i think jesse jackson was one of the most important american political figures of the post-war era and i think that his 1984 and 1988 campaigns for the democratic nomination still have a great deal to teach about forging a path to a more egalitarian world. RIP.
Stephen Colbert said that the FCC and CBS - which is in no way a compromised or complicit organization - wouldn’t allow him to broadcast an interview with Democratic State Rep James Talarico. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/17/a...
ICE detained multiple kids (all under the age of 10!) in the last week alone. Still kidnapping people based solely on the way they look. Still arresting parents at school pick up.
Nothing has changed in Minnesota. Nice words from the Admin won’t change that. ICE leaving will.
When the book is finished, DM me and I'll find some way to get it to you
I worked for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin during the 2024 election and can testify to Ben’s ability to inspire, strategize, and organize. I’ll be reading his book. Here’s betting it will empower you to do your part to rescue the country.
I just pre-ordered my copy and you should too!
wwnorton.com/books/this-i...
I am a proud Wisconsinite and grateful for the leadership of @benwikler.bsky.social as former chair of @wisdems.org and will always be a supporter.
The country is on fire. We can save it together. This is the plan.
THIS IS THE PLAN: HOW TO END AMERICA’S MELTDOWN AND SAVE DEMOCRACY—my first book, published by W.W. Norton—hits shelves (and phones as an ebook and audiobook) on July 21. Preorder now! wwnorton.com/books/this-i...
“I think Rob Reiner felt, to his core, that the light of democracy was the thing that made every other kind of progress possible."
— Ben Wikler, who worked with the legendary filmmaker on a remarkable project that built the Wisconsin Democratic Party’s successful 2020 campaign against Trump
"When Rob Reiner joined Wisconsin’s fight to beat Trump"—remembering a giant in our culture and in the fight for democracy.
captimes.com/opinion/john...
Screenshot from the Zoom of Princess Bride
Rob Reiner directed my favorite movie in the world, and then made all my dreams come true by, with Cary Elwes, organizing a cast reunion table read Zoom fundraiser for WisDems. A heart, spirit, and talent bigger than the whole world. May his and Michele's memory be a blessing.
Finally, GiveDirectly:
"Trump and Musk effectively ended U.S. foreign aid, slashing lifesaving support to developing nations.…This is being done in our name, right now. The least we can do is offer some support to help offset this senseless, man-made catastrophe."
www.thebulwark.com/p/help-us-gi...
Does "no insurance" even qualify as the concepts of a plan
“My fundamental concern with regard to how much voting control I have at Tesla is, if I go ahead and build this enormous robot army, can I just be ousted at some point in the future?... I don't feel comfortable building that robot army unless I have a strong influence.” – Musk, arguing for $1T
This chart—using data from Catalist, in this article by @scottanderson.bsky.social—is a Rosetta Stone for how the presidential map changes over the next decade. We've got to turn WI MI PA blue before 2032—because at that point, they won't be enough to get to 270.
medium.com/@scottanders...
Haters say Trump loved nothing other than himself. That's not fair. He clearly also loves extrajudicial killing
This administration is really generous with the visual metaphors
#NoKings, Madison WI
I’ll look for other ways to lend my voice to the fight—and I hope you will as well.
This is an all-hands-on-deck moment.
There is a path out of the present darkness, but we can only travel its distance if we walk it together.
One immediate way to plug in: join a protest this coming Saturday. I’ll be speaking at this Saturday’s No Kings event in Madison.
www.mobilize.us/nokings/even...
I’ll be doing my part to help on all of those fronts. And I’ll have a lot more to share soon. If you’d like to stay in the loop, sign up for updates via my newsletter at benwikler.com.
In offices ranging from the state legislature to AG Josh Kaul's reelection, voters have a chance to reject the extremism, tyranny, and economic carnage fomented by MAGA billionaires and choose a future for our state and our country where everyone can thrive.
In House races, starting with Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District, Wisconsin has a chance to ensure that Democrats end Mike Johnson’s disastrous Speakership.
The Governor’s race is just one of the many critical elections on the Wisconsin ballot. Next spring, Judge Chris Taylor will flip a state Supreme Court seat and ensure that MAGA has no path to regaining a majority in advance of 2028’s presidential election.
I’m committed to helping ensure that WisDems has the resources and campaigning infrastructure ready to go on day one for the next Democratic nominee.
wisdems.org/wisdems-news...
Wisconsin’s primary in the governor’s race—which has already drawn more than a half-dozen announced candidates on the Democratic side—won’t take place until August 11, 2026. From there, the nominee will have only 84 days until the general election.
I’ll have more to announce about my own projects in the coming months. But today, I do want to share one way I’ll be helping: I’m joining Governor Evers, WisDems chair Devin Remiker, and Evers campaign manager Cassi Fenili to support the WisDems Governor Readiness Project.
I won’t be seeking the nomination. After six intense years leading @wisdems.org, I’m treasuring real time with my family. Kids are only young once. And I’m taking a moment to think and write more broadly about how to break free of constant emergency and build something better.
This summer, Governor Tony Evers announced that, after two terms and a half-century of public service, he would be passing the torch. Since then, I’ve been honored to hear from friends and allies across Wisconsin urging me to put my own name on the ballot for Governor.
