TEST FOR "HERE & NOW."
GOOD AFTERNOON.
CAPTION TEST.
SOME WILD TWISTS AND TURNS IN
THIS PRIMARY, AND NOW ON TO THE
GENERAL.
WE ARE BETTING OUR POLITICAL
PANEL HAS SOME TAKES ON ALL OF
THIS.
WE TURN TO REPUBLICAN BILL
McCOSHEN AND DEMOCRAT SCOT ROSS.
SO, WHAT IS YOUR TAKE, BILL, ON
THE ESTABLISHMENT REBECCA
KLEEFISCH LOSING TO TIM MICHELS?
>> DONALD TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT,
NO QUESTION IT WAS A MAJOR
FACTOR IN THE VICTORY ON
TUESDAY.
BUT I THINK THE OTHER PART WAS
HIS OUTSIDER STATUS.
A GUY WHO HAS NEVER HELD PUBLIC
OFFICE BEFORE.
YES, HE RAN FOR THE UNITED
STATES SENATE IN 2004 BUT NEVER
HELD A PUBLIC OFFICE, AND THAT
WAS REALLY APPEALING AND I THINK
THE THIRD PIECE TRUTHFULLY WERE
THE RESOURCES, RIGHT.
HE HAD THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF
RESOURCES TO GET HIS MESSAGE OUT
THERE AND HAD A MESSAGE THAT
RESONATED.
>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> WISCONSIN'S MIDTERM PRIMARY
ELECTIONS SAW ITS HIGHEST
TURNOUT IN 40 YEARS.
SOME UNEXPECTED TWISTS AND TURNS
MAY FORESHADOW WHAT'S TO COME IN
THE FALL.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE & NOW," WE
BRING DOWN PRIMARY RESULTS WITH
OUR POLITICAL PANELISTS SCOT
ROSS AND BILL McCOSHEN, AND A
CLOSER LOOK AT THE SWING THIRD
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WITH
ANTHONY CHERGOSKY, AND THE U.S.
HAS DECLARED MONKEYPOX A PUBLIC
HEALTH EMERGENCY.
DR. RYAN WESTERGAARD TELLS US
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WISCONSIN.
IT'S "HERE & NOW" FOR
AUGUST 12TH.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> THE MIDTERM PRIMARIES SET THE
STAGE FOR THE BATTLE TO
NOVEMBER 8TH.
WINNING CANDIDATES IMMEDIATELY
PIVOTED TO THE 90-DAY CAMPAIGN
AHEAD OF THE GENERAL ELECTION.
AS MARISSA REPORTS, THE RESULTS
BROUGHT THE PREDICTED AND THE
UNEXPECTED.
>> WISCONSIN'S PRIMARY ELECTION
LEFT REPUBLICANS ON THE EDGE OF
THEIR SEAT.
AS CANDIDATES REBECCA KLEEFISCH,
"ESTABLISHMENT FAVORITE WITH
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AS SCOTT
WALKER'S LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR"
AND TIM MICHELS, THE SELF-FUNDED
BUSINESSMAN VIED TO BE THE GOP
NOMINEE.
>> WE FEEL WE ARE ON A SLIPPERY
SLOPE TOWARD SOCIALISM AND
CLOAKED BEHIND SOCIAL ISSUES.
AN OUTSIDER, A BUSINESSMAN AND
VETERAN IN THE GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE.
>> IN THE END, MICHELS
PREVAILED, WITH THE BOOST OF
DONALD TRUMP SUPPORT JUST DAYS
BEFORE THE ELECTION.
PROVING THAT A REPUBLICAN CAN
WIN THE STATE WITHOUT THE FULL
BCKING OF THE MILWAUKEE
SUBURBS.
AN I'VE CONCEDED THIS RACE TO
TIM MICHELS AND I URGE YOU ALL
TO STAY IN THE FIGHT BECAUSE THE
FIGHT NOW IS TRULY AGAINST TONY
EVERS, AND THE LIBERALS WHO WANT
TO TAKE AWAY OUR WAY OF LIFE.
>> THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE AND
INCUMBENT, TONY EVERS, WITH NO
PRIMARY OPPONENT SAW AN EASY
SLIDE INTO THE GENERAL ELECTION
AND WAS JOINED BY HIS NEW
RUNNING MATE, SARA RODRIGUEZ.
>> HE'S NOT AN OUTSIDER, NOT AN
INSIDER, AND HE CAN WEAR A BLUE
SHIRT TO HAVE A BLUE COLLAR.
AT THE END OF THE DAY I'M NOT
QUITE SURE SOMEONE OF HIS STATUS
WITH HOUSES ALL ACROSS THE
COUNTRY COULD SAY I'M JUST ONE
OF YOU BECAUSE THERE'S NOT MANY
OF HIM LIKE THAT IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
>> MANDELA BARNES OPTING FOR A
RUN AT U.S. SENATE INSTEAD OF
ANOTHER TERM AS EVERS'
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR TRAVERSED A
CROWDED PRIMARY FIELD BUT SAILED
TO A SMOOTH VICTORY AFTER HIS
OPPONENTS DROPPED OUT A WEEK
BEFORE THE ELECTION.
>> IT'S TIME FOR US TO BE
REPRESENTED BY PEOPLE WHO
ACTUALLY SHARE OUR EXPERIENCES.
AND WHILE RON JOHNSON CONTINUES
TO STACK THE DECK AGAINST US,
I'M HERE TO TELL YOU WE ARE NOT
GOING TO GIVE UP.
>> BARNES WILL TAKE ON INCUMBENT
RON JOHNSON, RUNNING FOR HIS
THIRD TERM.
HE ACKNOWLEDGED HIS GENERAL
ELECTION OPPONENT ON TWITTER
SAYING IT'S A CONTEST BETWEEN
RADICAL LEFT SOCIALISM VERSUS
FREEDOM AND PROSPERITY.
IT WILL ALSO PUT THE LIES AND
DISTORTIONS OF DEMOCRATS AND THE
MEDIA VERSUS THE TRUTH.
IN WHAT MAY HAVE BEEN THE MOST
SURPRISING UPSET OF THE NIGHT,
ROBIN VOS NARROWLY WON IN RACINE
COUNTY.
AND STEEN WAS ENDORSED BY THE
FORMER STATE SUPREME COURT
JUSTICE WHOM VOSS HIRED TO
INVESTIGATION 2020 ELECTIONS IN
WISCONSIN.
NO PROOF OF ELECTION FRAUD OR
MISCONDUCT AND HE IS BEING SUED.
VOSS FIRED BACK.
>> MIKE GEBELMAN IS AN
EMBARRASSMENT TO THE STATE.
AND IN THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT, BRAD PFAFF READ OUT
REBECCA COOK, AND NOW MOVES ON
TO CHALLENGE DERRICK VAN ORDEN
IN THE FALL.
>> WILD TWISTS AND TURNS.
AND BETTING OUR POLITICAL PANEL
HAS SOME TAKES ON THIS,
REPUBLICAN BILL McCOSHEN AND
DEMOCRAT SCOT ROSS.
>> GOOD TO BE HERE.
>> WHAT IS YOUR TAKE, BILL, ON
THE ESTABLISHMENT REBECCA
KLEEFISCH LOSING TO
TRUMP-ENDORSED TIM MICHELS?
>> A COUPLE THINGS, NUMBER ONE,
DONALD TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT, NO
QUESTION THAT WAS A MAJOR FACTOR
ON TUESDAY, AND OUTSIDER STATUS,
NEVER HELD PUBLIC OFFICE BEFORE.
HE RAN FOR U.S. SENATE IN 2004
BUT HAS NEVER HELD A PUBLIC
OFFICE AND THAT WAS APPEALING
AND I THINK THE THIRD PIECE WERE
THE RESOURCES, RIGHT.
HE HAD THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF
RESOURCES TO GET HIS MESSAGE OUT
THERE AND HE HAD A MESSAGE THAT
RESONATED.
THERE WILL BE LOTS AND LOTS OF
PEOPLE WILL SAY ONE, HE SPENT
$13 MILLION OR WHATEVER THE
FINAL NUMBER IS.
IF MONEY WAS THE DECIDING
FACTOR, ALEX LASRY WOULD BE THE
NOMINEE FOR THE SENATE.
>> TIM MICHELS FLEW IN FROM HIS
PRIVATE JET FROM CONNECTICUT AND
BOUGHT THE ELECTION.
AND THE FACT REBECCA KLEEFISCH
IS THE STANDARD BEARER UNDER
WALKER DOING THE RUBBER CHICKEN
CIRCUIT, MAKING ALL THE ATTACKS
ON DEMOCRATS, RAISING MONEY FOR
REPUBLICANS AND THEN SHE LOSES
THIS?
TO A GUY WHO CAME IN AND
BASICALLY TOOK TRUMP'S
ENDORSEMENT AND RAN WITH IT?
I MEAN, I THINK THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY HAS TO DO A LOT OF
HEALING.
MIGHT -- THEY MIGHT FINALLY ASK
FOR THE MEDICAID MONEY SO THAT
THEY CAN GET HEALTHCARE ACCESS
TO HEAL THESE WOUNDS.
>> AND BILL, DOES THIS MEAN THAT
SCOTT WALKER IS NO LONGER THE
STANDARD BEARER FOR THE
WISCONSIN GOP?
>> LISTEN, SCOTT WALKER WILL
HAVE A PLACE IN HISTORY, AND
ONLY GOVERNOR IN AMERICAN
HISTORY WHO SURVIVED A RECALL.
SO, HE WAS A TWO-TERM GOVERNOR
HERE, DID A LOT OF MAJOR
REFORMS.
HIS BRAND WAS CLEARLY NOT AS
STRONG AS DONALD TRUMP, AND
TOMMY THOMPSON.
AND TIM MICHELS WAS ALSO
ENDORSED BY TOMMY THOMPSON.
HIS BRAND WAS NOT AS STRONG AS
THEIRS WAS, AND HE'S 54 YEARS
OLD.
DONE IN POLITICS, I HIGHLY DOUBT
IT.
I THINK WE WILL SEE SCOTT WALKER
BACK AT SOME POINT BUT YOU KNOW,
HE WAS NOT ABLE TO PULL REBECCA
OVER THE FINISH LINE.
>> SCOT.
>> HAVE YOU SEEN ANYWHERE AROUND
THE COUNTRY WHERE A FORMER
GOVERNOR GETS INTO A
GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY TO ATTACK,
YOU KNOW, OTHER CANDIDATES AND
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT SCOTT WALKER
DID.
I THINK THE GUY'S EGO -- HE'S
JUST LOST IT IN TERMS OF THAT,
AND IT IS ALL ABOUT HIM AND IT
WAS TO THE DETRIMENT OF REBECCA
KLEEFISCH.
HE SHOULD HAVE NOT BEEN IN THE
ADS.
AND 2018, PEOPLE WERE SICK OF
HIM, AD AFTER AD AFTER AD.
SCOTT WALKER, I KNOW YOU DON'T
TAKE ADVICE FROM ME, GET AWAY
FROM THE PARKING LOT, GRADUATED
FROM HIGH SCHOOL, MOVE ON TO THE
NEXT PLACE.
>> WE AGREE ON THAT.
OUTSIDE OF TOMMY THOMPSON, THE
MOST HARD WORKING REPUBLICAN,
SHE GOT SOME BAD ADVICE DOWN THE
STRETCH AND WORKED AGAINST HER.
>> BILL, ARE REPUBLICANS AT ALL
SKITTISH RIDING THE COAT TAILS
OF DONALD TRUMP WITH WHAT HE'S
GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW?
>> MICHELS RAN ADS WITH TRUMP'S
PICTURE IN IT, I DON'T KNOW IF
HE WOULD BE BACK IN THE GENERAL,
IF HE DOES COME BACK, IN THE
WAUSAU OR GREEN BAY AREA WHERE
HIS SUPPORT IS ENORMOUS, I DON'T
THINK YOU ARE GOING TO SEE HIM
HIGHLIGHTED IN THE GENERAL
ELECTION.
TIM MICHELS WILL FOCUS ON THE
CONTRAST BETWEEN HIM AND TONY
EVERS.
>> HE TOOK THE ENDORSEMENT FROM
DONALD TRUMP OFF OF HIS WEBSITE
AND THEN AFTER A REPORTER FOUND
THAT OUT, HE PUT IT BACK UP.
DONALD TRUMP IS TOXIC TO SWING
VOTERS AND TOXIC TO INDEPENDENT
VOTERS AND TOXIC TO DEMOCRATIC
VOTERS.
EVERY WOMAN IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN HAD HER STATUS MADE
SECOND CLASS BY THE DONALD TRUMP
SUPREME COURT.
>> SO SCOTT, PRESIDENT JOE
BIDEN'S POLLING NUMBERS ARE IN
THE TANK.
HOW MUCH DOES HE HOLD BACK
CANDIDATES IN HIS PARTY?
>> I DON'T REALLY THINK HE HOLDS
THEM BACK.
HIS -- YOU KNOW, HE IS A MAKING
OF WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE
RIGHT NOW.
INFLATION IS TOUGH, AND
DEMOCRATS ARE TAKING STEPS TO
SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.
BUT THE CHALLENGE IS THAT HE'S
IN CHARGE SO HE GETS HIT WITH
THAT.
I DON'T THINK THE TOXICITY THAT
DONALD TRUMP HAS COMPARES IN THE
SOLAR SYSTEM TO JOE BIDEN.
JOE BIDEN, YOU LOOK AT HIM, YOU
KNOW HE'S TRYING TO HELP YOU.
>> I DISAGREE.
I THINK HE'S GOING TO BE A MAJOR
DRAG ON DEMOCRATS, TONY EVERS
AND MANDELA BARNES BUT NOT JUST
THAT.
THE PRESIDENT'S NUMBERS ARE OK
HERE, I THINK HE'S AT 42%, NOT
GREAT, HE'S UNDERWATER FOR SURE.
THEY ARE IN THE 30s NATIONALLY.
THE OTHER THING WORKING AGAINST
DEMOCRATS IS THE RIGHT
DIRECTION, WRONG TRACK NUMBER,
IN MANY SURVEYS NATIONALLY IS
80% OF THE PEOPLE THINK THE
COUNTRY IS ON THE WRONG TRACK.
THAT ULTIMATELY SAYS CHANGE.
SO INCUMBENT DEMOCRATS RUNNING
THIS YEAR ARE IN A TOUGH
REQUIREMENT BECAUSE OF THAT.
AND TONY EVERS, ONLY ONE
INCUMBENT EVER RE-ELECTED WHEN
HIS PARTY CONTROLLED THE WHITE
HOUSE, AND THAT WAS MY OLD BOSS,
TOMMY THOMPSON.
>> TIM MICHELS HAS BEEN IN
CONNECTICUT.
WHAT TONY EVERS IS DOING IS WHAT
WISCONSINITES NEED HIM TO DO,
GETS THE MONEY FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES, LOCAL TAVERNS,
COMMUNITIES ARE NOT LOSING
BUSINESS BY GETTING MONEY FROM
WASHINGTON, D.C. DURING THE
GLOBAL PANDEMIC THAT HAS GONE ON
FOR YEARS.
IF THE REPUBLICANS WERE IN
CHARGE WE WOULD NOT HAVE THAT
MONEY.
BUSINESSES ALL OVER THE PLACE
WOULD CLOSE DOWN.
THANK GOODNESS TONY EVERS IS IN
THERE AND TALK TO VOTERS OUT
THERE AND SAY IS TONY EVERS ON
MY SIDE, ABSOLUTELY HE IS.
I MIGHT NOT AGREE WITH
EVERYTHING BUT HE'S ON MY SIDE.
>> RON JOHNSON'S BASE IS ALL IN
ON THE SENATOR.
IS HE VULNERABLE?
>> HE'S IN BETTER SHAPE NOW THAN
A YEAR AGO.
AND YOU HAVE A LOT OF SMART
VIEWERS FOR YOUR SHOW.
WHEN TRUMP WON HERE IN 16, THE
FIRST TIME A REPUBLICAN
CANDIDATES HAD WON SINCE 1984.
JOHNSON GOT MORE VOTES IN 2016.
POPULAR POLITICAL FIGURE IN THE
BASE AND DOES PRETTY WELL WITH
INDEPENDENTS AND HE'S A STRAIGHT
SHOOTER, TELLS IT LIKE IT IS.
ULTIMATELY I THINK THE RACE IS A
FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION.
IF YOU LIKE THE DIRECTION OF THE
COUNTRY OR THE LEADERSHIP OF JOE
BIDEN, MANDELA BARNES IS YOUR
GUY.
A DIFFERENT TAKE, IT'S RON
JOHNSON.
>> LISTEN, RON JOHNSON, HIS
APPROVAL IS 36%.
THAT IS AWFUL, THAT IS TERRIBLE.
HE, YOU KNOW -- HE HAS NOT BEEN
ALL THAT VISIBLE UNTIL THE LAST
COUPLE YEARS AND IT'S ALL BEEN
NEGATIVE.
HE WANTS TO GET RID OF SOCIAL
SECURITY AND MEDICARE, PUT IT ON
THE CHOPPING BLOCK FOR A
PARTISAN CONGRESS.
IF YOU ARE A SENIOR OUT IN RURAL
WISCONSIN, OR A SENIOR ANYWHERE,
HOSPITALS WOULD BE SHUT DOWN
ACROSS WISCONSIN IF WE LOSE
MEDICARE.
RESTAURANTS, GROCERY STORES,
THEY ARE GONE IF RON JOHNSON
GETS HIS WAY ON SOCIAL SECURITY
AND MEDICARE AND DEMOCRATS ARE
GOING TO HANG THAT AROUND HIS
NECK AND THEY SHOULD BECAUSE
HE'S WRONG ON IT.
>> SO MUCH MORE TO TALK ABOUT
HERE BUT I WANT TO GET TO THIS,
HOW ROBIN VOSS JUST BARELY SNUCK
OUT A WIN OVER A TRUMP-ENDORSED
UNKNOWN CANDIDATE AND HIS OWN
ELECTION INVESTIGATOR TURNED ON
HIM ENDORSING THE OTHER GUY.
NOW, VOSS THEN CALLED GEBELMAN
AN EMBARRASSMENT AND TODAY FIRED
HIM.
>> I'M GLAD, I THINK IT'S LONG
OVERDUE.
I THINK THE INVESTIGATION HAD
RUN ITS COURSE.
WE HAVE TWO MORE CREDIBLE
INVESTIGATIONS FOR THE WISCONSIN
INSTITUTE FOR LAW AND LIBERTY
AND THE AUDIT BUREAU, A CLEAR
ROAD MAP ON THINGS TO GET DONE,
LEGISLATURE HAS TRIED TO ADDRESS
IT TWICE AND EVERS HAS VETOED
IT.
>> YOUR REACTION TO THE FIRING?
>> THIS WHOLE INVESTIGATION HAS
BEEN CORRUPT, CIRCUS, AFRONT TO
DEMOCRACY.
REPUBLICANS WANT TO ATTACK YOUR
RIGHT TO VOTE, PREVENT YOU FROM
GOING OUT TO VOTE.
DEMOCRATS ARE EMBOLDENED BY
THIS.
AND MAKE SURE EVERYBODY WHO HAS
THE RIGHT TO VOTE GETS OUT AND
VOTE.
A GOOD ELECTION NIGHT FOR
DEMOCRATS.
>> SCOT ROSS, BILL McCOSHEN,
THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANKS.
>> THE LINES ARE SET IN WEST
CENTRAL WISCONSIN.
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE DERRICK VAN
ORDEN WILL FACE OFF AGAINST BRAD
PFAFF.
WHO ARE THE CANDIDATES?
WE TURN TO ANTHONY CHERGOSKY,
PROFESSOR, THANKS FOR BEING
HERE, FROM UW-LA CROSSE.
WHY IS THE THIRD SO CLOSELY
WATCHED?
>> IT'S BY FAR THE MOST
COMPETITIVE U.S. HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT IN
WISCONSIN AND SOME
PROGNOSTICATION SERVICES SAY
IT'S ONE OF THE MOST LIKELY
DISTRICTS TO FLIP PARTY CONTROL.
REPUBLICANS HAVE THEIR EYE ON
THIS DISTRICT AS THEY SEEK TO
REGAIN MAJORITY CONTROL OF THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
>> SO LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE
CANDIDATES.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THEM,
DERRICK VAN ORDEN FIRST.
>> HE IS A STAUNCH DONALD TRUMP
ALLY.
SOMEONE WHO REALLY BRANDS
HIMSELF AS BEING PART OF THE
DONALD TRUMP MOVEMENT OF THE
PARTY.
HE WAS FAMOUSLY IN D.C. ON
JANUARY 6TH, 2021.
HE SAYS THAT HE WAS NOT INVOLVED
IN THE RIOT, HE WAS NOT IN A
RESTRICTED AREA.
SOME OF THE FACTS ARE DISPUTED
SURROUNDING THAT.
BUT WHAT IS CLEAR, DERRICK VAN
ORDEN IS A STAUNCH, STAUNCH
SUPPORTER OF DONALD TRUMP AND
THIS DISTRICT DID GO DONALD
TRUMP'S WAY BY A SMALL MARGIN.
THAT COULD BODE WELL FOR HIM.
>> WHAT ABOUT BRAD PFAFF?
>> BRAD PFAFF IS REALLY IN
THE -- HE'S REALLY FOLLOWING IN
THE FOOTSTEPS OF RON KIND, I
WOULD SAY.
RON KIND, THE LONG TIME CONGRESS
PERSON FROM THIS DISTRICT WHO
RAN AS A MODERATE DEMOCRAT,
SOMEONE REALLY FOCUSED ON THOSE
LOCAL ISSUES, SOMEONE WHO COULD
DRAW THE KEY CROSSOVER SUPPORT
FROM VOTERS WHO MAY VOTE
REPUBLICAN IN OTHER RACES BUT
VOTE FOR KIND IN THE RACE FOR
CONGRESS.
PFAFF IS FOCUSED ON RURAL
ISSUES, DEMOCRATS ARE HUNGRY TO
CONNECT WITH THE KEY RURAL
AUDIENCE.
>> ANY SENSE THAT THE FBI
SEARCHES AND DEPOSITIONS AND
INVESTIGATIONS INTO TRUMP WILL
GIVE HIS SUPPORTERS IN THAT
DISTRICT ANY PAUSE?
>> I'M NOT SURE, FREDERICA.
I MEAN, WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A
STRONG RURAL URBAN DIVIDE IN
THIS DISTRICT AND I THINK THAT'S
THE KEY POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT IN
WESTERN WISCONSIN IN THIS THIRD
DISTRICT OVER THE LAST NUMBER OF
YEARS.
WHERE RURAL AREAS HAVE BECOME
VERY STRONGLY IN THE REPUBLICAN
CAMP, THIS COULD HAVE AN EFFECT
ON THOSE AREAS, HOW THEY TURN
OUT TO VOTE IN NOVEMBER.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE KNOW THAT
DEMOCRATS ARE HIGHLY MOTIVATED
IN THE ELECTION DUE TO DERRICK
VAN ORDEN'S PRESENCE IN D.C. ON
JANUARY 6TH AND HIS STRONG
SUPPORT OF DONALD TRUMP.
>> WHAT IN YOUR ESTIMATION ARE
THE MAJOR ISSUES IN THE DISTRICT
THERE?
>> WELL, DERRICK VAN ORDEN
FOCUSES ON NATIONAL POLITICAL
ISSUES.
VERY ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND
REALLY FOCUSES ON THE ISSUES
THAT ANIMATE THE REPUBLICAN BASE
NATIONALLY.
CULTURE WAR ISSUES, ISSUES
RELATED TO JOE BIDEN AND WANTING
TO DEFEAT JOE BIDEN, WANTING TO
UNSEAT THE DEMOCRATS FOR
MAJORITY CONTROL.
SO HE'S REALLY IN LINE WITH THE
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN MESSAGING.
BRAD PFAFF, ON THE OTHER HAND,
IS TRYING TO LOCALIZE THE RACE.
AGRICULTURE A KEY ONE, EDUCATION
BEING ANOTHER ONE.
WE HAVE MANY U.W. CAMPUSES IN
THIS DISTRICT.
U.W. HAS A MAJOR PRESENCE IN
THIS AREA.
SO ALL OF THAT COULD PLAY OUT IN
THIS CAMPAIGN IN UNPREDICTABLE
WAYS BUT WE KNOW DERRICK VAN
ORDEN IS MORE FOCUSED ON THE
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN BRAND.
BRAD PFAFF WANTS YOU TO
DISTINGUISH YOURSELF AND FOCUS
MORE ON THE LOCAL ISSUES.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT,
WHICH WORKS BEST IN THAT
DISTRICT IN YOUR ESTIMATION?
>> FOR YEARS RON KIND HAS BEEN
ABLE TO WIN RE-ELECTION THROUGH
FOCUSING ON THOSE LOCAL ISSUES
AND CREATING SOME DISTANCE
BETWEEN HIMSELF AND THAT
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY BRAND.
HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO SAY THAT
HE'S DIFFERENT THAN OTHER
DEMOCRATS.
HE'S MORE MODERATE THAN OTHER
DEMOCRATS, AND THAT HE'S REALLY
FOCUSED ON THOSE LOCAL ISSUES,
THOSE AGRICULTURAL ISSUES, THOSE
ISSUES RELATED TO OUR PRESENCE
ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, FOR
EXAMPLE.
SO I THINK BRAD PFAFF IS TRYING
TO REPLICATE THE RON KIND
STRATEGY AND WE'LL SEE IF THAT
WINS OUT OR IF THOSE NATIONAL
FACTORS CARRY DERRICK VAN ORDEN
TO A WIN.
>> OK, PROFESSOR ANTHONY
CHERGOSKY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> A SWEEPING CLIMATE HEALTH AND
TAX BILL DUBBED BY DEMOCRATS AS
THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT WENT
TO THE FLOOR OF THE U.S. HOUSE
TODAY FOR PASSAGE.
LAST WEEKEND THE SENATE PASSED
THE MEASURE WITH 0 REPUBLICANS
VOTING IN FLAVOR.
$437 BILLION SPENDING BILL
INCLUDES NEARLY 370 BILLION
INVESTMENT IN ENERGY AND CLIMATE
REFORM.
IT INCLUDES 60 BILLION FOR
RENEWABLE ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE
AND ALSO CONSUMER TAX CREDITS
FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
ON THE HEALTHCARE SIDE, THE BILL
INCLUDES ALLOWING THE FEDS TO
NEGOTIATE PRESCRIPTION DRUG
PRICES FOR MEDICARE, AND EXTENDS
SUBSIDIES FOR AFFORDABLE CARE
ACT HEALTH PLANS, AND THE
MEASURE CREATES A 15% MINIMUM
TAX FOR CORPORATIONS MAKING
$1 BILLION OR MORE IN INCOME.
ALL TOLD, BRINGING IN MORE THAN
$300 BILLION IN REVENUE.
ONE PART OF THE BILL GETTING
NOTICE FROM FOLKS WHO MIGHT BE
IN THE MARKET FOR CLEAN CARS, A
NEW $7,500 TAX CREDIT FOR NEW
ELECTRIC VEHICLES, AND A $4,000
CREDIT FOR USED ELECTRIC
VEHICLES.
>> THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT
WILL LOWER ENERGY COSTS FOR
CONSUMERS AND HELP US MEET OUR
LONG-TERM'S EMISSION GOALS TO
COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE.
>> FRESH OFF VOTING FOR THE
MEASURE, TAMMY BALDWIN TOURED A
MADISON COMPANY BUILDING OUT
ELECTRIC CHARGING STATIONS WITH
THE LOCAL UTILITY.
>> TRANSPORTATION IS THE LEADING
CONTRIBUTOR TO GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS IN THE UNITED STATES.
ADVANCING ELECTRIC
TRANSPORTATION POWERED BY AN
INCREASINGLY CLEANER ELECTRIC
GRID IS KEY TO CREATING A MORE
SUSTAINABLE FUTURE, LOCALLY AND
GLOBALLY.
>> FOR HER PART, BALDWIN HERALDS
THE CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATION.
>> THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT
MAKES THE BIGGEST INVESTMENT IN
COMBATTING CLIMATE CHANGE THAT
WE HAVE EVER MADE IN THE UNITED
STATES.
>> I MEAN, THEY ARE DOING
THINGS --
>> U.S. SENATOR RON JOHNSON WAS
AMONG ALL THE REPUBLICANS WHO
VOTED AGAINST THE MEASURE AND
AMONG OTHER THINGS RELEASED A
STATEMENT CALLING ITS TITLE A
MISNOMER, SAYING THE ORWELLIAN
NAMED INFLATION REDUCTION ACT
WILL DO NO SUCH THING.
THIS IS A GREEN ENERGY FANTASY
TO DRIVE THE COST OF ENERGY UP
RATHER THAN DOWN.
JOHNSON ALSO BLASTS THE 15% TAX
ON BILLION DOLLARS PLUS
CORPORATIONS AND MONEY IN THE
PACKAGE TO BOOST IRS TAX
ENFORCEMENT.
IN HEALTH NEWS, THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES HAS DECLARED MONKEYPOX
A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY WITH
MORE THAN 10,000 CASES REPORTED
NATIONALLY.
HERE IN WISCONSIN THE STATE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES IS
PRIORITIZING VACCINE DOSES THAT
ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY.
CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER AND STATE
EPIDEMIOLOGIST DR. RYAN
WESTERGAARD IS HERE WITH AN
UPDATE.
NICE TO SEE YOU, DOCTOR.
>> NICE TO BE BACK WITH YOU.
>> WHAT IS THE STATUS OF
MONKEYPOX IN WISCONSIN.
HOW MANY CASES AT WEEK'S END AND
HOW FAST ARE THEY CLIMBING?
>> YEAH, WE ARE IN A BIT OF AN
ACCELERATION PHASE.
CASES ARE STILL RELATIVELY LOW.
NATIONWIDE IN THE U.S., OVER
10,000 CASES THAT HAVE BEEN
REPORTED.
IN WISCONSIN THE NUMBER IS ONLY
40, AND THAT INCLUDES CASES
INFECTED IN TEN OUT OF THE
COUNTIES, AND WE ARE EXPECTING
TO SEE MORE.
>> WHAT IS MONKEYPOX, EXACTLY?
>> MONKEYPOX IS A VIRUS THAT IS
A COUSIN OF THE SMALLPOX VIRUS
WHICH OF COURSE USED TO CAUSE A
LOT OF SEVERE DISEASE BUT THEY
ERADICATED THROUGH VACCINATION.
MONKEYPOX IS NATURALLY FOUND IN
SOME ANIMAL POPULATIONS, WHICH
IS WHERE IT GOT ITS NAME AND
SPILLED OVER INTO HUMAN
POPULATIONS VARIOUS TIMES,
INCLUDING ABOUT 2002, 2003 THERE
WAS AN OUTBREAK IN THE MIDWEST.
THIS PARTICULAR OUTBREAK IS
DIFFERENT, ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT
SPECIFICALLY CONSIDERED SEXUALLY
TRANSMITTED DISEASE IT'S
SPREADING THAT WAY IN THIS
CURRENT GLOBAL OUTBREAK
AFFECTING PREDOMINANTLY MEN WHO
IDENTIFY AS GAY AND BISEXUAL.
>> WHY IS THAT, WHY ARE GAY MEN
IN THE HIGH RISK GROUP?
>> I THINK THAT'S WHERE IT
STARTED.
THE INITIAL INFECTIONS IN SPEED
LIMIT WERE AMONG MEN WHO HAD
TRAVELED, WHO HAD ATTENDED LARGE
GATHERINGS WHERE A LOT OF CLOSE
SKIN TO SKIN OR INTIMATE CONTACT
WAS TAKING PLACE, AND IT SPREAD
THROUGHOUT THOSE SOCIAL AND
SEXUAL NETWORKS AROUND THE
WORLD.
SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT
THAT -- THE GROUP OF MEN WHO
HAVE SEX WITH MEN OR IDENTIFY AS
GAY OR BISEXUAL KNOW THEY ARE AT
HIGHEST RISK BUT ALSO IMPORTANT
FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO KNOW
ANYONE IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO THIS.
PEOPLE WHO ARE HOUSEHOLD
CONTACTS, IF THEY COME INTO
CLOSE CONTACT WITH A PERSON, OR
EVEN WITH TOWELS OR LINENS
SHARED CAN CONTRACT THIS VIRUS.
SO IT'S SOMETHING EVERYONE
SHOULD KNOW ABOUT.
>> HOW DANGEROUS IS IT IF YOU
GET IT?
>> IT'S NOT PLEASANT, BUT SO FAR
IN THE UNITED STATES NO FATAL
CASES.
THERE ARE HOSPITALIZATIONS
BECAUSE OF THE NEED FOR PAIN
CONTROL.
THE SKIN LESIONS CAN BE PAINFUL,
IN THE CURRENT OUTBREAK AFFECT
THE GENITAL AREA, AND SOME
REQUIRE HOSPITALIZATION FOR PAIN
CONTROL.
IT'S PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS IN
YOUNGER PATIENTS, PREGNANT
PEOPLE, AND PEOPLE WITH
SUPPRESSED IMMUNE SYSTEMS.
SO BEFORE THIS CURRENT OUTBREAK
WE THOUGHT WE HEARD ABOUT A 1%
MORTALITY, SO IT CAN CAUSE
SEVERE DISEASE, BUT THESE DAYS
IT'S PREDOMINANTLY AFFECTING
YOUNGER AND HEALTHY MEN, SO NO
DEATHS, THANK YOU FLY.
>> VACCINATIONS ARE IN SHORT
SUPPL AND NOW BEING STRETCHED.
WHAT'S THE SITUATION IN
WISCONSIN?
>> WE HAVE ADMINISTERED JUST
UNDER 1,000 DOSES TO PEOPLE AT
THE HIGHEST RISK, AND PEOPLE WHO
WE HAVE DETERMINED THROUGH
PUBLIC HEALTH INVESTIGATIONS
HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO A PERSON
WITH KNOWN MONKEYPOX OR HIGH
RISK, THE POPULATION OF MEN WHO
HAVE HAD MULTIPLE SEX PARTNERS
SO TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT
AND SUPPORT ALL THE CLINICAL
PARTNERS AND PROVIDERS AND THE
STATE TO GET THIS NEW VACCINE,
CALLED GENAOS, OUT INTO THE
POPULATION AND GET AS MANY OF
THE HIGHEST RISK PEOPLE FOR THE
MONKEYPOX VIRUS VACCINATED.
GOOD NEWS WE ARE ABLE TO STRETCH
THE VACCINE SUPPLY BY GIVING IT
AT A SMALLER DOSE THROUGH A
DIFFERENT ROUTE, AND BASED ON
GOOD SCIENCE SHOWING IT WAS JUST
AS EFFECTIVE AS THE TRADITIONAL
LARGER DOSE ROUTE, SO WE ARE
OPTIMISTIC WE HAVE ENOUGH
VACCINE TO REACH THE PEOPLE AT
THE GREATEST RISK RIGHT NOW.
>> ON COVID THERE IS NEW RELAXED
GUIDANCE FROM THE CDC.
DOES WISCONSIN EXPECT TO FOLLOW
THAT?
>> YES, WE DO, AND WORKING WITH
PARTNERS AS WE HAVE IN THE
SCHOOL SYSTEMS AND BUSINESSES
AND UNIVERSITIES TO SPREAD THE
WORD ABOUT THE NEW GUIDANCE, THE
MOST IMPORTANT ONE IS THAT WE
ARE DOING AWAY WITH QUARANTINE.
THESE DAYS AFTER THE NEW
GUIDANCE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN
EXPOSED TO A PERSON WITH
COVID-19 IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD OR IN
THE COMMUNITY, THEY DON'T NEED
TO STAY HOME, NECESSARILY BUT DO
WANT THEM TO WEAR MASKS.
THE NEW GUIDANCE IN THE FALL AND
THE COLD AND FLU SEASON COMING
UPON US, WEARING MASKS MORE WHEN
YOU FIND OUT YOU'VE BEEN EXPOSED
TO SOMEONE.
>> DR. RYAN WESTERGAARD, THANK
YOU SO MUCH.
>> NICE TO BE WITH YOU.
>> VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT
PBSWISCONSIN.ORG, AND CLICK ON
THE NEWS TAB.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM TONIGHT.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.