Opinion
-
Tommy Washbush / Freepik
After this year’s graduates leave Madison schools, what will be left?
Opportunities for middle class and low-income students are shrinking. The general excellence of our education system in Wisconsin and across the country is declining.
Freepik
Not in our name
The fear of antisemitism is never far from my mind. But Donald Trump’s efforts are not about protecting Jews. They are about using antisemitism as a political weapon to attack academic institutions, suppress free speech, and dismantle DEI.
May 7, 2025
Janet Bewley
In jeopardy: Our history, our future, our connection
Wisconsin Humanities was alerted April 3 that its federal funding was canceled, effective immediately. The organization had to tell groups statewide that their grants, too, had been terminated.
Apr 17, 2025
Melissa Beck
The tragic, accidental death of Levi Iverson
Since the tragic death of her 19-year-old brother, Melissa Beck has been gathering support for Levi’s Law, an initiative that would raise the age to purchase AR-15-style rifles in Wisconsin from 18 to 21, aligning it with existing law for handguns.
Mar 5, 2025
James Gill photo / Screenshots courtesy PBS Wisconsin
Bill Dixon, the political analyst
Madison attorney Bill Dixon died in January. Among his many public roles, he was a regular panelist on PBS Wisconsin’s WeekEnd show.
Feb 8, 2025
Tommy Washbush
Finding joy amid the chaos
There is every reason to believe Trump 2.0 will be even worse than his first administration. This is not a time to practice resignation. Nor is it a time to abandon joy.
Jan 2, 2025
Tommy Washbush
Trump’s ‘mass deportation’ could be coming to Madison. Are we ready?
In the first Donald Trump administration, ICE raids terrorized Dane County. Now he is back, with a campaign promise to launch a “mass deportation” of undocumented people.
Dec 7, 2024
Submitted photo
Don’t cut support for people with disabilities
Steven Salmon, a Madison-based writer who has cerebral palsy, is able to live independently with the help of such programs as Social Security.
Oct 28, 2024
9:00 AM
Wisconsin schools are forced to rely on referendums to keep running
Wisconsin’s system of funding public education is outdated, and the state Legislature has failed to fund it properly.
Oct 26, 2024
12:30 PM
Leading from the heart
Lucía Núñez, a Cuban American social justice advocate led Centro Hispano's purchase of its first headquarters.
Oct 23, 2024
9:00 AM
Tommy Washbush
Sheriffs behaving badly
It’s not unusual for sheriffs to have a partisan bias. Unlike police chiefs, sheriffs are elected on a partisan ticket.
Oct 7, 2024
10:00 AM
Tommy Washbush / Gage Skidmore photo
Prepare for battle in the fight for democracy
If Trump loses, he will insist the election was stolen from him, as he did after the 2020 election. We must be prepared to respond.
Sep 9, 2024
9:00 AM
In the June issue
SummerTimes 2025
Don’t squander it! Isthmus wants you to enjoy your summer, because what else is summer for? South central Wisconsin is beckoning.
Pressure mounts on UW animal research
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals are claiming victory in forcing UW-Madison’s Food Research Institute to create a separate fund for corporate donors that don’t want to support research that uses animals.
The cheese tour
You are in Green County — cheese country. You’ll find a surprising variety of cheese for sale as well as beer, pastries, meat sticks and clever gift-ables in homage to cows, cheese and Wisconsin.
All the state’s a stage
Wisconsinites don’t have much time to enjoy their summer, so it makes sense that theater, like dining, moves outdoors. Here’s a roundup of plays presented al fresco throughout the state.
Lavender farms thrive near Madison, and midsummer’s the best time to visit
Visiting a lavender farm means vibrant color, soothing aromas, scenic beauty and maybe even a lavender latte.
