PRODUCTION.
THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PART OF
OUR "HERE AND NOW" 2020 ELECTION
COVERAGE.
>> THIS WEEK ABSENTEE IN-PERSON
VOTING BEGINS IN WISCONSIN, WITH
LINES OF VOTERS TURNING OUT AT
THE POLLS.
EVEN AS DIFFERENT LINES CONTINUE
TO FORM AROUND THE STATE, LINES
FOR COVID TESTS, A REFLECTION OF
THE RECORD PACE OF INFECTIONS IN
A WEEK THAT SAW ANOTHER GRIM
BENCHMARK.
>> 48 WISCONSIN LIVES WERE LOST
YESTERDAY ALONE.
THIS WAS THE HIGHEST SINGLE DAY
NUMBER OF DEATHS IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
ANOTHER WEEK OF COVID-19 AND
PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS TONIGHT ON
"HERE AND NOW."
11 DAYS UNTIL ELECTION DAY.
MCCOSHEN AND ROSS ARE HERE IN A
LOOK AHEAD TO THE FINAL HOURS OF
THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE.
ZAC SCHULTZ REPORTS FROM THE
CAMPAIGN TRAIL ABOUT HOW THE
FORTUNES OF DOWN-BALLOT
CANDIDATES ARE TIED TO TRUMP AND
BIDEN.
HOW MISINFORMATION INFECTS THE
INTERNET AND HOW SOME PEOPLE
VIEW THE DISEASE.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
OCTOBER 23.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> AS WE HEAD INTO THE FINAL
DAYS BEFORE THE NOVEMBER 3
ELECTION, WAS THE FINAL DEBATE
PRESIDENT PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP
AND VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN A
WIN, DRAW OR LOSE?
WHERE WE STAND 11 DAYS OUT.
REPUBLICAN BILL MCCOSHEN AND
DEMOCRAT SCOT ROSS, THANKS TO
BOTH OF YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.
>> GREAT TO BE HERE.
>> YOUR OVERALL REACTION TO THE
FINAL MATCH-UP.
WILL EITHER PERFORMANCE MOVE THE
NEEDLE?
FIRST TO YOU, BILL.
>> HISTORICALLY THEY DON'T HAVE
A HUGE IMPACT, BUT I THOUGHT
TRUMP WAS THE CLEAR WINNER LAST
NIGHT.
NUMBER ONE, HIS TONE, HIS STYLE,
HIS CALMNESS.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY HE WAS ABLE
TO DRAW A SHARP CONTRAST BETWEEN
HE AND BIDEN, HE BEING THE
OUTSIDER GONE TO D.C. VERSUS VERSUS A
47-YEAR POLITICIAN WHO DOESN'T
HAVE MUCH TO SHOW FOR IT.
4, 5% ARE UNDECIDED.
THAT WAS HIS TARGET AUDIENCE
LAST NIGHT.
HE DID BETTER.
>> SCOTT, WIN, LOSE OR DRAW FOR
BIDEN?
>> I THINK IT WAS A BIG WIN FOR
BIDEN.
HE NEEDED TO ESTABLISH THAT HE
IS THE MATURE ADULT IN THE ROOM
THAT HAS A PLAN TO DEAL WITH THE
PANDEMIC, THE ECONOMIC
SITUATION, SYSTEMATIC RACISM AND
CLIMATE CHANGE.
HE HAS A PLAN FOR ALL FOUR OF
THOSE.
IN CONTRAST, DONALD TRUMP SAID
WE'VE ROUNDED THE CORNER AND,
YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING AWAY WHEN
IT COMES TO THE PANDEMIC.
WE HAVE SEEN THAT SCIENCE IS A
LOT MORE POWERFUL THAN DONALD
TRUMP AND HIS HANDLING OF THE
PANDEMIC HAS BEEN A DISASTER FOR
THE PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN AND
PEOPLE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
THAT I THINK IS WHAT PEOPLE ARE
GOING TO BE LEFT WITH AFTER THAT
RACE.
JOE BIDEN HAD A PLAN.
DONALD TRUMP OFFERED MORE OF THE
SAME, WHICH WAS NOTHING.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE'RE GOING TO GET MORE INTO
THAT IN A MOMENT, BUT WE INVITED
EACH OF YOU TO CHOOSE A CLIP
FROM THE DEBATE AND WE'RE GOING
TO START WITH YOURS, BILL, FROM
DONALD TRUMP.
SO HERE IT IT IS.
>> WHY DIDN'T HE GET IT DOWN?
IT'S ALL TALK, NO ACTION.
WHY DIDN'T HE GET IT DONE?
THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO DO WHEN
I BECOME PRESIDENT.
YOU WERE VICE PRESIDENT ALONG
WITH OBAMA AS YOUR PRESIDENT,
YOUR LEADER, FOR EIGHT YEARS.
WHY DIDN'T YOU GET IT DONE?
YOU HAD EIGHT YEARS TO GET IT
DONE.
>> SO, BILL, HE'S TALKING HERE
ABOUT CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM?
>> WELL, HE USED THIS SAME LINE
IN ALMOST EVERY TOPIC LAST
NIGHT.
HE WAS TRYING TO REMIND VOTERS
OF WHY THEY SUPPORTED HIM IN
2016 AS THE OUTSIDER TO GO TO
D.C.
THEY DIDN'T WANT MORE OF THE
SAME.
THEY DID NOT WANT THE STATUS
QUO.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, HE WAS TRYING
TO DRAW A CONTRAST THAT BIDEN IS
AN INSIDER WHO'S BEEN THERE FOR
47 YEARS AND DOESN'T HAVE MUCH
TO SHOW FOR IT.
>> SCOT, BIDEN IN THAT CLIP WAS
TALKING ABOUT A FEDERAL LAW
PASSED IN THE '80s SENDING
PEOPLE TO PRISON FOR DRUGS.
HE SAID IT WAS A MISTAKE.
IS THAT A GOOD OR BAD DECISION?
>> ANYTIME YOU'RE HONEST WITH
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, IT'S
IMPORTANT.
THE CRIME BILL FOR THE MANY
FLAWS THAT IT HAD ALSO GET
AUTOMATIC WEAPONS OFF THE
STREET.
TALK TO A KID WHO WOULD HAVE TO
DO PREPARATION DRILLS.
AT ONE POINT IN TIME WE BANNED
AUTOMATIC WEAPONS.
THE FACT IS THAT DONALD TRUMP,
HE -- THE -- I WOULD SAY THIS.
THE ONE MISTAKE THAT JOE BIDEN
MADE WAS THAT HE DIDN'T QUICKLY
POINT OUT, LISTEN, THE ENTIRE
REPUBLICAN STRATEGY HAS BEEN TO
BLOCK EVERYTHING THAT PRESIDENT
OBAMA TRIED TO DO AND WE'RE
SEEING IT NOW WITH SENATOR RON
JOHNSON BEING THE SINGLE PERSON
IN WISCONSIN MOST RESPONSE FOR
PEOPLE NOT GETTING AN EXTENSION
OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, FOR
PREVENTING THE HERO ACT BACK IN
MAY.
THE OBSTRUCTION OF THE
REPUBLICANS SHOULD BE ON THE
BALLOT BECAUSE WE NEED TO MOVE
FORWARD AND THEY DON'T WANT TO
DO ANYTHING BECAUSE IT MIGHT
COMPROMISE THEM POA POLITICALLY.
>> 200,000 AMERICANS DEAD.
IF YOU HEAR NOTHING ELSE I SAY
TONIGHT, HEAR THIS.
ANYONE WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR NOT
TAKING CONTROL, IN FACT NOT
SAYING I TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY
INITIALLY, ANYONE WHO'S
RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT MANY DEATHS
SHOULD NOT REMAIN AS PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
>> SO, SCOT, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S
RESPONSE TO COVID-19 IS WHAT
VOTERS MOST CARE ABOUT IN
WISCONSIN WHERE NUMBERS TODAY
HIT OVER 4300 AGAIN?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THE REPUBLICANS AND TRUMP HAVE
IGNORED SCIENCE AND THEY IGNORED
THE NEED TO EVEN WEAR MASKS AND
INSTEAD HAVE TURNED IT INTO SOME
KIND OF POLITICAL REPUBLICAN
LITMUS TEST.
THE FACT IS IT SHOULD BE A POINT
OF PATRIOTIC PRIDE TO PROTECT
THEMSELVES AND THEIR NEIGHBORS
AS WELL.
DONALD TRUMP HAS DONE EXACTLY
THE OPPOSITE OF THAT.
WISCONSIN THIS PAST WEEK HAD A
DAY WITH THE SINGLE MOST NUMBER
OF CASES, OVER 42 # ON#00.
730 WISCONSINITES HAVE LOST
THEIR LIVES BECAUSE OF THIS
REPUBLICAN THAT THE REPUBLICANS
DID NOTHING TO PREVENT.
>> BILL, I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A
CHANCE TO JUMP IN ON THIS.
CLEARLY VERY SERIOUS,
FRIGHTENING SITUATION.
>> I THINK ON COVID-19 DONALD
TRUMP WON.
JOE BIDEN WAS ALL ABOUT GLOOM,
DOOM AND DEATH.
PEOPLE WANT HOPE.
THEY WANT ENCOURAGEMENT THAT
THERE'S A WAY TO GET THROUGH
THIS AND I THOUGHT DONALD TRUMP
OFFERED A BALANCED PLAN THAT WE
HAVE TO WORK OUR WAYS THROUGH
THIS, KEEP OUR SCHOOLS AND
BUSINESSES OPEN, FIND A WAY TO
DO ALL THESE THINGS SAFELY.
SO I THOUGHT WHILE SCOT THINKS
THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN BIDEN'S
STRONGEST POINT, I THINK IT WAS
ONE OF HIS WEAKER POINTS OF THE
NIGHT AND IT WAS A GOOD
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PRESIDENT TO
SHOW OPTIMISM ABOUT WE'RE GOING
TO GET THROUGH THIS AND WE'RE
GOING TO FIND A WAY TO DO IT
TOGETHER.
>> I'M GOING TO MOVE ALONG TO
THE FINAL DAYS OF THIS CAMPAIGN.
AS YOU BOTH KNOW, DONALD TRUMP
IS COMING TO WISCONSIN AGAIN
TOMORROW, TO WAUKESHA FOR A
RALLY.
HE'S ALSO PLANNED ONE NOW FOR
TUESDAY NEAR LA CROSSE.
WHAT ARE YOUR COMMENTS ON THAT?
BILL.
>> SO ONE LAST THING ABOUT THE
DEBATE.
I THINK AT THE END BIDEN WORE
OUT.
HE LOOKED GASSED AT THE END OF
THE DEBATE.
THIS IS THE HARDEST JOB ON THE
PLANET AND HE BARELY HAD THE
STAMINA TO GET THROUGH 90
MINUTES WITH DONALD TRUMP.
AS RELATES TO TRUMP, HE'S COMING
TO WAUKESHA WHICH IS VERY SMART.
HE HAS TO DO WELL IN THE
SUBURBAN WING OF MILWAUKEE.
HE'S GOING TO LA CROSSE ON
TUESDAY.
THAT'S NOT WHERE I WOULD PUT
HIM.
I WOULD HAVE HIM IN GREEN BAY.
IT MIGHT HELP VAN ORDERREN IN
THE 3rd CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT.
SO DON'T BE SURPRISED.
>> I GOT TO GET SCOT IN.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THESE
BIG RALLIES ALL OVER THE PLACE?
>> IF YOU LOOK AT THE SPENDING
BETWEEN AUGUST AND ELECTION DAY,
THE ADVERTISING SPENT BY THE
BIDEN CAMPAIGN IN WISCONSIN IS
$32 MILLION.
TRUMP IS UNDER $6 MILLION.
HS CAMPAIGNHIS CAMPAIGN HAS ABANDONED
WISCONSIN.
HE'S THE BABY IN CHIEF.
BILL MENTIONED THE 3rd
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
WE'RE HEARING ABOUT THE
COUNTIES, BROWN, OUTAGAMIE AND
WINNEBAGO.
I THINK WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE
FRENCH QUARTER, EAU CLAIRE AND
LA CROSSE.
IF DEMOCRATS GO THERE AND THEY
DO WELL, THEY WIN STATEWIDE
ELECTIONS.
IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT.
IN 2016 AND 2018 THE DEMOCRATS
GOT -- THE REPUBLICANS GOT 41%.
WHEN DEMOCRATS RUN UP THE SCORE
THERE, THEY RUN BIG.
>> WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.
WE WON'T SPEAK WITH YOU BEFORE
THE ELECTION AGAIN.
WE'LL TALK AFTER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH YOU GUYS.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.
>> EVERYBODY GO OUT AND VOTE.
>> WE MOVE FROM CAMPAIGNS AND
CANDIDATES TO THE VOTERS.
SPECIFICALLY, THE LATINO VOTE.
HERE'S PATRICIA GOMEZ OF
MILWAUKEE PBS.
>> ON THE REPORT OF THE PEW
RESEARCH CENTER, LATINOS WILL BE
THE LARGEST GROUP OF VOTERS IN
THE NOVEMBER PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION.
FOR SOME, THEY ARE THE SLEEPING
GIANT THAT IS JUST BEGINNING TO
WAKE UP.
ACCORDING TO THE PEW RESEARCH
CENTER, A RECORD OF 32 MILLION
LATINOS ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN
THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
183,000 LATINOS ARE ABLE TO VOTE
IN WISCONSIN.
>> ARE YOU GOING TO SWING AND
TRY AND JUMP ON THE OTHER ONE?
>> THIS MAN IS A RETIRED COMBAT
MARINE WHO HAS SERVED TWO TOURS
IN IRAQ AND WANTS PRESIDENT
TRUMP TO BE REELECTED.
>> I BELIEVE THE LATINO VOTE WAS
ALWAYS THERE.
IT WAS ALWAYS STRONG.
IT WAS OFFICE BIG.
BUT NOW THE LATINOS ARE LOOKING
AT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND
THEY'RE SEEING A STRAIGHT
CONTRAST BETWEEN THE DEMOCRATS
AND THE REPUBLICANS.
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY SEEMS TO BE
MORE ALIGNED WITH THE LATINO
VOTERS.
THEY'RE CONSERVATIVES,
FAMILY-ORIENTED AND THEY'RE
CHURCH-GOERS.
>> NEUMANN ORTIZ LEADS ONE OF
THE BIGGEST ORGANIZATIONS IN THE
COUNTRY.
SUPPORTING THE BIDEN-HARRIS
TICKET.
>> IT'S INSPIRING BECAUSE THIS
YEAR LATINOS NATIONWIDE ARE THE
SECOND LARGEST VOTING GROUP
AFTER WHITE VOTERS.
AND IN WISCONSIN, THAT POWER IN
NUMBERS IS ALSO TRUE BECAUSE WE
SAW HOW THAT WAS -- THE IMPACT
THAT THAT HAD IN THE 2018
ELECTIONS WITH THE ELECTION OF A
PRO-IMMIGRANT GOVERNOR, GOVERNOR
EVERS, AND LEADING INTO THIS
2020 ELECTION, THE NUMBERS OF
LATINOS IS MORE THAN THE MARGIN
OF VICTORY IN ANY PRESIDENTIAL
OR STATE ELECTION.
>> REGARDING WHY THEY SUPPORTED
CANDIDATES, RODRIGUEZ AND
NEUMANN ORTIZ ENVISION DIFFERENT
SCENARIOS.
>> THE POLICIES THAT HAVE BEEN
PASSED ARE UNCONSCIONABLE, THE
SEPARATION OF FAMILIES, THE
JAILG OF CHILDREN.
IT'S JUST THE REPEAL OF DACA
THAT WAS WON UNDER THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION.
IT'S JUST RELENTLESS.
AND WE HAVE THE POWER TO DEFEAT
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.
THIS IS A FAR RIGHT WHITE
NATIONALALIST ADMINISTRATION,
THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN IT, THEIR
IDEOLOGY.
WE HAVE THE POWER TO DEFEAT
THEM.
IT'S A CRITICAL ELECTION THAT WE
WIN AND THAT LATINOS ARE THE
ONES TO DELIVER THAT ELECTORAL
VICTORY TO A BIDEN AND HARRIS
WHO ARE RUNNING ON A
PRO-IMMIGRANT, PRO-WORKER
PLATFORM.
>> WITH DONALD TRUMP'S TAX CUTS,
CORPORATIONS WERE ABLE TO
PROVIDE MORE JOBS, BUT WITH
SUPPLY AND DEMAND THEY STARTED
RAISING.
MY INCREASE IN PAY WENT FROM A
LITTLE UNDER $43,000 TO $70,000
RIGHT NOW.
SO THAT IS A BIG INCREASE ON MY
ANNUAL SALARY.
SO I BELIEVE THAT WAS BECAUSE OF
TRUMP.
>> THAT WAS PATRICIA GOMEZ OF
MILWAUKEE PBS REPORTING.
EVEN WITH JOE BIDEN HOLDING AN
EDGE IN THE POLLS OVER DONALD
TRUMP IN WISCONSIN, DEMOCRATS
ARE TAKING NOTHING FOR GRANTED.
THAT'S TRUE IN THE RACE FOR
PRESIDENT AS WELL AS RACES
DOWN-BALLOT.
BUT HOW COULD A BLUE WAVE IF IT
COMES IMPACT RACES FOR STATE
ASSEMBLY AND SENATE?
POLITICAL REPORTER ZAC SCHULTZ
HAS THIS STORY.
>> GOING INTO THE FALL,
WISCONSIN DEMOCRATS WERE PRETTY
BLUNT ABOUT THEIR PROSPECTS OF
TAKING BACK THE STATE SENATE AND
ASSEMBLY.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF DISTRICTS
WHERE IT'S VERY, VERY TOUGH FOR
DEMOCRATS TO WIN.
>> BEN WIKLER IS CHAIR OF THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF WISCONSIN.
THEY EVEN STARTED A CAMPAIGN
CALLED "SAVE THE VETO" WITH A
STRATEGY CENTERED ON NOT LOSING
SEATS.
>> IF BOTH SIDES TURN OUT YOU
WOULD EXPECT A TIGHT RACE IN
WISCONSIN.
>> GORDON HINTZ IS THE ASSEMBLY
MINORITY LEADER.
WITHDEMOCRATS ARE ALSO PREPARING FOR
THE OPPOSITE, ASKING IF DONALD
TRUMP LOOKS TO BE LOSING BY A
LARGE MARGIN, WILL REPUBLICANS
BOTHER VOTING AT ALL?
>> IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO TURN
OUT TO VOTE FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP,
YOU KNOW, ARE THEY GOING TO TURN
OUT TO VOTE FOR THEIR STATE
SENATOR OR STATE ASSEMBLY
REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE?
>> 2020 COULD BE THE PERFECT
STORM FOR A BIDEN WAVE TO CARRY
DOWN-BALLOT DEMOCRATS INTO
OFFICE.
BECAUSE ONCE EVERY 12 YEARS WE
HAVE A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
WITH NO U.S. SENATE RACE.
>> WHILE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
HAS WON A GREAT VICTORY TONIGHT,
WE DO SO WITH A MEASURE OF
HUMILITY.
>> THE LAST TIME WAS 2008, WHEN
BARACK OBAMA WON BIG AND
DEMOCRATS FLIPPED FIVE ASSEMBLY
SEATS ON THEIR WAY TO THE
MAJORITY.
TO SEE THE VALUE OF AN U.S.
SENATE RACE YOU NEED ONLY GO
BACK TO 2016, WHEN RON JOHNSON'S
SEAT WAS A RALLYING CRY FOR
NEVER TRUMP REPUBLICANS IN
SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN.
>> I WANT TO RUN A GREAT
CAMPAIGN TO HELP WHOEVER THAT
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WAS ALSO
WIN THE STATE.
>> JOHNSON RECEIVED MORE JOATS MORE VOTES
THAN DONALD TRUMP.
IN 2020 THEY HAVE THE CANDIDATES
IN PLACE IF THE BOTTOM DROPS OUT
FOR REPUBLICANS.
>> WE WANT TO BUILD CAMPAIGNS
THAT MAY BE ON THE MARGINS THAT
COULD TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE
ABLE TO PUT THEIR SAIL UP SHOULD
THERE BE THAT KIND OF WAVE.
>> BUT DEMOCRATS HAVE SEEN BIG
STATEWIDE WINS BEFORE THAT DON'T
RESULT IN DOWN-BALLOT WINS.
IN 2018, ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATIC
CANDIDATES RECEIVED 1.3 MILLION
VOTES COMPARED TO 1.1 MILLION
FOR REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES.
BUT THEY ONLY ADDED ONE SEAT.
THEY BLAME GERRYMANDERED MAPS
THAT WERE DRAWN IN 2011 TO
VIRTUALLY GUARANTEE A REPUBLICAN
MAJORITY FOR THE NEXT DECADE.
>> ROBIN VOS KNOWS THE MAPS ARE
WHY HE IS SPEAKER.
>> WHENEVER ANYBODY CAN'T WIN ON
THEIR IDEAS THEY LOOK AT FINGERS
TO POINT AT SOMEBODY ELSE.
>> VOS HAS DEFENDED THESE MAPS
TO THE SONS SUPREME COURT AND
BACK.
HE MAINTAINS THERE'S A SIMPLE
REASON REPUBLICANS HOLD A
MAJORITY IN THE LEGISLATURE.
NEARLY HALF OF ALL DEMOCRATIC
ASSEMBLY VOTES COME FROM
MILWAUKEE AND MADISON DISTRICTS,
WHERE UNOPPOSED CANDIDATES RUN
UP THE SCORE.
>> DEMOCRATS HAVE A PROBLEM THAT
THEY LIKE TO LIVE IN BIG CITIES.
>> SO HOW MANY DEMOCRATS ARE
THERE OUTSIDE MADISON AND
MILWAUKEE IN?
WHEN YOU ADD UP THE VOTES IN THE
61 SEATS, REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES
RECEIVED 945,000 VOTES OR 58%.
WHILE DEMOCRATS RECEIVED 677,000
VOTES, OR 42%.
IF REPUBLICANS HAD WON 58% OF
THE SEATS, THEY WOULD HAVE WON
35 SEATS.
THE DEMOCRATS' 42% OF THE VOTE
WOULD HAVE NETTED THEM 26 SEATS.
BUT IN REALITY OF THOSE 61
CHALLENGED SEATS, REPUBLICANS
WON 56 AND DEMOCRATS TOOK ONLY
FIVE.
>> THE NUMBERS DON'T LIE.
REPUBLICANS BUILT THESE
DISTRICTS TO ELECT REPUBLICANS
EVEN IF THE PUBLIC REJECTS THEM.
>> WE HOLD DISTRICTS THAT HAVE A
DEMOCRATIC LEAN TO THEM.
>> ROBIN VOS SAYS A DIFFERENT
RACE FROM 2018 PROVES HIS POINT.
>> DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS AND
INDEPENDENTS SENT A LOUD AND
CLEAR MESSAGE.
>> IN THE U.S. SENATE RACE,
DEMOCRAT TAMMY BALDWIN RECEIVED
THE MOST VOTES IN 55 ASSEMBLY
DISTRICTS.
ALL 36 DEMOCRATIC SEATS PLUS 19
DISTRICTS SHOWN IN LIGHT BLUE,
WHERE A REPUBLICAN WON THE
ASSEMBLY RACE.
>> PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO SPLIT
THE TICKET.
THE AGENDA OFFERED BY LIBERAL
DEMOCRAT
DEMOCRATS JUST DOESN'T RESONATE
WITH THE REST OF THE STATE.
>> WE LOOK AT IT VOTERS WERE
WILLING TO VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT.
>> THE PLAN ALL ALONG HAS BEEN
TO SURVIVE UNTIL REDISTRICTING
TWO YEARS FROM NOW.
THEY'LL BE READY JUST THE SAME.
>> NO, THERE'S NOT ANY PLAN LIKE
WE GOT THIS, IT'S A BIDEN WAVE,
BUT WE CERTAINLY WANT TO PUT
PEOPLE IN A POSITION SHOULD THAT
OCCUR.
>> REPORTING THAT MADISON, I'M
ZAC SCHULTZ FOR "HERE AND NOW."
>> WISCONSIN'S COVID-19 CASES
CLICKED WELL ABOVE 4,000 AGAIN
TODAY, WITH 42 DEATHS ALSO
REPORTED.
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS CONTINUES TO
CALL ATTENTION TO PEOPLE
IGNORING PUBLIC HEALTH
PRACTICES.
>> TO THOSE WHO SAY THIS
PANDEMIC HAS BEEN BLOWN OUT OF
PROPORTION OR THAT THERE ISN'T A
REAL RISK, FOLKS, THEY'RE JUST
FLAT OUT WRONG.
>> SURFING THE INTERNET AND
CHATTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA ARE
COMMON PASTIMES, ESPECIALLY NOW.
BUT AT THE HEIGHT OF BOTH THE
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC AND
POLARIZED POLITICS, WHAT
INFORMATION GETS SPREAD IS OFTEN
FALSE.
TONIGHT WE HEAR FROM THE AUTHOR
OF AN IMPORTANT ARTICLE FROM OUR
PARTNERS AT WISCONTEXT AND THE
WISCONSIN CENTER FOR
INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM.
- THE HEADLINE?
MISINFORMATION AND THE PARANOID
STYLE IN WISCONSIN'S PANDEMIC
POLITICS.
WILL CUSHMAN IS HERE WITH
DETAILS.
THAT'S QUITE A HEADLINE.
IT SAYS IT ALL BECAUSE YOUR
INVESTIGATION SHOWS THAT FALSE
INFORMATION ABOUT COVID-19
CIRCULATES WITH A KIND OF WARP
SPEED ON THE INTERNET,
ESPECIALLY ON SOCIAL MEDIA LIKE
FACEBOOK.
SO COULD THAT BE WHAT HELPS
EXPLAIN WISCONSIN'S SURGE RIGHT
NOW?
>> THAT'S A REALLY GOOD
QUESTION, AND I THINK THERE'S A
NUMBER OF FACTORS THAT ARE
BEHIND WISCONSIN'S SURGE RIGHT
NOW.
AND CERTAINLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST
ONES IS THE FACT THAT THERE IS
STILL A SIZABLE PORTION OF THE
POPULATION THAT ISN'T ADHERING
TO PUBLIC HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS
TO SOCIALLY DISTANCE OR TO WEAR
MASKS.
AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN SOME OF
THESE FACEBOOK GROUPS THAT WE
LOOKED AT, REALLY LARGE FACEBOOK
GROUPS THAT HAVE LARGE
FOLLOWINGS IN WISCONSIN.
ONE OF THEM HAS OVER 120,000
MEMBERS.
THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY PRETTY
POA
POLITICALLY MOTIVATING
MISINFORMATION.
ANY MISINFORMATION THAT'S DOWN
PLAYING THE VIRUS IS POTENTIALLY
GOING TO HELP CONVINCE SOME
PEOPLE THAT THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE
TO SOCIALLY DISTANCE OR WEAR
MASKS OR DO OTHER THINGS TO SLOW
THE SPREAD.
OF THE DISEASE.
>> YOU SAID PRESIDENT TRUMP IS
THE MOST PROMINENT PURVEYOR OF
INACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT THE
DISEASE.
THIS WEEK, SENATOR RON JOHNSON
ALSO SAID THAT WE WERE
FLATTENING THE CURVE.
SO WHAT ROLE DOES POLARIZED
POLITICS PLAY IN ALL OF THIS?
>> IT'S DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTATE
THE ROLE OF REALLY TOXIC
POLITICS AN THE SPREAD OF
MISINFORMATION ABOUT COVID.
IT'S NO SECRET THAT THE PANDEMIC
FIGURES PROMINENTLY IN REALLY
PRETTY DIVISIVE ELECTION YEAR
AND CAMPAIGN SEASON.
AND I THINK WE'RE FINDING THAT
THAT MIXTURE OF KIND OF THE
ANXIETY AND THE FEAR SURROUNDING
THE PANDEMIC, ALONG WITH THE
ANXIETY OF AN UNCERTAIN
POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT IS REALLY
HAVING PRETTY NEGATIVE EFFECTS
IN TERMS OF A LOT OF PEOPLE'S
WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN TO AND
SPREAD FALSE AND MISLEADING
INFORMATION ABOUT THE VIRUS.
>> NOW, YOU JUST SPOKE ABOUT HOW
THERE ARE FACEBOOK GROUPS WITH A
LOT OF MEMBERS THAT ORIGINATED
IN WISCONSIN.
IS THERE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT
THIS MISINFORMATION ABOUT COVID
IS MORE RAMPANT IN WISCONSIN
THAN ELSEWHERE?
I'M REALLY TRYING TO JUST WRAP
MY HEAD AROUND WHAT'S HAPPENING
IN WISCONSIN, YOU KNOW?
>> SURE.
YEAH.
AND THAT'S A REALLY GOOD
QUESTION.
AND I GUESS I WOULD SAY I'M NOT
AWARE OF ANY EVIDENCE THAT WOULD
INDICATE THAT THE MISINFORMATION
ENVIRONMENT IN WISCONSIN IS ANY
WORSE THAN IT IS ANYWHERE ELSE.
IT'S A PROBLEM REALLY EVERYWHERE
EVERYWHERE.
IN MY REPORTING, I EVEN LOOKED
AT MISINFORMATION SPREADING ON
SOCIAL MEDIA IN CHINA.
SO THIS IS A GLOBAL PROBLEM.
IT'S HAPPENING IN INDIA AND
EUROPE AS WELL.
ALL OVER THE WORLD.
SO I REALLY DON'T THINK THAT
WISCONSIN IS UNIQUE IN THIS
MISINFORMATION ENVIRONMENT
SURROUNDING THE PANDEMIC.
BUT ESPECIALLY AS CASES SURGE
RIGHT NOW, THE MISINFORMATION IS
QUITE PROBLEMATIC HERE LOCALLY.
>> LET'S GET A SENSE OF WHAT
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE KIND OF
MOST OUTLANDISH PIECES OF
INFORMATION THAT HEALTH
OFFICIALS OR DOCTORS YOU'VE
INTERVIEWED HAVE HEARD ABOUT?
>> A LOT OF THE MORE OUTLANDISH
INFORMATION SURROUND THE USE OF
FACE MASKS.
THAT ARE CONSPIRACY THEORIES THEORIES
LINKING FACE MASKS TO SAIS SAY
TANNISM.
THAT'S CLEEFERL CLEARLY NOT ACCURATE.
THERE ARE PRETTY EGREGIOUS
CONSPIRACY THEORIES ABOUT THE
PANDEMIC.
BUT THEN ALSO MISINFORMATION
THAT LEVERAGES CONFUSION OR EVEN
DISCREPANCIES THAT PEOPLE MIGHT
FIND IN THE COPY COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF
DATA ABOUT THE DISEASE.
SOMETIMES THAT DATA CAN BE
REALLY CONFUSING AND DIFFICULT
TO STRAIGHTEN OUT, ESPECIALLY AS
IT'S BEING PUMPED OUT SO
QUICKLY.
THAT CAN BE A BREEDING GROUND
FOR MISINFORMATION AS WELL.
>> SO REALLY WITH JUST ABOUT A
HALF A MINUTE LEFT, HAS
DIFFICULT HAS IT PROVED FOR
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS TO
COUNTER THIS MISINFORMATION?
>> THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION
AS WELL AND ONE THAT A NUMBER OF
REPORTERS WERE POSING JUST
YESTERDAY DURING A MEDIA
BRIEFING WITH STATE HEALTH
OFFICIAL ONS AND STATE HEALTH
OFFICIALS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IT
HAS BEEN DIFFICULT.
CERTAINLY SOME CHANGES TO
ADVICE, ESPECIALLY SURROUNDING
THE USE OF FACE MASKS, MAYBE HAS
MADE IT DIFFICULT TO CONVINCE
PEOPLE OF FACE MASK EFFICACY IN
PARTICULAR.
BUT WE'RE ALSO SEEING LOCAL
HEALTH OFFICIALS IN WISCONSIN
QUITTING THEIR JOBS BECAUSE OF
THE MISINFORMATION THAT'S
SPREADING AND POLITICAL PRESSURE
TO NOT FOLLOW SCIENCE IN THEIR
GUIDELINES.
>> WOW.
WELL, WILL CUSHMAN, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR YOUR REPORTING.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, FREDERICA.
>> ELECTION AND CORONAVIRUS
COVERAGE CONTINUES AT PBS
pbswisconsin.org.
CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON VOTING,
CANDIDATES AND ISSUES, GO TO
wisconsinvote.org.
NEXT WEEK MARISA WOJCIK REPORTS
ON THE WISCONSIN NATIVE VOTE.
AND MORE ON THE 2020 ELECTION
HEADING INTO THE FINAL HOURS OF
THE CAMPAIGN.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
>> MORE FOR "HERE AND NOW" 2020
ELECTION COVERAGE, GO TO
pbswisconsin.org AND CLICK ON
NEWS.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.