Author

Melanie Conklin was the Wisconsin Examiner's founding Deputy Editor, serving from its launch July 1, 2019, until Feb. 1, 2022. She is proud to be a native of the state of Wisconsin, which gave humankind the typewriter, progressivism and deep-fried cheese curds. Her several decades in journalism include political beats and columns at Isthmus newspaper, the Wisconsin State Journal and other publications. When not an ink-stained wretch, she served time inside state, local and federal government in communications before returning to journalism at the Examiner. It’s what she’s loved ever since getting her master’s degree in journalism from the UW-Madison. Her family includes one husband, two kids, four dogs and five (or more) chinchillas.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos struggles to maintain control
By: Melanie Conklin - January 31, 2022
The Assembly is only two weeks into the 2022 session and it’s already been a bruising one for Speaker Robin Vos. It was clear at Vos’ news conference held before the floor session on Tuesday that he was on edge as he took sarcastic swipes at reporters. In his remarks, he expanded beyond his usual […]
Two Wisconsin GOP lawmakers look to duplicate Texas’ 6-week-abortion ban
By: Melanie Conklin - January 27, 2022
Two Republican Wisconsin lawmakers have introduced a bill that mirrors the Texas ban on most abortions, complete with a $10,000 bounty “reward” for any citizen who sues someone providing an abortion. The bill makes no exception for victims of rape or incest. Bill authors Sen. Julian Bradley (R-Franklin) and Rep. Donna Rozar (R-Marshfield) have drafted […]
U.S. Justice Dept. to investigate Republicans who sent fake Trump electors to Congress
By: Melanie Conklin and John Micek - January 27, 2022
The U.S. Dept. of Justice has launched an investigation into an apparent attempt by Republicans in Wisconsin and six other battleground states won by President Joe Biden in 2020 to allegedly subvert the election results by sending falsified slates of electors for ex-President Donald Trump to Congress. Wisconsin attorneys from the nonprofit law firm Law […]
Imposter electors tied to Fitzgerald, Kleefisch and Jarchow
By: Melanie Conklin - January 27, 2022
When Sen. Chris Larson and Rep. Jonathan Brostoff asked the Milwaukee County district attorney to investigate the 10 fake electors who sent documents to Congress falsely certifying the votes of Wisconsinites went to Donald Trump, the pair of Milwaukee legislators also began looking into who reserved the room in the Capitol where the fake electors […]
Without Roe standing, abortion is a felony in Wisconsin
By: Melanie Conklin - January 24, 2022
As the landmark Supreme Court Roe v. Wade ruling closes in on its half century anniversary, there is heightened concern among reproductive choice advocates that the 49th anniversary it marked on Saturday could be its last. “While I hope and pray that a year from now we will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Roe, […]
Milwaukee prosecutor suggests state and federal DOJ investigate fake GOP electors
By: Melanie Conklin - January 20, 2022
The Milwaukee District Attorney’s office has referred a request for criminal action against 10 Wisconsin Republicans to the state Department of Justice. Jeff Mandell, an attorney with Law Forward, revealed the news during a national press briefing with pro-democracy groups on Thursday. Mandell last February had sent a criminal referral asking the Milwaukee County District […]
Democrats push resolution to end Vos/Gableman ‘sham’ election review
By: Melanie Conklin - January 19, 2022
Assembly Democrats are fed up with Michael Gableman. They are fed up with Speaker Robin Vos dragging out an investigation into the 2020 presidential election that courts and audits found to be secure and accurate. They are fed up with taxpayers being on the hook for $676,000, if not more, to fund what they see […]
A look back at Steineke’s tenure as he announces his departure
By: Melanie Conklin - January 19, 2022
Majority Leader Jim Steineke — by most accounts the friendlier and funnier half of the Assembly leadership team that also includes Speaker Robin Vos — announced Tuesday that he will finish his term, but does not plan to run for reelection in the fall. The Kaukauna Republican served in local government as a town board […]
AG Kaul on false electors: Feds should prosecute any actions that further ‘seditious conspiracy’
By: Melanie Conklin - January 14, 2022
A complaint against 10 Republicans in Wisconsin who posed as official electors, signing and submitting falsified certification papers to Congress is in front of the Wisconsin Elections Commission and Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm, filed by Law Forward attorneys Jeff Mandell and Mel Barnes. They filed the complaint nearly a year ago and so […]
Will false Trump electors’ attempt to hijack the Wisconsin vote be punished?
By: Melanie Conklin - January 14, 2022
The 10 Wisconsin Republicans who assembled on Dec. 14, 2020 at noon in the state Capitol and falsely certified that Donald Trump had won the state’s electoral votes were not the nation’s only bogus electors. They made up just one of seven groups falsely claiming Trump was the victor in states where the majority of […]
Dem lawmakers to DA: Wisconsin must ‘prosecute sedition within its own borders’
By: Melanie Conklin - January 11, 2022
State Sen. Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee) and Rep. Jonathan Brostoff (D-Milwaukee) sent a letter Monday putting pressure on Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm, also a Democrat, to hold the “cabal” of Republicans electors who certified that Donald Trump won the 2020 presidential election in Wisconsin accountable for what the lawmakers label “sedition.” Brostoff and Larson […]
GOP legislators vote to curtail voter participation
By: Melanie Conklin - January 10, 2022
On Monday, the joint Senate and Assembly rules committee voted 6-4 along party lines with all Republicans in favor and all Democrats voting against requiring the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) to draw up emergency rules to regulate ballot drop boxes and what election clerks are permitted to do regarding errors or missing information on absentee […]