Journal Sentinel Faces Scrutiny Over Alleged Disinformation Spread

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, one of Wisconsin’s most prominent newspapers, has come under criticism for publishing what one political commentator calls manufactured campaign disinformation regarding the state’s gubernatorial race.

The controversy centers on a purported “leaked memo” from Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany’s campaign, which claimed Democratic candidate Francesca Hong was the opponent they most feared. According to Journal Sentinel reporter Jessie Opoien’s coverage, the memo warned “We Need To Take Francesca Hong Seriously” and outlined strategies for confronting a candidate who identifies as a democratic socialist.

James Wigderson, a notable Wisconsin political commentator and former editor of Right Wisconsin, has publicly challenged the authenticity of this memo in his Substack column titled “It’s a Secret Memo.” Wigderson, who left Right Wisconsin due to his opposition to Donald Trump and the changing Republican Party, argues that the document was clearly manufactured disinformation designed to influence Democratic primary voters.

“Opoien is normally a pretty good reporter, but she doesn’t even put ‘leaked’ here in quotes. Nor does she explain how the memo was supposedly ‘leaked,'” Wigderson wrote, before launching into a satirical series of questions about the memo’s origins that referenced everything from Edward Snowden to Dr. Seuss.

The criticism centers on the political reality that Tiffany’s campaign would likely welcome Hong as an opponent rather than fear her. As a Madison Democrat and member of the Democratic Socialists of America who recently received an endorsement from progressive Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, Hong represents the type of candidate Republicans typically prefer to face in general elections, particularly in a politically divided state like Wisconsin.

The Journal Sentinel’s embrace of the memo was substantial enough that the newspaper published two separate stories highlighting it. The first suggested Hong’s campaign was gaining momentum, with the supposed Republican memo as supporting evidence. The second story focused explicitly on the memo itself with the headline: “What a leaked GOP memo says about the candidacy of Francesca Hong.”

Political observers note this incident raises questions about campaign information verification in today’s media landscape. With Democratic voters particularly focused on selecting a candidate capable of defeating Tiffany in November, such disinformation could potentially influence primary voting decisions.

This controversy comes as Tiffany’s campaign has already demonstrated a penchant for creative messaging. Two weeks prior, they released what Wigderson describes as a “breezy ad” in which Tiffany embraces being a “Wisconsin cliche” who grew up on a dairy farm and loves “the Packers, Brewers, Badgers, old fashioneds, everything Wisconsin.”

The ad fabricates a Democratic criticism that doesn’t exist, as no Democratic candidates have actually labeled Tiffany a “cliche.” The closest similar statement came from Democratic Party of Wisconsin spokesperson Emily Stuckey, who called him “a walking, talking cliché of a D.C. politician” – a notably different characterization than what the ad suggests.

Political analysts have also pointed out a curious omission in Tiffany’s list of Wisconsin sports loyalties: the Milwaukee Bucks. Whether intentional or not, the absence of the state’s NBA franchise from his definition of Wisconsin culture raised eyebrows among some observers.

Despite these messaging quirks, Wigderson’s column concludes with a warning to Democrats that they “underestimate Tiffany at their peril,” suggesting the Republican candidate’s communication strategy, however unconventional, may prove effective with voters.

As Wisconsin’s gubernatorial race continues to develop, this incident highlights the challenges media organizations face in verifying campaign-related information and the sophisticated tactics employed by political operations to shape public narratives.