DEEP POCKETS A THREAT?
>> I THINK THE THREE BIG
CHALLENGES THAT ERIC HOVDE HAS,
FIRST, IS THAT HE'S FACING AN
INCREDIBLY FORMIDABLE CANDIDATE
IN TAMMY BALDWIN WHO HAS SUPPORT
FOR WHAT SHE HAS DONE FOR THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN, THE A.C.A.
AND LETTING 26-YEAR-OLDS BEING
ON THEIR PARENTS' HEALTHCARE,
THE ISSUE OF ABORTION AND BY
AMERICA.
THINGS THAT WERE PUT IN PLACE
WITH TRUMP'S SIGNATURE, MADE
PERMANENT BY PRESIDENT BIDEN.
HOVDE, SO THAT'S HIS FIRST
CHALLENGE.
HIS OTHER TWO CHALLENGES ARE A
LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, HE'S VERY
CLEARLY RUNNING HIS OWN
CAMPAIGN, AND ANY CANDIDATE WHO
IS TRYING TO RUN THEIR OWN
CAMPAIGN IS A DISASTER IN
WAITING.
AND THE THIRD POINT I WOULD SAY
IS THAT HE'S TRYING -- AS HE'S
TRYING TO CREATE A CULT OF
PERSONALITY AROUND HIMSELF AND
THERE'S ONLY ONE CULT FIGURE IN
THE G.O.P. AND THAT'S TRUMP.
>> WE'RE GOING TO AGREE ON THE
FIRST PART, TAMMIE IS GOING TO
BE TOUGH.
ONLY ONE STATEWIDE INCUMBENT
LOST ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY IN
2022 AND THAT WAS THE GOVERNOR
OF NEVADA.
SO BEATING A STATEWIDE INCUMBENT
IS A VERY HIGH MOUNTAIN TO
CLIMB.
HAVING SAID THAT, I THINK ERIC
HOVDE
>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> YOU'RE WATCHING "HERE AND
NOW" 2024 ELECTION COVERAGE.
>> HELLO, MILWAUKEE.
>> BATTLEGROUND WISCONSIN.
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN MAKES HIS
SECOND VISIT TO THE STATE THIS
YEAR.
AND THE STATE SUPREME COURT
TAKES A SWING AT BRINGING BACK
BALLOT DROP BOXES.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW,"
SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER ZAC
SCHULTZ ON THE STATE SUPREME
COURT RECONSIDERING ABSENTEE
BALLOT DROP BOXES.
CRITICAL SHORTAGES OF LICENSED
PRACTICAL NURSES IN WISCONSIN
HOSPITALS, LESSONS LEARNED FOUR
YEARS AFTER THE COVID EMERGENCY
WAS DECLARED IN WISCONSIN, AND
POLITICAL PANELIST, ROSS
McCOSHEN, SAYS THE
PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN IS ON.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR MARCH
15.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> WE START TONIGHT WITH THE
QUESTION OF WHETHER THE
WIDESPREAD USE OF ABSENTEE
BALLOT DROP BOXES WILL BE COMING
BACK FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.
>> THIS WEEK, WISCONSIN'S
LIBERAL MAJORITY SUPREME COURT
DECIDED TO CONSIDER AN APPEAL TO
THE COURT'S RULING OF LESS THAN
TWO YEARS AGO THAT THE DROP
BOXES OR ILLEGAL AND THAT
BALLOTS MUST BE PERSONALLY
DELIERED TO THE MUNICIPAL
CLERK.
THE COURT'S CONSERVATIVE DISSENT
HARSHLY CONDEMNED THE NEW ORDER
CALLING IT, QUOTE, ANOTHER
SHAMELESS EFFORT BY THE MAJORITY
TO READJUST THE BALANCE OF
POLITICAL POWER IN WISCONSIN.
-APPROVED BY THE STATE ELECTIONS
COMMISSION FOR USE IN 2020
DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC, MORE
THAN 500 ABSENTEE BALLOT DROP
BOXES ACROSS WISCONSIN ALLOWED
CONTACTLESS VOTING, BUT WHEN
DONALD TRUMP LOST THE ELECTION,
HIS BLAME INCLUDED THE BOXES,
CASTING DOUBT ON THE RESULTS.
IN 2022, THE THEN-CONSERVATIVE
MAJORITY WISCONSIN HIGH COURT
RULED THEY WERE ILLEGAL FOR
FUTURE ELECTIONS.
FAST FORWARD TO TODAY AND
THEY'RE UP FOR CONSIDERATION
AGAIN.
HERE AND NOW SENIOR POLITICAL
REPORTER ZAC SCHULTZ IS HERE
WITH MORE.
HI, ZAC.
>> HELLO, FRED.
>> SO HOW UNUSUAL IS IT FOR A
COURT TO REACH BACK TO DECIDED
LAW AND CONSIDER AN APPEAL?
>> WELL, IT DOESN'T HAPPEN VERY
OFTEN, BUT THERE ARE SOME HIGH
PROFILE EXAMPLES.
ON A NATIONAL SCALE, DOBBS
OVERTURNING ROE VERSUS WADE JUST
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO IS
OBVIOUSLY A PRETTY BIG ONE THAT
HAS POLITICAL RAMIFICATIONS, BUT
THERE'S ACTUALLY PRECEDENT HERE
IN WISCONSIN.
BACK IN 2016, THE CONSERVATIVE
SUPREME COURT RULED THAT THE
LEGISLATURE HAD OVERSIGHT OVER
THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION IN THE STATE
SUPERINTENDENT.
THEY DID NOT HAVE OVERSIGHT.
FLASH FORWARD JUST A COUPLE OF
YEARS LATER AND THE MAKEUP
CHANGED WE KNOW JUSTICE KELLY
JOINED THE COURT, SO THEY
OVERTURNED AN EXAMPLE.
WHEN I ASKED HIM WHY, HE SAID
THAT WAS BECAUSE THAT ORIGINAL
DECISION WAS FRACTURED, IT
WASN'T A SOLID MAJORITY THAT
MADE IT UP.
IT WAS CONCURRING OPINIONS.
AND THE REASON THAT'S IMPORTANT
IN THIS EXAMPLE, FREDERICA, IS
BECAUSE THE TEAGUEN DECISION
FROM JULY 2022 WAS ALSO A VERY
FRACTURED MAJORITY OPINION.
IN THAT CASE, JUSTICE BRIAN
HAGEDORN JOINED THE MAJORITY FOR
ONLY ABOUT HALF OF THE ACTUAL
MAJORITY OPINION.
HE CONCURRED WITH ONLY 30 OF 87
PARAGRAPHS IN THE ENTIRE
DECISION.
THERE WERE MULTIPLE CONCURRENCES
AND SO THE ONLY THING THAT
STANDS OUT OF THAT ORIGINAL
DECISION IS THAT DROP BOXES ARE
NOT VALID IN STATE LAW BECAUSE
THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED, BUT
THEY'RE ALSO NOT NOT ALLOWED,
AND THAT'S WHAT THIS DECISION IS
GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT AGAIN.
>> SO I CAN SEE HOW THIS IS RIPE
FOR THAT APPEAL, BUT THE
CONSERVATIVE DISSENT TO THIS
ORDER SAYS THAT BY GRANTING IT,
QUOTE, THE MAJORITY AIMS TO
INCREASE THE ELECTORAL PROCESS
EXPECTS OF ITS PREFERRED
POLITICAL PARTY.
IS IT PROVEN THAT BALLOT DROP
BOXES HELPED DEMOCRATS?
>> WELL, CERTAINLY IN 2020, MORE
DEMOCRATS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF DROP
BOXES AND ABSENTEE VOTING THAN
REPUBLICANS DID.
HISTORICALLY, THAT'S NOT ALWAYS
THE CASE.
DIFFERENT STATES VOTE LARGELY BY
MAIL.
DONALD TRUMP HIMSELF VOTED
ABSENTEE IN FLORIDA IN PRIOR
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, BUT IT
WAS TRUMP WHO MADE THE CASE
AGAINST ABSENTEE VOTING IN 2020
AND THE LEAD-UP TO THAT ELECTION
THAT CONVINCED A LOT OF
REPUBLICANS NOT TO TRUST THAT
PROCESS AND THEN IT WAS TRUMP
AFTER THE ELECTION THAT MADE IT
PART OF HIS CONSPIRACY THEORIES
ABOUT FRAUD IN THE ELECTORATE
THAT TURNED REPUBLICANS AGAINST
IT.
BUT IMPORTANTLY, REPUBLICANS,
INCLUDING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
OF WISCONSIN, IS TRYING TO SHIFT
BACK TO ABSENTEE BALLOTING FOR
THIS ELECTION.
THEY'VE MADE A BIG PART OF THEIR
PLATFORM BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND
IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT IN
TRYING TO WIN ELECTION.
>> SO AS THE CONSERVATIVE
MINORITY ON THE WISCONSIN'S HIGH
COURT THINKS THAT IT'S A
POLITICAL KIND OF DECISION ON
THE PART OF THE LIBERAL
MAJORITY.
WOULDN'T OUTLAWING THESE BOXES
MEAN THE FORMER CONSERVATIVE
MAJORITY WAS AIMING TO INCREASE
THE ELECTORAL PROSPECTS OF ITS
PREFERRED POLITICAL PARTY?
>> WELL, CERTAINLY, THE DECISION
FELL IN LINE WITH WHAT THE
STANDARD BEARER, AT THAT TIME,
FORM PRESIDENT TRUMP WANTED, AND
WHAT THE MAGA OPINION THROUGHOUT
MOST OF THE CUB WAS, IS THAT
DROP BOXES ARE RIPE FOR FRAUD.
THAT CERTAINLY HASN'T BEEN
PROVEN IN MOST CASES.
IT CERTAINLY WASN'T PROVEN IN
WISCONSIN.
THERE'S ARGUMENTS THAT PLACES IN
RURAL WISCONSIN WOULD BENEFIT
JUST AS MUCH FROM DROP BOXES
BECAUSE CLERKS AREN'T ALWAYS
PRESENTLY FOR SOMEONE TO COME IN
AND VOTE ABSENTEE IN PERSON
EARLY AND THEN DROP BOX WOULD BE
A NICE EASY WAY FOR SOMEONE TO
DROP OFF A BALLOT.
RURAL WISCONSIN BEING SLIGHTLY
MORE CONSERVATIVE THAN URBAN
WISCONSIN.
>> RIGHT.
WHAT ABOUT THE ISSUE OF SOWING
CHAOS IN NOVEMBER FOR ELECTION
OFFICIALS HAVING TO GIVE
GUIDANCE TO CLERKS?
HOW LIKELY IS IT THAT THIS WOULD
CONTINUE TO BE LITIGATED?
>> WELL, IT'S UNLIKELY IN THE
SENSE THAT THE SUPREME COURT IS
FAST-TRACKING THIS.
THEY WANT ORAL ARGUMENTS BY MAY,
LIKELY A DECISION BY JUNE, SO
THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF TIME
BEFORE WE GET TO THE AUGUST
PRIMARY BEFORE A DECISION WOULD
HAVE TO COME UP IN THAT CASE SO
A DECISION WOULD BE IN PLACE.
IT'S UNLIKELY IT COULD BE
APPEALED TO THE UNITED STATES
SUPREME COURT SO THAT DECISION
WOULD BE FINAL, BUT THERE'S
ALWAYS LAWSUITS IN THE LAST
COUPLE OF MONTHS BEFORE AN
ELECTION.
>> HOW SURPRISING IS IT THAT
IT'S FAST-TRACKED IN THIS WAY?
I MEAN, I GET IT THAT THEY'RE UP
AGAINST THE NOVEMBER ELECTION,
BUT THIS SUPREME COURT SEEMS TO
BE MAKING SOME MOVES DIFFERENTLY
THAN THE LAST COURT.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
WITH THE LIBERAL MAJORITY TOOK
OVER, THEY CHANGING SOME OF THE
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS TO MAKE
SURE THAT THINGS COULD GO ALONG
SMOOTHLY AND QUICKLY IN A LOT OF
THESE EXPEDITED CASES.
IN PART, THAT'S BECAUSE
TRADITIONALLY THE CHIEF JUSTICE
OF THE SUPREME COURT HAS A LOT
OF POWER OVER HOW FAST DECISIONS
MOVE ALONG AND THAT SUPREME
COURT CHIEF JUSTICE IS A
CONSERVATIVE.
SO THE LIBERALS HAVE CREATED A
NEW PROCESS TO MAKE THINGS
FASTER, IN THIS CASE, EXPEDITING
THIS CASE SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE
A DECISION BEFORE THE END OF
THIS TERM, WHICH WILL AFFECT THE
FALL ELECTION.
>> ZAC SCHULTZ, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AS TO ABSENTEE BALLOTS IN ITS
FINAL SESSION DAY, THE STATE
SENATE DECLINED TO TAKE UP THE
BILL TO LET CLERKS GET A HEAD
START ON COUNTING THEM.
ALSO, EIGHT MORE OF TONY EVERS
NOMINEES WERE REJECTED TO BOARDS
AND COMMISSIONS, INCLUDING TWO
ON THE UW BOARD OF REGENTS.
IN OTHER BUSINESS, EVERS ONCE
AGAINST URGING THE LEGISLATURE
TO RELEASE $15 MILLION TO HELP
SUPPORT HEALTHCARE WITH THE
COMING CLOSURE OF HOSPITALS IN
EAU CLAIRE AND CHIPPEWA FALLS,
CLOSURES THE WISCONSIN HOSPITAL
ASSOCIATION CALLS UNTHINKABLE,
BUT PART OF FEARED RESULTS FROM
STAFF SHORTAGES AND FINANCIAL
PRESSURES.
THE ASSOCIATION IS JUST OUT WITH
ITS 2024 WISCONSIN HEALTHCARE
WORKFORCE REPORT, WHICH
DESCRIBES A CRITICAL CONDITION.
ANN ZENK FROM THE WISCONSIN
HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION JOINS US
NOW.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO IN WHAT HOSPITAL POSITIONS
ARE THE SHORTAGES MOST ACUTE?
>> I THINK THE BIGGEST IMPACT
RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE THERE'S SUCH
A LARGE PART OF OUR WORKFORCE,
IS THE REGISTERED NURSE
SHORTAGE.
>> AND SO WHAT HAPPENS FOR THE
DAY-TO-DAYCARE OF PATIENTS WHEN
A HOSPITAL IS SHORT OF THOSE
NURSES?
>> FOR NURSING, REGISTERED
NURSES CAN FILL LOTS OF ROLES ON
HEALTHCARE TEAMS.
SO A SHORTAGE LEAVES LOTS OF
GAPS.
THAT MIGHT MEAN STAFF WORKING IN
ROLES BESIDES THE ONES THEY
NORMALLY DO.
IT MIGHT MEAN THEY HAVE TO WORK
IN DIFFERENT AREAS.
THEY'RE CERTAINLY BEING ASKED TO
WORK EXTRA SHIFTS OR DIFFERENT
SHIFTS.
>> AND DOES THAT AFFECT PATIENT
CARE?
WE HOPE NOT.
RIGHT?
BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO DO
EVERYTHING THEY CAN DO TO FILL,
BUT WHAT ABOUT PATIENT CARE?
>> YEP.
YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.
HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS IN
HOSPITALS, IT'S OUR JOB TO MAKE
SURE PATIENTS GET THE CARE THEY
úNEED, BUT WHEN THERE ARE STAFF
SHORTAGES OR INTERRUPTIONS IN
THE CONTINUUM OF CARE, PATIENTS
WAIT LONGER, THEY MIGHT HAVE TO
TRAVEL FARTHER FOR CARE, THEY
MIGHT EVEN END UP COMING TO THE
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.
>> WHY HASN'T THE STAFFING
SITUATION RIGHTED ITSELF
FOLLOWING COVID?
>> THERE'S SO MANY FACTORS.
I'D SAY THE PREDOMINANT ONE, AND
UNFORTUNATELY ONE THAT WE REALLY
CAN'T INFLUENCE MUCH, IS WHAT WE
CALL THE SILVER TSUNAMI, THE
SURGES OF RETIREMENT AS BABY
BOOMERS AGE.
THAT'S A BIG GENERATION.
THE OTHER ISSUE FOR HEALTHCARE
IS THAT NOT ONLY IS OUR
AVAILABLE WORKFORCE SHRINKING
BUT HEALTHCARE DEMAND IS
ESCALATING.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
SO AS FAR AS THAT SILVER
TSUNAMI, AS YOU REFERRED TO IT,
HOW LIKELY IS IT THAT PROGRAMS
PRODUCING A SCHOOL OF NURSING
PIPELINE AND CAREER ADVANCEMENT
CAN KEEP PACE WITH THOSE
RETIREMENTS?
BECAUSE I KNOW SOME OF THOSE
PROGRAMS ARE NOW REALLY CRANKING
UP.
>> YEP.
FOR SHORTER-TERM CREDENTIALS,
THOSE FRONTLINE TECHNICAL
POSITIONS THAT TAKE A YEAR OR
TWO TO ACHIEVE, WE MIGHT BE ABLE
TO CLOSE THOSE GAPS.
FOR LONGER-TERM CREDENTIALS LIKE
NURSES AND PHYSICIANS, WE JUST
CAN'T KEEP PACE WITH THE
INCREASED HEALTHCARE DEMAND AND
THERE'S LOTS OF BABY BOOM NURSES
FROM THE '70s AND '80s WHO
ARE NOW GOING TO RETIRE.
SO IT'S KIND OF UNLIKELY THAT
OUR WORKFORCE CAN GROW FAST
ENOUGH.
>> YOU SPOKE TO THIS AS WELL,
BUT ALL OF THIS IS HAPPENING IN
A STATE, WISCONSIN, THAT'S
RANKED AS HAVING AN OLDER
POPULATION, AND SO THIS OLDER
POPULATION NEEDS MORE CARE,
FURTHER SQUEEZING THIS WHOLE
SITUATION.
>> CORRECT.
WHAT WE'RE ALSO SEEING IN
HOSPITALS AND HEALTH SYSTEMS IS
A PAIR SHIFT.
THE INSURANCE PATIENTS HAVE,
THEIR PAYER IS CHANGING.
AS WE ANAL, AGE, WE SHIFT FROM PRIVATE
INSURANCE TO MEDICARE AND
SOMETIMES AS OUR RESOURCE
SHRINK, EVEN TO MEDICAID, AND WE
KNOW THAT MEDICARE AND MEDICAID
RATES DON'T COVER THE FULL COST
OF CARE.
>> SO THIS IS HAPPENING ACROSS
THE STATE.
OF COURSE IT'S ACUTELY FELT
RIGHT NOW IN KIND OF THE
NORTHWEST PART OF THE STATE WITH
THE CLOSURE OF 19 CLINICS AND
TWO HOSPITALS, ONE IN
EAU CLAIRE, ONE IN CHIPPEWA
FALLS.
WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THE
CLOSURE OF THOSE FACILITIES?
>> WELL, YOU SAID IT.
UNTHINKABLE.
RIGHT?
BUT IT'S ALSO A SIGNAL OF WHAT'S
GOING ON IN HOSPITALS, NOT JUST
IN WISCONSIN, BUT ACROSS THE
STATE.
IT'S A CASCADE OF THINGS.
IT'S WORKFORCE SHORTAGES,
INCREASED LABOR COSTS, INCREASED
SUPPLY COSTS, BUT WHEN YOU REACH
THAT BREAKING POINT OR THE
COMBINATION OF FACTORS, IS WHEN
YOUR VOLUMES START TO SHIFT,
WHEN YOU HAVE FEWER INPATIENTS
TO TAKE CARE OF, WHEN YOU'RE
GETTING LESS REIMBURSEMENT
BECAUSE YOUR SERVICES YOU CAN
OFFER ARE SHRINKING.
THAT CAN BE THE BREAKING POINT
FOR HOSPITAL CLOSURE, BUT WE'RE
ALSO SEEING IT IN SERVICE
CLOSURES ACROSS THE STATE.
>> SO VERY, VERY BRIEFLY, YOU
SAY THAT THERE ARE SIGNS OF
HOPE.
>> YES.
ABSOLUTELY.
HOSPITALS ARE HAVING TO RELY
LESS ON TEMPORARY AGENCY STAFF,
STAFF THAT LEFT DURING THE
PANDEMIC ARE COMING BACK.
WE'RE SEEING THAT.
THAT'S GREAT.
WE'RE ALSO SEEING FOR THE FIRST
TIME SINCE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC
ENROLLMENTS INCREASE IN
HEALTHCARE PROGRAMS, AND THAT'S
AWESOME.
>> WE'LL BE LOOKING TO NEXT
YEAR'S REPORT TO SEE THE SIGNS
OF IMPROVEMENT.
ANN ZENK, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> FOUR YEARS AGO THIS WEEK, THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN DECLARED A
STATE OF EMERGENCY BECAUSE OF
COVID.
THE VIRUS HAS TAKEN MORE THAN
16,000 LIVES IN WISCONSIN, AND
WHILE THE THREAT HAS FADED, THE
EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC LINGER.
"HERE AND NOW" REPORTER ADITI
DEBNATH SPOKE TO THE WISCONSIN
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES,
DR. JASMINE ZAPATA TO TALK ABOUT
LESSONS LEARNED AND CURRENT
STATUS.
HER COMMENTS INCLUDE DISCUSSION
OF SUICIDE.
>> WHERE DO WE STAND TODAY IN
WISCONSIN WITH COVID-19
INFECTIONS?
>> I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT IT'S
BEEN FOUR YEARS.
IT SEEMS LIKE THAT TIME JUST
WENT BY SO QUICKLY.
AS IT RELATES TO WISCONSIN,
WE'RE ACTUALLY SEEING IN OUR
WASTEWATER LEVELS, OUR EMERGENCY
DEPARTMENT VISITS AND OUR
PERCENT POSITIVITY THAT THE
RATES ARE GETTING LOWER.
SO WE ARE DEFINITELY IN A BETTER
PLACE THAN WE WERE FOUR YEARS
AGO.
>> WHAT SHOULD OR COULD HAVE
PUBLIC HEALTH PROVIDERS DONE
DIFFERENTLY DURING THE FIRST FEW
MONTHS OF THE PANDEMIC?
>> THAT'S SUCH A GREAT QUESTION
AND WHEN YOU LOOK BACK, OF
COURSE, HINDSIGHT IS 20/20
VISION.
WE KNOW THINGS THAT COULD HAVE
BEEN DONE DIFFERENTLY.
FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I'M
REALLY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WE
ARE STILL HERE, THAT WE GOT
THROUGH THIS.
THAT WAS A VERY, VERY HARD TIME.
WE'RE STILL FACING DIFFERENT
COMPLICATIONS AND RIPPLE EFFECTS
FROM THE PANDEMIC, SO WE'RE NOT
COMPLETELY DONE WITH THIS.
BUT I'M JUST PROUD OF THE FACT
THAT WE ARE STANDING, WE ARE ARE
STILL HERE AND THAT WE LEARNED A
LOT OF IMPORTANT LESSONS.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST LESSONS THAT
I TRULY BELIEVE THAT WE LEARNED,
AND WHEN PEOPLE ASK WHAT COULD
WE HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY IF WE
COULD GO BACK, IT'S REALLY A
QUESTION OF IF WE COULD HAVE
GONE BACK IN TIME EVEN BEFORE
THE PANDEMIC STARTED, CONTINUING
TO BUILD THAT TRUST BETWEEN OUR
COMMUNITY AND HEALTHCARE AND
PUBLIC HEALTH.
WHEN WE AS PUBLIC HEALTH
PROVIDERS AND AS A PUBLIC HEALTH
SYSTEM WENT INTO COMMUNITIES AND
TALKED ABOUT VACCINES AND THIS
IS A PANDEMIC AND EVERYBODY GET
VACCINATED, HERE'S WHAT TO DO TO
BE SAFE, THE FACT THAT THERE
WERE SO MANY LIVES LOST BECAUSE
OF A DISTRUST IN THE HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM, EVEN BECAUSE OF LACK OF
ACCESS, BECAUSE OF MANY
DIFFERENT BARRIERS, THAT'S
HEARTBREAKING.
THOSE ARE SOME THINGS THAT COULD
HAVE BEEN PREVENTED, BUT THAT
WAS WORK THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE
YEARS AND EVEN DECADES BEFORE
THE PANDEMIC STARTED.
SO I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY ONE
THING THAT WE COULD HAVE DONE
IMMEDIATELY AT THAT TIME.
THE REAL WORK IN PREVENTION
NEEDED TO START EVEN YEARS
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC EVEN
OCCURRED.
>> THE PANDEMIC ALSO CAUSED A
LOT OF PROBLEMS AND PAIN FOR
HEALTHCARE WORKERS ON THE
FRONTLINE.
SOME SAY THE INDUSTRY WILL NEVER
RETURN BACK TO NORMAL.
AS A FRONTLINE WORKER AND A
COMMUNITY DOCTOR, WHAT ARE SOME
OF THOSE PROBLEMS THAT ARE STILL
LINGERING IN THE HEALTHCARE
FIELD?
>> THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT
ISSUES, BUT ONE OF THEM IS
BURN-OUT.
IN THE MEDICAL FIELD, WE HAVE
ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF
SUICIDE, AND THAT IS SOMETHING
THAT'S VERY DISTURBING.
I'VE PERSONALLY HAD COLLEAGUES
THAT I'VE GONE OUT TO DINNER
WITH, THAT I'VE TALKED WITH ON
THE PHONE, HAD CLOSE
RELATIONSHIPS DIE FROM SUICIDE,
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS
HARD TO TALK ABOUT, BUT IF --
UNLESS WE TALK ABOUT IT MORE,
IT'S NEVER GOING TO CHANGE.
SO IT WAS ALREADY A BAD PROBLEM,
BUT ESPECIALLY DUE TO THE
PANDEMIC AND JUST THE WAY THAT
THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM WAS
OVERWHELMED, THAT DEFINITELY HAD
A LONG-TERM IMPACT ON THE MENTAL
HEALTH OF EVEN PROVIDERS.
>> DR. JASMINE ZAPATA, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
>> MM-HMM.
THANK YOU.
>> TURNING TO WISCONSIN AS A KEY
BATTLEGROUND STATE IN THE
NOVEMBER ELECTIONS, IT'S GAME
ON.
THIS PAST TUESDAY'S PRIMARY
ELECTIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
CEMENTED DONALD TRUMP AND JOE
BIDEN AS THE MAJOR PARTY
CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT.
AGAIN.
CANDIDATES FOR U.S. SENATE IN
WISCONSIN ARE ALSO OUT OF THE
CAMPAIGN CHUTES.
WE CHECK IN NOW WITH OUR
POLITICAL PANELIST, REPUBLICAN
BILL MCCOSHEN AND SCOT ROSS.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
>> GREAT TO BE HERE.
>> TO START THINGS OFF, I MEAN,
WE HAVE ONE CANDIDATE DESCRIBED
OFFICIALLY AS OLD AND FORGETFUL
AND ANOTHER AS AN INDICTED
THREAT TO DEMOCRACY.
GIVEN THAT, WHO IS IN A BETTER
POSITION HERE?
BILL?
>> FIRST OF ALL, MOST POLLS OVER
THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS HAVE
SAID THIS IS THE RACE NO ONE
WANTED.
TWO-THIRDS OF VOTERS SAID THEY
DIDN'T WANT A REMATCH FROM 2020,
YET HERE WE ARE.
IT'S GROUNDHOG DAY IN AMERICA.
WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING LIKE
THIS, A REMATCH OF PREVIOUS
CONTENDERS IN 68 YEARS.
IKE VERSUS STEVENSON WAS THE
LAST TIME WE'VE SEEN ANYTHING
LIKE THIS.
THE LAST TIME WE SAW A FORMER
PRESIDENT RUN AGAINST A CURRENT
PRESIDENT WAS 134 YEARS AGO,
GROVER CLEVELAND AGAINST
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
SO IT'S PRETTY RARE.
>> DON'T YOU DARE MAKE A BIDEN
JOKE.
>> IT'S PRETTY RARE IN AMERICAN
POLITICS, AND, YOU KNOW, THIS
RACE I THINK IS ALREADY BAKED.
THERE'S NOT A LOT OF UNDECIDEDS.
EVERYBODY NO, SIR THESE TWO
PEOPLE.
THEY EITHER THINK BIDEN IS OLD
OR TRUMP'S GOT ISSUES AFTER
ISSUES.
SO, YOU KNOW, I HOPE IT'S NOT A
BATTLE TO THE BOTTOM, BUT I'M
HOPING THAT BOTH OF THEM CAN
ELEVATE THE GAME AND INSPIRE
AMERICA AND WIN THE JOB, BUT
WE'LL SEE OVER THE NEXT EIGHT
MONTHS.
THIS WILL BE THE LONGEST
PRESIDENTIAL JEN ELECTION WE'VE
EVER HAD.
>> AND A BLOODBATH, I IMAGINE.
>> SO, SCOTT, WHAT ABOUT YOU?
WHO DO YOU THINK IS IN A BETTER
POSITION GIVEN THE DESCRIPTIONS
OF THESE TWO CANDIDATES?
>> I'D SAY THIS.
SO YOUR HOUSE IS ON FIRE AND
YOU'VE GOT AN 81-YEAR OLD GUY
WHO COMES FROM SCRANTON WITH A
BUCKET OF WATER FIRE HOSE AND A
GUY, 77 I DO RECALL FROM NEW
YORK OR FLORIDA WHO COMES WITH A
GALLON OF GASOLINE.
WHICH ONE ARE YOU GOING TO HIRE
THE JOB THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE
WHICH IS TO PUT THE FIRE OUT IN
YOUR HOUSE.
I THINK THIS IS BIDEN'S RACE TO
LOSE, BUT THEY'VE GOT TO DO ALL
THE WORK, AND I CARE ABOUT
WISCONSIN.
AND CLEARLY, WHAT HAPPENED IN
2016 IS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN
HERE AGAIN.
LIKE THEY WILL INVEST, THEY'RE
INVESTING HEAVY.
AT THE SAME TIME, THEY'RE DOING
ALL THAT INVESTING HERE, YOU'VE
GOT THE STUFF WITH THE RNC WHERE
THEY'VE LOST DOZENS OF STAFFERS.
THEY JUST ANNOUNCED THEY'RE
CLOSED OUTREACH CENTERS IN
MILWAUKEE AND YOU'VE GOT A
CANDIDATE WHO NOW HAS TAKEN OVER
THE RNC AND YOU DON'T KNOW IF
THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND THIS
MONEY ON HOVDE AND BENNETT OR IF
THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND IT ON HIS
LEGAL BILLS.
THERE'S A LOT THERE.
ON THE ISSUES I THINK BIDEN HAS
IT TOP TO BOTTOM, STARTING WITH
ABORTION, FIRST AND FOREMOST.
>> I'M SOMEWHAT AMAZED THAT I'M
SAYING THAT DONALD TRUMP IS IN
THE FRONTRUNNER SPOT RIGHT NOW,
NATIONALLY.
MOST NATIONAL POLLS.
THERE'S A COUPLE THAT SHOW BIDEN
IN THE LEAD.
ALL THE REST SHOW TRUMP IN THE
LEAD AND IT HAS HIM LEADING IN
CRITICAL STATES LIKE MICHIGAN.
IPSOS HAD HIM UP THREE POINTS IN
MICHIGAN AND THE PRO-PALESTINIAN
MOVEMENT IS PART OF BIDEN'S
PROBLEM THERE.
AS IT RELATES TO WISCONSIN, I
WOULD GIVE DONALD TRUMP AND HIS
TEAM THIS ADVICE.
LESS IS MORE.
I WOULD GO GOLFING FOR THE NEXT
EIGHT MONTHS.
I WOULD DO WHAT BIDEN DID IN
2020.
I THINK THESE RALLIES THAT HE
HAS ARE VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE
HE'S VERY UNDISCIPLINED ON THE
STUMP.
I THINK IF HE SAYS LESS, HE WINS
THIS THING EASILY.
IF HE ENGAGES ALL THE WAY ALONG
FOR THE NEXT EIGHT MONTHS, IT'S
GOING TO BE A COIN TOSS.
>> HUH.
SO WHAT IS IT LIKE FOR
ESTABLISHMENT REPUBLICANS TO GO
ALL IN FOR DONALD TRUMP IN
WISCONSIN?
>> WELL, HE'S THE OPTION.
RIGHT?
I MEAN, GUYS LIKE ME ARE -- I
WANTED SOMEONE WHO COULD SERVE
TWO TERMS, WHO WAS MORE
CONSERVATIVE.
I LOST.
SO FOR ME, I'M HOPEFUL THAT
HE'LL PICK SOMEONE AS HIS
RUNNING MATE THAT WILL APPEAL TO
THE SUBURBAN VOTERS.
DONALD TRUMP DID NOT DO WELL
WITH THE SUBURBAN VOTERS IN
WISCONSIN AND IN MULTIPLE OTHER
SWING STATES IN TO 20.
HE HAS TO FIX THAT IN THIS
ELECTIONMENT IF HE PICKS A
SYCOPHANT WHO IS JUST LOYAL TO
HIM, FIERCELY LOYAL TO HIM, I
DON'T THINK THAT CHANGES THE
DYNAMIC FOR HIS ELECTION.
HE NEEDS TO PICK SOMEBODY WHO
LOOKS LIKE THE FUTURE OF THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY.
>> I AGREE WITH WHAT BILL IS
SAYING.
HE SHOULD DO THAT.
I DON'T THINK HE WILL.
HE'S GOING TO PICK A SYCOPHANT.
AND WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
THE SUBURBAN VOTERS, TWO THINGS:
ABORTION AND THE FACT THAT HE'S
CURRENTLY TRYING TO PAY OFF A
DEFAMATORY SUIT AGAINST HIM BY A
VICTIM OF HIS SEXUAL ASSAULT.
IF WOMEN WERE TURNED OFF BY
ABORTION, THAT'S JUST THE NAIL
IN THE COFFIN.
AGAIN, GOT TO DO THE WORK.
>> TOP TWO ISSUES ARE
IMMIGRATION OR THE BORDER AND
THE ECONOMY, AND TRUMP'S RIGHT
SIDE UP ON THOSE.
HE'S PLUS 10 AT LEAST ON BOTH OF
THOSE ISSUES.
SO IF THE ELECTION IS ABOUT
THOSE TWO ISSUES IN THE FALL,
HE'S GOING TO WIN.
>> IT'S INTERESTING, THE ISSUE
OF THE ECONOMY.
I MEAN, I GUESS IT'S HOUSING
COSTS THAT ARE MAKING PEOPLE
THINK THAT IT'S BAD, BUT BY
OTHER METRICS, IT'S JUST NOT.
>> I'M GOING TO STIPULATE THAT A
LOT OF THE ECONOMIC DATA IS GOOD
FOR THE PRESIDENT.
IT IS NOT TRANCE RATING INTO
SUPPORT AT THE BALLOT BOX.
VOTERS DON'T FEEL IT.
THEY DON'T SEE IT.
AND UNLESS AND UNTIL THEY DO,
IT'S GOING TO BENEFIT DONALD
TRUMP.
>> I WANT TO GET TO THE U.S.
SENATE RACE, REPUBLICAN ERIC
HOVDE IS ON THE RACE OF.
HE WOULDN'T THE LAST TIME WE
SPOKE.
ARE HIS DEEP POCKETS A THREAT?
>> I THINK THAT THE THREE BIG
CHALLENGES THAT ERIC HOVDE HAS,
FIRST IS THAT HE'S FACING AN
INCREDIBLY FORMIDABLE CANDIDATE
IN TAMMY BALDWIN, WHO HAS
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT ACROSS THE
BOARD FOR WHAT SHE HAS DONE FOR
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN, THE
DAIRY PRIDE ACT, THE A.C.A. AND
LETTING 26-YEAR-OLDS BE ON
HEALTHCARE, THE ISSUE OF
ABORTION AND BUY AMERICA.
THOSE THINGS, THINGS THAT WERE
MADE PERMANENT BY PUT IN PLACE
WITH TRUMP'S SIGNATURE, MADE
PERMANENT BY PRESIDENT BIDEN.
HOVDE, SO THAT'S HIS FIRST
CHALLENGE.
HIS OTHER TWO CHALLENGES ARE A
LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, HE'S VERY
CLEARLY RUNNING HIS OWN
CAMPAIGN, AND ANY CANDIDATE WHO
IS TRYING TO RUN THEIR OWN
CAMPAIGN IS A DISASTER IN
WAITING AND THE THIRD POINT I
WOULD SAY IS THAT HE'S TRYING --
AS HE'S TRYING TO CREATE A CULT
OF PERSONALITY AROUND HIMSELF,
AND THERE'S ONLY ONE CULT FIGURE
IN THE G.O.P. AND THAT'S TRUMP.
>> WE'RE GOING TO AGREE ON THE
FIRST PART, TAMMY BALDWIN IS
GOING TO BE A TOUGH OUT.
YOUR VIEWERS SHOULD BE REMINDED
THAT ONLY ONE STATEWIDE
INCUMBENT LOST ANYWHERE IN THE
COUNTRY IN 2022 AND THAT WAS THE
GOVERNOR OF NEVADA.
SO BEATING A STATEWIDE INCUMBENT
IS A VERY HIGH MOUNTAIN TO
CLIMB.
HAVING SAID THAT, I THINK ERIC
HOVDE'S OFF TO A VERY, VERY GOOD
START.
I BELIEVE HE'S CLEARED THE
FIELD.
I DON'T THINK HE'LL HAVE A
PRIMARY WHICH WILL ALLOW HIM TO
MANAGE HIS RESOURCES BETTER.
TIM MICHAELS TWO YEARS AGO WAS
SPENDING NEARLY A MILLION
DOLLARS A WEEK TO BEAT CLAYFISH
IN THE PRIMARY.
HOVDE WON'T HAVE TO SPEND THAT
KIND OF MONEY TO GET THROUGH THE
PRIMARY, BUT HE'S GOT TO
INTRODUCE HIMSELF TO WISCONSIN.
THEY'VE BEEN NIMBLE ON HIS FEET
SO FAR.
I LIKE THAT HE'S ADVERTISING IN
DANE COUNTY BECAUSE A REPUBLICAN
CANNOT GET SWAMPED IN DANE AND
MILWAUKEE COUNTIES AND WIN
STATEWIDE, SO I GIVE HIM AN "A"
FOR HIS FIRST MONTH ON THE
CAMPAIGN TRAIL.
>> WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
OUR WEBSITE, PBSWISCONSIN.ORG
AND CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
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.