WISCONSIN SENATOR RON JOHNSON'S
INVESTIGATION INTO HUNTER BIDEN
CAME OUT THIS WEEK.
IT DID NOT FIND THAT THE
POSITION THE FORMER VICE
PRESIDENT'S SON HELD ON THE
BOARD OF A A UKRAINIAN ENERGY
COMPANY INFLUENCED POLICY,
STAYING THE IMPACT IS NOT CLEAR.
IT FINDS HIS POSITION ON THE
BOARD WAS AWKWARD.
PRESIDENT SENATOR
JOHNSON JOINS US TONIGHT ON THIS
AND OTHER MATTERS AND, SENATOR,
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
YOU CALL THIS A "GOOD GOVERNMENT
OVERSIGHT INVESTIGATION" THAT
WAS STYMIED BY DEEP STATE
OFFICIALS AT THE STATE
DEPARTMENT.
COULDN'T IT BE THAT HUNTER
BIDDEN'S EMPLOYMENT DIDN'T
INFLUENCE U.S. POLICY?
>> ONE REASON WE'VE BEEN
FRUSTRATED IS WE STILL DON'T
HAVE CLOSE TO ALL THE DOCUMENTS.
SO AT SOME POINT IN TIME YOU
HAVE TO SAY, OKAY, WE'RE GOING
TO END THIS -- WE'VE GOT TO DO A
CUT-OFF AND WE NEED TO PROVIDE
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHAT WE'VE
ALREADY FOUND OUT AS WE CONTINUE
TO INVESTIGATE.
SO WE'RE STILL DIGGING INTO
THIS.
BUT I WOULDN'T AGREE WITH THE
PEOPLE'S ASSESSMENT THAT THERE'S
NOTHING NEW HERE.
THERE'S ALL KINDS OF NEW
INFORMATION AND IT GOES WAY
BEYOND UKRAINE.
NOW, REMEMBER, WE NEVER SOUGHT
TO TARGET THE BIDENS AND MAKE
THEM THE PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF
OUR INVESTIGATIONS.
IT MADE IT AWKWARD FOR EVERY
U.S. OFFICIAL TRYING TO PUT AN
ANTICORRUPTION AGENDA IN
UKRAINE.
THEIR ACTION IN THE SPAN OF 28
DAYS, WHICH IS ALL ABOUT FREEING
UKRAINE OF CORRUPTION, THEIR
ACTION WITH HUNTER BIDEN ON THE
BOARD OF A THOROUGHLY CORRUPT
OIL COMPANY OWNED BY CLEARLY
CORRUPT PEOPLE, THEY PUT THEM IN
THE CROSSHAIRS.
WE TRIED TO UNRAVEL FINANCIAL
DEALINGS.
WE FOUND THE FINANCIAL WEB WITH
THE $3.5 MILLION PAYMENT FROM
THE FORMER WIFE OF THE FORMER
MAYOR OF MOSCOW, A BILLION, WHO
PROBABLY GOT HER BILLIONS
THROUGH CORRUPTION, WE FOUND AN
INTRICATE WEB OF CASH FLOW
BETWEEN HUNTER AND HIS BUSINESS
AND CHINESE NATIONALS THAT HAVE
CONNECTIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT AS
WELL AS THE PEOPLE'S LIBERATION
ARMY.
SO OUR REPORT REALLY RAISES FAR
MORE QUESTIONS THAN IT REALLY
ANSWERS.
BUT I WOULD DISPUTE THE FACT
THAT WE DIDN'T FIND SOME REAL
PROBLEMS IN TERMS OF THAT
CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN TERMS OF
HOW IT FRUSTRATED AND WAS
AWKWARD FOR PEOPLE TRYING TO
PUSH AN ANTI-CORRUPTION AGENDA
IN UKRAINE.
>> AND THAT FULL REPORT AS WELL
AS THE DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE
MEMBER'S REPORT CAN BE FOUND.
MEANWHILE, THE PANDEMIC RANGES
ON.
WISCONSIN'S RISING CASE NUMBER
IN THE CROSSHAIRS.
DO YOU SUPPORT ANOTHER ROUND OF
$1200 STIMULUS CHECKS FOR MONEY
FOR CITIES AND STATES, FOR
EXAMPLE?
>> WE ALREADY PASSED MORE THAN
$3 TRILLION IN COVID NATIONAL
RELIEF.
WE HAD TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE
THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN
THEIR BUSINESSES WERE SHUTTING
DOWN, NEEDED FINANCIAL RELIEF.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WE
STILL HAVE HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS
OF THAT THAT HAVEN'T BEEN SPENT
OR OBLIGATED.
SO I SUPPORTED WHAT REPUBLICANS
WORKED ON LONG AND HARD OVER THE
AUGUST RECESS, A MORE TARGETED
BILL, WHICH WOULD HAVE EXTENDED
UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF, $POSITIVE 0 $ -- $300
PER WEEK, $100 BILLION TO HELP
SCHOOLS REOPEN, MONEY FOR
VACCINES FOR TESTING.
DEMOCRATS SAID NO.
THEY REFUSE TO TAKE YES FOR AN
ANSWER.
IT'S THEIR WAY OR THE HIGHWAY.
VERY UNFORTUNATE.
REPUBLICANS PUT FORTH A
RESPONSIBLE RELIEF PACKAGE.
I DON'T KNOW WHY DEMOCRATS
WOULDN'T TAKE IT.
IF I GO UP TO YOU AND SAY GIVE
ME 200 BUCKS.
I DON'T HAVE 20 0RBGS BUT0, BUT I'LL GIVE
YOU $100.
DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
>> WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THE
CHARGING DECISION IN THE DEATH
OF BREONNA TAYLOR IN KEN KENTUCKY?
>> THAT IS OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM.
I DON'T AGREE WITH EVERYTHING
THAT COMES DOWN THE PIKE.
I'M NOT THE GRAND JURY.
I DON'T HAVE ALL THE
INFORMATION.
WE ARE A COUNTRY NOTED FOR
ABIDING BY THE RULE OF LAW, NOT
MOB RULE.
AND WHAT WE ARE STARTING TO SEE
IS PEOPLE JUST REJECTING THE
PROCESS AND RULE OF LAW, NOT
WAITING FOR DEFINITIVE ANSWERS,
LEAPING TO CONCLUSIONS, PUBLIC
OFFICIALS STOKING THE FIRES.
WE JUST HAD A HEARING YESTERDAY
ON U.S. THREATS AND MOST OF THE
TESTIMONY, MOST OF THE
QUESTIONING, WAS ABOUT WHAT I
CONSIDER THE GREATEST THREAT TO
THIS NATION, WHICH IS MOB RULE.
ALMOST 507 PROTESTS HAVE TURNED
INTO RIOTS.
THIS IS HIGHLY CONCERNING
BECAUSE WE ARE MOVING IN THE
DIRECTION OF RIOTING AS OPPOSED
TO THE RULE OF LAW.
VERY TROUBLING.
>> AND THIS IMPORTANT NOTE.
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS EXPECTED TO
ANNOUNCE HIS SUPREME COURT PICK
TOMORROW.
YOU VOTED TO BLOCK A BARACK
OBAMA NOMINEE SIX MONTHS BEFORE
THE ELECTION IN 2016.
NOW 40 DAYS BEFORE AN ELECTION
YOU DON'T WANT TO WAIT.
WHY DOES THE ARGUMENT THAT
REPUBLICANS CONTROL THE SENATE
CHANGE THE LET THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE HAVE A CHOICE POSITION
YOU TOOK IN 2016?
>> BECAUSE BACK IN 2016 WE HAD
DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT, REPUBLICAN
SENATE.
IT WAS A 1-1 TIE.
LET THE AMERICAN PEOPLE CHOOSE.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 2-0 SITUATION
AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DID
SPEAK.
IN 2016 THEY ELECTED PRESIDENT
TRUMP WHO HAD A LIST, BY THE
WAY, OF HIS JUDICIAL NOMINEES.
AND HE'S FOLLOWED THAT LIST.
THEY'RE EXCELLENT JURISTS.
THEY'RE JUDGES THAT ARE GOING TO
APPLY THE LAW, NOT ALTER IT.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE GAVE
REPUBLICAN SENATE A MAJORITY IN
2016.
THEY'VE SPOKEN.
THIS IS PRESENT.
THIS IS THE NORM, WHERE WE'VE
HAD A JUDICIAL VACANCY IN AN
ELECTION YEAR WHEN IT'S DIVIDED
GOVERNMENT, THE PRESIDENT
NOMINATES.
THE SENATE HAS REJECTED AND NOT
CONFIRMED.
WHERE WE HAVE UNIFIED
GOVERNMENT, THE SENATE HAS
CONFIRMED.
IT'S DEMOCRATS THAT HAVE BROKEN
NORMS STARTING WITH ROBERT BORK,
JUSTICE THOMAS, BRETT KAVANAUGH,
AND A NUCLEAR OPTION WAS USED
AND TOOK AWAY THE FILIBUSTER.
ALL WE'VE DONE IS FOLLOW
PRECEDENT.
IT WAS UNFORTUNATE HE HARMED THE
SENATE THE WAY HE DID.
>> WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
>> HAVE A GREAT DAY.
>> JUSTICE RUTH BADER GINSBURG
WAS HONORED AS THE FIRST WOMAN
TO LIE IN STATE AT THE U.S.
CAPITOL TODAY FOLLOWING HER
DEATH A WEEK AGO.
TOMORROW, PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL
ANNOUNCE HIS PICK FOR HER
REPLACEMENT.
REPUBLICANS WANT TO VOTE AHEAD
OF THE ELECTION ON THE
PRESIDENT'S NOMINEE.
DEMOCRATS DECRY THAT MOVE,
INCLUDING WISCONSIN SENATOR
TAMMY BALDWIN WHO JOINS US NOW
AND THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
ú>> MY PLEASURE.
THANK YOU.
>> HOW POWERFUL WAS IT FOR YOU
TO PAY YOUR RESPECTS AT THE
CAPITOL TO JUSTICE GINSBURG?
>> OH, IT WAS -- IT WAS A LOVELY
ARRIVAL CEREMONY, AND IT JUST
MADE ME REFLECT ON HER LEGACY,
ON HOW EVERY DAY OF HER ADULT
LIFE SHE MOVED FORWARD IN THE
NAME OF JUSTICE.
AND ONE OF THE SPEAKERS AT THE
CEREMONY TALKED ABOUT THE
MEANING OF THE WORD -- OR THE
MEANING THAT RUTH BADER GINSBURG
GAVE TO HER DISSENTS.
WHEN SHE WAS WRITING A DISSENT,
IT WASN'T FOR NOW OR THE PAST.
IT WAS PROVIDING THE ARGUMENTS
FOR THE FUTURE SO THAT WE COULD
KEEP ON MARCHING FORWARD.
AND IT WAS JUST BEAUTIFUL TO
THINK OF IT IN THAT WAY.
>> IN 2016 YOU WANTED TO VOTE
FOR BARACK OBAMA'S NOMINEE
BEFORE THE ELECTION.
WHY THE SWITCH NOW?
>> WELL, IN 2016 MITCH MCCONNELL
ANNOUNCED A NEW STANDARD: NO
VOTES ON CONFIRMATION OF SUPREME
COURT JUSTICES IN AN ELECTION
YEAR.
BARACK OBAMA NOMINATED MERRICK
GARLAND IN FEBRUARY OF THE
ELECTION YEAR.
NOW THAT REPUBLICANS ARE IN
CONTROL OF THE SENATE AND THE
WHITE HOUSE, MITCH MCCONNELL
SAYS MY STANDARD GOES BY THE
WAYSIDE.
THAT'S THE HEIGHT OF HYPOCRISY
AND DO DUPLICITY.
IT'S A POWER GRAB.
AND FOR ME IT'S ESPECIALLY
MEANINGFUL BECAUSE I KNOW HOW
HIGH THE STAKES ARE AT THE
COURT.
SEVEN DAYS AFTER THE ELECTION,
THE COURT IS GOING TO HEAR A
CASE IN WHICH PRESIDENT TRUMP IS
ARGUING FOR OVERTURNING OF THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT AND THE
PROTECTIONS THAT PEOPLE HAVE IF
THEY HAVE A PREEXISTING HEALTH
CONDITION, THEY CAN STILL GET
AFFORDABLE INSURANCE.
THIS IS DURING A PANDEMIC.
SO ONE OF THE ISSUES I KNOW
WISCONSINITES CARE MOST DEEPLY
ABOUT IS AT STAKE IN THIS
DECISION.
I DISSENT AND OBJECT TO MITCH
MCCONNELL AND THE PRESIDENT
TRYING TO DO THIS WHILE
WISCONSINITES ARE ALREADY
VOTING.
IT IS THE NEXT PRESIDENT AND THE
NEXT SENATE WHO SHOULD DEAL WITH
THIS CONFIRMATION.
>> ON THE ELECTION, WHAT DO YOU
MAKE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYING
HE COULD REJECT A PEACEFUL
TRANSFER OF POWER IF HE LOSES?
>> YOU KNOW, FOR ME IT'S ANOTHER
STEP IN A LONG PATTERN OF
UNDERMINING OUR DEMOCRACY.
THE IDEA THAT HE WOULD NOT HEED
THE VOICES OF THE PEOPLE IN A
GOVERNMENT OF, BY AND FOR THE
PEOPLE IS OUTRAGEOUS.
AND I THINK WE ALL MUST STAND
FOR THE PRINCIPLE THAT THE
PEOPLE DECIDE WHO OUR PRESIDENT
AND VICE PRESIDENT ARE GOING TO
BE.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS JUST
APPALLING TO HEAR HIM SAY THOSE
WORDS.
>> WE JUST SPOKE WITH WISCONSIN
SENATOR RON JOHNSON ABOUT HIS
INVESTIGATION AND REPORT ON
HUNTER BIDEN.
WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT
REPORT?
>> WELL, IT SHOWED NOTHING,
BASICALLY.
BUT THE TIMING AND USE OF
TAXPAYER RESOURCES AND
INVESTIGATORY RESOURCES WHEN
WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A
PANDEMIC, WHEN THEY OVERSEE THE
POSTAL SERVICE AND WE'RE SEEING
HARMFUL DELAYS IN THE DELIVERY
OF OUR MAIL, THAT HE'S JUST
RECYCLING OLD THEORIES IS A
MISUSE AND DISRESPECT OF
TAXPAYERS AND TAXPAYER
RESOURCES.
>> ON THE PANDEMIC, HOW
COMMITTED ARE CONGRESSIONAL
DEMOCRATS TO REACHING A
COMPREHENSIVE RELIEF PACKAGE
DEAL?
>> IT IS THE THING WE SHOULD BE
DOING RATHER THAN GOING THROUGH
CONFIRMATION HEARINGS AND HAVING
THIS REPUBLICAN POWER GRAB.
IT IS EXACTLY PROVIDING RELIEF
FOR SO MANY STRUGGLING
AMERICANS, FAMILIES, SMALL
BUSINESSES.
THAT SHOULD BE OUR SOLE FOCUS
BETWEEN NOW AND ELECTION DAY AND
BEYOND.
THE PRESIDENT SORT OF WALKED
AWAY FROM THE NEGOTIATING TABLE
SEVERAL WEEKS AGO.
WE NEED THE WHITE HOUSE BACK
THERE.
AND THE HARM THAT'S BEING
EXPERIENCED NOW, AND I JUST
SOMETIMES FEEL AS THOUGH MITCH
MCCONNELL AND SOME OF MY
REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES DO NOT
UNDERSTAND, ARE NOT IN TOUCH
WITH THE REAL STRUGGLES.
AND THE OTHER THING WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT PANDEMIC RELIEF,
ECONOMIC RELIEF AND STIMULUS,
BUT LET'S JUST NOTE THAT
WISCONSIN IS FACING RECORD
NUMBERS OF NEW CORONAVIRUS CASES
NINE MONTHS INTO THIS PANDEMIC,
WHICH ALSO SHOWS THE FAILURE OF
LEADERSHIP OF THIS PRESIDENT.
>> I'M AFRAID WITH JUST ABOUT A
MINUTE LEFT, YOUR RESPONSE TO
THE CHARGING DECISION IN THE
BREONNA TAYLOR CASE?
>> IT IS SO HEART-BREAKING THAT
BREONNA TAYLOR'S LIFE WAS TAKEN
AND NOBODY IS GOING TO BE HELD
APPROPRIATELY ACCOUNTABLE, IN MY
OPINION.
I DO AGREE WITH CALLS TO OPEN
AND MAKE PUBLIC THE MATERIALS
THAT WERE SHARED WITH THE GRAND
JURY SO WE CAN FIND OUT WHETHER
THEY REALLY GOT THE FACTS AND
THE QUESTION POSED TO THEM THAT
WOULD ALLOW ACCOUNTABILITY IN
THIS TRAGIC, TRAGIC CASE.
>> WE LEAVE IT THERE.
SENATOR TAMMY BALDWIN, THANKS
VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GOVERNOR TONY EVERS THIS WEEK
ISSUED A NEW PUBLIC HEALTH
EMERGENCY AND EXTENDED THE
STATEWIDE MASK MANDATE AS
COVID-19 CASES IN WISCONSIN
CONTINUE TO SURGE, WITH STATE
HEALTH OFFICIALS SAYING THE
STATE IS ENTERING A NEW AND
DANGEROUS PHASE.
GOVERNOR EVERS JOINS US NOW AND,
GOVERNOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU, FRED REEK CAVMENT
>> WELL, YOU AND STATE HEALTH
OFFICIALS ARE REALLY SOUNDING
THE ALARM OVER THIS SURGE IN
CASES.
WHAT DO YOU SEE COMING AT US IN
THIS NEW AND DANGEROUS PHASE?
>> WELL, WHAT -- CLEARLY THE
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM
AND OTHER COLLEGES GOING --
BEGINNING THEIR SCHOOL YEAR HAS
BROUGHT, YOU KNOW, A NEW GROUP
OF PEOPLE TO A DIFFICULT
SITUATION.
I REMEMBER I WAS JUST LAST WEEK
TALKING TO DR. BURKS FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND SHE WAS
SAYING THAT WISCONSIN IS ONE OF
TWO STATES WHERE WE HAVE
COMMUNITY SPREAD AND CAMPUS
SPREAD SIMULTANEOUSLY.
AND SO WE JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE'RE IN A GOOD POSITION TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE
TESTING IN PLACE AND THE CONTACT
TRACING AND CLEARLY WE NEED TO
HAVE THESE MASKS ON.
>> BUT MEANWHILE UW-MADISON THIS
WEEK ANNOUNCED THEY WOULD BE
REOPENING TO CAMPUS ACTIVITY.
WHAT CONFIDENCE DO YOU HAVE THAT
UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS HERE IN
WISCONSIN ARE DOING THE RIGHT
THING?
>> WELL, THEY'RE SURE WORKING
HARD AT IT.
AND WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH
THEM ALL THE WAY ALONG WITH
DEVELOPING THEIR PLANS.
AND THEY'VE BEEN PRETTY
STRINGENT, QUARANTINING PEOPLE
IN THE DORMS FOR TWO WEEKS NOW.
AND SO I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT
IT'S TIME TO SLOWLY MOVE INTO A
DIFFERENT PHASE, BUT IT HAS TO
BE DONE SLOWLY, HAS TO BE DONE
CAREFULLY AND MAKE SURE WE'RE IN
A GOOD POSITION BEFORE WE TAKE
ANY OTHER STEPS.
BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A BUMPY
RIDE, FREDERICA.
NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
>> YOU SAY HAD REPUBLICANS IN
THE STATE SUPREME COURT NOT SHUT
DOWN YOUR "SAFER AT HOME" ORDER
WE'D BE IN A DIFFERENT PLACE.
DO YOU BLAME THEM FOR THIS
LATEST SURGE?
>> WELL, IT'S BEEN ONGOING,
FRANKLY.
WHEN WE HAVE VERY LITTLE WE CAN
DO AROUND MITIGATION.
I MEAN, LOOK AT THE SOUTHERN
STATES, WHERE THEY SLOWLY MOVED
IN A BETTER POSITION.
BUT THOSE GOVERNORS HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO MASK GROUPS OF
PEOPLE BEING TOGETHER.
THEY COULD CONTROL THOSE THINGS.
I, BECAUSE OF THAT DECISION MADE
BY THE SUPREME COURT WAY EARLY
IN THIS CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE
COVID, TOOK AWAY ALL THOSE
OPPORTUNITIES TO MITIGATE.
SO WE'RE DOWN TO THE BASICS:
MASKS, MAKING SURE WE HAVE GOOD
TESTING AND MAKING SURE WE KEEP
SOCIALLY DISTANCED FROM PEOPLE.
THAT HAS BEEN OUR MANTRA FOR
MONTHS NOW.
>> STATE REPUBLICAN LEADERS CALL
YOUR LATEST ORDERS AND MASK
EXTENSION ILLEGAL AND THERE'S
ALREADY A LAWSUIT, AS YOU KNOW,
OVER THE LAST ORDER.
WHAT PAUSE DOES THAT GIVE YOU AS
YOU ISSUE NEW ORDERS AND
EXTENSION?
>> DOESN'T GIVE ME ANY PAUSE.
MY JOB IS TO KEEP THE PEOPLE OF
WISCONSIN HEALTHY.
AND AS YOU KNOW, WE DID AN ORDER
IN I THINK IT WAS MID OR LATE
AUGUST.
UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES AT THAT
TIME WE SAW A HUGE INCREASE.
WHEN THERE IS SOMETHING
SUBSTANTIVELY DIFFERENT WE
BELIEVE WE CAN DO THIS AND
THERE'S SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT
THIS TIME, TORQUES WITH TOO, WITH ALL THE
CAMPUS COVID-19 POSITIVE
TESTING.
>> WITH JUST ABOUT A MINUTE
LEFT, YOU ARE ASKING REPUBLICAN
LEADERS TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE AND
WEAR MASKS SAYING FUNDRAISERS
AND APPEARANCES SHOW PHOTOS OF
CROWDS WITHOUT THEM.
WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU THINK THOSE
KINDS OF IMAGES SEND?
>> WELL, OBVIOUSLY THE WRONG
MESSAGE.
AND, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY DOES IT
SHOW UP IN THE PICTURES.
IT SHOWS UP IN THEIR ACTIONS.
AND, FRANKLY, AT THE NATIONAL
LEVEL, TOO.
IF WE'RE GOING TO BELIEVE THAT
SCIENCE MEANS ANYTHING AND IF
SCIENCE IS REALLY STRONG AROUND
THE MASKS, WE HAD THE HEAD OF
THE CDC LAST WEEK SAYING IT'S
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN
DO, IT'S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT
THAN VACCINES.
MASK UP, WISCONSIN.
IT'S CRITICAL.
WE'VE SEEN LAST TIME WE DID THIS
MORE PEOPLE IN THE STATE WERE
WEARING MASKS.
AND SO IT'S EASY.
I CAN'T SAY IT'S FUN, BUT IT'S
EASY.
BUT WE HAVE TO DO IT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE LEAVE IT THERE.
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> THANKS SO MUCH, FREDERICA.
>> STATE REPUBLICANS WASTED
LITTLE TIME DENOUNCING GOVERNOR
EVERS' EMERGENCY ORDER.
ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS SAID
WISCONSIN'S LAWLESS GOVERNOR
CONTINUES TO RULE BY FIAT AND IT
MUST END.
THIS LATEST ORDER IS ILLEGAL.
WISCONSIN STATUTES CLEARLY STATE
THE POWERS GIVEN TO THE
EXECUTIVE BRANCH DURING A PUBLIC
HEALTH EMERGENCY ARE LIMITED.
THERE IS ALREADY A COURT
CHALLENGE AND UNDOUBTEDLY THERE
WILL BE MORE.
NO ONE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT CAN
RULE OUTSIDE THE LETTER OF THE
LAW AND GO UNCHECKED EVEN DURING
A PANDEMIC.
LAST SPRING, THE REPUBLICAN-LED
LEGISLATURE CHALLENGED THE
GOVERNOR'S ORDER.
THE STATE SUPREME COURT STRUCK
THE ORDER DOWN.
A LAWSUIT CHALLENGES THE
GOVERNOR'S ORDER TO EXTEND THE
MANDATE WITHOUT THE
LEGISLATURE'S APPROVAL.
>> LATEST CASE NUMBERS IN
WISCONSIN TODAY SHOW ANOTHER
2500 PEOPLE TESTED POSITIVE FOR
COVID-19 AND ALL 72 COUNTING
REPORT HIGH COVID ACTIVITY.
FOR MORE WE CHECK IN WITH CHIEF
MEDICAL OFFICER IN WISCONSIN AND
STATE EPIDEMIOLOGIST, DR. RYAN
WESTERGAARD.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> HI, FREDERICA.
NICE TO BE WITH YOU.
>> HOW FRIGHTENED SHOULD WE BE
BY THESE NUMBERS?
>> WELL, I'M EXTREMELY MORE
CONCERNED, MORE CONCERNED THAN
I'VE BEEN THROUGHOUT ANY POINT
IN THE PANDEMIC.
THE INCREASE, MEAN THE
TRAJECTORY OF NEW CASES, IS
STEEPER THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN.
WE'RE ALSO STARTING TO SEE AN
UPTICK IN HOSPITALIZATIONS AND
SEVERE DISEASE.
SO THIS IS ABOUT THE MOST
CONCERNING PICTURE THAT WE'VE
HAD.
>> AND NOW HEALTH OFFICIALS LIKE
YOURSELF ARE WORRIED ABOUT WHAT
IS AROUND THE BEND AS WELL.
>> WELL, RESPIRATORY VIRUS
SEASON STARTS IN THE FALL, GETS
WORSE IN THE WINTER AND RESOLVES
IN THE EARLY SPRING.
IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT EVERY
YEAR, BUT THAT IS THE PATTERN.
SO IF WE ARE AT THE BEGINNING OF
COLD AND FLU SEASON AND COVID-19
VIRUS BEHAVES LIKE OTHER
RESPIRATORY VIRUSES, IT COULD
GET A LOT WORSE UNLESS WE TAKE
SOME PRETTY AGGRESSIVE ACTIONS.
>> LIKE?
>> WELL, WE SAW HOW TO FLATTEN
THE CURVE IN THE SPRING IN
APRIL AND MAY.
MOST STATES HAVE SOME SORT OF A
"STAY AT HOME" ORDER.
WIDESPREAD ATTENTION TO SOCIAL
DISTANCING WORKS.
WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO DO THAT
TO FLATTEN THE CURVE AGAIN.
>> AND YET WHAT IS AT THE
GOVERNOR'S DISPOSAL AT THIS
MOMENT IS A MASK MANDATE.
IS THAT CORRECT?
>> A MASK MANDATE CAN BE A
HELPFUL TOOL AS WELL, BUT IT'S
ONE PIECE OF A LARGE PUZZLE IN
TERMS OF PREVENTION STRATEGIES.
AND IF THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT
DOESN'T SUPPORT A "STAY AT HOME"
ORDER, IT'S ON EVERYONE
INDIVIDUALLY TO TAKE IT ON
THEMSELVES TO LIMIT SOCIAL
CONTACT AS MUCH AS WE CAN.
>> IS THAT FRUSTRATING FOR YOU
THAT THERE ARE POLITICAL LIMITS
TO THAT?
>> WELL, I THINK IN PUBLIC
HEALTH WE TAKE THE ENVIRONMENT
WE HAVE AND THE TOOLS WE HAVE
AND WE TRY TO BE AS HELPFUL AS
WE CAN.
SO WE'RE WORKING WITH THE
SITUATION AS WE SEE FIT AND
TRYING TO DO THE BEST WE CAN.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT THE NEED IS
CRITICAL FOR MORE CONTACT
TRACERS.
HOW CLOSE ARE WE TO COMING UP
AGAINST SURGE CAPACITY IN OTHER
AREAS LIKE HOSPITAL BEDS?
>> WELL, THE HOSPITAL BEDS AND
VENTILATORS SEEM TO BE IN GOOD
SUPPLY.
WHEN WE TALK TO HEALTH CARE
LEADERS, THE CRITICAL PIECE,
WHAT THEY SAY IS THAT WE MIGHT
RUN OUT OF STAFF, NURSES, FOR
EXAMPLE, WHO IF THEY ARE EXPOSED
AND NEED TO QUARANTINE CAN
PROMOTE A REAL SHORTAGE OF
HEALTH CARE RESOURCES.
SO IT'S NOT JUST BED
AVAILABILITY.
IT'S ALSO STAFFING.
AND SO WE NEED TO PLAN AHEAD
FOR, AS YOU SAID, THE POTENTIAL
SURGE AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW
TO MAKE OUR RESOURCES WORK THE
BEST.
>> BRIEFLY HERE, DOCTOR, WE'RE
BEING TOLD NOT JUST TO DISTANCE,
WEAR MASKS AND WASH OUR HANDS,
BUT TO STAY HOME.
ARE WE BASICALLY TO
SELF-QUARANTINE IN THE MIDST OF
THIS WIDE COMMUNITY SPREAD?
>> WELL, I THINK THAT THE NOTION
OF QUARANTINE HAS A SPECIFIC
MEANING AND I THINK IT'S VERY
IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO
UNDERSTAND THAT.
THAT IS, WHEN YOU FIND OUT
YOU'VE BEEN EXPOSED TO SOMEBODY
WHO'S BEEN INFECTED OR DIAGNOSED
WITH COVID-19, A 14-DAY
QUARANTINE IS ESSENTIAL.
SO IT'S DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE
NEED IN TERMS OF WIDESPREAD
SOCIAL DISTANCING.
QUARANTINE IS SOMETHING WE
PROBABLY NEED TO TALK ABOUT MORE
AND UNDERSTAND BETTER AS A KEY
PREVENTION STRATEGY.
>> WE WILL TALK TO YOU NEXT
TIME.
DR. RYAN WESTERGAARD, THANKS
VERY MUCH.
>> THANKS FOR THE GOOD
QUESTIONS.
>> THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE
POLICE SHOOTING OF JACOB BLAKE
IN KENOSHA WILL SEE A WELL-KNOWN
OUTSIDE EXPERT TAKING ON THE
CASE AS A CONSULTANT TO REACH A
CHARGING DECISION.
FORMER MADISON POLICE CHIEF
NOBLE WRAY ALSO SERVED AS A
POLICE REFORM EXPERT FOR THE
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
THE KENOSHA DA SAYS WRAY ASKED
ONE QUESTION BEFORE TAKING THE
CASE.
HAVE YOU ALREADY MADE THE
CHARGING DECISION?
WRAY WAS TOLD NO.
>> I'VE BEEN HONORED AS A
POLICING PROFESSIONAL TO DO A
NUMBER OF THINGS, BUT I'M FROM
WISCONSIN, AND, YOU KNOW, THIS
IS WISCONSIN'S MOMENT OF TRUTH.
AND I WANT THE BEST FOR THIS
STATE AND THE PEOPLE IN THIS
STATE.
SO I WAS HONORED ORIGINALLY.
AND THE REASON WHY I ASKED THAT
QUESTION IS BECAUSE THIS SHOULD
BE A FAIR AND IMPARTIAL
INVESTIGATION.
IT SHOULD NOT COME ACROSS AS
SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN
PREJUDGED OR THE DECISION HAS
ALREADY BEEN MADE.
>> WRAY SAYS HE EXPECTS TO MOVE
WITH DELIBERATE SPEED, BUT SAYS
NO TIME LIME HAS BEEN SET FOR
WHEN HE MUST COMPLETE HIS
REVIEW.
NOW BACK TO PRESIDENTIAL
POLITICS.
ALL EYES ARE ON WISCONSIN THIS
FALL AND PARTICULARLY ON RURAL
WISCONSIN, WHERE A TIGHT
STATEWIDE VOTE COULD BE DECIDED.
WE TRAVELED TO CLARK COUNTY TO
SEE HOW VOTERS THERE WERE
APPROACHING ELECTION DAY.
HERE'S PORTIA YOUNG.
>> AMERICA'S HEARTLAND IS
HISTORICALLY WHERE POLITICAL
CANDIDATES FIND A STRONG
CONSERVATIVE BASE.
RURAL WISCONSIN IS TRADITIONALLY
NO DIFFERENT.
>> WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A
CONSERVATIVE AREA.
I CAN'T SEE THAT CHANGING.
>> THAT'S EDITOR OF THE
NEWSPAPER IN LOYAL, A SMALL
DAIRY TOWN IN THE NORTHWEST PART
OF THE STATE.
LOYAL IS ALSO IN CLARK COUNTY,
WHERE THERE ARE TWICE AS MANY
DAIRY COWS AS PEOPLE.
>> HE SAYS FISCAL CONSERVATISM
AND THE AIL ABORTION ISSUE DRIVE THE
VOTE.
THIS IS DEFINITELY REPUBLICAN
TERRITORY NO MATTER WHO THE
CANDIDATE.
HE ACKNOWLEDGES BEING THE ODD
MAN OUT AS A DEMOCRAT.
>> NOBODY SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO
MEET IN THE MIDDLE OR LISTEN TO
THE OTHER SIDE.
THIS IS WHAT I THINK.
I'M NOT SO SURE A GOOD FRIEND OF
MINE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO CALL ME
AN IDIOT BECAUSE I'M NOT VOTING
FOR TRUMP IN THE FALL.
SO THERE YOU HAVE IT.
>> HE SAYS COVID-19 ALSO WIDENED
THE DIVIDE, A DIVIDE HE THINKS
BECAME CLEAR FOUR YEARS AGO.
FARMERS, A LARGE POPULATION IN
THIS COUNTY, HAVE TRADITIONALLY
VOTED REPUBLICAN AND HAVE TAKEN
A BIG ECONOMIC HIT OVER THE LAST
FIVE YEARS.
YOUNG DAIRY FARMERS ROBIN AND
CHRIS SAY THEY HAVEN'T MADE UP
THEIR MINDS, BUT UNDERSTAND WHY
THERE IS STILL SO MUCH SUPPORT
FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP IN CLARK
COUNTY.
>> THE REPUBLICAN PARTY STARTED
HERE IN WISCONSIN.
>> I GUESS WHAT PEOPLE LIKE
ABOUT TRUMP, TOO, HE SAYS HE'S
GOING TO DO SOMETHING, HE DOES
IT, YOU KNOW?
I GUESS THAT'S WHAT A LOT OF
PEOPLE AROUND HERE LIKE.
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE ARE
AROUND HERE.
PEOPLE ARE TRUE TO THEIR WORD
AROUND HERE.
SO I THINK THAT HAS A LOT TO DO
WITH IT.
YOU DON'T KNOW HOW THE PERSON
REALLY IS UNLESS YOU MEET THEM
FACE-TO-FACE, WHICH IS HARD TO
DO.
>> SOME POLITICAL WRITERS THINK
DONALD TRUMP WINNING RURAL
WISCONSIN MIGHT BE HARDER TO DO
THIS TIME AROUND.
HE WON WISCONSIN FOUR YEARS AGO
IN SMALL TOWNS LIKE LOYAL AND IN
RURAL COUNTIES.
>> THANKS TO PORTIA YOUNG AND
MILWAUKEE PBS FOR THAT REPORT.
AND THAT IS ALL FOR TONIGHT'S
PROGRAM.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT 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.