% >> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
% PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
% PRODUCTION.%>> PARTISANS MAK
E THEIR FINAL
% PUSH BEFORE TUESDAY'S PRIMARY
% ELECTION.
% WITH NATIONAL HEADLINERS DONALD
% TRUMP AND MIKE PENCE FLYING IN
% TO STUMP FOR THEIR CHOSEN G.O.P.
% GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES.
% AND ELECTION OFFICIALS ARE
% WORKING HARD TO KEEP VOTERS
% CONFIDENT IN THE PROCESS.
% I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," ZAC
% SCHULTZ PROVIDES A BLUEPRINT OF
% THE G.O.P. CANDIDATES WHO HOPE
% TO TAKE ON TONY EVERS IN THE
% FALL.
% A DEDICATED VOTER EXPLAINS THE
% BARRIERS THAT EXIST FOR VOTERS
% WITH DISABILITIES.
% MILWAUKEE'S TOP ELECTION
% OFFICIAL OUTLINES PREPARATION,
% AND A CONVERSATION WITH THE NEW
% CHANCELLOR OF WISCONSIN'S
% FLAGSHIP UNIVERSITY.
% IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
% AUGUST 5TH.
% FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS%
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR%JO
URNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
% WISCONSIN.
% >> THE FALL PRIMARY ELECTION IS
% NEXT TUESDAY, AND THE MOST
% HEATED RACE DOWN THE STRETCH HAS
% BEEN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY FOR
% GOVERNOR.
% "HERE AND NOW" SENIOR POLITICAL
% REPORTER ZAC SCHULTZ HAS THE
% STORY ON WHAT SEPARATES THE
% THREE MAIN CANDIDATES.
% >> THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY
% CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR DON'T
% DIFFER THAT MUCH FROM EACH OTHER
% IN POLICY, BUT THEY ARE VASTLY
% DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF WHAT
% ELEMENTS OF THE MODERN
% REPUBLICAN PARTY THEY REPRESENT.
% >> WELL, I FEEL GREAT ABOUT
% WHERE WE ARE.
% >> REBECCA KLEEFISCH REPRESENTS
% ESTABLISHMENT REPUBLICANS, THE
% BRANCH OF THE PARTY THAT LOOKS
% BACK FONDLY TO HER EIGHT YEARS
% AT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR UNDER
% SCOTT WALKER.%>> I INTEND TO
LEAD THE STATE
% INTO NEW REVOLUTION OF
% CONSERVATIVE REFORM.
% >> TIM MICHELS IS THE
% BUSINESSMAN OUTSIDER, PRESIDENT
% OF A LARGE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.
% HE'S RUNNING AS MILLIONAIRE WHO
% DOESN'T NEED TO ASK FOR MONEY.
% >> I AM NOT INSIDE THE BUBBLE.
% THE INSIDERS DID NOT RECRUIT ME,
% AND THEY ARE NOT BANKROLLING MY
% CAMPAIGN.
% AND I'M NOT BEHOLDEN TO THE
% PACs, THE LOBBYISTS OR THE
% SPECIAL INTERESTS. I REFUSE
% THEIR MONEY, DON'T NEED IT,
% DON'T WANT IT, WON'T TAKE IT.
% >> TIM RAMTHUN IS A DIFFERENT
% KIND OF OUTSIDER, ONE FROM
% INSIDE THE ASSEMBLY.
% >> I'M BEING ATTACKED AND
% ACCUSED OF THINGS LIKE A
% CONSPIRACY THEORIST.
% NO I'M NOT.
% I JUST WANT TRUTH AND
% TRANSPARENCY.
% EVERYONE ELSE SHOULD TOO.
% >> AN EFFORT HIS OWN PARTY
% IGNORED AS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
% HE WAS ENCOURAGED TO RUN FOR
% GOVERNOR AFTER REPEATING FALSE
% CLAIMS THAT LARGE SCALE FRAUD
% TAINTED THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL
% ELECTION.%>> I GOT ENGAGED,
I GOT KNOWN
% ALL OVER THE STATE AND WHEN I'M
% GOING UP, YOU NEED TO RUN FOR
% GOVERNOR.%>> RAMTHUN WASN'T
THE FIRST
% PERSON IN THE RACE BUT HE WAS
% THE FIRST TO SHAKE IT UP BY
% INJECTING IT WITH DONALD TRUMP'S
% COCONSPIRACY THEORIES ABOUT
% STUFFED BALLOT BOXES, HACKED
% VOTING MACHINES AND COUNTERFEIT
% BALLOTS.%>> IN MY HUMBLE OPIN
ION WITH THE
% EVIDENCE I HAVE, I CAN SHOW
% NEFARIOUS ACTS, ILLEGAL ACTS,
% FRAUDULENT ELECTIONS FOR THE
% LAST 2 1/2 DECADES.
% I GOT DATA THAT GOES BACK TO
% CLINTON AGAINST DOLE IN 1996.
% >> ALL OF THESE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN
% DEBUNKED, AND WHEN PRESSED, HE
% COULD ONLY SAY THE EVIDENCE IS
% COMING.%>> JUDICIAL, PROSECU
TIONS,
% CONVICTIONS, ALL OF THAT'S
% COMING.
% SO I'VE BEEN ON THE RIGHT SIDE
% OF THE FENCE THE WHOLE TIME.
% I KNOW I HAVE IN MY HEART, I
% KNOW I HAVE IN MY HEAD.
% >> IN REALITY, AS GOVERNOR,
% RAMTHUN WOULD DRAMATICALLY
% REWRITE WISCONSIN ELECTION LAW,
% ELIMINATING THE WISCONSIN
% ELECTIONS COMMISSION, REQUIRING
% A HAND COUNT OF MILLIONS OF
% BALLOT ON ELECTION DAY, AND
% SCALING BACK ABSENTEE VOTING.
% >> THERE'S NO CHAIN OF CUSTODY
% WHEN YOU PUT IT IN THE MAILBOX.
% A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT THAT.
% WE NEED TO HAVE SAME DAY, YOU
% KNOW, ON PAPER, SAME DAY, HAND
% COUNT.
% YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT TO HAVE THAT
% KIND OF STUFF DONE.
% >> AS FOR THE AUGUST PRIMARY,
% RAMTHUN PLANS TO CONDUCT HIS OWN
% FORENSIC AUDIT.%>> I HAVE VE
RY LITTLE CONFIDENCE
% THAT WE WILL HAVE FAIR, SAFE AND
% LEGAL ELECTIONS STARTING IN
% AUGUST.
% WE'LL HAVE A RERUN IN NOVEMBER
% OF 2022.
% >> EVERYONE NEEDS TO TAKE THINGS
% WITH A GRAIN OF SALT UNTIL I CAN
% BECOME GOVERNOR AND SIGN A WHOLE
% BUNCH OF REFORMS THAT TONY EVERS
% HAS ALREADY VETOED.
% >> KLEEFISCH DOESN'T REPEAT THE
% SAME ELECTION CONSPIRACY
% THEORIES BUT HOPES TO CAPITALIZE
% ON THE ANGER AMONG
% CONSERVATIVES.%>> THAT'S WHAT
WE NEED IN ORDER
% TO ACTUALLY HAVE A REPUBLICAN
% WAVE IN NOVEMBER.
% WE NEED PEOPLE WHO, YES, ARE
% FRUSTRATED BUT USE THAT
% FRUSTRATION AS A MOTIVATION TO
% SHOW UP.
% >> IN A TELEVISED DEBATE,
% MICHELS SEEMED TO PLACE BLAME ON
% KLEEFISCH AND WALKER FOR
% CREATING THE WEC IN THE FIRST
% PLACE.%>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE
% DON'T HAVE THESE QUESTIONS EVER
% AGAIN IN WISCONSIN.
% THESE ELECTION FRAUD ISSUES
% SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED IN
% PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS, BUT
% HERE WE HAVE A MESS RIGHT NOW.
% >> TIM MICHELS DID NOT AGREE TO
% A SIT-DOWN INTERVIEW FOR THIS
% STORY.
% HE'S ONLY DONE A FEW INTERVIEWS
% AND SKIPPED AN EARLIER
% REPUBLICAN DEBATE, SOMETHING
% KLEEFISCH MADE SURE TO
% HIGHLIGHT.%>> AND TO MY OPPON
ENTS, TIM,
% THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
% TIM, THANK YOU FOR SHOWING UP
% TONIGHT.
% MY PRIORITIES ARE OUR FIRST
% BUDGET MAKING SURE THAT --
% >> KLEEFISCH DOES NOT SHY AWAY
% FROM HER ESTABLISHMENT
% CREDENTIALS.%>> YOU KNOW, YOU
HEAR A LOT OF
% TALK ABOUT EVERYONE RUNNING AS
% THE OUTSIDER.
% WELL, I'M NOT GOING TO APOLOGIZE
% FOR KNOWING WHAT I'M DOING.
% I MEAN, I'VE SPENT EIGHT YEARS
% INSIDE, MAKING SURE THAT I KNOW
% HOW TO RUN THIS STATE, MAKING
% SURE THAT I KNOW HOW TO MAKE A
% BUDGET THAT IS GOING TO BE
% BENEFICIAL TO ALL OF WISCONSIN.
% >> THE LEGISLATURE IS EXPECTED
% TO REMAIN UNDER REPUBLICAN
% CONTROL, SO ANY OF THESE
% CANDIDATES COULD EXPECT TO SEE
% THEIR AGENDA PASSED IN FULL.
% ONE AREA THAT KLEEFISCH SAYS
% WON'T CHANGE IS THE 1849
% ABORTION LAW.
% SHE DOESN'T EXPECT TO ADD IN NEW
% EXCEPTIONS.%>> WE ALREADY HA
VE A LIFE OF THE
% MOTHER STATUTE ON THE BOOKS, AND
% AS FAR AS I CAN SEE AND TELL,
% THAT WILL STAY.
% AND THAT IS MY POSITION, WHICH
% HAS NOT CHANGED.
% >> RAMTHUN TAKES A HARDER LINE,
% AND WOULD END ALL EXCEPTIONS AND
% EVEN ELIMINATE ABORTIFACIENT
% BIRTH CONTROL THAT PREVENTS THE
% IMPLANTATION OF A FERTILIZED
% EGG.
% >> WITHOUT EXCEPTION, LIFE
% BEGINS AT CONCEPTION, LIFE IS A
% GIFT FROM GOD.
% IT'S NOT THE BABY'S FAULT IN HOW
% THEY WERE CONCEIVED.
% WE HAVE TO STOP KILLING BABIES.
% >> KLEEFISCH WOULDN'T CLARIFY IF
% SHE WOULD BAN ANY FORMS OF BIRTH
% CONTROL.%>> BIRTH CONTROL WOU
LD REMAIN
% LEGAL IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
% >> ALL FORMS?
% >> IT WILL REMAIN LEGAL IN THE
% STATE OF WISCONSIN.
% >> SOME PRIMARY VOTERS -- THE
% ELECTABILITY FACTOR.
% MICHELS AND KLEEFISCH HAVE BEEN
% UP ON RAMTHUN IN PUBLICLY
% RELEASED POLLING BUT DOESN'T
% CARE.%HE SAYS THE SILENT MAJ
ORITY ARE
% VOTING FOR HIM.
% >> THE OTHER CANDIDATES FOR THIS
% POSITION FOR THE GOVERNOR'S
% SEAT, THEY TALK GRASSROOTS.
% CAN'T HOLD A CANDLE TO IT
% COMPARED TO ME.
% THESE PEOPLE ADORE WHAT I'M
% DOING BECAUSE I'M THE FIGHTER
% THEY WANTED FOR DECADES.
% >> IN THE DEBATE, MICHELS SAID
% IT IS HIS OUTSIDER STATUS THAT
% WILL CARRY HIM TO VICTORY.
% >> PEOPLE DON'T COME UP TO ME
% ALL THE TIME AND SAY, TIM, THANK
% YOU FOR RUNNING.
% I'M TIRED OF POLITICS AS USUAL.
% I'M TIRED OF THE USUAL
% POLITICIANS.
% I WANT AN OUTSIDER.
% I WANT A VETERAN, I WANT A
% BUSINESSMAN.
% WE NEED CHANGE.
% I SAY, IF YOU WANT TO KEEP
% POLITICS AS USUAL, VOTE FOR THE
% USUAL POLITICIANS.
% THIS IS OUR TIME TO MAKE A
% DIFFERENCE AND LEAD WISCONSIN
% AND GET IT HEADED IN THE RIGHT
% DIRECTION.%>> KLEEFISCH HAS A
LREADY WON
% FOUR STATEWIDE RACES FOR LOU AT
% THE PRESENT TIME GOVERNOR.
% >> IF THEY WANT TO MAKE THEIR
% DECISION ON ELECTABILITY THAT'S
% FINE BY ME BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY I
% AM THE ONE WHO CAN BEAT TONY
% EVERS.%>> REPORTING FROM MADI
SON, I'M
% ZAC SCHULTZ FOR "HERE AND NOW."
% >> EARLIER THIS WEEK, CLERKS
% AROUND THE STATE BEGAN THE
% PROCESS OF PUBLICLY TESTING THE
% VOTING MACHINES FOR EACH
% MUNICIPALITY.
% IN WEST BEND, THE CITY CLERK
% BROUGHT EACH OF THE TABULATORS
% INTO THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND
% CONDUCTED TESTS TO SHOW THE
% MACHINES WERE PROPERLY COUNTING
% BALLOTS, OR REJECTING BALLOTS
% THAT WERE IMPROPERLY MARKED.
% AFTER THE TESTS, MACHINES ARE
% CLEARED TO ENSURE THEY START
% COUNTING AT ZERO ON ELECTION
% DAY.
% A HANDFUL OF FIRST TIME ELECTION
% INSPECTORS AND POLL WORKERS WERE
% ON HAND TO SEE HOW THE MACHINES
% WORK AND ASK QUESTIONS BEFORE
% TUESDAY'S PRIMARY.
% WEST BEND USES DOMINION VOTING
% MACHINES, WHICH WERE CENTRAL TO
% A NUMBER OF UNFOUNDED CONSPIRACY
% THEORIES SPREAD BY SUPPORTERS OF
% DONALD TRUMP AFTER HE LOST THE
% 2020 LUCKTION.
% CITY CLERK LIZBET SANTANA SAYS
% HOPEFULLY CONDUCTING TESTS LIKE
% THESE HELPS ELIMINATE QUESTIONS
% AND CONSPIRACY THEORIES.
% >> THERE'S RUMORS, THEORIES AND,
% I MEAN, PEOPLE DON'T KNOW,
% THEY'RE NOT INFORMED.
% THEY'RE NOT EDUCATED IN SOME
% AREAS.
% AND AGAIN, FOR THE CITY OF WEST
% BEND, I DO TRAINING SESSIONS
% WITH THEM.
% ANY QUESTIONS THAT THEY HAVE, I
% WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE AWARE
% OF HOW THINGS WORK.
% >> BASELESS CLAIMS OF ELECTION
% FRAUD IS ONE DRIVING FACTOR
% BEHIND CALLS TO REFORM THE
% ABSENTEE BALLOT SYSTEM.
% BUT THESE CHANGES COULD CREATE A
% CHILLING EFFECT FOR VOTERS WITH
% DISABILITIES.
% MARISA WOJCIK BRINGS THIS STORY
% FROM MILWAUKEE.
% >> I TYPICALLY VOTE IN EVERY
% ELECTION.%>> WILLIAM CROWLEY
IS A
% DEDICATED VOTER.
% >> FROM NATIONAL, FEDERAL,
% PRESIDENTIAL AND CONGRESS RACES
% DOWN TO STATE AND LOCAL
% GOVERNMENT RACES.
% >> FOR HIM AND THOUSANDS OF
% OTHER WISCONSINITES WITH
% DISABILITIES, THE OPTION OF
% VOTING ABSENTEE IS PARAMOUNT TO
% FULFILLING THIS CONSTITUTIONAL
% RIGHT.%>> I'VE DONE A MIX OF
VOTING
% STYLES.
% SINCE COVID, IT'S BEEN ABSENTEE
% BY MAIL, JUST TRYING TO AVOID
% LARGE CROWDS OF PEOPLE STANDING
% IN LINE.
% AND I HAVE PRE-EXISTING
% CONDITIONS WHERE THE VIRUS WOULD
% HAVE BEEN MORE BURDENSOME FOR
% ME.%>> BUT CONFIDENCE IN FUL
FILLING
% THAT RIGHT HAS BEEN ERODED
% RECENTLY, WITH INVESTIGATIONS,
% COURT CASES, AND DIRECT
% CHALLENGES TO VOTERS WHO CAST AN
% ABSENTEE BALLOT.
% >> THERE'S BEEN QUESTIONS THIS
% YEAR ABOUT VOTING ABSENTEE AFTER
% THE TEIGAN LOWER COURT DECISION
% CAME OUT.
% >> IN TEIGAN VERSUS THE
% WISCONSIN ELECTIONS COMMISSION,
% A WAUKESHA COUNTY JUDGE RULED IN
% JANUARY THAT SOMEONE CANNOT HAVE
% ANYONE ELSE TURN IN THEIR
% ABSENTEE BALLOT FOR THEM,
% CALLING IT BALLOT HARVESTING.
% FOR CROWLEY, THAT CREATED A
% DIRECT BARRIER.
% >> I'M A QUADRIPLEGIC WITH A
% SPINAL CORD INJURY.
% DUE TO MY SPINAL CORD INJURY, I
% HAVE LIMITED UPPER BODY MOVEMENT
% AND STRENGTH.
% IF I WERE TO GO TO A POST OFFICE
% MAILBOX, I'M UNABLE TO OPEN IT
% AND THROW AN ENVELOPE IN ON MY
% OWN, SO I'M LIMITED IN THAT WAY
% WHEN IT COMES TO MAILING MY
% VOTE.%>> BECAUSE OF THAT COU
RT RULING,
% INSTEAD OF VOTING ABSENTEE IN
% APRIL, HE WENT TO THE POLLS, AND
% THEN FACED ANOTHER BARRIER.
% >> TO GET AROUND, I USE AN
% ELECTRIC WHEELCHAIR.
% I WENT TO THE POLLING PLACE, AND
% ACTUALLY THE ELEVATOR IN THE
% BUILDING THAT WOULD GET ME TO
% THE ACTUAL ROOM THAT THE VOTING
% IS HAPPENING IN WAS OUT OF
% ORDER.
% AND SO I COULDN'T GET UP TO THAT
% ROOM.%>> FEDERAL ELECTION LA
W SAYS ANY
% VOTER WHO REQUIRES ASSISTANCE TO
% VOTE BY REASON OF BLINDNESS,
% DISABILITY, OR INABILITY TO READ
% OR WRITE MAY BE GIVEN ASSISTANCE
% BY A PERSON OF THE VOTER'S
% CHOICE.
% WISCONSIN STATE LAW SAYS THAT
% FOR DISABLED VOTERS, WHEN
% ASSISTANCE IS REQUESTED, THE
% ELECTOR MAY SELECT ANY
% INDIVIDUAL TO ASSIST IN CASTING
% HIS OR HER VOTE.
% BUT WHEN THE WISCONSIN SUPREME
% COURT TOOK UP THE TEIGAN CASE,
% THEY AGREED THAT DROPBOXES AND
% BALLOT HARVESTING ARE ILLEGAL.
% BUT THEY DID NOT ADDRESS
% PROTECTIONS FOR DISABLED VOTERS
% GETTING ASSISTANCE HANDING IN
% THEIR BALLOT.
% SAYING, WE DO NOT DECIDE AT THIS
% TIME WHETHER THE LAW PERMITS A
% VOTER'S AGENT TO PLACE AN
% ABSENTEE BALLOT IN THE MAIL ON
% THE VOTER'S BEHALF.
% AND BECAUSE OF THIS LEGAL GRAY
% AREA, A CHALLENGE HAS ALREADY
% BEEN FILED BY FOUR PEOPLE WITH
% DISABILITIES, ASKING A FEDERAL
% JUDGE TO DECLARE THAT THEY CAN
% GET HELP TURNING IN BALLOTS.
% EVEN WITH FEDERAL PROTECTION,
% THERE'S A LINGERING FEAR THAT
% HIS BALLOT COULD BE CHALLENGED
% BY PEOPLE CLAIMING FRAUD
% OCCURRED.%>> THAT IS A CONCE
RN THAT I
% HAVE, THAT SOMEBODY WOULD TRY TO
% CHALLENGE EITHER MY VOTE OR
% SOMEONE ELSE WITH A DISABILITY
% THAT HAS ASSISTANCE MAILING
% THEIR BALLOT JUST BECAUSE VOTING
% HAS BECOME SUCH A CONTENTIOUS
% ISSUE.%>> CROWLEY WANTS VOTER
S WITH
% DISABILITIES TO KNOW THESE
% RIGHTS, AND TO NOT GET
% DISCOURAGED.%>> THESE ARE BIG
ELECTIONS
% COMING UP, AND EVERYONE WHO
% WANTS TO MAKE THEIR CHOICE HEARD
% SHOULD VOTE, AND THAT ABSOLUTELY
% INCLUDES PEOPLE WITH
% DISABILITIES.
% >> FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M
% MARISA WOJCIK REPORTING FROM
% MILWAUKEE.
% >> THE WISCONSIN ELECTIONS
% COMMISSION THIS WEEK VOTED
% UNANIMOUSLY TO SEND AN EMAIL TO
% LOCAL CLERKS, REMINDING THEM
% THAT FEDERAL AND STATE LAW ALLOW
% PEOPLE TO ASSIST DISABLED PEOPLE
% IN VOTING.
% HOW DOES THAT SQUARE WITH THE
% RECENT STATE SUPREME COURT
% RULING THAT BANNED ABSENTEE
% BALLOT DROPBOXES AND REQUIRES
% VOTERS TO THEMSELVES PUT A
% BALLOT IN THE MAIL OR DELIVER IN
% PERSON?
% AND IS THIS JUST ONE MORE GRAY
% AREA AS NEXT TUESDAY'S PRIMARY
% ELECTION FAST APPROACHES?
% WE CHECK IN WITH THE EXECUTIVE
% DIRECTOR OF THE MILWAUKEE
% ELECTION COMMISSION, CLAIRE
% WOODALL-VOGG, FOR HER TAKE, NOW
% FOUR DAYS UNTIL THE ELECTION.
% THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
% >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
% >> SO AS FOR VOTERS WITH A
% DISABILITY, WHAT'S YOUR GUIDANCE
% FOR THEM AND FOR CLERKS WITH
% RETURNING THEIR ABSENTEE
% BALLOTS?%>> SO IN THE CITY OF
MILWAUKEE,
% WE HAVE BEEN VERY CONSISTENT
% EVER SINCE THE SUPREME COURT
% RULING CAME OUT THAT VOTERS WITH
% DISABILITIES DO HAVE FEDERAL
% PROTECTIONS, AND SO IF THEY NEED
% AN AGENT TO RETURN THEIR
% ABSENTEE BALLOT FOR THEM, WE
% HAVE BEEN ACCEPTING IT.
% WE JUST NEED CONFIRMATION THAT
% THEY NEEDED ASSISTANCE RETURNING
% THEIR BALLOT.
% UNFORTUNATELY, THE SUPREME COURT
% RULING LEFT IT VERY GRAY, AND SO
% MANY CLERKS HAVE BEEN LEFT TO
% INTERPRET IT THEMSELVES AND, YOU
% KNOW, THERE'S 1800 CLERKS IN THE
% STATE, SO LUCKILY WITH THE
% WISCONSIN ELECTION COMMISSION
% GUIDANCE AND REMINDER, HOPEFULLY
% ALL CLERKS WILL BE MAKING SURE
% THAT VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES
% ARE PROTECTED.
% >> SO ALSO WHAT ARE CLERKS TO DO
% AFTER VOTES AND RULINGS IN THE
% LEGISLATURE AND THE STATE
% ELECTIONS COMMISSION ABOUT
% FILLING IN MISSING INFORMATION
% ON ABSENTEE BALLOTS?
% >> AGAIN, ANOTHER GRAY AREA
% WHERE CLERKS HAVE BEEN REALLY
% LEFT TO INTERPRET THINGS
% THEMSELVES.
% THE GUIDANCE FROM 2016 THAT THE
% WISCONSIN ELECTION COMMISSION
% ISSUED IS STILL VALID, AND SO IF
% A VOTER'S WITNESS DIDN'T
% COMPLETE THEIR FULL ADDRESS, WE
% SEE A LOT OF TIMES HERE IN
% MILWAUKEE, THEY LEAVE OFF
% MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.%WE HAV
E BEEN CONTACTING VOTERS
% IF WE NEED INFORMATION.
% >> WHAT IS IT LIKE TO HAVE ALL
% OF THESE CHANGES SWIRLING AROUND
% AS YOU'RE READY TO ADMINISTER
% THIS ELECTION?
% >> YOU KNOW, FOR US, WE ARE VERY
% USED TO IT.
% ELECTION ADMINISTRATORS ARE USED
% TO INTERPRETING AND REACTING,
% BUT UNFORTUNATELY FOR WISCONSIN
% VOTERS, IT'S ADDING TO GREATER
% CONFUSION, AND THAT ULTIMATELY
% RESULTS IN MORE DISTRUST OF THE
% PROCESS ITSELF WHEN YOU'RE
% HAVING COURT RULINGS WITHIN 30
% DAYS OF AN ELECTION, WHEN
% ABSENTEE BALLOTS HAD ALREADY
% BEEN MAILED OUT TWO WEEKS BEFORE
% THAT RULING.
% >> YOUR CITY, POLLING PLACES
% LIKE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS
% THE STATE TESTED YOUR VOTING
% EQUIPMENT THIS PAST WEEK.
% WERE ANY PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED?
% >> NO, THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS.
% WE TESTED ALL 180 MACHINES HERE
% IN MILWAUKEE, AND THEN WE HELD
% OUR PUBLIC TEST WHERE WE DID
% HAVE ONE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC
% WHO CAME AND A FEW NEWS MEDIA,
% BUT THERE WERE NO ISSUES.
% OUR MACHINES ARE READING AND
% TRANSMITTING RESULTS EXACTLY AS
% PAPER BALLOTS ARE CAST.
% >> STILL, MILWAUKEE COUNTY HAS
% BEEN SINGLED OUT BY REPUBLICANS
% FOR POTENTIAL FRAUD.
% DOES MILWAUKEE ADMINISTER
% ELECTIONS ANY DIFFERENTLY THAN
% IN THE REST OF THE STATE?
% >> NO.
% YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S ONE
% THING TO REALLY HIGHLIGHT, IS
% THAT WE CONTINUE TO BE SINGLED
% OUT BUT WE ARE ADMINISTERING
% ELECTIONS JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER
% MUNICIPALITY, EVERY OTHER COUNTY
% IN THE STATE.
% OUR EQUIPMENT IS USED ELSEWHERE
% IN THE STATE, AND OUR POLICIES
% AND PROCEDURES ARE FOLLOWING
% STATE LAW AND WISCONSIN ELECTION
% COMMISSION GUIDANCE.
% >> FOLLOWING THE 2020 ELECTION,
% YOU WERE THREATENED BY ELECTION
% DENIERS.
% DOES THAT PERSIST?
% >> IT DOES PERSIST
% UNFORTUNATELY.%I THINK THAT I
T WAS ODD THAT WE
% SAW THE GREATEST AMOUNT OF
% THREATS ACTUALLY COME ALMOST A
% YEAR AFTER THE ELECTION, AND
% NEARLY TWO YEARS AFTER THE
% ELECTION, WE ARE STILL SEEING A
% LOT OF ELECTION DENIERS,
% CONSPIRACY THEORISTS THAT I
% BATTLE AND THAT OUR ELECTION
% OFFICIALS, YOU KNOW, ARE
% ANSWERING QUESTIONS THAT ARE
% VERY COMPLICATED ON ELECTION
% DAY, AND WE'VE HAD TO DO
% ADDITIONAL TRAINING TO MAKE SURE
% THAT THEY'RE COMFORTABLE WORKING
% ON ELECTION DAY.
% >> WHAT KINDS OF TRAININGS AND
% PREPARATIONS HAVE YOU MADE WITH
% ANY KIND OF EXPECTATION OF
% CONTINUING THREATS TO ELECTION
% OFFICIALS?%>> SO JUST THIS SU
MMER, WE
% TRAINED ALL OF OUR CHIEF
% ELECTION INSPECTORS ON MANAGING
% AND MAINTAINING CONTROL OF THE
% POLLING PLACE, DE-ESCALATION
% TECHNIQUES AND REALLY TRYING TO
% PREVENT ANYTHING FROM BECOMING A
% POTENTIAL VIOLENT SITUATION,
% TRYING TO KIND OF NIP IT IN THE
% BUD BEFORE IT WOULD ESCALATE TO
% THAT POINT, AND REALLY GOING
% OVER THE POLLING PLACE
% PROCEDURES IN CASE YOU NEED TO
% REMOVE SOMEONE.
% >> HAVE YOU LOST A NUMBER OF
% PEOPLE WORKING AT THE POLLING
% PLACES BECAUSE OF ALL THIS?
% >> YOU KNOW, TO OUR KNOWLEDGE,
% WE HAVEN'T.
% I THINK MOST OF OUR ELECTION
% OFFICIALS REALLY FEEL LIKE THIS
% IS A CIVIC DUTY, AND YOU KNOW,
% FEEL LIKE IF THEY WERE TO
% ABANDON THEIR CIVIC DUTY, THAT
% THAT WOULD BE A GREATER THREAT
% TO DEMOCRACY.
% BUT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO US
% THAT WE MAKE SURE THEY FEEL
% EQUIPPED TO GO TO WORK ON
% ELECTION DAY AND FEEL SAFE DOING
% SO.%>> JUST WITH ABOUT A MIN
UTE
% LEFT, WHAT CONCERN DO YOU HAVE
% THAT PEOPLE MAY HAVE TRIED TO
% ILLEGALLY TEST THE ONLINE
% ABSENTEE BALLOT REQUEST PROCESS,
% LIKE THOSE PEOPLE IN RACINE WHO
% ARE NOW UNDER INVESTIGATION?
% >> YOU KNOW, BEFORE THEY WERE
% TRYING TO HIGHLIGHT AND TEST IT
% AND DID SO ILLEGALLY, WE HAVE
% NOT SEEN ANY EVIDENCE OF ANY
% TYPE OF WIDESPREAD USE OR ABUSE
% OF THE ONLINE SYSTEM.
% WE MONITOR AND SEE IF THERE'S
% ANY TYPE OF UNUSUAL MAILING
% ADDRESS BEING REQUESTED, VOTERS
% HAD TO SUBMIT PHOTO ID UNLESS
% THEY'RE INDEFINITELY CONFINED,
% AND I WOULD JUST SAY AS A
% REMINDER, THAT'S A FELONY, IT IS
% VOTER FRAUD TO ABUSE THE SYSTEM,
% AND WE TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY
% AND ANYTHING THAT WE SEE, WE
% REFER TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S
% OFFICE.%>> ALL RIGHT.
% WELL, WE WISH YOU LUCK WITH THIS
% PRIMARY ELECTION UPCOMING AND
% WITH THE GENERAL ELECTION,
% CLAIRE WOODALL-VOGG, THANK YOU.
% >> THANK YOU.
% >> THE NEW UW-MADISON CHANCELLOR
% STARTED THE JOB THIS WEEK.
% DR. JENNIFER BECOMES THE 30TH 3H
% CHANCELLOR.
% SHE JOINS US NOW.
% THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
% >> THANKS VERY MUCH FOR HAVING
% ME.%>> WELCOME.
% WHAT IS YOUR ORDER OF BUSINESS
% AS YOU TAKE THIS JOB?
% >> THANK YOU.
% WELL, TODAY IS DAY ONE, AND IT'S
% A VERY BUSY DAY, AND IT'S REALLY
% THE BEGINNING OF A CHANCE TO
% LISTEN AND LEARN AND TALK TO
% LOTS OF MEMBERS OF THIS
% COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS BROADER
% STAKEHOLDERS AROUND WISCONSIN.
% ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO SEE FOR
% UW-MADISON IN ITS NEXT CHAPTER.
% I AM VERY EXCITED TO BUILD A
% VISION COLLECTIVELY BUT STRONGLY
% BELIEVE WE'VE GOT TO START WITH
% TALKING TO LOTS OF PEOPLE ABOUT
% WHAT'S WORKING WELL RIGHT NOW
% AND WHERE THERE MIGHT BE
% OPPORTUNITIES.%>> YOU HAVE A
VERY IMPRESSIVE
% VITAE.
% YALE, MIT, HARVARD.
% HOW DO YOU RELATE TO A LARGELY
% IN-STATE UW-MADISON STUDENT
% POPULATION?%>> I'VE ACTUALLY
SPENT MY ENTIRE
% CAREER AT LARGE PUBLIC
% INSTITUTIONS.
% NOT IN WISCONSIN.
% I AM IN YOU TO WISCONSIN.
% BUT I'VE SPENT MY CAREER AT THE
% UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA AND THEN
% UCLA AND LARGE PUBLICS ARE
% REALLY THE FORM OF EDUCATION IN
% WHICH I MOST DEEPLY BELIEVE.
% I THINK THEY OFFER THE
% OPPORTUNITY FOR TRANSFORMATION
% AT SCALE FOR MAKING A REAL
% DIFFERENCE IN INDIVIDUALS' LIVES
% AND ALSO FOR THE STATES IN WHICH
% THEY EXIST.
% SO I'M NEW TO WISCONSIN BUT NOT
% NEW TO PUBLIC EDUCATION.
% >> IN READING UW-MADISON'S
% BUDGET REPORT ABOUT THE COST OF
% ATTENDANCE, IT STATES THAT HALF
% OF OUR RESIDENT STUDENTS HAVE
% ANNUAL UNMET FINANCIAL NEED
% AVERAGING $5,470.
% I KNOW THAT BUCKY'S TUITION
% PROMISE GIVES FREE TUITION TO
% ABOUT 3500 UNDERGRADUATES BUT
% HOW DO YOU KEEP THE COST OF
% GOING TO UW-MADISON ATTAINABLE
% OR SUSTAINABLE?
% >> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
% I THINK YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT, TO
% BE FOCUSING ON AFFORDABILITY.
% I THINK AFFORDABILITY IS A
% CRITICAL ISSUE.
% HERE AT UW-MADISON, ABOUT 60% OF
% OUR STUDENTS DO GRADUATE WITH NO
% DEBT.
% I'D LOVE TO SEE THAT NUMBER EVEN
% HIGHER, BUT IT IS A PRETTY
% STRONG NUMBER COMPARED TO MANY
% OF OUR PEER INSTITUTIONS.
% SO KEEPING OUR EYE ON
% AFFORDABILITY AND HOW WE CAN
% MAKE SURE THAT ALL STUDENTS WHO
% ARE ADMITTED CAN BE HERE AND
% THRIVE AND FLOURISH AND GRADUATE
% WITHOUT REALLY BRUTAL DEBT LOADS
% IS ABSOLUTELY GOING TO BE A
% PRIORITY.%>> RACIAL DIVERSIT
Y AT
% UW-MADISON IS OBJECTIVELY VERY
% LACKING.
% WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS TO RECRUIT
% AND RETAIN MORE STUDENTS OF
% COLOR?
% >> I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE
% NEED TO BE LOOKING CLOSELY AT.
% OBVIOUSLY THE DIVERSITY NUMBERS
% IN TERMS OF RACIAL DIVERSITY
% HAVEN'T MOVED DRAMATICALLY HERE,
% THOUGH THIS ENTERING FRESHMAN
% CLASS IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE
% MOST DIVERSE IF NOT THE MOST
% DIVERSE IN UW-MADISON'S HISTORY.
% I THINK MAKING SURE THAT ALL
% STUDENTS DO FEEL A STRONG SENSE
% OF BELONGING HERE NEEDS TO BE A
% PRIORITY.
% THAT, YES, RACIAL DIVERSITY IS A
% PIECE OF THAT, BUT ONLY A PIECE.
% GENDER, LGBTQ, FIRST GENERATION,
% URBAN RURAL, AND DIVERSITY OF
% THOUGHT AND PERSPECTIVE, MAKING
% SURE THAT ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE
% FEEL THAT UW-MADISON IS FOR THEM
% AND A PLACE FOR THEM IS
% SOMETHING ON WHICH I BOTH
% APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT'S BEEN
% DONE, BUT IS ABSOLUTELY
% SOMETHING THAT WE'LL BE TALKING
% ABOUT AND LOOKING AT.
% >> HAVE YOU MET YET WITH
% LEGISLATIVE LEADERS?
% BECAUSE SOME WERE DECIDEDLY
% UNWELCOMING WHEN YOUR HIRE WAS
% ANNOUNCED, SPEAKER ROBIN VOS
% BLASTING YOU FOR WHAT HE CALLED
% YOUR WHOLEHEARTED SUPPORT OF
% CRITICAL RACE THEORY AND YOUR%
FAVOR OF VACCINE MANDATES.
% WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?
% >> I BEGAN MEETING WITH
% LEGISLATORS, BOTH REPUBLICANS
% AND DEMOCRATS AND I REALLY
% ENJOYED THOSE MEETINGS.
% THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE OVER
% THE WEEKS AND MONTHS TO COME AND
% I'M VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO
% IT.
% LOOK, IT'S ELECTION SEASON, I
% GET THAT.
% I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO
% GETTING TO MEET PEOPLE AND
% TALKING TO THEM DIRECTLY SO WE
% CAN FIND ALL OF THE PLACES WHERE
% I THINK WE SHARE VALUES AND
% HOPES AND IDEAS.
% >> HAVE YOU YET MET WITH SPEAKER
% VOS?%>> NOT YET, BUT I'M LOOK
ING
% FORWARD TO IT.
% >> ALL RIGHT.
% WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR WHEN
% STUDENTS RETURN IN THE FALL,
% SHOULD COVID CASES CONTINUE TO
% SPIKE?%>> I THINK OUR GOAL WI
LL BE TO
% CONTINUE TO DO WHAT UW-MADISON
% HAS BEEN DOING, WHICH IS TO
% FOLLOW PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITIES%
AND TO LOOK CAREFULLY AT HOW WE
% CAN BALANCE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF
% OUR COMMUNITY WITH THE CRITICAL
% IMPORTANCE OF IN-PERSON
% EDUCATION AND AN ACTIVE CAMPUS
% LIFE.
% I THINK THAT UW-MADISON DID AN
% IMPRESSIVE JOB LAST YEAR.
% THESE ARE CHALLENGING TIMES AND
% ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE LEARNED
% IS TO NOT MAKE PRESUMPTIONS
% ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO BE AROUND
% THE NEXT CORNER, BUT THAT'S WHAT
% WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO.
% >> AS STUDENTS RETURN,
% REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE, AS YOU
% KNOW, HAS DONE AN ABOUT-FACE
% WITH WISCONSIN NOW UNDER AN 1849
% STATUTE THAT OUTLAWS ABORTION.
% WE KNOW UNIVERSITY HEALTH
% SERVICES HAS STATED IT WILL WORK
% WITH STUDENTS TO FIND RESOURCES,
% INCLUDING GOING TO ANOTHER
% STATE.
% WHAT IS YOUR SUPPORT FOR THAT?
% >> WE WILL ABSOLUTELY FOLLOW THE
% LAW.
% THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
% AT THE SAME TIME, WE WILL WORK
% TO MAKE SURE THAT BOTH OUR
% MEDICAL STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO
% THE FULL PANOPLY OF TRAINING
% THAT IS REQUIRED FOR
% ACCREDITATION, AND WE WILL MAKE
% SURE TO PROTECT THE HEALTH OF
% OUR STUDENTS JUST AS WE'VE
% ALWAYS DONE.
% THAT WILL BE A PRIORITY.
% >> DR. JENNIFER MNOOKIN, NEW
% UW-MADISON CHANCELLOR, THANK YOU
% SO MUCH.
% >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
% THRILLED TO BE HERE.
% >> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
% ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
% OUR WEBSITE AT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG
% AND THEN CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
% 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%JO
URNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
% WISCONSIN.