Tom Kertscher

Watchdog reporter

Tom Kertscher worked for newspapers in Oklahoma, Illinois and California before joining the Journal Sentinel in 1998. He has been a reporter for 25 years. At the Journal Sentinel, he has covered a variety of local government and courts beats. A Cedarburg native, he has a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master's degree from Ohio State University.   

Email: tkertscher@journalsentinel.com

The latest Truth-O-Meter items from Tom Kertscher

Mostly True

Rules are made to be changed

John Kasich
John Kasich

"There are no rules governing" the 2016 Republican convention, "the rules have not been set."  

True

Documented cases of impersonation are few

Mark Pocan
Mark Pocan

"More people are struck by lightning than commit in-person voter fraud" by impersonation.

Mostly False

His statements haven't gone that far

Hillary Clinton
Hillary Clinton

Says Donald Trump "wants us to pull out of NATO."

Mostly True

'Skipped court' is exaggeration

JoAnne Kloppenburg
JoAnne Kloppenburg

Says the GOP is "helping pay for" Justice Rebecca Bradley's campaign and "she recently skipped court to attend an event paid for" by Scott Walker's "lobbyist friends."  

False

Highest unemployment measure less than half that

Donald Trump
Donald Trump

Wisconsin’s "effective" unemployment rate is 20 percent.

Mostly True

Yes, but more to it than that

Rebecca Bradley
Rebecca Bradley

Says JoAnne Kloppenburg "has told us she thinks it's her job to promote a more equal society."

True

Right number

Mark Herring
Mark Herring

"Since 1900, six (U.S. Supreme Court) justices have been confirmed during election years, including Justice Anthony Kennedy, who was confirmed in the final year of the Reagan Administration."

— PolitiFact Virginia

False

Available evidence indicates it's rare

Rebecca Bradley
Rebecca Bradley

Says her representation of an ex-boyfriend "who was then my friend" in a family law case is "something that lawyers do on a regular basis."

Mostly False

Far more complicated

Wisconsin Alliance for Reform
Wisconsin Alliance for Reform

Says Judge JoAnne Kloppenburg agreed to use a technicality to give a convicted sex offender a new hearing because "he didn’t understand the charge."

True

Widely shared Democratic graphic is accurate

Mike Honda
Mike Honda

"Six justices" on the U.S. Supreme Court have been "confirmed in presidential election years since 1912."  

— PolitiFact National

Recent stories from Tom Kertscher

In Context: Scott Walker, Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre

Fleshing out comments made by the Republican governor, which drew criticism from Democrats, in which he compared political attacks on himself to someone attacking the two Green Bay Packers quarterbacks.
On

Fact-checking the Wisconsin Supreme Court race

Claims have been made about the backgrounds of Justice Rebecca Bradley and her challenger, state Court of Appeals Judge JoAnne Kloppenburg.   Plus: Claims we have rated in the Milwaukee County executive's race   And: The Final Five on the Truth-O-Meter; closer looks at visits by Clinton, Sanders, Kasich, Cruz and Trump, and our article: Trump: Low on the Truth-O-Meter, high in the polls
On

Fact checking a Donald Trump appearance in Milwaukee

The GOP front runner made several claims that have, in one way or another, been evaluated by PolitiFact.  Plus: The Final Five on the Truth-O-Meter; closer looks at visits by Clinton, Sanders, Kasich and Cruz; Trump's comments on punishing women who have an abortion; and Trump: Low on the Truth-O-Meter, high in the polls
On

Donald Trump: Why so low on the meter, so high in the polls?

Teasing out how the Republican presidential front runner scores so poorly on our Truth-O-Meter but does so well with GOP voters.   Plus: The Final Five on the Truth-O-Meter; closer looks at visits by Trump, Clinton, Sanders, Kasich and Cruz; and Trump's comments on punishing women who have an abortion. 
On

In Context: Here's the transcript of what Donald Trump said about punishing women for abortion

Our partners at PolitiFact Wisconsin flesh out what the Republican presidential frontrunner told MSNBC's Chris Matthews during a town hall meeting in Green Bay.    5 questions you have about delegates, answered   Thanks to everyone who supported our campaign to fact-check more claims about immigration!
On

Fact checking a Ted Cruz campaign appearance in Milwaukee

The Texas senator and GOP presidential candidate made several claims during a town hall meeting that have been previously evaluated by PolitiFact.    Plus: The Final Five on the Truth-O-Meter; closer looks at visits by Clinton, Sanders and Kasich; and Trump's comments on punishing women who have an abortion.
On

In Context: Transcript of Donald Trump on punishing women for abortion

We flesh out what the Republican presidential front runner told MSNBC's Chris Matthews during a town hall meeting in Green Bay.  Plus: The Final Five on the Truth-O-Meter; and closer looks at visits by Clinton, Sanders and Kasich
On

Fact-checking a Hillary Clinton speech in Milwaukee

Hillary Clinton made claims contrasting herself with the Republican presidential candidates and her rival for the Democratic nomination, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.   Fact-checking John Kasich's Milwaukee visit Fact-checking Bernie Sanders' Madison speech
On

Fact checking John Kasich's Milwaukee visit

Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich made claims about his general election electability while seeking support ahead of Wisconsin's presidential primary.    The Final Five: Kasich, Cruz, Trump, Clinton and Sanders on the Truth-O-Meter Bernie Sanders: Fact checking his Madison speech  
On

Fact checking Bernie Sanders' Madison speech

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders repeated several claims we've checked previously in taking his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination to Madison, Wis. The Final Five: Checking the five remaining presidential candidates on what they're likely to say while campaigning in Wisconsin.
On