sam kuffel
Sam Kuffel and Elon Musk

CBS 58’s Sam Kuffel Kerfuffle: Who’s Right, Who’s Wrong

By WRN Voices
spot_img

This is an opinion piece.

What to make of the Sam Kuffel kerfuffle?

In case you missed it, Milwaukee’s CBS 58 and Weigel Broadcasting fired the weather forecaster after conservative talk show host Dan O’Donnell exposed Instagram posts that she made unfairly criticizing Elon Musk for supposedly making a “Nazi” salute (which I don’t think Musk actually did.)

That’s sparked heated criticism, mostly from the left, against the network, O’Donnell, and its news director, Jessie Garcia. Frankly, a lot of the liberal arguments against the firing are silly and hypocritical, although I don’t disagree with their ultimate conclusion.

There are some gray areas here, in contrast to the simplistic arguments being tossed around:

Firing Her Goes Too Far, But a Private Company Has a ‘Right’ to Uphold Its Own Policies

Knowing what we know now, I do not think Sam Kuffel should have been fired. She’s a young meteorologist whose career could be completely destroyed by this. I’m not a fan of cancel culture, and that’s also true for people I disagree with. I also have empathy for young people just starting out in the world, and sometimes they make mistakes they need to learn from.

If she violated her contract or a workplace policy due to the posts (which I’m not clear on because of CBS 58’s abysmal handling of this), suspend, reprimand, or counsel her. I have empathy for anyone who ends up on the other end of a media juggernaut, especially when they’re just starting out in the world. You don’t get to erase Google, and it affords people no second chances. The Internet is written in ink, not pencil. I believe in second chances – unless there’s some pattern here that we don’t know about. She has caused controversy through her use of social media before.

To be clear, if the station has a policy on social media that Kuffel violated (which is unclear because of their non-transparency), and because they claim objectivity and are a private company, I think they’re likely in their “rights” to fire her. She brought this on herself, and she isn’t the “victim” here. Not arguing otherwise. I would have stopped short of firing her though, for the reasons previously articulated. My opinion might change if there’s a long history of warnings, but that’s not information we know either way because of the station’s lack of transparency. Sam Kuffel says the posts were made on a private account, which also matters.

Many People Don’t Believe CBS 58 & Other Corporate Media Are Objective Anyway

The firing appears to be based on the corporate media’s smug and faulty assumption that they are the “objective” ones, which I think a large part of the country simply doesn’t believe anymore. The United States had a partisan press in its earlier days. There’s an argument to just put it out there and be honest about where you’re coming from.

I think some journalists would argue, “She’s supposed to be objective. Journalists aren’t supposed to share their political opinions.” However, at least half the country doesn’t believe they’re objective anyway. They think it’s a lie. The media made their bed on that angle with how unfairly they’ve covered Trump (and some local issues). Pretty much the only people who think they’re objective are apparently the folks running their news meetings and liberals who don’t want them to be.

I’ve heard people on BOTH sides arguing that she has “free speech” or a “right to her opinions.” She doesn’t really, not in a corporate workplace. CBS 58 is a private company. They get to set their own rules. People misunderstand the First Amendment. It bars government intrusion on free speech, not a private company’s. But I think this belief derives from a historic distrust in the media’s fairness. I think it comes from a belief that they’re not objective anyway.

She spouted off about politics knowing her station claims objectivity. She took the risk. That being said, a lot of younger people believe they have a “right” to say whatever they want, whenever and wherever they want, when corporate policies often say otherwise. That’s why I’d counsel her (or suspend/reprimand).

Journalists HIDING Their Political Biases While Creating Biased Narratives Is a Bigger Issue

CBS 58 did some really unfair reporting of Republican Tim Michels in the governor’s race, for example. I’m more concerned about that than a weather forecaster spouting off on a private Instagram page. I’m more troubled by the bias some journalists HIDE while twisting the facts or omitting information to create misleading narratives (case in point: Milwaukee “journalist” Dan Bice’s unfair hatchet job on Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel the other day.) The list goes on and on.

At Wisconsin Right Now, we don’t hide our opinions, but we also use journalistic techniques to report stories (open records, source verification, fact-checking, interviewing, etc.) We believe our mission is to tell people the verifiable facts and information that the other media ignore, omit, censor, or twist. But we don’t hide who we are. We are very clear on our mission. They’re not.

It’s very revealing and arguably hilarious that some on the left are basically arguing that people in the media should be able to take personal political positions as long as those opinions attack conservatives or further liberal talking points while simultaneously claiming the liberal media are the objective ones (which pretty much no one right of center believes.) It’s completely inconsistent, and they can’t even see that. To be clear, I believe journalists should strive to be fair. They should verify the information they report and document facts. If they can’t prove it, they shouldn’t print it. But that’s a different question.

She’s a Meteorologist, Not a Reporter

She’s not a reporter. She’s a meteorologist. That makes a difference in this “objectivity” analysis. Not sure how her opinions on Elon Musk could possibly taint her predictions of bad weather.

Double Standards Abound

Fox 6 Milwaukee Anchorman Ted Perry was treated differently over an inflammatory social media post. So there is that. (I’m consistent on this. We wrote a column arguing that Perry’s posts were outrageous, but he shouldn’t be canceled, either.) There’s definitely a double standard here. I’ve lost count of how many people on the left think I should be canceled because they don’t agree with all of my opinions. So they’re hypocrites in many cases. But that doesn’t mean I will be one.

It’s ridiculous for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel to compare Kuffel’s situation to Jay Weber. Jay is a talk show host – a pundit and opinionmaker who doesn’t claim objectivity.

A Fairer Read of the Situation Is That Elon Musk Didn’t Intend to Make a ‘Nazi Salute,’ But It’s a Matter of Opinion, Not Fact

It’s fair game to criticize Sam Kuffel’s posts, though. Many on the left who are defending her are arguing that she was right to call out a Nazi! Or, they argue, “If you can’t call out someone for making a Nazi salute, what can you do?” They are acting like it’s a FACT that Elon Musk made a Nazi salute. I do not believe he did. When you watch the video in totality of the context, it’s obvious he was saying my heart goes out to you.

Elon is awkward in mannerisms; people with Asperger’s sometimes miss social cues. His record on Israel seems clear; even Netanyahu is defending him. Thus, when you look at the full picture contextually and fairly (yes, “OBJECTIVELY”), the fairer read is that he wasn’t intending to give a Nazi salute. Minimally, it’s arguable that he wasn’t intending to give a Nazi salute.

Sam kuffel

That means it’s a subjective opinion whether he gave a Nazi salute, not a fact. I believe this follows a trend in which some on the left increasingly are throwing objectivity out the window anyway in the Age of Trump. They believe left-wing opinions are the “human norm,” or the “facts,” and it’s wrong to be “objective” or to give Trump or Musk a fair shake. I find that revealing. I personally don’t agree with Kuffel’s posts because I do not believe that the fairest read is to assume Musk was making a Nazi salute. I don’t personally believe he was.

CBS 58 & Weigel Have Done a Terrible Job Explaining This to the Public

What her contract says and what their policies say matters, and CBS 58/Weigel have done a very poor job of explaining why they took the action they did. Crisis management 101: Just explain clearly what you did and why. They’re hiding behind vaguely word statements about “not talking about personnel issues.” They’ve got a big problem here.

I know two older Democrats who live in the Milwaukee area. I’ve never seen them so upset about anything in the local media before! Both were going to write CBS 58, call for managers to be fired, etc etc. They said they loved watching Sam Kuffel and kept referring to her as “just a young kid who was our favorite weather person.” I was at dinner with them and it was all they talked about. They were hot under the collar. CBS 58 has done a terrible job of explaining this action.

Some of the Criticism of Jessie Garcia & Dan O’Donnell Is Beyond the Pale

I’ve known CBS 58 news director Jessie Garcia for a long time, although I haven’t talked to her for years other than to place interns. I actually went to preschool with her, believe it or not, and then we lost touch (since preschool) and grew up in different communities. I then worked with her for several years. The people accusing her of being rightwing or supporting a “Nazi” or whatever are being ridiculous.

She’s really not very political behind the scenes, and I don’t even know for sure what her politics are, but I would be very surprised if she was conservative. The personal attacks are really over the top. Criticizing her for firing Kuffel is fair game, though. If she made the call. I’m not clear whether she made the call or whether people above her did, though, because, again, CBS 58 and Weigel (and Jessie) have done a terrible job explaining this.

Similarly, I’ve known Dan O’Donnell for a long time. The personal attacks against O’Donnell are also beyond the pale. It was absolutely fair game for him to criticize Kuffel’s posts due to their content, her position, and CBS 58’s claims of objectivity. If she didn’t want people to criticize her politics, then don’t go on point and throw out incendiary political positions on social media.

Proportion, People

I guess what I’m arguing for here is proportion. I wouldn’t have fired her for this, based on what we know now, but I also don’t think it’s beyond the pale to criticize her posts, and some of the liberal arguments against doing so don’t make sense.

These opinions are my own and don’t represent any institution where I work.

spot_img
evers

Wisconsin Voters More Concerned About Property Taxes More Than School Funding

The Center Square -

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin taxpayers are growing in their concern over property taxes, as witnessed by a recent Marquette poll showing that 60% of voters are more concerned about reducing property taxes than increasing spending on public schools.

That opinion has shifted over time as 61% of voters were more concerned about funding for schools in Aug. 2018 and polling shifted from favoring funding for schools to being more concerned about property taxes in between late 2022 and mid-2023, according to the poll.

The most recent poll asked questions of 818 Wisconsin registered voters between Feb. 11-19.

The shift comes as state lawmakers continue to debate what the best policy is to spend an expected $2.5 billion surplus at the end of the fiscal year.

Legislative Republicans sent a plan to Gov. Tony Evers that includes $1.5 billion in income tax rebates, $500 million in money for the state's school tax levy credit and $200 million included for special education funding.

Evers said during his State of the State speech that the plan for property tax relief and education spending must balance the two "a heck of a lot better.”

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos acknowledged during a press conference that Evers won’t negotiate on the school funding he approved with a partial veto that Republicans refer to as Evers’ 400-year property tax increase.

Evers used a partial veto and erased numbers and a hyphen to change “2024-25” to “2425” in the budget bill, locking in a $325 per student per year funding increase for 400 years.

That veto was the subject of a Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling approving the move and then legislation and a constitutional amendment proposal to change the governor’s partial veto power since.

Lawmakers Request DOJ Probe Into Whether Somali Fraud and ICE Protests Are Linked

The Center Square -

The U.S. House Oversight Committee is requesting that the Department of Justice investigate whether the Somali welfare fraud and anti-immigration enforcement protests in Minnesota are connected.

In a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Republican lawmakers suggested the possibility that there exists “organized efforts to obstruct law enforcement with foreign influences and criminal activities, including fraud.”

“The Committee believes it is imperative to assess whether foreign-sourced funding and/or proceeds of financial crimes, particularly those involving federal funds, may be contributing to, or otherwise exacerbating unrest and efforts to obstruct law enforcement,” the lawmakers, led by Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., wrote Monday.

Their request for a DOJ briefing on the matter follows President Donald Trump’s previous comments that the Minnesota Somali fraud scandal "is at least partially responsible for the violent organized protests going on in the streets.”

The estimated $9 billion in welfare fraud was uncovered in October, and by December nearly 100 people – including 85 Somali immigrants – faced criminal charges, with dozens pleading guilty.

Among other schemes, fraudsters had falsely claimed children had autism to obtain benefits and enrolled ineligible individuals in food assistance programs.

On Jan. 7, protests in the Twin Cities region erupted after a federal immigration enforcement officer fatally shot a Minnesota resident and American citizen who authorities say attempted to hit agents with her car.

The committee believes the incidents “suggest coordinated or systemic activity” and is urging the DOJ to investigate “whether large-scale financial crimes involving federal funds may contribute to broader public safety or civil order challenges” related to immigration.

“The scale and duration of these schemes have raised concerns regarding whether fraud proceeds are being laundered or otherwise routed through nonprofit or organizational entities in ways that evade oversight,” lawmakers wrote. “As much of this fraud has disproportionally involved Minnesota’s immigrant community, targeted enforcement operations by ICE play a key role in stopping this systemic corruption.”

Fraudsters have taken advantage of Medicaid-funded services through Minnesota Department of Human Services programs for years, particularly targeting COVID-19 era programs, The Center Square reported.

In light of the newest revelations, Republicans have accused state officials of suppressing fraud reports and punishing whistleblowers, which Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has denied.

Gov. Tim Walz recently unveiled his “comprehensive anti-fraud package,” but only after the Trump administration halted nearly $260 million in Medicaid funds to the state.

DOJ Indicts 30 More in St. Paul Church Protest Case

The Center Square -

Dozens have now been indicted on federal charges related to a protest that disrupted a Jan. 18 church service in St. Paul.

U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced another round of arrests following the release of an indictment charging 30 additional people.

“YOU CANNOT ATTACK A HOUSE OF WORSHIP. If you do so, you cannot hide from us — we will find you, arrest you, and prosecute you,” Bondi said in a statement on social media. “This Department of Justice STANDS for Christians and all Americans of faith.”

This comes following widespread calls for arrests in the wake of the protest, which quickly captured attention far beyond Minnesota. The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating the protest, which was organized in part by members of Black Lives Matter Minnesota.

Video posted by the group shows protesters chanting “ICE out” and “justice for Renee Good” during the Sunday morning service at Cities Church. Another video circulating on social media shows Kelly calling congregants “pretend Christians” and “comfortable white people.”

Caleb Phillips, a congregant at the church, told The Center Square in an exclusive interview that the protestors were seated throughout the congregation before the service began.

“The entire congregation came alive. Individuals who are planted from front to back throughout the entire place stood up,” Phillips said. “It felt like we were surrounded, because they were all throughout the congregation.”

Reports allege the protesters discovered one of the church’s pastors works for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, calling the protest a “clandestine mission.”

The church protest came in the wake of the Jan. 7 killing of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good during an encounter with ICE officers conducting enhanced immigration enforcement.

Journalist Don Lemon, a former CNN anchor who was inside the church covering the protest, is one of the most high-profile arrests made in conjunction with the protest. At the time, he defended the protestors.

“I imagine it’s uncomfortable and traumatic for the people here,” Lemon said during a livestream of the protest at service. “But, that’s what protesting is about.”

Lemon joined others who were indicted by a federal grand jury in Minnesota in January on two counts:

• conspiracy against right of religious freedom at a place of worship

• and injure, intimidate, and interfere with exercise of the right of religious freedom at a place of worship

Those charges stem from the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act of 1994, which prohibits obstruction or threats at abortion clinics and places of worship.

When Bondi made the announcement on Friday, 25 of the 30 had already been arrested, while more were expected to come throughout the day. That brings the total to 39 people who have been arrested for their part in the protest.

True North Legal Director of Litigation Doug Wardlow, the firm representing Cities Church, released a statement applauding the arrests.

“The indictment . . . sends a clear message: houses of worship are off limits for those who would use chaos and intimidation to advance a political agenda,” Wardlow said. “Cities Church is grateful for the Department of Justice’s continued commitment to enforcing federal law to protect churches and other places of worship. The Department’s aggressive prosecution of this case affirms a foundational principle: in the United States, the sanctuary remains a sanctuary.”

sylvia ortiz-velez

Sylvia Ortiz-Velez: Wisconsin Constitution Likely PROHIBITS Her Prosecution, Experts Say

Jessica McBride -
"Given that her conduct was speech-based and directed toward her colleagues in the Legislature, I think it would fall into that protection" - former...

Sandy Wiedmeyer, Ellen Schutt Are Running for Steve Nass’s Senate Seat

wisconsin -
Two conservative candidates have stepped forward to replace the retiring Republican state Senator Steve Nass. Former State Representative Ellen Schutt previously announced her candidacy. Now,...
rebecca cooke

Where Is Rebecca Cooke? Former Leftist Fundraiser Remains SILENT on Iran

Jessica McBride & Jim Piwowarczyk -
Where is Rebecca Cooke? That's the question former Navy SEAL chief Derrick Van Orden is asking after the former leftist fundraiser remained conspicuously silent...
greta neubauer

Former Prosecutor: Sylvia Ortiz-Velez Complaint Lacks ‘Sufficient Facts…to Support Probable Cause’

Jessica McBride -
"A basic reading of the criminal complaint calls into question whether there’s probable cause, and, if it were challenged at an initial appearance, whether...
Victor Huyke

Latino Newspaper Publisher Slams Sylvia Ortiz-Velez Charge as ‘Ridiculous…Retaliation’

Jessica McBride -
"I thought it was ridiculous," Latino newspaper publisher Victor Huyke said of the criminal complaint against state Rep. Sylvia Ortiz-Velez. "It was vague. I...
josh kaul

Josh Kaul’s Eau Claire Office Has NO Drug Investigators, Causing ‘Unnecessary Deaths’: Tribal Leader

Jessica McBride -
"Josh Kaul needs to immediately recommit the necessary resources to protect northern Wisconsin" - DA Eric Toney. A key tribal leader told the state Legislature...
david crowley

Wisconsin Democrat David Crowley Bashes USA Men’s Hockey Team

Jessica McBride -
We thought Mandela Barnes' post wishing the Supreme Leader of Iran a wonderful year took the prize. But now there's another contender for the...
team usa

The USA Men’s Hockey Team Are Heroes, But Liberals Can’t Stop Raging

Wisconsin Right Now Staff -
The players for Team USA men's hockey are American heroes. These young Americans, with their gap-toothed smiles and American flags, are exactly what America...
steve wicklund

Steve Wicklund Announces Republican Campaign for Robin Vos Assembly Seat

Jessica McBride -
Steve Wicklund, Village President of Union Grove and Chair of the Racine County Intergovernmental Cooperation Council, announced today that he is running as a...
james troupis

Jim Troupis Motion Details Extreme Jill Karofsky, Rebecca Dallet Bias, Including Bizarre ‘Your King’ Comment

Jessica McBride -
In a new motion, former judge and Trump attorney Jim Troupis is calling for the recusal of state Supreme Court Justices Jill Karofsky and...
robin vos

WATCH: Robin Vos Announces He Isn’t Running for Re-Election. End of an Era

wisconsin -
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos just announced that he won’t run for reelection in November. His voice cracking, he revealed that he suffered a minor...

Wisconsin Online Gaming Bill Is Legal, Former Scalia Law Clerk Told Legislature

Jessica McBride -
A lawyer who worked as a clerk for conservative Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia authored a memo to the state Legislature explaining why he...
kevin hermening

Marine Veteran, Business Owner Kevin Hermening Announces Run for Congress: ‘Deep Local Roots’

Jessica McBride -
“This district deserves a representative who has lived here, worked here, and stood shoulder to shoulder with neighbors through both the good times and...

Courageous Band of Republican Legislators Gets 2 Major Women’s Healthcare Bills Through

Jessica McBride -
“This is a huge win for the women of Wisconsin” - Rep. Bob Donovan “It’s about the people, not the politics" - Rep. Pat Snyder A...
sara rodriguez

Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez Tells Brazen Lie About Waukesha County, Skips State of the State

Jessica McBride -
Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, who recently admitted that she "misspoke" on immigration, has now told a brazen lie about Waukesha County, then skipped...

How Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis Approved an Online Gaming Plan Similar to Wisconsin’s Proposal

Jessica McBride -
This is the 3rd part in Wisconsin Right Now's series exploring aspects of the Wisconsin online sports wagering controversy that aren't getting much media...

The $31 Billion Company With Foreign Roots That Is Trying to Kill Wisconsin’s Online Gaming Bill

Jessica McBride -
Wisconsin Right Now is exploring the backgrounds of the two major online gaming companies trying to kill the online gaming bill here. This is...