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How attack ads in elections for judges can affect sentencing

How attack ads in elections for judges can affect sentencing

Ads attacking Susan Crawford and Brad Schimel are prominent in the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court race, and research has shown such attack ads have impacts on how all judges make sentencing decisions.

Multiple stickers with the words I Voted Today sit on the surface of a laminate table top next to a self-inking stamp, pen, clear adhesive tape dispenser and a sheet of paper.

Madison voters whose ballots were not counted in November 2024 election launch class action lawsuit

Elon Musk speaks while looking over his left shoulder, with another person standing next to him and others in the background, in a room with arched doorways and a gilt frame of a painting.

A group funded by Musk is behind deceptive ads and texts in the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court race

Brad Schimel, Susan Crawford on the Jan. 6 pardons by Trump

Brad Schimel, Susan Crawford on the Jan. 6 pardons by Trump

Multiple cars are parked in roadside parking spaces next to a masonry wall with numerous arches enclosed with a metal fence and wood sign reading Waupun Correctional Institution, which stands in front of a tower with a peaked roof in the distance, along with a flagpole with the U.S. and Wisconsin flags and a tall light pole.

Waupun Correctional Institution reports its seventh inmate death in the past 2 years

An electronic voting machine with a three-sided folding paper privacy screen with an illustration of a U.S. flag and the word VOTE site on a table next to a wall, with four more voting booths with collapsible metal and plastic tables topped with privacy screens along the wall in the background, in a room with short-pile carpet and is illuminated by sunlight from large plate-glass windows on the rear wall.

Why does Wisconsin have spring elections?

Ben Wikler speaks while standing in front of a backdrop of multiple political campaign yard signs.

Wisconsin Democrats vow to 'punch back' at Musk's involvement in 2025 state Supreme Court race

Rust covers and surrounds the spigot of a metal drinking fountain with chipped paint.

Evers and Republican lawmakers wrestle over PFAS cleanup and liability proposals

The hand of one election worker that is also holding a pen passes a paper absentee ballot to the hand of another election worker above a table covered with stacks of absentee ballots bound with rubber bands on the surface of a wood table, with a United States Postal Service box in the background.

Audit of Trump's 2024 victory in Wisconsin finds not a single voting machine error

Side-by-side still images from video show Tammy Baldwin and Bryan Steil seated in rooms with objects on shelves behind them.

'Here & Now' Highlights: US Sen. Tammy Baldwin, US Rep. Bryan Steil, Michael Osterholm, Mary Pitsch

Stephanie Stevens holds a red-tailed hawk in her left hand wearing a falconry gauntlet while standing in a snow-covered field, with leafless trees in the background.

Midwest winters are changing, shifts that are reflected in challenges to falconry

A still image from a video shows Mochael Osterholm seated in front of with cabinets lined with books and multiple clocks with a graphic at bottom reading 'Minneapolis, MN,' 'Michael Osterholm' and 'Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy.'

Michael Osterholm on avian influenza and the risk to people

A still image from a video shows Mary Pitsch seated in front of multiple cabinets with items and a potted plant with a graphic at bottom reading 'Sheboygan,' 'Mary Pitsch' and 'Dementia Innovations.'

Mary Pitsch on the idea and goals of Livasu dementia village

Multiple stickers with the words I Voted Today sit on the surface of a laminate table top next to a self-inking stamp, pen, clear adhesive tape dispenser and a sheet of paper.

Madison voters whose ballots were not counted in November 2024 election launch class action lawsuit

Elon Musk speaks while looking over his left shoulder, with another person standing next to him and others in the background, in a room with arched doorways and a gilt frame of a painting.

A group funded by Musk is behind deceptive ads and texts in the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court race

Brad Schimel, Susan Crawford on the Jan. 6 pardons by Trump

Brad Schimel, Susan Crawford on the Jan. 6 pardons by Trump

Multiple cars are parked in roadside parking spaces next to a masonry wall with numerous arches enclosed with a metal fence and wood sign reading Waupun Correctional Institution, which stands in front of a tower with a peaked roof in the distance, along with a flagpole with the U.S. and Wisconsin flags and a tall light pole.

Waupun Correctional Institution reports its seventh inmate death in the past 2 years

An electronic voting machine with a three-sided folding paper privacy screen with an illustration of a U.S. flag and the word VOTE site on a table next to a wall, with four more voting booths with collapsible metal and plastic tables topped with privacy screens along the wall in the background, in a room with short-pile carpet and is illuminated by sunlight from large plate-glass windows on the rear wall.

Why does Wisconsin have spring elections?

Ben Wikler speaks while standing in front of a backdrop of multiple political campaign yard signs.

Wisconsin Democrats vow to 'punch back' at Musk's involvement in 2025 state Supreme Court race

Rust covers and surrounds the spigot of a metal drinking fountain with chipped paint.

Evers and Republican lawmakers wrestle over PFAS cleanup and liability proposals

The hand of one election worker that is also holding a pen passes a paper absentee ballot to the hand of another election worker above a table covered with stacks of absentee ballots bound with rubber bands on the surface of a wood table, with a United States Postal Service box in the background.

Audit of Trump's 2024 victory in Wisconsin finds not a single voting machine error

Side-by-side still images from video show Tammy Baldwin and Bryan Steil seated in rooms with objects on shelves behind them.

'Here & Now' Highlights: US Sen. Tammy Baldwin, US Rep. Bryan Steil, Michael Osterholm, Mary Pitsch

Stephanie Stevens holds a red-tailed hawk in her left hand wearing a falconry gauntlet while standing in a snow-covered field, with leafless trees in the background.

Midwest winters are changing, shifts that are reflected in challenges to falconry

A still image from a video shows Mochael Osterholm seated in front of with cabinets lined with books and multiple clocks with a graphic at bottom reading 'Minneapolis, MN,' 'Michael Osterholm' and 'Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy.'

Michael Osterholm on avian influenza and the risk to people

A still image from a video shows Mary Pitsch seated in front of multiple cabinets with items and a potted plant with a graphic at bottom reading 'Sheboygan,' 'Mary Pitsch' and 'Dementia Innovations.'

Mary Pitsch on the idea and goals of Livasu dementia village

Round badge with "WISCONSIN VOTE" text, stars, and red and white stripes.

Wisconsin Vote

During election season, Wisconsin Vote provides voters with information about candidates and races, election results, and election resources for educators.

Recent Here & Now Video

More Here & Now 2025

How attack ads in elections for judges can affect sentencing

How attack ads in elections for judges can affect sentencing

Brad Schimel, Susan Crawford on the Jan. 6 pardons by Trump

Brad Schimel, Susan Crawford on the Jan. 6 pardons by Trump

An electronic voting machine with a three-sided folding paper privacy screen with an illustration of a U.S. flag and the word VOTE site on a table next to a wall, with four more voting booths with collapsible metal and plastic tables topped with privacy screens along the wall in the background, in a room with short-pile carpet and is illuminated by sunlight from large plate-glass windows on the rear wall.

Why does Wisconsin have spring elections?

Indigenous

A printed sign with the seal of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa above the words Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indian Reservation, By Order of the Lac du Flambeau Tribal Council There Shall Be No Trespassing, No Trapping, No Hunting on Tribal Lands by Non-Band Members, Offenders Will Be Prosecuted in the LDF Tribal Court System and contact information is attached to a wood road barrier with a metal chain hanging underneath it above a road covered in snow.

Tribal sovereignty at center of Wisconsin road dispute

Jon Greendeer sits in a high-back chair with flags in the background.

Ho-Chunk Nation offers free tribal IDs amid ICE fears

A still image from a video shows Tehassi Hill seated in front of a U.S. flag to his right and a black picture frame on a wall to his left with a graphic at bottom reading 'Oneida,' 'Chairman Tehassi Hill' and 'Oneida Nation.'

Chairman Tehassi Hill on Trump's orders and tribal nations

In Focus with Saghar Homayounpour: 2024 Teacher of the Year

In Focus with Saghar Homayounpour: 2024 Teacher of the Year

In Focus with John Ridley: Storytelling, film and community

In Focus with John Ridley: Storytelling, film and community

In Focus with David Maraniss: Covering news, writing history

In Focus with David Maraniss: Covering news, writing history

Wisconsin Regional News

Southeast Region

A still image from a video shows Mary Pitsch seated in front of multiple cabinets with items and a potted plant with a graphic at bottom reading 'Sheboygan,' 'Mary Pitsch' and 'Dementia Innovations.'

Mary Pitsch on the idea and goals of Livasu dementia village

Rep. Angelina Cruz on running unopposed as a Democrat

Rep. Lindee Brill on Republicans and the Wisconsin Assembly

Milwaukee schools audit identifies planning and operational issues, calls for more transparent practices

Southeast Region News

Northeast Region

Multiple cars are parked in roadside parking spaces next to a masonry wall with numerous arches enclosed with a metal fence and wood sign reading Waupun Correctional Institution, which stands in front of a tower with a peaked roof in the distance, along with a flagpole with the U.S. and Wisconsin flags and a tall light pole.

Waupun Correctional Institution reports its seventh inmate death in the past 2 years

Chancellor Michael Alexander on the finances of UW-Green Bay

Republicans Steil, Van Orden and Wied win Wisconsin US House seats in 2024 election

Wisconsin Republicans look to reelect a US House incumbent and retain an open seat

Northeast Region News

South Central Region

Multiple stickers with the words I Voted Today sit on the surface of a laminate table top next to a self-inking stamp, pen, clear adhesive tape dispenser and a sheet of paper.

Madison voters whose ballots were not counted in November 2024 election launch class action lawsuit

Waupun Correctional Institution reports its seventh inmate death in the past 2 years

How one Wisconsin landowner is using non-lethal methods to manage beavers

Madison and Nashville school shooters appear to have crossed paths in online extremist communities

South Central Region News

Northern Region

A printed sign with the seal of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa above the words Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indian Reservation, By Order of the Lac du Flambeau Tribal Council There Shall Be No Trespassing, No Trapping, No Hunting on Tribal Lands by Non-Band Members, Offenders Will Be Prosecuted in the LDF Tribal Court System and contact information is attached to a wood road barrier with a metal chain hanging underneath it above a road covered in snow.

Tribal sovereignty at center of Wisconsin road dispute

Federal judge orders Lac du Flambeau roads to remain open

Wisconsin's rural homelessness crisis and the ongoing fight to do 'more with less'

Wisconsin detects a human bird flu case in Barron County

Northern Region News

West Central Region

Stephen Nick on transports of unhoused people to Eau Claire

Stephen Nick on transports of unhoused people to Eau Claire

David Minor on the Chippewa Valley's health care needs, gaps

US Supreme Court rejects challenge to an Eau Claire schools policy covering transgender students

Sydney Widell, Nancy Wedwick on floods, dams and community

West Central Region News

Southwest Region

Sydney Widell, Nancy Wedwick on floods, dams and community

Sydney Widell, Nancy Wedwick on floods, dams and community

Dave Eggen on opposing plans to remove dams in the Driftless

Mark Erickson on assessing earthen dam stability and failure

Bob Micheel on plans to remove Coon Creek dams after floods

Southwest Region News

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