Midwest

Trump eyes 2 battleground states as he looks to tear down Dem 'blue wall' again

Published

2 years ago

May 1, 2024

Trump eyes 2 battleground states as he looks to tear down Dem 'blue wall' again

Donald Trump is making the most of his day off from court this week.

With the judge in the former president’s first criminal trial using Wednesdays to handle other business from other cases he’s handling, Trump is heading to two crucial states that may decide the winner of his 2024 rematch with President Biden.

Trump is making campaign stops in Wisconsin and Michigan, two crucial battlegrounds he narrowly captured in his 2016 presidential election victory but where he fell short four years later as he lost his re-election bid.

It’s the former president’s second swing through the two Great Lakes swing states in a month.

“Those two states are absolutely essential to both campaigns, followed pretty closely by Pennsylvania,” longtime Republican strategist and presidential campaign veteran David Kochel said. “Those are two states where the Trump campaign should live.”

NEW POLL POINTS TO MAJOR ENTHUSIASM GAP IN BIDEN-TRUMP REMATCH

Former President Trump speaks at a rally in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on April 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Trump’s unexpected victories in Michigan and Wisconsin, along with Pennsylvania, over 2016 Democrat presidential nominee Hillary Clinton shattered the so-called “blue wall” of states that Democrats had counted on for nearly a quarter-century.

And Trump’s victories in all three states symbolized his ability to flip blue-collar voters, giving the GOP hopes of a long-lasting electoral realignment in the so-called Rust Belt.

But four years later, Biden narrowly captured all three states as his party partially reconstructed the “blue wall.” And Democrats won gubernatorial elections that same year in Michigan and Wisconsin – flipping Republican-held governors’ offices – and in 2022 flipped a crucial Senate seat in Pennsylvania that was vital to keeping their majority in the chamber.

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While they’re enjoying a winning streak, Democrats are taking nothing for granted. Many recent polls suggest Trump holds a slight edge over Biden in all three states.

“It’s no surprise to anyone that Michigan and Wisconsin are important Midwest battleground states for November. President Trump is leading in both because Biden’s failure and weakness is felt in every town and city,” Trump campaign senior adviser Brian Hughes told Fox News.

Trump’s first stop on Wednesday is Waukesha, Wisconsin, which is about 20 miles west of downtown Milwaukee, where his campaign said the former president will “contrast the peace, prosperity and security of his first term” with what they argue is “Joe Biden’s failed presidency.”

The former president is expected to shine a spotlight on rising prices, which have been a persistent problem for the Biden administration for three years, and on the surge of migrants at the nation’s southern border that has sent shock waves across the country.

Former President Trump gives a speech about crime and border security during a stop in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on April 2, 2024. (Fox News/Paul Steinhauser)

Trump will then hold a rally in the evening in Freeland, Michigan, about 120 miles north of Detroit. During his stop in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a month ago, Trump spoke out against what he called “Biden’s border bloodbath.”

Hughes said that during his stops in Wisconsin and Michigan, Trump will “demonstrate to the people of these states and the nation that he is ready to win and make America great again.”

Biden has made multiple trips to Michigan and Wisconsin this year, and his campaign enjoys a formidable advantage in both states when it comes to organization and ground-game efforts.

“Trump heads to the states with no campaign infrastructure to speak of in either battleground – while President Biden and Democrats have 44 offices in Wisconsin and 30 in Michigan,” Biden’s campaign said in a statement. “Trump’s former minority outreach center in Milwaukee is becoming an ice cream shop.”

President Biden speaks at an event at the Madison Area Technical College’s Truax campus in Wisconsin on April 8, 2024. (AP)

But Biden’s support for Israel in its war with Hamas has strained support among Michigan’s large pool of Arab-American voters. And while the president enjoys plenty of union endorsements, Trump has made inroads with some of the state’s autoworkers as he’s repeatedly targeted Biden’s push for electric vehicles in the battle against climate change.

“There’s a ton of opportunity in Michigan for Trump,” Kochel said. “I think Trump has made a pretty compelling argument on Biden overplaying his hand on EVs and trying to wedge some of those autoworkers away.”

While Trump also spotlights in both states what he characterizes as a surge in crime during the Biden administration, he’s coming under attack from Democrats over the issue of abortion and over his repeated unproven claims that his 2020 election loss was due to voter fraud.

Republican allies of Trump attempted to overturn the 2020 election results in both states by pushing slates of fake electors.

Biden campaign communications director in Wisconsin Brianna Johnson said last week that Trump was coming to the Badger State “in a desperate bid to do damage control on his record of ripping away women’s freedoms and encouraging thousands of rioters to try to violently overturn an election.”

Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.

Paul Steinhauser is a politics reporter based in New Hampshire.

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Milwaukee, WI

Grocery store closures impact Milwaukee residents

Published

3 minutes ago

January 14, 2026

Press Room

Grocery store closures impact Milwaukee residents

MILWAUKEE — For many Milwaukee residents, it may become increasingly difficult to find access to fresh food.

What You Need To Know

Aldi on North Sherman Boulevard closed its doors on Jan. 11

A spokesperson with Aldi said the closure “is a part of a strategic effort to better allocate resources and continue providing a high-quality shopping experience at our nearby stores”

The Hunger Task Force Mobile Market travels Monday through Friday throughout the county where residents have limited access to fresh and healthy foods

The closest mobile market to the closed Aldi on North Sherman Boulevard is at Meinecke Plaza. The market will be there the first Monday of every month at 4 p.m.

Jonathan Hansen is the chief strategy officer for Hunger Task Force, a free, local food bank in Milwaukee. Hansen said Hunger Task Force has noticed a significant increase of need from the community.

“Everyone is feeling that pinch right now,” said Hansen. “Particularly families who are struggling with unemployment.”

He said grocery store chains scaling back and closing some locations makes it even harder.

The most recent store closure was on Jan. 11, when the Aldi on North Sherman Boulevard closed. A spokesperson with Aldi said the closure “is a part of a strategic effort to better allocate resources and continue providing a high-quality shopping experience at our nearby stores.”

Aldi also announced it’s opening 180 new stores across 31 states in 2026.

Milwuakee Alderwoman Andrea Pratt issued the following statement in light of the Aldi closure, saying, in-part:

“The closing is disappointing and will make it more difficult for many regular customers – especially those who do not have access to a vehicle – to obtain their groceries and other critical items.

“Additionally, it is just the latest development in a trend of recent divestment from neighborhoods where there are already few fresh food resources available to residents. Therecent closures of Pick ‘n Save stores nearby (35th and North and on Silver Spring Dr. in Glendale) are making it so that residents must travel significantly farther to secure their food, necessities, and medications.

“I will be working closely with city staff and our local business community to see what we can do to attract new grocery outlets to the 1st District and the north side.”

Hansen said there’s options for residents in who are unable to travel far for groceries. The Hunger Task Force Mobile Market travels Monday through Friday throughout the county where residents have limited access to fresh and healthy foods.

“We see the instance of a grocery store closing or we see a neighborhood overtime that lost resources to healthy foods or to a grocery store,” said Hansen. “We’re able to pivot and send the market to those neighborhoods to help to address needs.”

The closest mobile market to the closed Aldi on North Sherman Boulevard is at Meinecke Plaza. The market will be there the first Monday of every month at 4 p.m.

The African American Roundtable is also fighting food insecurity through a campaign it’s launching this spring. Ryeshia Farmer said this will benefit the northwest side of Milwaukee.

“We really want to get the city’s decision makers, the Common Council, the mayor, to invest in food access for our residents,” said Farmer. “We want them to take up responsibility to prioritize through the city budget.”

Both Farmer and Hansen said it’s important for residents to know they’re not alone.

“We want people to have the same shopping experience that anyone wants in the grocery store and to be able to afford foods,” said Hansen.

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Minneapolis, MN

ICE officer shoot man in leg in north Minneapolis after shovel attack, officials say

Published

15 minutes ago

January 14, 2026

Press Room

ICE officer shoot man in leg in north Minneapolis after shovel attack, officials say

WCCO Staff

Updated on: January 14, 2026 / 8:58 PM CST
/ CBS Minnesota

A shooting occurred Wednesday night in north Minneapolis after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were attacked by men with shovels during an arrest operation amid Operation Metro Surge, three U.S. officials told CBS News.

One of the men, a Venezuelan migrant, was shot in the leg but is expected to be OK, two of the officials told CBS News.

According to law enforcement officials briefed on the incident, the shooting occurred around 7 p.m. during a targeted ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations action near North Sixth Street and North 24th Avenue.

Officials say one man armed with a shovel — described as an “illegal alien” from Venezuela and the primary target of the operation — assaulted an ICE officer, striking the officer with the shovel and attempting to hit the agent’s head. An ICE ERO agent then opened fire, striking the man in the leg.

After being shot, the man fled into a residence. Authorities later determined the house contained three additional targets. All four individuals barricaded themselves inside the home.

At the scene of a shooting involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in north Minneapolis. Jan. 14, 2026.

WCCO

Due to the barricade situation, additional agents were called to the scene. Officers breached the house with the assistance of an ICE specialized tactical team. Officials believe all individuals inside the home were taken into custody.

Both the ICE officer who was struck and the man who was shot were transported to the hospital. The man who was shot is expected to be OK. The officer’s condition and the nature of their injuries have yet to be confirmed.

A large crowd has formed at the scene, with fireworks reportedly heard nearby.

The shooting comes exactly one week after ICE officer Jonathan Ross fatally shot 37-year-old Renee Good in south Minneapolis.

This is a developing story and it will be updated.

Nicole Sganga and

Camilo Montoya-Galvez

contributed to this report.

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Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis Woman Charged with Threatening to Kill U.S. Representative

Published

21 minutes ago

January 14, 2026

Press Room

Indianapolis Woman Charged with Threatening to Kill U.S. Representative

WISH-TV

INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis woman has been charged in federal court with making threats against a member of U.S. Congress.

Shayla Addison, 28, has been charged with two counts of influencing a federal official by threat. She faces up to a decade in prison and a fine of $250,000 if convicted.

U.S. Capitol Police and the FBI said Addison’s social media posts, phone calls, text messages, and emails to the Congress member included threatening statements such as “Come outside b****, we’ll kill you,” “we will kill you b****,” and “tread lightly.”

After emailing the Congress member, Addison did not stop. She continued to post threats on her Instagram account stating “Shut up hoe I’ll kill you” and “I hope you got mace… cause you gone need it hoe.”

On Tuesday, a guilty plea was filed in federal court on behalf of Addison. If the plea is accepted, the court will set a sentencing date.

This isn’t the first time Addison has made threats towards others. In 2019, she repeatedly called a Firehouse Subs in Brownsburg and threatened to shoot up or blow up the store. Her second incident was in 2023, when she threatened to pour gasoline on the front porch of a home in Marion County.

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