STILL, THE PRESIDENT WASTED NO
TIME PROMOTING HIS DOMESTIC
AGENDA WITH A TOUR THAT STARTED
IN SUPERIOR WEDNESDAY.
IN ADDITION TO HIGHLIGHTING
FUNDING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE,
BIDEN SPOKE TO THE STRENGTH OF
UKRAINE.
>> PUTIN IS NOW ISOLATED FROM
THE WORLD MORE THAN EVER, AND
WILL CONTINUE TO AID UKRANIAN
PEOPLE AS THEY DEFEND THEIR
COUNTRY AND HELP EASE THEIR
SUFFERING IN THE PROCESS.
WHEN HISTORY OF THIS ERA IS
WRITTEN, UKRAINE WILL HAVE LEFT
RUSSIA WEAKER AND THE REST OF
THE WORLD STRONGER.
>> WHAT ARE YOU SHA'S YOUTHEIR FRIENDS OUTSIDE ITS
BORDERS IS FEAR AND ANGUISH AND
RESOLVE.
MARISA WOJCIK VISITED WITH A
MADISON RESIDENT BORN IN KYIV
SPEAKING WITH A CLOSE FAMILY
FRIEND WHO REMAINS IN UKRAINE.
>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> A DIVIDED WISCONSIN SUPREME
COURT HAS CHOSEN MAPS DRAWN BY
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR TONY EVERS
IN THE STATE'S REDISTRICTING
FIGHT.
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN DELIVERS HIS
FIRST STATE OF THE UNION
ADDRESS, AND THEN VISITS
WISCONSIN.
FORMER SUPREME COURT JUSTICE
MICHAEL GABLEMAN RELEASES THE
FINDINGS OF HIS HIGHLY
SCRUTINIZED ELECTION
INVESTIGATION.
AND A NEW POLL TAKES THE
POLITICAL TEMPERATURE OF THE
STATE.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," THE
WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT WEIGHS
IN ON REDISTRICTING.
WISCONSIN ELECTION OFFICIAL
MEAGAN WOLFE RESPONDS TO
ALLEGATIOS IN MICHAEL
GABELMAN'S LATEST ELECTION
REPORT.
CHARLES FRANKLIN SHARES HIS
LATEST POLL.
AND THE CRISIS IN UKRAINE HITS
CLOSE TO HOME FOR THOSE WITH
FRIENDS ON THE FRONT LINES.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR MARCH 4.
FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> IN A WIN FOR DEMOCRATS, A
SPLIT SUPREME COURT THURSDAY
ADOPTED GOVERNOR TONY EVERS'
VOTING MAPS FOR WISCONSIN
LEGISLATIVE AND CONGRESSIONAL
BOUNDARIES.
THE MAPS ADHERED TO THE LEAST
CHANGE APPROACH TO THE CURRENT
LINES THE COURT REQUIRED.
JUSTICE BRIAN HAGEDORN VOTED
WITH THE THREE LIBERALS ON THE
COURT, WRITING THE MAJORITY
OPINION.
ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNOR,
APPLYING AN AVERAGE OF SIX
STATEWIDE ELECTIONS SINCE 2016,
HIS MAPS WOULD ELECT
44 DEMOCRATS AND 55 REPUBLICANS
TO THE ASSEMBLY, 13 DEMOCRATS
AND 20 REPUBLICANS TO THE
SENATE, AND THREE DEMOCRATS AND
FIVE REPUBLICANS TO CONGRESS.
THAT'S COMPARED TO THE R CAB MAP
WHICH WOULD MAKEMAP.
WE BREAK IT DOWN WITH POLITICAL
SCIENTIST BARRY BURDEN.
>> SO IT'S DECLARED A
SIGNIFICANT VICTORY FOR THE
DEMS.
WOULD YOU DECLARE THAT?
>> WELL, I WOULD SAY IT'S THE
LEAST BAD OPTION FOR THE
DEMOCRATS.
JUST ABOUT ANY MAP THAT WOULD BE
ADOPTED IS GOING TO HAVE AN
ADVANTAGE FOR THE REPUBLICANS
BUILT IN, AND THAT'S ESPECIALLY
TRUE BECAUSE THE COURT MANDATED
THAT THEY WERE GOING TO ONLY
ACCEPT MAPS THAT HAD THE MINIMAL
AMOUNT OF CHANGE TO THE EXISTING
DISTRICTS AND THOSE WERE, OF
COURSE, DRAWN BY REPUBLICANS 10
YEARS AGO AND HAVE WORKED QUITE
WELL TO LOCK IN REPUBLICAN
MAJORITIES.
SO THIS IS ABOUT THE BEST THE
DEMOCRATS COULD HOPE FOR, BUT IT
STILL PUTS THEM ON THE DEFENSE.
>> SO HOW SIMILAR ARE THESE MAPS
TO THE EXISTING G.O.P. MAPS THEN
THEN?
>> WELL, THEY'RE QUITE SIMILAR
AND THAT'S WHY THE EVERS MAPS
WERE SELECTED OVER THE OTHER
OPTIONS.
THERE WERE ABOUT A HALF A DOZEN
MAPS SUBMITTED TO THE SUPREME
COURT.
THEY COULD HAVE PICKED ANY OF
THEM OR DRAWN THEIR OWN MAP AND
THEY PICKED EE VEFERS' AS
HAGEDORN SAID BECAUSE IT BEAT
THE OTHERS ON THE CRITERION OF
KEEPING AS MANY PEOPLE IN THE
SAME DISTRICTS AS THEY'RE IN
NOW.
>> DO THE EVERS MAPS MAKE
DISTRICTS AT ALL MORE
COMPETITIVE AS A WHOLE?
>> SLIGHTLY.
I THINK AT THE CONGRESSIONAL
LEVEL, THERE ARE EIGHT
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS, THE
EVERS' MAPS MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR
DEMOCRATS TO WIN THREE OR MAYBE
FOUR OF THE EIGHT DISTRICTS,
WHEREAS I THINK ANY OF THE
REPUBLICAN ORIENTED MAPS WOULD
HAVE HAD A 6-2 MARGIN FOR THE
G.O.P., AND IT MAKES THE
ASSEMBLY AT LEAST WITHIN THE
REALM OF POSSIBILITY OF
DEMOCRATS WINNING BACK THE
MAJORITY.
THEY WOULD NEED A REALLY GOOD
ELECTION CYCLE FOR THAT TO
HAPPEN BECAUSE THE EXPECTATION
IS THEY PROBABLY HAVE IN THE LOW
TO MID 40s OUT OF THE 99
SEATS, BUT MOST OF THE SEATS ARE
GOING TO BE SAFE IN THE
ASSEMBLY, THE SENATE AND THE
CONGRESSIONAL LEVEL.
>> LOOKING AT WHAT'S REGARDED AS
ONE OF THE MOST COMPETITIVE
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS, THE
THIRD, EVERS' MAPS KEEPS STEVENS
POINT IN THE DISTRICT WHEREAS
THE G.O.P. MAPS REMOVE IT.
HOW SIG IS THAT IN THE THIRD?
>> IT'S PROBABLY ESSENTIAL TO
KEEPING -- STEVENS POINT IS AN
ARM THAT STICKS OUT FROM THE
DISTRICT IF YOU LOOK AT THE MAP.
THAT WAS INTENTIONALLY ADDED 10
YEARS AGO, IN PART TO CREATION
THE DISTRICT JUST NORTH OF IT,
WHICH HAD BEEN SHAWN DUFFEY'S
DISTRICT, MORE REPUBLICAN, SORT
OF A DEAL THAT HAD BEEN WORKED
OUT.
KEEPING THAT ARM OF THE DISTRICT
IN IT, AT LEAST GIVES DEMOCRATS
THE POSSIBILITY OF HOLDING ON
EVEN THOUGH RON KIND WON'T BE
THE INCOUPLE BENT INCUMBENT THE NEXT TIME
AROUND.
>> REPUBLICAN LEGISLATIVE
LEADERS SAID THAT, QUOTE, TONY
EVERS DREW RACIALLY
GERRYMANDERED MAPS BEHIND CLOSED
DOORS WITH NO PUBLIC INPUT, AND
TIDISSENTING CONSERVATIVE JUSTICES
REGARD THE EVERS MAPS AS
UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND FATALLY
FLAWED.
HOW SALIENT ARE THESE
CRITICISMS?
>> WELL, ALL OF THE MAPS THAT
WERE SUBMITTED TO THE COURT WERE
DRAWN IN SECRET SOMEWHERE.
NONE OF THEM WERE DONE OUT IN
THE PUBLIC SQUARE.
SO I'M NOT SURE THAT'S MUCH OF A
CRITICISM.
BUT THE MINORITY ON THE COURT
WAS REALLY INCENSED THAT THEY
THOUGHT THE EVERS MAPS VIOLATED
THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT, VIOLATED
THE CONSTITUTION BY PRODUCING
THESE SEVEN BARE MAJORITY OR
CLOSE TO MAJORITY BLACK ASSEMBLY
DISTRICTS.
I'M NOT SURE THAT ARGUMENT WILL
HOLD BUT THEY SEEM TO BE HOPING
THAT THE LOSERS IN THIS CASE
WILL TAKE AN APPEAL TO THE U.S.
SUPREME COURT AND TRY TO
CHALLENGE THE MAPS ON THE BASIS
OF VIOLATING EITHER THE VRA OR
THE 14TH AMENDMENT, WHICH
GUARANTEES EQUAL PROTECTION.
THAT WOULD BE A REAL SHOWDOWN, I
THINK, AT THE SUPREME COURT
LEVEL TO THINK ABOUT CHANGING I
THINK STANDING INTERPRETATIONS
OF THE VRA TO SAY THAT DRAWING
ON THE BASIS OF RACE AND THE WAY
THAT EVERS DID VIOLATES THE
CONSTITUTION.
>> AND SO WOULD THAT BE
EXPECTED, THAT THIS WOULD GO UP?
>> IT'S VERY UNCLEAR.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE LOSING
PLAINTIFFS IN THE CASE WILL
THINK IT'S TANTALIZING ENOUGH TO
TRY TO BRING AN APPEAL.
I DON'T KNOW THE U.S. SUPREME
COURT WOULD TAKE IT EVEN IF THE
APPEAL WAS SEPTEMBER THEIR WAY.
SENT THEIR WAY?
THIS IS A HOT ISSUE, A LOT OF IT
IS SETTLED LAW BUT SOMETHING
CONSERVATIVES ARE INTERESTED IN
REVISITING SO THIS IS A DECISION
THAT GETS MADE OVER THE COMING
WEEKS.
>> NOT WITHSTANDING THAT, WE
KNOW REPUBLICANS STILL HOLD A
MAJORITY IN THESE LEAST CHANGE
MAPS, BUT DOES THIS HAVE
IMPLICATIONS IN THIS YEAR'S
ELECTIONS?
>> WELL, ASSUMING THERE ARE NO
APPEALS AND THE DECISION HOLDS,
WE NOW KNOW WHAT THE DISTRICTS
WILL LOOK LIKE.
THAT SETS UP NOW DECISIONS BY
CANDIDATES TO DECIDE WHETHER
THEY'RE GOING TO RUN.
THERE ARE A FEW INCUMBENTS IN
THE STATE LEGISLATURE WHO GOT
PAIRED AGAINST ONE ANOTHER AND
WILL HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY
WANT TO FACE OFF IN THE PRIMARY
OR SOME OF THEM STAND DOWN.
I THINK AT THE CONGRESSIONAL
LEVEL, THE THIRD DISTRICT THAT
WE TALKED ABOUT A MOMENT AGO IS
THE MOST INTERESTING OF THE
EIGHT DISTRICTS.
IT'S THE ONLY OPEN SEAT IN THE
STATE, IT'S PROBABLY THE MOST
BALANCED OF THE EIGHT DISTRICTS
AND IT WILL GET A LOT OF
NATIONAL ATTENTION.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, WE'LL BE WATCHING AS WELL.
BARRY BURDEN, THANK YOU.
>> GLAD TO BE WITH YOU.
>> BURDEN ALSO SAYS ANOTHER
SCENARIO IS FOR REPUBLICANS TO
USE THESE MAPS THIS YEAR AND
JUST REDRAW NEW ONES IF AND WHEN
A REPUBLICAN BECOMES GOVERNOR IN
2023.
ALSO AT THE CAPITAL, FORMER
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE MICHAEL
GABELMAN THIS WEEK DELIVERED AN
INTERIM REPORT ON HIS
INVESTIGATION INTO THE 2020
ELECTION.
IN AN HOUR'S LONG HEARING, HE
LAID OUT MORE THAN 20
LEGISLATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS,
INCLUDING THAT LAWMAKERS OUGHT
TO, QUOTE, TAKE A VERY HARD LOOK
AT DECERTIFYING THE ELECTION.
THIS PROMPTED REPUBLICAN
ASSEMBLY MAJORITY LEADER JIM
STEINEKE TO TWEET, SAYING,
QUOTE, HANDING AUTHORITY TO
PARTISAN POLITICIANS TO
DETERMINE IF ELECTION FRAUD
EXISTS WOULD BE THE END OF OUR
REPUBLICAN AS WE KNOW IT.
DECERTIFYING THE ELECTION HAS
BEEN DEEMED LEGALLY IMPOSSIBLE.
GABLEMAN ALSO DESCRIBED THE
PRIVATE GRANTS MADE TO RUN THE
ELECTION IN THE MIDST OF A
PANDEMIC AS, QUOTE, ELECTION
BRIBERY, AND CALLED ON LAWMAKERS
TO ELIMINATE THE WISCONSIN
ELECTIONS COMMISSION AND REMOVE
ITS ADMINISTRATOR, A
NON-PARTISAN POSITION.
>> MS. WOLFE SHOULD BE
REMOVALLED FROM WEC FOR CAUSE.
SHE HAS NOT BEEN SERVING THE WAY
THAT SHE SHOULD BE SERVING.
SHE HAS NOT BEEN COOPERATIVE.
SHE HAS NOT BEEN ADMINISTERING
THESE ELECTIONS IN A FAIR,
TRANSPARENT, AND ACCOUNTABLE WAY
WAY.
>> WHAT DOES THE ADMINISTRATOR
OF THE ELECTIONS COMMISSION
THINK ABOUT ALL OF THIS?
WE ASK HER.
MEAGAN WOLFE JOINS US NOW.
THANKS A LOT ARE TO BEING FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE FOR
MICHAEL GABELMAN CALLING FOR YOU
TO BE FIRED?
>> I THINK A LOT OF WHAT WAS
SAID AND A LOT OF WHAT IS IN
THIS REPORT IS JUST A COMPLETE
MISREPRESENTATION OF WISCONSIN WISCONSIN
ELECTION LAW, FEDERAL ELECTION
LAW, ELECTION ADD ADMINISTRATION AND
TECHNOLOGY.
AND I THINK THAT THE CLAIMS WERE
MADE AND THE REPORT ITSELF HAS
VERY MINIMAL UTILITY BECAUSE OF
THESE MISREPRESENTATIONS.
>> AT THE HEARING, GABLEMAN SAID
THAT GRANT FUNDING FROM THE
CENTER FOR TECH AND CIVIC LIFE,
WHICH HE CALLS ZUCKERBUCKS, WERE
A PRETEXT TO UNFAIRLY TURN OUT
BLAKE VOTE IN MILWAUKEE.
LET'S TAKE A LISTEN TO WHAT HE
SAID.
>> IN ORDER TO WIN THE NEXT
ELECTION, THE DEMOCRATS WERE
GOING TO HAVE TO GO TO MILWAUKEE
AND TURN OUT THE AFRICAN
AMERICAN VOTE.
AND THAT'S WHAT THIS MONEY WAS
FOR, AND THAT'S THE HEART OF
THIS PARTISAN EFFORT.
>> WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO
THAT?
WAS THAT ILLEGAL?
>> THE ISSUE OF PRIVATE GRANT
FUNDING IN ELECTIONS AND THE
ACCEPTANCE OF THEM BY
MUNICIPALITIES WAS AN ISSUE THAT
HAS BEEN DECIDED BY MULTIPLE
COURTS.
I BELIEVE THERE HAVE BEEN THREE
COURT DECISIONS THAT HAVE SAID
THAT THE LAW DOES NOT PROHIBIT
LOCAL ELECTION OFFICIALS FROM
ACCEPTING PRIVATE GRANT FUNDS.
>> SO GABLEMAN ALSO SPENT A LONG
TIM DURING HIS HEARING PLAYING
VIDEOS OF NURSING HOME RESIDENTS
ABOUT HOW THEY WOULD VOTE.
WITH THEM, MOSTLY UNABLE TO
ANSWER.
THE POINT WAS TO SAY THE
ELECTIONS COMMISSION DECISION
SHOULD NOT ALLOW VOTING DEPUTIES
IN THE NURSING HOMES DURING THE
PANDEMIC RESULTED IN INELIGIBLE
VOTERS ILLEGALLY CASTING
BALLOTS.
WHAT'S YOUR EE REACTION, FIRST OF
ALL, TO THESE VIDEO
PRESENTATIONS DURING THE
HEARING, GABLEMAN SAID 92 THOWM 92,000
PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE.
>> I THINK TO RESPOND TO THESE
WE NEED TO GO BACK TO ELECTION
LAW, WHICH SAYS THAT A COURT HAS
TO SPECIFICALLY ADJUDICATE
SOMEBODY INCOMPETENT FOR VOTING
PURPOSES.
SO HAVING SOME TYPE OF A
GUARDIANSHIP ORDER OR EVEN IF A
FAMILY MEMBER DOESN'T BELIEVE
THAT SOMEBODY'S CAPABLE, UNLESS
THERE IS A COURT ORDER THAT SAYS
SOMEBODY IS NOT COMPETENT TO
VOTE, THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE IS
STILL IN PLACE.
AND I KNOW THESE ARE DIFFICULT
DECISIONS.
I'M CERTAINLY -- CAN SYMPATHIZE
WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE FRUSTRATED
BY THE LAW, BUT THERE WOULD NEED
TO BE A CHANGE TO THE LAW IF
THERE WAS A DESIRE TO SEE SOME
DIFFERENT MEASURE UTILIZED.
THERE'S NO TESTING THAT'S GIVEN
TO ANY VOTER BEFORE THEY'RE ABLE
TO CAST THEIR BALLOT.
THERE IS THE LAW, THOUGH, WHICH
SAYS THAT SOMEBODY HAS TO BE
ADJUDICATED BY A JUDGE
INCOMPETENT BEFORE THEIR RIGHT
TO VOTE CAN BE REMOVED.
>> WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO SEE THOSE
VIDEOS DURING THAT HEARING OF
THOSE PEOPLE IN THOSE NURSING
HOMES BEING BASICALLY DEPOSED?
>> I FELT A LITTLE UPSET
WATCHING IT BECAUSE IT DID FEEL
LIKE THOSE PEOPLE WERE BEING
EXPLOITED, BECAUSE AGAIN,
THERE'S NO TEST THAT'S REQUIRED
TO BE ABLE TO CAST YOUR BALLOT.
THERE'S NO TEST FOR ANYONE
BEFORE THEY'RE ABLE TO CAST
THEIR BALLOT, BUT THERE IS THE
LAW THAT SAYS SOMEBODY HAS TO BE
ADJUDICATED BY A COURT.
BECAUSE THE RIGHT TO VOTE, IT'S
A SACRED RIGHT, AND IT'S TAKEN
VERY SERIOUSLY, SO THE LAW SAYS
IN ORDER FOR THAT RIGHT TO BE
REMOVED, THERE HAS TO BE A COURT
ORDER.
>> MEANWHILE, FORMER JUSTICES IN
THE INVESTIGATION HAS SUBPOENAED
YOU AND OTHERS FOR A PRIVATE
DEPOSITION AND YOU ARE SUING
OVER THAT.
WHY ARE YOU SUING?
>> I WOULD BE VERY PLEASED TO
TALK TO THE OFFICE OF SPECIAL
COUNSEL IN A PUBLIC FORUM.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, I BELIEVE
IT WAS JUST LAST WEEK THAT I DID
PROVIDE TESTIMONY TO THE
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS.
AND SO WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO
HAVING THESE DISCUSSIONS WITH
LAWMAKERS, WITH THE PUBLIC,
ABOUT HOW OUR ELECTION IN 2020
WAS CONDUCTED WITH INTEGRITY.
BUT THOSE CONVERSATIONS HAVE TO
HAPPEN IN PUBLIC.
EVERY ASPECT OF ELECTIONS
HAPPENS IN PUBLIC, IN A PUBLIC
FORUM, AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT
THIS REVIEW SHOULD BE ANY
DIFFERENT.
>> AS YOU JUST SAID, YOU'VE
TESTIFIED MANY TIMES BEFORE THE
LEGISLATURE ON THE MATTER OF THE
2020 ELECTION.
WHAT DO YOU WANT THE PUBLIC TO
HEAR ABOUT WHETHER IT WAS
CONDUCTED ILLEGALLY OR IS
SUSPECT OR THE PROCESS SHOULD BE
CHANGED IN
>> YOU KNOW, I REALLY ENCOURAGE
EVERYONE TO ENGAGE WITH THE
FACTS ABOUT ELECTIONS.
YOU HAVE A LOCAL ELECTION
AUTHORITY IN EVERY SINGLE CITY,
TOWN AND VILLAGE IN WISCONSIN.
ASK QUESTIONS, GET INVOLVED,
EVERY ASPECT OF ELECTIONS IS
PUBLICLY OBSERVABLE.
AND SO YOU'RE ABLE TO WATCH
THOSE THINGS, WHETHER IT'S
TESTING THE VOTING EQUIPMENT OR
COUNTING OF THE ABSENTEE BALLOT,
THOSE ARE ALL PUBLICLY
OBSERVABLE.
AND I WOULD ALSO NOTE THAT EVERY
DECISION OF THE WISCONSIN
ELECTIONS COMMISSION IS MADE IN
A BIPARTISAN MANNER AND IS MADE
IN A PUBLIC FORUM.
SO THERE ARE REALLY GREAT
OPPORTUNITIES HERE TO SEE HOW
ELECTIONS ARE RUN, TO LEARN
MORE, AND I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY
TO DO THAT.
>> MEAGAN WOLFE, THANKS VERY
MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YOU WOULDN'T KNOW IT FROM
LISTENING TO THE GABLEMAN
INVESTIGATION, BUT 67% OF ALL
REGISTERED VOTERS SURVEYED IN
WISCONSIN ARE VERY OR SOMEWHAT
śCONFIDENT THE VOTES WERE
ACCURATELY CAST AND COUNTED IN
THE 2020 ELECTION.
THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE LATEST
MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL
POLL, WHICH LOOKED AT APPROVAL
RATINGS, THE HORSE RACE IN THE
UPCOMING GOVERNOR AND U.S.
SENATE ELECTIONS AND ISSUES IN
THE STATE.
POLL DIRECTOR CHARLES FRANKLIN
JOINS US NOW.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE, CHARLES.
>> GOOD TO BE HERE.
>> SO AS TO WHO HAS CONFIDENCE
IN THE ACCURACY OF THE 2020
ELECTION, AS EXPECTED, YOU SEE
VAST PARTISAN SPLITS IN THAT
RESULT, RIGHT?
>> THERE ARE BIG DIFFERENCES.
JUST AS SORT OF A BASIC WAY OF
SAYING IT, IT'S BEEN ABOUT TWO
THIRDS OF REPUBLICANS WHO WERE
SKEPTICAL ABOUT THE ELECTION,
BUT ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF THE
PUBLIC AT LARGE WHO WERE
CONFIDENT IN THE ELECTION.
SO YOU HAVE THIS DIFFICULT
PROBLEM OF WITHIN THE PARTY, A
LOT OF SKEPTICISM AMONG
REPUBLICANS THAT'S SIMPLY NOT
MIRRORED IN THE PUBLIC AT LARGE.
AND SO THAT'S PART OF THE ISSUE
WITH A LOT OF THE CONFLICT
WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW.
WE DID SEE A LITTLE DECLINE IN
SKEPTICISM AMONG REPUBLICANS
THIS MONTH.
IT HAD BEEN ABOUT 70% LAST
MONTH, OR IN OCTOBER, IT FELL TO
ABOUT 60% THIS TIME.
SO THAT'S NOT A LOT OF MOVEMENT,
BUT IT IS A CONSISTENT MOVEMENT
AND IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE IT
GOES IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION
FROM THE INCREASED DEBATE IN THE
CAPITAL AND IN THE GUBERNATORIAL
ELECTION.
>> INTERESTING.
WELL, MEANWHILE, LOOKING AHEAD
TO THE 2022 ELECTION AND KEY
MATCHUPS THAT WE'RE WATCHING,
YOUR POLLING SHOWS THAT IN THE
REPUBLICAN PRIMARY FOR GOVERNOR,
REPUBLICANS AND INDEPENDENTS WHO
SAY THEY WILL VOTE IN THE
PRIMARY, REBECCA KLEEFISCH IS
THE CHOICE OF 30%, KEVIN
NICHOLSON PREFERRED BY 8%,
TIMOTHY RAMTHUN IS SUPPORTED BY
5% AND THEN 54% SAY THEY DON'T
KNOW.
THAT 54% SAYS IT ALL AT THIS
POINT, DOESN'T IT?
>> I THINK IT REALLY DOES.
AND YOU KNOW, FOR THOSE OF US
THAT PAY ATTENTION TO POLITICS
DAY IN AND DAY OUT, YEAR IN AND
YEAR OUT, IT'S MAYBE A LITTLE
SURPRISING.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT PAST PRIMARY
RACES THIS FAR OUT, FIVE MONTHS
OUT, IT'S NOT AT ALL SURPRISING
TO FIND THAT HALF HAVE NOT
PICKED A CANDIDATE IN THAT RACE,
AND I REALLY WOULDN'T EXPECT
THAT NUMBER TO GET A LOT LOWER
UNTIL WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO THE
BEGINNING OF THE SUMMER AT
LEAST.
IT IS CLEAR THAT KLEEFISCH HAS A
NOTICEABLE ADVANTAGE IN THIS
RACE.
BUT KEEP YOUR EYE ON THAT 54%
AND UNDERSTAND THAT A LOT COULD
CHANGE BETWEEN NOW AND AUGUST.
>> LOTS OF CANDIDATES ARE LINED
UP TO RUN IN THE DEMOCRATIC
PRIMARY FOR U.S. SENATE AGAINST
REPUBLICAN SENATOR RON JOHNSON.
YOUR POLLING HERE SHOWS MANDELA
BARNES IS SUPPORTED BY 23%, ALEX
LASRY 13%, TOM NELSON SITS AT
5%, AND SARAH GODLEWSKI IS
PREFERRED BY 3%.
YOUR POLLING SHOWS REPUBLICAN
AND DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VOTERS
ARE ABOUT EQUALLY UNSURE OF
THEIR PRIMARY PREFERENCES, PLUS
NAME RECOGNITION OF THESE
CANDIDATES ON BOTH SIDES SEEMS
LOW FOR A STATE SO POLITICALLY
FOCUSED AND HYPERPARTISAN.
WHAT ABOUT THAT?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
AND 48% ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE
SAID THEY HAD NOT MADE UP THEIR
MINDS.
BY THE WAY, WE DID ASK ABOUT ALL
11 CANDIDATES AND NO ONE ELSE
GOT MORE THAN 2%.
I THINK THAT IT IS TRUE THAT WE
ARE VERY INVOLVED IN POLITICS,
BUT AN AWFUL LOT OF OUR
INVOLVEMENT IS ABOUT DEMOCRAT
VERSUS REPUBLICAN, AND THESE
WITHIN-THE-PARTY RACES WITH
CANDIDATES THAT ARE NOT
HOUSEHOLD NAMES IS MORE
TIME-CONSUMING FOR VOTERS TO
MAKE UP THEIR MINDS.
WE SAW THIS IN 2018 IN THE
GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY FOR THE
DEMOCRATS THAT TONY EVERS
EVENTUALLY WON.
THAT WAS ALSO A BIG FIELD AND A
LOT OF CANDIDATES STRUGGLED TO
GET KNOWN.
FINALLY, THIS ELECTION YEAR IS
LIKELY TO BE AN INTENSE ELECTION
YEAR BY THE TIME WE GET TO THE
AUGUST PRIMARY, BUT IT MAY TAKE
US A WHILE FOR THAT TO WRAP UP,
INCLUDING GETTING TO KNOW THE
NAMES OF THE CANDIDATES TOO.
>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE
FAVORABILITY FOR SENATOR RON
JOHNSON, ACCORDING TO YOUR
POLLING, FAVORABLY BY 33%, 21%
SAID THEY HAVEN'T HEARD ENOUGH
OR DON'T KNOW.
HE'S UNDERWATER, THOUGH, AND HAS
TRENDED DOWN.
>> YES, AND THIS IS HIS WORST
NET FAVORABILITY THAT WE'VE SEEN
SINCE 2013.
HE'S ALSO DOWN A LITTLE BIT FROM
IN OCTOBER, WHEN HE WAS AT 35 --
FROM OCTOBER WHEN HE WAS AT 36
FAVORABLE, 42 UNFAVABLE, UNFAVORABLE SO A
LITTLE DOWNWARD TREND.
HE REALLY PEAKED RECENTLY IN
2019 AND HAS BEEN COMING DOWN
SLOWLY BUT FAIRLY STEAD LE AND
NOW THESE NUMBERS.
I WILL REMIND PEOPLE THAT HE WAS
ALSO DEEPLY UNDERWATER IN 2015,
BEFORE COMING BACK TO IMPROVE
THOSE NUMBERS IN 16 AND
EVENTUALLY WHEN THE 2016
RE-ELECTION BID.
THIS IS INFORMATIVE NUMBERS, BUT
THINGS CAN CHANGE AGAIN.
>> SO TONY EVERS' JOB APPROVAL
IS RIGHT SIDE UP, 50% APPROVE
WHILE 41% DO NOT APPROVE.
BUT YOU KNOW, WHILE EVERS JOB
APPROVAL IS RIGHT SIDE UP AS WE
SAID, ANOTHER QUESTION YOU ASKED
HAD TO DO WHETHER WISCONSIN IS
HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION OR
ON THE WRONG TRACK, AND 39% OF
VOTERS THERE SAID THE STATE IS
HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
WHILE 53% SAID IT WAS ON THE
WRONG TRACK.
HOW DO THE GOVERNOR'S JOB
APPROVAL NUMBERS SQUARE WITH
THIS RIGHT TRACK, WRONG TRACK
RESULT?
>> THAT'S RIGHT, I THINK THE
DIRECTION OF THE STATE IS AN
INDICATOR OF SOME BROAD
PESSIMISM ABOUT THE STATE, BUT
IT'S ALSO TRUE ABOUT THE COUNTRY
COUNTRY.
PART OF THAT COMES FROM BOTH
SIDES CAN BLAME THE OTHER PARTY
FOR WHY WE'RE HEADED IN THE
WRONG DIRECTION, AND I THINK
THAT'S PART OF WHY YOU CAN SEE A
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE TWO.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, CHARLES FRANKLIN, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
REALLY NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> PRESIDENT BIDEN'S STATE OF
THE UNION ADDRESS THIS WEEK CAME
AS RUSSIA INVADED UKRAINE.
STILL, THE PRESIDENT WASTED NO
TIME PROMOTING HIS DOMESTIC
AGENDA WITH A TOUR THAT STARTED
IN SUPERIOR WEDNESDAY.
IN ADDITION TO HIGHLIGHTING
FUNDING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE,
BIDEN SPOKE TO THE STRENGTH OF
UKRAINE.
>> PUTIN IS NOW ISOLATED FROM
THE WORLD MORE THAN EVER, AND
WE'LL CONTINUE TO AID THE
UKRANIAN PEOPLE AS THEY DEFEND
THEIR COUNTRY AND HELP EASE
THEIR SUFFERING IN THE PROCESS.
WHEN HISTORY OF THIS ERA IS
WRITTEN, UKRAINE WILL HAVE LEFT
RUSSIA WEAKER AND THE REST OF
THE WORLD STRONGER.
>> WHAT ARE YOU SHA'S UNPROVOKED
ATTACK BRINGS FOR PEOPLE INSIDE
UKRAINE AND THEIR FRIENDS
OUTSIDE ITS BORDERS IS FEAR AND
ANGANGUISH AND RESOLVE.
>> THE REST OF ATTACK WE CAN
HEAR, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM.
>> VITALY DEMYANCHUK DESCRIBES
THE SOUND OF BOMBS SURROUNDING
HIS CITY WHILE HE CONTINUES WORK
AT THE KYIV HEART INSTITUTE.
>> HOUR BY HOUR, WE CAN HEAR
BOMBING ATTACK, BOMBING ALERTS,
BOMBING ALERT, GO TO BASEMENT,
GO TO BASEMENT, GO TO BASEMENT.
>> VITALY, A HEART SURGEON AND
HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATOR, VIDEO
CHATS WITH HIS DAUGHTER, POLINA,
LIVING IN SACRAMENTO, AND HIS
CLOSE FRIEND AND MADISON
RESIDENT, GARY SWAROVSKI.
>> TO BE A GOOD DOCTOR MEANS TO
SERVE, TREAT PEOPLE IN ANY
CONDITIONS.
>> DO YOU HAVE WEAPONS AND
AMMUNITION?
>> NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.
OUR HOSPITAL IS ABSOLUTELY
DEMILITARIZATION ZONE.
>> THE OUTSIDE OF THE HOSPITAL
IS GUARDED BY UKRANIAN SOLDIERS.
INSIDE, AROUND 300 PEOPLE,
PATIENTS, STAFF AND THEIR
FAMILIES, TAKE REFUGE IN THE
BASEMENT.
>> OUR RESOURCES ARE LIMITED.
>> THE INNOVATION, HE SAYS, TOOK
THEM BY SURPRISE.
>> WE THOUGHT THAT PROBABLY IT'S
JUST THE POLITICAL GAMES.
WHAT SHOULD I DO?
>> VITALY'S WIFE AND OTHER
DAUGHTER FLED KYIV JUST HOURS
BEFORE WE SPOKE, TO EVACUATE
UKRAINE AS THE BOMBINGS KEPT
GETTING WORSE.
>> AWFUL, AWFUL, AWFUL.
AND CATASTROPHIC.
IT'S CATASTROPHIC WAR, BECOMES
MORE AND MORE UNPREDICTABLE AND
MORE AND MORE DANGEROUS.
>> BUT I HAVE VITALY HAS NO PLANS TO
LEAVE.
>> FIRST OF ALL, I'M A DOCTOR, A
DOCTOR, SECONDLY, I'M AN
ADMINISTRATOR.
THE CAPTAIN SHOULD LEAVE HIS
SHIP LAST.
>> THE POLITICS OF THE PAST HAS
PREPARED MANY UKRANIANS TO STAY
AND FIGHT.
>> PLEASE REMEMBER, 2004, 2014,
SO WE ARE WELL PREPARED.
WE ARE WELL TRAINED.
THE KIND OF SITUATION WHERE WHEN
RUSSIA HAD A LOT OF MISSILES,
BALLISTIC MISSILES, SO WE CAN'T
CONSIDER ANY PLACE THAT'S IN
EUROPE SAFE.
>> SORRY, I'M AT LOSS OF WORDS,
HONESTLY.
>> POLINA ATTENDED MADISON WEST
HIGH SCHOOL AND IS NOW AN
UNDERGRAD AT SACRAMENTO STATE STATE
UNIVERSITY.
HALF A WORLD AWAY, SHE'S WORRIED
ABOUT HER FAMILY.
>> JUST, YOU KNOW, REASSURE THEM
THAT IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY, BUT
I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN EVEN SAY
THAT BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF
EVERYTHING'S GOING TO BE OKAY.
I ONLY HAVE HOPE AND I THINK
HOPE HAS TO DIE LAST, YOU KNOW?
I ALWAYS THOUGHT MY DAD WAS A
HERO, YOU KNOW?
IT'S HEARTBREAKING.
>> TOGETHER WE ARE STRONG.
>> I KNOW, I KNOW.
I KNOW.
UKRAINE IS STRONG AND THEY'RE
VERY -- YOU KNOW, THEY'RE VERY
UNITED RIGHT NOW.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE UP
EASILY, YOU KNOW?
>> I THINK WE'RE ALL ENCOURAGED
BY THE FACT THAT THE WORLD IS
UNITED WITH UKRAINE AND STANDING
BEHIND UKRAINE.
>>
[SPEAKING UKRANIAN]
>> MY DAD IS SAYING THAT HE
THINKS THAT ALL OF THIS,
EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING IN
UKRAINE, WHAT UKRANIANS ARE
DOING, IT'S MUCH BIG IR BIGGER THAN
FIGHTING FOR THEIR LIVES.
>> THE UKRANIANS UNDERSTOOD WELL
THAT FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.
>> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES AFFECTING WISCONSIN,
VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT
PBSWISCONSIN.ORG, AND THEN CLICK
ON THE NEWS TAB.
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.