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Today — 14 December 2025Main stream

States will keep pushing AI laws despite Trump’s efforts to stop them

13 December 2025 at 14:28
A billboard advertises an artificial intelligence company.

A billboard advertises an artificial intelligence company in San Francisco in September. California is among the states leading the way on AI regulations, but an executive order signed by President Donald Trump seeks to override state laws on the technology. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

State lawmakers of both parties said they plan to keep passing laws regulating artificial intelligence despite President Donald Trump’s efforts to stop them.

Trump signed an executive order Thursday evening that aims to override state artificial intelligence laws. He said his administration must work with Congress to develop a national AI policy, but that in the meantime, it will crack down on state laws.

The order comes after several other Trump administration efforts to rein in state AI laws and loosen restrictions for developers and technology companies.

But despite those moves, state lawmakers are continuing to prefile legislation related to artificial intelligence in preparation for their 2026 legislative sessions. Opponents are also skeptical about — and likely to sue over — Trump’s proposed national framework and his ability to restrict states from passing legislation.

“I agree on not overregulating, but I don’t believe the federal government has the right to take away my right to protect my constituents if there’s an issue with AI,” said South Carolina Republican state Rep. Brandon Guffey, who penned a letter to Congress opposing legislation that would curtail state AI laws.

The letter, signed by 280 state lawmakers from across the country, shows that state legislators from both parties want to retain their ability to craft their own AI legislation, said South Dakota Democratic state Sen. Liz Larson, who co-wrote the letter.

Earlier this year, South Dakota Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden signed the state’s first artificial intelligence law, authored by Larson, prohibiting the use of a deepfake — a digitally altered photo or video that can make someone appear to be doing just about anything — to influence an election.

South Dakota and other states with more comprehensive AI laws, such as California and Colorado, would see their efforts overruled by Trump’s order, Larson said.

“To take away all of this work in a heartbeat and then prevent states from learning those lessons, without providing any alternative framework at the federal level, is just irresponsible,” she said. “It takes power away from the states.”

Trump’s efforts

Thursday’s executive order will establish an AI Litigation Task Force to bring court challenges against states with AI-related laws, with exceptions for a few issues such as child safety protections and data center infrastructure.

The order also directs the secretary of commerce to notify states that they could lose certain funds under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program if their laws conflict with national AI policy priorities.

Trump said the order would help the United States beat China in dominating the burgeoning AI industry, adding that Chinese President Xi Jinping did not have similar restraints.

“This will not be successful unless they have one source of approval or disapproval,” he said. “It’s got to be one source. They can’t go to 50 different sources.”

In July, the Trump administration released the AI Action Plan, an initiative aimed at reducing regulatory barriers and accelerating the growth of AI infrastructure, including data centers. Trump also has revoked Biden-era AI safety and anti-discrimination policies.

The tech industry had lobbied for Trump’s order.

“This executive order is an important step towards ensuring that smart, unified federal policy — not bureaucratic red tape — secures America’s AI dominance for generations to come,” said Amy Bos, vice president of government affairs for NetChoice, a technology trade association, in a statement to Stateline.

As the administration looks to address increasing threats to national defense and cybersecurity, a centralized, national approach to AI policy is best, said Paul Lekas, the executive vice president for global public policy and government affairs at the Software & Information Industry Association.

“The White House is very motivated to ensure that there aren’t barriers to innovation and that we can continue to move forward,” he said. “And the White House is concerned that there is state legislation that may be purporting to regulate interstate commerce. We would be creating a patchwork that would be very hard for innovation.”

Congressional Republicans tried twice this year to pass moratoriums on state AI laws, but both efforts failed.

In the absence of a comprehensive federal artificial intelligence policy, state lawmakers have worked to regulate the rapid development of AI systems and protect consumers from potential harms.

Trump’s executive order could cause concern among lawmakers who fear possible blowback from the administration for their efforts, said Travis Hall, the director for state engagement at the Center for Democracy & Technology, a nonprofit that advocates for digital rights and freedom of expression.

“I can’t imagine that state legislators aren’t going to continue to try to engage with these technologies in order to help protect and respond to the concerns of their constituents,” Hall said. “However, there’s no doubt that the intent of this executive order is to chill any actual oversight, accountability or regulation.”

State rules

This year, 38 states adopted or enacted measures related to artificial intelligence, according to a National Conference of State Legislatures database. Numerous state lawmakers have also prefiled legislation for 2026.

But tensions have grown over the past few months as Trump has pushed for deregulation and states have continued to create guardrails.

It doesn't hold any water and it doesn't have any teeth because the president doesn't have the authority to supersede state law.

– Colorado Democratic state Rep. Brianna Titone

In 2024, Colorado Democratic Gov. Jared Polis signed the nation’s first comprehensive artificial intelligence framework into law. Under the law, developers of AI systems will be required to protect consumers from potential algorithmic discrimination.

But implementation of the law was postponed a few months until June 2026 after negotiations stalled during a special legislative session this summer aiming to ensure the law did not hinder technological innovation. And a spokesperson for Polis told Bloomberg in May that the governor supported a U.S. House GOP proposal that would impose a moratorium on state AI laws.

Trump’s executive order, which mentions the Colorado law as an example of legislation the administration may challenge, has caused uncertainty among some state lawmakers focused on regulating AI. But Colorado state Rep. Brianna Titone and state Sen. Robert Rodriguez, Democratic sponsors of the law, said they will continue their work.

Unless Congress passes legislation to restrict states from passing AI laws, Trump’s executive order can easily be challenged and overturned in court, she said.

“This is just a bunch of hot air,” Titone said. “It doesn’t hold any water and it doesn’t have any teeth because the president doesn’t have the authority to supersede state law. We will continue to do what we need to do for the people in our state, just like we always have, unless there is an actual preemption in federal law.”

California and Illinois also have been at the forefront of artificial intelligence legislation over the past few years. In September, California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the nation’s first law establishing a comprehensive legal framework for developers of the most advanced, large-scale artificial intelligence models, known as frontier artificial intelligence models. Those efforts are aimed at preventing AI models from causing catastrophic harm involving dozens of casualties or billion-dollar damages.

California officials have said they are considering a legal challenge over Trump’s order, and other states and groups are likely to sue as well.

Republican officials and GOP-led states, including some Trump allies, also are pushing forward with AI regulations. Efforts to protect consumers from AI harms are being proposed in Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas and Utah.

Earlier this month, Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis also unveiled a proposal for an AI Bill of Rights. The proposal aims to strengthen consumer protections related to AI and to address the growing impact data centers are having on local communities.

In South Carolina, Guffey said he plans to introduce a bill in January that would place rules on AI chatbots. Chatbots that use artificial intelligence are able to simulate conversations with users, but raise privacy and safety concerns.

Artificial intelligence is developing fast, Guffey noted. State lawmakers have been working on making sure the technology is safe to use — and they’ll keep doing that to protect their constituents, he said.

“The problem is that it’s not treated like a product — it’s treated like a service,” Guffey said. “If it was treated like a product, we have consumer protection laws where things could be recalled and adjusted and then put back out there once they’re safe. But that is not the case with any of this technology.”

Stateline reporter Madyson Fitzgerald can be reached at mfitzgerald@stateline.org.

This story was originally produced by Stateline, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Wisconsin Examiner, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

A Car Designer From A Top Brand Used AI To Create This Lexus EV In 24 Hours

  • A Ford designer created a Lexus EV concept using AI tools.
  • Two sketches and prompts led to full photorealistic renderings.
  • Futuristic design combines supercar lines with hatchback form.

Artificial intelligence is quickly reshaping the way cars are designed, cutting down development time and simplifying once-complex workflows.

Curious to see how far the tech can stretch, one professional designer set himself a challenge: create an entire concept car in a single day, starting with a handful of loose hand-drawn sketches and ending with high-res, photorealistic renderings generated entirely by AI.

More: This Futuristic RWD Coupe Could Have Been Skoda’s Best Throwback Yet

The man behind this experiment is Antonin Cohen (@space_sketch on Instagram), a French automotive designer currently working for Ford Europe in Cologne, Germany. Before that role, he was employed by Kia, where he contributed to the design of the pre-facelifted fifth-generation Sportage.

We spoke to Antonin, who admitted to Carscoops that he wasn’t initially a fan of AI, but his perspective shifted after spending some time exploring what the tools could actually do.

The technology allows him to generate strikingly realistic renderings from multiple angles and quickly explore different colors, materials, and environments. It’s a faster way to communicate and assess early concepts without getting dragged into the time-intensive process of building them out manually.

Shaping a Digital Lexus

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Antonin Cohen

Cohen put the new technology through its paces on a personal project developed in his own free time, a futuristic, Lexus-badged EV. He started with a pair of quarter-view sketches showing the front and rear of a sleek, low-slung three-door hatchback. From there, AI took over, generating a complete set of visuals based on his creative prompts.

The car takes the form of a compact three-door hatchback with a streamlined, aerodynamic stance. A short nose, paired with a steeply raked supercar-style windshield and low-mounted LED headlights, gives the front end a planted, athletic look.

More: Buick’s New Concepts Look Suspiciously Ready For Production

The side profile sharpens that impression, with prominent fender flares and sculpted intakes that suggest a degree of performance. At the back, there is a glass canopy, slim LED taillights and an aggressive diffuser made of carbon fiber.

Cohen told us he always tries to give his designs an “impactful face”, describing the look of the concept as “a little robotic”. He imagined the C-pillars like arms that hold the volume together, and the rear end as “practical, upright, and solid”.

Details That Sell the Illusion

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Antonin Cohen

Even for trained eyes, it is hard to distinguish the AI-made renderings from actual photos. The reflections and the texture of the materials is top notch, while the setup is close to what you’d expect from a professional photographer.

Cohen also generated “behind-the-scenes” images showing AI humans prepping the car for an imaginary press shoot. The concept looks particularly striking in a deep orange shade paired with contrasting black roof, pillars, accents, and wheels.

Some images even reveal the interior, featuring a sweeping digital cockpit and angled center console. One version pairs white leather-style materials with minimal trim, while another opts for a more textured feel, combining blue upholstery with wood accents.

The Real Benefit for Designers

 A Car Designer From A Top Brand Used AI To Create This Lexus EV In 24 Hours

The prototype Lexus might be purely digital, but the process behind it highlights how AI tools can support, rather than replace, a designer’s vision. When used thoughtfully, they allow ideas to take shape faster and in greater detail, making it easier to pitch or refine early concepts.

More: French Carmaker Unlocks Its Secret Design Vault And The Scale Models You Can Buy Are Wild

Cohen put it this way: “AI allows us to focus purely on the creative side instead of spending time on rendering. I love illustration work – I’ve done sketches that took me three days – but sometimes you just don’t have that kind of time.”

He also offered a piece of advice to young designers: “No sketch is ever chosen for the quality of its reflections or how many hours you spent drawing the wheels. What really matters are the first few lines, regardless of the technique you use.”

We’d like to thank Antonin Cohen for sharing his project with us.

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Antonin Cohen

Only 7 Percent Of Cars Sold Last Month Cost Under $30,000

  • Average transaction price hovers near $50K with no slowdown.
  • Affordable cars fade as luxury trucks and SUVs dominate sales.
  • EV prices soften slightly but rely heavily on rising incentives.

If you were hoping falling interest rates, bigger incentives, or sheer consumer exhaustion might finally drag new-car prices back to Earth, number-crunching industry experts have some bad news.

According to the latest Kelley Blue Book data, the average transaction price of a new vehicle in the US hit $49,814 in November, and it’s showing no real sign of dropping.

Also: Nobody Wants These 2024 Models And Dealers Are Drowning In Inventory

That figure is up 1.3 percent year over year and effectively unchanged from October, suggesting the industry has settled into a comfortable rhythm where fifty grand is the new normal.

Cox Automotive says prices usually peak in December, meaning the holiday season could push things even higher as buyers gravitate toward well-optioned trucks, luxury SUVs, and vehicles that require six figures of income and very little financial anxiety.

Fewer Incentives

Incentives are still around, but they are not doing the heavy lifting they once did. In November, incentives averaged 6.7 percent of average transaction prices, down from nearly 8 percent a year ago.

Automakers simply do not need to discount aggressively when buyers keep selecting expensive trims with panoramic roofs, giant screens, and fancy wheels.

 Only 7 Percent Of Cars Sold Last Month Cost Under $30,000
Cox/KBB

The data makes one thing clear. Cheap cars are disappearing from the sales mix. Vehicles with MSRPs under $30,000 accounted for just 7.5 percent of November sales, down sharply from 10.3 percent a year earlier.

Meanwhile, more than one in 10 vehicles sold cost over $75,000. The most popular sub-$30K survivors remain familiar names like the Toyota Corolla, Chevrolet Trax, and Hyundai Elantra, clinging on like endangered species.

While transaction prices may have leveled off for now, average MSRPs, commonly known as the asking price, are still inching upward, reaching $51,986 in November. That marks a 1.7 percent increase over last year.

Blame Pricey Trucks

 Only 7 Percent Of Cars Sold Last Month Cost Under $30,000

Trucks continue to be a major contributor to price inflation. Full-size pickups now average more than $70,000 for the third month in a row and accounted for over 14 percent of all sales in November, with nearly 183,000 units delivered. That helps explain why the industry average keeps floating upward even when compact and midsize segments remain relatively stable.

Read: Senators Want Cheaper Cars, Even If It Means Getting Rid Of Automatic Braking

Electric vehicles add another twist. The average EV transaction price fell slightly month over month to $58,638, but remains up 3.7 percent year over year. Incentives jumped to over 13 percent of prices as sales softened again, dropping more than 40 percent compared with last year.

Tesla’s average transaction price rose to $54,310 in November, even as sales fell 22.7% year over year, largely due to sharp declines in Model 3 demand. Prices for the Model Y, the best-selling EV in the U.S., edged up slightly. Cybertruck sales fell to 1,194 units, their lowest monthly total of 2025, though its average price rose to $94,254.

Who’s Really to Blame?

According to Cox Automotive Executive Analyst Erin Keating, today’s prices aren’t just the result of inflation or supply hangovers, but they reflect what consumers are choosing to buy.

“It’s important to remember that the KBB ATP reflects what consumers choose to buy, not what’s available,” she explained.

“Many new-car buyers today are in their peak earning years and are less price-sensitive, opting for vehicles at the higher end of the market to get the features and experiences they value most. In November, sales of vehicles priced above $75,000 outpaced those below $30,000, underscoring this preference for premium products” Keating added.

 Only 7 Percent Of Cars Sold Last Month Cost Under $30,000
Cox/KBB

The takeaway is simple. Prices are high because buyers keep buying high. Until that changes, the average US driveway will continue to look alarmingly expensive.

We just have to hope the trend doesn’t discourage automakers from developing and building the more affordable models that less affluent Americans still need.

Average Transaction Price by Automaker Group
GroupNOV-25OCT-25NOV-24MoM % ChangeYoY %
Change
BMW$70,864$70,037$71,2421.2%-0.5%
Ford Motor Company$57,639$57,724$57,079-0.1%1.0%
Geely Auto Group$60,759$59,480$60,2692.2%0.8%
General Motors$55,778$56,173$53,443-0.7%4.4%
Honda Motor Company$38,819$38,839$39,384-0.1%-1.4%
Hyundai Motor Group$38,966$38,331$38,9131.7%0.1%
Mazda Motor Corporation$36,134$35,179$36,2312.7%-0.3%
Mercedes-Benz Group AG$75,000$74,421$77,2220.8%-2.9%
Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance$37,330$37,326$35,3810.0%5.5%
Stellantis$55,803$54,513$56,3872.4%-1.0%
Subaru Corporation$36,521$36,146$34,8091.0%4.9%
Tata Motors$103,768$104,662$101,878-0.9%1.9%
Tesla Motors$54,310$53,528$55,2471.5%-1.7%
Toyota Motor Corporation$45,265$45,249$44,2750.0%2.2%
Volkswagen Group$56,590$58,280$53,463-2.9%5.8%
Industry$49,814$49,760$49,1850.1%1.3%
SWIPE
Average Transaction Price by Brand
MakeNOV-25OCT-25NOV-24MoM % ChangeYoY %
Change
Acura$49,083$49,275$54,009-0.4%-9.1%
Audi$64,902$65,072$62,972-0.3%3.1%
BMW$72,616$71,973$73,5160.9%-1.2%
Buick$36,694$36,324$34,9881.0%4.9%
Cadillac$87,739$84,566$68,0253.8%29.0%
Chevrolet$50,759$51,064$48,944-0.6%3.7%
Chrysler$47,101$46,917$48,1460.4%-2.2%
Dodge$47,899$49,232$51,390-2.7%-6.8%
Ford$57,010$57,120$56,512-0.2%0.9%
Genesis$65,574$64,343$62,1951.9%5.4%
GMC$66,430$66,555$66,339-0.2%0.1%
Honda$37,559$37,685$37,869-0.3%-0.8%
Hyundai$38,272$37,934$37,6760.9%1.6%
Infiniti$68,484$65,863$63,2054.0%8.4%
Jeep$52,421$49,772$51,9955.3%0.8%
Kia$36,719$36,090$37,5971.7%-2.3%
Land Rover$105,767$106,505$104,318-0.7%1.4%
Lexus$61,901$62,406$59,147-0.8%4.7%
Lincoln$69,713$70,110$66,624-0.6%4.6%
Mazda$36,134$35,179$36,2312.7%-0.3%
Mercedes-Benz$75,000$74,421$77,2220.8%-2.9%
MINI$41,148$40,810$40,7110.8%1.1%
Mitsubishi$32,840$32,366$29,7651.5%10.3%
Nissan$35,567$35,721$34,039-0.4%4.5%
Porsche$122,674$125,071$113,107-1.9%8.5%
Ram$64,724$65,301$63,744-0.9%1.5%
Subaru$36,521$36,146$34,8091.0%4.9%
Tesla$54,310$53,528$55,2471.5%-1.7%
Toyota$42,344$42,393$41,368-0.1%2.4%
Volkswagen$38,266$38,133$36,3230.3%5.3%
Industry$49,814$49,760$49,1850.1%1.3%
SWIPE
Average Transaction Price by Segment
CategoryNOV-25OCT-25NOV-24MoM % ChangeYoY %
Change
Compact Car$26,949$26,982$27,094-0.1%-0.5%
Compact SUV/Crossover$36,329$36,208$36,8730.3%-1.5%
Entry-level Luxury Car$57,414$56,997$56,3730.7%1.8%
Full-size Car$55,335$53,694$44,7623.1%23.6%
Full-size Pickup Truck$66,192$66,439$65,459-0.4%1.1%
Full-size SUV/Crossover$78,623$79,529$75,444-1.1%4.2%
High Performance Car$134,538$134,786$124,500-0.2%8.1%
High-end Luxury Car$125,823$129,114$116,321-2.5%8.2%
Luxury Car$62,636$60,961$58,8052.7%6.5%
Luxury Compact SUV/Crossover$52,587$52,298$52,6380.6%-0.1%
Luxury Full-size SUV/Crossover$98,538$99,519$103,338-1.0%-4.6%
Luxury Mid-size SUV/Crossover$74,082$73,799$73,6620.4%0.6%
Luxury Subcompact SUV/Crossover$40,982$41,269$41,581-0.7%-1.4%
Mid-size Car$33,958$33,814$33,1850.4%2.3%
Mid-size SUV/Crossover$49,272$49,361$48,501-0.2%1.6%
Minivan$47,575$47,388$48,2310.4%-1.4%
Small/Mid-size Pickup Truck$43,805$43,752$43,5260.1%0.6%
Sports Car$49,723$51,423$48,489-3.3%2.5%
Subcompact Car$25,791$25,862$22,393-0.3%15.2%
Subcompact SUV/Crossover$30,962$30,646$29,8621.0%3.7%
Van$59,984$61,051$57,789-1.7%3.8%
Industry$49,814$49,760$49,1850.1%1.3%
SWIPE

Data Cox Automotive / KBB

BMW’s New Flagship SUV Is Split Between Old Design And New Direction

  • Next generation BMW X7 appears in new spy shots ahead of 2027.
  • Split headlights stay but the large SUV gets redesigned bodywork.
  • Gas hybrid and electric powertrains will all be offered globally.

BMW engineers are burning the midnight oil to prepare a wave of 40 new or refreshed “Neue Klasse” models by the close of 2027. Among them is the next-generation X7, recently caught in fresh spy shots out of Germany.

At first glance, the camouflaged prototype might pass for a routine facelift, but the changes run far deeper, pointing clearly to a full generational shift. The current X7, launched in 2018, already underwent a mid-cycle refresh in 2022, so this next step arrives on schedule.

More: BMW’s Next Boss Already Has 40 New Models On His Plate

Unlike other Neue Klasse entries, the X7 will keep its distinctive split LED headlight setup, now framing what appears to be an even larger kidney grille. The headlights themselves are smaller and sit lower on a redesigned bumper that features more squared-off intakes.

In profile, the new X7 adopts cleaner surfacing along its pronounced fenders, and the conventional door handles give way to slim fins that likely improve aero. The glasshouse remains largely familiar, although the D-pillar looks set to adopt a more pronounced take on the Hofmeister kink.

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Baldauf

At the rear, heavy camouflage hides the design, and the prototype still wears placeholder taillights. These will almost certainly be swapped for full-width units in production, borrowing cues from the smaller iX3 Neue Klasse and what’s coming for the next X5 and iX5.

Tech Upgrades and Interior Overhaul

Inside, BMW is expected to introduce the Panoramic Vision display, running across the base of the windshield. It will be joined by a larger central touchscreen, an upgraded AI assistant, and a new-look steering wheel with a more concept-like aesthetic.

More: Two New Premium Contenders Are Coming For The G-Class

Processing capabilities will get a serious upgrade courtesy of BMW’s new “Superbrains,” the central computing architecture that acts as the vehicle’s digital backbone.

The X7 will continue offering a seven-seat, three-row layout, one of the key factors setting it apart from other BMW SUVs and placing it in direct competition with the Mercedes-Benz GLS and Volvo’s EX90 and XC90.

Electric and Gasoline Together

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Baldauf

The latest prototype spotted on the road features quad round tailpipes and sits on sizable alloy wheels, pointing to a mild-hybrid V8 powertrain, likely in an M-badged variant. That said, earlier prototypes confirmed that the new generation will also include a fully electric iX7 model for the first time.

More: New i3 And 3-Series Reveal BMW’s Most Striking Split Yet

In contrast to BMW’s smaller models, where combustion and electric variants ride on separate platforms, the X7 and iX7 will share the same architecture. This will reportedly be a development of the current CLAR platform, adjusted to support both traditional and EV setups.

The lineup is also expected to include high-output variants from both BMW M and Alpina, with the electric versions possibly delivering up to 900 horsepower, according to our sources.

BMW hasn’t locked in a release date for the next X7 and iX7, but the roadmap suggests a 2027 launch. Both models will be built in BMW’s Spartanburg plant in South Carolina, alongside the X3, X5, X6, XM, and a brand-new rugged SUV aimed squarely at the Mercedes G-Class.

Below, you’ll find a speculative rendering of the next-generation X7, created by our own Josh Byrnes.

 BMW’s New Flagship SUV Is Split Between Old Design And New Direction

Illustration Josh Byrnes / Carscoops

Yesterday — 13 December 2025Main stream

Ghost particles slip through Earth and spark a hidden atomic reaction

12 December 2025 at 11:53
Scientists have managed to observe solar neutrinos carrying out a rare atomic transformation deep underground, converting carbon-13 into nitrogen-13 inside the SNO+ detector. By tracking two faint flashes of light separated by several minutes, researchers confirmed one of the lowest-energy neutrino interactions ever detected.

A nearby Earth-size planet just got much more mysterious

12 December 2025 at 11:22
TRAPPIST-1e, an Earth-sized world in the system’s habitable zone, is drawing scientific attention as researchers hunt for signs of an atmosphere—and potentially life-supporting conditions. Early James Webb observations hint at methane, but the signals may instead come from the star itself, a small ultracool M dwarf whose atmospheric behavior complicates interpretation.

Wisconsin Elections Commission refuses to send Justice Department unredacted voter list

12 December 2025 at 18:00
People stand at blue voting booths in a large indoor space as a person sits at a table in the background near signs reading "VOTE."
Reading Time: 2 minutes

The Wisconsin Elections Commission on Thursday declined to send the state’s unredacted voter rolls to the federal government, joining more than a dozen states pushing back against disclosing sensitive voter information.

The commission’s move comes as the U.S. Department of Justice has asked all 50 states for their voter files — massive lists containing significant personal information on every voter in the country — claiming they are central to its mission of enforcing election law. 

“The U.S. DOJ is simply asking the commission to do something that the commission is explicitly forbidden by Wisconsin law to do,” said Don Millis, a Republican appointee on the Wisconsin Elections Commission. “There’s a clear consensus that personally identifiable information is to be protected.”

While pieces of these lists are public, election officials typically redact voters’ Social Security numbers, driver’s license information and dates of birth before issuing them in response to records requests. The DOJ, in many cases, has asked for information not traditionally made public. That was also the case in Wisconsin: The DOJ requested voters’ partial Social Security numbers, license numbers and dates of birth. 

The Wisconsin Elections Commission — which is made up of three Democrats and three Republicans — ultimately voted in closed session to send the DOJ a letter declining the request for unredacted voter information. Republican commissioner Bob Spindell appeared to be the only member in favor of cooperating with the federal government and said Wisconsin will likely face a lawsuit as a result of the commission’s choice. 

The letter, signed by every commissioner except Spindell, says state law “explicitly prohibits” sending the unredacted voter list.

Officials in both Democratic and Republican states have pushed back on disclosing their voter rolls in response to these requests. On a podcast with conservative talk radio host Joe Pags, Assistant U.S. Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said these states were refusing to cooperate because they were embarrassed that their voter rolls were not sufficiently cleared of inactive or unlawful registrants. 

Rather, many states, like Colorado, have said the federal government isn’t entitled to unredacted voter information that could put voters at risk. The DOJ, they say, has not provided sufficient explanation for how the data will be used.

In early December, after receiving a memorandum of understanding similar to the one sent to Wisconsin, Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold told the DOJ to “take a hike,” adding that she “will not help Donald Trump undermine our elections.” The DOJ sued Griswold just over a week later.

All 50 states were asked to turn over their voting rolls, Dhillon said on the podcast: Four states have voluntarily cooperated, 12 are in negotiations, and 14 have been sued by the DOJ over their refusal.

Wisconsin election officials have repeatedly said that federal officials can obtain the publicly available, and therefore redacted, voter roll the same way anybody else can: by purchasing it online for $12,500.

Alexander Shur is a reporter for Votebeat based in Wisconsin. Contact Shur at ashur@votebeat.org.

Votebeat is a nonprofit news organization reporting on voting access and election administration across the U.S. Sign up for Votebeat Wisconsin’s free newsletter here.

Wisconsin Elections Commission refuses to send Justice Department unredacted voter list 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.

Green Bay podcasters dig up long-buried tales in their own neighborhood

A large white house with columns and dormer windows has an inflatable figure wearing a hat on an upper balcony, with autumn leaves covering the lawn.
Reading Time: 5 minutes
Click here to read highlights from the story
  • Since its debut in March, the “Plaster + Patina” podcast has inspired excitement in Green Bay’s Astor neighborhood.
  • Residents have pitched stories about their historic homes to the podcast team and opened their homes to them. 
  • The first season focused on homes between Monroe Avenue and the Fox River.  
  • The team does extensive research and searches for interesting stories about the properties they feature.

Inside Skip Heverly’s modified Dutch Colonial home, five people thaw from the near-freezing November evening by a green-tiled fireplace. Between them, a coffee table is littered with loose-leaf newspaper clippings, notepads and snacks. 

The group members, all residents of Green Bay’s Astor neighborhood, are preparing to spend the evening trading bits of local lore and hatching ideas that could make for an interesting deep dive. 

The neighbors run “Plaster + Patina,” a podcast series that digs up long-buried — and sometimes spooky — tales tied to the historic homes in Astor, one of Green Bay’s oldest neighborhoods. Through the project, they hope to create a shared sense of wonder and community among neighbors while memorializing the area’s history.

“Slowly but surely, I think we’re kind of seeing how this is really helping to bring the community together,” said Morgan Fisher, podcast chief editor and treasurer of the Astor Neighborhood Association. Each person on the podcast team is also a volunteer member of the association, which advocates for the area to local government and organizes events. 

People sit in a room around a coffee table with papers, drinks and snacks as one person holds up a printed page. A fireplace, a lamp, a plant and other items are in the room.
From left, Jim Gucwa, Paul Jacobson, Al Valentin, Skip Heverly and Morgan Fisher discuss ideas for an upcoming episode of the “Plaster and Patina” podcast team on Nov. 16, 2025, in Green Bay. (Mike Roemer for Wisconsin Watch)

After debuting in March, the series has inspired excitement around the neighborhood, with residents pitching their own houses to be featured and opening their homes to the team. At the mid-November brainstorm, the group invited longtime local civic leader Jim Gucwa to share stories he’s collected and spark inspiration for a future episode. 

The first season of “Plaster + Patina” uncovered a forgotten spring water bottling business; examined architectural changes that speak to larger societal shifts; and told tales of ghosts, among other topics. 

Each person has a unique role in the process, from digging through yellowed archives to splicing audio. Several enrolled in nearby community college to learn the skills they use. The project doesn’t currently have sponsors or advertisers to generate revenue, or plans to do so. The team pools resources, leveraging each others’ connections, interests and skills. 

“That’s what a neighborhood’s about,” said Paul Jacobson, the podcast’s historian.  

Bringing people out of their homes — and into others’

Between the 1830s and 1920s,  a high, dry slope running parallel to the Fox River — colloquially known as “The Hill” — was an attractive place for doctors, lawyers and other businessmen to build their homes. 

Today, the houses in the affluent neighborhood still reflect the period in which they were constructed. A 1980 historic district designation, championed with Gucwa’s help, preserves the homes’ exteriors from being substantially altered, among other protections. 

A vintage image shows a tree-lined dirt road beside a brick building labeled "Salvator Mineral Spring" with additional text "Salvator Springs, Green Bay, Wis." printed at the top.
A postcard of Salvator Springs is pictured. The “Plaster and Patina” podcast featured the mineral spring on episode 6.

Astor’s design encourages social connection. Homes with large front porches sit close to the sidewalks lining each street. Parks host an ice rink, a wading pool and a shell where local bands regularly perform. 

Despite this, the area hasn’t been immune to the social isolation that’s swept across the country in recent years. 

“People have kind of gone into their (homes),” Fisher said. “They’re not on their porches anymore. They’re not out meeting their neighbors as much.”

When the Astor Neighborhood Association coalesced in 1974, it started as a way to improve the area and combat crime. It now focuses on maintaining a sense of community among residents, Fisher said. 

A large blue house with white trim and multiple tall windows, a small porch, and surrounding shrubs and trees with fallen autumn leaves on the lawn.
The “Plaster and Patina” podcast created an episode about how this Italianate home in Green Bay’s Astor neighborhood is marked by tragedy and connected to prominent Green Bay figures. (Miranda Dunlap / Wisconsin Watch)
A light-colored house with green trim features an arched front porch, steps with a metal railing, a small tree and bushes, and a decorative lamp post in the yard.
This home on Lawe Street in Green Bay’s Astor neighborhood served as the subject for the sixth “Plaster and Patina” podcast episode. (Miranda Dunlap / Wisconsin Watch)
Street signs marked “Spring St” and “S Madison St” and "Astor Neighborhood" stand on a decorative post with a stone church visible in the background.
The corner of Spring Street and Madison Street in Green Bay’s Astor neighborhood. (Miranda Dunlap / Wisconsin Watch)
Many people sit on lawn chairs facing an outdoor stage with people standing under a lit pavilion in a tree-lined area with a sidewalk going through it.
Attendees gather for a free concert at St. James Park in Green Bay’s Astor neighborhood in July 2025. (Miranda Dunlap / Wisconsin Watch)

To do that, last summer several neighborhood association members discussed creating something where people could walk around the area, learn the stories behind the architecture they see and feel more connected to its past and present.

“What better way to do that than a podcast?” Jacobson said. 

Tales of ghosts, lost springs and … alligators?

At first, the group was nervous about how the endeavor would turn out. But once they started chatting about history and architecture, old stories of folks from the area, “everyone just lit up,” said Heverly, the producer of “Plaster + Patina.”

The first season focused on homes nestled between Monroe Avenue and the Fox River.  

A person in a red sweatshirt and cap sits on a couch examining pages in an open binder while another person sits nearby watching.
Al Valentin, right, and Paul Jacobson look through documents on Nov. 16, 2025, in Green Bay as the “Plaster and Patina” podcast team works on ideas for an upcoming episode. (Mike Roemer for Wisconsin Watch)

“It’s nice to stay within an area, just to kind of really lay out that area,” host Al Valentin said. “We want to create a visual while you’re listening to it of what the neighborhood looked like at that time.”

Once they choose a home, Jacobson digs up the stories behind it. He dives into a slew of online resources, including newspaper archives, historical atlases and — his favorite — fire insurance maps, which include detailed hand drawings of buildings in the area dating back to the 1880s. 

After Jacobson goes “down a rabbit hole,” they zoom out and choose the most interesting event or detail he found. “Otherwise, you could spend five hours on one particular home,” Valentin said. 

The team then drafts a rough script, a bullet-point list of topics they want to hit during the show. Finally, they record the episode for free in a studio at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. They invite homeowners or people connected to the stories to appear as guests for a live interview. 

“We kind of shoot from the hip,” Valentin said. “When you hear us converse on the podcast, it’s pretty real, with our knowledge and expertise.”

A map shows color-coded building outlines, labels for streets including Cedar and Main, and the Fox River along the left edge.
An example of the Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps the podcast team uses to learn more about homes in the Astor neighborhood. (Courtesy of the Library of Congress)

Lastly, Heverly edits out “ums,” “uhs” and any mistakes made during recording. He learned the skill at NWTC, where he studied audio editing, video editing, social media marketing and how to use Adobe applications. 

Since March, the team has created eight episodes.

In one, Jacobson shared the story of a forgotten mineral spring he unearthed when scouring old hand-drawn maps. Residents bottled and sold the water, marketing it as a natural health remedy, he discovered.

In another, they explored how the neighborhood’s first backyard pool signaled the shift of leisure from front porches to more private backyards — and was once home to an alligator.

An excerpt from the eighth episode of “Plaster + Patina.” (Miranda Dunlap / Wisconsin Watch)

For a Halloween edition, Valentin interviewed a paranormal investigator who shared supernatural experiences at Astor’s Hazelwood House — including an apparition descending stairs, a baby cradle rocking on its own and echoes of drums played by the Native Americans who first called the area home.

Throughout the season, local support for the project has grown. 

Lawn signs advertising the show sprouted up in front yards across the neighborhood. People asked for their home to be featured. Residents opened up their homes to the crew, giving them tours to aid the podcast. 

A white house with a long front porch sits behind tall grasses and trees, with a small gazebo on the lawn in front.
Green Bay’s historic Hazelwood house, pictured from the Fox River Trail, was featured in a “Plaster and Patina” podcast episode about ghost stories and rumored hauntings. (Miranda Dunlap / Wisconsin Watch)

“Especially in today’s world, we’re all looking for that connection. We want to be a part of something that’s bigger than ourselves,” marketing and writing director Maddy Szymanski explained in the podcast’s first episode. “When you live in an old neighborhood — or a new neighborhood, really anywhere —  you’re a part of something that is bigger than you. You’re a part of a community and you can build that connection.”

The team is currently producing a final episode before moving onto the podcast’s second season. Find the episodes here

Miranda Dunlap reports on pathways to success in northeast Wisconsin, working in partnership with Open Campus. Email her at mdunlap@wisconsinwatch.org.

Wisconsin Watch is a nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom. Subscribe to our newsletters for original stories and our Friday news roundup.

Green Bay podcasters dig up long-buried tales in their own neighborhood 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.

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