>> A PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PART OF
OUR "HERE AND NOW" 2020 ELECTION
COVERAGE.
>> I'M HERE TODAY WITH NOT GOOD
NEWS AND A PLEA TO ASK ALL OF US
TO DO BETTER IN THE COMING DAYS.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, IN RECENT
DAYS COVID-19 ON CASES HAVE BEEN
GROWING AMONG OUR CAMPUS
COMMUNITY.
>> DANE COUNTY REPORTED A RECORD
NUMBER OF COVID-19 CASES THIS
WEEK AS STUDENTS RETURNED TO THE
UW-MADISON CAMPUS.
MADISON DANE COUNTY PUBLIC
HEALTH SAID AT LEAST 71 POSITIVE
TESTS WERE FROM STUDENTS OR
STAFF.
STUDENTS WERE BACK BARELY A WEEK
BEFORE CASES BEGAN TO STRIKE.
SORORITY AND FRATERNITY HOUSES
WERE ISSUED QUARANTINES FOR TWO
WEEKS.
UUW CHANCELLOR REBECCA BLANK
ANNOUNCED CLASSES WOULD MOVE
ONLINE AND RESIDENCE HALLS WOULD
QUARANTINE FOR TWO WEEKS.
JOE PARISI ENCOURAGED THE CAMPUS
TO SEND UNDERGRADUATES BACK HOME
FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FALL
SEMESTER AND MADE A PLEA FOR
MORE QUARANTINE FACILITIES,
TESTING AND CONTACT TRACING, AS
HE SAID LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH
OFFICIALS CAN'T KEEP UP WITH THE
OVERLOAD IN UW CASES.
>> I'M ZAC SCHULTZ SITTING IN
FOR FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW,"
UW-MADISON TAKES DRASTIC STEPS
DUE TO A SPIKE IN COVID-19
CASES.
THE BIPARTISAN TASK FORCE ON
RACIAL DISPARITIES ARE HERE.
SO IS POLLSTER CHARLES FRANKLIN.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
SEPTEMBER 11.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> WE ARE JOINED NOW BY
UW-MADISON CHANCELLOR REBECCA
BLANK.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
I'M GLAD TO BE HERE.
>> DID ANY ELEMENT OF THIS
OUTBREAK OR THE NEED FOR A
QUARANTINE COME AS A SURPRISE TO
YOU?
>> SO, WE DID A LOT OF PLANNING
FOR THIS FALL, AND, YOU KNOW,
MUCH OF OUR PLANNING HAVE BEEN
EFFECTIVE.
WE HAD NO TRANSMISSIONS OF ANY
DISEASE IN THE CLASSROOM, NO
TRANSMISSION OF DISEASE IN THE
WORKPLACE.
THE HEALTH PROTOCOLS WE PUT IN
PLACE HAVE WORKED.
I THINK NONE OF US EXPECTED
QUITE THE MAGNITUDE OF RISE THAT
WE SAW AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF
THIS WEEK, WHICH REALLY LED US
TO TAKE ACTION.
WE KNEW THAT THERE WOULD BE SOME
SPIKES, STUDENTS WOULD COME,
THERE WOULD BE SOME PARTYING.
THE AMOUNT OF THAT RISE WAS
STEEPER AND FASTER THAN WE
EXPECTED AND STEEPER THAN SOME
OF OUR FELLOW SCHOOLS IN THE BIG
10 HAVE SEEN AS WELL.
SO WE ARE AT A POINT WHERE
CONSULTING WITH OUR MEDICAL
EXPERTS WE HAVE TO FLATTEN THAT
CURVE.
>> SO THE STEEPNESS WAS MORE
THAN YOU HAD PREPARED FOR
THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER IN TEMS OF
HOW FAST AND HOW HARD THE CASES
ROSE.
>> YES.
WHICH IS EXACTLY WHY WE TOOK THE
ACTIONS WE HAVE TAKEN, BASICALLY
PUTTING INTO SOME FORM OF
LOCKDOWN IN TWO OF OUR DORMS AND
RESTRICTING THE MOVEMENT OF ALL
OF OUR STUDENTS AND TAKING DOWN
IN-PERSON CLASSES FOR AT LEAST
THE NEXT TWO WEEKS SO THAT WE
CAN BASICALLY GET ON TOP OF THIS
VIRUS AND MAKE SURE THAT IT IS
SAFE FOR OUR STUDENTS TO BE WITH
EACH OTHER AND ON CAMPUS.
>> NOW, YOU HAD LIKE YOU TALKED
ABOUT THERE WERE A LOT OF
PREPARATIONS THROUGHOUT THE
SUMMER.
I'M ASSUMING THE POSSIBILITY OF
QUARANTINING DORMS WAS TALKED
ABOUT.
SO WHY DID STUDENTS FEEL LIKE
THAT THIS FELT VERY RUSHED FOR
THEM, THAT THE COMMUNICATION WAS
HAPPENING IN FITS AND SPURTS
WHEN IT ACTUALLY CAME DOWN JUST
TWO HOURS' NOTICE?
>> IF YOU HAVE TO QUARANTINE,
YOU WANT TO QUARANTINE FAST.
YOU DON'T WANT TO GIVE THEM A
DAY TO RUN ALL OVER TOWN AND GET
THINGS AND COME BACK IF YOU
THINK THERE'S A HEALTH ISSUE
THERE.
OUR DATA CAME IN ON TUESDAY.
WE TOOK SOME ACTIONS ABOUT
RESTRICTING MOVEMENTS.
THE DATA LOOKED EVEN WORSE ON
WEDNESDAY.
AND AT THAT POINT, PARTICULARLY
THE TWO DORMS THAT WE
QUARANTINED, THERE WAS A VERY
SUBSTANTIAL OUTBREAKS GOING ON
IN BOTH OF THOSE DORMS, MUCH
MORE SO THAN ANY OF THE OTHER
DORMS ON CAMPUS.
WE FELT WE HAD TO TAKE ACTION
WITH THOSE TWO DORMS.
>> HEALTH EXPERTS HAVE TALKED
QUITE A BIT ABOUT HOW THIS TYPE
OF SCENARIO IS NOT ADVISABLE,
BRINGING THIS MANY PEOPLE INTO
ONE SPACE WHERE THEY HAVE TO
SHERIFF A LOT OF FACILITIES.
WAS IT A MISTAKE TO ALLOW
STUDENTS TO RETURN TO CAMPUS AND
THE DORMS?
>> I THINK WE VERY STRONGLY
BELIEVE THAT THERE'S CERTAIN
THINGS YOU DO IN IN-PERSON
CLASSES YOU CANNOT DO ONLINE AND
VIA VIDEO.
THERE'S SOME CLASSES THAT YOU
ALMOST CAN'T HOLD BECAUSE THEY
REQUIRE SOME INTERACTIONS.
IT'S TRUE IN SOME OF OUR ARTS
CLASSES, LAB CLASSES,.
ALL OF US BELIEVE DEEPLY IN THAT
VALUE.
SO WE REALLY WANTED TO HAVE A
CHANCE PARTICULARLY FOR OUR
SMALLER CLASSES TO TRY TO MEET.
THE SECOND ISSUE HERE IS THAT
THE STUDENTS REALLY WANTED TO BE
HERE.
I HEARD FROM STUDENTS AND
PARENTS, YOU KNOW, FROM ACROSS
THE SPECTRUM.
IT BECAME VERY CLEAR TO US BY
THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER THAT
ALL OF OUR UPPER CLASSMEN WERE
GOING TO BE IN MADISON, ALMOST
ALL OF THEM, WHETHER WE HELD
CLASSES ONLINE OR IN PERSON.
THEY HAD ALL GONE HOME LAST
MARCH AND THEY DIDN'T LIKE THAT.
THEY WERE BACK IN THEIR OLD
BEDROOMS WITH THEIR PARENTS AND
THEY WANTED TO BE BACK IN
MADISON AND IN MANY CASES THEIR
PARENTS WANTED THEM TO BE BACK
IN MADISON.
SO THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE UP
THEIR HOUSING CONTRACTS IN ANY
CASE.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE 35,000
STUDENTS, FRESHMEN ASIDE, 35,000
STUDENTS IN MADISON, YOU KNOW,
YOU'RE MUCH BETTER OFF HAVING
SOME CONTROL OVER THEM AND
HAVING THEM ON CAMPUS, MESSAGING
TO THEM, DOING TESTING.
INDEED, IF WE ANNOUNCED TODAY
THAT WE'RE GOING ONLINE FOR THE
REST OF THE SEMESTER, I THINK
VERY FEW OF THOSE STUDENTS ARE
GOING HOME.
THOSE ARE EXACTLY THE
CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH WE
WANT TO HAVE CLOSER CONNECTIONS
RATHER THAN FURTHER CONNECTIONS.
NOW, WITH REGARD TO THE DORMS, I
WILL SAY THE VAST MAJORITY OF
OUR DORM STUDENTS ARE BEHAVING
VERY WELL.
WE'VE GOT A WHOLE NUMBER OF
DORMS WHERE THE INFECTION RATES
ARE 1% OR SO.
THAT'S PERFECTLY FINE.
THAT'S THE BASE RATE IN THE
POPULATION.
SO, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE MANY,
MANY STUDENTS DOING EXACTLY WHAT
THEY SHOULD BE DOING AND I'M
SORRY THAT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF
DORMS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE
RESTRICTING EVEN MORE.
BUT THE STUDENTS, THEY WANTED TO
BE HERE.
>> DANE COUNTY EXECUTIVE JOE
PARISI SAYS CONTACT TRACERS ARE
HAVING DIFFICULTY GETTING
ANSWERS OUT OF SOME STUDENTS.
IS THE FEAR OF PUNISHMENT
PREVENTING SOME STUDENTS FROM
COOPERATING?
>> I THINK STUDENTS DON'T WANT
TO TURN IN THEIR FRIENDS, AND
IT'S NOT THAT THE STUDENTS
AREN'T RESPONDING.
WE CAN FIND STUDENTS WHO TESTED
POSITIVE AND AREN'T RESPONDING.
AND INDEED WE ARE TAKING STEPS
TO DO THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY
STUDENT WHO'S POSITIVE WE GET IN
TOUCH WITH AND MAKE SURE THEY GO
INTO ISOLATION.
THE BIGGER PROBLEM IS THE
CONTACT IDENTIFICATION, WHERE
STUDENTS DON'T WANT TO DO THAT
TO THEIR FRIENDS BECAUSE IT
MEANS THEIR FRIENDS ARE GOING TO
GO INTO QUARANTINE FOR THE NEXT
TWO WEEKS.
AND WE'RE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT
OPTIONS FOR THAT.
THERE ARE A VARIETY OF
TECHNOLOGICAL ACTS THAT TRY TO
TRACE WHERE PEOPLE ARE, WHO
THEY'RE CLOSE TO FOR EXTENDED
PERIODS OF TIME.
EVERYONE WHO'S USED THOSE HAS
NOT BEEN VERY SATISFIED WITH
THEM.
BUT THAT TECHNOLOGY IS IMPROVING
EVERY WEEK.
IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE
GOING TO BE LOOKING AT.
>> SOME STUDENTS WHO MAY BE
CONSIDERED POSITIVE IN THE DORMS
HAVE LEFT, GONE BACK TO THEIR
HOMETOWNS.
IS THIS THE BEGINNING OF A SUPER
SPREADER AROUND THE STATE OR
MIDWEST?
>> WE'VE BEEN VERY CLEAR THAT WE
DON'T RECOMMEND STUDENTS GO
HOME.
WE THINK THEY NEED TO COMPLETE
THEIR QUARANTINE.
AT THAT POINT IF THEY WISH TO GO
HOME, WE CERTAINLY AREN'T GOING
TO STOP THEM.
IF THEY DO GO HOME, THEY NEED TO
COMPLETE THEIR QUARANTINE AT
HOME AND I VERY MUCH HOPE THAT
THEIR FAMILIES WILL FOLLOW THAT
ADVICE.
>> BUSINESSES AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS
ARE CLOSED AND WHAT OUTBREAK
WON'T HELP THEM REOPEN.
WHAT OBLIGATION DOES THE
UNIVERSITY HAVE TO THE CITY AND
COUNTY TO KEEP STUDENTS ON
CAMPUS WHEN THEY HAVE THESE
OUTBREAKS?
>> OUR STUDENTS PAY RENT, THEY
HAVE HOUSING CONTRACTS WITH
LANDLORDS ALL OVER THE CITY AND
THEY WERE GOING TO BE HERE.
THIS IS THEIR HOME AND WHERE
THEY WANT TO BE.
I DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO SAY
TO STUDENTS GO LIVE IN ANOTHER
CITY.
AND NEITHER DOES ANYONE ELSE.
AND WE NEED TO WORK WITH THE
RESIDENTS WHO ARE HERE.
AND IT'S CERTAINLY OUR
RESPONSIBILITY TO WORK CLOSELY
WITH THOSE STUDENTS.
AND WE ARE.
AS I SAY, THE VAST MAJORITY OF
OUR STUDENTS ARE DOING EXACTLY
WHAT WE'VE ASKED THEM TO DO.
BUT THERE ARE SOME SMALL NUMBER
WHO ARE NOT.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, EVEN IF THEY
ARE NOT SYMPTOMATIC, THEY ARE
INFECTIOUS AND HAVE BEEN
SPREADING THIS, PARTICULARLY TO
OTHER STUDENTS.
AT THIS POINT, I THINK IT IS
MUCH MORE LIMITED TO WITHIN THE
STUDENTS.
WE'VE HAD VERY, VERY FEW
EMPLOYEES, NO FACULTY OR
INSTRUCTORS.
>> OKAY.
>> BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU
DON'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT IT.
>> CHANCELLOR BLANK, WE'RE GOING
TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO HOW DO U UW-MADISON STUDENTS
FEEL ABOUT THE QUARANTINE?
WILL KENNEALLY HAS THAT STORY.
>> WEDNESDAY NIGHT AFTER 8:00
P.M. AN EMAIL WAS SENT TO
STUDENTS THAT CONFIRMED THE
RUMOR.
UW WOULD MOVE CLASSES ONLINE AND
QUARANTINE STUDENTS IN TWO DORMS
FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.
>> SO WE WERE IN OUR DORM ROOM
IN SELLERY AND WE HEARD GOSSIP
ABOUT IT AND WE LOOKED OUT THE
WINDOW AND EVERYBODY WAS RUNNING
TO THE STORES.
>> STUDENTS WERE TOLD THEY HAD
TWO HOURS.
AFTER THE QUARANTINE WENT INTO
EFFECT, STUDENTS COULD LEAVE BUT
WOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO RETURN TO
THE DORMS FOR TWO WEEKS.
>> MY ROOMMATE CAME BACK AND
TOLD ME.
WE WENT OUT, GOT GROCERIES,
STOCKED UP.
>> WENT FOR AWR OUR LAST WALK.
>> FREEDOM.
>> IT WAS LIKE THE WALK OF
SHAME.
IT WAS LIKE BEING ARRESTED.
>> ALL OF US IN MADISON FOUND
OUT AT THE EXACT SAME TIME THAT
THE REST OF THE STUDENT BODY
FOUND OUT AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC.
SO WE WERE A BIT INSULTED AND
CONFUSED WHY THERE WAS NO
STUDENT INPUT AS FAR AS WE KNOW
IN THIS DECISION.
>> MATTHEW MITNICK SHARES CHAIRS THE
UW-MADISON STUDENT GOVERNMENT.
>> STUDENTS NEED TO BE INVOLVED
IN THESE DECISIONS THAT ARE
BEING MADE BECAUSE IT IS
IMPACTING PEOPLE IN A VARIETY OF
WAYS.
JUST ONE THAT COMES TO MIND WITH
THE QUARANTINE AT THE DORMS,
WHAT IF A STUDENT HAS DIETARY
NEEDS.
>> THE UNIVERSITY SAID IT WOULD
PROVIDE MEALS FOR STUDENTS WHILE
IN QUARANTINE, BUT AFTER FACING
BACKLASH SAID THEY WOULD ALLOW
STUDENTS TO LEAVE THEIR DORMS TO
PICK UP MEALS FROM A DINING
HALL.
>> IT'S NICE TO BE ABLE TO LEAVE
TO GO OUTSIDE.
ORIGINALLY WE COULD NOT GO
OUTSIDE.
>> THE MOVE TO GO ONLINE AS
MADISON SEES HUNDREDS OF NEW
CASES A DAY, MOSTLY AMONG
STUDENTS.
DESPITE THAT, STUDENTS SAY THEIR
PEERS ARE TAKING THE VIRUS
SERIOUSLY.
>> THE LAST TWO DAYS IT'S A
LITTLE MORE SERIOUS.
>> OVERALL, STUDENTS HAD A MIXED
RESPONSE TO THE UNIVERSITY'S
HANDLING OF THE QUARANTINE, SOME
SAYING IT WAS RUDDERLESS BUT
RESPONSIVE TO SOME CONCERNS.
>> I THINK THIS WAS A BAD
REPRESENTATION JUST BECAUSE I
THINK THEY FELT THEY HAD TO DO
SOMETHING REALLY FAST.
SO THEY KIND OF MADE A DECISION
QUICKLY AND WE HEARD LIKE THEY
REALLY -- LATE, I GUESS.
OTHER THAN THAT THEY'VE BEEN
FREQUENTLY MESSAGING US OR EMAIL
TELLING US WHAT THEY'VE BEEN
OBSERVING AND HOW THEY WANT TO
REACT TO IT.
>> REPORTING FROM MADISON, I'M
WILL KENNEALLY FOR "HERE AND
NOW."
>> WE HAVE AN UPDATE TO AN
INTERVIEW WE CONDUCTED LAST WEEK
WITH DR. JEFFREY POTHOF, A UW
HEALTH PHYSICIAN WHO WAS FIRST
TO TAKE A VACCINE AS PART OF AN
INTERNATIONAL STUDY.
THIS WEEK THE ASTRAZANECA TRIAL
WAS PLACED ON HOLD AFTER A
VOLUNTEER IN GREAT BRITAIN
SHOWED CONCERNING SIDE-EFFECTS.
OFFICIALS SAY TEMPORARY HOLDS IN
VACCINE TRIALS ARE NOT UNCOMMON
AND THE STUDY IS EXPECTED TO
CONTINUE IF QUESTIONS ARE
ANSWERED ABOUT THE BRITISH
PARTICIPANT'S SYMPTOMS.
NOW TO RACIAL JUSTICE ISSUES.
LAST WEEK, WE SPOKE WITH
REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE JIM
STEINEKE ABOUT THE SPECIAL TASK
FORCE HE'S LEADING ON RACIAL
DISPARITIES.
HE SAID A DEMOCRAT WOULD BE
ANNOUNCED AS CO-CHAIR THIS WEEK.
SHELIA STUBBS JOINS US FROM
MADISON ALONG WITH
REPRESENTATIVE STEINEKE IN
KAUKAUNA.
THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> REPRESENTATIVE STUBBS, LET'S
START WITH YOU.
DEMOCRATS WERE CRITICAL OF THE
CREATION OF THIS TASK FORCE
INSTEAD OF VOTING ON THE BILLS
GOVERNOR EVERS HAS PROPOSED.
SO WHY ARE YOU A PART OF IT NOW?
>> FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR
GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE
INTERVIEWED.
THIS IS IMPORTANT.
AS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN, A
LEGISLATOR, SOMEONE WHO'S
REPRESENTING MADISON, SOMEONE
WHO HAS PERSONALLY HAD A
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF BEING
PROFILED, IT'S ABOUT SAVING
LIVES.
IT'S ABOUT GETTING COMMON SENSE
BILLS PASSED IN THE LEGISLATURE
THAT WE KNOW WILL BE IMPACTFUL
TO OUR CONSTITUENTS.
LET ME BE CLEAR.
WHAT WAS REALLY ATTRACTIVE TO ME
WHEN REPRESENTATIVE STEIN SCE STEINEKE
ASKED ME TO BE THE CO-CHAIR, HE
SAID WE'RE GOING TO GO TO WORK
FOR THE PEOPLE ACROSS WISCONSIN.
LET'S BRING IN GRASSROOTS
ORGANIZERS, PUBLIC HEALTH, LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
LET'S ALL SIT AT THE TABLE AND
CRAFT MEANINGFUL RESOLUTIONS OR
BILLS THAT WE HAVE CONSENSUS
THAT WE CAN PASS IN JANUARY.
LET'S BE CLEAR.
WE NEED TO PASS THESE BILLS
BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE ACROSS THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
>> REPRESENTATIVE STEINEKE, HOW
IMPORTANT IS IT TO HAVE A WOMAN
OF COLOR CO-CHAIRG THIS
COMMITTEE?
WHAT LEGITIMACY DOES SHE BRING
TO THIS?
>> WELL, IT'S INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT TO HAVE REPRESENTATIVE
STUBBS AS PART OF THIS.
WHEN THE CREATION OF THE TASK
FORCE FIRST CAME UP, QUITE
HONESTLY THE PARTNER THAT I
REALLY WANTED WAS REPRESENTATIVE
STUBBS BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE A
GOOD RELATIONSHIP.
I KNOW SHE'S BEEN FRUSTRATED BY
THE FACT THAT WE DIDN'T COME IN
AND IMMEDIATELY PASS THOSE
BILLS.
I KNOW SHE KNOWS THAT WE WERE
FRUSTRATED WITH HOW GOVERNOR
EVERS PUT THOSE BILLS OUT THERE.
BUT THE NICE THING IS I KNOW
WORKING WITH REPRESENTATIVE
STUBBS WE BOTH CAN SET THOSE
THINGS ASIDE AND THEN MOVE
FORWARD TOGETHER WITH PEOPLE
FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR, LIKE
SHE SAID, FAITH-BASED
COMMUNITIES, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND
OTHERS, TO REALLY COME TO A
BIPARTISAN CONSENSUS ON THIS
ISSUE.
>> REPRESENTATIVE STUBBS, IF ANY
OF THESE IDEAS ARE GOING TO
BECOME LAW, THERE WILL HAVE TO
BE A LOT OF COMPROMISE.
DO YOU THINK DEMOCRATS WILL BE
WILLING TO VOTE FOR WHAT THEY
THINK IS A WATERED-DOWN VERSION
OF THE BILL?
>> WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS WE COME
TOGETHER WITH A BIPARTISAN PIECE
OF LEGISLATION.
IT'S NOT JUST A REPUBLICAN VOICE
OR DEMOCRAT VOICE.
IT IS A COMMUNITY VOICE.
THAT'S GOING TO BE THE DRIVER IN
THIS CONVERSATION.
AND PEOPLE KNOW MY VALUES AND MY
BELIEFS.
I'M GOING IN THAT ROOM ON BEHALF
OF THE PEOPLE I REPRESENT AND
I'M COMING OUT OF THAT ROOM WITH
REPRESENTATIVE STEINEKE AND
THOSE ON THIS TASK FORCE WITH A
CONSENSUS OF BILLS THAT'S GOING
TO MOVE US FORWARD ACROSS THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN.
I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES TRUST ME
AND I TRUST MYSELF.
AND I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING
ABOUT WHEN I TALK ABOUT RACIAL
DISPARITIES AND AS A VICTIM OF
RACIAL DISPARITY.
THIS STATE IS THE WORST STATE
FOR A BLACK PERSON TO LIVE IN.
THAT IS DISTURBING,
UNACCEPTABLE.
LET'S DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
SO I'M WILLING TO COME TO THE
TABLE TO MAKE THE BEST OF THE
SITUATION.
>> JUST TO PUSH BACK A LITTLE
BIT ON THAT, ZAC, AS FAR AS THE
CONCEPT THAT THESE BILLS WOULD
SOMEHOW BE WATERED DOWN, THAT'S
NOT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS JUST
BIPARTISAN CONSENSUS AND WORK ON
THIS WHERE WE'RE TAKING NOT ONLY
THE IDEAS DEMOCRATS PROPOSED IN
JUNE, BUT THE IDEAS THAT
REPUBLICANS PROPOSED JUST A
COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO ALONG WITH
INITIATIVES BY THE WISCONSIN
PROFESSIONAL POLICE ASSOCIATION
AND OTHER REFORMS FROM ACROSS
THE COUNTRY.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DON'T
TALK ABOUT THIS AS BEING WATERED
DOWN BECAUSE THAT'S NOT THE GOAL
HERE.
THE GOAL HERE IS TO GET REAL
REFORMS DONE WORKING TOGETHER TO
SHOW THE STATE THAT WE CAN STILL
SOLVE BIG PROBLEMS WORKING
TOGETHER FROM THE VERY BEGINNING
ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO THE END
OF HOPEFULLY PASSING AND GETTING
THESE BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW.
>> BUT --
>> AND ALSO, ZAC, I THINK ALSO
TO ADD ON TO WHAT REPRESENTATIVE
STEINEKE SAID, I THINK THE
NATION IS GOING TO BE WATCHING
WISCONSIN AND I THINK WE ARE
GOING TO BE A TRAILBLAZER FOR
WHAT CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM
SHOULD LOOK LIKE ACROSS THIS
NATION.
>> ALL RIGHT.
REPRESENTATIVE STUBBS THEN, WHAT
WOULD YOU CONSIDER SUCCESS?
WHAT'S THE BARE MINIMUM OF
LEGISLATION THAT NEEDS TO BE
PASSED AND SIGNED INTO LAW?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE
IS A REALITY.
WE MUST TALK ABOUT THE NEED TO
ADDRESS THAT.
I THINK NO CHOKEHOLDS, NO-KNOCK
WARRANTS MUST BE ADDRESSED
CONSIDERING WHAT'S HAPPENED
ACROSS OUR NATION.
IN ADDITION, I PERSONALLY WANT
TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ADDRESSING
PROFILING.
YOU KNOW, THIS STATE HAVING THE
WORST DISPARITIES FOR BLACK
PEOPLE, WE MUST ADDRESS THESE
INITIATIVES AND THESE ISSUES.
AND I AM HOPEFUL BECAUSE I WAKE
UP OPTIMISTIC.
I'M HOPEFUL BECAUSE I TRULY
BELIEVE MY COLLEAGUE,
REPRESENTATIVE STEINEKE, IS
GOING TO DO HIS BEST TO WORK
WITH THE REPUBLICANS.
I'M GOING TO DO MY BEST TO WORK
WITH THE DEMOCRATS.
WHEN WE GO IN THAT ROOM AND WORK
WITH COMMUNITIES, WE CANNOT
FAIL.
FAILURE CANNOT BE AN OPTION.
>> REPRESENTATIVE STEINEKE, YOUR
REACTION.
WHAT IS THE MINIMUM THAT NEEDS
TO HAPPEN FOR THIS TO BE A
SUCCESS?
>> I DON'T WANT TO GO IN
PREJUDGING ANYTHING.
I WANT TO DO MORE LISTENING THAN
I DO TALKING.
I SEE MY ROLE ESPECIALLY AS A
FACILITATOR.
REPRESENTATIVE STUBBS BRINGS
MORE EXPERIENCE TO THIS ISSUE
THAN I DO.
SO I'M GOING TO HELP TRY TO
BRING ALL SIDES TOGETHER SO WE
CAN COME UP WITH A PACKAGE THAT
HAS SOME REAL STRONG REFORMS IN
THERE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO
BOTH OF YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANKS, ZAC.
>> THE CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY ON
THE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT
ISSUED TWO VERY IMPORTANT ORDERS
YESTERDAY.
THE FIRST PUTS A HOLD ON DANE
COUNTY'S HEALTH ORDER SHUTTING
DOWN ALL SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTY.
PRIVATE SCHOOLS SAY THE COUNTY
DOESN'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO
FORCE THEM TO STAY CLOSED.
THE COURT'S ORDER SAYS SCHOOLS
CAN REOPEN WHILE THE CASE IS
ARGUED.
SECOND, THE COURT ORDERED LOCAL
ELECTION CLERKS TO STOP MAILING
ABSENTEE BALLOTS AND COUNT HOW
MANY HAVE BEEN SENT OUT AS HULT
TABL LAWSUITS ARE UNDERWAY TO
DETERMINE WHETHER THE GREEN
PARTY CANDIDATE AND RAPPER KANYE
WEST SHOULD BE ADDED.
THE ELECTION COMMISSION TOLD THE
COURT NEARLY 400,000 BALLOTS
HAVE ALREADY BEEN PRINTED.
CLERKS SAY FORCING THEM TO
REPRINT COULD CAUSE MASSIVE
CONFUSION AND EXPENSES AND COULD
CAUSE MUNICIPAL CLERKS TO MISS
FEDERAL DEADLINES TO MAIL THE
BALLOTS.
>> WE DO KNOW THREE OF THE NAMES
ON THE BALLOT FOR PRESIDENT.
POLL DIRECTOR CHARLES FRANKLIN
JOINS US NOW.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
YOUR LATEST POLLING WAS IN THE
FIELD RIGHT AFTER THE
CONVENTIONS AND IT APPEARS THE
RACE IS RELATIVELY UNCHANGED
EVEN WITH THE LIBERTARIAN
CANDIDATE IN THE MIX.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
WE ADDED THE LIBERTARIAN THIS
TIME EXPLICITLY FOR THE FIRST
TIME, SO THAT WAS A CHANGE.
BUT WE'VE REALLY SEEN A PRETTY
TIGHT RACE WITH A SMALL BUT
CONSISTENT BIDEN LEAD.
SINCE MAY, WE'VE HAD BIDEN AHEAD
WITH LIKELY VOTERS BY FOUR
POINTS, BY SIX, BY FIVE AND NOW
BY FOUR THIS TIME.
JORGENSEN, THE LIBERTARIAN, GETS
4% THIS TIME.
AND THAT'S KIND OF NOTABLE.
THAT'S ABOUT WHAT THE
LIBERTARIAN CANDIDATE GOT IN
2016.
BUT THE QUESTION IS AS WE GET
CLOSER TO THE ELECTION, CAN SHE
SUSTAIN THAT SUPPORT.
BUT BETWEEN TRUMP AND BIDEN,
WE'VE JUST BEEN SEEING ONE
PERCENTAGE POINT DIFFERENCES
OVER TIME.
IT HAS COME DOWN FROM JUNE TO
AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER, BUT JUST BY
ONE POINT EACH TIME.
THAT'S NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO
IDENTIFY THAT AS A TREND.
BUT I THINK A CLOSE RACE, SMALL
ADVANTAGE BIDEN WOULD BE THE
EASY WAY TO WRAP UP THE SUMMER.
>> ONE OF THE REASONS REGULAR
POLLING IS WORTHY OF COVERAGE IS
TO MEASURE WHICH EVENTS SHIFT
PUBLIC OPINION.
YOU'VE BEEN ASKING ABOUT
APPROVAL OF PROTESTS AGAINST
POLICE SHOOTINGS.
WE SAW A DROP IN SUPPORT OVER
THE SUMMER, BUT THERE REALLY
WASN'T A CHANGE AFTER THE
SHOOTING OF JACOB BLAKE IN
KENOSHA AND THE PROTESTS THAT
OCCURRED AFTERWARDS, CORRECT?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSTAND THAT.
SUPPORT FOR PROTESTS AND FOR
BLACK LIVES MATTER WAS HIGH IN
JUNE.
THERE WAS AN IMMEDIATE
SYMPATHETIC REACTION, I THINK.
BUT BY EARLY AUGUST, BEFORE THE
EVENTS IN KENOSHA, WE HAD SEEN A
COUPLE OF MONTHS OF CONTINUED
PROTESTS.
WE HAD SEEN SOME IMAGES OF
VANDALISM IN THAT, INCLUDING IN
MADISON AND ELSEWHERE HERE IN
THE STATE.
BUT WE HAD ALSO SEEN ADDITIONAL
EXAMPLES OF POLICE VIOLENCE
AGAINST PEOPLE OF COLOR.
SO THERE WERE BOTH OF THESE
MESSAGES GOING ON AND PRESIDENT
TRUMP HAD ALREADY STARTED
TALKING ABOUT THE PROTESTS IN
TERMS OF LAW AND ORDER AND
VIOLENCE AND REVOLUTIONARIES, AS
HE SEES IT.
AND SO PEOPLE HAD ALREADY HAD
ALL OF THOSE MESSAGES.
THE EVENTS IN KENOSHA WERE
VIVID, DRAMATIC AND IMPORTANT.
BUT THEY WEREN'T NEW.
AND AS A RESULT PEOPLE DIDN'T
CHANGE THEIR MINDS PARTICULARLY
AFTER IT.
>> AND I'VE BEEN DOING
INTERVIEWS RECENTLY AND A LOFT
REPUBLICANS TELL ME THEY'RE
CONVINCED KENOSHA IS AN
INFLECTION POINT IN THIS RACE
AND TRUMP'S LAW AND ORDER
MESSAGE IS RESONATING.
BUT YOUR POLL WAS IN THE FIELD
DURING THE TIME TRUMP VISITED
KENOSHA AND THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT
CHANGED THEIR MINDS WERE
REPUBLICANS.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
ABOUT HALF THE SAMPLE, JUST OVER
400, WERE INTERVIEWED BEFORE HE
CAME AND ABOUT HALF INTERVIEWED
AFTER HE CAME.
THERE WAS VERY LITTLE MOVEMENT.
BUT A BIG MOVE AMONG REPUBLICANS
WHO BECAME MUCH MORE APPROVING
OF THE WAY THE PRESIDENT HAS
HANDLED THE PROTESTS, GOING FROM
65% APPROVAL TO 87%.
BUT AMONG INDEPENDENTS AND
DEMOCRATS THERE WAS HARDLY ANY
CHANGE AT ALL.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF PREACHING
TO THE CHOIR AND YOU GOT AN AMEN
FROM THE CHOIR BUT THE CHOIR WAS
ALREADY VOTING FOR HIM.
>> ANOTHER THING THAT OCCURRED
WHILE YOUR POLL WAS IN THE FIELD
WAS A LOT OF KIDS WENT BACK TO
SCHOOL, SOME VIRTUALLY, SOME IN
PERSON.
51% OF PEOPLE ARE UNCOMFORTABLE
WITH REOPENING OF SCHOOLS.
THERE WAS A BIG SHIFT AMONG
PARENTS WITH SCHOOL-AGE
CHILDREN.
>> I THINK IT'S STRIKING THAT
NONPARENTS, PEOPLE WITHOUT A
KID?
IN THE HOUSEHOLD, BARELY CHANGED
BETWEEN AUGUST AND NOW.
BUT PARENTS FLIP-FLOPPED.
THEY WENT FROM THE 40s
UNCOMFORTABLE, 50s COMFORTABLE
TO EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE OF THAT,
MORE UNCOMFORTABLE THAN
COMFORTABLE.
WE'LL SEE HOW THAT SHAPES UP IN
A MONTH AS SCHOOLS TRY TO REOPEN
OR SOME STAY WITH ONLINE
INSTRUCTION.
>> AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE
NUMBERS FROM AROUND THE STATE,
THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
AREAS IN HOW COMFORTABLE THEY
ARE WITH SCHOOLS REOPENING.
>> YEAH.
YEAH.
WE SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, URBAN
AREAS ARE MUCH MORE
UNCOMFORTABLE THAN RURAL AREAS.
ALSO, WE SAW THAT AREAS THAT
HAVE HAD SIGNIFICANT OUTBREAKS,
LIKE IN THE GREEN BAY AREA, WE
SAW A LITTLE MORE DISCOMFORT
THAN IN AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN
LESS AFFECTED.
>> AND WHEN DO YOU EXPECT TO
HAVE MORE POLLING COMING OUT AS
WE'RE GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER
TO THE ELECTION?
>> SURE.
ELECTION DAY ROUGHLY EQUALLY
SPACED.
>> CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE ANY
MOVEMENTS?
IS THERE ROOM FOR
OCTOBER SURPRISES?
>> THERE'S LESS THAN THERE WAS.
ABOUT HALF AS MANY PEOPLE SAY
THEY'RE UNDECIDED NOW.
AND LESS THAN HALF AS MANY SAY
THEY DISLIKE BOTH PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATES, DOWN TO ABOUT 8%
THAT DON'T LIKE EITHER TRUMP OR
BIDEN.
IT WAS 21% IN 2016.
THAT REDUCES VOLATILITY, BUT
LET'S REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED
LAST TIME.
SURPRISES CAN OCCUR.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
PROFESSOR CHARLES FRANKLIN,
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> FINALLY TONIGHT, SOME CONTEXT
FOR THIS ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11.
IT WAS 19 YEARS AGO TODAY THAT
TERRORISTS ATTACKED THE WORLD
TRADE CENTER AND PENTAGON.
LESS THAN A MONTH LATER, WE WERE
AT WAR IN AFGHANISTAN.
THAT WAR IS STILL ONGOING.
JUST THIS WEEK, THE MILITARY
ANNOUNCED ANOTHER TROOP
WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN,
DOWN TO 45 # # ON00 TROOPS ON THE
GROUND.
AS MANY PEOPLE ARE DYING FROM
THE CORONAVIRUS EVERY THREE
DAYS.
THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
FREDERICA FREYBERG WILL BE BACK
NEXT WEEK.
I'M ZAC SCHULTZ.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> FOR MORE "HERE AND NOW" 2020
ELECTION COVERAGE, GO TO
pbs.org AND CLICK ON NEWS.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.