Overview

• On July 17, Rep. Derrick Van Orden rode his Harley-Davidson onto the Capitol steps and revved the engine to cut into a Spectrum News interview with Rep. Mark Pocan about public broadcasting cuts.
• The live exchange saw Pocan call out Van Orden’s “drunken tweet” from earlier that morning while Van Orden urged Pocan to seek “mental health counseling.”
• Pocan challenged Van Orden to a formal debate on the National Defense Authorization Act’s so-called “Big, Beautiful Bill,” accusing him of dodging public scrutiny.
• Van Orden countered by alleging Pocan funneled over $500,000 in annual campaign funds to his own company, a claim Pocan forcefully denied and said was inaccurate.
• Both lawmakers have stuck to their positions, highlighting a bitter partisan feud that underscores wider disputes over mental health rhetoric and Wisconsin health funding.