Jim Malewitz

Jim Malewitz

@jmalewitz.bsky.social

Managing editor of @wisconsinwatch.org and amateur old man baseball player. Alum: Bridge Michigan, Texas Tribune, Stateline, Iowa Watch. Following Vanilla Ice's call to collaborate and listen.

817 followers833 following571 posts

Jim Malewitz
@jmalewitz.bsky.social

You should always read what @mirandadunlap.bsky.social writes, but particularly this beautifully written story about a program pairing people with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease or dementia with UW-Madison students. wisconsinwatch.org/2026/10/wisc...

wisconsinwatch.orgHow Alzheimer’s and dementia patients teach Wisconsin’s next generation of health care workersThrough the New Friends program, students get experience connecting with people living with cognitive changes, and mentors get social connection during a particularly lonely time.

Jim Malewitz reposted

Phil Rocco
@philiprocco.bsky.social

"Hamilton said states that avoid federal aid might begin disaster recovery more quickly...if they don’t have to submit a detailed aid application to FEMA." A good followup piece of reporting would involve asking questions such as: "What is an intergovernmental program and why do we have them?"

politico.comFEMA tells states to handle disasters on their ownThe Trump administration plans to cut disaster aid in as few as six months and shift responsibility to states, FEMA's administrator said in remarks obtained by POLITICO.
Jim Malewitz
@jmalewitz.bsky.social

This is really an excellent read.

Wisconsin Watch@wisconsinwatch.org

The demand for electricity means line workers enjoy job security, lucrative salaries and union benefits without the need for a college degree. But the work can be dangerous. Read more about the work from reporter Natalie Yahr: wisconsinwatch.org/2026/10/wisc...

Jim Malewitz reposted

Jason Joyce
@jasonjoyce.bsky.social

Just a small illustration of how much the corporate chains messed up daily newspapers. This is the front page of the sports section of this morning's Wisconsin State Journal. Because the UW football team plays in LA this weekend, sporstwriter Colten Bartholomew was able to report...

Jim Malewitz reposted

Law Forward
@lawfwd.bsky.social

Wed. evening, the President repeated his pledge to send $5,000 to every adult American if his party retains majorities in Congress. But, WI law expressly rejects paying for votes or offering to pay for votes in any fashion writes Law Forward’s Jeff Mandell in @wisconsinwatch.org. buff.ly/CUu8FEA

wisconsinwatch.orgGuest opinion: Voters must stand up to leaders who act above the lawWisconsin’s election bribery laws mean little when powerful figures get away with violating them. But voters have the power to hold them accountable, Jeff Mandell writes.
Jim Malewitz
@jmalewitz.bsky.social

Don't miss this fun act of parfishapatory journalism by Trisha — I mean, Fisha — Young, who released her own sturgeon as well. Swim well, Frida!

Wisconsin Watch@wisconsinwatch.org

19th century overfishing and dams nearly wiped out lake sturgeon from the Milwaukee River basin. But 20 years of restoration have released 23,000+ fish. The DNR hopes to soon see the basin's first natural sturgeon spawn in more than a century. "Fisha" Young has more: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIXA...

youtube.com600 sturgeon released into the Milwaukee RiverYouTube video by Wisconsin Watch
Jim Malewitz
@jmalewitz.bsky.social

Hey, Wisconsin Bskyers! Do y'all subscribe to Forward, @wisconsinwatch.org's free weekly politics newsletter? If not, you're missing out. Here are a few snapshots of the great info in just today's edition. 👀https://wisconsinwatch.org/subscribe/

Jim Malewitz reposted

Tim Karr
@timkarr.bsky.social

Local, independent media have become early-warning systems exposing for communities the many harms of data centers being built in their backyards. I spoke to @jmalewitz.bsky.social about the great work Wisconsin Watch is doing to shed light on Big Tech's efforts to keep these harms from public view

pressingissues.orgWatching Wisconsin’s Secretive Data CentersHow local independent news outlets are alerting communities to the threats posed by Big Tech
Jim Malewitz
@jmalewitz.bsky.social

As good of a time as any to rewatch Dr. Strangelove.

Mediaite@mediaite.com

Ted Cruz Says U.S. Can’t Slow AI Growth: ‘I’d Rather They Be American Killer Robots!’

dlvr.itTed Cruz Says U.S. Can’t Slow AI Growth: ‘I’d Rather They Be American Killer Robots!’Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) argued that slowing AI growth in the U.S. would be an “impossible endeavor,” declaring, "I’d rather they be American killer robots!" The post Ted Cruz Says U.S. Can’t Slow AI Growth: ‘I’d Rather They Be American Killer Robots!’ first appeared on Mediaite.
Jim Malewitz
@jmalewitz.bsky.social

"Newcap called once a month to ask where the family slept the previous night, part of the process of Coordinated Entry... Newcap staff did not contact Gray to tell him the nonprofit closed, even though all of his mail had been going to the Newcap office in Green Bay."

Wisconsin Watch@wisconsinwatch.org

Homelessness in Wisconsin has risen 16% over the past five years, accounting for 5,200 people. Some of them are less visible, living in their cars day to day, taking their kids to school and finding safe places to park at night. Read their stories: wisconsinwatch.org/2026/09/wisc...

Jim Malewitz
@jmalewitz.bsky.social

"While the uptick in ectopic deaths occurred nationwide, the climb has been much steeper in states that banned abortion after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022." www.propublica.org/article/ecto...

propublica.orgEctopic Pregnancy Deaths Have Nearly Doubled. It’s Worse in States With Abortion Bans.With prompt and appropriate medical care, experts say, people shouldn’t die from an ectopic pregnancy. Women in Texas and Oklahoma have sued over delays in care, which, coupled with our new analysis, ...
Jim Malewitz
@jmalewitz.bsky.social

"The DHS document obtained by 404 Media shows that Border Patrol is analyzing the financial activity of Americans to find people to pull over." www.404media.co/a-secretive-...

404media.coA Secretive DHS ‘Predictive Policing’ Unit is Analyzing Americans' Financial Habits and Pulling Them Over404 Media is revealing the name of Border Patrol's predictive policing units, which analyze financial data and have local cops pull people over. The people are not suspected of any particular crime.
Jim Malewitz
@jmalewitz.bsky.social

Um...whoa: "Researchers have found that lake sturgeon swimming in the Great Lakes region may live longer than 400 years — far beyond previous estimates of 150 years." www.wpr.org/news/lake-st...

wpr.orgLake sturgeon may live hundreds of years longer than previously thought, study findsAn ancient freshwater fish that’s been around since dinosaurs roamed the Earth has now been found to live longer than researchers previously thought, according to a new study.
Jim Malewitz
@jmalewitz.bsky.social

The nearest emergency vet is at least an hour’s drive from Door County, but there’s no easy answer to the problem. Local clinics are too overwhelmed to offer emergency services, and there are likely not enough doctors or patients to justify opening an ER facility. wisconsinwatch.org/2026/08/wisc...

wisconsinwatch.orgVet shortage overwhelms clinics, leaves owners to drive hours for emergency careThe nearest emergency vet is at least an hour’s drive from Door County, but there’s no easy answer to the problem. Local clinics are too overwhelmed to offer emergency services, and there are likel…
Jim Malewitz
@jmalewitz.bsky.social

“The new emphasis on small-dollar fraud comes as the administration has issued pardons and commutations to white-collar convicts, pulled back from pursuing criminal cases against multinational corporations and dropped high-profile charges against wealthy executives.” www.nytimes.com/2026/08/14/u...

nytimes.comLittle Thefts, Big Charges: Trump’s Justice Dept. Targets Lesser Fraud (Gift Article)As the Trump administration drops charges against corporations and the wealthy, it is also taking aim at small-scale fraud cases, including against the operator of a weathered food truck in California...
Jim Malewitz
@jmalewitz.bsky.social

“Rather more worrying is the example of the US company BrainCo supplying EEG “Focus” headsets to primary school children in China, to monitor their concentration levels—data that was then uploaded to the company server and accessible by the teacher…” www.wired.com/story/book-e...

wired.comBig Tech Wants to Harvest Your ThoughtsSilicon Valley companies are already working on neurotechnology products that track your brain activity. The next privacy frontier might be the things you only think.
Jim Malewitz
@jmalewitz.bsky.social

From Michigan: "Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has formally opposed Consumers Energy’s planned sale of 13 hydropower dams to a private equity firm, joining a growing chorus of voices saying the deal would put taxpayers and potentially lives at risk." bridgemi.com/michigan-env...

bridgemi.comGretchen Whitmer joins chorus opposing Consumers sale of Michigan dams - Bridge MichiganThe governor said Consumers’ concessions on the sale have been “too little, too late” and the sale would pass too much risk to taxpayers.
Jim Malewitz
@jmalewitz.bsky.social

“The investigations, he added, fit patterns in US history of the government targeting leftwing activist and labor organizing. And after 9/11, he said, those powers to spy on communities were greatly expanded.”

Sam Levin@samtlevin.bsky.social

Inside DHS' "mass spying campaign" targeting leftist groups + ICE protesters: -undercover agents posed as protesters at meetings + secretly recorded -agents infiltrated Signal chats + encouraged others to do "direct action" -DHS got financial records of major groups, incl SEIU + Sunrise Movement

theguardian.comUS conducted ‘mass spying campaign’ against leftwing groups and anti-ICE protesters, records revealDHS sent undercover agents to meetings and infiltrated chats of groups opposing Trump’s immigration crackdown
Jim Malewitz
@jmalewitz.bsky.social

The story about truck and tractor pulls that I didn't know I needed.

Wisconsin Watch@wisconsinwatch.org

Truck and tractor pulls trace their roots to horse pulling, with a simple challenge at their heart: How much weight can you pull, and how far? Trisha Young returned to her hometown for the Racine County Fair's loud, lively truck and tractor pull on July 29. 👀 🛻: www.youtube.com/shorts/lNPnI...

youtube.comWisconsin truck and tractor pullsYouTube video by Wisconsin Watch
Jim Malewitz
@jmalewitz.bsky.social

Boy, do I love a story about a group that meets a super-specific need while also building community.

Wisconsin Watch@wisconsinwatch.org

A group in Oshkosh saw an opportunity to build community...and nailed it. 🪚🔨 The Oshkosh Tool Library lets residents borrow everything from hand trucks to power tools for free — helping neighbors help neighbors. wisconsinwatch.org/2026/07/wisc...

Jim Malewitz
@jmalewitz.bsky.social

"Wisconsin court records show no prior criminal convictions or civil citations under his name."

Wisconsin Watch@wisconsinwatch.org

A federal appeals court has cleared the way for some immigrants in ICE custody in Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana to seek bond hearings. The case concerned Jaciel Cirrus Rojas, who was apprehended in Racine during a search for someone else. wisconsinwatch.org/2026/07/wisc...

Jim Malewitz
@jmalewitz.bsky.social

Look for the helpers.

Wisconsin Watch@wisconsinwatch.org

An EF3 tornado tore through Appleton, Menasha and Neenah on Monday, leaving thousands without power and many recovering from devastating losses. Volunteers and business owners have stepped up to clear debris, distribute food and water and more. Read more: wisconsinwatch.org/2026/07/volu...

Jim Malewitz
@jmalewitz.bsky.social

This is such a powerful photo from Angela Major of WPR. Caption: Protesters approach attendees of a Concerts on the Square event Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Madison, Wis, after a Madison man was shot and killed by a police officer earlier that day.

Jim Malewitz
@jmalewitz.bsky.social

“Lindell does not need to be registered to vote in Minnesota to run for office here. But his lack of knowledge about his voter registration status is notable for a candidate who has called for strict scrutiny of voter rolls…” www.startribune.com/mike-lindell...

startribune.comMike Lindell, Trump’s pick for governor, isn’t registered to vote in MinnesotaTexas lists an active voter registration for the Republican businessman, who has drawn criticism for moving there and returning.

Jim Malewitz reposted

Kyle Clark
@kylec.bsky.social

NEW: Aurora Police say an ICE detention center employee shot a protester last night. She is expected to survive. 42-year-old Brandon Booth, who works for the ICE contractor GEO Group, is being held on suspicion of attempted second degree murder and other charges.