UW-Madison economics professor Charles Engel believes prices will increase and said tariffs will not provide a good outcome for the future.
Local manufacturer, UW-Madison economist weigh in on impact of tariffs
WMTV - Channel 15
Category: UW Experts in the News
Trump scrubs all mention of DEI, gender, climate change from federal websites
The Register
Dorothea Salo, academic librarian and faculty member at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, told The Register we’ve been here before, citing how the prior Trump administration all but disappeared the US Environmental Protection Agency.
“That apparently made him happy enough to try to disappear half the federal government this time,” she said. “As happened last time, lots of citizens and citizen groups are rescuing what they can. It’s organically fairly decent preservation practice – the rescued work is being duplicated in widely geographically disparate places, which lowers the odds that sheer bad luck wipes it out. The difficulty is discovery – who’s got what data [and] where? If, as I hope, US leaders someday return to a belief that government transparency is important to democracy, putting the jigsaw puzzle back together will be a huge lift.”
UW-Madison legal professor weighs in on Laken Riley Act
WMTV - Channel 15
The Laken Riley act requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain people who are living in the U.S. without legal permission who have committed crimes or have been accused of committing a crime, according to University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School Clinical Professor of Law John Gross.
Big reveals are unlikely in Trump-ordered Kennedy and MLK document drops, experts say
NPR
Kathryn McGarr, a professor of history at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, says she doesn’t think there’s much more to learn. “We already know quite a bit about how much the government was surveilling and looking at [MLK] … and how many enemies he had within the government,” she says. “I don’t think that the narrative is going to significantly change, although of course, we could get some more details here and there.”
Can the U.S. head off a potential bird flu pandemic? UW-Madison researchers weigh in
Wisconsin State Farmer
As the bird flu strain continues to threaten animals and public health, the U.S. government has stepped up its response. But Tom Friedrich, a professor of virology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Veterinary Medicine, isn’t sure the scale and speed of the response are equal to the potential impact of the problem.
Georgia Republicans push to limit lawsuits. But would that keep insurance rates from rising?
The Associated Press
“The net impact is that it really improves insurer profitability,” said Tyler Leverty, a business professor who studies risk and insurance at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Wisconsin literacy center gives community to immigrants and refugees
Wisconsin Public Radio
Whether the Trump administration will restart the U4U program is an open question, according to Yoshiko Herrera, political scientist professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an expert on Russia.
“I think they wanted to show that they were acting quickly on immigration right from the start. So my sense is that they just are like, ‘OK, we’re pausing everything’,” said Herrerra. “But I wouldn’t be surprised if … in the next couple of weeks, (they) decide that United for Ukraine is OK.”
What was that thing that streaked across the sky above Madison last night?
Wisconsin State Journal
The UW-Madison Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences posted on Facebook that the debris likely came from the expected reentry of a Starlink satellite.
UW Madison professor weighs in on Trump’s executive order
WSAW-TV Wausau
The White House order indicates Medicare and Social Security should not be impacted, but what about Medicaid? Which is health insurance for people who can’t afford it. The political science expert NewsChannel 7 talked with said that could be a different story. “It does apply to grants that go to States and are then administered by the states to individuals, and that’s how Medicaid works,” Howard Schweber, professor emeritus of Political Science at UW-Madison, said.
What is causing the dramatic ice heaves on Madison’s lakes?
Wisconsin State Journal
The formations, called ice heaves, often happen in the spring along the shorelines as ice begins to melts and wind pushes it up into solid, jagged waves. But they can also be seen where water levels and temperatures fluctuate, said Hilary Dugan, professor with UW-Madison’s Limnology Department. As water freezes it expands, with sections pushing against one another to create pressure ridges between a few inches to a few feet high, Dugan said.
Some missing Madison ballots could have been counted, if clerk’s staff had acted in time
Wisconsin State Journal
Other provisions may also allow the election commission to require the county to correct its canvass, said Bree Grossi Wilde, executive director of the State Democracy Research Initiative at the University of Wisconsin Law School. Wisconsin law appears to allow for the “ability to make a correction” if the county board of canvassers or the Wisconsin Elections Commission becomes aware of an error, she said.
UW-Madison paleontologist seeks to rewrite history, tradition
Wisconsin State Journal
UW-Madison geology museum scientist Dave Lovelace’s 21st birthday was a bit unconventional.
Moms on Medicaid would get a year of postpartum care under bill
The Capital Times
Dr. Amy Domeyer-Klenske is an OB-GYN at UW Health, assistant professor in the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the legislative chair for the Midwest region of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The current coverage period for Wisconsin Medicaid — 60 days after birth — is “arbitrary,” she said.
“There’s no physiologic magic writing that says that, you know, all pregnancy complications end at that point,” Domeyer-Klenske said.
UW- Madison professor gives insight into immigration policy
WMTV - Channel 15
“What I can say about the immigration policy is that it is changing constantly,” Professor of Rhetoric, Politics and Culture Sara McKinnon said. She said when a president is first elected to office, they figure out what they want to include in their immigration policy. Many including President Trump, took to signing executive orders early on in their term.
You may have felt the earth move, Madison, but that was no earthquake
Wisconsin State Journal
“The energy is pretty powerful near the center of the quakes, but it kind of decays away further out,” UW-Madison seismologist Luke Zoet said.
Madison’s recent booms can be explained by three main factors, Zoet said: A sudden cold snap, ground water close to the surface and a lack of snow, which tends to insulate the soil from the cold air like a blanket.
Madison’s drinking water is getting saltier, road salt likely to blame
The Capital Times
For 80 years, Madison’s lakes have gotten saltier, according to Hilary Dugan, an associate professor and researcher at University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Center for Limnology.
The salinity of Madison’s lakes was close to zero a century ago and road salting has been the biggest source of contamination, she said. Researchers like Dugan closely monitor chloride levels in local waterways because it’s easier to track the environmental impacts than sodium.
What will UW-Madison scientists learn from hundreds of people vaping?
The Capital Times
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison launched a new study this month to reveal the lasting effects vaping may have on people’s hearts and lungs.
“Although e-cigarettes have been on the U.S. market for over 15 years and used by millions of Americans, we do not really understand their long-term health effects,” said Dr. James Stein, a professor of medicine at the university.
National report shows city of Madison leads Midwest in housing stock growth
Wisconsin Public Radio
Urban planning professor Kurt Paulsen of the University of Wisconsin-Madison told WPR’s “Wisconsin Today” that Madison is a tech hub with a university, which drives housing growth.
“It’s also driven by companies like Epic that employ thousands of people,” he said.
A Hope Built on Things Eternal: A Scholar’s Vision for Black Education – Dr. Kevin Lawrence Henry, Jr.
Diverse: Issues in Higher Education
Dr. Kevin Lawrence Henry, Jr., a recently tenured professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Department of Leadership and Policy Analysis, exemplifies how personal experience can shape academic pursuits and social justice advocacy.
Smith: DNR study finds CWD likely is reducing deer populations in southwestern Wisconsin
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Seventy-five percent of CWD-positive deer necropsied were in poor nutritional condition, according to Marie Pinkerton, clinical professor of anatomic pathology at the University of Wisconsin.
Wisconsin physicians are learning about firearms to prepare them for talking to patients about gun safety
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Two years ago, Dr. James A. Bigham, a clinical professor at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, began teaching medical students on the issue, not just providing statistics around firearms injury but also arranging for instruction from firearms trainers on how guns function and why someone may want to own one.
‘Rising star’: EU made more electricity from solar than coal in 2024
The Guardian
“Policy and markets in Europe have enabled renewables to drive down the shares of both coal and natural gas,” said Gregory Nemet, an energy researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and co-author of an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report.
Housing Inventory Report: Madison leads Midwest, Texas leads nation
Wisconsin Public Radio
From 2005 to 2023, Madison stands out as a top performer in the Upper Midwest in addressing the housing shortage, according to a new analysis. Yet, Texas has 15 cities out-pacing the nation in housing stock growth. Kurt Paulsen, a UW-Madison urban planner, examines the report and offers takeaways.
Proposed listing aims to keep monarch numbers from fluttering away
Wisconsin Public Radio
Karen Oberhauser, professor emeritus of entomology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has been studying monarchs since 1985. She noted the number of monarch butterflies varies widely from year to year driven mostly by weather conditions that have become more extreme due to climate change.
“What we want to do is make the ceiling, or the top of those fluctuations, higher than it has been,” Oberhauser said. “Right now, the population is so low that there’s a chance that, in any given year, a catastrophic event could send monarchs spiraling to a point from which they might not be able to recover.”
‘You can forgive and seek justice at the same time’: Robert Enright on how to learn forgiveness
The Canadian Jewish News
Robert Enright, professor of educational psychology in the School of Edcuation at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and co-founder of the International Forgiveness Institute, explains the benefits of mercy on physical and mental health.
Kohl’s appoints third CEO in 3 years as sales continue to decline for Wisconsin chain
Wisconsin Public Radio
Nancy Wong is a professor of consumer science at the School of Human Ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She said department stores are grappling with multiple types of challenges at the same time, including demographic changes and economic pressures affecting America’s middle class.
“Given the economic turbulence and challenges that we’ve been facing in this country, the segments that are most financially squeezed are the middle class — the core segments of the customers that most department store chains used to enjoy,” Wong said.
How do Trump’s executive orders affect climate and clean energy funding in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin Public Radio
Greg Nemet, energy expert and public affairs professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said the president doesn’t decide what to do about spending that Congress has authorized.
“This could end up just being more of a power struggle between Congress and the president,” Nemet said. “But in the meantime, it does reduce some confidence in the funding and the expectations that would go to our state.”
Milwaukee immigration advocates stress need to know rights as first Trump orders roll out
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Meanwhile, about five to 10 University of Wisconsin law students are preparing for a visit to the Dodge County Detention Facility, where people facing deportation are detained. Erin Barbato, director of the UW Immigrant Justice Clinic, said the goal is to be thoughtful in the information they share with clients about the Trump orders.
UW-Madison researchers identify oldest dinosaur in northern hemisphere
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Back in summer 2013, paleontologist Dave Lovelace took some University of Wisconsin-Madison students on a dig in Wyoming. There, they found an ankle bone in an area where fossils typically aren’t found.
What to know about norovirus, the ‘stomach bug’ that’s going around
Wisconsin Public Radio
Tracking how widely norovirus is spreading can be challenging, because it’s not considered a “notifiable disease” that requires doctors to report infections, said Malia Jones, a public health researcher in the department of Community and Environmental Sociology at UW-Madison.
Historic hotel in New York City introduces round table to a new generation
Forbes
What started as an impromptu lunch (at two square tables pushed together; the round table came a year later) proved to be such delicious fun that the group returned at 1 p.m., and practically every day thereafter, inviting new lunch companions, until it dissolved in the early 1930s,” wrote University of Wisconsin history professor Jennifer Ratner-Rosenhagen in the New York Times.
Bad Bunny’s DtMf: The meaning behind his most political lyrics about Puerto Rico
Teen Vogue
Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, knows his music knows no borders, so, alongside the project, he also released visualizers going over the history of Puerto Rico with the help of Jorell Meléndez-Badillo, assistant professor of Latin American and Caribbean history at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
“I’ve always wanted to take academic knowledge outside the ivory tower, and this project has allowed me to share our history on a global platform,” Meléndez-Badillo tells Teen Vogue in Spanish. “Art can’t be decontextualized from the moment it’s produced. There’s no way to escape Puerto Rico’s colonial reality, where we deal with blackouts, displacement, and the appropriation of our historical memory daily. Like a committed Puerto Rican, Bad Bunny is using his platform to amplify the conversations taking place in Puerto Rico.”
How does alcohol cause cancer?
Live Science
“Both ethanol and acetaldehyde are carcinogenic and when they touch the lining of the mouth, throat or esophagus, that can cause cancer,” Dr. Noelle LoConte, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, told Live Science in an email. Like ethanol, acetaldehyde can also disrupt DNA methylation.
L.A. fire rebuilding might be on collision course with Trump immigration crackdown
Los Angeles Times
“If you don’t have people framing the house, installing the drywall, you cannot have the American electricians and plumbers come in and do their work,” said Dayin Zhang, an assistant professor in real estate and urban economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Why Thailand is not a safe place for Asian dissidents
DW
Lim Kimya’s case is “part of a long-standing and unchanging mistreatment” that exiles and asylum seekers suffer in Thailand, Tyrell Haberkorn, a professor of Southeast Asian studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, told DW.
“What enables this to take place with impunity is an unwillingness to investigate or hold perpetrators to account,” said Haberkorn.
Paleontologists discover new species of dinosaur in Wyoming
Men's Journal
Dinosaur fossils discovered by paleontologists working with the University of Wisconsin-Madison have been determined to be the oldest-known fossils, presenting evidence that the species was in existence millions of years before previously thought.
Rocks, crops and climate
Scientific American
For enhanced rock weather (ERW) to have a large impact by 2050, it will need to expand quickly, says Gregory Nemet, an energy scientist at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Last May he and his colleagues published a study analyzing the combined potential of novel CO2 removal methods such as ERW, direct air-capture machines and the use of biofuels with CO2 captured from smokestacks. Between now and 2050 these methods need to grow “by something like 40 percent per year, every year,” Nemet says.
Most of Gov. Tony Evers’ Cabinet is unconfirmed. Here’s why it matters
The Capital Times
While agency appointees in Wisconsin are afforded the same powers as someone who is confirmed, their job security is much less stable. Going years without being confirmed undercuts the legitimacy of agency leaders, said Barry Burden, a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
“I think there’s a kind of public confidence or clout that gets associated with someone who’s been through that (confirmation) process,” Burden said. “They have gotten the stamp of approval from the Legislature, even if the powers don’t change the day that happens. There’s a perception I think that makes them more effective in their jobs.”
5 ways to reduce your dementia risk as study estimates U.S. cases could double by 2060
Fortune Well
“Lifestyle interventions are the foundation for how we approach cognitive health,” says Dr. Nathaniel Chin, associate professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and medical director for the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC).
Alzheimer’s expert reveals 7 easy ways to reduce dementia risk
New York Post
Dementia is top of mind for Dr. Nathaniel Chin — not only because he’s the medical director for the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention but also because his father, Dr. Moe Chin, died in 2018 after battling Alzheimer’s disease.
Dr. Hilary Dugan on Madison’s Lakes and Winter Ice
WORT FM
UW-Madison limnologist Dr. Hilary Dugan reveals the science behind the loud booming noises heard from Madison’s lakes this week, particularly on the east side. These sounds, caused by ice shifts, highlight how active lakes remain even when frozen.
Madison bakery ahead of the curve as FDA bans Red No. 3 food dye
Spectrum News
Audrey Girard is a food scientist and assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Girard explained why the effort has taken a long time. “We have other natural additives, but a lot of times they’re more expensive and not as stable,” Girard said.
Girard explained that a scientific study on rats — completed more than 40 years ago in the 1980s — first raised health concerns about the dye. “At high ingestion levels, rats can have adverse effects, like growing tumors,” Girard said.“At high ingestion levels, rats can have adverse effects, like growing tumors,” Girard said.
How layoffs at local TV news stations affect Wisconsin communities
Wisconsin Public Radio
Mike Wagner, a journalism professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, told “Wisconsin Today” that these types of reductions are becoming more common in local television across the state and country.
“We’re seeing local television stations experience less investment from their owners,” Wagner said. “Reporters are tasked with doing more stories for more newscasts, plus do stuff for the web, plus do stuff for social media, all in the job of also trying to chase down the verifiable truth about important matters for their audience.”
Bad Bunny is a better leader for Puerto Rico than its politicians
MSNBC
This “love letter to Puerto Rico,” as one headline about the album puts it, isn’t just entertainment. Working with Jorell Meléndez-Badillo of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and author of “Puerto Rico: A National History,” Bad Bunny includes 17 mini-history lessons about the island, one for each song.
“[Bad Bunny] was really interested in having that sort of historical component, so people were not only listening to the songs on YouTube, but learning their history while they do so,” Meléndez-Badillo told the Los Angeles Times.
How California’s wildfires could lead to higher insurance costs for the rest of the country
Barron's
Expect more increases ahead. “If you are thinking about housing expenses, you probably shouldn’t rely on historical data on premiums and don’t assume that this is a high point that will be a flash in the pan,” says one of the paper’s authors, Philip Mulder, a University of Wisconsin professor of risk and insurance.
Trump’s ‘mass deportation’ likely to face legal challenges
The Capital Times
Knowing your rights in your own home is just as important, said Raffi Friedman, an attorney and clinical instructor with the Immigrant Justice Clinic at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. For example, some immigrant households are made up of mixed-status families — parents who are undocumented and children who were born in the United States and are legal citizens.
“Those who are U.S. citizens should definitely apply for U.S. passports and have them on them,” Friedman said.
More Americans than ever are living in wildfire areas. L.A. is no exception.
The New York Times
Between 1990 and 2020, the number of homes in fire-prone parts of California grew by 40 percent, according to research led by Volker Radeloff, a professor of forest ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. By contrast, the number of homes in less-flammable areas — such as downtowns — only grew by 23 percent.
Improve your health in the new year with optimism, informed alcohol use and synced circadian rhythms
Wisconsin Public Radio
The winter months’ colder temperatures and constant gray skies can really take a toll on your mood. We talk with Shilagh Mirgain, a psychologist at UW Health, about how to cultivate hope and optimism during this dark time of year.
‘Adulting’ classes offered by UW-Extension
Wisconsin Public Radio
Offering classes under the broad umbrella of “independent living skills” are people like Amanda Kostman, a family living educator with the University of Wisconsin-Extension’s Human Development and Relationships Institute.
Climate change, high winds, extreme dry conditions the real reasons for Los Angeles fires
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
About one third of all houses live within a mile-and-a-half of a forest, grassland or another ecosystem, said Volker Radeloff, a professor at UW-Madison who investigates wildfire risk. Scientists call this zone the wildland-urban interface. Researchers at UW-Madison, along with Radeloff, have been tracking this population movement towards natural spaces.
Why are egg prices rising in Wisconsin? Here’s what’s behind the egg shortage
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Of course, $3.65 is just an average. Egg prices are similar across most U.S. states but can vary slightly, said University of Wisconsin-Extension poultry specialist Ron Kean.
“I would say the Midwest tends to be a little bit cheaper, but, by and large, prices are pretty similar, because we can ship eggs pretty easily,” Kean said. “So, if they’re a lot cheaper in one place, people will probably ship (those) eggs to the more expensive areas.”
Bloomberg Law: Obamacare at SCOTUS & soccer monopoly
Bloomberg
Antitrust expert Peter Carstensen, a professor at the University of Wisconsin Law School, discusses the soccer monopoly trial starting up in Brooklyn.
How the Polar Vortex can bring Arctic blasts to the U.S.
Scientific American
“Thinking about how the central part of the country or even the Gulf Coast states get cold air isn’t just thinking about what’s happening locally,” says Andrea Lopez Lang, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. “You have to really zoom out and take a big-picture perspective.”
Public charging tax now in effect for electric vehicle owners in Wisconsin
FOX 11, Green Bay
Others like Chris McCahill, a researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and managing director of the State Smart Transportation Initiative, point out one negative to the tax — is electric vehicle owners already pay more than those with gas powered vehicles when registering their vehicle each year.
“So now with this new surcharge, the folks will be paying the state twice to try and compensate for those lost gas tax revenues,” said McCahill.
Mumps case in Clark County highlights vaccination concerns
Wisconsin Public Radio
A confirmed case of mumps in Clark County, which has one of the state’s lowest rates of vaccination against measles, mumps, and rubella, or MMR, has public health officials on alert.
Dr. Jonathan Temte, a professor of family medicine and the associate dean of Public Health and Community Engagement for the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, spoke with WPR’s Shereen Siewert to explain the symptoms of mumps and the broader implications involved.
Online privacy protection tips, and hearing aid enhancements
Wisconsin Public Radio
Hearing aid technology has advanced significantly. Many of these devices are now AI-enabled, track other aspects of your health and can be purchased over the counter. We talk to UW-Madison audiologist Rachel Lee about the latest in hearing aids.
UW-Madison scientists help discover North America’s oldest dinosaur
Wisconsin Public Radio
With the discovery of a new dinosaur species, researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison have challenged a long-held belief about where dinosaurs originated and how the ancient reptiles spread throughout the planet.
Wisconsin waters have a road salt problem. Here’s what to know, and how to help.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Freshwater organisms are sensitive to salt, so when too much road salt gets flushed into waterways it has lethal consequences, said Jessica Hua, an associate professor at UW-Madison who studies human influence on aquatic ecosystems. Even small amounts can build up over time.
Chad Alan Goldberg on populist politics and Jan. 6’s legacy
PBS Wisconsin
UW-Madison sociology professor Chad Alan Goldberg discusses researching the roles of economic anxiety, political alienation and social status in the rise of populism and considers impacts of Jan. 6.
‘Middle class’ feels more confusing than ever. Here’s how you can avoid being caught in the middle
Bankrate
“(Middle class) is often equated with this idea that you’re financially comfortable,” says Megan Doherty Bea, an assistant professor of consumer science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “Increasingly, more and more families do not feel financially comfortable.”