Tipsheet

Here's Why a Milwaukee Coffee Shop Fears Backlash From 'Tolerant' Leftists

Amy Curtis
Amy Curtis  |  July 10, 2026 10:30 AM

Vice President J.D. Vance and Dr. Mehmet Oz were in Milwaukee on July 8 to talk about the White House Fraud Task Force. Several Milwaukee-area health care businesses have been busted for fraudulently billing Medicaid for things like prenatal services, and Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers is refusing to turn over SNAP data to help combat fraud. Evers cites 'privacy concerns' but seems unconcerned that Wisconsin officials have access to this supposedly private data. But that's a topic for another time.

While in Milwaukee, Dr. Oz did what millions of Americans do every day: he went for coffee. And when he stopped at a Milwaukee coffee shop, employees took a picture with him. That picture was picked up by the media, and now the coffee shop fears backlash from those oh-so-tolerant Leftists.

Steve Hawthorne, owner of Hawthorne Coffee, which is located near Milwaukee's airport, issued a statement on Instagram. Here's what it said:

I wanted to address the photo that has been circulating today.

Dr. Oz stopped into our shop. It was not by invitation and we were not notified in advance. I was not there at the time. Staff snapped what they thought was a lighthearted photo behind the counter. The photo was never intended for public distribution.

Unfortunately, it was shared with a local news outlet without my knowledge or permission. We immediately asked that it be removed, but that request was declined.

We welcome every customer who walks through our doors. A photo with a visitor should not be interpreted as a political endorsement or statement.

Hawthorne Coffee has always been about bringing people together over a great cup of coffee and serving our community. We appreciate everyone who has supported us over the years and hope you'll continue to judge us by the relationships we've built, not by a single photo taken out of context.

It's a sad indictment of the Left that a coffee shop cannot simply serve customers. The same people who sued bakers, arguing you had to serve every member of the public, now want businesses to deny service to members of the Trump administration and conservatives in general.

Who are the fascists again?

It's all Trump Derangement Syndrome.

"Special shout-out to Molly Beck for dragging a small business into the political mud. Nice going, Yoko," Haz wrote.

We should not give these people power.

Leftists make everything political, and many of them don't have real jobs, so harassing business owners gives them something to do with their pathetic lives.