1/ A few more scary #Covid_19#Wisconsin graphs because HAPPY FRIDAY. Let's start with how we are in really uncharted new-cases-per-day territory.
2/ Many people, rightly, blame the UW system for bringing back in-person learning. Dane Co, which accounts for just 9% of the state population, has 14% of its infections this month. Milwaukee, which has 16% of the population, has 11%: UW-Milwaukee is virtual.
3/ Comparing WI's three biggest counties, you can see Dane is the clear outlier. Milwaukee and Waukesha, since full mask-mandate, have very closely tracked.
4/ But it's statewide, and it's not just UWs. Scores of cases are popping up in pockets far away from UW campuses. We are seeing community spread and build-up at a dangerous rate. DHS says there are ~13k active cases, highest in months.
5/ Maybe the legislature is ignoring this because it's only hitting Democratic counties? Well, it's not. The share of infections in Trump-voting counties is higher now than at any point in this pandemic. GOP leggies are letting their own get sick.
6/ The top-ten most infected counties in Wisconsin:
County (cases per 100,000 residents)
Milwaukee (2795)
Brown (2759)
Iron (2327)
Walworth (2314)
Racine (2242)
Forest (2124)
La Crosse (2007)
Kenosha (1912)
Trempealeau (1746)
Outagamie (1783)
7/ 11-20th most infected counties in WI:
County (cases/100k residents)
Marinette (1727)
Dodge (1724)
Kewaunee (1695)
**MEAN: 1682.7**
Waupaca (1670)
Oconto (1641)
Waukesha (1619)
Washington (1603)
Fond du Lac (1601)
Dane (1600)
Calumet (1591)
8/ 21st-30th most infected counties in WI:
County (cases/100k residents)
Portage (1536)
Winnebago (1452)
Eau Claire (1435)
Jefferson (1377)
Rock (1349)
Grant (1342)
Ozaukee (1328)
Sauk (1240)
Sheboygan (1236)
Lafayette (1208)
9/9 31st-40th most infected WI counties in WI:
County (cases/100k residents)
Florence (1199)
Sawyer (1159)
Shawano (1139)
Juneau (1122)
Marquette (1099)
Waushara (1062)
**MEDIAN: 1052**
Green (1042)
Manitowoc (1004)
Menominee (959)
Clark (901)
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Compare this to photos from people who were there. Yes, Johnson's photo is at night, but you can clearly see this is not the same stage. Missing the "Save America" banner, for instance.
The #Rittenhouse case goes to the jury today. It probably won't come back today; regardless, I just want to put some of my thoughts out there for the world today anyhow. A small thread.
2/ I did not watch every second of every day of the trial. But I tried to follow along with good reporters and smart commentators. Most of what I see is skepticism that Rittenhouse will spend even one more day in jail.
3/ We can argue--and people have!--about whether that is the fault of the ADA pushing back against pre-trial rulings, a possibly-racist judge who doesn't know how any technology newer than a slide rule works, the general zeitgeist, whatever.
1/ Today, the #Wisconsin Republican legislature proposed eliminating the Constitutional offices of State Superintendent, Secretary of State, & Treasurer. What follows is a longish 🧵 I've meant to write for some time, addressing the utter contempt today's @wisgop has for voters.
3/ The short version of the thread is, the GOP has spent a decade doing things like weakening SoState, Treasurer, and Superintendent. Then Sortwell has the gall to use the lack of responsibility and authority those officers have as a reason to amend the constitution.
1/24 Two reminders as we head into today. 1, the @wisgop attempt to do @WsconsinMC's bidding is based on a faulty premise and general dislike of The Poors, and 2, the GOP education budget is flat-out racist.
2/ We know the GOP is doing WMC's bidding, because WMC announced the agenda for today even before the Assembly leadership did. Great work here by @mellconklin: urbanmilwaukee.com/2021/07/26/gop…
3/ Further, the attempt to override @GovEvers's veto on the $300 pandemic UI extension is based not on the realities of the Wisconsin job market, but on a desire to punish people who have lost good-paying jobs. @MikeBradleyMKE had a good thread yesterday:
1/12 Today, @DHSWI reported a record 7,065 new #COVID cases in #Wisconsin. The last five days have been the five highest reports. There are 57,985 active cases, a record. 68,590 cases reported in the last 14 days, a record. 121,300 in the last 30 days, yes--a record.
2/12 Here's an infographic. I thought maybe this would help people understand better what the deal is. Spread far and wide please.
3/12 DHS announced 45 deaths today. There have been 225 deaths reported so far this month, 270 deaths reported since Nov. 1, making November the fourth-deadliest month of the pandemic. In 7 days. There have been 877 deaths reported in the last 30 days.