>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PART
OF OUR "HERE AND NOW" 2018
WISCONSIN VOTE ELECTION
COVERAGE.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW,"
UNPACKING TUESDAY'S ELECTION
RESULTS WITH UW-MILWAUKEE'S
MORDECAI LEE.
THEN, CENTRAL WISCONSIN'S
CONCERNS ABOUT CHINESE TARIFFS
ON GINSENG.
A NOR NORWEGIAN DELEGATION GETS AN
INSIDE LOOK AT A WISCONSIN
SCHOOL.
AND THE SINCLAIR CONTROVERSY.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR APRIL 6.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> THE STATEWIDE RACES TO DIE
FORTHRACE TUESDAYFOR THE OPEN SEAT ON THE HIGH
COURT WAS SEEN AS A BELLWETHER
HEADING INTO THE
NOVEMBER MIDTERMS.
THE SUPREME COURT RACE WAS
CERTAINLY PAINTED WITH A
PARTISAN BRUSH, INCLUDING DIRECT
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY.
ENDORSEMENTS FROM JOE BIDEN AND
ERIC HOLDER.
SO WHEN REBECCA DALLET, THE
CANDIDATE ENDORSED BY THE
DEMOCRATS, BEAT
REPUBLICAN-BACKED MICHAEL
SCRENOCK BY 12 POINTS, EVEN
SCOTT WALKER SOUNDED THE ALARM.
TONIGHT'S RESULTS SHOW WE ARE AT
RISK OF A BLUE WAVE IN
WISCONSIN.
THE FAR LEFT IS DRIVEN BY ANGER
AND HATRED.
WE MUST COUNTER IS WITH OPTIMISM
AND ORGANIZATION.
LET'S SHARE OUR POSITIVE STORY
WITH VOTERS.
WIN IN NOVEMBER.
WHERE IS A POLITICAL SCIENTIST
WHEN YOU NEED ONE?
IN MILWAUKEE.
MORDECAI LEE IS A PROFESSOR WITH
THE UW-MILWAUKEE DEPARTMENT OF
POLITICAL SCIENCE.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU, FREDERICA.
>> I READ ONE ACCOUNT THAT SAID
YOU WERE ASTONISHED BY THE
RESULTS.
HAS THE 12-POINT WIN SET IN YET
FOR YOU?
>> I'M STILL ASTONISHED.
EVERYBODY IS FOCUSING ON THE
MARGIN OF VICTORY.
I WAS FOCUSING ON THE TURNOUT.
WHEN YOU HAVE A TURNOUT THAT
COMES NEAR A MILLION PEOPLE
VOTING, THAT'S ABOVE AVERAGE
WHEN IT COMES TO A STATEWIDE
RACE.
SO I THINK SOMETHING WAS GOING
ON HERE.
AN AVERAGE RACE WOULD HAVE BEEN
700,000 TO 800,000.
>> SO WHAT DO YOU THINK WAS
GOING ON?
ORGANIZATION?
MONEY?
>> I THINK IT'S EXACTLY WHAT
GOVERNOR WALKER DESCRIBED.
I THINK IT'S THE UNHAPPINESS BY
DEMOCRATS MOSTLY IN REACTION TO
TRUMP, BUT PARTLY IN REACTION TO
THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE AND
GOVERNOR.
THERE'S A KIND OF AN ELEMENT OF
PEOPLE THAT WHEN YOU'RE ANGRY,
WHEN YOU'RE UNHAPPY, YOU'RE MORE
MOTIVATED THAN WHEN YOU'RE
HAPPY, WHEN YOU'RE CONTENTED.
I THINK THE TEA PARTY WAS THE
PERFECT EXAMPLE.
SOME PEOPLE WERE UNHAPPY WHEN
OBAMA GOT ELECTED.
AND THE TEA PARTY ROSE AND THEN
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY DID VERY
WELL IN THE ELECTIONS AFTER
THAT.
SO WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE IS
SOMETHING WE REALLY HAVEN'T SEEN
BEFORE IN RECENT WISCONSIN
POLITICS.
ALL ALONG THERE HAD BEEN
SOMETHING OF A REPUBLICAN
NETWORK AURA SHEEM.
IN OTHER WORDS, THEY ALL VOTED
AS A BLOC, ALL AGREED WITH EACH
OTHER.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE
SEEN DEMOCRATS IN A KINDS OF
INVISIBLE NETWORK.
THE REASON WE CAN TELL IS FROM
THE RESULTS OF THE REFERENDUM.
THAT THERE WAS A RELATIVELY
MINOR ISSUE, BUT IT'S LIKE
EVERYBODY WHO VOTED FOR THE
REFERENDUM ALSO VOTED FOR
DALLET.
>> SO YOU ARE SAYING THAT THIS
BLUE WAVE THAT REPUBLICANS FEAR
IS REAL?
>> I THINK IT'S REAL.
AND ANOTHER REASON WHY IT'S REAL
IS THAT WHEN IT HAPPENS IN AN
ELECTION FOR LET'S SAY THE U.S.
SENATE OR THE SPECIAL ELECTION
DOWN SOUTH OR A SPECIAL ELECTION
FOR THE U.S. HOUSE IN
PENNSYLVANIA, ONE COULD DESCRIBE
THAT AS PARTICULARLY ABOUT THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
BUT HERE WE HAD A STATEWIDE RACE
THAT WAS NOT ABOUT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, WASN'T EVEN ABOUT
THE STATE LEGISLATURE OR THE
GOVERNOR, AND YET WE HAD A
SIMILAR HUGE TURNOUT, JUST THIS
BLUE WAVE.
SO I THINK IT IS CORRECT TO
DESCRIBE IT THAT WAY.
YOU KNOW, GOVERNOR WALKER IS A
FABULOUS POLITICIAN WHETHER ONE
AGREES WITH HIM OR NOT, AND HE
DESCRIBED IT THAT WAY, AND I
THINK HE'S RIGHT.
AND MAYBE IN RETROSPECT THIS
EXPLAINS WHY HE WAS SO STRONGLY
AGAINST HOLDING THOSE SPECIAL
ELECTIONS FOR THE VACANT SEATS
IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
THAT HE'S GOT THIS FINGERTIP
FEEL FOR THE VOTERS AND HE SORT
OF KNEW WHAT MIGHT BE COMING.
>> SO IF THIS WAS A PROXY,
THOUGH, DO YOU THINK IT WAS
ABOUT SCOTT WALKER OR DONALD
TRUMP?
>> WELL, THAT'S A GREAT
QUESTION.
AND IF ANYBODY KNEW THAT ANSWER,
THEY'D BE ABLE TO PREDICT THE
RESULTS OF THE
NOVEMBER ELECTION.
I SUSPECT IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF
BOTH.
IN OTHER WORDS, VOTING AGAINST
REPUBLICANS AS A WHOLE, VOTING
SORT OF A VOICE AGAINST TRUMP,
VOTING AGAINST SCOTT WALKER,
PARTICULARLY BECAUSE HE HAD
ENDORSED THE CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENT REFERENDUM.
SO IT IS SIGNIFICANT IN TERMS OF
WHAT'S GOING ON.
>> SO DALLET WON 24 COUNTIES
THAT TRUMP WON IN 2016.
WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THAT?
>> WELL, PARTLY IT GOES BACK TO
OUR CONVERSATION ABOUT TURNOUT.
IN OTHER WORDS, A PRESIDENTIAL
TURNOUT IS ALWAYS THE HIGH
WATERMARK EVERY FOUR YEARS.
AND THESE SPRING ELECTIONS TEND
TO BE THE LOW WATERMARK.
THE FACT THAT IT WAS ABOVE
AVERAGE IS AN INDICATION THAT
MORE DEMOCRATS WERE VOTING.
IN WISCONSIN POLITICS, THE
HIGHER THE TURNOUT, THE MORE IT
SKEWS LEFT.
THE LOWER THE TURNOUT, THE MORE
IT SKEWS TO THE RIGHT.
AND IN PARTICULAR I THINK
DALLET'S FOUND SOMETHING THAT NO
DEMOCRAT IN WISCONSIN HAD FOUND
SO FAR.
SHE FOUND A WAY TO TALK ABOUT
VALUES.
AFTER ALL, IF YOU THINK ABOUT
WISCONSIN POLITICS FOR THE LAST
10 OR 15 YEARS, IT WAS
REPUBLICANS WHO TALKED ABOUT
VALUES, SOCIAL VALUES, FAMILY
VALUES.
IT WAS LIKE THEY HAD A MONOPOLY
ON VALUES AND THE DEMOCRATS WERE
JUST SORT OF EMPTY.
SHE FOUND A WAY TO TALK ABOUT
VALUES IN A WAY THAT SOLIDIFIED
THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE
VOTERS.
THEY FELT COMFORTABLE WITH THOSE
VALUES.
I THINK DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO
TRY TO LEARN FROM THAT.
>> SPEAKING OF VALUES,
REPUBLICANS IN THIS RAISED HER
VALUES WERE PARTISAN POSITIONS.
BUT SHE HAD JOE BIDEN, ERIC
HOLDER.
MICHAEL SCRENOCK HAD MONEY FROM
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
WAS CANDIDATE TIM BURNS RIGHT?
IS IT A CHARADE TO BELIEVE THAT
THESE RACES ARE NONPARTISAN?
>> IT REALLY IS.
IT'S A DE FACTO PARTISAN RACE.
AND IT'S A SHAME.
THE RACES FOR SUPREME COURT WERE
NOT WITH SUCH A CLOSE PARTISAN
IDENTIFICATION.
THE PROBLEM WITH NONPARTISAN
ELECTIONS IS THAT IT CONFUSES
THE VOTERS ABOUT WHO'S ON WHICH
TEAM.
YOU VOTE FOR COUNTY BOARD.
IS YOUR SUPERVISOR ON THE
OPPOSITION TEAM OR THE RULING
GOVERNING COALITION?
SO MAYBE THE WHOLE IDEA OF
NONPARTISAN ELECTIONS HAS NOT
WORKED OUT THE WAY REFORMERS
THOUGHT IT WOULD.
>> MORDECAI LEE, THANK YOU, AS
ALWAYS.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
THANKS FOR INVITING ME.
>> PRESIDENT TRUMP'S PLAN TO
IMPOSE TARIFFS ON CHINESE
ALUMINUM AND STEEL WAS MET THIS
WEEK WITH CHINA'S OWN PLAN TO
TARGET A GROWING LIST OF U.S.
AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS, TWO ITEMS
IN PARTICULAR: CRANBERRIES AND
GINSENG.
THE LATTER ACCOUNTED FOR $20
MILLION IN STATE SALES IN 2016.
AND 98% OF ALL GINSENG EXPORTED
FROM THE U.S. IS PRODUCED IN THE
BADGER STATE, MOSTLY IN MARATHON
COUNTY, WHERE BOB KALDUNSKI
JOINS US NOW.
HE WAS IN CHINA MEETING WITH
POTENTIAL NEW DISTRIBUTORS WITH
NEWS BROKE OF THAT COUNTRY'S
RETALIATORY MEASURES.
BOB, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> YES.
YOU'RE WELCOME.
THANK YOU.
GLAD TO BE HERE.
>> SO WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO
THESE CHINESE TARIFFS?
>> AT FIRST WE WEREN'T QUITE
SURE WHAT TO THINK OF IT.
WE DO HAVE A TARIFF ALREADY.
THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT DOES HAVE
A TARIFF ON OUR JEN SENG JOIN SENG COMING GINSENG COMING
IN.
IT DOES VARY.
BUT IT SEEMS THERE ARE DIFFERENT
WORDS ON THE TARIFF ALREADY
EXISTING.
IT'S ABOUT 15% CURRENTLY.
THERE'S A 5% VAT TAX.
ABOVE THAT NOW WE'RE GOING TO
GET ANOTHER 15%.
SO OUR CONCERN IS WE ALREADY
HAVE THE GINSENG THAT IS -- IT'S
A PREMIUM PRODUCT.
IT'S THE JOIN SENG GINSENG THE CONSUMER
PREFERS.
NOW WE'VE PUT ANOTHER 15% ON TOP
OF THAT.
WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THE
CONSUMER WILL TURN AND LOOK TO A
CHEAPER SOURCE OF GINSENG.
>> SO HOW MUCH COULD THAT HURT
WISCONSIN FARMERS, THIS
ADDITIONAL TARIFF?
>> IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO SAY
AT THIS POINT.
THE WAY OUR INDUSTRY IS --
OPERATES, OUR INDUSTRY, WE ARE A
CROP.
IT'S A THREE TO FOUR OR
FIVE-YEAR CROP THAT'S PLANTED.
SO, YOU KNOW, OUR CROPS ARE IN
THE GROUND.
WE HARVEST IN FALL, LATE FALL.
AND OUR CROP DOES NOT HIT THE
MARKET OR IS NOT PURCHASED, GO
THROUGH THE MARKET UNTIL
NOVEMBER, DECEMBER.
SO WE'RE ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS OUT
FROM THAT KIND OF A MARKET.
MOST OF THIS YEAR'S CROP HAS
ALREADY BEEN PURCHASED AND
DISTRIBUTED.
THE CHINESE, THE BIG CHINESE --
THE CULTURE IS THEY GIFT, A LOT
OF GIFTING.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO
SEE THE BIGGEST DECREASE, WE
FEEL.
AGAIN, WE'RE NOT CERTAIN HOW
IT'S GOING TO EXACTLY AFFECT THE
MARKET.
BUT CHRISTMAS, THE NEW YEAR.
THE CHINESE NEW YEAR, GIFTING IS
VERY POPULAR.
THE E-COMMERCE IS A BIG PART OF
THAT.
AND THE OTHER PART OF THAT IS
ALSO THE CONSUMER HERE IN THE
UNITED STATES, THE FAMILIES,
THEY COME OVER HERE, VISIT, AND
THEY BUY, PURCHASE, TAKE GIFTS
BACK.
OR THEY DO PURCHASE IN THE CHINA
MARKET AND GIFT IT.
SO IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT AT THIS
POINT HOW IT'S GOING TO AFFECT
US, HOW MUCH.
WE'RE NOT CERTAIN YET WHAT'S
GOING TO BE AND HOW IT'S ALL
GOING TO PLAY OUT YET.
>> YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW
WISCONSIN GINSENG IS KIND OF A
PREMIUM PRODUCT.
WHY IS THAT AND HOW IS IT
DIFFERENT FROM WHAT'S PRODUCED
IN ASIAN COUNTRIES?
>> THE GINSENG THAT THE UNITED
STATES OR WISCONSIN GINSENG IS
PREMIUM BECAUSE IT CARRIES
TYPICALLY A HIGHER GINOCIDE.
THAT'S THE BIT BITTERNESS.
IT'S THE YOING YING TO THE YANG.
THAT'S BECAUSE OF OUR RICH SOILS
THAT THE GLACIERS HAVE DEPOSITED
IN THE PAST.
IT'S SLOW-GROWING.
THEY RECOGNIZE THAT AS THE
PRODUCT OF CHOICE FOR WHEN
THEY'RE USING IT FOR THEIR
HEALTH BENEFITS.
THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> THE CHINESE IMPOSITION OF
THESE TARIFFS WAS APPARENTLY
RETALIATORY FOR THOSE THE U.S.
IMPOSED.
EVEN TODAY THE SIDES ARE
RATCHETING UP THE TARIFF
THREATS.
WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS GROWING
TRADE WAR?
>> I'M GOING TO LET THAT UP TO
THE POLITICIANS.
THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN SAY OR
DO.
WE ARE A $20 MILLION PLUS
EXPORT.
IT'S SMALL COMPARED TO OTHER
COMMODITIES THAT ARE BEING
EXCHANGED.
I GUESS SOME OF THE THINGS WE
WANT TO FOCUS ON NOW THAT IT'S
BEEN BROUGHT TO LIGHT IS THAT
THERE'S ISSUES WITH LABELING,
ISSUES WITH EXPORT/IMPORT.
WE'D LIKE TO BRING THAT TO LIGHT
AND RIDE THIS WITH OUR
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND
SEE IF WE CAN'T CORRECT THOSE
THINGS TO HELP OUR INDUSTRY.
THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO,
THAT WE CAN HELP OUR ENTRY INDUSTRY
DO.
I PERSONALLY DO THINK THAT THE
INTREEL OR THE TRADEINDUSTRY OR THE TRADE WAR,
THEY'LL WORK IT OUT, AND MY
HOPE, WE'LL BE BETTER TRADE
PARTNERS AT THE END OF THIS.
BUT RIGHT NOW I'M NOT SURE WHAT
WE CAN DO TO CHANGE IT
OURSELVES.
>> YEAH.
WHAT ARE YOU TELLING GROWERS AND
THOSE CONNECTED TO THE GINSENG
TRADE IN WISCONSIN ABOUT ALL OF
THIS?
>> MOSTLY WE'RE TELLING THE
GROWERS JUST BE PATIENT.
WE REALLY DON'T KNOW THE EFFECT
OF THIS YET.
THOUGH IF IT DOES STAY, WE DO
FEEL THERE WILL BE SOME DOWNWARD
PRESSURE.
BUT WE ALSO ARE GETTING WORD
FROM PURCHASER/BUYERS THAT
THEY'RE NOT REALLY TALKING ABOUT
IT.
THEY'RE NOT USING IT AT THIS
POINT.
THEY'RE SAYING THERE WILL BE A
DECREASE IN THE PRICE.
I GUESS OUR FEAR WOULD BE IS IF
IT WERE TO BE LONG-TERM, THE
PIPELINE OR THE DISTRIBUTION OF
GINSENG COULD KIND OF SLOW UP
AGAIN WHICH WOULD PUT PRESSURE
ON THE PRICE TO GO DOWN.
GINSENG IS DEFINITELY A SUPPLY
AND DEMAND COMMODITY.
>> WE'LL BE WATCHING.
GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE GROWERS AND
PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE BUSINESS.
BOB KALDUNSKI, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> A CLOSER LOOK NOW AT
POTENTIAL CHANGES TO THE FEDERAL
PROGRAM THAT FEEDS PEOPLE.
OVER 650,000 PEOPLE IN WISCONSIN
RECEIVE FOOD STAMPS OR, AS THE
PROGRAM IS CALLED HERE,
FOODSHARE.
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS
LOOKED AT CUTTING THOSE
BENEFITS.
AT ONE POINT SUGGESTING
PROVIDING RECIPIENTS WITH
NONPERISHABLE FOOD BOXES INSTEAD
OF MONEY TO PURCHASE ITEMS AT A
GROCERY STORE.
MARISA WOJCIK REPORTS ON MOW HOW
THIS AGREEMENT HAS STALLED
PROGRESS ON THE NEW FARM BILL,
WHICH FUNDS THE SUPPLEMENTAL
NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
>> BIPARTISAN TALKS AROUND THE
2018 FARM BILL HAVE SLOWED
RECENTLY, IN PART BECAUSE
REPUBLICANS ARE LOOKING TO TRIM
THE FEDERAL DEFICIT BY MAKING
CUTS TO FOOD ASSISTANCE.
WHAT USED TO BE KNOWN AS FOOD
STAMPS IS NOW THE SUPPLEMENTAL
NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, OR
SNAP.
THAT MAKES UP 80% OF SPENDING
REPRESENTED IN THE FARM BILL.
BUDGET CUTS TO SNAP COULD BE A
MOVING TARGET BECAUSE, AS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FEEDING
WISCONSIN SAYS, THE COST OF
PROVIDING SNAP GOES UP OR DOWN
DEPENDING ON THE NEED.
>> WHEN PEOPLE ARE POOR AND WHEN
THEY NEED HELP AND WHEN THEY'RE
INCOME-ELIGIBLE, THEY QUALIFY
FOR BENEFITS.
THAT'S WHY THE PROGRAM IS IS
DESCRIBED AS BEING LASTING.
>> THE PEAK 46 MILLION AMERICANS
RECEIVED SNAP BENEFITS WHEN THE
COUNTRY WAS STILL IN ECONOMIC
RECOVERY.
SINCE THEN THAT NUMBER HAS
DROPPED BY 13% AND THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT HAS DISTRIBUTED
ZILLION 12$12MILLION LESS IN SNAP BENEFITS.
HOUSE SPEAKER PAUL RYAN SAYS HE
EXPECTS MORE.
HE STATES ON HIS WEBSITE THAT
SNAP INCREASINGLY SERVES AS A
REPLACEMENT TO WORK AND SHOULD
BE REFORMED TO IMPROVE WORK
REQUIREMENTS.
AS FOR REPLACING FOOD STAMPS
WITH A FOOD BOX, THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT ALREADY DOES THAT FOR
SENIORS.
BUT THERE'S ALSO CONCERN THAT
THOSE BOXES MADE UP OF SURPLUS
COMMODITIES THAT INCLUDE CANS OF
VEGGIES, CHEESE, PROTEIN, JUICE,
DRY MILK, CEREAL AND PASTA,
COULD BE DISCONTINUED.
THE PROPOSAL TO REPLACE SNAP
BENEFITS WITH WHAT'S REFERRED TO
AS AMERICA'S HARVEST BOX WOULD
NOT INCLUDE FRESH FOODS.
>> FROM EVERYTHING WE KNOW AND
EVERYTHING WE'VE BEEN HEARING
ABOUT, IT IS A COMMODITY FOOD
BOX, WHICH IS A STAPLE BOX OF
COMMODITY GOODS.
>> MANY OF THE LOGISTICS BEHIND
PACKAGING AND DISTRIBUTING THE
BOXES WOULD FALL ONTO FOOD
BANKS.
>> THAT'S ONE CHALLENGE, THE
SHEER QUANTITY THAT WOULD BE
REQUIRED IN THE HARVEST BOX.
WE ESTIMATE MAYBE 50,000 BOXES
WOULD BE NECESSARY IN THE 16
COUNTIES WE SERVE.
>> MEANWHILE, AS DISAGREEMENTS
AMONG LAWMAKERS IN WASHINGTON
CONTINUE, THE 2014 FARM BILL IS
SET TO EXPIRE AT THE END OF
SEPTEMBER.
>> AN AL INTERNATIONAL DELEGATION
TOURED WISCONSIN TO SEE HOW THE
STATE IS EMBRACING
TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE.
FIRST LADY TONETTE WALKER
TRAVELED WITH A GROUP FROM OSLO,
NORWAY TO VISIT LOCATIONS IN
WAUPACA, KESHENA AND MILWAUKEE
TO SEE HOW SUCH CARE IS BEING
IMPLEMENTED IN SOCIAL SERVICE,
AND SCHOOL SETTINGS.
THEY MADE STOPS IN MADISON,
INCLUDING AT A PRESCHOOL WHICH
HELPS YOUNG STUDENTS FROM
DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS FLOURISH AND
LEARN.
>> THE PLAYING FIELD SCHOOL IN
MADISON OPENED ITS DOORS IN
2016.
THIS WEEK, THE SCHOOL OPENED ITS
DOORS TO VISITING POLICYMAKERS
AND EDUCATORS FROM NORWAY.
THEY CAME TO SEE HOW A NURTURING
STAFF GUIDES CHILDREN RANGING IN
AGE FROM INFANT TO PRECIE PRE-K IN THE
LESSONS OF TRUST, CARING AND
EMOTIONAL CONNECTIONS.
>> YOU WANT TO FIX MY HAIR?
>> THE SCHOOL SAYS ITS MODEL IS
INTENTIONALLY BUILT TO PROMOTE
ATTACHMENT BETWEEN CHILD AND
CAREGIVER TO BUILD RESILIENCE.
MANY OF THE CHILDREN THERE HAVE
TRAUMA IN THEIR LIVES, WHETHER
HOMELESSNESS OR BEING REMOVED
FROM PARENTS.
THEY PLAY AND LEARN ALONGSIDE
CHILDREN FROM ALL ECONOMIC
BACKGROUNDS.
THE METHODS ARE GOOD FOR
EVERYONE.
THE VICE-MAYOR OF OSLO DESCRIBED
WHY WISCONSIN IS BECOMING A
MODEL FOR TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE.
>> I THINK MORE AND MORE PEOPLE
ARE ACTUALLY LOOKING TO
WISCONSIN, SEEING THAT, OH, WOW,
SOMETHING IS HAPPENING THERE.
AND IT WOARKS.
>> WE ASKED THE PLAYING FIELD'S
DIRECTOR WHETHER SHE'S SURPRISED
HER PRESCHOOL IS BEING HELD OUT
FOR INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION.
>> I THINK IT'S KIND OF
UNEXPECTED, THAT WE WOULD -- I
MEAN, WE KNEW WHEN WE STARTED WE
WANTED TO BUILD A MODEL PROGRAM
AND I KNOW THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING
IS AHEAD OF THE CURVE.
BUT IT'S KINDS OF SURPRISING TO
GET THAT KIND OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT
AND THAT RECOGNITION.
>> IT'S A RAINBOW!
RED, ORANGE.
>> THE WISCONSIN TOUR FOR THE
VISITING NORWEGIANS WAS
REGARDING TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE.
NOW TO THE CONTROVERSY
SURROUNDING SINCLAIR BROADCAST
GROUP.
THEY OWN TELEVISION STATIONS
THAT REACH 40% OF AMERICAN
HOUSEHOLDS.
THIS WEEK A COMPILATION VIDEO OF
THE COMPANY'S PRESCRIPTED AND
SOME SAY PARTISAN MUST USE
ANNOUNCEMENT SURFACED.
THE COMPANY REQUIRED LOCAL
ANCHORS TO READ THE ANNOUNCEMENT
ON ERR.
IT CONTAINED LANGUAGE THAT
LEGITIMIZES THE IDEA OF FAKE
NEWS.
>> BIASED AND FALSE NEWS HAS
BECOME ALL TOO COMMON ON MEDIA.
SOME PUBLISH STORIES WITHOUT
CHECKING THE FACTS FIRST.
>> WE TAKE THIS UP WITH MEDIA
SCHOLAR AND UW-MADISON SCHOOL OF
JOURNALISM PROFESSOR LEW
FRIEDLAND.
SIN CLIERSINCLAIR HAD THEIR TV ANCHORS
READ THIS.
WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THAT?
>> WELL, MY FIRST REACTION IS IS
THAT IT'S -- SINCLAIR IS TAKING
THIS A BRIDGE FURTHER THAN IT
ALREADY HAS.
AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, THEY HAVE
MUST CARRIES THAT COME OUT OF
THEIR MARYLAND HEADQUARTERS
MULTIPLE TIMES A WEEK, AT LEAST
NINE TIMES A WEEK JUST FOR
EDITORIALS.
SO IT WASN'T ANYTHING COMPLEETLYCOMPLEET
-- COMPLETELY NEW.
BUT IT IS TO MY KNOWLEDGE IN THE
HISTORY OF BROADCASTING FOR ONE
CENTRAL GROUP TO HAVE ALL OF ITS
ANCHORS READ A CLEARLY POLITICAL
STATEMENT SIMULTANEOUSLY ON 173
STATIONS, IT'S NEVER HAPPENED
BEFORE.
>> SO YOU SAY THAT IT'S CLEARLY
POLITICAL.
COULD NOT IT BE CONSTRUED AS
WE'RE JUST SAYING THAT WE REPORT
THE FACTS AS WE DO OUR DUE
DILIGENCE AS JOURNALISTS?
>> SURE.
I MEAN, I THINK IT WAS WRITTEN
IN A WAY TO GIVE THEM A CERTAIN
LEVEL OF DENIABILITY.
BUT THE FACTS DON'T REALLY
SUPPORT THAT.
THE STATEMENT ITSELF CLEARLY
CONFORMS WITH THE POLITICAL LINE
THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS
SPOKESPERSONS HAVE BEEN
PROMULGATING FOR VIRTUALLY SINCE
BEFORE THE ELECTION, THAT THE
NEWS IS FAKE.
THERE'S FAKE NEWS OUT THERE.
YOU CAN'T TRUST WHAT'S ON NEWS.
AND THAT'S NOT REALLY A KIND OF
NEUTRAL STATEMENT, TO BE HONEST.
>> HOW, YOU WERE A COMMERCIAL
NEWS EXECUTIVE IN WISCONSIN.
HAD CORPORATE TOLD YOU THAT YOU
HAD TO AIR SUCH A THING, WHAT
WOULD YOU HAVE DONE?
>> YOU KNOW, I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT
THAT, AND I HAD A YOUNG CHILD AT
THE TIME, WHEN I WAS EXEC IN
MILWAUKEE.
I'D LIKE TO THINK I WOULD HAVE
QUIT.
IT'S EASY TO SAY FOR ME NOW.
BUT I WOULD HAVE -- I WOULD HOPE
I WOULD HAVE QUIT.
>> SINCLAIR HAS SIX STATIONS IN
THE WISCONSIN TELEVISION MARKET,
ONE OF WHICH IS IN MADISON,
WHICH APPARENTLY DEFIED THE MUST
USE ORDER AND DID NOT AIR THIS
THING.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO
HAPPEN TO THEM?
>> IT'S INTERESTING.
THE STATION IS UNDER MANAGEMENT
OF A VERY AWARD-WINNING, SOLID
NEWS OPERATION HERE IN MADISON.
SO THEY AREN'T REALLY AN
INDEPENDENT SINCLAIR NEWS
OPERATION IN THAT SENSE.
THEY MIGHT LOSE THEIR CONTRACT
AT SOME POINT.
I DON'T KNOW.
BUT THAT'S PURELY SPECULATIVE, I
HAVE TO SAY.
>> NOW, YOU MENTIONED THIS A
LITTLE BIT EARLIER, BUT, AGAIN,
THIS KIND OF ISN'T NEW FOR
SINCLAIR.
THEY MANDATE THESE EDITORIALS BY
DONALD TRUMP'S FORMER CAMPAIGN
ADVISER.
DOES THIS BLUR THE LINE BETWEEN
NEWS, AND OPINION, AND POLITICS?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
IT COMPLETELY BLURS THE LINE
BETWEEN NEWS, OPINION AND
POLITICS.
AND WE THINK THE IMPORTANT ISSUE
TO THINK ABOUT HERE IS THAT,
YES, WE'VE HAD FOX NEWS, WE'VE
HAD MSNBC, WE HAVE THE CABLE
ENVIRONMENT, WE HAVE NEWSPAPERS
WHERE THE LINES HAVE BEEN
BLURRING, CABLE CERTAINLY FOR 20
PLUS YEARS.
BUT THESE ARE LOCAL
BROADCASTERS.
THESE AIRWAVES ARE OWNED BY THE
PUBLIC.
THEY'RE NOT OWNED BY SINCLAIR.
THEY'RE NOT OWNED BY THE LOCAL
STATIONS.
THE STATION IS NOT OWNED BY THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN.
IT'S OWNED BY THE AMERICAN
PUBLIC.
AND THEY HOLD THOSE AIRWAVES IN
TRUST.
IT'S A PUBLIC TRUST.
THEY DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO
SIMPLY PROPAGATE POLITICAL
VIEWPOINTS IN A VERY LIMITED
BROADCAST SPACE IN LOCAL
COMMUNITIES AT WILL.
AND THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE.
>> YOU SAY THEY DON'T HAVE THE
RIGHT.
ARE THERE LAWS REGARDING THIS?
>> THAT'S AN INTERESTING
QUESTION.
THERE ARE -- THE FAIRNESS
DOCTRINE WAS REPEALED UNDER MARK
FOULER, PRESIDENT REAGAN'S SEC
CHAIR.
I BELIEVE '87 IT COULD HAVE
BEEN.
I NEED TO CHECK MY YEAR.
BUT -- SO SINCE THEN STATIONS
HAVE NOT BEEN REQUIRED TO AIR
BALANCED VIEWPOINTS.
HOWEVER, THERE IS STILL A PUBLIC
TRUST OBLIGATION.
THERE'S STILL A LICENSING
OBLIGATION.
AND THERE'S STILL THE DOCTRINE
OF LOCALISM, WHICH SAYS THAT
STATIONS HAVE TO OPERATE IN THE
INTEREST OF THEIR LOCAL
COMMUNITY.
SO I BELIEVE IT WOULDN'T -- THE
ISSUE ON THE TABLE HERE IS
WHETHER CROWDING OUT LOCAL NEWS
FOR NATIONAL NEWS, AND NOT ONLY
NATIONAL NEWS, BUT NATIONAL
OPINION THAT SKEWS SIGNIFICANTLY
TO ONE SIDE OF THE POLITICAL
SPECTRUM, IS ACTUALLY SERVING
LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
THERE'S SOME NEW EVIDENCE THAT
SUGGESTS THAT IT'S NOT.
>> VERY BRIEFLY, LESS THAN 30
SECONDS LEFT, THERE'S A MERGER
IN THE WORKS, TOO, BETWEEN
SINCLAIR AND TRIBUNE MEDIA,
WHICH WOULD MAKE SINCLAIR EVEN
BIGGER, REACHING LIKE THREE OF
FOUR HOUSEHOLDS IN THE U.S.
SO THIS COULD BE A BLANKET OF
COVERAGE IN THIS REGARD.
>> THEY WOULD BE THE LARGEST
BROADCAST -- THEY ARE THE
LARGEST BROADCAST GROUP IN THE
UNITED STATES.
THEY WOULD BECOME THE LARGEST BY
FAR, MORE THAN DOUBLING THEIR
CURRENT REACH.
I THINK THAT EVERY AMERICAN HAS
TO ASK THEMSELVES DO YOU WANT
ONE COMPANY IN 215 COMMUNITIES
IN THE UNITED STATES
BROADCASTING WHAT IS EFFECTIVELY
TRULY ONE-SIDED OPINION FOR ONE
POLITICAL PARTY.
>> PROFESSOR LEW FRIEDLAND,
THANK YOU VEER MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NOW FOR AN UPDATE OUT OF
MILWAUKEE, WHERE THE MILWAUKEE
PUBLIC SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT
RESIGNED THIS WEEK FOR A JOB AS
CEO OF UNITED WAY IN
SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN.
DARIENNE DRIVER, WHO HAS BEEN
HEAD OF MILWAUKEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
SINCE 2014 CALLED THE MOVE
BITTERSWEET.
IN A STATEMENT, DRIVER SAYS OF
THE MILWAUKEE COMMUNITY THAT SHE
HAS, QUOTE, GREAT ADMIRATION FOR
SO MANY OF YOU AND AM PROUD OF
THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS WE RECEIVED
TOGETHER.
DRIVER WILL RETURN TO DETROIT,
WHERE SHE BEGAN HER CAREER AS A
TEACHER.
AND THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR
TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
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WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
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AND NOW'S" 2018 ELECTION
COVERAGE, GO