The order is being challenged in court as illegal and unconstitutional.
Author Archives: Phoebe Petrovic / Wisconsin Watch
Phoebe Petrovic is an investigative reporter on a two-year fellowship with ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network. She previously covered disinformation and democracy at Wisconsin Watch and was a 2022-2023 Law & Justice Journalism Project fellow. As a Report for America corps member from 2019 to 2022, Petrovic reported, produced and hosted “Open and Shut,” a podcast series co-published with Wisconsin Public Radio examining the power of prosecutors. Petrovic previously worked at WPR as a Lee Ester News Fellow, “Reveal” from the Center for Investigative Reporting as an editorial intern and NPR’s “Here & Now” as a temporary producer. Her work has aired nationally on all of NPR’s flagship news magazines. She holds a bachelor’s degree in American studies from Yale University.
Posted inEducation
Madison and Nashville school shooters appear to have crossed paths in online extremist communities
A month after a student opened fire at Abundant Life Christian School, another killed a classmate in Nashville. Both were active in an internet subculture that glorifies mass shooters.
Posted inNews about Wisconsin Watch
As extremists move into the mainstream, reporting on them is more important than ever
Those pushing for radical changes to the country helped elect Donald Trump. We’ll continue to cover how they push to implement their agenda.
Posted inForward, Government
Forward: Our picks for favorite politics stories of the year
As the year winds down, we gave each state team reporter the assignment of picking a favorite story written by another member of the team. Here were their picks.
Posted inGovernment
Election skeptics are targeting voting officials with ads that suggest they don’t have to certify results
Ads that have been placed in swing states like Wisconsin and Pennsylvania come from a new group with deep ties to activists who have challenged the legitimacy of recent elections.
Posted inGovernment
The genesis of Christian nationalism: How the religious right came to influence the 2024 election
The Christian right has become an increasingly powerful force in American politics at every level, from school boards to the presidency. Its roots trace back decades.
Posted inGovernment
JD Vance campaign event with Christian right leaders may have violated tax and election laws, experts say
Republican vice-presidential nominee JD Vance’s appearance at a far-right Christian revival tour last month may have broken tax and election laws, experts say.
Posted inGovernment
Right-wing activists pushed false claims about election fraud. Now they’re recruiting poll workers in swing states.
The politicized effort to recruit poll workers is concentrated in at least six swing states. ProPublica and Wisconsin Watch reviewed dozens of hours of trainings and presentations, some closed to the press, in which activists discussed their plans.
Posted inGovernment, The Wednesday Report
Why we investigated Wisconsin Pastor Matthew Trewhella
Trewhella’s rise helps illustrate the growing influence and power of the Christian right in Republican politics.
Posted inGovernment
The Gospel of Matthew Trewhella: How a militant anti-abortion activist is influencing Republican politics
For years, Wisconsin pastor and anti-abortion activist Matthew Trewhella was considered too extreme. Now his book, which gives religious justification for some far-right policies, is being quoted by politicians and former Trump officials.
Posted inGovernment, Truth Sandwich
Truth Sandwich: Who’s behind Robin Vos’ DEI crusade?
Records obtained from Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos’ office show one of the groups that has informed his thinking on DEI is the right-wing Claremont Institute.
Posted inGovernment
In ‘unusual’ move, Wisconsin judge Vincent Biskupic orders man to pay restitution that county didn’t seek
An Outagamie County judge ordered a man convicted of sexually assaulting a minor to pay a huge restitution amount to a county for services it provided to the victim, even though the county initially declined the money and worried pressing the matter could retraumatize the victim.