% %>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM I
S A
% PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
% PRODUCTION.
% >> ELECTION DAY MAY BE IN THE
% REAR VIEW, BUT CLERKS ARE STILL
% HARD AT WORK TO CERTIFY THE
% OFFICIAL RESULTS.
% THE ARRIVAL OF WINTERY WEATHER
% MEANS RETREATING INDOORS AND AN
% OPPORTUNITY FOR VIRUSES TO
% THRIVE.
% MOVES TO CURB INFLATION COOLING
% THE ECONOMY?
% I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG AND
% TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW" WHAT
% WILL HAPPEN TO THE WISCONSIN
% ELECTIONS COMMISSION?
% IT'S CHAIR JOINS US.
% WE HEAR FROM A GREEN BAY DOCTOR
% ABOUT RESPIRATORY VIRUSES
% FILLING UP HOSPITALS.
% THE RHETORIC THAT LED TO A RICE
% LAKE SCHOOL BOARD RESIGNATION
% AND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE
% ECONOMY?
% THAT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
% NOVEMBER 18TH.
% >> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
% PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
% JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
% WISCONSIN.
% >> WHILE THE UNOFFICIAL VOTES
% WERE TALLIED LAST WEEK, COUNTIES
% HAVE UNTIL NEXT TUESDAY TO
% DELIVER THEIR OFFICIAL CANVAS.
% THEN THE CHAIR OF THE WISCONSIN
% ELECTIONS COMMISSION HAS UNTIL
% DECEMBER 1ST TO CERTIFY THE
% ELECTION RESULTS.
% THE FUTURE OF THE COMMISSION
% ITSELF WAS A POLITICAL HOT
% POTATO THROUGHOUT THE MID-TERMS.
% FOR AN UPDATE WE TURN TO THE
% CHAIR OF THE WISCONSIN ELECTIONS
% COMMISSION DONE MILLIS.
% THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
% YOU TOLD US IN JULY WHEN WE LAST
% SPOKE WITH YOU THAT YOUR JOB IS
% TO QUOTE LOOK FORWARD AND TRY TO
% ENHANCE THE PUBLIC'S CONFIDENCE
% IN ELECTIONS.
% SO JUST OFF THE NOVEMBER 8TH
% ELECTION, DID YOU SUCCEED?
% >> I THINK WE DID IN MANY
% RESPECTS.%THE ELECTION WENT
OFF BETTER
% THAN MANY EXPECTED.
% I KNOW THERE WERE PRESS ACCOUNTS
% OF CONCERN ABOUT CONTROVERSIES
% AND CONFLICTS AT POLLING PLACES.
% THERE WAS ONE VERY UNFORTUNATE
% INCIDENT IN WEST BEND WHERE
% SOMEONE WHO PERHAPS A TROUBLED
% INDIVIDUAL HAD A KNIFE.
% THAT'S -- I DON'T KNOW MUCH
% ABOUT THAT OTHER THAN WHAT I'VE
% READ IN THE PAPERS.
% THERE WERE SOME PRESS REPORTS
% BUT I THINK FOR THE MOST PART IT
% WENT VERY WELL.
% I TALKED TO STAFF THE EVENING OF
% THE ELECTION, THE NEXT DAY AND
% THEY THOUGHT IT WENT VERY WELL.
% WE HAVEN'T HAD -- I HAVE NOT
% SEEN ANY ACCOUNTS OF GRAND
% CONSPIRACIES OR ELECTION BEING
% STOLEN IN WISCONSIN.
% AND SO THUS FAR SO GOOD.
% >> SO BREATHING A SIGH OF
% RELIEF?%>> A LITTLE BIT.
% I THINK THAT BOTH PARTIES,
% LEADERSHIP OF BOTH PARTIES TRIED
% VERY HARD TO MAKE SURE THE
% ELECTION WEPT REALLY SMOOTHLY.
% BOTH PARTIES INVESTED A LOT OF
% MONEY IN TRAINING PARTISAN POLL
% WORKERS AND PARTISAN ELECTION
% OBSERVERS.
% I THINK THE STAFF AT THE
% COMMISSION DID A GOOD JOB
% ASSISTING CLERKS AND I THINK THE
% FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE IN
% WISCONSIN ARE THE LOCAL CLERKS
% AND I THINK THEY DID A VERY GOOD
% JOB.
% >> HOW DID THE COMMISSION DO IN
% PROVIDING GUIDANCE TO THE
% ELECTION CLERKS, THE
% COMMISSION'S PRIMARY
% RESPONSIBILITY?
% >> I THINK THEY DID GOOD JOB.
% WE TALKED ABOUT HOW TO DEAL WITH
% PROBLEM SITUATIONS, EDUCATED
% THEM ON THE LAW AND COURTS HAVE
% RULED AT VARIOUS TIMES WHAT WE
% CAN AND CANNOT SAY.
% THAT'S FAIR.
% WITHIN THOSE CONSTRAINTS I THINK
% THE COMMISSION STAFF DID A VERY
% GOOD JOB OF EDUCATING CLERKS AND
% PROVIDING THEM WITH THE TOOLS TO
% MAKE SURE THE ELECTIONS RAN
% SMOOTHLY AND TRANSPARENTLY.
% >> IN YOUR MIND WHAT STILL NEEDS
% ADDRESSING?%>> WE STILL NEED
TO HAVE GREATER
% CONFIDENCE IN ELECTION RESULTS.
% IT IS A NAGGING ISSUE.
% ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE
% COMMISSION HAS SUGGESTED ON A
% BIPARTISAN 6-0 VOTE WAS TO
% PROPOSE AN OFFICE OF INSPECTOR
% GENERAL WITHIN THE AGENCY WITH
% RESOURCES AND POSITIONS THAT
% WOULD HELP INVESTIGATE -- NOT SO
% MUCH FORMAL COMPLAINTS BUT
% CONCERNS ABOUT THE LEGITIMACY OF
% CERTAIN PRACTICES AND ALSO TO
% ADDRESS PUBLIC INQUIRIES AND THE
% LEGISLATURE'S INQUIRIES.
% >> NOW THAT TONY EVERS HAS WON
% AND THE DEMOCRAT INCUMBENT HAS
% WON THE SECRETARY OF STATE OF
% HAS WON DO YOU THINK THE GETTING
% RID OF THE COMMISSION.
% >> IF ANYONE HAS ANY AWARENESS
% OF WHAT'S GOING ON, ANY RADICAL
% CHANGE FOR THE COMMISSION IS
% UNLIKELY TO PASS AND BE SIGNED
% BY THE GOVERNOR.
% THE GOAL FOR US IN THE NEXT TWO
% YEARS IS COME UP WITH CHANGES
% THAT EVERYONE CAN AGREE UPON.
% >> HAVE YOU SPOKEN WITH SPEAKER
% VOS WHO APPOINTED YOU ABOUT
% WHETHER OR NOT HE WILL PURSUE
% ANY KIND OF MORE SIGNIFICANT
% CHANGES TO ELECTION LAW?
% >> I HAVE NOT.
% I KNOW WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS
% AMONG THE COMMISSIONERS AND ON
% STAF ABOUT SMALLER --
% SMALL-SCALE CHANGES THAT MIGHT
% FIND FAVOR WITH REPUBLICANS AND
% DEMOCRATS BUT I HAVE NOT HAD A
% CONVERSATION WITH THE SPEAKER.
% >> CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT SOME OF
% THOSE SMALLER CHANGES MAY BE?
% >> WE WOULD LIKE TO MAYBE
% ADDRESS THE ISSUES WITH ILLEGAL
% REQUESTS FOR ABSENTEE BALLOTS.
% THE RECENT REQUEST FOR MILITARY
% BALLOTS, THERE ARE SOME THINGS
% THAT COULD BE DONE THAT I THINK
% WOULD BE -- FIND FAVOR WITH
% EVERYONE.
% THERE ARE -- WISCONSIN IS THE
% ONLY -- OF THE 49 STATES THAT
% REQUIRE REGISTRATION OR HAVE
% REGISTRATION, WE'RE THE ONLY
% STATE THAT DOESN'T HAVE MILITARY
% VOTERS REGISTERED.
% WE THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE
% COULD CHANGE THAT WOULD HELP
% SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
% WE ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, I
% THINK, TO ALLOW ELECTRONIC
% VOTING BY MILITARY OFFICERS BY
% ENGAGING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
% DEFENSE AND USING SOME OF THEIR
% SYSTEMS.%AND SO THAT'S NOT BE
EN TRIED
% ANYWHERE ELSE.
% WE WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE THAT.
% THAT WOULD BE A MAKING SURE OUR
% MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN OVERSEAS
% CAN VOTE AND CAN MAKE SURE THEIR
% VOTES ARE COUNTED.
% SENDING BACK A PAPER BALLOT
% OVERSEAS HAS TIME ISSUES AND
% THERE ARE ONLY -- WE ARE --
% >> SO THAT GETTING OF THE
% MILITARY BALLOTS BY THE PERSON
% WHO DID IT, THE FORMER DEPUTY
% ELECTION COMMISSIONER IN
% MILWAUKEE, IN YOUR MIND THAT
% EXPOSED A VULNERABILITY.
% >> I DON'T KNOW IF THAT
% HAPPENED.%IN TALKING TO THE
STAFF THERE IS
% A LAG TIME WHICH BY THOSE
% CHANGES, THOSE REQUESTS HAVE
% BEEN LOGGED INTO THE SYSTEM AND
% THE STAFF WERE CONFIDENT WITHIN
% 2 OR 3 DAYS AFTER IT BECAME
% APPARENT, IT HADN'T BECOME
% PUBLIC COMMISSION STAFF WOULD
% HAVE PICKED UP ON IT.
% IT IS THE NUMBER OF MILITARY
% BALLOTS ARE RELATIVELY SMALL AND
% SOMETHING THEY CAN GET THEIR
% ARMS AROUND.
% SO I THINK THAT WE PROBABLY
% WOULD HAVE CAUGHT IT BUT I THINK
% IN THIS CASE IT WOULD BE BETTER
% TO AND STILL GREATER PUBLIC
% CONFIDENCE AND COME UP WITH A
% BETTER SYSTEM FOR HANDLING
% MILITARY BALLOTS.
% >> DON MILLIS, THANK YOU VERY
% MUCH.
% TURNING TO HEALTH NEWS THE RISE
% IN RSV ALONG WITH FLU AND COVID
% IN WISCONSIN HAVE HEALTH SYSTEMS
% FOREWARNING OF CAPACITY ISSUES
% AS HOSPITALS, EMERGENCY ROOMS
% AND CLINICS BECOME OVERLOADED.
% RSV AFFLICTS CHILDREN THE
% HARDEST.
% OVERALL RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES
% HAVE CAUSED HOSPITALS TO
% INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PEDIATRIC
% BEDS AND INTENSIVE CARE UNITS.
% STATEWIDE PEDIATRIC BEDS AND
% INTENSIVE CARE UNITS ARE 80 3ERS
% PERCENT FULL.
% DR. MICHAEL LANDRUM JOINS US
% FROM GREEN BAY.
% THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING
% HERE.
% >> HAPPY TO BE WITH YOU.
% >> WHAT IS THE SITUATION WHERE
% YOU ARE WITH ALL THIS?
% >> WE'RE ABOUT AT THE STATE
% AVERAGE WHERE WE'RE SEEING AN
% INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CASES
% ARE RSV IN CHILDREN AS WELL AS
% RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES IN ADULTS
% BUT WE HAVEN'T REACHED A
% CRITICAL LEVEL IN OUR CAPACITY
% RIGHT NOW.
% WE'VE BEEN EXPLORING OPTIONS FOR
% WHAT TO DO IF NUMBERS INCREASE.
% WE'RE ABLE TO MANAGE NOW WITH
% WHAT WE'VE SEEN NOW.
% >> THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT
% THREE SEVERE RESPIRATORY VIRUSES
% ARE CIRCULATING AT THE SAME TIME
% WITH SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN
% CASES.
% HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE
% THIS KIND OF TRIAD OF VIRUSES?
% >> NO, I CAN'T REMEMBER A TIME
% IN MY CAREER WHAT I'VE SEEN
% ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
% IT GOES ALONG WITH THE LAST
% THREE YEARS WITH THINGS THAT
% I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE ARE NOW
% HAPPENING.
% >> SO I UNDERSTAND RSV IS RATHER
% COMMON BUT THAT IT IS ACTING
% DIFFERENTLY THIS YEAR.
% LIKE IT STARTED EARLIER IN THE
% SEASON, IT MAY BE CAUSING MORE
% SEVERE INFECTION OR INFECTING A
% MORE VULNERABLE INFANT
% POPULATION.
% IS THAT RIGHT?
% >> THAT'S ALL CORRECT.
% WE ARE DEFINITELY SEEING MORE
% CASES THAN WE TYPICALLY SEE THIS
% TIME OF YEAR.
% USUALLY RSV WILL PEAK IN I WOULD
% SAY LATE DECEMBER, JANUARY,
% MAYBE IN FEBRUARY.
% AND SO WHILE WE CAN SEE CASES
% THIS TIME OF YEAR IN A TYPICAL
% OR MORE NORMAL YEAR, WE'RE
% SEEING A LOT MORE THAN WE
% TYPICALLY DO THIS TIME OF YEAR
% AND THAT'S WHAT'S CONCERNING.
% WE DON'T KNOW WILL THINGS
% CONTINUE TO INCREASE AND WE
% WON'T REACH OUR PEAK UNTIL A
% COUPLE MONTHS FROM NOW, OR WILL
% THIS PEAK EARLY AND THEN FADE
% AWAY EARLY?
% SO WE'RE SEEING A LOT MORE
% DISEASE RIGHT NOW THAN WE
% TYPICALLY DO.
% >> WHAT ABOUT IN THE INFANT
% POPULATION?%IS THAT BEING HI
T PARTICULARLY
% HIDE AS WE'VE BEEN READING IN
% OTHER AREAS?
% >> RSV IN GENERAL IS WORSE FOR
% YOUNG CHILDREN AND INFANTS.
% THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE
% HOSPITALIZED WITH IT.
% THAT IS TYPICAL FOR MOST YEARS
% THAT WE DO SEE THE MOST SEVERE
% CASES IN THOSE YOUNG CHILDREN.
% >> SHOULD PEOPLE BE TESTED TO
% DETERMINE WHICH VIRUS THEY ARE
% SICK WITH?
% >> I WOULD SAY WE ARE TESTING
% PATIENTS THAT WE SEE, BOTH
% CHILDREN AND ADULTS, FOR A
% NUMBER OF RESPIRATORY VIRUSES.
% IT IS UP TO THE CLINICAL
% JUDGMENT OF THE PROVIDER SEEING
% THE PATIENT AT THE TIME.
% WE DO A WIDE RANGE OF TESTING
% AND MUCH MORE TESTING AVAILABLE
% NOW EVEN THAN WE DID A FEW YEARS
% AGO SO THAT IS BETTER.
% MOST OF THESE INFECTIONS ARE FOR
% RSV IN PARTICULAR THE END TO BE
% MILD AND THINGS THAT CAN BE
% MANAGED AT HOME AND YOU DON'T
% NEED TO RUSH IN AND GET TESTED
% FOR THAT REASON SPECIFICALLY.
% HOWEVER, IF YOUR CHILD IS
% UNCHARACTERISTICALLY SICK AND
% HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING,
% PARTICULARLY YOUNG AND
% VULNERABLE THAT'S WHEN YOU WANT
% TOO CALL YOUR PEDIATRICIAN AND
% FAMILY PHYSICIAN AND SEE WHAT
% THEY COME IN AND GETTING
% EVALUATED AND POTENTIALLY
% TESTED.
% >> SO CONTINUING COVID, FLU AND
% RSV IS THE THOUGHT THAT
% ISOLATION AND MASKING OVER THE
% PAST TWO YEARS LEFT PEOPLE
% VULNERABLE?
% >> THAT IS, YOU KNOW, THE THEORY
% THAT'S BEING CIRCULATED.
% RSV, FLU, RESPIRATORY VIRUSES IN
% GENERAL ARE THINGS THAT ARE VERY
% COMMON AND PEOPLE GET YEAR TO
% YEAR.
% SO OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS AS
% WE'VE BEEN MASKING AND SOCIAL
% DISTANCING WE HAVEN'T BEEN
% EXPOSED TO THESE THINGS FOR A
% WHILE.
% SO OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM IN TERMS OF
% FIGHTING THESE OFF IN THE
% OVERALL COMMUNITY AND THE
% POPULATION IS A LITTLE BIT LOWER
% AGAINST THESE THINGS SO IT CAN
% LEAD TO MORE TRANSMISSION, MORE
% CASES AND PERHAPS MORE SEVERE
% CASES.%>> WHAT'S THE PRESCRIP
TION FOR
% TRYING TO STEM THE OUTBREAK
% ESPECIALLY COMING INTO THE
% HOLIDAYS?%>> WELL, ABSOLUTEL
Y.
% I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THAT
% QUESTION.
% REALLY IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO
% GET VACCINATED FOR FLU OR TO GET
% VACCINATED FOR COVID-19, WHETHER
% IT IS YOUR INITIAL IMMUNIZATION
% OR TO GET A BOOSTER, PLEASE DO
% SO.
% THE VACCINES DON'T PREVENT ANY
% INFECTION FROM OCCURRING.
% YOU CAN STILL GET A AN INFECTION
% BUT MAKE IT LESS SEVERE.
% THIS YEAR PRELIMINARY
% INFORMATION FROM THE CDC
% SUGGESTS THE FLU VACCINE IS A
% GOOD MATCH FOR THE STRAINS WE'RE
% SEEING CAUSING A LOT OF CASES
% RIGHT NOW EARLY IN THE FLU
% SEASON.
% SO PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE GO AND
% GET VACCINATED.
% THAT WILL HELP PROTECT YOU AND
% PROTECTS OTHERS AROUND YOU AND
% IT HELPS OUR HEALTH SYSTEM FROM
% GETTING OVERLOADED WITH ALL
% THESE RESPIRATORY DISEASES.
% >> GOOD ADVICE, DOCTOR, THANK
% YOU VERY MUCH.
% >> THANK YOU.
% >> THIS NEWS, THE U.S.
% DEPARTMENT OF LABOR HAS ISSUED A
% TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER
% AGAINST PACKER SANITATION FOR
% OPPRESSIVE CHILD LABOR LAW
% VIOLATIONS.
% THE WISCONSIN-BASED COMPANY
% PROVIDES CONTRACT CLEANING AND
% SANITATION SERVICES TO MEAT
% PROCESSING PLANTS IN MINNESOTA
% AND NEBRASKA.
% AN INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT
% CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 16
% WORKED LONG HOURS OR OVERNIGHT,
% OPERATED MACHINERY ON THE KILL
% FLOOR, AND RECEIVED CHEMICAL
% BURNS FROM CAUSTIC CLEANERS.
% THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.
% SCHOOL BOARDS ACROSS WISCONSIN
% BECAME THE NEW BATTLEGROUND FOR
% CULTURE WAR POLITICS IN THE LAST
% FEW YEARS HEIGHTENED IN THE
% RUN-UP TO THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.
% BUT WHAT KIND OF HUMAN DAMAGE IS
% DONE WITH PUBLIC SMEAR CAMPAIGNS
% ABOUT EVERYTHING TEACHING ABOUT
% RACE TO ALLOWING STUDENTS AND
% STAFF TO USE GENDER-AFFIRMING
% PRONOUNS TO POLICIES ON
% TRANSGENDER STUDENTS?
% WE ASK OUR NEXT GUEST, A CURRENT
% COLLEGE PROFESSOR AND FORMER
% MEMBER OF THE RICE LAKE SCHOOL
% BOARD UNTIL SHE RESIGNED LAST
% MONTH.
% THAT WAS AFTER A GROUP CALLED
% THE BARRON COUNTY PATRIOTS
% RAISED THEIR VOICE AND RHETORIC
% IN THE DISTRICT.
% ABBEY FISCHER JOINS US NOW AND
% THANKS VERY MUCH FOR DOING SO.
% >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
% >> SO YOU TOLD US THAT THINGS
% GOT UGLY WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT.
% HOW SO?
% >> AS THE PANDEMIC BEGAN, PEOPLE
% IN TOWN BEGAN VOICING THEIR
% OPPOSITION TO CONTINUING TO STAY
% AT HOME, WHICH WE UNDERSTOOD.
% WE WANTED THE STUDENTS BACK IN
% THE BUILDINGS.
% BUT THE RHETORIC GOT LOUD IN
% TOWN.
% PEOPLE BEGAN EMAILING BOARD
% MEMBERS FREQUENTLY AND THEY
% BEGAN TO ATTEND OUR BOARD
% MEETINGS, WHICH WE ENCOURAGE IT
% BUT IT WAS OFTEN NOT FOUNDED IN
% SCIENTIFIC PROOF.
% IT WAS A LOT OF WHAT I WOULD SAY
% NON-SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS.
% LANGUAGE BEING USED ON A
% NATIONAL SCALE THAT FOUND ITS
% WAY TO RICE LAKE.
% AND SO PEOPLE WERE ANTI-MASK,
% ANTI-VACCINE, THEY WERE
% ANTI-KEEPING STUDENTS SIX FEET
% AWAY FROM EACH OTHER.
% THEY WANTED TO GET BACK TO
% NORMAL WHEN SCIENCE AT THAT
% POINT WAS TELLING US NOT TO DO
% SO.%>> THEN THIS FALL THERE
WAS
% SCHOOL BOARD DEBATE AROUND A
% LESS INCLUSIVE POLICY FOR
% TRANSGENDER STUDENT IN RICE LAKE
% SCHOOLS, POLICIES THAT YOU
% DESCRIBE AS PREVIOUSLY
% SUPPORTIVE OF LGBTQ STUDENTS.
% HOW DID THAT MAKE STUDENTS AND
% STAFF FEEL, THESE NEW KIND OF
% POLICIES?%>> THE STUDENTS TH
EMSELVES AT
% OUR OCTOBER 12TH BOARD MEETING
% SAID THAT THE PREVIOUS POLICY
% SAVED THEIR LIVES.
% THEY WERE ABLE TO BE THEMSELVES
% IN OUR BUILDINGS.
% THEY WERE ABLE TO BE THEMSELVES
% WITH THEIR INSTRUCTORS AND PEERS
% AS THEY WERE READY TO BE.
% THE NEW POLICY, THE CURRENT
% POLICY, DOES NOT ALLOW STUDENTS
% TO USE THE NAMES THAT THEY WISH
% TO OR THE PRONOUNS THEY WISH TO
% UNTIL THEY HAVE COME OUT TO
% THEIR PARENTS.
% AS A LESBIANS, I KNOW HOW
% CHALLENGES IT IS TO COME OUT TO
% YOUR OWN PARENTS AND TO ASK
% STUDENT TO COME OUT TO THEIR
% PARENTS BEFORE THEY'RE READY
% PUTS THEM AT RISK FOR POTENTIAL
% COMPLICATIONS AT HOME AND ALSO
% POTENTIAL MENTAL HEALTH
% COMPLICATIONS.
% >> SO HOW DID A GROUP CALLED THE
% BARRON COUNTY PATRIOTS AND THEIR
% SUPPORTERS RESPOND TO THIS
% ISSUE?
% >> THE PATRIOTS AND OTHERS FOR
% WELL OVER A YEAR, THIS STARTED
% PROBABLY IN SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER
% OF 2021.
% THEY WERE LOUD IN THEIR
% OPPOSITION TO THE INCLUSIVE
% CLASSROOMS AND THE INCLUSIVE
% CURRICULUM THAT THE RICE LAKE
% SCHOOL DISTRICT WAS OFFERING.
% THEY CAME TO SCHOOL BOARD
% MEETINGS AND SPOKE DURING PUBLIC
% APPEARANCES.
% THEY SPOKE HORRENDOUS
% STATEMENTS, UNTRUE, HARMFUL,
% HURTFUL STATEMENTS ABOUT LGBTQ
% PLUS PEOPLE AND CONTINUED THAT
% UP UNTIL THIS POLICY WAS PASSED
% AND THEY BELIEVE THAT -- A LOT
% OF THEM SEEM TO BELIEVE THAT WE
% SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWING STUDENTS
% TO BE THEMSELVES WITHIN THE
% CLASSROOM.
% >> WHAT ARE SOME OF THEIR
% BELIEFS THAT THEY EXPRESSED?
% >> WE HEARD THINGS THAT
% TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS ARE
% MENTALLY ILL.
% WE HEARD THAT TRANSGENDER
% INDIVIDUALS REALLY DON'T EXIST
% AND WE ARE NEED TO BE
% COMFORTABLE WITH OUR GENDER.
% WE HEARD MANY STATEMENTS THAT
% BEING LGBTQ QI PLUS IS AGAINST
% THE BIBLE AND THAT WE NEED TO
% SPEND MORE TIME IN CHURCH.
% >> HOW DID THAT AFFECT YOU
% PERSONALLY?
% >> AS A LESBIAN, IT WAS HARD TO
% HEAR MY COMMUNITY TALKED ABOUT
% LIKE THAT.
% IT STARTED A YEAR PRIOR AND AS A
% BOARD MEMBER, WE SIT QUIETLY AND
% OUR TABLE AND DON'T CONVERSE
% WITH THE PUBLIC APPEARANCE
% SPEAKERS, THAT'S OUR POLICY.
% SO TO HAVE TO SIT AND LISTEN TO
% THESE UNTRUE STATEMENTS AND TO
% THE HARMFUL RHETORIC WAS
% WEIGHING ON ME HEAVILY TO THE
% POINT WHERE MY MENTAL HEALTH WAS
% NOT GOOD.
% AND SO I CHOSE TO RESIGN AND MY
% MENTAL HEALTH HAS SIGNIFICANTLY
% IMPROVED WITHOUT HAVING TO
% LISTEN TO THOSE COMMENTS AND NOT
% BE ABLE TO RESPOND.
% >> IN YOUR MIND, WAS THIS AN
% EXAMPLE YOU SPOKE TO JUST A
% LITTLE BIT EARLIER, AN EXAMPLE
% OF NATIONAL RHETORIC REACHING
% INTO LOCAL COMMUNITIES?
% >> ABSOLUTELY.
% THE LANGUAGE THAT WE SAW AGAINST
% THE MASKS, THE LANGUAGE WE SAW
% AGAINST THE VACCINES AND THE
% LANGUAGE THAT WE SAW AGAINST
% LGBTQ STUDENTS AND CURRICULUM IS
% THE SAME LANGUAGE THAT OTHER
% SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE SEEING AND
% WE'RE SEEING IT BOTH HERE IN
% WISCONSIN AND ACROSS THE
% COUNTRY.%>> SO EARLIER YOU SA
ID THAT THE
% MORE SUPPORTIVE POLICIES,
% STUDENTS HAD TOLD YOU THAT IT
% SAVED THEIR LIVES.
% WHAT ABOUT THESE NEW POLICIES?
% >> WE DON'T YET KNOW THEIR
% EFFECTS.
% AT THE OCTOBER 12TH DISTRICT
% WHEN THEY WERE ADOPTED THE
% DISTRICT DIDN'T HAVE A WAY TO
% ENACT THEM.
% I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE A WAY
% TOO MAKE IT HAPPEN YET.
% WHAT WILL LIKELY HAPPEN IS THAT
% STUDENTS WILL PROBABLY NOT COME
% OUT TO THEIR -- NOT FEEL SAFE
% EXPRESSING WHO THEY ARE TO STAFF
% AND THAT MAKES THE LEARNING
% ENVIRONMENT A LESS SUPPORTIVE
% PLACE AND A PLACE THEY DON'T
% WANT TO BE AT.
% OFTEN FOR LGBTQ I PLUS
% INDIVIDUALS PEOPLE COME OUT
% FIRST AS A PLACE TO TRY ET AND
% SEE WHAT IT FEELS LIKE.
% NOW WE'VE TAKEN THAT AWAY FROM
% STUDENTS.
% THEY HAVE TO COME OUT AT HOME.
% OFTEN THE SCARIEST PLACE TO COME
% OUT AND EVEN WITH SUPPORTIVE
% PARENTS.
% MY PARENTS WERE SUPPORTIVE BUT
% IT TOOK ME A LONG TIME TO COME
% OUT TO THEM.
% WE'VE TAKEN THE PLACE WHERE
% STUDENTS OFTEN EXPLORE AND
% FIGURE OUT WHO THEY ARE.
% WE'VE TAKEN THAT AWAY FROM YOU.
% >> DOES IT STRIKE YOU THAT IT
% WILL END HERE ON THIS ISSUE?
% >> ABSOLUTELY NOT.
% THE PATRIOTS AND OTHERS IN TOWN
% HAVE ALREADY BEGUN TO FIGHT
% AGAINST THE INCLUSIVE HUMAN
% GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
% CURRICULUM THAT THE RICE LAKE
% SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFERS.
% I DON'T THINK THAT WILL STOP.
% AND THEN ALSO THEY HAVE MADE
% COMMENTS ABOUT OUR SOCIAL
% STUDIES CURRICULUM.
% I THINK THAT WILL ALSO CONTINUE.
% >> ABBEY FISCHER, WE APPRECIATE
% YOU SPEAKING WITH US ON THIS AND
% BRINGING US THE PERSPECTIVE FROM
% WHAT IS HAPPENING IN RICE LAKE.
% THANK YOU.
% >> THANK YOU FOR THE
% OPPORTUNITY.
% >> INFLATION REMAINS HIGH FOR
% THINGS LIKE FOOD AND FUEL.
% IN RESPONSE, THE FED CONTINUES
% TO HIKE INTEREST RATES WHICH HAS
% COOLED THE HOME BUYING MARKET.
% BUT CONSUMERS CONTINUE TO SPEND
% AND THE JOB MARKET IS STILL HOT.
% THOSE ARE SOME OF THE
% OBSERVATIONS FROM OUR NEXT GUEST
% HERE TO TALK WITH US ABOUT
% WISCONSIN'S ECONOMIC CONDITION
% AND THE QUESTION EVERYBODY WANTS
% TO KNOW, IS THERE A RECESSION ON
% THE HORIZON?
% KEVIN BAHR IS PROFESSOR OF
% FINANCE OF UW STEVENS POINT.
% THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.
% >> MY PLEASURE, THANK YOU.
% >> WHAT IS THE CONDITION OF THE
% OVERALL ECONOMY RIGHT NOW?
% ARE WE SLOWING DOWN AND SLIDING
% TOWARD A RECESSION?
% >> THE GENERAL CONSENSUS FOR
% NEXT YEAR IS THAT THE UNITED
% STATES WILL SLIP INTO A
% RECESSION.%BUT THE GENERAL CO
NSENSUS IS
% ALSO THAT THE RECESSION SHOULD
% BE RELATIVELY SHORT LIVED AND
% RELATIVELY MINOR.
% THAT IS KEY IN YES, PEOPLE WILL
% GET HURT BUT IT IS NOT SUPPOSED
% TO BE AS WHAT THE RECESSION WAS
% IN 2000 AND 2008 AND THE EARLY
% 198 0S.
% >> THAT IS COMFORTING.
% DO THE RECENT LAYOFFS IN THE
% TECH INDUSTRY SPELL ECONOMIC
% DOWNTURN RIGHT NOW?
% >> I THINK RECENT LAYOFFS IN THE
% TECH INDUSTRY, THOSE ARE
% DIFFERENT FROM WHAT'S GOING ON
% WITH THE REST OF THE ECONOMY.
% THE RECENT LAYOFFS IN THE TECH
% INDUSTRY.
% THEY HAVE THEIR OWN SPECIFIC
% SORT OF COMPANY AND INDUSTRY
% ISSUES.
% THERE WILL BE A SLOWDOWN OVERALL
% IN THE UNITED STATES ECONOMY AND
% YOU CAN EXPECT JOB LOSSES AND
% UNEMPLOYMENT TO GO UP.
% BUT THE TECH INDUSTRY IS A
% LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
% THEY HAVE THEIR OWN SPECIFIC
% ISSUES TO WORK THROUGH.
% >> RIGHT NOW THE OVERALL JOB
% MARKET EVEN IN WISCONSIN IS
% STILL SUPER HOT?
% >> THE JOB MARKET IS INCREDIBLY
% HOT.
% IN OCTOBER WE HAD 153.3 MILLION
% PEOPLE WORKING IN THE UNITED
% STATES.
% THAT'S MORE THAN AT ANY OTHER
% TIME IN THE HISTORY OF THE
% UNITED STATES.
% WAGE GROWTH IN AUGUST WAS 6.7%
% AT AN ANNUALIZED RATE.
% IT WENT DOWN TO 6.3% IN
% SEPTEMBER.
% IT REFLECTS THE HOT LABOR MARKET
% AND IN OCTOBER THERE WERE TWO
% JOB OPENINGS FOR EVERY
% UNEMPLOYED PERSON.
% SO ALL THOSE FACTORS COMBINE
% INTO A VERY HOT LABOR MARKET.
% >> THE FACE OF INFLATION, HOW IS
% IT THAT CONSUMER SPENDING IS
% HOLDING?
% >> WELL, I THINK PART OF THE
% REASON CONSUMER SPENDING IS
% HOLDING IS BECAUSE THE JOB
% MARKET HAS BEEN SO HOT.
% YOU'VE GOT RECORD EMPLOYMENT
% LEVELS.
% WAGES GOING UP.
% SO THE JOB MARKET HAS REALLY
% KIND OF FUELED CONSUMER
% SPENDING.
% THE INCREASE IN THE INTEREST
% RATES BY THE FED LAST TWO
% QUARTERS, INVESTMENT SPENDING
% HAS DECLINED IN THE UNITED
% STATES.
% CONSUMPTION SPENDING HAS
% INCREASED EVER SINCE THE SECOND
% QUARTER OF 2020.
% IT HAS BEEN UP, UP AND AWAY WITH
% CONSUMER SPENDING.
% IT IS LOWER NOW THAN WHAT IT HAD
% BEEN LAST YEAR BUT STILL
% INCREASING.%THE RATE OF GROW
TH IS LOWER NOW
% THAN LAST YEAR.
% >> DOES THAT SUGGEST THAT
% INFLATION REALLY ISN'T HITTING
% PEOPLE?
% >> I THINK INFLATION IS HITTING
% PEOPLE, BUT THEY STILL HAVE
% MONEY TO SPEND.
% AND I WOULD POINT OUT THAT
% INFLATION RIGHT NOW, THIS IS
% GLOBAL.
% A GLOBAL ISSUE.
% INFLATION THE VARYING BETWEEN 7
% AND 10% IN CANADA, AUSTRALIA,
% UNITED KINGDOM AND GERMANY AND
% ITALY
% IT'S A GLOBAL ISSUE.
% A LOT OF THE FACTORS AFFECTING
% THOSE -- THAT INFLATION
% WORLDWIDE RELATES TO THE WAR IN
% UKRAINE AND SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES.
% >> SO HOLIDAY RETAIL IS ALWAYS
% AN INDICATOR.
% WHAT ARE THE EXPECTATIONS FOR
% THAT?%>> THAT'S GOING TO BE
SOMETHING
% VERY INTERESTING TO WATCH.
% IN OCTOBER RETAIL SALES
% INCREASED.
% SO THERE ARE DIFFERENT FORECASTS
% FOR RETAIL SALES.
% WHEN YOU START GETTING INTO
% FORECASTING THE ECONOMY NEXT
% YEAR AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU'LL
% HAVE A RECESSION, IT IS ALMOST
% LIKE DOING A LONG-RANGE WEATHER
% FORECAST.
% YOU ARE PRETTY CONFIDENT IT WILL
% BE CLOUDY AND NOT STORM, BUT IT
% MIGHT RAIN, IT MIGHT NOT RAIN.
% AND IN ANY EVENT, THE ECONOMY IS
% GOING TO SLOW.
% HOW QUICKLY AND HOW FAST IT
% SLOWS, THAT'S STILL SUBJECT TO
% QUESTION.
% >> WELL, WE APPRECIATE YOUR
% PROGNOSTICATIONS AND YOUR
% EXPERTISE.
% KEVIN BAHR, PROFESSOR OF FINANCE
% AT UW STEVENS POINT, THANK YOU
% VERY MUCH.
% >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
% >> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
% ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
% OUR WEBSITE AT PBS.ORG.
% THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
% I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
% >> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
% PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
% JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
% WISCONSIN.