@MattD4th profile picture
Matthew DeFour @MattD4th

State Bureau Chief for Wisconsin Watch. It's no wonder truth is stranger than fiction. Fiction has to make sense.

Joined October 2010
  • Tweets 8,870
  • Following 1,382
  • Followers 5,688
351 Photos and videos
Wisconsin Watch's @KertscherNews and @CharlieBerens talk data centers and create some Old Fashioned comedy gold: youtube.com/watch?v=HRB6nzXR…
1
3
438
As Wisconsin weighs who should pay, another possible billion-dollar data center emerges wisconsinwatch.org/2026/02/w…

As Wisconsin weighs who should pay, another possible billion-dollar data center emerges

Grant County officials in southwestern Wisconsin aren’t divulging the developer interested in a $1 billion data center in the town of Cassville.

wisconsinwatch.org
1
1
659
No, Mr. President. Wisconsin’s voter roll figures aren’t a sign of ‘fraud waiting to happen’ wisconsinwatch.org/2026/01/w…

No, Mr. President. Wisconsin’s voter roll figures aren’t a sign of ‘fraud waiting to happen’

People on Wisconsin’s inactive list aren’t eligible to vote, but their records stay on file indefinitely — a practice that actually helps reduce the likelihood of fraud, election officials say.…

wisconsinwatch.org
50
24
71
3,527
Is there a data center under development in your community that you don't know about? Let @WisconsinWatch know! And check out @KertscherNews story blowing the lid on secrecy deals made for four of the billion-dollar centers under development in Wisconsin. wisconsinwatch.org/2026/01/w…

At least four Wisconsin communities signed secrecy deals for billion-dollar data centers

Massive data center proposals are often developed in secret. Wisconsin has now joined several states with legislative proposals to make the process more transparent.

wisconsinwatch.org
1
2
401
Matthew DeFour retweeted
George Stanley@geostanley
Jan 26
At least four Wisconsin communities signed secrecy deals for billion-dollar data centers. They're being developed in secret despite dramatically affecting the economy, land use, energy costs, taxes, the environment and more, @WisconsinWatch wisconsinwatch.org/2026/01/w…

At least four Wisconsin communities signed secrecy deals for billion-dollar data centers

Massive data center proposals are often developed in secret. Wisconsin has now joined several states with legislative proposals to make the process more transparent.

wisconsinwatch.org
38
797
1,218
58,939
Wisconsin Supreme Court elections have drawn an ‘obscene’ amount of spending. Here’s why and what can be done about it. wisconsinwatch.org/2025/12/w…

Wisconsin Supreme Court elections have drawn an ‘obscene’ amount of spending. Here’s why and what...

Loose campaign finance laws, lax recusal rules, a purple electorate and even the spring election cycle all help explain why high court races have become so expensive.

wisconsinwatch.org
1
171
Just another friendly reminder to CLICK ON THE SOURCE! bbc.com/mediacentre/2025/new…

Largest study of its kind shows AI assistants misrepresent news content 45% of the time – regardl...

An intensive international study was coordinated by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and led by the BBC

bbc.com
1
1
2
373
Here's a cool thing that happened. Thanks to @LastWeekTonight for the love (of investigative journalism)!
11
839
Great work from @addie_costello shedding light on an overlooked problem in Wisconsin! ‘They are squeezing everybody in this park to death’: Owners of manufactured homes get little protection as private equity moves in wisconsinwatch.org/2025/09/w…

‘They are squeezing everybody in this park to death’: Owners of manufactured homes get little...

Wisconsin regulators rarely inspect parks and allow many to go unlicensed — all while frustrations simmer with unresponsive landlords.

wisconsinwatch.org
1
197
BREAKING: Wisconsin judge will resign, won’t face criminal charges for jailing cement contractor wisconsinwatch.org/2025/08/w…

Wisconsin judge will resign, won’t face criminal charges for jailing cement contractor

Outagamie County Judge Mark McGinnis acknowledged through an attorney that he could have handled the matter differently

wisconsinwatch.org
1
1
236
Here's the original story from @WisconsinWatch in January 2024. At the time the case had been open at DOJ for more than a year. The special prosecutor was appointed in March 2024. wisconsinwatch.org/2024/01/w…

Wisconsin judge under investigation for jailing man over dispute with courthouse employee

Nothing so far has come of a state criminal probe into Outagamie Circuit Court Judge Mark McGinnis, who has been a controversial figure since elected in 2005.

wisconsinwatch.org
156
How's this for a quick turnaround? The LFB published its update on the state's finances today and we were ready to include the info in this fact brief from @noegoldhaber. Is Wisconsin facing a structural deficit in the 2027-29 state budget? wisconsinwatch.org/2025/08/i…

Is Wisconsin facing a structural deficit in the 2027-29 state budget?

Yes. The state is spending more than it is taking in, and the Legislative Fiscal Bureau projects the state is on pace to have a -$1.4 billion general fund deficit by June 30, 2029.

wisconsinwatch.org
1
1
238
Video: life, death and resilience at Wonderfarm wisconsinwatch.org/2025/07/w…

Video: life, death and resilience at Wonderfarm

The view from a small Dane County farm affected by Trump administration cuts to the Local Food Purchase Assistance program.

wisconsinwatch.org
144
In poker this would be known as a "tell."
Anna Kleiber@annakleiber03
14 Jul 2025
Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Bradley raised no money for reelection through end of June (via @journalsentinel) jsonline.com/story/news/poli…
2
356
Powerful storytelling from Trisha Young and @WisconsinWatch: ‘Harder to rebuild than it is to destroy’: AmeriCorps regroups in Wisconsin after judge restores funding that Trump cut wisconsinwatch.org/2025/06/w…

‘Harder to rebuild than it is to destroy’: AmeriCorps regroups in Wisconsin after judge restores...

Leaders of member organizations discuss what’s next for AmeriCorps in an uncertain future.

wisconsinwatch.org
1
206
Matthew DeFour retweeted
Alexander Shur@AlexanderShur
3 Apr 2025
via @nytimes
1
8
17
1,433
Here's my take on the #WisconsinSupremeCourt election from today's @WisconsinWatch Wednesday Report newsletter: Since last November’s election there has been a gloom over liberal Madison.
1
1
381
more replies
At @WisconsinWatch, we will continue to scrutinize the Wisconsin Supreme Court closely, as we have since liberals took control in 2023.
1
2
180
The court is where the power to effect change in the lives of real people is now concentrated. If those entrusted with power act against the will of the people, the voters will remind them next time at the ballot box.
1
157
Load more