>> THESE NEW VARIANTS ARE COMING
UP.
WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN OUR
COMMUNITY WHO ARE AT A GREATER
RISK.
>> I WANT TO GET A FEW K95s.
I HAVE THE REGULAR MASK, BUT
IT'S NOT WORKING AS WELL.
THE VIRUS IS SPREADING.
I'M ON DIALYSIS.
>> THERE'S A NEW DEMAND TO MASK
>> RON JOHNSON ANNOUNCED THIS
WEEK HE WOULD IN FACT RUN FOR
REELECTION AFTER VOWING HE WOULD
ONLY SERVE TWO TERMS.
HE IS KNOWN FOR MALIGNING
COVID-19 VACCINES, HAS DESCRIBED
JANUARY 6 AS MOSTLY PEACEFUL
PROTESTS AND IS A RELIABLE
DEFENDER OF DONALD TRUMP.
A DOZEN DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES
HAVE LINED UP TO RUN FOR THE
SEAT, NUMBERS THAT WILL NARROW
TO ONE IN AN AUGUST PRIMARY.
WISCONSIN, AS USUAL, IS IN THE
SPOTLIGHT WITH THIS ELECTION
REGARDED AS A STATE TO VERY MUCH
WATCH.
DIRECTOR OF THE MARQUETTE
UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL POLL
CHARLES FRANKLIN HAS SOME
THOUGHTS ON THIS RACE AND HE
JOINS US NOW.
HI, CHARLES, HAPPY NEW YEAR.
>> HEY.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU.
>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> A STRATOSPHERIC RISE IN THE
NUMBER OF COVID-19 CASES ACROSS
THE STATE, WITH ALL COUNTIES IN
THE CRITICALLY HIGH CATEGORY.
>> WE HAVE HEARD HEALTH CARE
PROVIDERS IN WISCONSIN AND
AROUND THE COUNTRY SOUNDING THIS
ALARM AND WE NEED TO HEAR THEM.
>> TO HELP SUPPORT THE STATE'S
STRAINED HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE,
THE GOVERNOR DEPLOYED THE
NATIONAL GUARD, GREETING MEMBERS
RETURNING HOME FROM OVERSEAS
LATE THIS WEEK AND ASKING IF
THEY'D LIKE TO TRAIN UP AS
NURSES.
>> AND AS WE CONTINUE TO SEE
COVID-19 CASES AND
HOSPITALIZATIONS SURGE, WE ARE
PURSUING EVERY AVAILABLE OPTION
TO BRING NEEDED STAFFING SUPPORT
TO WISCONSIN'S HEALTH SYSTEM.
>> MEANWHILE, TESTING AND N95
MASKS TAKE ON CRITICAL
IMPORTANCE AS THE OMICRON SURGE
SHATTERS RECORDS.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," THE
LATEST ON COVID-19, WITH THE
STATE'S HEALTH SECRETARY.
INSIGHT INTO RON JOHNSON'S
REELECTION BID WITH CHARLES
FRANKLIN.
AND A SIT-DOWN WITH ONE OF THE
DEMOCRATS RUNNING IN THE 3rd
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR JANUARY
14.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> AS OMICRON CRUSHES THE STATE,
THE CALVARY IS ON THE WAY,
LITERALLY.
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS HAS CALLED
IN THE NATIONAL GUARD TO HELP
HOSPITALS AND NURSING HOMES AS
COVID-19 CASE COUNTS CONTINUE TO
HIT PANDEMIC HIGHS.
LATEST NUMBERS SHOW A SEVEN-DAY
AFTERNOON OF 10,985 POSITIVE
CASES IN WISCONSIN, WITH
HOSPITAL CAPACITY ON THE BRINK.
SOLDIER NURSES, TESTING MASKS
AND VACCINE CLINICS ALL BEING
DEPLOYED TO TRY TO COUNT ER THE
CRUSH.
WE'RE JOINED BY BY HEALTH
SECRETARY DESIGNEE KAREN
TIMBERLAKE FOR MORE.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> IS THIS WHAT AN ALL-OUT
MITIGATION PUSH LOOKS LIKE?
>> THIS IS PART OF THE STRATEGY
WE'VE BEEN USING FROM THE VERY
BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, WHICH
IS TO MATCH THE MOMENT WITH THE
RESOURCES THAT ARE NEEDED TO
MAKE SURE THAT WISCONSINITES
HAVE ACCESS TO THE TESTS THAT
THEY NEED, THE VACCINATIONS THAT
THEY NEED AND CERTAINLY THE
MEDICAL CARE THAT THEY NEED.
OUR NATIONAL GUARD HAS BEEN AN
AMAZING PARTNER WITH US FROM THE
VERY BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.
THEY DID SOME OF OUR FIRST
TESTING THAT WAS DONE OUT IN THE
COMMUNITY.
THEY'VE GIVEN HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF VACCINES AT THIS
POINT.
AND NOW WE ARE ASKING THEM TO
STEP UP AND HELP US BUILD
CAPACITY IN OUR HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM BY SERVING IN OUR NURSING
HOMES AS TEMPORARY NURSE AIDES
AND CERTIFIED NURSING
ASSISTANTS.
>> HOW DOES THE GUARD SERVING IN
NURSING HOMES HELP THE
HOSPITALS?
>> YEP.
SO WHAT WE KNOW IS WE HAVE
NUMBERS OF PATIENTS WHO ARE IN
HOSPITALS TODAY READY TO BE
DISCHARGED.
THEY NO LONGER NEED A HOSPITAL
LEVEL OF CARE, THANKFULLY, BUT
THEY'RE NOT QUITE READY TO GO
HOME.
AND SO SOME OF THEM MAY NEED
SOME CARE IN A POST-ACUTE CARE
SETTING.
WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT OUR NURSING
HOMES, JUST LIKE OUR HOSPITALS,
HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING REAL
STAFFING SHORTAGES DUE TO THE
PANDEMIC AND SO BY DEPLOYING THE
NATIONAL GUARD IN NURSING HOMES,
WE ACTUALLY CREATE MORE CAPACITY
IN THOSE NURSING HOMES, WE ALLOW
HOSPITALS TO DISCHARGE PATIENTS
WHO DON'T NEED TO BE IN THE
HOSPITAL ANY LONGER AND THEN WE
IMPROVE HOSPITAL CAPACITY FOR
THAT REALLY CRITICAL CARE THAT
DOES NEED TO BE PROVIDED IN A
HOSPITAL SETTING.
>> CAN WE CATCH UP TO OMICRON AT
THIS POINT?
>> GOOD QUESTION.
WHAT WE ALL CAN DO IS KEEP
OURSELVES SAFE AND KEEP OUR
FAMILY MEMBERS SAFE AND TRY TO
AVOID CATCHING OMICRON TO THE
VERY GREATEST EXTENT THAT WE
CAN.
I KNOW WE'RE IN THIS KIND OF
PUSH/PULL OF ISN'T IT A LESS
SERIOUS ILLNESS THAN DELTA WAS
OR THAN ORIGINAL COVID WAS.
THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS
IF YOU'RE FULLY VACCINATED AND
YOU'VE GOTTEN YOUR BOOSTER SHOT,
ALL THE NATIONAL DATA IS SHOWING
US THAT YOU WILL DO VERY WELL IF
YOU CONTRACT OMICRON.
IF YOU ARE NOT VACCINATED, YOU
WILL HAVE A TOUGH TIME.
AND IT IS THOSE UNVACCINATED
PEOPLE THAT WE ARE SEEING IN OUR
HOSPITALS AND THAT ARE REALLY
MAKING IT CHALLENGING FOR PEOPLE
WHO NEED OTHER KINDS OF CARE TO
GET THAT CARE.
SO THE WAY WE CATCH UP TO
OMICRON, THE WAY WE GET AHEAD OF
IT, IS BY MAKING SURE THAT WE
ALL DO WHAT WE CAN TO GET
VACCINATED, GET BOOSTED, WEAR A
GOOD-FITTING MASK AND JUST TRY
TO STAY SAFE.
>> BECAUSE AGAIN WHAT IS THE
CURRENT SITUATION WITH CASES AND
HOSPITALIZATIONS?
>> RIGHT.
THE CURRENT SITUATION WITH CASES
IS THAT WE'RE AT A RECORD HIGH
IN OUR SEVEN-DAY AVERAGE.
WE CONTINUE TO SEE CASES RISING
AT A VERY, VERY STEEP RATE.
WE KNOW THAT HOSPITALIZATIONS
ALSO ARE AT ARE A RECORD LEVEL.
AND SO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE
MORE THAN 2200 PEOPLE TODAY IN
THE HOSPITAL WITH COVID,
INCLUDING HUNDREDS -- MORE THAN
400 PEOPLE IN THE ICU, MEANS WE
HAVE FEWER THAN 5% OF HOSPITAL
BEDS OF ANY KIND ACROSS OUR
STATE THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
SO WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE CONTINUE
TO NEED OTHER KINDS OF MEDICAL
CARE AND MEDICAL TREATMENT AND
THAT IS JUST GETTING HARDER AND
HARDER FOR OUR HOSPITALS TO
PROVIDE.
SO WE SHOULD BE TAKING CARE OF
OURSELVES FOR OUR OWN SAKES AND
FOR THE SAKE OF OUR HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM.
>> MEANWHILE, THE STATE IS
DEPLOYING, I UNDERSTAND, TESTING
CAPACITY ACROSS THE STATE, BUT
IS THERE ENOUGH TESTING
AVAILABLE AND ENOUGH CAPACITY
THERE TO DELIVER TIMELY RESULTS?
>> WE HAVE FANTASTIC TESTING
CAPACITY ACROSS THE STATE.
WITH THAT SAID, WE'VE ALSO SEEN
ABOUT A 50% GROWTH IN THE NUMBER
OF CASES THAT WE ARE PROCESSING
IN ANY GIVEN WEEK SINCE JUST
EARLY NOVEMBER.
SO JUST IN THE LAST, YOU KNOW,
FOUR TO SIX WEEKS OR SO, TESTING
HAS GONE UP BY ABOUT 50%.
SO LIKE ANY OTHER SYSTEM, THAT
WILL PUT SOME STRAIN ON OUR LAB
CAPACITY AND ON OUR RESULT TIME
FRAMES.
BUT WHAT I CAN ASSURE PEOPLE IS
IF YOU GO TO OUR WEBSITE AND YOU
LOOK AT THE COMMUNITY TESTING
LINK, YOU WILL FIND LOTS OF
OPTIONS.
CHECK YOUR LOCAL PHARMACY.
CHECK WITH YOUR LOCAL PUBLIC
HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
TESTING IS AVAILABLE.
YOU MAY HAVE TO DO A LITTLE
RESEARCH.
BUT TESTING IS AVAILABLE.
AND RESULTS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE
STILL TYPICALLY WITHIN ABOUT TWO
TO THREE DAYS.
>> THE CDC RECOMMENDS
HIGH-QUALITY MASKS AND YOUR
AGENCY I UNDERSTAND HAS A
STOCKPILE OF THOSE.
WHO CAN GET THEM AND ARE THERE
ENOUGH OF THOSE?
>> WE HAVE JUST RECENTLY DONE A
SURVEY WITH OUR LOCAL PUBLIC
HEALTH PARTNERS AND WITH OUR
COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
PERSONNEL TO MAKE SURE THAT SOME
OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE AND
CRITICAL SETTINGS ACROSS THE
STATE ARE ABLE TO ACCESS THOSE
MASKS.
SO THAT CAN BE LONG-TERM CARE
SETTINGS, THAT CAN BE SCHOOLS,
THAT CAN BE AFTERSCHOOL
PROVIDERS.
WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE EASY
ACCESS TO A HIGH-QUALITY MASK
CAN GET ONE FROM THOSE STATE
SUPPLIES AND I'D ENCOURAGE
PEOPLE TO CHECK IN WITH LOCAL
PUBLIC HEALTH AND COUNTY
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FOR THOSE
MORE LOCAL PLANS.
>> WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE,
BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
INFORMATION, SECRETARY KAREN
TIMBERLAKE.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
SERVICES IS DIPPING INTO ITS
STOCKPILE OF N95 MASKS TO GIVE
OUT ACROSS WISCONSIN.
AS THEY'RE RECOMMENDED, BUT FOR
SOME, HARD TO COME BY.
MARISA WOJCIK REPORTS ON ONE
EFFORT TO GET MASKS INTO THE
HANDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
>> HEY.
>> IT'S BEEN NONSTOP.
THIS LINE BEHIND US HAS BEEN
GOING ON SINCE ACTUALLY BEFORE
NOON TODAY.
>> CARS CONTINUE TO FILL AND
REFILL THE PARKING LOT OF THE
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB ALLIED FAMILY
CENTER IN FITCHBURG THIS WEEK AS
THEY DISTRIBUTED FEE FREE N95 MASKS
TO THE COMMUNITY.
>> MICHAEL JOHNSON, GOVERNOR
EVERS' OFFICE WORKED TOGETHER TO
GET 200,000 N95 MASKS.
>> THE OMICRON VARIANT IS MORE
CONTAGIOUS.
>> I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A MASK
FOR THE BABY AS WELL.
>> AND NOW THESE NEW VARIANTS
ARE COMING UP.
WE HAVE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY
WHO ARE AT A GREATER RISK.
>> I'D LIKE TO GET TWO K95s
BECAUSE I HAVE THE REGULAR MASK
BUT IT'S NOT WORKING AS WELL
BECAUSE THE VIRUS IS SPREADING.
I'M NERVOUS.
I'M ON DIALYSIS.
>> THERE'S A NEW DEMAND TO MASK
UP BEYOND THE PROTECTION OF
CLOTH AND SURGICAL MASKS AND TO
USE DESIGNATED N95s.
BUT THERE'S A PROBLEM.
>> IT'S REALLY HARD TO FIND.
THE PRICES ARE SUPER HIGH.
I'M VERY HAPPY AND GRATEFUL FOR
THEM.
>> FOR "HERE AND NOW" I'M MARISA
WOJCIK REPORTING FROM FITCHBURG.
>> BE WELL!
>> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IS
EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE A PLAN NEXT
WEEK TO ALSO MAKE N95 MASKS MORE
READILY AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
IN ELECTORAL POLITICS, SENATOR
RON JOHNSON ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK
HE WOULD IN FACT RUN FOR
REELECTION AFTER VOWING HE WOULD
ONLY SERVE TWO TERMS.
HE IS KNOWN FOR MALIGNING
COVID-19 VACCINES, HAS DESCRIBED
JANUARY AS MOSTLY PEACEFUL
PROTESTS AND IS A RELIABLE
DEFENDER OF DONALD TRUMP.
A DOZEN DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES
HAVE LIEB LINED UP TO RUN.
WISCONSIN AS USUAL IS IN THE
SPOTLIGHT WITH THIS ELECTION
REGARDED AS A STATE TO VERY MUCH
WATCH.
DIRECTOR OF THE MARQUETTE
UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL POLL,
CHARLES FRANKLIN, HAS SOME
THOUGHTS ON THIS RACE AND HE
JOINS US NOW.
HI, CHARLES.
HAPPY NEW YEAR.
>> HEY.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU.
>> SO WOULD YOU DESCRIBE RON
JOHNSON AS VULNERABLE IN THIS
ELECTION?
>> YEAH.
I THINK VULNERABLE IS PROBABLY
THE RIGHT WAY TO PUT IT.
IN LATE OCTOBER, WE ASKED WOULD
YOU VOTE TO REELECT JOHNSON OR
VOTE FOR SOMEONE ELSE.
JUST 38% SAID THEY'D VOTE TO
REELECT.
BUT WE ASKED THE SAME QUESTION
ABOUT GOVERNOR TONY EVERS AND
ONLY 40% SAID VOTE TO REELECT.
SO I THINK BOTH INCUMBENTS FACE
THE NEED -- THEY'RE BUILDING
FROM A STRONG BASE, BUT THEY
STILL NEED ANOTHER 10 OR 12
POINTS TO REACH THAT MAGIC 50%
LEVEL.
SENATOR JOHNSON'S FAVORABILITY
IS A LITTLE MORE UNFAVORABLE
THAN FAVORABLE NOW AND THAT HAS
COME DOWN OVER THE LAST THREE
YEARS, SORT OF STEADILY.
SO THAT PUTS HIM IN A VULNERABLE
POSITION.
BUT A LOT HINGES ON THE CAMPAIGN
BETWEEN NOW AND NEXT NOVEMBER.
>> HOW DO HIS STRIDENT POSITIONS
ON THINGS LIKE COVID-19 VACCINES
PLAY IN WISCONSIN, WHICH IS NOW
OVERRUN WITH INFECTIONS AND
HOSPITALIZATIONS?
>> RIGHT.
WE'VE ASKED HOW MUCH DO YOU
TRUST SENATOR JOHNSON FOR
INFORMATION ABOUT COVID AND THE
CORONAVIRUS.
THAT'S DOWN IN THE 30% RANGE
THAT SAY THEY TRUST HIM.
IT'S OVER 50% THAT SAY THEY
DON'T TRUST HIM.
AGAIN, TONY EVERS IS SORT OF THE
REVERSE OF THAT.
ABOUT 54% TRUST HIM AND 30ISH OR
40% DON'T TRUST HIM.
SO SENATOR JOHNSON'S POSITION ON
THAT PLAY WELL WITH REPUBLICAN
VOTERS, AND ESPECIALLY
REPUBLICAN VOTERS WHO ARE
THEMSELVES STEP CAL OF THE
VACCINE.
BUT EVEN AMONG REPUBLICANS WHO
HAVE BEEN VACCINATED AND ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS,
SENATOR JOHNSON'S FAVORABILITIES
ARE LOWER AMONG THAT GROUP OF
REPUBLICANS.
SO AT THE MARGIN IT HELPS HIM
WITH THE BASE, BUT MAYBE HURTS
HIM WITH SOME OF THOSE
REPUBLICANS THAT HAVE SOME
DOUBTS ABOUT WHERE THE PARTY HAS
GONE LATELY.
THAT'S ONLY ABOUT 20% OF
REPUBLICANS, SO IT'S A SMALL
MINORITY.
>> OVERALL, THOUGH, AS YOU WERE
MENTIONING, HIS POLL NUMBERS IN
YOUR LATEST POLLING WERE UNDER
WATER FOR FAVORABILITY, BUT YOU
SAID THAT HIS BASE VERY MUCH
FAVORS AND SUPPORTS HIM.
>> THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS TO
WATCH THROUGHOUT NEXT YEAR'S
ELECTIONS, IS THE BASE OF BOTH
PARTIES.
FOR SENATOR JOHNSON, IT'S A
REPUBLICAN BASE THAT
OVERWHELMINGLY LIKES PRESIDENT
TRUMP, THAT IS SKEPTICAL ABOUT
THE 2020 ELECTION AND AT THE
MARGIN AT LEAST MORE SKEPTICAL
THAN THE PUBLIC AT LARGE ON THE
VACCINE.
AND JOHNSON'S STANDING WITH THEM
IS VERY STRONG.
BUT THE INDEPENDENTS IN THE
STATE, WHO ARE ONLY ABOUT 10% OF
VOTERS, BUT, HEY, WE HAVE A LOT
OF CLOSE ELECTIONS WHERE 10%
COULD MATTER, THOSE FOLKS ARE
MORE LIKE THOSE REPUBLICAN
SKEPTICS.
THEY'RE NOT AS POSITIVE TOWARDS
SENATOR JOHNSON, AND THEY'RE
GOING TO DEFINITELY NEED TO BE
WON OVER IF HE'S GOING TO WIN.
>> IN 2016 HIS DEMOCRATIC
CHALLENGER IN A REMATCH, RUSS
FEINGOLD, WAS POLLING AHEAD OF
JOHNSON GOING INTO THAT
ELECTION.
ARE WISCONSIN VOTERS HARD TO
FIGURE?
>> A LITTLE BIT.
THAT'S PART OF MY JOB, IS TRYING
TO FIGURE THE INSCRUTABLE
VOTERS.
THE THING ABOUT 2016 THAT I
THINK REALLY NEEDS TO BE
EMPHASIZED IS THAT IN 2015, A
YEAR BEFORE THE ELECTION,
SENATOR JOHNSON WAS GETTING SOME
OF HIS LOWEST FAVORABILITY
RATINGS ON RECORD.
HE WAS WELL UNDER WATER, A
LITTLE MORE UNDER WATER THAN HE
IS NOW.
BUT OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS TO
THE ELECTION, HE STEADILY
IMPROVED THOSE RATINGS UNTIL HE
WAS NET POSITIVE BY NOVEMBER,
AND WHILE FEINGOLD LED THE RACE
THROUGH THE WINTER AND THE
SPRING, THROUGH LATE SUMMER, ALL
THE WAY TO ELECTION DAY, WE SAW
IN OUR POLLING JOHNSON CLOSING
THE GAP AND CLOSING IT TO THE
POINT WHERE IT WAS A DEAD HEAT
IN THE LAST POLLS BEFORE
ELECTION DAY.
AND OF COURSE HE ENDED UP
WINNING BY JUST OVER THREE
PERCENTAGE POINTS.
>> SO MEANWHILE LOTS OF MONEY
POURING INTO THIS ELECTION
RATION AND THE ONE FOR GOVERNOR.
WHO IS YOUR MONEY ON IN THAT
RACE FOR GOVERNOR?
<!32768> I THINK
>> I THINK THERE WE ALSO SEE A
CLOSE RACE.
AT THIS POINT REBECCA KLEEFISCH
IS THE ONLY OFFICIALLY-DECLARED
CANDIDATE UNLESS SOMETHING
CHANGED IN THE LAST FEW HOURS.
HERE WE'RE SEEING THE MONEY
FLOWING INTO BOTH OF THOSE
CAMPAIGNS.
WE'VE NOT DONE ANY POLLING ON
THAT RACE YET EXCEPT, AS I SAID,
THAT REELECT NUMBER FOR THE
GOVERNOR, 40% WOULD REELECT, A
LITTLE OVER 50% WOULD VOTE FOR
SOMEBODY ELSE AND OTHERS SAY
THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WOULD
DO.
SO I EXPECT WE'RE GOING TO SEE
TWO VERY CLOSE RACES HERE.
BUT IT'S INTERESTING THAT BOTH
INCUMBENTS OF TWO DIFFERENT
PARTIES ARE NEVERTHELESS DOWN
THERE AROUND 40%.
IT SHOWS THAT VOTERS ARE GRUMPY
AND THEY'RE KIND OF GRUMPY WITH
BOTH OF THE INCUMBENTS RIGHT
NOW.
>> THE GRUMPY ELECTORATE.
CHARLES FRANKLIN, THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALSO IN ELECTORAL POLITICS, A
WAUKESHA COUNTY JUDGE RULED THAT
ABSENTEE BALLOT COLLECTION BOXES
ARE NOT ALLOWED UNDER STATE LAW.
THE ORDER GOES INTO EFFECT RIGHT
AWAY AND COULD AFFECT
MILWAUKEE'S MAYORAL ELECTION IF
THE CASE IS NOT APPEALED.
NEWS OUT OF THE UNIVERSITY
SYSTEM.
TWO FINALISTS WERE NAMED IN THE
SEARCH TO NAME A NEW UW
PRESIDENT.
THE SEARCH COMMITTEE NAMED FOLEY
& LARDNER CEO JAY ROTHMAN AND
CHANCELLOR JANE SCHMIDT AS THE
TWO FINALISTS.
A DECISION IS EXPECTED BY THE
END OF JANUARY.
TOOTOMMY THOMPSON, INTERIM
PRESIDENT, ANNOUNCED HE WILL
STEP DOWN IN MARCH.
AT THE STATE CAPITOL,
REPUBLICANS ARE LOOKING TO
PROHIBIT DISCUSSIONS IN THE
CLASSROOM THAT STEREOTYPE RACE
OR SEX.
THE BILLS SAY THAT LEGAL ACTION
COULD BE TAKEN OR FUNDING
WITHHELD IF A CURRICULUM OR
TRAINING SAYS THAT ONE RACE IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR ACTS COMMITTED
IN THE PAST.
THE LEGISLATION MIRRORS THE
NATIONAL CONVERSATION
SURROUNDING CONCERNS THAT
CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS BEING
TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS.
MARISA WOJCIK SPOKE WITH UW LAW
SCHOOL PROFESSOR STEPH TAI AND
ANUJ DESAI ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS
THAT THE BILLS VIOLATE FREE
SPEECH.
>> WHY IN YOUR MIND IS THIS A
FREEDOM OF SPEECH ISSUE?
>> IT'S A FREE SPEECH ISSUE IN
PART BECAUSE WHEN YOU THINK
LARGELY ABOUT FREE SPEECH IN OUR
SOCIETY, WE HAVE INSTITUTIONS
THAT ARE DESIGNED TO FURTHER
BROAD IDEAS ABOUT FREE SPEECH
AND TWO OF THE BIG ONES ARE OUR
K-12 SCHOOLS AND THE
UNIVERSITIES.
AND SO ANYTHING REALLY THAT
IMPLICATES THE CONTENT OF
DISCUSSION IN CLASSROOMS IS
GOING TO IMPLICATE OUR
CONCEPTION OF FREE SPEECH.
>> SPECIFICALLY IN THE SETTING
OF HIGHER EDUCATION, YOU ARE A
PART OF A GROUP CALLED UW PROFS
THAT REPRESENTS FACULTY IN FRONT
OF LEGISLATIVE BODIES AND THE
BOARD OF REGENTS, SO WHY DOES
YOUR GROUP TAKE ISSUE WITH THIS
LEGISLATION BANNING THE
DISCUSSION OF RACE AND SEX ON
COLLEGE CAMPUSES IN THIS WAY?
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE
REPRESENT IS THE ACADEMIC
FREEDOM OF VARIOUS PROFESSORS
THROUGHOUT THE UNIVERSITY
SYSTEM.
THERE ARE CERTAIN THREATS TO
ACADEMIC FREEDOM POSED BY THESE
BILLS IN THAT THE BILLS ARE
STRUCTURED -- SEEM FINE IN
GENERAL, BUT THEY COULD HAVE A
CHILLING EFFECT ON DISCUSSIONS,
RIGHT?
SO THE CONCERN IS THAT ONE MIGHT
BE TALKING ABOUT THE HISTORY OF
THE UNITED STATES, AND THAT
MIGHT LEAD TO STUDENTS FEELING
BAD, RIGHT, ABOUT THEIR
PARTICULAR KIND OF HISTORY.
NOW, THAT WOULD NOT NECESSARILY
BE THE INTENT OF THE PROFESSOR,
BUT THE MERE FACT THAT A STUDENT
MIGHT FEEL BAD MIGHT MEAN THAT
THEY COULD RAISE A LAWSUIT
AGAINST THE UNIVERSITY AND THUS
OVERALL IT CREATES A CHILLING
EFFECT ON WHAT FACULTY MEMBERS
MIGHT FEEL FREE TO SAY.
>> IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
PROHIBITING THIS IN K-12 SCHOOLS
VERSUS IN A HIGHER EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY SETTING?
>> THE SHORT ANSWER IS IN THE
K-12 CONTEXT, THE GOVERNMENT HAS
ALMOST SORT OF COMPLETE
DISCRETION TO SET THE TERMS OF
EDUCATION UNDER THE FIRST
AMENDMENT.
THERE ARE SOME LIMITS, AND SO
ONE MIGHT BE RELEVANT HERE IS,
YOU KNOW, THE COURTS HAVE
INDICATED THAT IF EDUCATION
CURRICULUM IS DONE IN A NAKEDLY
PARTISAN WAY, THAT THAT MIGHT
VIOLATE THE FIRST AMENDMENT.
WHEREAS AS TAI WAS MENTIONING,
IN THE COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY
AREAS TEACHERS HAVE JUST A LOT
MORE LEEWAY, I GUESS IS WHAT I
WOULD SAY, TO EXPRESS THEIR OWN
VIEWS ABOUT THINGS AND THAT IS
THAT CONCEPT OF ACADEMIC
FREEDOM, WHICH INTERTWINES WITH
FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND IS, YOU
KNOW, PART AND PARCEL OF IT IN
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW.
>> TURNING TO WESTERN WISCONSIN
AND THE RACE TO REPLACE RETIRING
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE RON KIND, IN
OUR CONTINUING SERIES OF
INTERVIEWS WE SIT DOWN NOW WITH
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE DEB
MCGRATH, DAUGHTER OF FORMER U.S.
REPRESENTATIVE AL BALDUS.
SHE IS A FORMER OFFICER IN THE
ARMY WHO ALSO WORKED IN THE CIA.
DEB MCGRATH JOINS US NOW FROM
MENOMONIE AND THANKS VERY MUCH
FOR BEING HERE.
>> IT'S NICE TO BE WITH YOU.
>> WHY DO YOU WANT TO REPRESENT
THE PEOPLE OF THE 3rd DISTRICT
IN WASHINGTON?
>> THE STAKES OF THIS RACE ARE
SO HIGH.
AFTER 25 YEARS OF WORKING BOTH
IN THE ARMY AND IN THE CIA, I
KNOW HOW TO WORK WITH PEOPLE TO
SOLVE PROBLEMS.
AND AS A WIFE AND MOTHER, I
UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES THAT
FAMILIES ARE FACING ACROSS
WESTERN AND CENTRAL WISCONSIN.
I GREW UP HERE IN MENOMONIE AND
IT'S A PLACE I'VE ALWAYS CALLED
HOME.
AND MY FATHER, AL BALDUS, WAS A
CHAMPION FOR PEOPLE, LISTENING
TO THEM AND FIGHTING
SELF-INTEREST.
SO I WILL BE A CHAMPION FOR
THOSE PEOPLE IN WESTERN
WISCONSIN.
>> DESCRIBE FOR US HOW YOUR PAST
EXPERIENCE READIES YOU FOR A
ROLE IN CONGRESS.
>> WELL, FREDERICA, THIS IS --
ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT
WORKING FOR OUR COUNTRY IS THAT
WE PUT OUR COUNTRY ABOVE
POLITICS AND WE WORK TOGETHER
AND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER TO GET
JOBS DONE.
AND YOU HAVE TO LISTEN HARD TO
EVERYBODY'S IDEAS SO THAT YOU
CAN GET TO THE BEST OUTCOME.
I THINK THAT'S THE BEST
ATTRIBUTE THAT MY SERVICE HAS
BROUGHT TO ME.
>> YOU SAID THAT THE STAKES ARE
HIGH IN THIS RACE.
WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT
ISSUES YOU'D LIKE TO ADDRESS IN
YOUR DISTRICT?
>> FREDERICA, THERE ARE REAL
THREATS RIGHT NOW TO OUR
DEMOCRACY, TO OUR NATION,
ECONOMY AND FAMILIES.
WHEN I LOOK AT THE THINGS THAT
WE CAN WORK ON, WE CAN WORK ON
THE CHILD CARE.
WE CAN WORK ON PRE-K.
WE CAN WORK ON MAKING SURE WE
GET BETTER ACCESSIBILITY TO
HEALTH CARE FOR FOLKS IN RURAL
AREAS.
I THINK THE BROADBAND IS GOING
TO BE -- IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR
KIDS TO BE ABLE TO DO HOMEWORK
IN THEIR HOMES INSTEAD OF
PARKING LOTS AND OF COURSE FOR
FARMERS TO BE ABLE TO GET THEIR
-- TO GET THEIR PRODUCT TO
MARKET.
SO I THINK THAT THERE IS SO MANY
ISSUES FACING US, FREDERICA.
>> THE TRUMP-ENDORSED REPUBLICAN
IN THIS RACE IS HIMSELF A FORMER
NAVY SEAL.
HE TOO TOOK AN OATH TO OUR
COUNTRY, SOMETHING YOU SPEAK
ABOUT.
HOW ARE YOU DIFFERENT?
>> I WORK WITH A HANDSHAKE
INSTEAD OF A FIST.
I KNOW HOW TO WORK WITH PEOPLE
AND LISTEN TO THEM TO SOLVE
PROBLEMS.
WHEN I LOOK AT THIS GREAT
COUNTRY, I KNOW THAT WHEN WE
WORK TOGETHER, WE WILL
ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS.
I AM NO STRANGER TO BEING THE
FIRST IN ANY CHALLENGE.
FOR INSTANCE, I WAS THE FIRST
WOMAN, WAS THE ONLY WOMAN IN MY
AIRBORNE TRAINING CLASS AND
SERGEANTS WOULD HAVE LOVED TO
HAVE MADE ME QUIT.
I LED MY EXAMPLE.
I NEVER GAVE UP.
AND I WAS THE FIRST ONE OUT OF
THE PLANE.
THAT IS THE ATTITUDE THAT I
BRING TO THIS RACE.
>> WHAT IN YOUR BELIEF WILL MOST
HELP THE PEOPLE OF THE 3rd
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT?
>> I BELIEVE WHEN WE'RE LOOKING
AT THE MEASURES THAT ARE BEING
FACED IN WASHINGTON RIGHT NOW, I
DO BELIEVE WE NEED TO GO BACK TO
STRONG FAMILIES, STRONG ECONOMY
AND SMART AND STRONG NATION.
WHEN I LOOK AT CHILD CARE, THAT
WILL HELP GET PEOPLE TO WORK.
I MYSELF HAD TO GIVE UP MY JOB
IN THE ARMY BECAUSE, MY CAREER,
BECAUSE WE COULDN'T AFFORD CHILD
CARE.
AND WE BUDGETED FOR PRESCHOOL.
WHEN I LOOK AT FAMILIES, WHEN WE
LOOK AT MEDICARE EXPANSION FOR
SENIORS, TO HAVE A DIGNIFIED
LIFE, WITH BETTER VISION AND
DENTAL.
SO I THINK THE THINGS THAT WE
REALLY NEED TO WORRY ABOUT ARE
MAKING FAMILIES STRONG, OUR
ECONOMY STRONG AND STRONG
DEFENSE OF OUR NATION.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK NEEDS TO BE
DONE AROUND MAKING SURE FAMILIES
HAVE THAT NEEDED CHILD CARE?
>> I BELIEVE WE NEED TO -- WELL,
THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS THAT I
THINK WOULD BE REALLY WONDERFUL
FOR US.
FIRST, INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE WHO DO
THE WORK FOR CHILD CARE.
I THINK THAT IF WE COULD HELP
PEOPLE DECIDE TO GO INTO THESE
LINES OF WORK SO THAT THEY GET
GOOD-PAYING -- THOSE ARE
DECENT-PAYING JOBS FOR THEM.
IT'S THE SAME THING WITH
SENIORS.
WE COULD ALSO INVENT ADVISE INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE
WHO WORK FOR SENIORS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
DEB MCGRATH, WE LEAVE IT THERE.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AS WE LOOK AHEAD TO MARTIN
LUTHER KING DAY ON MONDAY, WE
WANT TO ALERT YOU TO SPECIAL
PROGRAMMING FROM PBS WISCONSIN.
HOST ANGELA FITZGERALD WILL
BRING YOU A SPECIAL EDITION OF
HER PROGRAM, "WHY RACE MATTERS,"
TOUCHING ON THE LIFE AND LEGACY
OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
HERE'S AN EX EXCERPT.
>> ANYONE WHO LIVES INSIDE THE
UNITED STATES CAN EVER BE
CONSIDERED AN OUTSIDER WITH ITS
BOUNDS.
IN 2020, A RECORD NUMBER OF
BLACK WOMEN RAN FOR CONGRESS.
IT'S A SMALL STEP, BUT AN
IMPORTANT ONE.
THE MORE REPRESENTATION WE HAVE,
THE MORE LIKELY THAT POLICIES
THAT POSSIBLY AFFECT OUR
COMMUNITIES GET PASSED.
THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT RACE
MATTERS WHEN IT COMES TO CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT.
MAYBE IT'S TIME TO STOP
LECTURING COMMUNITIES TO VOTE
AND ASK HOW TO EARN THEIR VOTE
INSTEAD.
>> THAT IS A SAMPLING OF "WHY
RACE MATTERS."
THAT CAN BE SEEN AT 8:00 P.M. ON
MONDAY, JANUARY 17 ON PBS
WISCONSIN.
AND THAT IS 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.