>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> WITH THE CLOCK TICKING TO THE
2022 ELECTION, NEW DISTRICT MAPS
ARE BEING DRAWN.
BUT WHAT'S A FAIR MAP?
THAT'S IN THE EYE OF THE
BEHOLDER.
AND THE DELTA VARIANT CAUSING IS
123% UPTICK IN CASES SINCE LAST
MONTH, SENDING MORE AND MORE
WISCONSIN PATIENTS INTO
INTENSIVE CARE AND CREATING
CONCERNS OVER STAFF BURN-OUT.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW,"
MARISA WOJCIK REPORTS FROM THE
MARSHFIELD CLINIC ON THE TOLL
THE DELTA VARIANT IS TAKING ON
NURSES AND OTHER HOSPITAL STAFF.
ZAC SCHULTZ SEEKS THE ANSWER TO
THE QUESTION "WHAT MAKES A FAIR
VOTING MAP?"
AND REPUBLICANS LEAD BY FORMER
JUSTICE MICHAEL GABLEMAN
CONTINUE THEIR QUEST TO RELIVE
THE 2020 ELECTION, THOUGH NO
SIGN OF WRONGDOING HAS BEEN
FOUND.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
SEPTEMBER 24.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> WE KNOW THAT OUR HOSPITALS
AND OUR HOSPITAL SYSTEMS ACROSS
THE STATE ARE FEELING THE STRAIN
OF THIS INCREASE IN DISEASE
ACTIVITY.
ACROSS OUR STATE TODAY, ONLY
ABOUT 5% OF BEDS IN OUR
INTENSIVE CARE UNITS ARE
AVAILABLE, AND 5% OF MEDICAL
SURGICAL BEDS ARE AVAILABLE.
AND REPORTS OF PRESSURES ON
STAFFING AND STAFF AVAILABILITY
ARE COMING IN FROM HOSPITALS AND
LONG-TERM CARE PROVIDERS ALL
ACROSS WISCONSIN.
>> AMONG THOSE RECENTLY IN
INTENSIVE CARE WITH COVID-19,
WISCONSIN STATE SENATOR AN DREA
JACQUE.
HE WAS RELEASED TO AN
INTERMEDIATE CARE FACILITY THIS
WEEK.
ALSO THIS WEEK REPUBLICAN
CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR REBECCA
KLEEFISCH ANNOUNCED SHE HAD
RECENTLY TESTED POSITIVE FOR
COVID.
THE WISCONSIN HOSPITAL
ASSOCIATION REPORTS 1,0 72
PATIENTS HOSPITALS FOR COVID-19
TODAY, INCLUDING 335 IN THE ICU.
"HERE AND NOW" AN WAS INSIDE ONE
UNIT TO SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
FROM THE FRONTLINE HEALTH
WORKERS.
MARISA WOJCIK REPORTS FROM
MARSHFIELD.
>> THE PANDEMIC WAS LOOKING LIKE
IT WAS ESSENTIALLY OVER TWO
MONTHS AGO.
WE HAD ZERO TO TWO, MAYBE THREE
PATIENTS IN THE HOSPITAL.
>> WILLIAM MELMS IS THE CHIEF
MEDICAL OFFICER FOR THE MARSH
MARSHFIELD CLINIC.
>> THE NUMBER OF NEW PATIENTS
CONTINUES TO RISE AND THE NEW
PATIENTS PER DAY ARE THE KIND OF
LEADING INDICATOR OF WHAT WE CAN
EXPECT.
SO WE HAVE GRAVE CONCERNS YET
THAT WE'RE NOT NEAR THE END OF
THIS SURGE.
>> IN THE COVID ICU, DOCTORS,
NURSES AND RESIDENTS ARE BUSY
DISCUSSING EACH PATIENT'S
TREATMENT PLAN.
PATIENTS ARE HERE FOR WEEKS,
USUALLY IN A MEDIALLY-INDUCED
COMA.
>> THEY DO KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING
AND THAT MAKES THEM EVEN MORE
SCARED.
>> HE SPECIALIZES IN
ADMINISTERING ECMO.
>> WHAT ECMO DOES IS WE'RE
ALLOWED TO HAVE THE LUNGS DO
BASICALLY NOTHING AS WE
OXYGENATE THROUGH THE MACHINE
AND KEEP THE PATIENT'S BRAIN AND
HEART AND KIDNEYS ALL HEALTHY
WITH OXYGEN.
>> IT CAN BE THE LAST TOOL
WORKERS HAVE TO SAVE A PATIENT'S
LIFE.
BUT ECMO RESOURCES ARE LIMITED
AND IN HIGH DEMAND AS THE DELTA
SURGE CONTINUES TO WORSEN.
>> THE PATIENTS ARE SICKER THIS.
WE SEE THAT THEY'RE DEER TEAR --
DETERIORATING QUICKER AS WELL
AND IT REQUIRES MORE RESOURCES.
>> VICKI VARSHO SAYS THE SYSTEM
IS BEING INUNDATED.
>> WE'RE GETTING CALLS FROM
CANADA, FROM THE EAST, FROM THE
WEST, FROM PEOPLE WE'VE NEVER
RECEIVED THEIR PATIENTS FROM
BEFORE BECAUSE THEY ARE SO
STRAPPED FOR BEDS AND RESOURCES
AS WELL.
>> COMPARING IT TO A HURRICANE,
LEAVING DESTRUCTION IN ITS WAKE.
>> THERE'S DEFINITELY A
DIFFERENT FEELING WHEN WE'RE
PUTTING A BREATHING TUBE IN
THESE COVID PATIENTS JUST
BECAUSE SO OFTEN WE'RE NOT ABLE
TO HEAR FROM THEM AGAIN.
AND KNOWING THAT GOING INTO THE
BREATHING TUBE IS VERY, VERY
DIFFICULT.
>> THEIR STORIES ENDURE AND SO
DOES THE TRAUMA.
>> HAVING TO CONVEYOR DO
FACETIME WITH THESE PATIENTS AND
THEIR FAMILY, WE'RE REALLY --
WE'RE THE MIDDLEMAN, HAVING TO
SAY HELLO TO THEIR SON WHO'S
GOING TO COLLEGE FOR THE FIRST
TIME OR PEOPLE ARE GETTING
MARRIED AND WATCHING THEM HAVE
TO SEE IT THROUGH A TINY CAMERA
ON THEIR PHONE WHILE THEY'RE
INTUBATED IS VERY TOUGH.
>> STAFFING SHORTAGES WERE A
PROBLEM BEFORE 2020.
AND THE PANDEMIC HAS MADE IT
WORSE AS MANY HEALTH CARE
WORKERS LEAVE THE PROFESSION.
>> BURN-OUT.
TURNS INTO A VICIOUS CYCLE.
THEY LEAVE, ANOTHER PERSON
REPLACES THEM AND THE ISSUE
ISN'T FIXED SO THEY GET THAT
BURN-OUT ALL OVER AGAIN.
>> AND THE EMOTIONAL TOLL IS
GREATER NOW, AS THE ISSUE OF THE
PANDEMIC ROLLS ON AND THE
PATIENTS ARE NOT ONLY SICKER,
THEY'RE YOUNGER.
>> WE HAVE HAD PEDIATRIC CASES.
THE YOUNGEST PATIENT WE HAD WAS
FOUR MONTHS OLD.
THE DEMOGRAPHIC OF THE PATIENTS
WE ADMIT IN OUR FACILITIES ARE
CERTAINLY YOUNGER THAN THEY WERE
LAST YEAR.
ABSOLUTELY THE CASE.
ABSOLUTELY THE CONCERN.
>> HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE HOPING
MORE PEOPLE WILL CHOOSE TO GET
VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19 IN
THE WAKE OF THIS LATEST SURGE.
>> EVEN SOME FAMILY MEMBERS WHO
WERE VERY AGAINST THE VACCINE,
IT'S A LOT DIFFERENT WHEN
THEY'RE CRYING OVER THEIR
SPOUSE.
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM HAVE
GOTTEN THE VACCINE THAT DAY OF
ADMISSION OR THE VERY NEXT DAY.
>> THE FRUSTRATING ASPECT OF
THIS PANDEMIC IS THAT WE COULD
BE PREVENTING SO MUCH OF THIS
AND WE'RE NOT.
>> FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M
MARISA WOJCIK IN MARSHFIELD.
>> THE DIRECTOR OF THE CDC THIS
WEEK GAVE THE GREEN LIGHT TO
PFIZER BOOSTER SHOTS FOR HEALTH
CARE WORKERS, TEACHERS AND OTHER
FRONTLINE WORKERS.
NOW TO STATE POLITICS.
THE FIGHT OVER VOTING MAPS YET
TO BE DRAWN IN WISCONSIN
RATCHETED UP THIS WEEK ON A
CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY VOTE, THE
STATE SUPREME COURT AGREED TO
CONSIDER A LAWSUIT FROM
CONSERVATIVES RATHER THAN HAVING
IT START IN LOWER COURTS.
JUST A DAY EARLIER, A FEDERAL
COURT SET A JANUARY TRIAL DATE
FOR TWO REDISTRICTING LAWSUITS
BROUGHT BY DEMOCRATS WHO WANT
FEDERAL COURTS TO STEP IN SOONER
RATHER THAN LATER AS THE
REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE AND
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR TONY EVERS
ARE UNLIKELY TO REACH AGREEMENT
ON A REDRAW.
WE'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT THE
COURT-SIDE WRANGLING, BUT FIRST
SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER ZAC
SCHULTZ SETS THE TABLE WITH THE
QUESTION "WHAT IS A FAIR MAP?"
>> I BELIEVE AND WISCONSINITES
DO THAT PEOPLE SHOULD GET TO
CHOOSE THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS,
NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
>> IN JANUARY OF 2020 GOVERNOR
EVERS ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER
CRAITDING THE PEOPLE'S MAPS
COMMISSION TO DRAW FAIR,
IMPARTIAL MAPS TO BE USED IN
STATE ELECTIONS FOR THE NEXT
DECADE.
WHEN ANNEMARIE MCCLELLAN
VOLUNTEERED TO SERVE AS A
COMMISSIONER, SHE WASN'T
EXPECTING THE PANDEMIC TO DELAY
THE CENSUS AND STRETCH THEIR
PROCESS OUT TO THE END OF 2021.
>> A LOT OF US FELT THAT, YOU
KNOW, BY END OF APRIL, EARLY
MAY WE WOULD BE DONE, WE COULD
GET ON WITH OUR LIVES.
BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
WE'VE GONE THIS FAR.
WE HAVE TO SEE IT OUT TO ITS
END.
>> THE CENSUS DATA IS HERE.
THE COMMISSION TOOK VIRTUAL AND
WRITTEN TESTIMONY FROM THOUSANDS
OF CITIZENS AND EXPERTS.
AND PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE ON
USING ONLINE SOFTWARE TO CREATE
THEIR OWN MAPS AND PROPOSE THEM
TO BOTH THE LEGISLATURE AND THE
MAPS COMMISSION.
BUT STILL, NO ONE CAN ANSWER THE
DEFINING QUESTION SURROUNDING
REDISTRICTING: "WHAT MAKES A
MAP FAIR?"
>> WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF
FAIRNESS, FOR THE PUBLIC IT'S
LIKE DOES THIS REPRESENT THE
GREATER WILL OF THE MASS OF THE
PUBLIC?
>> FAIR IS IN THE EYES OF THE
BEHOLDER.
>> JOE HANDRICK IS A FORMER
REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLY
REPRESENTATIVE, BUT KNOWN ON
WORK FOR REDISTRICTING FOR
REPUBLICANS.
HE SAYS THE LAW DEMANDS WE TRY
TO KEEP COMMUNITIES TOGETHER AND
FOLLOW THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT.
>> THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE WHO
DEFINE FAIR MAPS AS WHAT'S THE
POLITICAL OUTCOME?
ARE THE DEMOCRATS OR THE
REPUBLICANS GETTING ENOUGH
SEATS?
BUT THAT'S NOT DEFINED OR
EXPECTED ANYWHERE IN THE
STATUTES OR IN THE CONSTITUTION.
>> THE VERY WORD "FAIR" THERE'S
SOME QUESTION OF PHILOSOPHY AND
ETHICS AND LAW.
>> JORDAN ELLENBERG IS A
PROFESSOR OF MAPS AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN.
HE SAYS WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT IS
A FAIR MAP, WE MIGHT BE ASKING
THE WRONG QUESTION.
>> THERE IS NOT REALLY A GOOD
ANSWER TO WHAT IS FAIR.
SO THEN YOU MAY SAY, WELL, WHAT
ARE WE EVEN DOING, ARE AM I HERE
TALKING ABOUT IT?
BECAUSE THERE IS A GOOD ANSWER
TO WHAT IS UNFAIR.
THAT'S A DIFFERENT QUESTION.
>> HE SAYS THE BEST EXAMPLE OF
UNFAIR MAPS ARE THE CURRENT
WISCONSIN MAPS FOR CONGRESS,
STATE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DRAWN
BY REPUBLICANS A DECADE AGO.
>> I THINK IN MY PROFESSIONAL
OPINION THE CURRENT MAP WE HAVE
IS ONE OF THOSE WHERE IT'S VERY
CLEAR BY ANY METRIC YOU WOULD
USE THAT THAT MAP HAS BEEN
COOKED TO THE BENEFIT OF ONE
PARTY.
>> IF THE MAPS WERE COOKED, JOE
HANDRICK WAS ONE OF THE CHEFS.
IN 2011, HANDRICK WORKED FOR THE
PRIVATE LAW FIRM REPUBLICANS
HIRED TO DRAW THE CURRENT MAPS.
BUT HANDRICK SAYS THAT WASN'T A
GERRYMANDER.
>> DID WE CREATE A MAP FOR
REPUBLICAN MAJORITIES?
NO.
THE VOTERS CREATES THE
REPUBLICAN MAJORITY.
>> THIS IS THE POINT WHERE THEY
AGREE.
IN A STATEWIDE ELECTION,
WISCONSIN IS EVENLY DIVIDED
BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND
DEMOCRATS.
ELLENBERG SAYS HE CAN CREATE
THOUSANDS OF COMPUTER-GENERATED
MAPS TO TEST WHAT THE AVERAGE
NUMBER OF WINS SHOULD BE FOR
EACH PARTY IN THE ASSEMBLY.
>> UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS, HOW
MANY REPUBLICANS WOULD THERE BE
IN THE STATE ASSEMBLY?
SPOILER.
I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THE
ANSWER.
PROBABLY ABOUT 55.
>> A LOT OF DEMOCRATS ARE
CONCENTRATED IN THE CITIES, SO
WHILE THEY CAN RACK UP VOTES IN
ASSEMBLY RACES, REPUBLICANS GET
THEIR MAJORITY IN DISTRICTS
CRAFTED TO GIVE THEM 60% OF THE
VOTE.
THE RANGE OF WINS FOR
REPUBLICANS SHOULD BE IN THE MID
50s, NOT THE 61 SEATS THEY
CURRENTLY HOLD.
>> THERE'S NOT A SINGLE ANSWER,
BUT THERE IS LIKE A REASONABLE
RANGE, AND, YOU KNOW, 62, 63 IS
NOT IN THAT RANGE.
IT'S LIKE WAY OUT THERE.
THAT BASICALLY LIKE NEVER
HAPPENS UNLESS YOU BUILD IN A
BIG ADVANTAGE.
>> HANDRICK SAYS CREDIT SHOULD
GO TO QUALITY REPUBLICAN
CANDIDATES, NOT JUST THE MAPS.
>> REPUBLICANS HAVE WON A COUPLE
SEATS THAT ARE DEMOCRATIC SEATS
ON TOP OF THAT.
SO THAT'S 57, 58.
THE MAP PROBABLY ACCOUNTS TORE
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THAT AND
THE SEATS THEY'RE AT.
>> ANNEMARIE MCCLELLAN SAYS THE
NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR THE
COMMISSION ISN'T WHICH PARTY
WINS, BUT KEEPING COMMUNITIES OF
INTEREST INTACT.
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ISN'T ONE
DEFINITION FOR A COMMUNITY OF
INTEREST.
OFTEN IT'S INTERPRETED TO MEAN
KEEPING COUNTIES, CITIES AND
VILLAGES IN THE SAME DISTRICT.
>> IT MIGHT BE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
THAT'S ONE THING THAT WE HEARD A
LOT OF PEOPLE SAY, THAT I WANT
TO KEEP IT INTACT, BECAUSE
SOMETIMES SCHOOL DISTRICTS CROSS
MUNICIPALITIES OR COUNTY LINES.
>> THE COMMISSION WON'T IGNORE
THE PARTISAN OUTCOME, SINCE SO
MANY PEOPLE CONSIDER THAT THE
ULTIMATE TEST OF FAIRNESS.
>> AND LAST OF ALL MEASURES OF
PARTISAN FAIRNESS, EVERYTHING
ELSE BEING EQUAL, IF ONE MAP
SHOWS THAT IT'S MORE FAIR
PARTISAN-WISE, WE WOULD GO WITH
THAT.
>> HANDRICK SAYS ANY MAP
PRODUCED BY THE COMMISSION
SHOULD BE VIEWED AS A DEMOCRATIC
MAP.
>> IT'S NOT A NONPARTISAN
COMMISSION.
IT'S NOT A BIPARTISAN
COMMISSION.
IT'S A PARTISAN COMMISSION TO
ADVANCE THE INTEREST OF
DEMOCRATS.
THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH
THAT, BUT I WISH THEY COULD JUST
CALL IT THAT.
>> ELLENBERG SAYS ANY MAP
PRODUCED BY THE COMMISSION
SHOULD BE LOOKED AT THROUGH THE
SAME LENS YOU WOULD LOOK AT MAPS
CREATED BY THE REPUBLICANS.
BUT THE WAY EACH GROUP WENT
ABOUT CREATING THEM SHOULD BE
JUDGED.
>> THE OUTCOME HAS TO BE JUDGED,
BUT THE PROCESS IS MUCH BETTER.
>> WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT THE
STATE SUPREME COURT TOOK THE
REDISTRICTING LAWSUIT OVER LOWER
COURTS?
AND WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE
FEDERAL COURT ACTION?
ZAC SCHULTZ JOINS US NOW FROM
THE STATE CAPITOL.
HEY, ZAC.
>> HELLO, FRED.
>> SO THE CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY
ON THE STATE SUPREME COURT VOTED
TO TAKE THE CASE WITH LIBERAL
JUSTICES DISSENTING.
WHAT'S THE IMPLICATION OF THIS
CASE GOING TO THE HIGH COURT?
>> THE FIRST IMPLICATION IS
THEY'RE SKIPPING THE LOWER
LEVELS OF THE COURT.
USUALLY WHEN YOU GO TO LOCAL
COURT FIRST, THAT'S THE RECORD.
THERE'S A TRIAL THAT BRINGS IN
ALL THE EVIDENCE THAT DETERMINES
EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS AFTER
THAT.
THEN THERE WOULD BE AN APPELLATE
LEVEL.
SO IT WILL BE UP TO THE SUPREME
COURT JUSTICES IN A COUPLE HOURS
TO GATHER ALL THE FACTS IN ORDER
TO RULE ON WHETHER THEY'RE GOING
TO DRAW THESE MAPS.
>> ISN'T ALSO THE IMPLICATION
THAT IT'S A FRIENDLY COURT?
>> WELL, REPUBLICANS CERTAINLY
HOPE SO.
THEY THINK THEIR 4-3
CONSERVATIVE COURT, IN THIS CASE
HE RULED WITH THE CONSERVATIVES
TO BRING THIS CASE TO THE COURT
IN THE FIRST PLACE.
>> WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW
WITH THE FEDERAL LAWSUIT?
>> WELL, THAT'S ONGOING AS WELL
AND THAT'S THE COURT WHERE
DEMOCRATS WANT TO PLAY AND THINK
THEY'RE GOING TO GET A BETTER
OUTCOME.
THAT'S WHO'S DRAWN THE MAPS THE
LAST FEW TIMES IT WASN'T DRAWN
BY REPUBLICANS.
THE THREE PANEL JUDGES HAVE
ALREADY SET A TRIAL DATE FOR
JANUARY SAYING THEY WANT TO MOVE
THIS ALONG.
IN PART, THEIR DECISION TO SET
THAT TRIAL SAID WE HAVEN'T HEARD
MUCH FROM THE STATE AND WHETHER
THE STATE WILL ACTUALLY HAVE
THIS ARGUMENT DONE IN THEIR
COURTS AND THAT'S WHAT PROMPTED
THE STATE SUPREME COURT TO STEP
IN AND SAY WE CAN MOVE FORWARD
AS WELL.
SO YOU MIGHT HAVE TWO PLAYING
OUT AT THE SAME TIME.
THE FEDERAL COURT MIGHT GET PUT
ON HOLD.
IT'S UNCLEAR AT THIS POINT.
>.
>> MEANWHILE, THE REPUBLICANS
HAVE ASKED THE U.S. SUPREME
COURT TO THROW OUT THE FEDERAL
COURT WORK ON THIS IN WISCONSIN.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
THEY ABSOLUTELY -- REPUBLICANS
WANT TO SEE THIS DONE IN THE
WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT.
THEY'RE HOPING THE U.S. SUPREME
COURT WILL DISMISS THAT CASE SO
THE ONLY CASE THAT REMAINS IS
WITH THE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT
FORCING THEM TO DECIDE OR DRAW
THE MAPS.
>> CERTAINLY PLAYING HARDBALL
HERE.
THE UNDERLYING IDEA IS THAT
EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THE
REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED
LEGISLATURE IS NOT GOING TO DRAW
NEW MAPS THAT GOVERNOR EVERS
WOULD APPROVE.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S PUTTING IT
TOO BLUNTLY.
BUT NOW REPUBLICANS EXPECT TO
PASS A RESOLUTION TUESDAY TO
KEEP THE MAPS PRETTY MUCH AS IS.
WHAT'S THE REACTION TO THIS?
>> WELL, THE IDEA IS THAT THEY
ALREADY HAVE MAPS THAT THEY
ENJOY.
THE LAST DECADE HAVE SHOWN US
THEY WIN BIG MAJORITIES.
DEMOCRATS SAY THAT'S BECAUSE
THEY'RE GERRYMANDERED.
SO ONLY SLIGHT ADJUSTMENTS
NEEDED FOR POPULATION WILL
LIKELY GIVE REPUBLICANS
MAJORITIES FOR THE NEXT DECADE.
SO THEY TO WANT PLAY OFF THE
MAPS THEY WROTE TEN YEARS AGO.
DEMOCRATS OF COURSE WOULD LIKE
TO SEE MUCH LARGER ADJUSTMENTS
AND THE IDEA OF PARTISAN
FAIRNESS TO HOPEFULLY EVEN OUT
THE SCORE SO THAT EVEN IN A WAVE
YEAR MAYBE DEMOCRATS COULD COME
CLOSER TO WINNING A MAJORITY.
>> IS THERE SOME PRECEDENT FOR
THIS?
WE'VE HAD THESE MAPS FOR TEN
YEARS.
WE DON'T NEED TO CHANGE THEM
MUCH.
IS THIS SOMETHING PEOPLE WHO ARE
GOING THROUGH REDISTRICTING DO?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
IT'S ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS.
BUT THE WHOLE THING ABOUT MAPS
IS THAT THERE REALLY AREN'T TOO
MANY HARD-SET LIMITS IN LAW.
YOU CAN MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT
YOU SHOULD ONLY MAKE MINOR
ADJUSTMENTS.
BUT TEN YEARS AGO REPUBLICANS
COMPLETELY RE DID THE MAPS TO
GIVE THEM A MAJORITY.
DEMOCRATS WILL SAY IT'S
HYPOCRISY.
REPUBLICANS SAY WE WANT TO BE
CONSISTENT.
>> WE WILL WATCH HOW ALL THIS
WORKS OUT.
THIS IS CERTAINLY ON THE FAST
TRACK.
YOU'VE REPORTED ON LOCAL VOTING
BOUNDARY MAPS.
WHERE DOES THIS LEAVE THOSE AND
WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE?
>> WELL, THE COUNTIES, VILLAGES,
CITIES ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF
THEIR REDISTRICTING PROCESS,
SEPARATE FROM WHAT THE STATE
ASSEMBLY AND CONGRESSIONAL MAPS
ARE.
I KNOW A LOT OF THE COUNTIES
HAVE JUST FINISHED UP THEIR
VERSIONS AND ARE SENDING THEM UP
TO THE LOCAL DISTRICTS.
IT'S UNCLEAR IF THOSE MAPS WILL
BE INCORPORATED INTO THE LARGER
ARGUMENTS, FEDERAL OR STATE
SUPREME COURT, OR IF THEY'LL
HAVE TO ADJUST THE MAPS ONCE WE
HAVE THE MAPS SET FOR CONGRESS
AND THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
>> I KNOW AS YOU REPORTED IN
YOUR STORY JUST A FEW MINUTES
AGO, THESE LOCAL BOUNDARIES ARE
REALLY IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE,
INCLUDING THINGS LIKE SCHOOL
DISTRICTS?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THERE'S A WIDE DEFINITION OF
WHAT IS A COMMUNITY OF INTEREST.
WATERSHED SCHOOL DISTRICTS,
COUNTY LINES, CITY LINES.
IT'S WIDE OPEN, FRED.
>> ALL RIGHT.
ZAC SCHULTZ, THANKS VERY MUCH
FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> FORMER CONSERVATIVE SUPREME
COURT JUSTICE MICHAEL GABLEMAN
TOOK TO YOUTUBE THIS WEEK
RELEASING A SIX-MINUTE-LONG
VIDEO STATEMENT ABOUT HIS
INVESTIGATION INTO THE 2020
WISCONSIN ELECTION.
IT CAME FOLLOWING CONFUSION ON
THE PART OF ELECTION CLERKS OVER
AN EMAIL FROM HIS OFFICE THAT
WAS FLAGGED AS A POSSIBLE
CYBERSECURITY RISK.
THE STATE ASSEMBLY LAST WEEK
APPROVED AT LEAST $680,000 IN
TAXPAYER MONEY FOR THE GABLEMAN
PROBE.
THIS, DESPITE THE FACT THAT
AFTER RECOUNTS, COURT CHALLENGES
AND OFFICIAL RESULTS AW AUDITS,O
WIDESPREAD FRAUD WAS FOUND.
YESTERDAY THE FOURTH WISCONSIN
VOTER OUT OF 3 MILLION VOTES
WERE CHARGED WITH ELECTION
FRAUD.
HERE'S AN EXCERPT OF GABLEMAN'S
VIDEO STATEMENT.
>> THIS IS NOT AN ELECTION
CONTEST.
WE ARE NOT CHALLENGING THE
RESULTS OF THE 2020 ELECTION.
RATHER, WE ARE HOLDING
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE
TO THE PUBLIC FOR THEIR ACTIONS
SURROUNDING THE ELECTIONS.
AS THE OFFICIALS DIRECTLY
RESPONSIBLE FOR ADMINISTERING
ELECTIONS, WISCONSIN'S COUNTY
AND MUNICIPAL CLERKS HAVE A DUTY
TO BE FORTHCOMING IN THIS
INVESTIGATION.
IT IS MY SINCERE HOPE THAT
WISCONSIN ELECTION OFFICIALS
WILL LIVE UP TO THAT DUTY.
BUT IF THEY DO NOT, WE WILL USE
THE POWER AFFORDED TO THE OFFICE
OF SPECIAL COUNSEL TO COMPEL
ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS.
THIS INVESTIGATION WILL BE
GUIDED BY A SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH
AND NOT BY POLITICAL PRIORITIES
OR POLITICAL TIME TABLES.
SOME EVIDENCE HAS BEEN PRODUCED
PREVIOUSLY THAT SHOWS SOME
ELECTION OFFICIALS ACTED IEWN
LATLY IN DECIDING NOT TO FOLLOW
ESTABLISHED STATE LAW.
WE WILL REQUEST FROM THOSE
OFFICIALS AND OTHERS WITH
POTENTIAL KNOWLEDGE OF UNLAWFUL
ACTIONS AND WILL COMPEL THEM, IF
NECESSARY, TO PRODUCE DOCUMENTS
AND TESTIMONY THAT WILL ALLOW
THE PUBLIC TO GAIN A
COMPREHENSIVE UNDERSTANDING OF
HOW THEIR ELECTIONS WERE
MANAGED.
>> THE TOP ELECTION OFFICIAL IN
WISCONSIN, MEGAN WOLFE, SAYS SHE
DOES NOT KNOW WHAT POSSIBLE
UNLAWFUL ACTIONS GABLEMAN IS
TALKING ABOUT.
WOLFE HAS REPEATEDLY DEFENDED
THE INTEGRITY OF WISCONSIN'S
2020 ELECTIONS.
MARISA WOJCIK SAT DOWN WITH
UW-MADISON ELECTION EXPERT BARRY
BURDEN AND ASKED HIM HIS
REACTION TO THE GABLEMAN YOUTUBE
STATEMENT.
>> WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THAT?
THIS IS AN INVESTIGATION THATúSN
LOOKING FOR FRAUD.
IS THIS JUST CREATING MORE
CONFUSION?
CERTAINLY WE HAVEN'T SEEN
SOMETHING LIKE THIS BEFORE.
>> WELL, I HAVE A COUPLE WORRIES
ABOUT THIS.
ONE IS THAT GABLEMAN
INVESTIGATION SEEMS TO HAVE A
MOVING TARGET IN MIND, THE KINDS
OF THINGS THAT HIS TEAM IS
INTERESTED IN HAVE SHIFTED OVER
TIME.
HE'S TRAVELED TO ARIZONA TO SEE
THE RECOUNTS AUDIT BUSINESS THAT
WAS HAPPENING THERE IN MARICOPA
COUNTY.
HE'S TRAVELED TO A SEMINAR THAT
MIKE LINDELL, THE MY PILLOW CEO
PUT ON IN SOUTH DAKOTA AND
CONSULTED WITH OTHER FOLKS IN
THE INDUSTRY OF RAISING
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ELECTION.
HIS MOST RECENT VIDEO IS NOW
TALKING ABOUT CLERKS NOT
FOLLOWING THE LAW.
TO ME THAT SEEMS LIKE A VERY
DIFFERENT SET OF CONCERNS.
IF THAT WERE HAPPENING, I THINK
THE LEGISLATURE WOULD HAVE THE
RIGHT TO HOLD HEARINGS TO LOOK
INTO THAT AND THEY'VE ALREADY
DONE SOME OF THAT.
THERE COULD BE COURT CASES
FILED.
SOMEONE COULD FILE SUIT CLAIMING
THAT CLERKS OR ELECTION
OFFICIALS WERE NOT FOLLOWING THE
LAW.
VIEWERS WILL REMEMBER THAT THERE
WERE SEVEN OR EIGHT OF THOSE
SUITS FILED IN STATE AND FEDERAL
COURT CLAIMING THAT LAWS WERE
NOT BEING FOLLOWED, THAT THE
COLLECTION OF BALAN BALLOTS IN Y
PARKS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED.
ALL OF THOSE SUITS ESSENTIALLY
WERE TOSSED OUT, NOT SEEN AS
HAVING ANY MERIT AND THEY DIDN'T
MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE ELECTION
AS A RESULT.
NOW, THASES THAT'S NOT TO SAY E
SHOULDN'T DO SOME IMPROVEMENTS
AFTER EACH ELECTION.
IT'S A HUMAN PROCESS.
WE WENT THROUGH A DIFFERENT KIND
OF ELECTION THAN EVER BEFORE AND
I THINK THE SYSTEM ADAPTED, BUT
IT WASN'T DESIGNED TO DEAL WITH
THE KINDS OF CHALLENGES WE FACED
IN 2020.
SO SOME CHANGES TO THE ELECTION
LAW ARE PROBABLY RIGHT.
BUT I DON'T THINK DOING IT
THROUGH A SOMEWHAT SECRETIVE
INVESTIGATION THAT'S NOT DONE IN
FULL PUBLIC VIEW AND WITH MOVING
TARGETS IS REALLY PROBLEMATIC.
>> ON A DIFFERENT FRONT, BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION BRASS TRAVELED
THROUGH WISCONSIN THIS WEEK.
>> ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE A GREAT
YEAR?
>> YEAH.
>> THE U.S. SECRETARY OF
EDUCATION, MIGUEL CARDONA,
ROLLED OUT HIS RETURN TO SCHOOL
ROAD TRIP WITH SEVERAL STOPS IN
THE STATE.
THE TOUR, DESIGNED TO HIGHLIGHT
STUDENTS SAFELY RETURNING TO
IN-PERSON LEARNING.
THE WISCONSIN STOPS INCLUDED
EAU CLAIRE.
THAT'S WHERE HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS THAT ARE PART OF THE
"NEWSHOUR" STUDENT REPORTING
LABS GOT A PERSONAL AUDIENCE
WITH THE SECRETARY.
CARDONA SAT DOWN WITH
16-YEAR-OLD MAYLA ENGBRETSON
FROM BLACK RIVER FALLS HIGH
SCHOOL FOR AN INTERVIEW.
>> BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC,
OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF US ARE BEHIND
IN THE LEARNING PROCESS.
HOW DO YOU PLAN TO CATCH THESE
STUDENTS UP AFTER MISSING A YEAR
OF SCHOOL?
>> EVERY STUDENT I TALK TO,
THEY'RE JUST HAPPY TO BE WITH
THEIR FRIENDS, THAT
SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL PIECE.
THE RELATIONSHIP DIVIDE IS
SOMETHING WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON.
SO MAKING SURE THAT YOU HAVE
ACCESS TO FUN ACTIVITIES AT
SCHOOL AND SPORTS OR EXTRA
CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IS JUST AS
IMPORTANT AS THE ACADEMIC
ACCELERATION.
WELL KWE KNOW STUDENTS LOST CON.
$130 MILLION WAS ALLOCATED TO
HELP AND GET TUTORS FOR STUDENTS
THAT NEED IT, ADDITIONAL
TEACHERS, ADDITIONAL SCHOOL
COUNSELORS.
SO THE MONEY IS THERE FOR EXTRA
SUPPORT.
I THINK IN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT MORE
SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE
FEELING BEHIND EITHER
ACADEMICALLY OR NEED ACCESS TO
SEACIAL/EMOTIONAL SUPPORT.
WE ALL WENT THROUGH THIS TRAUMA
THAT TOGETHER.
>> CARDONA ALSO TRAVELED TO
UW-MADISON, WHERE HE MET WITH
STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOL OF
SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM, THE
CHANCELLOR AND GOVERNOR.
AMID COVID OUTBREAKS IN SCHOOLS
AND COMMUNITIES, CARDONA
EMPHASIZED INDOOR MASK
REQUIREMENTS TO KEEP STUDENTS
OPEN.
>> SECRETARY CARDONA ALSO SAID
THIS WEEK THAT HE ENDORSES
MAKING COVID VACCINES MANDATORY
FOR ELIGIBLE STUDENTS.
WE WANT TO THANK BLACK RIVER
FALLS HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALISTS
WITH THE "NEWSHOUR" STUDENT
REPORTING LAB FOR SHARING THEIR
WORK WITH US.
TONIGHT, THE RETURN OF AN ICON
TO THE CAPITOL SQUARE.
MISS FORWARD, THE STATUTE THAT
WAS TORN DOWN DURING
DEMONSTRATIONS LAST SUMMER, WAS
RETURNED TO HER POST THIS WEEK.
ANOTHER PIECE, THE SCULPTURE OF
HANS CHRISTIAN HEG, WAS ALSO
RETURNED TO ITS ORIGINAL
PEDESTAL ON THE CAPITOL GROUND.
FOR THE LATEST COVID CONDITION
REPORTING, GO TO
pbswisconsin.org AND THEN CLICK
ON THE NEWS PAGE.
THAT IS ALL FOR TONIGHT'S
PROGRAM.
NEXT WEEK, MURV SEYMOUR WITH THE
STORY OF A MAN GRANTED A
GOVERNOR'S PARDON.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.