FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
OUR WEBSITE AT WEBSITE AND CLICK ON THE
NEWS TAB.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT,
I'M FREDERICA.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
>> ON THE OTHER SIDE, DEMOCRATIC
CONGRESSMAN MARK POCAN FROM THE
SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
JOINS US FROM MADISON.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU, FREDERICA, GLAD TO
BE HERE.
>> IN THE LETTER FROM THE CDC
YOU SIGNED, YOU CALLED TITLE 42,
IN PLACE FOR TWO YEARS, AND
CLOSED THE BORDERS DUE TO
COVID-19 ILLEGAL, WHY?
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, MOST OF
WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS AREA,
UNDER DONALD TRUMP WAS NOT DONE
FOR HEALTH CONCERNS.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOw" --
THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A PBS
WISCONSIN ORIGINAL PRODUCTION.
>> THE WORK AHEAD FOR CLERKS,
AFTER THE FINAL RULING ON
REDISTRICTING.
UKRAINIAN FAMILIES SEPARATED
STAY CONNECTED.
AND A PANDEMIC RULE RESTRICTING
IMMIGRATION SOON TO BE LIFTED.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG, TONIGHT
ON "HERE AND NOW," CONGRESSMAN
TOM I HAVE ITNY AND MARK POCAN
OFFER OPPOSING VIEWS ON
RESCINDING A TRUMP ERA
IMMIGRATION POLICY.
DISPLACED UKRAINIANS MAKE THE
BEST OF BEING IN WISCONSIN.
AND A COUNTY CLERK EXPLAINS
PREPARATION FOR WISCONSIN'S NEXT
ELECTIONS.
IT'S HERE AND NOW FOR APRIL 22.
FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> NEW COVID-19 CASES ARE
STEADILY RISING AGAIN IN
WISCONSIN, AND ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
THE NEW CLIMB HAS PROMPTED THE
MILWAUKEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO
REINSTATE ITS MASK REQUIREMENT.
THIS AS A FEDERAL JUDGE THIS
WEEK REMOVED THE NATIONWIDE MASK
MANDATE FOR ALL PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION.
NOW IT IS UP TO INDIVIDUAL
CITIES, COUNTIES, AND AIRLINES
TO DECIDE IF PASSENGERS SHOULD
BE REQUIRED TO MASK UP TO
PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19
AND ANOTHER PANDEMIC DISTRICTING
FEDERAL POLICY IS SET TO END:
IMMIGRATION RESTRICTIONS THAT
EFFECTIVELY CLOSE THE U.S.
BORDER WITH MEXICO TO INCOMING
MIGRANTS.
THE POLICY, KNOWN AS TITLE 42
ALLOWS THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE
CONTROL TO SEVERELY LIMIT
IMMIGRATION, EVEN FOR THOSE
SEEKING ASYLUM TO PREVENT THE
SPREAD OF DISEASE.
PUT IN PLACE BY FORMER PRESIDENT
DONALD TRUMP, IT IS NOW SET TO
END UNDER JOE BIDEN.
OUR FIRST GUEST TONIGHT RECENTLY
VISITED THE SOUTHERN BORDER AND
WANTS THE RESTRICTION TO REMAIN
IN PLACE.
REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN TOM
TIFFANY FROM WISCONSIN'S 7TH
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT JOINS US
FROM WAUSAU.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> IT'S GOOD TO JOIN YOU,
FREDERICA.
>> SO YOU TRAVELED TO THE
SOUTHERN
U.S. BORDER WITH MEXICO THIS
MONTH.
ANDER YOU WANTED TO TALK TO IT
ABOUT US, WHY?
>> I WENT FOR THE YUMA SECTOR,
THE THING THAT WAS STRIKING, I
WAS THERE ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO
UNDER THE PREVIOUS
ADMINISTRATION.
WE SAW WITH LOCAL, STATE, AND
FEDERAL OFFICIALS THEY WERE
WORKING TOGETHER QUITE WELL AND
REALLY HAD MADE PROGRESS IN
CONTROLLING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
THAT ARE COMING INTO THE COUNTRY
ILLEGALLY.
NOW, AS YOU GO TO PLACES LIKE
YUMA, YOU SEE IT'S REALLY VERY
MUCH OUT OF CONTROL AT THIS
POINT.
AND PEOPLE COMING INTO THE
COUNTRY THAT JUST REALLY ALMOST
WILLY-NILLY WE SEE -- THAT
EXCEED IN THE HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS, AND IF TITLE 42 GOES
AWAY, IT'LL BE A TIDAL WAVE
BECAUSE THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF
MIGRANTS JUST WAITING ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE BORDER, AND
THE CARTELS IN MEXICO ARE READY
TO DELIVER THEM TO THE UNITED
STATES.
>> WHY SHOULD THE COVID PUBLIC
HEALTH POLICE THAT CLOSED THE
BORDER TO ASYLUM SEEKERS THOUGH,
BE MAINTAINED WHEN EVERYTHING
ELSE HAS OPENED UP?
>> YOU KNOW YOU LOOK AT THE
BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO
CONTEST THE MASK MANDATE BEING
STRUCK DOWN IN COURTS.
THEY'RE GOING TO CONTEST IT.
YET, SO THEY WANT THE MASK
MANDATES ON AIRPLANES, WHY WOULD
THEY NOT WANT TO KEEP COVID
RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE FOR THOSE
THAT ARE TRYING TO ENTER THE
COUNTRY ILLEGALLY.
I THINK IT'S INCONSISTENT ON THE
MARKET OF THE ADMINISTRATION.
>> IT'S A KEY FOCUS OF
REPUBLICANS BUT IS THE PARTY
TRADING ON FEAR AND DISLIKE OF
PEOPLE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES,
PARTICULARLY CENTRAL AMERICA OR
MEXICO?
>> NO.
I WOULD URGE PEOPLE TO GO DOWN
TO THE SOUTHERN BORDER AND SEE
REALLY WHAT'S HAPPENING AND TALK
TO THE BORDER PATROL, WHAT'S
GOING ON.
JUST THIS MORNING, A BORDER
PATROL AGENT DROWN IN THE RIO
GRANDE TRYING TO SAVE SOMEONE
COMING ACROSS THE BORDER
ILLEGAL.
WE SEE THIS REGULARLY.
THIS HAS HUGE NATIONAL SECURITY
CONCERNS, BESIDES THE MANY
MILLIONS THAT CAME IN ILLEGALLY,
AND DO THEY HAVE TERROR
BACKGROUNDS, AND THAT'S A
CONCERN.
AND THE AMOUNT OF DRUGS, THE
AMOUNT OF METHAMPHETAMINE, AND
FENTANYL THAT INCREASED SINCE
2021 WHEN PRESIDENT OBAMA PRESIDENT BIDEN TOOK
OFF THE RESTRICTIONS.
IT'S KILLING PEOPLE A I CROSS
AMERICA.
AND YOU CAN TALK TO THE LOCAL
SHERIFFS IN WISCONSIN AND
THEY'LL TELL YOU ABOUT AT
FENTANYL, AND METHAMPHETAMINE
TOGETHERS.
>> IT'S NOT ALL MEMBERS OF
TRAFFICKERS AND CARTELS.
MANY SEEKING ASYLUM ARE COMING
FROM VERY DIFFICULT
CIRCUMSTANCES IN CENTRAL
AMERICA.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WERE
TRYING TO PROTECT YOURSELF OR
OUR FAMILY FROM POVERTY OR CRIME
IN YOUR HOME COUNTRY?
>> WELL, WHEN I WAS IN YUMA THIS
WEEK, I HAPPENED TO SEE SOME
PEOPLE JUST COMING ACROSS THE
COLORADO RIVER AND GIVING
THEMSELVES UP TO THE BORDER
PATROL TO BE PROCESSED.
TO BE SENT INTO AMERICA, VIA A
BUS AND THEN AIRPLANE TO VARIOUS
STATES AROUND THE COUNTRY.
AND I SAW A MAN FROM INDIA.
A MAN FROM COLUMBIA, AMONGST
OTHER AND THEY WERE DRESSED JUST
LIKE AMERICANS.
ERNOT -- AND YOU COULD TELL IT
WAS NOT LEGITIMATE ASYLUM
SEEKERS.
YOU JUST GO BACK TO REMAIN IN
MEXICO, WHICH WAS IN PLACE
BEFORE JANUARY 20, OF 2021.
I BELIEVE IT WAS ABOUT 95% OF
THE ASYLUM SEEKERS WHO HAD TO
REMAIN IN MEXICO TO HAVE THEIR
HEARING HELD WERE DECLINED
BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT
LEGITIMATE.
WHEN I WAS DOWN IN PANAMA A
YEARS AGO, WE HEARD FROM
HAITIANS AND CUBANS THAT THEY
WERE LIVING IN COUNTRIES LIKE
ACADEMY LAY, AND BRAZIL FOR
YEARS -- AND CHILE.
BECAUSE THE BORDERS ARE OPEN.
THE LIVESES WERE OKAY AT THAT
POINT, AND THEY ARE NOT
LEGITIMATE ASYLUM SEEKERS.
WE SHOULD ONLY ALLOW THOSE IN
WITH LEGITIMATE CLAIM.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE UKRAINIANS
FLEEING THE WAR?
DO YOU WELCOME THEM?
>> IF YOU GO BACK TO ASKS, I WAS
CRITICAL OF THE ADMINISTRATION.
IN AFGHAN STAN.
I WOULD SAY THE SAME IN REGARDS
TO THE UKRAINIANS.
WE SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWING PEOPLE
TO COME IN ON PATROL.
THAT'S WHAT THE SECRETARY IS
DOING, USING AUTHORITY CALLED
PAROLE.
IT'S MEANT TO BE USED ON
INDIVIDUAL BASIS.
HE IS TAKING MASSES OF PEOPLE,
LIKE FROM AFGHANISTAN AND
UKRAINE AND SAYING WE'RE GOING
TO PASS YOU INTO AMERICA VIA
PAROLE.
IT'S NOT MEANT TO BE USED THAT
WAY.
FURTHERMORE, IF YOU TAKE THE
PEOPLE AWAY FROM EUROPE, LIKE WE
TOOK THE PEOPLE OUT OF
AFGHANISTAN, MANY WOULD RESETTLE
BACK INTO THE HOME COUNTRIES
ONCE THINGS SETTLED DOWN.
THIS MAY BE THE BEST THING THAT
VLADIMIR PUTIN WANTS, IS FOR THE
UKRAINIANS TO ABANDON THEIR HOME
LAND AND GO TO ANOTHER COUNTRY
HALFWAY ACROSS THE WORLD, AND
VERY LOW PROSPECT OF THEM COMING
BACK TO THE UKRAINE.
>> SO IS YOUR ANSWER TO THAT NO?
IS THAT YOU ARE NOT WELCOMING
UKRAINIANS?
>> IF THEY HAVE A LEGITIMATE
CLAIM, BUT THEY NEED TO BE DONE
ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS.
NO DIFFERENT THAN THE AFGHANS
AND OTHERS THAT REQUEST THIS.
IF YOU ARE GOING TO USE PAROLE,
IT'S IN THE LAW THAT IT'S DONE
ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS, NOT A
MASS SETTLEMENTS LIKE THE
ADMINISTRATION IS USING.
THEY'RE DISTORTING THE LAW AT
THIS POINT.
>> WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
OUR TIME IS UP.
CONGRESSMAN TIFFANY, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON
TONIGHT.
>> ON THE OTHER SIDE, DEMOCRATIC
CONGRESSMAN MARK POCAN FROM
WISCONSIN'S 2ND CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT JOINS US FROM MADISON.
>> THANK YOU HAPPY TO BE HERE.
IN A LETTER TO THE CDC YOU
SIGNED WITH OTHER HOUSE
DEMOCRATS, YOU CALLED TITLE 42.
WHICH HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR TWO
YEARS AND CLOSED THE BORDERS DUE
TO COVID 19.
ILLEGAL. WHY?
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, MOST OF
WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS AREA,
UNDER DONALD TRUMP WASN'T DONE
FOR HEALTH CONCERNS, WE KNOW
THAT.
HE MISHANDLED COVID IN EVERY
POSSIBLE WAY.
THIS WAS DONE IN A WAY TO STOP
PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE LEGITIMATELY
COMING TO THE COUNTRY TO SEEK
ASYLUM.
THERE WAS A PROCESS TO FOLLOW,
AND THIS ALLOWED YOU NOT TO HAVE
THE PROCESS.
THAT'S THE REAL PROBLEM WITH IT.
I KNOW THE REPUBLICANS
POLITICALLY LOVE TO TALK ABOUT
THIS AS ONE OF THEIR TOP THREE
HITS THAT THEY'RE PUTTING OUT
FOR THE CAMPAIGN.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT PEOPLE
IN THE DISTRICT DON'T REACH OUT
TO US ABOUT THE SOUTHERN BORDER
AS MUST HAVE MUCH AS THEY DO --
AS MUCH AS THEY DO GETTING MAIL
DELIVERED, FOR EXAMPLE.
ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE,
BECAUSE IT WAS A FAKE ISSUE ON
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, ABOUT
COVID, THEN WE SHOULD BE SMARTER
AND BE BACK TO THE POSITION THAT
WE'RE DEALING WITH THE ISSUES AS
ASYLUM CASES.
AND EVEN MORE IMPORTANT AT SOME
POINT, FREDERICA, WE NEED TO BE
DOING RESOURCES AND HELP IN THE
COUNTRIES THAT PEOPLE ARE COMING
FROM.
IF WE GIVE PEOPLE A REASON NOT
TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY THEY'RE IN,
THEN THIS POLITICAL ARGUMENT
THAT SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO HAVE
WILL BECOME EVEN LESS RELEVANT
THAN IT EVEN IS TO PEOPLE IN MY
DISTRICT.
>> INTERESTINGLY, THOUGH, SOME
DEMOCRATS ARE EVEN HEDGING ON
RESCINDING TITLE 42, WHAT IS
YOUR COMMENT ON THAT?
>> YEAH, AGAIN, I CAN'T SPEAK
FOR OTHER FOLKS.
I CAN JUST TELL YOU THAT I WAS
IN CONGRESS DURING THIS PERIOD.
WE SAW HOW IT WAS MISUSED.
AND IT'S TIME THAT PEOPLE WITH
LEGITIMATE ASYLUM REQUESTS WE GO
BACK TO THE COUNTRY THAT THAT
LEGITIMATELY LOOKS AT THOSE.
>> DO YOU THINK THOSE UKRAINIANS
FLEEING WAR, SHOULD BE GIVEN
PRECEDENT THAN THOSE LEAVING FOR
OTHER REASONS.
>> IN SOUTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN,
UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION,
I THINK EVERY SINGLE AGENCY
CLOSED DOWN ACCEPT FOR JEWISH
SOCIAL SERVICES AND THEY STAYED
OPEN AT A LOSS TO THEIR
OPERATION DUE TO HOW WE CHANGED
POLICIES DURING THE
ADMINISTRATION.
WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD OUR ARMS OPEN
FOR REFUGEES.
I DON'T THINK THAT PEOPLE THINK
THAT ANYONE COMING FROM UKRAINE
AS A REEF REFUGEE IS NOT LEGITIMATE.
WE NEED THE SUPPORT OF AGENCIES
THAT WE HAVE IN SOUTH CENTRAL
WISCONSIN TO HELP THE FAMILIES
HAVE PLACES.
>> SPEAKING OF UKRAINE, WHAT IS
YOUR RESPONSE IN REACTION TO
WHAT IS GOING ON THERE RIGHT
NOW?
>> IT'S HORRIFIC EVERY DAY TO
WATCH WHAT HE IS HAPPENING,
RIGHT.
VLADIMIR PUTIN HAS PROVEN A
COUPLE OF THING.
RUSSIA IS NOT THE SUPER POWER
THEY BELIEVE TO BE, AND PUTIN IS
AN AUTO KRAUT, AND THEY'RE
LOSING THEIR GRIP AND WHERE THEY
ARE.
AND THEY ARE OUT MUSCLING ON THE
GROUND, IN UKRAINE, AND THAT
TELLS YOU A LOT.
WE NEED TO GET RESOLUTION TO
STOP THE BOMBING.
AND GO AFTER VLADIMIR PUTIN FOR
THE CRIMES THAT HE HAS COMMITTED
GOING INTO THE SOVEREIGN NATION.
WE PROVIDED EVERYTHING WE CAN,
AND I THINK THE PRESIDENT --
WILL ASK MORE WHEN HE IS BACK
NEXT WEEK, AND WE NEED TO DO
EVERYTHING WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT
THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE.
>> ON THE COVID FRONT, PEOPLE NO
LONGER NEED TO WEAR MASKS ON
AIRPLANES AND ALL OF THE
MEASURES ARE BEING LOOSENED OR
ELIMINATED.
AND YET THE NUMBERS ARE TICKING
UP IN WISCONSIN ALSO.
WHAT CAN YOU SAY TO A CONSISTENT
WHO MIGHT BE A LITTLE CONFUSED
ON WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS?
>> I DON'T BLAME THEM.
I AM A LITTLE CONFUSED AT TIMES
WHERE WE ARE WITH COVID.
THE PROBLEM IS A LOT OF PEOPLE
HAVE DECIDED THAT COVID IS OVER.
I THINK COVID WILL TELL US WHEN
IT'S OVER.
THE GOOD NEWS FROM PEOPLE I
RESPECT WHO ARE THE SCIENTISTS
AND THE DOCTORS IN THE AREA, IT
DOES LOOK LIKE OMICRON AND THE
NEW VARIANT OF OMICRON ARE
PUSHING OUT COMPLETELY THE WORST
PARTS OF COVID.
AND THIS MAY BE THE STAGE WHERE
THIS BECOMES A MORE MILD DISEASE
AND WE CAN MOVE ON AND WE WON'T
HAVE THE DEATHS AND THE MONTHS
FILLING LIKE LIKE THEY DID FOR
THE FIRST SEVERAL YEARS IN
COVID.
WE NEED TO FOLLOW THE SCIENCE A
LITTLE BIT.
WHEN I FLY TO WASHINGTON, D.C.,
I KNOW I HE AM GOING TO WEAR A
MASK.
I DON'T WANT TO GET SOMEONE
SICK.
I HAVE A LOT OF ACCESS TO
PEOPLE, AND I THINK IT'S A
COMMON COURTESY.
PEOPLE NEED TO DO WHAT THEY ARE
MOST COMFORTABLE WITH.
I STILL LOOK TO THE EXPERTS ON
THIS.
AND I HOPE WE REALLY ARE IN THE
FINAL STAGE WHERE IT TURNS OUT
TO BE MUCH LESS SEVERE.
MORE CONTAGIOUS.
BUT LESS SEVERE.
AND PROBABLY MORE LIKE THE FLU.
BUT I AM NOT 100% SURE THAT'S
WHERE WE ARE AT.
BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THAT IS WHERE
WE'RE GOING.
>> LESS THAN A MINUTE LEFT, I
WANT TO GET YOUR TAKE ON LAST
WEEK'S WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT
RULING ON THE LEGISLATIVE MAPS
AND HOW THEY RULED ON THAT.
>> YEAH.
YOU KNOW I WILL TELL YOU, IF
THERE ARE TWO THINGS I COULD
CHANGE THAT WOULD FIX JUST ABOUT
EVERY OTHER ISSUE, ONE IS YOU
STOP GERRYMANDERING, WHETHER BY
DEMOCRATS OR REPUBLICANS AND
HAVING POLITICIANS PICK THEIR
VOTERS RATHER THAN THE OTHER WAY
AROUND.
WE THAT PROBLEM IN WISCONSIN.
AND CHANGE HOW YOU FINANCE
CAMPAIGNS.
YOU ALLOW BILLIONAIRES AND LARGE
DONORS TO HAVE MORE OF A VOICE
IN THE CAMPAIGN PROCESS THAN
PEOPLE WHO ARE YOU CONSTITUENTS,
WE HAVE A SYSTEM THAT ULTIMATELY
WILL HIT A WALL ON DEMOCRACY AND
CAUSE REAL PROBLEMS.
I AM VERY CONCERNED.
THIS IS ALWAYS AROUND AS AN
ISSUE BUT WE FIND NEW WAYS THAT
BILLIONAIRES FOUND WAYS TO PUT
MILLIONS INTO A PRIMARIES IN
VARIOUS RACES AROUND THE
COUNTRY.
AND THAT HE MORE THAN MOST
CANDIDATES RAISE FOR THEIR
PRIMARY.
WE NEED TO TURN THINGS AROUND.
IN WISCONSIN, THAT'S A GREAT
CASE OF THE JERRY THE THE GERRYMANDERING
PROBLEM.
>> THANKS VERY MUCH, MARK POCAN.
>> SURE.
THANK YOU.
>> AND UKRAINIANS WHO ARRIVE BY
APRIL 11, FLEEING THE WAR AND
RUSSIAN VIOLENCE OF ELIGIBLE FOR
TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS.
SHIELDING THEM, AND GRANTING
THEM PERMISSION TO WORK AND
ACCESS SERVICES.
GOOD NEWS FOR A UKRAINIAN MOTHER
NOW IN WISCONSIN WITH HER
DAUGHTER, FINDING REFUGE, IF NOT
RELIEF.
>> VARVARA IS LIKE ANY OTHER
6-YEAR-OLD GIRL.
EVERY MORNING SHE GETS READY FOR
SCHOOL WITH THE HELP OF HER
PARENTS.
SHE HAS ONLY HAD THIS PARTICULAR
ROUTINE FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS.
EVER SINCE SHE AND HER MOTHER
ESCAPED UKRAINE.
THEY CAME TO MADISON TO STAY
WITH FRIENDS.
>> WE WERE ALL IN CONTROL.
IN CHARGE.
>> THE MOTHER, ANNA, VIDEO CALLS
HER HUSBAND, SASHA, VARVARA'S
FATHER, BACK IN UKRAINE EVERY
MORNING.
AND SAME AS IF HE WERE HERE WITH
THEM, HE ACCOMPANIES THE TWO ON
THE HALF MILE WALK TO SCHOOL.
>> I HIT EVERY ONE.
I HAVE FAMILY.
I HAVE HUSBAND.
I HAVE PERFECT, BEST DAUGHTER.
>> HAVE A GOOD DAY, KIDDO.
>> I COULDN'T ACCEPT THIS NEW
REALITY.
IT'S LIKE MAYBE A DREAM.
>> OR NIGHTMARE.
>> NIGHTMARE.
>> THE RUSSIAN ARMY CAME.
IT WAS FORCED DECISION.
AND TO -- WE CAN'T DECIDE BY
OURSELVES WHAT WE WOULD DO,
WHERE WE WILL LIVE, HOW WE WILL
LIVE.
THEY DECIDED FOR US.
>> WHAT WAS IT LIKE MAKING THAT
DECISION?
OKAY, WE NEED TO LEAVE, AND
FIGURING OUT HOW WE WERE GOING
TO LEAVE?
>> MY HUSBAND HE ASKED EVERY
DAY.
YOU SHOULD LEAVE.
YOU SHOULD LEAVE, PLEASE.
YOU SHOULD LEAVE.
I SAW PICTURE OF A DEAD GIRL ON
INTERNET.
AND SHE WAS THE SAME AGE LIKE MY
VARVARA.
AND I THOUGHT IT COULD BE MY KID
TOO.
>> THEY MADE IT TO THE U.S. ON
MARCH 3RD.
>> WHAT DID YOU FEEL WHEN YOU
CAME TO THE UNITED STATES?
>> GUILTY.
>> WHY?
>> BECAUSE I AM SAFE.
BUT ALL MY FAMILY, NOT.
THEY HAVE STAYED IN UKRAINE.
>> MORE THAN ANYTHING, ANNA
WANTS TO GO HOME.
>> AND I AM HERE ONLY BECAUSE OF
VARVARA.
I THINK IF I DIDN'T HAVE
VARVARA, I WOULD BE IN UKRAINE
WITH MY HUSBAND, AND WITH ALL OF
MY FAMILY.
>> BUT SHE'S ALSO SEEING THINGS
THROUGH HER YOUNG DAUGHTER'S
EYES.
>> OUR POLISH FRIENDS, THEY ASK
TO SHARE THIS HOME.
AND SHE SAID, YES.
I MISS HOME.
BUT I WANT TO LIVE TOO.
>> HER RELATIVES REFUSED TO
BELIEVE THE REALITY.
>> I HAVE RELATIVES IN RUSSIA.
AND THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE.
THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE ME.
I SENT PICTURES FROM MY
APARTMENT.
AND IT'LL TOUCH THEM PERSONALLY.
I THINK THEY WILL WAKE UP.
>> WITHOUT KNOWING THE FUTURE,
ANNA ENDURES.
WHAT BRINGS YOU JOY?
>> GOOD NEWS FROM HOME.
ONLY GOOD NEWS.
>> HER HUSBAND COMFORTS HER FROM
INSIDE THE WAR ZONE.
>> YEAH.
I'M OKAY.
BUT I HEAR, SASHA, SASHA.
SOMEONE CLOSE THE DOOR.
I THINK HOPE -- UNITED BECAUSE
OF UKRAINE.
>> SHE FEARS THE WORLD WILL SOON
FORGET UKRAINE.
>> I AM AFRAID THAT IT'LL BE
EVERYDAY NEWS.
I HAD LIFE, I HAD EVERYTHING,
AND NOW WE HAVE NOTHING.
>> WHAT DOES VICTORY MEAN TO
YOU?
>> WE WILL FREE AGAIN.
>> THE RULING A WEEK AGO FROM
THE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT TO
SIDE WITH
REPUBLICAN REDISTRICTING MAPS
CAME DOWN AS THE HIGH COURT
SIMPLY RAN OUT OF TIME.
NOW, THE STATE'S CLERKS HAVE TO
PICK UP THE SLACK AND ADJUST FOR
THINGS LIKE WARDS
BEING SPLIT APART.
LA CROSSE COUNTY CLERK GINNY
DANKMEYER JOINS US TO DESCRIBE
MORE.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
ER.
>> .
>> SO, WHAT ARE THE PRACTICAL
IMPLICATIONS FOR ELECTION CLERKS
OF THE NEW MAPS THAT THE
WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT ADOPTED
A WEEK AGO?
>> WHAT WE HAVE TO DO AT THIS
POINT IS GET THEM INTO THE WIS
VOTE TO LET THE VOTERS KNOW WHAT
DISTRICTS THEY ARE IN, AND THEY
KNOW THE CONSTITUENTS, AND
CIRCUMSTANCE LATE THE PAPERS.
WE HAVE TO PREPARE, WE HAVE
ELECTIONS COMING UP IN THE FALL,
AND BALLOTS TO PREPARE, AND
AUGUST BALLOTS NEED TO BE OUT AT
THE END OF THE JUNE, FIND OUT
WHERE THE WARD LINES ARE.
AND MUNICIPALITIES HAVING TO
CREATE NEW WARD LINES.
A LOT OF WORK ON OUR END TO GET
THE BALLOTS FOR THE FALL
ELECTIONS.
>> A LOT OF WORK.
HOW DIFFERENT ARE THE MAPS DRAWN
BY GOV. EVERS FROM THE MAPS
DRAWN BY THE REPUBLICANS IN THE
LEGISLATURE?
>> I REALLY THINK THAT VARIES ON
THE DISTRICTS IN THE AREAS THAT
YOU LIVED IN.
FOR LA CROSSE COUNTY THEY DIDN'T
VARY TOO MUCH.
I BELIEVE WITH THE GOM MAPS WE
GAINED ONE DISTRICT, AND IF WE
KEPT THE EVERS MAP WE WOULD HAVE
THE SAME.
AND WE FOLLOWED WITH THE LINES.
AND IT CAME THROUGH PRETTY GOOD
FOR US.
NO MATTER MAP YOU WENT WITH, IT
WOULD HAVE BEEN EASY TO KEEP
MOVING FORWARD AND PREPARE FOR
THE FALL ELECTIONS.
>> SO
IF THE LEGISLATURE'S MAPS WERE
ADOPTED UNDER THE 'LEAST CHANGE'
APPROACH TO THE OLD MAPS WHICH
THEY WERE.
DOES THAT REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF
WORK?
COULD IT HAVE BEEN MORE
DIFFERENT?
>> I DEFINITELY THINK THERE WERE
PROBABLY SOME MAPS OUT THERE
THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED A LOT
MORE WORK.
IF YOU SPLIT THE MUNICIPALITIES
DOWN THE MIDDLE, AND SPLITTING
WARDS ALL OVER.
THAT'S A LOT MORE WORK ON OUR
END, AND THE MUNICIPALITIES TO
GET THE NEW WARDS LISTED ANDER A
LOT MORE CONFUSION AT POLLING
PLACE.
INSTEAD OF AN ENTIRE
MUNICIPALITY IN ONE DISTRICT,
PARTS WILL BE THIS ASSEMBLY
DISTRICT AND PARTS HERE, AND
MULTIPLE BALLOT STYLES AND
MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE GIVEN
CORRECT BALLOT STYLES.
AND IT'S CLEAN FATHER YOU FOLLOW
THE WARD LINE, MUNICIPAL LINES,
AND MAKE IT SIMPLER FOR THE
VOTERS AND THE WORKERS.
>> SO HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE
ROLLER COASTER OF REDISTRICTING
DECISIONS FOR CLERKS?
>> IT'S BEEN A FUN RIDE.
TIGHTEN OUR SEAT BELTS AND GO
FORWARD.
WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF SAY IN
IT.
WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE
DECISION, AND MOVE FORWARD AND
GET DONE WHAT WE HAVE TO GET
DONE.
NOTHING NEW FOR US.
A LOT OF TIMES NEW LAWS ARE
ENACTED DAYS, WEEKS BEFORE
ELECTIONS.
AND WE JUST GO WITH IT.
I THINK YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED
FOR THAT.
IF YOU ARE A CLERK, WHETHER
MUNICIPAL COUNTY CLERK, CHANGES
ARE COMING AND WE'LL FIGURE OUT
THE CHANGES AND MOVE FORWARD.
THAT'S ALL WE CAN REALLY DO
ABOUT IT.
>> WE TALKED ABOUT VOTERS, BUT
WHAT ABOUT FOR CANDIDATES NOW
ABLE TO GATHER SIGNATURES TO RUN
FOR OFFICE ARE CLERKS FIELDING
QUESTIONS FROM THEM?
>> WE'RE FIELDING FROM ANY
OFFICER OR CANDIDATE THAT WILL
BE FILED IN OUR OFFICE.
A LOT OF THE ASSEMBLY, SENATE
CONGRESSIONALS ARE FOLLOWING
WITH FILING PAPERS WITH THE
ELECTION COMMISSION.
THEY'LL GET QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS THROUGH THEM.
LUCKILY FOR US, THE CONSTITUTION
OFFERS -- THE INTERCOUNTY, NOT A
LOT OF LINES TO DEAL WITH.
THEY KNOW IT'S WITHIN THE
COUNTY, AND THEY CAN CIRCULATE
THE PAPERS.
IT WAS A BIG DECISION.
APRIL 15TH IS WHEN THEY COULD
START CIRCULATING, AND YOU
DELAYED THAT, THAT'S LESS TIME
TO GET THE SIGNATURES NEEDED TO
GET THE NAME ON THE BALLOT.
>> RIGHT AT THE LAST MINUTE.
SO HEADING INTO 2022 ELECTIONS, HAS
THE ABUSE OF CLERKS RESULTING
FROM THE TUMULT OF THE
2020 ELECTION STOPPED OR
LESSENED?
>> I THINK IT'S LESSENED A
LITTLE BIT.
THERE'S STILL GROUPS OUT THERE,
STILL PEOPLE OUT THERE, THAT
WANT TO KIND OF ATTACK WHAT
WE'RE DOING, AND CHALLENGE THAT
WE'RE NOT SECURE, WE'RE DOING
THIS OR THAT.
I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE
STARTING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS
WORKS.
WE'RE DOING AS MUCH OUTREACH WE
CAN TO THE PUBLIC ON THIS IS HOW
SECURE ELECTIONSES ARE, THIS IS
WHAT WE DO, AND HOPE PEOPLE CAN
START TO UNDERSTAND IT.
WE'RE ALWAYS OPEN TO QUESTIONS
AND I AM ALWAYS OPEN TO DO
PRESENTATIONS TO HELP THE PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE DOING TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE ELECTIONSES
ARE SECURE, AND THE OUTMOST
INTEGRITY, AND PEOPLE CAN TRUST
WHEN THEY GO TO THE POLLS THAT
THE BALLOT WILL BE COUNTED.
>> AND
WHAT ABOUT CHANGES AROUND VOTING
RULES ON SUCH THINGS AS BALLOT
DROP BOXES AND OTHER PROCEDURES
THAT HAVE BEEN THE SUBJECT OF
INVESTIGATIONS AND VITRIOL. HOW
ARE CLERKS KEEPING UP?
-- KEEPING UP WITH THOSE
CHANGING RULES?
>> JUST LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE.
FEBRUARY ELECTION YOU COULD USE
DROP BOXES AND APRIL YOU
COULDN'T.
WE WORK WITH THE CLERKS TO MAKE
SURE YOU GET THE INFORMATION
OUT.
WE DID MEDIA RELEASES TO ALL OF
THE PUBLIC.
I DID AS MUCH INTERVIEWS AS WE
COULD.
LET THE PAPERS KNOW, AND THE TV
STATIONS, KNOW THAT THE DROP
BOXES ARE NOT ALLOWED.
AND THE CLERKS PUT NOTES ON THE
DROP BOXES.
AND THOSE ARE THE CHANGES WE
WORK WITH AS THEY COME ALONG,
AND DEAL WITH IT AND MOVE
FORWARD AND TRY TO GET AS MUCH
EDUCATION OUT TO THE VOTERS AS
WE CAN SO THEY KNOW THE NEW
LAWS.
>> THANK YOU HAVE VERY MUCH AND THANK
YOU FOR YOUR WORK, GINNY
DANKMEYER.
>> THANK YOU.
>> FOR MORE, VISIT
PBSWISCONSIN.ORG AND CLICK ON
THE NEWS TAB.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
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