The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Feb. 10, 2025
Today’s Script
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)
We’re in Wisconsin today, where a candidate for state supreme court had her image manipulated by AI in an opponent’s attack ad, and the state high court allowed the state’s embattled elections board administrator to stay, after three years of conspiracy-driven attacks by state GOP leaders.
The campaign of former Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel has admitted it used AI to manipulate an image of his opponent, Dane County circuit court judge Susan Crawford. An ethics complaint was filed February 5th with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission. The Schimel campaign manipulated a photo with Crawford smiling and told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel it used AI to make her look “ashamed.” Wisconsin Act 123 requires disclosure of such manipulation and has fines of up to $1000 dollars per instance.
v Schimel campaign AI-manipulated image.
In a story we’ve followed since 2023, the Wisconsin Supreme Court has allowed Wisconsin Elections Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe to stay in her job, despite not being reappointed by the GOP-dominated legislature. Wolfe has been vilified by election deniers for recommending the mailing of absentee ballots to nursing home residents during pandemic, rather than putting residents and election officials at risk. Conspiracy theorists claim Wolfe attempted to sway the 2020 election results. A partisan deadlock on the Elections Commission and court precedents have prevented her from being replaced for almost two years.
We have local reporting and more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Wisconsin Legislative Council – 2023 WISCONSIN ACT 123
Schimel Campaign on X – Attack ad on WI Supreme Court candidate Susan Crawford
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel – Schimel campaign acknowledges altering photo in ad to make opponent Crawford look ‘ashamed’
Wisconsin Politics – Crawford campaign: Files ethics complaint, urges thorough investigation over manipulated image used by Brad Schimel
American Democracy Minute – (2023) Wisconsin Senate Election Deniers Vote to Oust the State’s Election Director for Recommending 2020 Pandemic Voting Accommodations
Wisconsin Watch – Meagan Wolfe can stay on as Wisconsin’s top election official, state Supreme Court rules
Wisconsin Examiner – Wisconsin Supreme Court unanimously finds WEC administrator can stay in job
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
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