Podcast Summary: Human Events Daily with Jack Posobiec Episode Title: THOUGHTCRIME: The Wisconsin Election Special
Release Date: April 2, 2025

Introduction and Context

In this episode of Human Events Daily with Jack Posobiec, hosts Jack Posobiec, Tyler Bowyer, Blake, and guest Charlie Kirk delve into the intricacies of the Wisconsin Supreme Court special election, positioning it as the most critical election of 2025. The discussion underscores the challenges posed by low-propensity voter turnout and contrasts the election dynamics in Wisconsin with recent outcomes in Florida.

Florida Election Results

The episode begins with an update on Florida's special elections. Two congressional districts saw Republican victories:

• District 6: Randy Fine secured a comfortable win.
• District 1: Jimmy Petronas won decisively against Gay Vallomont.

Blake notes, "We have very good news. If you guys haven't seen that yet, we have the results in Florida. Randy Fine has won easily in District 6 and Jimmy Petronas has won very easily in District 1" ([00:53]-[01:46]).

Tyler Bowyer adds, "Florida just ended up being kind of a snoozer. There was a little bit of drama that happened," highlighting that despite concerns over fundraising gaps, the deep-red nature of these districts ensured Republican victories ([01:46]-[03:41]).

Wisconsin Supreme Court Special Election Overview

The core of the discussion revolves around Wisconsin's Supreme Court special election. The hosts analyze the battleground counties and emphasize the importance of voter turnout in determining the election's outcome.

Blake states, "We're here, of course, to cover the Wisconsin Supreme Court election, the most important election of 2025," setting the stage for a detailed county-by-county analysis ([00:22]-[00:50]).

County-by-County Breakdown

Waukesha, Ozaukee, and Washington Counties

These counties surrounding Milwaukee are identified as pivotal to offsetting the Democratic stronghold in Dane County.

• Waukesha County: Historically a deep-red area, crucial for Brad Schimmel's campaign.
• Ozaukee County: Another Republican stronghold, though recent early votes showed a slight drop.
• Washington County: Expected to experience record turnout, significantly benefiting Schimmel.

Tyler Bowyer emphasizes, "Waukesha county is right on the border. This is your traditional western suburb of Milwaukee... deep red county" ([14:09]-[14:41]).

Dane County

Home to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Dane County is the election's epicenter of Democratic support. The Republican candidate must secure substantial votes in other counties to offset Dane's overwhelming Democratic preference.

Blake observes, "It really is shockingly blue," highlighting the challenge of overcoming Dane County's dominance ([16:56]-[17:09]).

Kenosha and Racine Counties

These suburban counties are critical battlegrounds. Early reports indicate that turnout in Kenosha is not favoring the Republicans, posing a significant challenge.

Tyler Bowyer notes, "We have to win Kenosha and Racine," underscoring their importance in the overall strategy ([20:35]-[21:02]).

Voter Turnout Challenges

A recurring theme is the difficulty in mobilizing low-propensity voters—those who do not regularly participate in elections. The hosts discuss how past efforts, particularly those surrounding Donald Trump's candidacies, have successfully engaged these voters, but replicating this success without Trump on the ballot remains problematic.

Jack Posobiec highlights, "The Republicans need to win when Trump is not on the ballot," emphasizing the structural challenges faced ([96:20]-[100:00]).

Tyler Bowyer elaborates on the necessity of permanent grassroots infrastructure, stating, "The right has built nothing permanent in most states," and contrasts it with the Democrats' established voter mobilization mechanisms ([112:00]-[113:55]).

Discussion on Republican Infrastructure and Strategies

The hosts critique the Republican Party's current strategies, arguing that without Trump, the party struggles to maintain voter enthusiasm and turnout. They advocate for building a permanent grassroots infrastructure akin to the Democrats' union-based systems.

Charlie Kirk remarks, "Most Republicans don't talk about the working class. They don't talk to the working class," calling for a more engaged and organized approach to voter outreach ([110:39]-[111:55]).

Tyler Bowyer agrees, emphasizing the need for "full-time grassroots operatives" and "community organizers" to bridge the gap left by high-propensity supporters not being present in off-year elections ([116:32]-[120:02]).

Voter ID Referendum

A significant positive outcome discussed is the passing of Wisconsin's voter ID referendum. This measure, labeled as "Wisconsin Question 1," aims to add voter ID requirements to the state's constitution, countering previous Democratic efforts to undermine such policies.

Jack Posobiec celebrates the passage: "Wisconsin Question 1, which adds voter ID requirement to the state's constitution will pass. That will pass everybody" ([52:53]-[52:53]).

Tyler Bowyer highlights its strategic importance, noting, "This was the real smart thing that the legislature did," and its potential to advantage Republican voters by requiring ID, which generally favors more prepared and engaged voters ([52:53]-[53:46]).

Final Election Outcomes and Analysis

As the episode progresses, the initial results heavily favor the Democratic candidate, Susan Crawford, with a significant lead over Republican Brad Schimmel. The hosts express concern over the widening margin and attribute it to insufficient turnout among low-propensity voters.

Jack Posobiec bluntly states, "I give us an enormously low probability that this is going to be overcome," reflecting skepticism about overcoming the current deficit ([65:23]-[66:05]).

Tyler Bowyer provides a nuanced perspective, acknowledging early leads but cautioning that substantial votes remain to be counted: "Most of the day of voting has yet to be reported... we are still hanging in there" ([56:17]-[56:49]).

In the final analysis, the hosts acknowledge a likely defeat but frame it as a learning experience for future elections.

Blake summarizes, "This is a wake-up call, but we still control the White House. We control the Senate, we control the House of Representatives," suggesting resilience despite the setbacks ([124:00]-[124:05]).

Lessons and Conclusions

The episode concludes with reflections on the broader implications of the Wisconsin election:

1. Infrastructure Development: Emphasizing the need for permanent grassroots organizations to ensure consistent voter mobilization.
2. Voter Education: Highlighting the importance of educating low-propensity voters about the electoral process.
3. Strategic Adaptation: Recognizing the necessity to adapt strategies for elections where high-profile candidates like Trump are absent.

Jack Posobiec encourages proactive measures: "We have to keep working... Think critically about these races," reinforcing the commitment to future electoral battles ([120:02]-[129:07]).

Tyler Bowyer adds, "We have to invest significantly into these states, put the ground forces, the infrastructure, and figure out how to build the community organizer model," calling for intensified efforts to rectify the identified shortcomings ([124:05]-[129:07]).

Overall, the episode serves as both a recap of the Wisconsin election's immediate results and a strategic discourse on improving Republican electoral performance in low-turnout scenarios.

Notable Quotes

• Blake: "We have very good news. If you guys haven't seen that yet, we have the results in Florida. Randy Fine has won easily in District 6 and Jimmy Petronas has won very easily in District 1." ([00:53]-[01:46])

• Tyler Bowyer: "Florida just ended up being kind of a snoozer. There was a little bit of drama that happened." ([01:46]-[03:41])

• Jack Posobiec: "The Republicans need to win when Trump is not on the ballot." ([96:20]-[100:00])

• Charlie Kirk: "Most Republicans don't talk about the working class. They don't talk to the working class." ([110:39]-[111:55])

• Jack Posobiec: "Wisconsin Question 1, which adds voter ID requirement to the state's constitution will pass. That will pass everybody." ([52:53]-[52:53])

• Jack Posobiec: "I give us an enormously low probability that this is going to be overcome." ([65:23]-[66:05])

• Blake: "This is a wake-up call, but we still control the White House. We control the Senate, we control the House of Representatives." ([124:00]-[124:05])

Conclusion

The Human Events Daily with Jack Posobiec episode on the Wisconsin Election Special provides a comprehensive analysis of the election's dynamics, highlighting both victories in Florida and the significant challenges faced in Wisconsin. The discussion underscores the critical need for sustained grassroots efforts, strategic voter mobilization, and infrastructure development to enhance Republican performance in future elections, especially in low-turnout environments.