Wisconsin Watch partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.

Yes.

A nationally representative poll of U.S. adults in March 2023 asked:

“Do you have a family member who has ever been killed by a gun, including death by suicide?”

The results: 19% said yes, 73% said no and 8% said don’t know.

The poll by KFF, formerly Kaiser Family Foundation, was done online and by phone in English and Spanish. The margin of error was plus or minus 3 percentage points.

In 2022, 56% of the 48,187 U.S. gun deaths were suicide, according to provisional data as of Aug. 14, 2023, from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Homicide accounted for 41% of gun deaths in 2022.

More than twice as many suicides by firearm in 2020 occurred in states with the fewest gun laws, relative to states with the most laws, KFF reported in 2022.

This Fact Brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

KFF Health Tracking Poll

Google Docs 2022 US firearm deaths total, by type

KFF Do States with Easier Access to Guns have More Suicide Deaths by Firearm?

Has nearly one in five Americans lost a family member to gun violence? is a post from Wisconsin Watch, a non-profit investigative news site covering Wisconsin since 2009. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.

Wisconsin Watch partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.

No.

Nationwide, college tuition has increased about three times as much as inflation since Ronald Reagan’s presidency ended in January 1989.

For public and private universities, the average annual undergraduate tuition and required fees, in current dollars, for all two-and four-year schools was $14,307 in 2021-22, according to the latest figures from the National Center for Educational Statistics, a federal agency.

That’s 438% higher than the 1988-89 figure of $2,658.

The Consumer Price Index measure of inflation was 121.2 in January 1989 and 282.6 in January 2022 — about 133% higher, according to figures from the Federal Reserve.

So tuition has increased about 3.3 times faster than inflation.

This claim, recently made by former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, is slightly different than, but not far off from a previous accurate claim he made in 2016 that college tuition as of then had grown four times the rate of inflation since 1978.

This Fact Brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

National Center for Education Statistics Tuition and required fees | Current dollars

FRED (Federal Reserve Bank Of St. Louis) Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items in U.S. City Average

Brookings College prices aren’t skyrocketing—but they’re still too high for some

PolitiFact Scott Walker says college tuition has risen at four times the rate of inflation

Has college tuition increased four times the rate of inflation since Ronald Reagan was president? is a post from Wisconsin Watch, a non-profit investigative news site covering Wisconsin since 2009. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.

Wisconsin Watch partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.

Yes.

The candidate who carried Wisconsin in the 2020, 2016, 2004 and 2000 presidential elections won the state by less than 1 percentage point.

2020: Democrat Joe Biden, 49.5%; Republican Donald Trump 48.8%.

2016: Trump, 47.2%; Democrat Hillary Clinton, 46.5%.

2004: Democrat John Kerry, 49.7%; Republican George W. Bush, 49.3%.

2000: Democrat Al Gore, 47.8%; Bush, 47.6%.

Democrat Barack Obama won Wisconsin by 6.7 percentage points in 2012 and 13.9 percentage points in 2008.

The first Republican presidential debate for the 2024 election is scheduled for Aug. 23, 2023, in Milwaukee.

Republicans will choose a nominee at their national convention in Milwaukee in July 2024. The Democrats’ convention is in Chicago in August 2024.

Election experts say Wisconsin is one of a handful of battleground states that could decide the 2024 presidential contest.

This Fact Brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

270toWin Wisconsin Presidential Election Voting History

State of Wisconsin Canvass Results for 2020 General Election – 11/3/2020 6:00:00 AM

State of Wisconsin Canvass Results for 2016 General Election – 11/8/2016 6:00:00 AM

Has Wisconsin been decided by less than 1 percentage point in four of the last six presidential elections? is a post from Wisconsin Watch, a non-profit investigative news site covering Wisconsin since 2009. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.

Wisconsin Watch partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.

No.

Wisconsin’s constitution says: “The chief justice of the Supreme Court shall be the administrative head of the judicial system and shall exercise this administrative authority,” but adds “pursuant to procedures adopted by the Supreme Court.”

The chief justice’s role as court administrator was challenged when the court’s liberal majority voted Aug. 4, 2023, to create an administrative committee comprising the chief justice and two members selected by the majority.

Liberals gained a 4-3 majority three days earlier with the swearing in of Janet Protasiewicz who was elected in April.

Chief Justice Annette Ziegler, a conservative, called the majority “rogue.” She said their vote was “illegitimate” and “gut(ted)” the chief justice’s authority over internal court procedures and rules.

Justice Rebecca Dallet said the majority properly scheduled the meeting where the vote was taken after Ziegler declined requests to schedule a meeting. Dallet said the change makes procedural decision-making more inclusive.

This Fact Brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

Milwaukee Press Club (21:20) Newsmaker Luncheon with former Gov. Scott Walker

Wisconsin State Legislature Wisconsin Constitution

AP News New liberal Wisconsin Supreme Court majority moves to weaken conservative chief justice

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Journal Sentinel: Rancor flares on the Wisconsin Supreme Court as its new liberal majority moves to blunt the chief justice’s power

Does Wisconsin’s constitution ‘clearly’ say the Wisconsin Supreme Court chief justice administers the Supreme Court? is a post from Wisconsin Watch, a non-profit investigative news site covering Wisconsin since 2009. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.

Wisconsin Watch partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.

Yes.

In establishing new social studies standards for middle school students on July 19, 2023, the Florida Board of Education included in the section on slavery:

“Examine the various duties and trades performed by slaves (e.g., agricultural work, painting, carpentry, tailoring, domestic service, blacksmithing, transportation). Instruction includes how slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit.”

Vice President Kamala Harris, who campaigned for President Joe Biden in Wisconsin on Aug. 3, called the language “revisionist history” for suggesting African Americans benefited from slavery.

Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis defended the standard, saying it mirrors language in the AP African American Studies course framework.

That standard states:

“In addition to agricultural work, enslaved people learned specialized trades and worked as painters, carpenters, tailors, musicians, and healers in the North and South. Once free, American Americans used these skills to provide for themselves and others.”

Sources

Florida Department of Education Florida’s State Academic Standards – Social Studies, 2023

Florida Department of Education July 19, 2023 – Meeting Agenda

AP Central AP African American Studies framework

This Fact Brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Did Florida decide that its middle school curriculum will include that some enslaved people benefited from slavery? is a post from Wisconsin Watch, a non-profit investigative news site covering Wisconsin since 2009. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.

Wisconsin Watch partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.

Yes.

A national poll released by Marquette University Law School in Milwaukee found half of Republican respondents believed former President Donald Trump had classified materials at his Florida estate and the other half did not.

The poll asked: “Do you believe Donald Trump had top secret and other classified material or national security documents at his home in Mar-a-Lago last year?”

Among Republican respondents, 49% said yes and 50% said no. Among Democrats, 95% said yes and 5% said no. Among independents, 78% said yes and 19% said no.

The survey was done July 7-12 among 1,005 U.S. adults. The margin of error was +/-5.8 percentage points for registered Republican voters and +/-6.7 percentage points for registered Democratic voters.

A Miami grand jury indicted Trump June 8 on charges including corruptly concealing a document or record and willful retention of national defense information.

Marquette’s September survey found 40% of Republicans thought Trump held on to classified documents and 60% did not.

Sources

Marquette New Marquette Law School national survey finds Trump holding steady among Republicans, DeSantis remaining clear second choice in party, and a tie in Biden/Trump head-to-head

Marquette Marquette Law School Poll Methodology Statement

This Fact Brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Did a Marquette University poll find that 50% of US Republicans don’t believe that Donald Trump had classified documents at Mar-a-Lago? is a post from Wisconsin Watch, a non-profit investigative news site covering Wisconsin since 2009. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.

Wisconsin Watch partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.

Yes.

Republican 2024 presidential candidates seeking to participate in the Milwaukee debate must pledge not to take part in any debate during the 2024 election cycle that is not sanctioned by the GOP.

The Milwaukee debate, the first for Republican presidential contenders, is scheduled for Aug. 23, 2023.

To participate, candidates must meet several requirements, including having 40,000 unique donors to their campaign and earning a minimum amount of support in polls. The candidates must also make several pledges, including to support the eventual Republican nominee.

In August 2022, the Republican National Committee quit the Commission on Presidential Debates, demanding a debate be held before early voting starts and prohibiting moderators who previously worked for a candidate.

The commission was established jointly by the Democratic and Republican parties in 1987 to ensure debates between the leading general election presidential candidates. The commission sponsored all presidential debates between 1988 and 2020.

This Fact Brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

Republican Party RNC Announces Criteria and Date for First Debate in Milwaukee

Republican Party RNC Unanimously Votes to Withdraw from COmmission on Presidential Debates

The Commission on Presidential Debates About CPD

Do Republican presidential candidates participating in the Milwaukee debate have to pledge not to participate in debates the GOP doesn’t sanction? is a post from Wisconsin Watch, a non-profit investigative news site covering Wisconsin since 2009. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.

Wisconsin Watch partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.

Yes.

Milwaukee Public Schools enrollment was 67,500 in the 2022-23 school year — 9.6% less than the 2019-20 enrollment of 74,683.

That’s according to the latest annual figures from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

Alan Borsuk, a senior fellow in law and public policy at Marquette University Law School and a longtime tracker of MPS enrollment, wrote in December that a major reason for MPS enrollment declines is an increase in Milwaukee pupils attending private schools or public schools outside of MPS.

He also cited the COVID-19 pandemic, smaller families, fewer teen births and the overall population decline in Milwaukee.

Statewide, K-12 public school enrollment has dropped for nine consecutive years, the nonpartisan Wisconsin Policy Forum reported in May 2023.

The decline likely reflects declining birth rates, students moving from public schools to private or home schooling and effects associated with the pandemic, the report said.

This Fact Brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

Wisconsin Department Of Public Instruction Enrollment Count | Milwaukee

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel With lots of options for education, MPS schools are losing students at an alarming rate

Wisconsin Policy Forum Budget Brief: School Budgets Hinge on Decisions in Madison

Has Milwaukee Public Schools enrollment dropped 10% in three years? is a post from Wisconsin Watch, a non-profit investigative news site covering Wisconsin since 2009. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.

Wisconsin Watch partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.

Yes.

At least three Republican presidential candidates have offered financial incentives to supporters in an attempt to qualify for the Milwaukee debate.

The debate, the first for 2024 GOP presidential contenders, is scheduled for Aug. 23, 2023.

To participate, candidates must meet several requirements, including having 40,000 unique donors to their campaign and receiving a minimum amount of support in polls. The candidates must also make several pledges, including to support the eventual Republican nominee.

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum offered $20 gift cards to individuals who contribute at least $1 to his campaign and businessman Perry Johnson offered $10 gas cards.

Tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy offered donors a 10% commission on funds they raise for his campaign.

A super PAC supporting a fourth candidate, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, offered the chance to win a year of college tuition to anyone who gives at least $1 to his campaign.

This Fact Brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

Doug Burgum | Twitter ‘People are hurting because of Bidenflation, and giving Biden Economic Relief cards is a way to help 50,000 people until we get in office and fix this crazy economy for everyone!’

Save America Joint Fundraising Committee Donate $1 and Receive a $20 gift card!

SOS America PAC ‘🚨WIN A FREE YEAR OF COLLEGE 😳 Just donate $1.’

Vivek G Ramaswamy | Twitter ‘Today we’re launching the Vivek Kitchen Cabinet: starting today, *anyone* can fundraise for the Vivek 2024 campaign; make a 10% commission.’

Save America Joint Fundraising Committee Contribute $1 and get your $10 gas card!

Are Republican presidential candidates offering financial incentives to campaign donors in order to qualify for the Milwaukee debate? is a post from Wisconsin Watch, a non-profit investigative news site covering Wisconsin since 2009. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.

Wisconsin Watch partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.

Yes.

The national debt on Jan. 19, 2017, the day before Donald Trump was inaugurated president, was $19,944,429,217,107.

On Jan. 19, 2021, the day before Joe Biden was inaugurated, the debt was: $27,752,835,868,445 — about $7.8 trillion higher.

As of July 14, 2023, more than halfway through Biden’s term, the debt had risen by another roughly $4.7 trillion, to $32,542,410,783,067.

When the government spends more than it takes in, it borrows to make up the deficit. The outstanding debt is the accumulated deficits from previous years.

The debt is a result of decisions made by a president and Congress during a president’s term, but also by decisions made by previous presidents and Congresses.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, made the statement about Trump and the debt during a July 11, 2023, interview with the website Wisconsin Right Now. Trump is also a candidate.

This Fact Brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

FiscalData Debt to the Penny (custom date range search)

Pew Research 5 facts about the U.S. national debt

FiscalData Debt to the Penny (as of July 14, 2023)

FiscalData Understanding the National Debt

Wisconsin Right Now Florida Gov Ron DeSantis interview (3:10)

Did the US debt increase by $7.8 trillion during Donald Trump’s presidency? is a post from Wisconsin Watch, a non-profit investigative news site covering Wisconsin since 2009. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.

Wisconsin Watch partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.

Yes.

A Marquette Law School Poll found that 71% of U.S. adults favor requiring that transgender athletes compete on teams that match the sex they were assigned at birth, not the gender with which they identify, and 28% were opposed.

The online poll of 1,010 adults was conducted May 8-18, 2023.

On July 12, 2023, Republican state Rep. Barbara Dittrich, who represents part of suburban Milwaukee, cited the March 2023 version of the Marquette poll in announcing she would introduce the Save Women in Sports Act.

That poll found a 70-30 split in support versus opposition on the same question.

Dittrich said her Assembly bill and a companion Senate bill from another suburban Milwaukee Republican, Sen. Dan Knodl, would offer three categories of sports competition based on a person’s “biological sex” with an additional co-ed category.

Knodl said the legislation would apply to K-12 and collegiate sports.

See a full discussion of this at Wisconsin Watch

This Fact Brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

Marquette New Marquette Law School Poll

Marquette Marquette Law School Supreme Court Poll May 8-18, 2023

WisPolitics Rep. Dittrich: Works to save women’s sports

WisPolitics Sen. Knodl: Introduces bills to save girls’ sports

Did a national poll find that 70% of adults favor laws requiring transgender athletes to compete on teams matching their biological sex as assigned at birth? is a post from Wisconsin Watch, a non-profit investigative news site covering Wisconsin since 2009. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.

Wisconsin Watch partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.

Yes.

A national poll asked lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning people age 13 to 24, “How have recent debates about state laws restricting the rights of LGBTQ young people impacted your mental health?”

Among respondents who identified as trans and/or non-binary, 43% said “very negatively” and 43% “somewhat negatively,” a total of 86%.

Among all respondents, the total was 71%.

The poll of 716 LGBTQ+ youth was conducted online between Oct. 23 and Nov. 2, 2022, by Morning Consult.

The Wisconsin Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus cited the poll July 12, 2023, in criticizing bills announced by two Republican Wisconsin state lawmakers.

The Republicans said their legislation “would preserve female and male categories for athletics at the K-12 and collegiate level, open to all persons based on their biological sex listed on their birth certificate, along with the creation of an optional co-ed category which would be open to all athletes.”

See a full discussion of this at Wisconsin Watch

This Fact Brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

The Trevor Project New Poll Emphasizes Negative Impacts of Anti-LGBTQ Policies on LGBTQ Youth

The Trevor Project Issues Impacting LGBTQ Youth Polling Presentation

WisPolitics Wisconsin Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus: Condemns discriminatory, anti-LGBTQ+ legislative proposals

WisPolitics Sen. Knodl: Introduces bills to save girls’ sports

Did a national poll find that 86% of transgender and nonbinary youth reported negative mental health effects from anti-trans legislation? is a post from Wisconsin Watch, a non-profit investigative news site covering Wisconsin since 2009. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.