>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> ELECTION DAY MAY BE IN THE
REAR VIEW, BUT CLERKS ARE STILL
HARD AT WORK TO CERTIFY THE
OFFICIAL RESULTS.
THE ARRIVAL OF WINTERY WEATHER
MEANS RETREATING INDOORS AND AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR VIRUSES TO
THRIVE.
MOVES TO CURB INFLATION COOLING
THE ECONOMY?
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG AND
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW" WHAT
WILL HAPPEN TO THE WISCONSIN
ELECTIONS COMMISSION?
IT'S CHAIR JOINS US.
WE HEAR FROM A GREEN BAY DOCTOR
ABOUT RESPIRATORY VIRUSES
FILLING UP HOSPITALS.
THE RHETORIC THAT LED TO A RICE
LAKE SCHOOL BOARD RESIGNATION
AND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE
ECONOMY?
THAT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
NOVEMBER 18TH.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> WHILE THE UNOFFICIAL VOTES
WERE TALLIED LAST WEEK, COUNTIES
HAVE UNTIL NEXT TUESDAY TO
DELIVER THEIR OFFICIAL CANVAS.
THEN THE CHAIR OF THE WISCONSIN
ELECTIONS COMMISSION HAS UNTIL
DECEMBER 1ST TO CERTIFY THE
ELECTION RESULTS.
THE FUTURE OF THE COMMISSION
ITSELF WAS A POLITICAL HOT
POTATO THROUGHOUT THE MID-TERMS.
FOR AN UPDATE WE TURN TO THE
CHAIR OF THE WISCONSIN ELECTIONS
COMMISSION DONE MILLIS.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
YOU TOLD US IN JULY WHEN WE LAST
SPOKE WITH YOU THAT YOUR JOB IS
TO QUOTE LOOK FORWARD AND TRY TO
ENHANCE THE PUBLIC'S CONFIDENCE
IN ELECTIONS.
SO JUST OFF THE NOVEMBER 8TH
ELECTION, DID YOU SUCCEED?
>> I THINK WE DID IN MANY
RESPECTS.
THE ELECTION WENT OFF BETTER
THAN MANY EXPECTED.
I KNOW THERE WERE PRESS ACCOUNTS
OF CONCERN ABOUT CONTROVERSIES
AND CONFLICTS AT POLLING PLACES.
THERE WAS ONE VERY UNFORTUNATE
INCIDENT IN WEST BEND WHERE
SOMEONE WHO PERHAPS A TROUBLED
INDIVIDUAL HAD A KNIFE.
THAT'S -- I DON'T KNOW MUCH
ABOUT THAT OTHER THAN WHAT I'VE
READ IN THE PAPERS.
THERE WERE SOME PRESS REPORTS
BUT I THINK FOR THE MOST PART IT
WENT VERY WELL.
I TALKED TO STAFF THE EVENING OF
THE ELECTION, THE NEXT DAY AND
THEY THOUGHT IT WENT VERY WELL.
WE HAVEN'T HAD -- I HAVE NOT
SEEN ANY ACCOUNTS OF GRAND
CONSPIRACIES OR ELECTION BEING
STOLEN IN WISCONSIN.
AND SO THUS FAR SO GOOD.
>> SO BREATHING A SIGH OF
RELIEF?
>> A LITTLE BIT.
I THINK THAT BOTH PARTIES,
LEADERSHIP OF BOTH PARTIES TRIED
VERY HARD TO MAKE SURE THE
ELECTION WEPT REALLY SMOOTHLY.
BOTH PARTIES INVESTED A LOT OF
MONEY IN TRAINING PARTISAN POLL
WORKERS AND PARTISAN ELECTION
OBSERVERS.
I THINK THE STAFF AT THE
COMMISSION DID A GOOD JOB
ASSISTING CLERKS AND I THINK THE
FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE IN
WISCONSIN ARE THE LOCAL CLERKS
AND I THINK THEY DID A VERY GOOD
JOB.
>> HOW DID THE COMMISSION DO IN
PROVIDING GUIDANCE TO THE
ELECTION CLERKS, THE
COMMISSION'S PRIMARY
RESPONSIBILITY?
>> I THINK THEY DID GOOD JOB.
WE TALKED ABOUT HOW TO DEAL WITH
PROBLEM SITUATIONS, EDUCATED
THEM ON THE LAW AND COURTS HAVE
RULED AT VARIOUS TIMES WHAT WE
CAN AND CANNOT SAY.
THAT'S FAIR.
WITHIN THOSE CONSTRAINTS I THINK
THE COMMISSION STAFF DID A VERY
GOOD JOB OF EDUCATING CLERKS AND
PROVIDING THEM WITH THE TOOLS TO
MAKE SURE THE ELECTIONS RAN
SMOOTHLY AND TRANSPARENTLY.
>> IN YOUR MIND WHAT STILL NEEDS
ADDRESSING?
>> WE STILL NEED TO HAVE GREATER
CONFIDENCE IN ELECTION RESULTS.
IT IS A NAGGING ISSUE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE
COMMISSION HAS SUGGESTED ON A
BIPARTISAN 6-0 VOTE WAS TO
PROPOSE AN OFFICE OF INSPECTOR
GENERAL WITHIN THE AGENCY WITH
RESOURCES AND POSITIONS THAT
WOULD HELP INVESTIGATE -- NOT SO
MUCH FORMAL COMPLAINTS BUT
CONCERNS ABOUT THE LEGITIMACY OF
CERTAIN PRACTICES AND ALSO TO
ADDRESS PUBLIC INQUIRIES AND THE
LEGISLATURE'S INQUIRIES.
>> NOW THAT TONY EVERS HAS WON
AND THE DEMOCRAT INCUMBENT HAS
WON THE SECRETARY OF STATE OF
HAS WON DO YOU THINK THE GETTING
RID OF THE COMMISSION.
>> IF ANYONE HAS ANY AWARENESS
OF WHAT'S GOING ON, ANY RADICAL
CHANGE FOR THE COMMISSION IS
UNLIKELY TO PASS AND BE SIGNED
BY THE GOVERNOR.
THE GOAL FOR US IN THE NEXT TWO
YEARS IS COME UP WITH CHANGES
THAT EVERYONE CAN AGREE UPON.
>> HAVE YOU SPOKEN WITH SPEAKER
VOS WHO APPOINTED YOU ABOUT
WHETHER OR NOT HE WILL PURSUE
ANY KIND OF MORE SIGNIFICANT
CHANGES TO ELECTION LAW?
>> I HAVE NOT.
I KNOW WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS
AMONG THE COMMISSIONERS AND ON
STAF ABOUT SMALLER --
SMALL-SCALE CHANGES THAT MIGHT
FIND FAVOR WITH REPUBLICANS AND
DEMOCRATS BUT I HAVE NOT HAD A
CONVERSATION WITH THE SPEAKER.
>> CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT SOME OF
THOSE SMALLER CHANGES MAY BE?
>> WE WOULD LIKE TO MAYBE
ADDRESS THE ISSUES WITH ILLEGAL
REQUESTS FOR ABSENTEE BALLOTS.
THE RECENT REQUEST FOR MILITARY
BALLOTS, THERE ARE SOME THINGS
THAT COULD BE DONE THAT I THINK
WOULD BE -- FIND FAVOR WITH
EVERYONE.
THERE ARE -- WISCONSIN IS THE
ONLY -- OF THE 49 STATES THAT
REQUIRE REGISTRATION OR HAVE
REGISTRATION, WE'RE THE ONLY
STATE THAT DOESN'T HAVE MILITARY
VOTERS REGISTERED.
WE THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE
COULD CHANGE THAT WOULD HELP
SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
WE ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, I
THINK, TO ALLOW ELECTRONIC
VOTING BY MILITARY OFFICERS BY
ENGAGING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE AND USING SOME OF THEIR
SYSTEMS.
AND SO THAT'S NOT BEEN TRIED
ANYWHERE ELSE.
WE WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE THAT.
THAT WOULD BE A MAKING SURE OUR
MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN OVERSEAS
CAN VOTE AND CAN MAKE SURE THEIR
VOTES ARE COUNTED.
SENDING BACK A PAPER BALLOT
OVERSEAS HAS TIME ISSUES AND
THERE ARE ONLY -- WE ARE --
>> SO THAT GETTING OF THE
MILITARY BALLOTS BY THE PERSON
WHO DID IT, THE FORMER DEPUTY
ELECTION COMMISSIONER IN
MILWAUKEE, IN YOUR MIND THAT
EXPOSED A VULNERABILITY.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF THAT
HAPPENED.
IN TALKING TO THE STAFF THERE IS
A LAG TIME WHICH BY THOSE
CHANGES, THOSE REQUESTS HAVE
BEEN LOGGED INTO THE SYSTEM AND
THE STAFF WERE CONFIDENT WITHIN
2 OR 3 DAYS AFTER IT BECAME
APPARENT, IT HADN'T BECOME
PUBLIC COMMISSION STAFF WOULD
HAVE PICKED UP ON IT.
IT IS THE NUMBER OF MILITARY
BALLOTS ARE RELATIVELY SMALL AND
SOMETHING THEY CAN GET THEIR
ARMS AROUND.
SO I THINK THAT WE PROBABLY
WOULD HAVE CAUGHT IT BUT I THINK
IN THIS CASE IT WOULD BE BETTER
TO AND STILL GREATER PUBLIC
CONFIDENCE AND COME UP WITH A
BETTER SYSTEM FOR HANDLING
MILITARY BALLOTS.
>> DON MILLIS, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
TURNING TO HEALTH NEWS THE RISE
IN RSV ALONG WITH FLU AND COVID
IN WISCONSIN HAVE HEALTH SYSTEMS
FOREWARNING OF CAPACITY ISSUES
AS HOSPITALS, EMERGENCY ROOMS
AND CLINICS BECOME OVERLOADED.
RSV AFFLICTS CHILDREN THE
HARDEST.
OVERALL RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES
HAVE CAUSED HOSPITALS TO
INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PEDIATRIC
BEDS AND INTENSIVE CARE UNITS.
STATEWIDE PEDIATRIC BEDS AND
INTENSIVE CARE UNITS ARE 80 3ERS
PERCENT FULL.
DR. MICHAEL LANDRUM JOINS US
FROM GREEN BAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
>> HAPPY TO BE WITH YOU.
>> WHAT IS THE SITUATION WHERE
YOU ARE WITH ALL THIS?
>> WE'RE ABOUT AT THE STATE
AVERAGE WHERE WE'RE SEEING AN
INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CASES
ARE RSV IN CHILDREN AS WELL AS
RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES IN ADULTS
BUT WE HAVEN'T REACHED A
CRITICAL LEVEL IN OUR CAPACITY
RIGHT NOW.
WE'VE BEEN EXPLORING OPTIONS FOR
WHAT TO DO IF NUMBERS INCREASE.
WE'RE ABLE TO MANAGE NOW WITH
WHAT WE'VE SEEN NOW.
>> THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT
THREE SEVERE RESPIRATORY VIRUSES
ARE CIRCULATING AT THE SAME TIME
WITH SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN
CASES.
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE
THIS KIND OF TRIAD OF VIRUSES?
>> NO, I CAN'T REMEMBER A TIME
IN MY CAREER WHAT I'VE SEEN
ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
IT GOES ALONG WITH THE LAST
THREE YEARS WITH THINGS THAT
I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE ARE NOW
HAPPENING.
>> SO I UNDERSTAND RSV IS RATHER
COMMON BUT THAT IT IS ACTING
DIFFERENTLY THIS YEAR.
LIKE IT STARTED EARLIER IN THE
SEASON, IT MAY BE CAUSING MORE
SEVERE INFECTION OR INFECTING A
MORE VULNERABLE INFANT
POPULATION.
IS THAT RIGHT?
>> THAT'S ALL CORRECT.
WE ARE DEFINITELY SEEING MORE
CASES THAN WE TYPICALLY SEE THIS
TIME OF YEAR.
USUALLY RSV WILL PEAK IN I WOULD
SAY LATE DECEMBER, JANUARY,
MAYBE IN FEBRUARY.
AND SO WHILE WE CAN SEE CASES
THIS TIME OF YEAR IN A TYPICAL
OR MORE NORMAL YEAR, WE'RE
SEEING A LOT MORE THAN WE
TYPICALLY DO THIS TIME OF YEAR
AND THAT'S WHAT'S CONCERNING.
WE DON'T KNOW WILL THINGS
CONTINUE TO INCREASE AND WE
WON'T REACH OUR PEAK UNTIL A
COUPLE MONTHS FROM NOW, OR WILL
THIS PEAK EARLY AND THEN FADE
AWAY EARLY?
SO WE'RE SEEING A LOT MORE
DISEASE RIGHT NOW THAN WE
TYPICALLY DO.
>> WHAT ABOUT IN THE INFANT
POPULATION?
IS THAT BEING HIT PARTICULARLY
HIDE AS WE'VE BEEN READING IN
OTHER AREAS?
>> RSV IN GENERAL IS WORSE FOR
YOUNG CHILDREN AND INFANTS.
THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE
HOSPITALIZED WITH IT.
THAT IS TYPICAL FOR MOST YEARS
THAT WE DO SEE THE MOST SEVERE
CASES IN THOSE YOUNG CHILDREN.
>> SHOULD PEOPLE BE TESTED TO
DETERMINE WHICH VIRUS THEY ARE
SICK WITH?
>> I WOULD SAY WE ARE TESTING
PATIENTS THAT WE SEE, BOTH
CHILDREN AND ADULTS, FOR A
NUMBER OF RESPIRATORY VIRUSES.
IT IS UP TO THE CLINICAL
JUDGMENT OF THE PROVIDER SEEING
THE PATIENT AT THE TIME.
WE DO A WIDE RANGE OF TESTING
AND MUCH MORE TESTING AVAILABLE
NOW EVEN THAN WE DID A FEW YEARS
AGO SO THAT IS BETTER.
MOST OF THESE INFECTIONS ARE FOR
RSV IN PARTICULAR THE END TO BE
MILD AND THINGS THAT CAN BE
MANAGED AT HOME AND YOU DON'T
NEED TO RUSH IN AND GET TESTED
FOR THAT REASON SPECIFICALLY.
HOWEVER, IF YOUR CHILD IS
UNCHARACTERISTICALLY SICK AND
HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING,
PARTICULARLY YOUNG AND
VULNERABLE THAT'S WHEN YOU WANT
TOO CALL YOUR PEDIATRICIAN AND
FAMILY PHYSICIAN AND SEE WHAT
THEY COME IN AND GETTING
EVALUATED AND POTENTIALLY
TESTED.
>> SO CONTINUING COVID, FLU AND
RSV IS THE THOUGHT THAT
ISOLATION AND MASKING OVER THE
PAST TWO YEARS LEFT PEOPLE
VULNERABLE?
>> THAT IS, YOU KNOW, THE THEORY
THAT'S BEING CIRCULATED.
RSV, FLU, RESPIRATORY VIRUSES IN
GENERAL ARE THINGS THAT ARE VERY
COMMON AND PEOPLE GET YEAR TO
YEAR.
SO OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS AS
WE'VE BEEN MASKING AND SOCIAL
DISTANCING WE HAVEN'T BEEN
EXPOSED TO THESE THINGS FOR A
WHILE.
SO OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM IN TERMS OF
FIGHTING THESE OFF IN THE
OVERALL COMMUNITY AND THE
POPULATION IS A LITTLE BIT LOWER
AGAINST THESE THINGS SO IT CAN
LEAD TO MORE TRANSMISSION, MORE
CASES AND PERHAPS MORE SEVERE
CASES.
>> WHAT'S THE PRESCRIPTION FOR
TRYING TO STEM THE OUTBREAK
ESPECIALLY COMING INTO THE
HOLIDAYS?
>> WELL, ABSOLUTELY.
I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THAT
QUESTION.
REALLY IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO
GET VACCINATED FOR FLU OR TO GET
VACCINATED FOR COVID-19, WHETHER
IT IS YOUR INITIAL IMMUNIZATION
OR TO GET A BOOSTER, PLEASE DO
SO.
THE VACCINES DON'T PREVENT ANY
INFECTION FROM OCCURRING.
YOU CAN STILL GET A AN INFECTION
BUT MAKE IT LESS SEVERE.
THIS YEAR PRELIMINARY
INFORMATION FROM THE CDC
SUGGESTS THE FLU VACCINE IS A
GOOD MATCH FOR THE STRAINS WE'RE
SEEING CAUSING A LOT OF CASES
RIGHT NOW EARLY IN THE FLU
SEASON.
SO PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE GO AND
GET VACCINATED.
THAT WILL HELP PROTECT YOU AND
PROTECTS OTHERS AROUND YOU AND
IT HELPS OUR HEALTH SYSTEM FROM
GETTING OVERLOADED WITH ALL
THESE RESPIRATORY DISEASES.
>> GOOD ADVICE, DOCTOR, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THIS NEWS, THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR HAS ISSUED A
TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER
AGAINST PACKER SANITATION FOR
OPPRESSIVE CHILD LABOR LAW
VIOLATIONS.
THE WISCONSIN-BASED COMPANY
PROVIDES CONTRACT CLEANING AND
SANITATION SERVICES TO MEAT
PROCESSING PLANTS IN MINNESOTA
AND NEBRASKA.
AN INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT
CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 16
WORKED LONG HOURS OR OVERNIGHT,
OPERATED MACHINERY ON THE KILL
FLOOR, AND RECEIVED CHEMICAL
BURNS FROM CAUSTIC CLEANERS.
THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.
SCHOOL BOARDS ACROSS WISCONSIN
BECAME THE NEW BATTLEGROUND FOR
CULTURE WAR POLITICS IN THE LAST
FEW YEARS HEIGHTENED IN THE
RUN-UP TO THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.
BUT WHAT KIND OF HUMAN DAMAGE IS
DONE WITH PUBLIC SMEAR CAMPAIGNS
ABOUT EVERYTHING TEACHING ABOUT
RACE TO ALLOWING STUDENTS AND
STAFF TO USE GENDER-AFFIRMING
PRONOUNS TO POLICIES ON
TRANSGENDER STUDENTS?
WE ASK OUR NEXT GUEST, A CURRENT
COLLEGE PROFESSOR AND FORMER
MEMBER OF THE RICE LAKE SCHOOL
BOARD UNTIL SHE RESIGNED LAST
MONTH.
THAT WAS AFTER A GROUP CALLED
THE BARRON COUNTY PATRIOTS
RAISED THEIR VOICE AND RHETORIC
IN THE DISTRICT.
ABBEY FISCHER JOINS US NOW AND
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR DOING SO.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO YOU TOLD US THAT THINGS
GOT UGLY WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT.
HOW SO?
>> AS THE PANDEMIC BEGAN, PEOPLE
IN TOWN BEGAN VOICING THEIR
OPPOSITION TO CONTINUING TO STAY
AT HOME, WHICH WE UNDERSTOOD.
WE WANTED THE STUDENTS BACK IN
THE BUILDINGS.
BUT THE RHETORIC GOT LOUD IN
TOWN.
PEOPLE BEGAN EMAILING BOARD
MEMBERS FREQUENTLY AND THEY
BEGAN TO ATTEND OUR BOARD
MEETINGS, WHICH WE ENCOURAGE IT
BUT IT WAS OFTEN NOT FOUNDED IN
SCIENTIFIC PROOF.
IT WAS A LOT OF WHAT I WOULD SAY
NON-SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS.
LANGUAGE BEING USED ON A
NATIONAL SCALE THAT FOUND ITS
WAY TO RICE LAKE.
AND SO PEOPLE WERE ANTI-MASK,
ANTI-VACCINE, THEY WERE
ANTI-KEEPING STUDENTS SIX FEET
AWAY FROM EACH OTHER.
THEY WANTED TO GET BACK TO
NORMAL WHEN SCIENCE AT THAT
POINT WAS TELLING US NOT TO DO
SO.
>> THEN THIS FALL THERE WAS
SCHOOL BOARD DEBATE AROUND A
LESS INCLUSIVE POLICY FOR
TRANSGENDER STUDENT IN RICE LAKE
SCHOOLS, POLICIES THAT YOU
DESCRIBE AS PREVIOUSLY
SUPPORTIVE OF LGBTQ STUDENTS.
HOW DID THAT MAKE STUDENTS AND
STAFF FEEL, THESE NEW KIND OF
POLICIES?
>> THE STUDENTS THEMSELVES AT
OUR OCTOBER 12TH BOARD MEETING
SAID THAT THE PREVIOUS POLICY
SAVED THEIR LIVES.
THEY WERE ABLE TO BE THEMSELVES
IN OUR BUILDINGS.
THEY WERE ABLE TO BE THEMSELVES
WITH THEIR INSTRUCTORS AND PEERS
AS THEY WERE READY TO BE.
THE NEW POLICY, THE CURRENT
POLICY, DOES NOT ALLOW STUDENTS
TO USE THE NAMES THAT THEY WISH
TO OR THE PRONOUNS THEY WISH TO
UNTIL THEY HAVE COME OUT TO
THEIR PARENTS.
AS A LESBIANS, I KNOW HOW
CHALLENGES IT IS TO COME OUT TO
YOUR OWN PARENTS AND TO ASK
STUDENT TO COME OUT TO THEIR
PARENTS BEFORE THEY'RE READY
PUTS THEM AT RISK FOR POTENTIAL
COMPLICATIONS AT HOME AND ALSO
POTENTIAL MENTAL HEALTH
COMPLICATIONS.
>> SO HOW DID A GROUP CALLED THE
BARRON COUNTY PATRIOTS AND THEIR
SUPPORTERS RESPOND TO THIS
ISSUE?
>> THE PATRIOTS AND OTHERS FOR
WELL OVER A YEAR, THIS STARTED
PROBABLY IN SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER
OF 2021.
THEY WERE LOUD IN THEIR
OPPOSITION TO THE INCLUSIVE
CLASSROOMS AND THE INCLUSIVE
CURRICULUM THAT THE RICE LAKE
SCHOOL DISTRICT WAS OFFERING.
THEY CAME TO SCHOOL BOARD
MEETINGS AND SPOKE DURING PUBLIC
APPEARANCES.
THEY SPOKE HORRENDOUS
STATEMENTS, UNTRUE, HARMFUL,
HURTFUL STATEMENTS ABOUT LGBTQ
PLUS PEOPLE AND CONTINUED THAT
UP UNTIL THIS POLICY WAS PASSED
AND THEY BELIEVE THAT -- A LOT
OF THEM SEEM TO BELIEVE THAT WE
SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWING STUDENTS
TO BE THEMSELVES WITHIN THE
CLASSROOM.
>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THEIR
BELIEFS THAT THEY EXPRESSED?
>> WE HEARD THINGS THAT
TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS ARE
MENTALLY ILL.
WE HEARD THAT TRANSGENDER
INDIVIDUALS REALLY DON'T EXIST
AND WE ARE NEED TO BE
COMFORTABLE WITH OUR GENDER.
WE HEARD MANY STATEMENTS THAT
BEING LGBTQ QI PLUS IS AGAINST
THE BIBLE AND THAT WE NEED TO
SPEND MORE TIME IN CHURCH.
>> HOW DID THAT AFFECT YOU
PERSONALLY?
>> AS A LESBIAN, IT WAS HARD TO
HEAR MY COMMUNITY TALKED ABOUT
LIKE THAT.
IT STARTED A YEAR PRIOR AND AS A
BOARD MEMBER, WE SIT QUIETLY AND
OUR TABLE AND DON'T CONVERSE
WITH THE PUBLIC APPEARANCE
SPEAKERS, THAT'S OUR POLICY.
SO TO HAVE TO SIT AND LISTEN TO
THESE UNTRUE STATEMENTS AND TO
THE HARMFUL RHETORIC WAS
WEIGHING ON ME HEAVILY TO THE
POINT WHERE MY MENTAL HEALTH WAS
NOT GOOD.
AND SO I CHOSE TO RESIGN AND MY
MENTAL HEALTH HAS SIGNIFICANTLY
IMPROVED WITHOUT HAVING TO
LISTEN TO THOSE COMMENTS AND NOT
BE ABLE TO RESPOND.
>> IN YOUR MIND, WAS THIS AN
EXAMPLE YOU SPOKE TO JUST A
LITTLE BIT EARLIER, AN EXAMPLE
OF NATIONAL RHETORIC REACHING
INTO LOCAL COMMUNITIES?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THE LANGUAGE THAT WE SAW AGAINST
THE MASKS, THE LANGUAGE WE SAW
AGAINST THE VACCINES AND THE
LANGUAGE THAT WE SAW AGAINST
LGBTQ STUDENTS AND CURRICULUM IS
THE SAME LANGUAGE THAT OTHER
SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE SEEING AND
WE'RE SEEING IT BOTH HERE IN
WISCONSIN AND ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
>> SO EARLIER YOU SAID THAT THE
MORE SUPPORTIVE POLICIES,
STUDENTS HAD TOLD YOU THAT IT
SAVED THEIR LIVES.
WHAT ABOUT THESE NEW POLICIES?
>> WE DON'T YET KNOW THEIR
EFFECTS.
AT THE OCTOBER 12TH DISTRICT
WHEN THEY WERE ADOPTED THE
DISTRICT DIDN'T HAVE A WAY TO
ENACT THEM.
I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE A WAY
TOO MAKE IT HAPPEN YET.
WHAT WILL LIKELY HAPPEN IS THAT
STUDENTS WILL PROBABLY NOT COME
OUT TO THEIR -- NOT FEEL SAFE
EXPRESSING WHO THEY ARE TO STAFF
AND THAT MAKES THE LEARNING
ENVIRONMENT A LESS SUPPORTIVE
PLACE AND A PLACE THEY DON'T
WANT TO BE AT.
OFTEN FOR LGBTQ I PLUS
INDIVIDUALS PEOPLE COME OUT
FIRST AS A PLACE TO TRY ET AND
SEE WHAT IT FEELS LIKE.
NOW WE'VE TAKEN THAT AWAY FROM
STUDENTS.
THEY HAVE TO COME OUT AT HOME.
OFTEN THE SCARIEST PLACE TO COME
OUT AND EVEN WITH SUPPORTIVE
PARENTS.
MY PARENTS WERE SUPPORTIVE BUT
IT TOOK ME A LONG TIME TO COME
OUT TO THEM.
WE'VE TAKEN THE PLACE WHERE
STUDENTS OFTEN EXPLORE AND
FIGURE OUT WHO THEY ARE.
WE'VE TAKEN THAT AWAY FROM YOU.
>> DOES IT STRIKE YOU THAT IT
WILL END HERE ON THIS ISSUE?
>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.
THE PATRIOTS AND OTHERS IN TOWN
HAVE ALREADY BEGUN TO FIGHT
AGAINST THE INCLUSIVE HUMAN
GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
CURRICULUM THAT THE RICE LAKE
SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFERS.
I DON'T THINK THAT WILL STOP.
AND THEN ALSO THEY HAVE MADE
COMMENTS ABOUT OUR SOCIAL
STUDIES CURRICULUM.
I THINK THAT WILL ALSO CONTINUE.
>> ABBEY FISCHER, WE APPRECIATE
YOU SPEAKING WITH US ON THIS AND
BRINGING US THE PERSPECTIVE FROM
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN RICE LAKE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY.
>> INFLATION REMAINS HIGH FOR
THINGS LIKE FOOD AND FUEL.
IN RESPONSE, THE FED CONTINUES
TO HIKE INTEREST RATES WHICH HAS
COOLED THE HOME BUYING MARKET.
BUT CONSUMERS CONTINUE TO SPEND
AND THE JOB MARKET IS STILL HOT.
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE
OBSERVATIONS FROM OUR NEXT GUEST
HERE TO TALK WITH US ABOUT
WISCONSIN'S ECONOMIC CONDITION
AND THE QUESTION EVERYBODY WANTS
TO KNOW, IS THERE A RECESSION ON
THE HORIZON?
KEVIN BAHR IS PROFESSOR OF
FINANCE OF UW STEVENS POINT.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> MY PLEASURE, THANK YOU.
>> WHAT IS THE CONDITION OF THE
OVERALL ECONOMY RIGHT NOW?
ARE WE SLOWING DOWN AND SLIDING
TOWARD A RECESSION?
>> THE GENERAL CONSENSUS FOR
NEXT YEAR IS THAT THE UNITED
STATES WILL SLIP INTO A
RECESSION.
BUT THE GENERAL CONSENSUS IS
ALSO THAT THE RECESSION SHOULD
BE RELATIVELY SHORT LIVED AND
RELATIVELY MINOR.
THAT IS KEY IN YES, PEOPLE WILL
GET HURT BUT IT IS NOT SUPPOSED
TO BE AS WHAT THE RECESSION WAS
IN 2000 AND 2008 AND THE EARLY
198 0S.
>> THAT IS COMFORTING.
DO THE RECENT LAYOFFS IN THE
TECH INDUSTRY SPELL ECONOMIC
DOWNTURN RIGHT NOW?
>> I THINK RECENT LAYOFFS IN THE
TECH INDUSTRY, THOSE ARE
DIFFERENT FROM WHAT'S GOING ON
WITH THE REST OF THE ECONOMY.
THE RECENT LAYOFFS IN THE TECH
INDUSTRY.
THEY HAVE THEIR OWN SPECIFIC
SORT OF COMPANY AND INDUSTRY
ISSUES.
THERE WILL BE A SLOWDOWN OVERALL
IN THE UNITED STATES ECONOMY AND
YOU CAN EXPECT JOB LOSSES AND
UNEMPLOYMENT TO GO UP.
BUT THE TECH INDUSTRY IS A
LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
THEY HAVE THEIR OWN SPECIFIC
ISSUES TO WORK THROUGH.
>> RIGHT NOW THE OVERALL JOB
MARKET EVEN IN WISCONSIN IS
STILL SUPER HOT?
>> THE JOB MARKET IS INCREDIBLY
HOT.
IN OCTOBER WE HAD 153.3 MILLION
PEOPLE WORKING IN THE UNITED
STATES.
THAT'S MORE THAN AT ANY OTHER
TIME IN THE HISTORY OF THE
UNITED STATES.
WAGE GROWTH IN AUGUST WAS 6.7%
AT AN ANNUALIZED RATE.
IT WENT DOWN TO 6.3% IN
SEPTEMBER.
IT REFLECTS THE HOT LABOR MARKET
AND IN OCTOBER THERE WERE TWO
JOB OPENINGS FOR EVERY
UNEMPLOYED PERSON.
SO ALL THOSE FACTORS COMBINE
INTO A VERY HOT LABOR MARKET.
>> THE FACE OF INFLATION, HOW IS
IT THAT CONSUMER SPENDING IS
HOLDING?
>> WELL, I THINK PART OF THE
REASON CONSUMER SPENDING IS
HOLDING IS BECAUSE THE JOB
MARKET HAS BEEN SO HOT.
YOU'VE GOT RECORD EMPLOYMENT
LEVELS.
WAGES GOING UP.
SO THE JOB MARKET HAS REALLY
KIND OF FUELED CONSUMER
SPENDING.
THE INCREASE IN THE INTEREST
RATES BY THE FED LAST TWO
QUARTERS, INVESTMENT SPENDING
HAS DECLINED IN THE UNITED
STATES.
CONSUMPTION SPENDING HAS
INCREASED EVER SINCE THE SECOND
QUARTER OF 2020.
IT HAS BEEN UP, UP AND AWAY WITH
CONSUMER SPENDING.
IT IS LOWER NOW THAN WHAT IT HAD
BEEN LAST YEAR BUT STILL
INCREASING.
THE RATE OF GROWTH IS LOWER NOW
THAN LAST YEAR.
>> DOES THAT SUGGEST THAT
INFLATION REALLY ISN'T HITTING
PEOPLE?
>> I THINK INFLATION IS HITTING
PEOPLE, BUT THEY STILL HAVE
MONEY TO SPEND.
AND I WOULD POINT OUT THAT
INFLATION RIGHT NOW, THIS IS
GLOBAL.
A GLOBAL ISSUE.
INFLATION THE VARYING BETWEEN 7
AND 10% IN CANADA, AUSTRALIA,
UNITED KINGDOM AND GERMANY AND
ITALY
IT'S A GLOBAL ISSUE.
A LOT OF THE FACTORS AFFECTING
THOSE -- THAT INFLATION
WORLDWIDE RELATES TO THE WAR IN
UKRAINE AND SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES.
>> SO HOLIDAY RETAIL IS ALWAYS
AN INDICATOR.
WHAT ARE THE EXPECTATIONS FOR
THAT?
>> THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING
VERY INTERESTING TO WATCH.
IN OCTOBER RETAIL SALES
INCREASED.
SO THERE ARE DIFFERENT FORECASTS
FOR RETAIL SALES.
WHEN YOU START GETTING INTO
FORECASTING THE ECONOMY NEXT
YEAR AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU'LL
HAVE A RECESSION, IT IS ALMOST
LIKE DOING A LONG-RANGE WEATHER
FORECAST.
YOU ARE PRETTY CONFIDENT IT WILL
BE CLOUDY AND NOT STORM, BUT IT
MIGHT RAIN, IT MIGHT NOT RAIN.
AND IN ANY EVENT, THE ECONOMY IS
GOING TO SLOW.
HOW QUICKLY AND HOW FAST IT
SLOWS, THAT'S STILL SUBJECT TO
QUESTION.
>> WELL, WE APPRECIATE YOUR
PROGNOSTICATIONS AND YOUR
EXPERTISE.
KEVIN BAHR, PROFESSOR OF FINANCE
AT UW STEVENS POINT, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
OUR WEBSITE AT PBS.ORG.
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
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.