Wisconsin System.”

Republican Assembly leaders said the two sides were "far apart. Senate leaders say Evers’ desires “extend beyond what taxpayers can afford.”

“The Joint Committee on Finance will continue using our long-established practices of crafting a state budget that contains meaningful tax relief and responsible spending levels with the goal of finishing on time,” said a statement from Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and Assembly Finance Co-Chairman Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam.

Evers said that there were meetings between the sides every day this week before the impasse.

“I told Republicans I’d support their half of the deal and their top tax priorities – even though they’re very similar to bills I previously vetoed – because I believe that’s how compromise is supposed to work, and I was ready to make that concession in order to get important things done for Wisconsin’s kids,” Evers said.

Senate Republican leadership said that good faith negotiations have occurred since April on a budget compromise.

“Both sides of these negotiations worked to find compromise and do what is best for the state of Wisconsin,” said a statement from Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, and Senate Joint Finance Co-Chairman Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green.

In early May, the Joint Committee on Finance took 612 items out of Gov. Tony Evers’ budget proposal, including Medicaid expansion in the state, department creations and tax exemptions.

Born previously estimated that Evers’ budget proposal would lead to $3 billion in tax increases over the two-year span.

Wisconsin Policy Forum estimated that the proposal would spend down more than $4 billion of the state’s expected $4.3 billion surplus if it is enacted.

hannah dugan

Milwaukee Police Refuse to Release NEW Hannah Dugan Body Cam Video, Citing Crime ‘Prevention,’ in Part

The Milwaukee Police Department has refused to release a new Hannah Dugan police body cam video, citing, in part, crime "prevention" and "detection" and...

DHS Puts 4 Wisconsin Cities & Counties on Formal Notice, Says They ‘Defy Federal Law’

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security placed two Wisconsin counties and two cities on notice on May 29, saying they are defying federal law...

DOJ Begins California Title IX Investigation Over ‘Trans’ Boys Dominating Girls’ Sports

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division announced it is investigating California for violating Title IX by allowing males to participate in female student sports.

“Title IX exists to protect women and girls in education,” said Harmeet K. Dhillon, assistant attorney general for Civil Rights. “It is perverse to allow males to compete against girls, invade their private spaces, and take their trophies.”

In February, President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning males from participating in female student sports, and he has threatened to block California's federal funding for continuing to defy his order. With California facing deficits in the tens of billions of dollars each year, it's unclear how the state would offset any losses or pauses in federal funding.

Notably, California Gov. Gavin Newsom hosted conservative pundit Charlie Kirk on his podcast and told Kirk that he thinks it’s “deeply unfair” that boys are participating in girls’ sports.

When asked later at a press conference what this means for state policy, Newsom demurred, painting the matter as a marginal, non-issue not worth his time.

“You're talking about a very small number of people, a very small number of athletes, and my responsibility is to address the pressing issues of our time,” said Newsom.

The California Interscholastic Federation, which governs student sports in California, has since responded to Trump’s threat by announcing a new pilot program to allow girls who otherwise would have qualified for sports finals had the finalist spots in girls’ sports not been taken by transgender-identifying boys to participate in said finals.

Title IX was signed into law by President Richard Nixon in 1972 to ensure that schools could not discriminate against female students. It requires they be provided with equal opportunities to engage in athletics, extracurriculars and education.

DOJ’s letter of interest says it is investigating whether California’s Assembly Bill 1266, which requires transgender-identifying students to be allowed to participate in sports consistent with their gender identities, violates Title IX.

“As a result of CIF’s policy, California’s top-ranked girls’ triple jumper, and second-ranked girls’ long-jumper, is a boy,” wrote the DOJ. “As recently as May 17, this male athlete was allowed to take winning titles that rightfully belong to female athletes in both events.”

“This male athlete will now be allowed to compete against those female athletes again for a state title in long, triple, and high jump,” continued the DOJ. “Other high school female athletes have alleged that they were likewise robbed of podium positions and spots on their teams after they were forced to compete against males.”

Should the DOJ find California is in violation of Title IX, it says it will “take appropriate action to eliminate that discrimination, including seeking injunctive relief.”