Friday, April 19, 2024
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Friday, April 19, 2024

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

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Biased Attack on Rep. Barb Dittrich

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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Molly Beck specifically asked state Rep. Barb Dittrich for examples of transgender athletes in Wisconsin, but now the newspaper is running a slanted story with quotes critical of Dittrich for providing examples to the public.

A transgender athlete slammed Dittrich to the newspaper for running her totally obscured photo. But Dittrich never named or identified the athlete in any way. Only the newspaper and Molly Beck did that. Dittrich’s office took great pains to stress confidentiality for the athletes when responding to Beck’s request for examples and completely obscured their identities.

So the Journal Sentinel apparently thinks it’s newsworthy to write about how many examples there are of transgender athletes in Wisconsin, but it’s somehow wrong for Barb Dittrich to give examples without names and identities?

Rep. Barb dittrich

Got that? The newspaper is now running a negative article about the Republican lawmaker that trashes her for identifying an athlete only the Journal Sentinel identified and for providing examples when the newspaper asked for them, in a story in which the newspaper provides examples.

Meanwhile other stories that could be covered – say, what police reports revealed about Rep. David Bowen’s actions when a police officer was attacked at his own home or DA John Chisholm’s 60% non-prosecution rate – go uncovered.

Despite the negative slant against Dittrich in a video, story, and caption, it’s the Journal Sentinel that named athlete Emma Cameron and ran imagery that revealed her identity:

Rep. Barb dittrich

Dittrich didn’t:

Rep. Barb dittrich

Talk about a double standard. This is an example of a story the newspaper would claim is objective but that has a clear take: Convincing readers that it’s wrong to protect women’s right to fair competition in sports.

When Dittrich provided two examples to the public of transgender athletes who displaced women in competitions, she didn’t release the athletes’ names or identities. She says she provided the examples after false claims circulated on social media that there were none. This is somehow turned into a scandal by the Journal Sentinel.

The liberal newspaper tipped its hand that its negative story by Beck was forthcoming when it posted, over the weekend, a misleading video of the transgender athlete slamming Dittrich, a Republican from Oconomowoc who sponsored legislation called the Protecting Women in Sports Act.

For Dittrich, the issue is about women’s rights. Dittrich and other women who spoke at a press conference on March 3, 2021 extolled the importance of Title IX, which paved the way for women and girls to participate in sports. They said efforts to allow biologically male transgender athletes to compete in women’s and girls’ sports would roll back the provisions of that historic act, creating a non-level playing field. Among those supporting the Republican bills was Olympic speed skater Bonnie Blair-Cruikshank.

Dittrich said that “parents and athletes throughout my legislative district who have devoted countless hours to supporting fair competition and athletic excellence have come to me” and asked for the bills.

Back to the Journal Sentinel: The newspaper deleted the video slamming Dittrich without providing an explanation to readers.

However, the video was still available for some time on the newspaper’s Flipboard page before it was deleted there too. It was captioned, “Emma Cameron, 28, is a runner and transgender woman who had a photo of her running tweeted out without her permission by Rep. Barbara Dittrich.”

But, again, Dittrich completely obscured Cameron’s identity and didn’t name the athlete.

On Tuesday, May 11, the newspaper ran the story slanted to imply Dittrich’s bill is making an issue where there is none but that also paradoxically accuses her bill of causing harm, written by the same reporter who challenged Dittrich to provide examples, albeit after she had already provided them on Twitter. We obtained Beck’s emails through an open records request.

Rep. Barb dittrich

We think it all smacks of an attempt by the newspaper to gin up a misleading and biased narrative against Dittrich for sponsoring legislation that goes against liberal orthodoxy.

In misleading fashion, Cameron tells the newspaper in the video, “Barb Dittrich put up this photo of me competing” and said, “I felt existentially hurt by the representative’s attack, kind of calling me out on social media like that.”

Cameron said in Beck’s story, “It seemed like she was asking people to attack me.”

Again, Rep. Barb Dittrich’s tweet didn’t identify or name Cameron. Only JS did that. She was simply providing two anonymous case studies.

Dittrich’s tweet, which the newspaper could have quoted but didn’t, said, “Since I had the courage to introduce the protecting Women in Sports Act last week, I’ve faced plenty of criticism. One of the false claims is that there are ZERO examples of biological males edging out women in WI sports by competing as a transgender athlete. Here are examples of 2 transgender athletes who’ve knocked women out of placing in different sports recently. I have hid their identities because they bear the image of their Make and deserve not to be harassed. #InterntionalWomensDay.”

The Journal Sentinel, as with other media outlets, routinely runs photos taken in public places of people without getting their permission – for example, crowd shots at rallies. Cameron’s identity is not hidden in the JS video either.

“The very reason I did not grant Miss Beck an interview on this issue was the fact that I know her to be unfair in her coverage,” Dittrich told Wisconsin Right Now. She said she “originally shared these extremely obscured photos” because of false claims circulating on social media saying there were “no cases of transgender, biological males displacing female athletes in Wisconsin.”

Dittrich continued, “The only ones to reveal the name of any athlete have been the athlete herself and Molly Beck. The photo was not as presented by the athlete in the video interview and no one made any effort to attack her. It’s disgusting and unprofessional that Beck knows this to be false, yet she insists on advancing the false narrative.”

We reached out to Beck with a series of questions, but she didn’t get back to us, other than to ask about tweets we referenced in our questions.

We also obtained an email Beck wrote Dittrich about the deleted video through an open records request. “This was a video from our photo staff that was published before it was scheduled to be and editors unpublished it soon after it posted. The story and video are scheduled to publish Monday. Emma Cameron described the photo to me the same way as appears in your attachment. If you did reach out to Cameron before posting the photo of her, please let me know,” she told Dittrich.

Cameron told the newspaper, “I’m a proud trans athlete” who has competed in the female category “for years.” Yet Cameron then paradoxically claims to be upset about the prospect of public identification.

Cameron criticized the “recent wave of anti-trans bills that has been coming up.”

Cameron claimed to have had a “really rough time” after getting backlash from Dittrich’s tweet, but, again, Dittrich’s tweet neither named nor identified Cameron.

Cameron acknowledged, “I guess they took the photo and they put this black line across my eyes” – but actually the black box covered more than that. Cameron claimed, “Everyone knew who it was.”

Then, in contradictory fashion, Cameron switched from being concerned people could tell who she was to saying the black box “felt like an extra kick in the face.”

Here’s what Dittrich’s office wrote Beck, stressing confidentiality.

“Thank you for reaching out regarding AB 195 and AB 196. In researching this legislation, our office has both found instances, both in WI and around the nation, of biological males participating in women’s athletic competitions. The examples shared with you come from our constituents and articles. We would hope you would treat these individuals’ identities with the greatest sensitivity and respect. We have taken pains ourselves to be respectful and dignified in sharing these stories while not putting these individuals in the public eye unduly.

Examples
Individual A competed in the John Dick 50K and beat another Wisconsin woman who would’ve otherwise set a personal record.
Individual B competed in Birkebeiner Fat Bike and knocked two other biological women into lower finishing spots.
Additionally, several other women chose not to compete at all due to the perceived disadvantage.

We are not sharing the names out of the utmost respect for the safety of the transgender competitors. This information was shared with this office by women competing who feel their accomplishments have been stolen by transgender individuals who have the advantages of greater bone density, greater lung capacity, and greater muscle mass despite hormone treatment. Furthermore, Wisconsin law is ambiguous in regards to these rules and regulations. These bills would provide clarity and a clear expectation for athletes when engaging in competition.

The goal of this legislation is to create an athletic venue for all athletes without depriving women of the accomplishments they have worked so hard to achieve; providing safe, suitable venues of male, female, and all (co-ed) respects scientifically established differences while remaining respectfully inclusive.”

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(The Center Square) – One of the biggest critics of Wisconsin’s election administrator says no one should be threatening her and says threats don’t help fix election integrity issues.

State Rep. Janel Brandtjen, R-Menomonee Falls, on Tuesday offered her thoughts after the Wisconsin Elections Commission confirmed elections administrator Meagan Wolfe is receiving extra security protection.

"Threatening Administrator Meagan Wolfe, or any election official, is unacceptable and counterproductive. Venting frustrations on individuals like Wolfe, clerks, or poll workers is not only illegal but also harmful to rebuilding trust in our elections,” Brandtjen said. “Threats only undermine our republic and empower the courts and media. It's essential to address any concerns about election processes through legal channels. Threats have no place in our democracy.”

Brandtjen has been one of Wisconsin’s loudest critics of Wolfe. She led hearings as far back as 2021 into Wolfe’s role in the 2020 election. Brandtjen also led the push to get Wolfe removed from the Elections Commission.

“Wolfe’s term has indeed expired, and according to Wisconsin Statutes 15.61(1)(b)1, she should be removed, but Republicans are too worried about the press or too compromised to follow existing law.” Brandtjen said.

The Wisconsin Elections Commission on Monday clarified that Wolfe is receiving extra security but refused to offer any details.

“The Wisconsin Elections Commission has had productive conversations about safety and security with state leadership, including the governor’s office, which is tasked with approving security measures for state government officials,” WEC spokesperson Riley Vetterkind said in a statement. “Those conversations have resulted in additional security measures being approved for Administrator Wolfe and the WEC when the need arises.”

Brandtjen on Tuesday blamed Wisconsin Republicans, and once again blamed Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, for Wolfe’s continued time on the Elections Commission.

“It's disappointing that Sen. Dan Knodl and Rep. Scott Krug, chairs of the election committees, have not exercised their investigative and subpoena powers. This inaction has allowed the neglect of essential laws, such as providing ballots to individuals declared incompetent, lack of checks in military ballot requests, an insecure online system, and improper guidance on voting for homeless individuals without proper documentation,” she said. “The Legislature, particularly Speaker Vos' control, is responsible for the frustration caused by election irregularities due to their inaction.”

Wisconsin’s local election managers have reported an uptick in threats and angry rhetoric since the 2020 election, and some local election offices have taken extra precautions. But there haven’t been any cases in Wisconsin where someone has acted on an election threat.

Wisconsin’s Largest Business Group Sues Over Evers’ 400-year School Funding Veto

(The Center Square) – There is now a legal challenge to Gov. Tony Evers’ 400-year school funding veto.

The WMC Litigation Center on Monday asked the Wisconsin Supreme Court to take up their challenge to the governor’s summer veto that increased per-pupil funding for the next four centuries.

“At issue is Gov. Evers’ use of the so-called ‘Vanna White’ or ‘pick-a-letter’ veto,” the group said in a statement. “The governor creatively eliminated specific numbers in a portion of the budget bill that was meant to increase the property tax levy limit for school districts in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 fiscal years. By striking individual digits, the levy limit would instead be increased from the years 2023 to 2425 – or four centuries into the future.”

The WMC Litigation Center is an affiliate of Wisconsin Manufactures & Commerce (WMC), the combined state chamber and manufacturers’ association.

Litigation Center Executive Director Scott Rosenow said while Wisconsin’s governor has an incredibly powerful veto pen, there are limits.

“No Wisconsin governor has the authority to strike individual letters or digits to form a new word or number, except when reducing appropriations,” Rosenow said. “This action is not only unconstitutional on its face, but it is undemocratic because this specific partial veto allows school districts to raise property taxes for the next 400 years without voter approval.”

Wisconsin lawmakers and voters approved a constitutional amendment in 1990 that put limits on the governor’s veto power.

Rosenow and the WMC Litigation Center say the governor’s veto goes beyond those limits.

The legal challenge also raises the constitutional issue that all state spending has to originate with, and be approved by, the legislature.

“In no uncertain terms, 402 years is not less than or part of the two-year duration approved by the Legislature – it is far more,” concluded Rosenow. “The governor overstepped his authority with this partial veto, at the expense of taxpayers, and we believe oversight by the Court is necessary.”

The WMC Litigation Center is asking the Wisconsin Supreme Court to take the case as quickly as possible.

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Jury selection is set to begin Monday in the first-ever criminal trial of a former U.S. president.

Former President Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts related to charges he paid hush money to adult film actress Stormy Daniels through a lawyer and covered it up as a legal expense before being elected president.

Trump has attempted to delay the start of the New York state trial several times, including three longshot tactics judges rejected this week.

What charges does Trump face in the New York hush money case?

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has charged Trump with 34 counts of falsifying business records related to money paid to Daniels and another woman, former Playboy model Karen McDougal. Bragg has alleged Trump broke New York law when he falsified with the intent to commit or conceal another crime.

Prosecutors allege Trump falsified internal records kept by his company, hiding the true nature of payments that involve Daniels ($130,000), McDougal ($150,000), and Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen ($420,000). Prosecutors allege the money was logged as legal expenses, not reimbursements. Both Cohen and Daniels are expected to testify.

Cohen is expected to be a key witness in the trial. Daniels has said she expects to testify.

Former Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., Bragg's predecessor, did not bring the case to trial.

What happens on Monday?

Prosecutors, defense attorneys and Donald Trump are expected to be present when the trial before Judge Juan Merchan gets started Monday. The first step will be picking a jury, a process that could take a week or more depending on how things progress. The trial is expected to last six to eight weeks.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys will select 12 jurors and six alternates from a pool of potentially hundreds of people. Each juror will answer 42 questions designed to determine if they can be impartial in the high-profile trial of a polarizing former president. The jurors will remain anonymous because of security concerns.

Once a jury is seated, it's on to opening statements where prosecutors and defense attorneys will get to address the jury about what they plan to show during the trial.

What is Trump's defense to the charges?

Trump has maintained he did nothing wrong and has accused Bragg of bringing a politically motivated case involving conduct in 2016 during a presidential election year as Trump faces incumbent Joe Biden in a rematch of the 2020 election.

Trump has spoken out against the judge, the district attorney and other involved in the case repeatedly. Trump's comments prompted a gag order from the judge who said Trump can't talk publicly about certain people involved in the case and their families.

"The White House Thugs should not be allowed to have these dangerous and unfair Biden Trials during my campaign for President. All of them, civil and criminal, could have been brought more than three years ago. It is an illegal attack on a Political Opponent. It is Communism at its worst, and Election Interference at its Best. No such thing has ever happened in our Country before," Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social this week. "On Monday I will be forced to sit, GAGGED, before a HIGHLY CONFLICTED & CORRUPT JUDGE, whose hatred for me has no bounds. All of these New York and D.C. 'Judges' and Prosecutors have the same MINDSET. Nobody but this Soros Prosecutor, Alvin Bragg, wanted to take this ridiculous case. All legal scholars say it is a sham. BIDEN'S DOJ IS RUNNING THE CASE. Just think of it, these animals want to put the former President of the United States (who got more votes than any sitting President!), & the PARTY'S REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE, IN JAIL, for doing absolutely nothing wrong. It is a RUSH TO THE FINISH. SO UNFAIR!"

Will Trump take the stand?

That's not clear yet. Trump said last month that he'd be willing to testify at trial if needed.

Could Trump go to jail?

It's too earlier to tell what will happen if Trump is convicted. Under New York state law, falsifying business records in the first degree is a Class E felony that carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison.

Trump's age and lack of any prior criminal convictions could work in his favor at sentencing if he's convicted. His attacks on the judge could have the opposite effect at sentencing. Before sentencing, the judge would look at sentencing guidelines, recommendations from prosecutors and any other pre-sentence reports.

In late March, Trump said that he wasn't worried about a conviction when asked if he thought a conviction could hurt his chances of returning to the White House.

"It could also make me more popular because the people know it's a scam," he said. "It's a Biden trial, there is no trial, there's a Biden trial."

Whatever happens during the trial, Trump will be protected by the U.S. Secret Service.

Even if convicted and sentenced to jail, Trump could continue his campaign to re-take the White House.

"The Constitution does not bar felons from serving as President," said Richard Hasen, professor of law and political science at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Trump could not pardon himself from any state charges, Hasen said.

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(The Center Square) – Wisconsin’s next supreme court race could be even more contentious and even more expensive than the last one.

Liberal Justice Anne Walsh Bradley on Thursday surprised the state when she announced she will not run for re-election next year.

"My decision has not come lightly. It is made after careful consideration and reflection. I know I can do the job and do it well. I know I can win re-election, should I run. But it's just time to pass the torch, bring fresh perspectives to the court," Walsh Bradley said in a statement.

She is one of Wisconsin’s longest serving justices, serving her third 10-year term on the court.

“In the 177-year history of the court, only four justices have served longer than my length of service,” she wrote.

Walsh Bradley’s decision means the next election will be open.

Former Republican attorney general, and current Waukesha County judge, Brad Schimel has already jumped into the race. There aren’t any declared Democrats yet.

Schimel on Thursday said Walsh Bradley’s decision isn’t changing anything for him.

“From the beginning of my campaign, I made it clear that I’m not just running against one person, I’m running against this Court’s leftist majority,” Schimel said. “I wish Justice Ann Walsh Bradley well in retirement after decades of public service. I look forward to continuing the fight to bring integrity and respect for the Constitution back to the Supreme Court of Wisconsin.”

Wisconsin’s last race for the supreme court, in April of 2023, set records for spending. The race between Justice Janet Protasiewicz and former Justice Dan Kelly cost more than $56 million. That makes the 2023 Wisconsin race the most expensive judicial race in American history. Many court observers and politicos in Wisconsin say the 2025 race could be just as expensive, or even more expensive.

Protasiewicz’s victory flipped the Wisconsin Supreme Court to a 4-3 liberal majority for the first time in 15 years.

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