>> A PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PART OF
OUR "HERE AND NOW" 2020 ELECTION
COVERAGE.
>> KENOSHA, ANOTHER BLACK MAN
SHOT BY POLICE.
VIOLENT PROTESTS LEAD TO MORE
GUNFIRE AND TWO PEOPLE DEAD.
AN UNDERAGE VIGILANTE CHARGED
WITH THEIR MURDER.
AND WISCONSIN TAKES A PLACE AT
THE GOP NATIONAL CONVENTION IN
THE PARTY'S CALL FOR LAW AND
ORDER.
>> I PROFOUNDLY ACCEPT THIS
NOMINATION FOR PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," THE
LATEST ON THE TRAGEDY IN
KENOSHA.
AND A CONVERSATION WITH ATTORNEY
GENERAL JOSH KAUL.
WE'LL RECAP THE GOP NATIONAL
CONVENTION WITH FORMER
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR REBECCA
KLEEFISCH AND HEAR ABOUT THE
COVETED RURAL WISCONSIN VOTE
FROM A PARTY LEADER IN WAUSAU.
PLUS, A POST-CONVENTION TALK
WITH OUR POLITICAL PANELISTS
MCCOSHEN AND ROSS.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
AUGUST 28.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> NATIONAL ATTENTION WAS DRAWN
TO KENOSHA THIS WEEK AS POLICE
SHOT JACOB BLAKE, A 29-YEAR-OLD
BLACK MAN, SEVEN TIMES IN THE
BACK.
WILL KENNEALLY REPORTS ON THE
ENSUING PROTESTS AND CALLS FOR
CHANGE.
>> A BLACK MAN SHOT BY POLICE,
AN ALL-TOO FAMILIAR STORY
HAPPENED IN KENOSHA, ATTRACTING
GLOBAL ATTENTION ONCE AGAIN.
>> THEY SHOT MY SON.
SEVEN TIMES.
LIKE HE DIDN'T MATTER.
BUT MY SON MATTERS.
>> POLICE WERE TRYING TO ARREST
JACOB BLAKE, SHOOTING HIM AS HE
ENTERED HIS CAR.
HE SURVIVED, BUT HIS FAMILY SAID
HE'S PARALYZED AND THE INCIDENT
SENT KENOSHA REELING.
PROTESTS CONTINUED THROUGHOUT
THE WEEK, RANGING FROM PEACEFUL
TO VIOLENT.
>> PLEASE CLEAR THE ROADWAY.
>> CULMINATING TUESDAY NIGHT
WHEN A 17-YEAR-OLD WAS SHOWN ON
VIDEO FATALLY SHOOTING TWO.
HE FACES TWO COUNTS OF MURDER.
>> EVERYBODY INVOLVED WAS OUT
AFTER THE CURFEW.
I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE A GREAT
DEAL OF THAT.
BUT THE POINT IS THE CURFEW IS
IN PLACE TO PROTECT.
HAD PERSONS NOT BEEN OUT IN
VIOLATION OF THAT, PERHAPS THE
SITUATION THAT UNFOLDED WOULD
NOT HAVE HAPPENED.
>> TENSIONS WERE FURTHER RAISED
BY IMAGES OF POLICE HANDING OUT
WATER TO ARMED MILITIA AT THE
PROTESTS.
THE EROSION OF TRUST LED DEM
DEMONSTRATORS TO CALL FOR
CHANGE.
>> THERE'S NO PROOF.
THERE'S MULTIPLE WITNESSES.
WE DON'T TRUST THE SYSTEM.
>> THE SYSTEM, THE SYSTEM, THE
SYSTEM IS BROKEN.
>> MICHAEL BELL LOST HIS SON TO
A KENOSHA POLICE SHOOTING IN
2004.
SINCE THEN, HE HAS WORKED TO
REFORM HOW POLICE INVESTIGATIONS
ARE HANDLED.
>> THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT
TO HAVE AN OUTSIDE AGENCY
CONDUCT THIS.
SO IF YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW
THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT'S GOINGO
YOU HAVE TO DO THAT.
>> THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE IS LEADING THE
INVESTIGATION INTO THE SHOOTING.
IT WAS ANNOUNCED EARLIER THAT
THE FBI WOULD LAUNCH ITS OWN
CIVIL RIGHTS INVESTIGATION.
>> HAVING TOPNOTCH INVESTIGATORS
WHO HANDLE A LOT OF THESE CASES
AND ARE EXPERT IN INVESTIGATING
THEM I THINK IS A GOOD PROCESS.
>> THAT IS NOT ENOUGH FOR
PROTESTORS.
>> WE WANT THE OFFICERS WHO SHOT
JACOB BLAKE IN THE BACK, WE WANT
THEM FIRED, WE WANT THEM
ARRESTED, AND WE WANT THEM
PROSECUTED.
>> THE INVESTIGATION COULD TAKE
UP TO 30 DAYS AND WILL
ULTIMATELY BE IN THE HANDS OF
THE KENOSHA DA WHETHER TO FILE
CHARGES AGAINST THE OFFICER.
COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS SAY PEOPLE
CAN TAKE CHANGE INTO THEIR OWN
HANDS BY SHOWING UP TO LOCAL
GOVERNMENT MEETINGS AND
CONTINUING TO PRESSURE
OFFICIALS.
>> RIGHT NOW WE'RE KIND OF STUCK
WITH THE LIST OF OPTIONS THAT
ARE ON THE BALLOT FOR NOVEMBER.
BUT THERE IS ELECTIONS EVERY
YEAR.
PEOPLE HERE, YOU HAVE THE POWER
TO STAND UP AND REPRESENT YOUR
COMMUNITY.
CONSIDER RUNNING FOR OFFICE.
CONSIDER FINDING SOMEBODY TO
REPRESENT YOU.
>> REPORTING FROM KENOSHA, THIS
IS WILL KENNEALLY FOR "HERE AND
NOW."
>> TO CALL PUBLIC ATTENTION TO
CHANGING THE PATTERN AND
PRACTICE OF POLICE OFFICERS, THE
MILWAUKEE BUCKS THIS WEEK
BOYCOTTED ONE OF THEIR GAMES.
THEY HAD A PHONE CALL WITH
WISCONSIN ATTORNEY GENERAL JOSH
KAUL TO UNDERSTAND THE
PARTICULARS OF THE SHOOTING OF
JACOB BLAKE BY A KENOSHA
OFFICER.
THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
IS INVESTIGATING THE SHOOTING OF
JACOB BLAKE AND ATTORNEY GENERAL
JOSH KAUL JOINS US NOW.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO YOU HAVE BEEN SWIFT TO
PROVIDE INVESTIGATIVE DETAIL TO
THE PUBLIC.
HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT IN YOUR
MIND IN THE MIDST OF THE ANGST
AND ANGUISH IN KENOSHA THAT HAS
SPREAD ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY?
>> WE WANT TO BE AS OPEN AND
TRANSPARENT AND SWIFT IN
PROVIDING DETAILS IN THIS
INVESTIGATION TO THE PUBLIC AS
WE CAN BE.
BUT THAT ALSO HAS TO BE BALANCED
TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS
INVESTIGATION IS FULL AND
THOROUGH.
SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE
RELEASING ANY INFORMATION THAT
IN ANY WAY MIGHT UNDERMINE OUR
ABILITY TO CONDUCT THAT KIND OF
INVESTIGATION.
BUT TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN DO
THAT CONSISTENT WITH MAKING SURE
THE INVESTIGATION IS FULL AND
THOROUGH, WE WANT TO DO SO.
>> WHAT IS THE LATEST STATUS ON
YOUR INVESTIGATION INTO THE
POLICE OFFICER WHO SHOT JACOB
BLAKE SEVEN TIMES IN THE BACK
AND THE OTHER OFFICERS INVOLVED?
FOR EXAMPLE, HAVE YOU DETERMINED
WHY THE OFFICER WOULD SHOOT AND
WAS JACOB BLAKE ARMED?
>> THE INVESTIGATION IS MOVING
FORWARD QUICKLY.
WE HAVE CONDUCTED SEVERAL
MATERIAL WITNESS INTERVIEWS, FOR
EXAMPLE.
EVIDENCE HAS BEEN SENT TO THE
CRIME LABS FOR ANALYSIS.
I'M NOT GOING TO COMMENT ON SOME
OF THE SPECIFICS ON FACTS THAT
ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE
DISPUTED FACTS AT THE CENTER OF
THIS CASE.
BUT WE ARE WORKING TO MOVE THE
INVESTIGATION QUICKLY SO THAT A
DECISION CAN BE MADE AND WE CAN
MOVE FORWARD AS APPROPRIATE.
>> FOR EXAMPLE, YOU WERE
RELEASING TODAY THAT OFFICERS
TRIED TO USE TASERS ON JACOB
BLAKE AND THEY FAILED.
ALSO, THAT THERE WAS A KNIFE IN
THE FLOORBOARDS OF HIS CAMPLET
ARE THOSE ACCURATE THINGS THAT
YOU HAVE RELEASED SO FAR?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
WE'VE BEEN RELEASING INFORMATION
THAT WE THINK IS CLEARLY
ESTABLISHED BASED ON THE FACTS
FROM OUR INVESTIGATION.
BUT WE ALSO ONLY RELEASE THAT
INFORMATION ONCE WE BELIEVED IT
WAS APPROPRIATE BASED ON THE
INTERVIEWS THAT HAD BEEN
CONDUCTED.
WE'RE GOING TO KEEP DOING THAT
AS WE MOVE FORWARD, BECAUSE WE
WANT TO KEEP PEOPLE INFORMED TO
THE EXTENT WE CAN.
IT'S ALSO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT
TO THE INVESTIGATION THAT WE
ONLY DO SO IN A WAY THAT'S
CONSISTENT WITH KEEPING THAT
INVESTIGATION FULL AND THOROUGH.
>> HOW LONG DO YOU EXPECT YOUR
PROBE TO CONTINUE AND WHEN MIGHT
THIS CASE THEN BE HANDED OVER TO
KENOSHA COUNTY FOR ANY CHARGING
DECISIONS?
>> I DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC DATE.
WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS WE'RE
GOING TO CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD
AS SWIFTLY AS WE CAN CONSISTENT
WITH MAKING SURE THAT THE
INVESTIGATION IS CONDUCTED WITH
THE KIND OF INTEGRITY IT NEEDS
TO BE.
>> WILL YOU THEN MAKE A
RECOMMENDATION TO THE DA ON WHAT
THEY CHARGE?
>> OUR PRACTICE IN THESE CASES
IS NOT TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION
TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AS TO
WHETHER THERE SHOULD BE CHARGES
BROUGHT OR NOT, BUT INSTEAD TO
PRESENT THE INFORMATION AS FULLY
AS WE CAN.
OUR GOAL IN THIS CASE, AS IN ANY
CASE, IS TO VIGOROUSLY PURSUE
JUSTICE AND GET TO THE TRUTH OF
ALL THE RELEVANT FACTS.
>> I HAVE KNOW THAT THIS OTHER
CASE THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO TALK
ABOUT IS BEING CHARGED BY
KENOSHA COUNTY.
BUT AS TO THE FATAL SHOOTING OF
TWO DEMONSTRATORS IN THE MIDST
OF THE PROTEST BY AN ILLINOIS
TEENAGE VIGILANTE ARMED WITH
ANAR AN
AR-15, WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO
THAT?
>> IT WAS DESPICABLE.
WE HAVE SEEN VIOLENCE AND ARSON
AND DESTRUCTION OF THINGS IN THE
CITY OF KENOSHA.
AND THAT NEEDS TO STOP.
FORTUNATELY, WE HAVE SEEN A FEW
NIGHTS NOW OF PEACEFUL
PROTESTING RATHER THAN THE KIND
OF VIOLENCE AND DESTRUCTION WE
HAVE SEEN.
BUT THE PEOPLE OF KENOSHA HAVE
BEEN THROUGH VERY TRAUMATIC
EVENTS, NEED THE OPPORTUNITY TO
GRIEVE, TO COME TOGETHER, TO
RAISE THE ISSUES THAT THEY WANT
TO RAISE, TO PROTEST PEACEFULLY,
WITHOUT HAVING PEOPLE WHO ARE IN
MANY CASES FROM OUTSIDE OF
KENOSHA AND EVEN OUTSIDE OF
WISCONSIN, AS THE SHOOTER WHO
YOU JUST MENTIONED IS, COMING IN
TO TRY TO CREATE CHAOS IN THE
CITY OF KENOSHA.
>> IS IT YOUR UNDERSTANDING THAT
THESE ARE ORGANIZED GROUPS OR
SOMEHOW SPURRED BY ORGANIZED
GROUPS TO MOVE INTO THESE KINDS
OF SITUATIONS?
>> AS YOU SAID, THE KENOSHA DA
IS THE ONE PROSECUTING THIS
CASE, BUT I'VE CERTAINLY SEEN
REPORTS INDICATING THAT THERE
WERE EFFORTS TO ORGANIZE PEOPLE
ONLINE AND EXTREMIST VIOLENCE BY
MILITIA GROUPS OR WHITE
SUPREMACISTS IS A REAL ISSUE.
THERE HAVE BEEN INCIDENTS OF
DOMESTIC TERRORISM.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE OUR LAW
ENFORCEMENT ENTITIES ARE
INVESTIGATING THOSE CASES AND,
WHERE APPROPRIATE, BRINGING
PROSECUTIONS.
>> JOSH KAUL, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> SHIFTING FROM KENOSHA TO THE
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION,
LAST WEEK THE PRESIDENT TRIED TO
STEAL THE THUNDER OF THE DNC BY
COMING TO WISCONSIN.
BUT SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER
ZAC SCHULTZ TELLS US WISCONSIN
PLAYED A VERY LIMITED ROLE THIS
WEEK.
>> THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR
JOINING US.
WE SURE WISH YOU WERE HERE WITH
US IN CHARLOTTE.
>> LIKE THE DEMOCRATIC
CONVENTION THE WEEK BEFORE, THE
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION
WAS MOSTLY VIRTUAL, WITH THE
SPEECHES PRETAPED OR PRESENTED
LIVE FROM EVERYWHERE BUT THE
HOST CITY OF CHARLOTTE.
>> WE HAD A NUMBER OF TRAINING
SESSIONS.
>> HOWEVER, SOME DELEGATES, LIKE
WISCONSIN GOP CHAIRMAN ANDREW
HITT, DID ATTEND IN PERSON FOR
THE PURPOSE OF OFFICIALLY
NOMINATING DONALD TRUMP FOR
PRESIDENT.
FORMER WISCONSIN GOVERNOR SCOTT
WALKER READ THE NOMINATION FOR
MIKE PENCE AS VICE PRESIDENT.
>> MR. CHAIRMAN, IT IS MY HONOR
TO NOMINATE OUR FRIEND, MICHAEL
R. PENCE, TO SERVE AS THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY'S 2020
CANDIDATE FOR VICE VICE PRESIDENT OF
THESE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
>> SCOTT WALKER WAS THE ONLY
WISCONSIN POLITICIAN WITH A ROLE
AT THE RNC.
HOWEVER, TWO WISCONSINITES DID
GIVE BRIEF SPEECHES ON TUESDAY.
>> MY NAME IS CHRIS PETERSON.
MY HUSBAND GARY, OUR FAMILY AND
I MILK 1,000 COWS ON A DEAFER
FARM --
DAIRY FARM IN GRANTSBURG.
>> I OWN SCHUETTE METALS.
>> THERE WAS NO MENTION OF
KENOSHA POLICE SHOOTING JACOB
BLAKE IN THE BACK SEVEN TIMES OR
OF THE WHITE VIGILANTE ARRESTED
ON CHARGES OF FIRST DEGREE
INTENTIONAL HOMICIDE AFTER HE
DROVE FROM ILLINOIS WITH A GUN
AND KILLED TWO PEOPLE AND
INJURED A THIRD.
BUT PENCE DID CONDEMN THE
PROTESTORS.
>> SO LET ME BE CLEAR.
THE VIOLENCE MUST STOP, WHETHER
IN MINNEAPOLIS, PORTLAND OR
KENOSHA.
>> REPORTING FROM MADISON, I'M
ZAC SCHULTZ FOR "HERE AND NOW."
>> AS WE'VE SAID, FORMER
REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER
DELIVERED THE NOMINATING SPEECH
FOR VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE.
FORMER LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
REBECCA KLEEFISCH WAS NOT IN
CHARLOTTE, BUT WAS CHEERING THE
TICKET ON FROM WISCONSIN.
SHE JOINS US NOW FROM HER HOME
IN CONCORD.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> INTERESTINGLY, THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY PRESENTED NO NEW 2020
PLATFORM AT THIS CONVENTION
EXCEPT TO SUPPORT THE
PRESIDENT'S AMERICA FIRST
AGENDA.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE WHAT THAT
IS?
>> WELL, I WOULD SAY THE
AMERICANS -- OR AMERICA FIRST
AGENDA IS ABOUT PRIORITIZING OUR
NATIONAL INTERESTS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THE PRESIDENT
SPOKE ABOUT LAST NIGHT IS HOW HE
HAS PRIORITIZED AMERICA ON A
GLOBAL SCALE.
PEOPLE START TO FORGET IN THE
MIDST OF SOME OF THE CULTURAL
DISSENTS THAT WE'VE SEEN AND THE
CORONAVIRUS AND COVID-19 HEALTH
CARE CRISIS THAT TERRORIST
LEADERS ARE DEAD AND THAT WE
HAVE A UNITED
STATES/MEXICO/CANADA AGREEMENT.
WE'RE BRINGING JOBS BACK TO THE
HEARTLAND OF THIS COUNTRY.
THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT I
THINK SOMETIMES GET ROLLED TO
THE BACKS OF OUR MINDS WHEN WE
LOOK AT THE NEWS CYCLE.
>> THERE WAS A LOT MADE,
SPEAKING OF NEWS CYCLES, OF
FACT-CHECKERS BEING KEPT VERY
BUSY DURING THIS CONVENTION.
THE WASHINGTON POST DESCRIBED
THE SPEECHES AS A FIRE HOSE OF
FALSE CLAIMS AND A TSUNAMI OF
UNTRUTHS.
SO HOW ARE VOTERS SUPPOSED TO
SEPARATE FACT FROM FICTION?
>> WELL, I THINK YOU HAVE TO
LOOK AT THE ACTUAL DATA AND THE
ACTUAL STATISTICS.
THE SPEAKERS WHO ARE ON THE RNC
STAGE, JUST LIKE THE SPEAKERS ON
THE DNC STAGE, HAVE FACTS AND
DATA THAT THEY USE IN ORDER TO
BUILD THEIR ARGUMENT FOR
ELECTIONS.
AND I AM A FORMER JOURNALIST, A
RECOVERING JOURNALIST, AND JUST
LIKE YOU, WE EACH AS JOURNALISTS
CHOOSE HOW WE REPRESENT FACTS,
WHAT THINGS MAKE IT INTO THAT
FIRST SENTENCE, WHAT THINGS MAKE
IT INTO THE HEADLINE.
AND I THINK AS RHETORIC SOARS,
SOMETIMES FACTS ARE THERE, BUT
THEN WHEN THE JOURNALISTS CHOOSE
TO PUT THEM THROUGH A FILTER,
THEY DETERMINE THAT WITH A
COUPLE OF TWEAKS, THINGS AREN'T
EXACTLY THE SAME.
I'VE SEEN THIS TIME AND TIME
AGAIN ON POLITIFACT.
>> I HAVE TO MOVE ALONG, BUT NOW
YOU'RE SAYING THAT IT'S THE
FACT-CHECKERS THAT ARE SKEWING
THE FACTS.
BUT SO I ACTUALLY WANT TO MOVE
ALONG TO SOMETHING VERY, VERY
IMPORTANT AS WELL.
THE PRESIDENT'S THEME OF LAW AND
ORDER COMES THROUGH LOUD AND
CLEAR.
BUT HE REALLY HAD NO SPECIFIC
MENTION OF WHAT HAPPENED IN
KENOSHA TO JACOB BLAKE OR ABOUT
THE TEENAGE VIGILANTE NOW
CHARGED WITH MURDERING TWO
DEMONSTRATORS.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ABOUT
WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN KENOSHA,
INCLUDING ABOUT THAT TEENAGE
SHOOTER?
>> PERSONALLY?
MY HEART GOES OUT TO KENOSHA.
I THINK JULIE JACKSON, THE
MOTHER OF JACOB BLAKE, WAS VERY
ELOQUENT IN MAKING THE FAMILY
STATEMENT WHEN SHE ASKED FOR
PEACE AND SHE SAID JACOB WOULD
NOT WANT THIS CIVIL UNREST IN
THE WAKE OF THE SHOOTING.
BUT AS A JOURNALIST, I FIND IT
VERY DISTURBING THAT WE SEE
POLITICIANS COMING OUT AND
TRYING THE COP INVOLVED IN THE
SHOOTING BEFORE THE FACTS HAVE
EVEN BEEN FULLY INVESTIGATED BY
OUR DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
THAT'S DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR IN A
FREE COUNTRY, WHERE WE KNOW THAT
YOU ARE INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN
GUILTY.
AND SOY THINK WE SO WE NEED TO LET THE FACTS
SHAKE OUT.
WE NEED TO PRAY FOR KENOSHA, BE
PRAYERFUL ABOUT THE RECOVERY OF
JACOB BLAKE, KEEP A MIND'S EYE
TO WHAT HIS CHILDREN HAVE SEEN
AND BE VERY HOPEFUL ABOUT CHANGE
IN THE FUTURE.
BUT I THINK ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT THINGS THAT NEEDS TO
COME OUT OF THE KENOSHA
SITUATION IS BODY CAMERAS.
IT'S GOING TO BE VERY
CHALLENGING FOR DOJ TO
INVESTIGATE THIS WHEN KENOSHA
DOES NOT HAVE BODY CAMERAS AND
WHEN PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT
DEFUNDING POLICE, BUT YET THEY
WANT MORE ACCOUNTABILITY AND
TRANSPARENCY.
BODY CAMS GIVE YOU THAT.
>> I HAVE TO ASK YOU ABOUT YOUR
COMMENT ABOUT THE TEEN SHOOTER.
WHAT ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY THERE?
>> OH, I THINK THAT THERE MUST
BE ACCOUNTABILITY.
AND YOU'VE SEEN, THE DA HAS
ALREADY ISSUED CHARGES.
THE INVESTIGATION WILL ENSUE.
IN THIS AGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA
WHERE EVERYBODY IS TAPING THINGS
ON CELL PHONES, WE BECOME JUDGE
AND JURY ON OUR COUCHES AFTER
WATCHING TWITTER AND FACEBOOK.
THAT'S DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR.
WE NEED TO LET DOJ DO ITS JOB.
>> WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
REBECCA KLEEFISCH, THANKS FOR
TAKING YOUR TIME.
>> YOU GOT T.
>> IF WISCONSIN IS CONSIDERED A
CRITICAL BATTLEGROUND IN
NOVEMBER, HOW CENTRAL IS THE
CENTRAL AND NORTHERN PART OF THE
STATE TOWARD SWINGING THE
ELECTION?
PRESIDENT TRUMP CARRIED THE 7TH
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WHICH
ENCOMPASSES NORTHERN WISCONSIN,
BY 20 POINTS IN 2016, WHILE
WINNING THE STATE BY A
RAZOR-THIN ONE PERCENTAGE POINT.
THE SLIGHTEST SWING COULD
MATTER.
WE ARE JOINED NOW BY SOMEONE WHO
KNOWS THE 7TH DISTRICT VERY
WELL.
KEVIN HERMENING IS THE FORMER
MARATHON COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY
CHAIR.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HOW IMPORTANT IS YOUR REGION
TO THE OUTCOME OF THIS
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, IN YOUR
MIND?
>> I THINK THE 1% EQUATED TO
ABOUT 52,000 VOTES.
THAT WAS STATEWIDE IN 2016.
MARATHON COUNTY, RIGHT IN THE
HEART OF THE 7TH DISTRICT
POPULATION-WISE, ACCOUNTED FOR
26,000, OR HALF OF THAT
DIFFERENT REN CHEL FOR
DIFFERENTIAL FOR THE PRESIDENT.
IT APPEARS AS I LOOK AT YARD
SIGNS AND APPARENT ENTHUSIASM,
NOT THAT THE DEMOCRATS AREN'T
ENTHUSIASTIC, BUT THE YARD
SIGNS, THE APPEARANCES ON BEHALF
OF THE CANDIDATES AND OTHERS
HAVE CERTAINLY INDICATED TO ME
THAT IT'S LIKELY TO RESULT IN
ANOTHER BIG WIN FOR THE
PRESIDENT HERE IN THE CENTRAL
WISCONSIN AREA.
>> AS TO THAT RAZOR-THIN MARGIN,
I WANT TO SAY IT WAS EVEN LESS
THAN THAT, SOMETHING LESS THAN
23,000.
SO HENCE OUR BATTLEGROUND
STATUS.
>> YES.
>> YOU HAVE SAID THAT THERE IS
NO WAY JOE BIDEN WINS WHERE YOU
ARE.
BUT WHAT IF HE EVEN NIPS INTO
THE REPUBLICAN NUMBERS THERE?
>> WELL, THAT'S A GREAT
QUESTION, AND ACTUALLY YOU MAKE
AN EXCELLENT POINT, BECAUSE IF
THE DEMOCRATS ARE ABLE TO
INCREASE THEIR NUMBERS IN OTHER
PARTS OF THE STATE, IT MEANS
THAT MAIR MARATHON COUNTY IS GOING TO
HAVE TO HOLD ITS OWN FROM LAST
TIME AND PERHAPS EVEN BOOST THE
NUMBERS.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT FORMER
CONGRESSMAN SEAN DUFFY WAS VERY
WELL-VERSED ON AND PLAYED A BIG
ROLL ON AND CONGRESSMAN TIFFANY
UNDERSTANDS THAT AS WELL.
THAT'S WHY YOU'RE SEEING SO MUCH
ATTENTION BEING PAID HERE.
THAT'S WHY THERE IS A LOCAL AND
IN SOME AREAS THERE ARE TRUMP
HEADQUARTERS AND STAFFERS TRYING
TO TURN OUT THE VOTE AND
IDENTIFY THOSE CRITICAL
UNDECIDED VOTERS.
THEYTHEY'RE THE ONES WHO ARE REALLY
GOING TO DECIDE.
>> NOW, YOU RAN FOR OFFICE
BEFORE IN THAT AREA.
HOW HAS THAT DISICT DISTRICT CHANGED SO
VASTLY OVER THESE YEARS?
>> IT'S VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE
1980s WHEN I RAN FOR CONGRESS
AGAINST CONGRESSMAN DAVE OBEY.
THE REASON IS THAT THE
POPULATION HAS SHIFTED.
THE POPULATION AS GOTTEN OLDER.
WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF
MANUFACTURING JOBS LEAVE THE
AREA OVER THE LAST 35 TO ALMOST
40 YEARS NOW.
PERHAPS MOST CRITICALLY OF ALL,
REDISTRICTING HAS PLAYED A BIG
ROLE IN WHY THE 7TH DISTRICT
REMAINS SO REPUBLICAN.
THAT'S OUR GOAL ON BEHALF OF THE
PRESIDENT.
>> THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION
SHOWED JOE BIDEN AS EMPATHETIC,
WHICH THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION
ALSO SOUGHT TO PORTRAY IN DONALD
TRUMP.
IN YOUR MIND, IS THAT THE
DEFINING CHARACTER FOR THE NEXT
PRESIDENT IN THESE UNCERTAIN AND
TUMULTUOUS TIMES?
>> WELL, I'M NOT HEARING A LOT
ABOUT THAT AS AN IMPORTANT OR
CRITICAL ISSUE, AT LEAST ON THE
REPUBLICAN SIDE.
THE DEMOCRATS PERHAPS ARE
GRASPING AT WHATEVER
OPPORTUNITIES THEY CAN TO PAINT
THE PRESIDENT AS NOT BEING
PARTICULARLY EMPATHETIC.
BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT A RETURN
TO THE STRONG ECONOMY EARLIER
THIS YEAR THAT THE PRESIDENT HAD
PRESIDED OVER PLAYED A BIG ROLE
IN THAT, AS WELL AS WHETHER OR
NOT WE CAN REMAIN A STRONG
PRESENCE ON THE WORLD STAGE.
>> KEVIN HERMENING, WE NEED TO
LEAVE IT THERE.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
HAVE A GREAT DAY.
>> YOU TOO.
CONVENTION INSIGHT AND ELECTION
FORESIGHT WITH BILL MCCOSHEN AND
SCOT ROSS.
SO I'M GOING TO START WITH YOU,
BILL.
HOW WOULD YOU GRADE THE
CONVENTIONS IN TERMS OF GIVING A
BOOST TO THEIR RESPECTIVE
CANDIDATES?
>> WELL, I'D GIVE DEMOCRATS A C.
IT WAS MORE LIKE A ZOOM CHAT
ROOM.
THEY USED HOLLYWOOD ELITES AND
POLITICIANS.
I GIVE REPUBLICANS A SOLID A
BECAUSE THEY HAD REAL PEOPLE,
REAL STORIES.
THEY WERE TALKING LANGUAGES AND
TO PEOPLE THAT CARE ABOUT ISSUES
IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
I GIVE THEM A SOLID A FOR SURE.
>> WHAT ABOUT YOU, SCOTT?
>> I'D GIVE THE DEMOCRATS A A
MINUS FOR TALKING ABOUT ISSUES
THAT MATTER TO PEOPLE, WHETHER
IT'S HEALTH CARE, THE PANDEMIC,
ECONOMY.
ON THE REPUBLICANS, I THINK ON
SUBSTANCE IN TERMS OF TRUTH, I
GIVE THEM AN F.
THEN ON TALKING ABOUT ISSUES
THAT PEOPLE CARE ABOUT, I'D GIVE
THEM AN INCOMPLETE.
THAT'S WHAT I'D DO.
YEAH.
THAT'S THE WAY I'D SEE IT.
>> HAS WHAT'S HAPPENED IN
KENOSHA KIND OF OVERSHADOWED
PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS FOR
WISCONSIN, BILL?
>> I THINK IT'S NOW DRIVING
PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS.
THERE WAS A NEW POLL OUT THIS
MORNING THAT HAD DONALD TRUMP
WITH A ONE-POINT LEAD IN THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN, HAD HIM TIED
IN MINNESOTA AND LEADING IN
MICHIGAN.
SO I THINK KENOSHA IS GOING TO
BE A BIG DEAL.
HERE'S THE REASON, FRED.
PEOPLE IN WISCONSIN DIDN'T
REALLY RELATE TO WHAT WAS GOING
ON IN SEATTLE OR PORTLAND.
BUT WHAT IT HAPPENS IN KENOSHA
IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD, THAT MEANS
SOMETHING TO YOU.
AND I THINK IT'S A BAD SIGN FOR
DEMOCRATS.
THEY DIDN'T REACT SOON ENOUGH,
INCLUDING OUR GOVERNOR, WHO GOT
EX CORE EIGHTED BY THE KENOSHA
NEWS YESTERDAY FOR HIS LACK OF
ACTION ON THIS THING.
AND IT WILL PLAY A FACTOR IN THE
PRESIDENTIAL RACE FOR THE NEXT
COUPLE WEEKS, MAYBE LONGER.
>> SCOTT, WHAT DO YOU THINK
ABOUT THAT, A BUTCH BUMP FOR DONALD
TRUMP OUT OF KENOSHA.
>> AN UNARMED BLACK MAN WAS SHOT
SEVEN TIMES BY POLICE WHEN HE
WAS ABSOLUTELY NO THREAT.
THIS CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM.
THIS IS WHY THESE UPRISINGS ARE
HAPPENING.
AS JACOB BLAKE'S FATHER SAID
TODAY IN WASHINGTON D.C.,
THERE'S ONE JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR
WHITE PEOPLE AND ONE JUSTICE
SYSTEM FOR BLACK PEOPLE.
DEMOCRATS AND INDEPENDENTS ARE
RECOGNIZING THAT AND THEY'RE
SAYING ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
ON THE OTHER HAND, DONALD TRUMP
JUST CONTINUES TO TRY AND DIVIDE
AND STOKE THIS.
HE WANTS TO DO THAT TO GET
REELECTED.
I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO
WORK.
I DON'TI THINK THE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO
DO THE RIGHT THING.
>> REPUBLICANS SPOKE TO THEIR
UPSET ABOUT THE PROTESTS AND LAW
AND ORDER, BUT NOT TO THE
SHOOTING BY AN OFFICER OF JACOB
BLAKE OR THE 17-YEAR-OLD GUNMAN
WHO ALLEGEDLY MURDERED TWO
PROTESTS.
HOW IS ANY OF THIS EVEN
PARTISAN?
BILL?
>> I THINK IT'S PARTISAN BECAUSE
I DON'T THINK ANY OF THE
REPUBLICANS ARE WILLING TO EVEN
CRITICIZE THE 17-YEAR-OLD.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE ISSUE
HERE.
THE ISSUE IS HERE THAT WE NEED
TO BE COMING TOGETHER.
WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO
DO THAT WITH DONALD TRUMP AND
HIS COHORTS.
THAT'S WHY.
>> MORE THAN ANYTHING, FRED,
THIS ISSUE NEEDED LEADERSHIP A
LOT SOONER.
FOR THE GOVERNOR TO WAIT UNTIL
FOUR DAYS AFTER THE SHOOTING TO
FINALLY ARRIVE IN KENOSHA IS
INEXPLICABLE TO ME.
I WORKED FOR A GOVERNOR WHO
WOULD HAVE BEEN THERE THAT NIGHT
OR THE NEXT MORNING.
I KNOW JIM DOYLE, A DEMOCRAT,
SCOTT WALKER WOULD HAVE ALSO
BEEN THERE.
THE LACK OF REACTION OR ACTION
FROM LEADERS IN WISCONSIN HAS
CAUSED THIS THING TO GET WORSE
THAN IT NEEDED TO BE.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE
HAVEN'T BEEN TO WORK IN 130
DAYS.
THE FACT IS THAT GOVERNOR EVERS
HAD A PACKAGE OF EIGHT DIFFERENT
BILLS HE WANTED TO PASS.
ROBIN VOS IS CALLING FOR A TASK
FORCE.
>> THEY'RE COMING IN ON MONDAY.
>> IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS, THE
GOVERNOR HAS GOT TO BE MEETING
WITH LOCAL LEADERS, LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH
BLACK MINISTERS.
THIS NEEDED ACTION IMMEDIATELY
AND IT DIDN'T GET IT.
>> I THINK WE NEED TO LEAVE IT
THERE.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
THIS TURNED OUT, OF COURSE, NOT
TO BE A SUPER FUN CONVERSATION,
BUT A VERY SERIOUS ONE, BUT WE
REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR INSIGHTS.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.
>> THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR
TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A SAFE WEEKEND.
>> FOR MORE "HERE AND NOW" 2020
ELECTION COVERAGE, GO TO
pbs.org AND CLICK ON NEWS.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.