>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> LIFE AT FORT MCCOY CONTINUES
FOR AFGHAN REFUGEES, INCLUDING
CHILDREN GATHERED IN OUTSIDE
CLASSROOMS UNDER THE INSTRUCTION
OF RED CROSS VOLUNTEER TEACHERS.
BUT EVEN AS DONATIONS TO FORT
MCCOY FLOW IN, CONCERNS ABOUT
LIVING CONDITIONS THERE ARE
RAISED BY A WISCONSIN
CONGRESSWOMAN.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," A UW
LAW SCHOOL PROFESSOR DESCRIBES
HER WORK WITH REFUGEES INSIDE
THE FENCES OF FORT MCCOY.
THE ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL IMPACT
ON STUDENTS RETURNING AFTER A
YEAR OF VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION.
A PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE
DOCTOR WEIGHS IN ON COVID CASES
IN SCHOOL.
AND THE RETURN OF THE "HERE AND
NOW" POLITICAL PANEL.
MCCOSHEN AND ROS LOOK AHEAD TO
THE RACES SHAPING UP FOR
CAMPAIGN 2022.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
SEPTEMBER 17.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> FORT MCCOY IN WISCONSIN IS
NOW REPORTEDLY AT OR NEAR ITS
CAPACITY FOR HOUSING
NEWLY-ARRIVED REFUGEES FROM
AFGHANISTAN.
AN ESTIMATED NEARLY 13,000
ADULTS AND CHILDREN FROM THAT
COUNTRY ARE TEMPORARILY RESIDING
AT THE UW ARMY INSTALLATION NEAR
TOMAH.
WHAT ARE THEIR LIVES LIKE AND
WHAT ARE THEIR NEEDS AND HARD
HARDSHIPS?
WE CHECK IN WITH ERIN BARBATO AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN LAW
SCHOOL.
SHE AND HER STUDENTS HOPE TO
SUPPORT THE LEGAL CLINIC AT FORT
MCCOY AND SHE HAS RECENTLY
VISITED THERE.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO WHAT SERVICES ARE YOU AND
YOUR LAW STUDENTS HOPING TO
PROVIDE AT FORT MCCOY?
>> WELL, WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO DO
IS ENSURE THAT PEOPLE ARE
WELCOMED WITH DIGNITY, ENSURING
PEOPLE KNOW THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS
WHEN THEY ARE IN THE UNITED
STATES.
WHAT ARE THEIR PATHWAY TO
CITIZENSHIP?
SO WE'RE HOPING TO SUPPORT THAT
MOVEMENT AT FORT MCCOY IN THE
NEAR FUTURE.
>> WHAT SPECIFIC TYPE OF LEGAL
ASSISTANCE DO YOU EXPECT THEY
WILL NEED?
>> WELL, ALL OF THEM HAD AN
EVACUATE IN AN EMERGENT
SITUATION.
SOME WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR
LEGAL PROCESS.
FOR EXAMPLE, MANY OF THEM I MET
WITH HAD PENDING SPECIAL
IMMIGRANT VISAS, PEOPLE WHO
WORKED FOR THE EMBASSY OR FOR
THE U.S. ARMY AS INTERPRETERS.
BUT THEY HAD TO FLEE BEFORE
THEIR PAPERWORK WAS COMPLETE.
SO WE'RE HOPING TO LEARN WHAT
THE NEXT STEPS WILL BE FOR THEM
AND TO SUPPORT THEM THROUGH THAT
PROCESS.
>> SO HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE
EXPERIENCE OF BEING AMIDST THE
THOUSANDS OF NEWLY-ARRIVED
PEOPLE AIRLIFTED OUT OF
AFGHANISTAN?
>> IT WAS A SIGHT I HAD NEVER
ANTICIPATED SEEING, ESPECIALLY
IN WESTERN WISCONSIN.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL AREA OF
WISCONSIN WHERE THIS SPRAWLING
MILITARY BASE IS.
WE WERE DRIVE ARING TH DRIVING 5
MILES AN HOUR.
I SAW FAMILIES JUST WALKING THE
STREETS.
IT WAS SOMETHING I NEVER
ANTICIPATED SEEING BEFORE.
SO IT WAS PRETTY SURREAL.
>> IS THE TRAUMA OF THE PEOPLE
WHO WERE LITERALLY PLUCKED OUT
OF KABAL PALPABLE?
>> IT WAS.
WHEN I MET WITH THE FAMILIES,
WOMEN, CHILDREN, FATHERS, SINGLE
MEN, WE HEARD THEIR STORIES AND
THE EMERGENT SITUATION THAT THEY
HAD TO FLEE WAS CLEAR.
EVERYONE WAS QUITE GRATEFUL TO
BE WHERE THEY WERE, BUT THEY
WERE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR FAMILY
MEMBERS STILL IN AFGHANISTAN OR
MEMBERS WHO FLED TO OTHER
COUNTRIES.
IT'S COMMON IN THE IMMIGRATION
SYSTEM, BUT THESE FAMILIES WERE
TORN APART, OFTEN IN THE
SITUATION THAT THEY HAD NO
CONTROL OVER.
>> AND NOW THEY ARE HERE.
WHAT ARE CONDITIONS LIKE FOR
PEOPLE HOUSED AT FORT MCCOY?
WHAT ARE THEY TELLING YOU ABOUT
THEIR HARDSHIPS OR THEIR
BARRIERS THERE?
>> MOST OF WHAT I DISCUSSED WITH
PEOPLE WERE THEIR LEGAL OPTIONS.
DURING THOSE DISCUSSIONS
SOMETIMES THEY DID DISCUSS WHAT
THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT WAS FOR
THEM AT FORT MCCOY.
AND AS I SAID BEFORE, PEOPLE
SEEMED TO BE INCREDIBLY
GRACIOUS.
BUT IT WAS CLEAR THAT THERE WERE
HARDSHIPS.
MANY TOLD ME THAT THEY DIDN'T
HAVE A CHANGE OF CLOTHES OR THAT
THEIR SHOES WERE NOT THE RIGHT
SIZE AS WELL AS WAITING IN LONG
LINES FOR FOOD.
AND NOBODY REALLY WANTED TO
COMPLAIN, BUT I COULD TELL THAT
THIS WAS NOT THE SITUATION WHERE
WE WERE WELCOMING SOMEONE WITH
DIGNITY AND I THINK WE COULD DO
A MUCH BETTER JOB.
>> YOU HAVE TOLD US THAT YOU
FELT AS THOUGH THE AUTHORITIES
OR THE PEOPLE AT FORT MCCOY WERE
TRYING HARD TO MAKE THINGS
BETTER.
IS THAT WHAT YOU BELIEVE ABOUT
THAT?
>> I DO.
I MEAN, THE FIRST THING I SAW
WHEN I PULLED UP TO GET MY
SECURITY PASS TO ENTER THE BASE
WAS A MAN, A VETERAN ARRIVING IN
A HUGE TRUCK FULL OF DONATIONS.
AND WE'VE SEEN PEOPLE ACROSS
WISCONSIN COME TOGETHER TO
DONATE MONEY AND MATERIALS TO
ENSURE THAT PEOPLE DO HAVE WHAT
THEY NEED.
BUT I THINK BECAUSE OF THE
EMERGENT SITUATION AND PEOPLE
ARRIVING SO QUICKLY, WE JUST
DIDN'T HAVE EVERYTHING SET UP IN
A WAY THAT COULD GET THE
MATERIALS TO PEOPLE WHEN THEY
NEED T. BUT I COULD SEE PEOPLE
WORKING AS HARD AS POSSIBLE TO
BRING SUPPLIES TO THE PEOPLE WHO
SO DESPERATELY NEED THEM.
>> IN YOUR ESTIMATION, WHAT HELP
CAN THEY USE NOW AND GOING
FORWARD?
>> I THINK BECAUSE THERE'S
13,000 PEOPLE, AN ESTIMATED
13,000 PEOPLE THERE, THERE'S A
NEED FOR NEW CLOTHING AND
MATERIALS AND ALSO JUST MONETARY
DONATIONS SO THAT ORGANIZATIONS
THAT ARE SUPPORTING THE WORK ON
THE GROUND THERE CAN USE THAT
MONEY AS CONDITIONS CHANGE AND
AS NEEDS ARISE.
>> NOW, IT'S REPORTED THAT OF
THE THOUSANDS OF NEW ARRIVALS,
ABOUT 400 ARE LIKELY TO RESETTLE
IN WISCONSIN?
WILL YOUR PROJECT CONTINUE TO
HELP SERVE THOSE PEOPLE?
>> YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S A NEED,
I HOPE WE CAN, BUT OFTENTIMES IF
THEY WERE SETTLED THROUGH THE
REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT AGENCY THEY
CAN GET LEGAL ACCESS TO
ATTORNEYS THAT WAY.
SO WE'RE STUDYING THIS PROCESS
AND MY STUDENTS ARE VERY EAGER
TO HELP IN ANY WAY WE CAN.
BUT I'M ALSO HOPING THAT THE
RESETTLEMENT AGENCY IN WISCONSIN
WILL HAVE THE CAPACITY TO SERVE
THEM AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ERIN BARBATO, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NOW TO COVID NEWS AND A VISIT
FROM FIRST LADY JILL BIDEN TO A
MILWAUKEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
BIDEN WAS THERE TO OBSERVE AND
LEARN HOW SCHOOLS WERE DOING IN
THE RETURN TO IN-PERSON
INSTRUCTION.
HER VISIT WEDNESDAY COINCIDED
WITH CITY HEALTH OFFICIALS
ANNOUNCING RISING NUMBER OF
COVID CASES AMONG SCHOOL
CHILDREN AND STAFF, NUMBERS THEY
SAID NOW ACCOUNT FOR NEARLY A
THIRD OF THE CASES IN THE CITY
AND COUNTY.
>> AND THE LATEST NUMBERS
TONIGHT, MILWAUKEE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS REPORT MORE THAN 400
POSITIVE COVID-19 CASES IN THE
PAST TWO WEEKS AMONG STUDENTS
AND STAFF.
A MAJORITY OF THESE CASES ARE
AMONG STUDENTS, MANY OF WHOM ARE
UNDER 12 AND CANNOT BE
VACCINATED.
TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW
COVID-19 IS IMPACTING THESE
STUDENTS, WE TURN TO DR. JOSEPH
MCBRIDE, A PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS
DISEASE SPECIALIST AT UW
HOSPITAL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO WHAT ARE YOU SEEING IN
CHILDREN WITH COVID INFECTIONS
IN TERMS OF NUMBER OF NEW CASES?
>> I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING
HERE IN MADISON AND THROUGHOUT
WISCONSIN AND THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTRY IN GENERAL IS MUCH LIKE
WHAT'S BEEN REPORTED IN
MILWAUKEE.
WE'RE SEEING INCREASED RATES OF
COVID-19 IN CHILDREN AND ALSO A
LITTLE BIT MORE INCREASED
SEVERITY IN SOME OF THE
ILLNESSES THAT ARE EXPERIENCED.
>> SO HOW CONCERNING ARE THESE
NUMBERS OF POSITIVE CASES BEING
REPORTED IN PLACES LIKE
MILWAUKEE AND, AS YOU SAY,
ACROSS THE STATE?
HOW CONCERNING IS THAT?
>> YEAH.
I THINK IT'S REALLY CONCERNING
FROM THE STANDPOINT OF, AS YOU
MENTIONED, THIS IS A LARGE GROUP
OF PEOPLE WHO ARE UNVACCINATED
AND THEN THEREFORE UNPROTECTED
AT THE SAME AMOUNT OF IMMUNITY
WHEN WE COMPARE IT TO ADULTS.
WHENEVER WE HAVE LARGE GROUPS OF
CHILDREN UNVACCINATED TOGETHER,
THERE WILL BE A RISK OF
TRANSMISSION THAT WILL BE HIGHER
THIS YEAR COMPARED TO LAST YEAR,
WHEN MANY OF OUR SCHOOLS WERE
CLOSED.
>> ONE THING THAT STANDS OUT IS
THAT YOU JUST SAID THAT THESE
INFECTIONS ARE ALSO PROVING MORE
SERIOUS IN THIS PEDIATRIC
POPULATION.
DESCRIBE THAT.
>> SO WHENEVER WE'RE DEALING
WITH AN INFECTION, THERE'S
ALWAYS A SPECTRUM OF ILLNESS.
SOME PEOPLE ARE ASYMPTOMATIC.
OTHERS HAVE MILD ILLNESS.
ON THE OPPOSITE END WE HAVE MORE
SEVERE ILLNESSES.
SO THE RATE OF MORE MODERATE TO
SEVERE ILLNESSES WITH SOME OF
THE MORE RECENT VARIANTS LIKE
THE DELTA, IS SKEWING TOWARD
MODERATE TO SEVERE AT A HIGHER
FREQUENCY THAN WE DID EARLIER IN
THE PANDEMIC.
>> WHAT OF BREAKTHROUGH CASES OF
OLDER, VACCINATED CHILDREN?
>> SO BREAKTHROUGH CASES ARE
CASES OF COVID-19 IN SITUATIONS
WHERE PEOPLE HAVE RECEIVED THE
COMPLETE VACCINE SCHEDULE.
AND WE SEE BREAKTHROUGH
INFECTIONS WITH EVERY TYPE OF
VACCINE THAT'S OUT THERE.
THANKFULLY, THE CASES ARE LESS
FREQUENT AND LESS SEVERE IN
GENERAL THAN THOSE IN THE
UNVACCINATED POPULATION AND
CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 12
AND 18 WHO HAVE BEEN PROTECTED
ARE NO DIFFERENT THAN ANYBODY
ELSE.
WE CAN SEE BREAKTHROUGH
INFECTIONS IN THIS POPULATION.
>> AND SO OF THOSE WHO ARE NOT
GETTING THE BREAKTHROUGH, BUT
ARE THE POPULATION THAT IS
UNVACCINATED, ARE THESE PATIENTS
BEING ADMITTED IN ANY NUMBER TO
THE HOSPITAL?
>> YEAH.
OF COURSE.
WE DO SEE ADMISSIONS TO THE
HOSPITAL DUE TO COVID-19 IN
PEDIATRIC CASES AND WE DID SEE
SOME LAST YEAR AS WELL.
THERE IS A SLIGHT INCREASE IN
THE FREQUENCY OF SOME OF THESE
HOSPITALIZATIONS WITH SEVERE
CASES.
AS THE VIRUS CHANGES, SO DOES
OUR LEVEL OF ADMISSIONS AND
RESPONSE, A FURTHER REASON WHY
WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO GIVE OUR
CHILDREN IMMUNITY WHEN THE
VACCINE IS AVAILABLE TO THEM.
IN THE INTERIM, WE AS A
COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY ADULTS,
HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN IN
ORDER TO LIMIT THE SPREAD OF
COVID-19, VACCINATING OURSELVES,
MASKS OURSELVES AND OTHER
METHODS THAT ARE RECOMMENDED.
>> WHAT SHOULD PARENTS KNOW
ABOUT WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN THEIR
CHILDREN WHO MAY BECOME INFECTED
AND WHEN IT IS POTENTIALLY
SERIOUS?
>> YEAH.
SO ANY KIND OF RESPIRATORY
VIRUS, WHETHER IT'S DUE TO COVID
OR INFLUENZA OR RSV, WHICH HAVE
BEEN AROUND FOR YEARS, CAN CAUSE
A WIDE SPECTRUM OF SYMPTOMS.
THE CONCERNING THINGS INVOLVING
CHILDREN ARE BREATHING PROBLEMS,
HAVING A HARD TIME EATING AND
KEEPING DOWN FOOD, HIGH FEVERS,
BEING LISTLESS.
THESE ARE SOME OF THE SYMPTOMS
THAT PEOPLE SHOULD SEEK OUT
MEDICAL CARE FOR NOT JUST FROM
VOAFCOVID, BUT ANY RESPIRATORY
INFECTION.
>> HOW DO WE BALANCE KEEPING
KIDS IN SCHOOL AND KEEPING THEM
AND STAFF SAFE?
>> BOY, THAT IS SUCH A
CHALLENGING QUESTION AND I
MYSELF AM A FATHER OF TWO YOUNG
SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN.
MY WIFE AND I REALLY STRUGGLE
WITH THIS.
WE DO KNOW THAT IN-PERSON SCHOOL
IS IMPORTANT.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT CHILDREN
REALLY GET A BENEFIT OUT OF AND
THE CDC SCHOOL GUIDELINES REALLY
STRESS THIS.
OUR GOAL IS TO SCE KEEP CHILDREN
SCHOOL FOR LEARNING.
SO HOW DO WE BALANCE THIS IS A
CHALLENGE.
WE HAVE TO MITIGATE THE SPREAD
OF THE VIRUS.
BEST TECHNIQUES ARE MASK USE,
GOOD HAND HYGIENE, HAVING SOCIAL
DISTANCING, THE FOLLOWING THE
CDC GUIDELINES FOR SCHOOL
EDUCATION, WHICH ARE WIDELY
AVAILABLE AND FOLLOWED BY MANY
DISTRICTS AND OF COURSE THE BIG
THING IS VACCINATING THOSE WHO
ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE
VACCINE.
IF WE'RE ABLE TO GET OUR LEVELS
DOWN, THEN OF COURSE THERE WILL
BE LESS OPPORTUNITY FOR KIDS TO
BE INFECTED
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE LEAVE IT THERE.
DR. JOSEPH MCBRIDE, THANKS VERY
MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR
WORK.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
HAVING ME.
>> EVEN AS THE DELTA VARIANT OF
COVID-19 CAUSES A SURGE IN CASES
ACROSS THE STATE AND IN SCHOOLS
THIS FALL, THE FALLOUT FROM LAST
YEAR WITH ITS VI VIRTUAL LEARNIG
MODEL HAS LEFT MANY CHILDREN
ADRIFT.
FOR MORE ON THE EFFECTS OF THE
PANDEMIC, WE TURN TO PROFESSOR
OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY
STUDIES IN THE SCHOOL OF HUMAN
ECOLOGY, SARAH HALPERN-MEEKIN.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO WE HAD AN A ANECDOTAL
EXAMPLE OF A SECOND-GRADER WHO
IS MORE LIKE A KINDERGARTENER
DUE TO LOSS IN LEARNING.
HOW COMMON IS THIS KIND OF
DEFICIT?
>> WELL, KIDS HAVE BEEN IN A
REALLY WIDE ARRAY OF SITUATIONS
OVER THE COURSE OF THE PANDEMIC.
SO WE'VE HAD SOME KIDS WHO HAVE
RECEIVED A LOT OF INSTRUCTION,
SOME OF IT IN PERSON, SOME OF IT
REMOTE, AND WE HAVE OTHER KIDS
WHO HAVE HAD REALLY VERY LITTLE
INSTRUCTION.
THE OTHER THING THAT HAS VARIED
AMONG KIDS, HOWEVER, IS HOW MUCH
THEIR NEEDS WERE BEING MET.
SO STUDENTS WHO MAY HAVE NEEDED
SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES, THAT
THEY WERE NOT RECEIVING DURING
THE PANDEMIC, MIGHT HAVE HAD
EVEN MORE LEARNING STRUGGLES
THAN A CHILD WHOSE NEEDS WERE
BEING MET THROUGH ONLINE OR
IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION.
>> HOW HEAVY OF A LIFT IS IT TO
GET CHILDREN THEN IN THAT KIND
OF CIRCUMSTANCE BACK TO WHERE
THEY NEED TO BE SO THAT THEY CAN
LEARN EFFECTIVELY?
>> SO ONE THING THAT WE WANT TO
REMEMBER IS HOW RESILIENT KIDS
ARE.
SO PEOPLE ARE AMAZING.
KIDS' BRAINS ARE AMAZING,
ESPECIALLY THE BRAINS OF YOUNG
KIDS.
THEY'RE DOING SO MUCH GROWING
YOU A THE TIME.
AND SO WHAT THE SITUATION IS NOW
IS CERTAINLY FAR FROM DESTINY,
RIGHT?
BUT IT'S A MATTER OF CONNECTING
KIDS WITH THE RIGHT SERVICES AND
SUPPORTS AND THEN ALSO MAKING
SURE THAT THE ADULTS IN THEIR
LIVES HAVE THE SERVICES AND
SUPPORTS, THE RESOURCES THAT
THEY NEED AT THEIR DISPOSAL SO
THEY CAN BE THOSE SUPPORTIVE,
PRESENT ADULTS IN KIDS' LIVES
PROVIDING THE KINDS OF
INTERVENTIONS THAT KIDS NEED IN
ORDER TO MEET THEIR REGULAR
NEEDS, CONTINUE BUILDING THEIR
COPING SKILLS AND, YOU KNOW,
MOVE FORWARD IN A POSITIVE WAY.
>> YOU ALSO TALK ABOUT HOW
OBVIOUSLY ALL CHILDREN, AND YOU
MENTIONED IT EARLIER, ARE NOT
KIND OF SUFFERING DEFICITS OR
LOSSES EQUALLY.
HOW SO?
>> WELL, WE KNOW THAT THERE WERE
ACHIEVEMENT GAPS THAT EXISTED
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, AND SO
THESE INEQUITIES THAT HAVE
GOTTEN A LOT OF ATTENTION DURING
THE PANDEMIC ARE CERTAINLY NOT
NEW.
BUT THE PANDEMIC HAS FORCED US
TO FACE THEM PERHAPS IN A
DIFFERENT WAY.
FOR EXAMPLE, JUST THE BASIC
ISSUE OF WHETHER OR NOT SCHOOL
DISTRICTS COULD AFFORD DEVICES
FOR STUDENTS TO USE FOR ONLINE
LEARNING PUT SOME STUDENTS IN A
MORE ADVANTAGEOUS POSITION THAN
OTHERS.
WHETHER FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS TO
HIGH-SPEED INTERNET VARIES FROM
PLACE TO PLACE.
BUT THOSE ISSUES OF
INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITATIONS,
THOSE AREN'T NEW DURING THE
PANDEMIC.
THEY'RE JUST SHOWING THOSE
PROBLEMS IN A NEW WAY.
SO THOSE EXISTED BEFORE.
BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT SOME OF
THE INEQUITIES THAT KIDS DEALT
WITH BEFORE MANIFESTED
THEMSELVES IN DIFFERENT WAYS
DURING THE PANDEMIC.
SO WHEN KIDS WERE SENT HOME TO
LEARN, SOME OF THEM WENT HOME TO
PARENTS OR CAREGIVERS WHO WOULD
NORMALLY BE STAYING AT HOME AND
COULD PROVIDE ATTENTIVE SUPPORT
AS THE KIDS WERE DOING ONLINE
LEARNING.
IN OTHER FAMILIES, PARENTS OR
CAREGIVERS WERE TRYING TO JUGGLE
WORK AND FIRST GRADE MATH AT TH.
AND SOME PARENTS REALLY HAD TO
MAKE HUGE FINANCIAL SACRIFICES
TO STAY HOME WITH THEIR KIDS,
LIKE GIVING UP THEIR JOBS.
IN OTHER FAMILIES, SOME
ADOLESCENTS MAY HAVE BEEN LEFT
TO SUPERVISE THEMSELVES.
SO THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT OR
SUPERVISION THAT KIDS HAD AND
THE SACRIFICES THAT FAMILIES HAD
TO MAKE VARIED A LOT, YOU KNOW,
FROM PERSON TO PERSON.
THE OTHER MAIN POINT THAT I
WOULD EMPHASIZE IS WHAT I WAS
TALKING ABOUT BEFORE WITH KIDS
WHO NORMALLY RECEIVE SPECIAL
EDUCATION SERVICES WHO HAVE
INDIVIDUALIZED LEARNING PLANS.
WE KNOW THAT ONLINE LEARNING
COULDN'T REPLACE OR REPLICATE
WHAT THEY NEEDED OFTENTIMES TO
RECEIVE AN EQUITABLE LEARNING
ENVIRONMENT, AND SO SCHOOL-BASED
SPEECH OR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY,
FOR EXAMPLE, THEY MIGHT JUST NOT
HAVE HAPPENED AND KIDS WHO MIGHT
NORMALLY HAVE HAD THE SUPPORT OF
A PARA PROFESSIONAL IN THE
CLASSROOM THROUGHOUT THE DAY,
THEY JUST DIDN'T HAVE THOSE
THINGS.
SO FOR THOSE KIDS THEY WENT
WITHOUT A LOT OF THEIR CORE
LEARNING TOOLS THROUGHOUT THE
PANDEMIC.
>> IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE
KIDS BACK IN THE CLASSROOM AS
LONG AS WE CAN DO SO SAFELY.
SARAH HALPERN-MEEKIN, THANKS
VERY MUCH.
<!32768> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> FRESH OFF THE ANNOUNCEMENT
THAT HE WILL NOT RUN FOR
GOVERNOR OF WISCONSIN, WE GET
THE POLITICAL PANELIST BAND BACK
TOGETHER ON "HERE AND NOW."
REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST BILL
MCCOSHEN AUNITED STATES NOD THIS
WEEK HE IS TAKING A PASS ON
BEING A CANDIDATE IN 2022.
SO HE'S HERE ALONG WITH
DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST SCOT ROSS
AND WELCOME TO BOTH OF YOU.
>> GOOD TO BE BACK.
>> WELCOME.
>> SO, BILL, COME ON, THIS IS A
LOT MORE FUN THAN RUNNING FOR
GOVERNOR, IS IT NOT?
>> WELL, IT'S A LOT LESS
DANGEROUS, THAT'S FOR SURE.
>> SO, SCOT, WERE YOU SURPRISED
THAT BILL BOWED OUT?
>> YEAH.
I MEAN, I WOULD ASSUME HE'D GET
MORE TELEVISION IF HE WERE
RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR SO I WAS
SURPRISED ABOUT THAT FOR SURE.
BILL'S A GOOD GUY.
HE WOULD HAVE BROUGHT A LOT TO
THE FIELD.
I THINK HE WOULD HAVE BROUGHT
SOMETHING BADLY NEEDED TO THE
FIELD, A LITTLE BIT OF
MODERATION, LESS RADICALISM.
SO IT IS DEFINITELY BAD FOR THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY.
>> BILL, ONE THING YOU SAID THAT
STOOD OUT WAS THAT, QUOTE, HIS
STORY SAYS THE GOP NEEDS A
COMPETITIVE PRIMARY TO BEAT AN
INCUMBENT DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR IN
2022.
SO YOU THINK FORMER LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR REBECCA KLEEFISCH NEEDS
SOME COMPETITION?
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?
>> I DO.
>> WHY?
>> BUT I DON'T WANT YOUR VIEWERS
TO MAKE IT THE WRONG WAY.
IT DOESN'T MEAN I'M AGAINST
REBECCA.
NOT AT ALL.
IN FACT, IN MY LIFETIME
REPUBLICANS HAVE ONLY DEFEATED
AN INCUMBENT DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR
TWO TIMES, ONCE IN 1978 AFTER A
PRIMARY BETWEEN DREYFUSS AND
KASTEN.
DREYFUSS BEAT BEATED SCHRIEBER.
WE REMOVED THAT TAG.
THE SECOND TIME WAS TOMMY
THOMPSON IN 1986, WHO WON A
FIVE-WAY PRIMARY BEFORE
DEFEATING TONY EARL, NOT TO BE
CONFUSED WITH TONY EVERS.
SO IT'S HAPPENED TWICE IN MY
LIFE.
BOTH WERE AFTER A COMPETITIVE
PRIMARY ON THE GOP SIDE.
SO THERE IS NO PRECEDENT FOR
BEATING AN INCUMBENT DEMOCRAT
WITHOUT A PRIMARY.
DOESN'T MEAN IT COULDN'T HAPPEN.
>> BILL, I WANT TO BACK UP AND
GIVE YOU A BRIEF CHANCE TO TELL
US WHY YOU DIDN'T THROW YOUR HAT
IN THE RING.
>> YOU KNOW, IT CAME DOWN TO TWO
THINGS REALLY, FRED.
I HAVE BEEN ON SUCCESSFUL
STATEWIDE CAMPAIGN'S.
IN '90 I WAS CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR,
IN '94 CAMPAIGN MANAGER AND HE
WAS ELECTED TO A THIRD FOUR-YEAR
TERM.
I KNOW ABOUT STATEWIDE
GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGNS.
YOU NEED TWO THINGS.
YOU NEED TIME AND YOU NEED
MONEY.
I FELT PRETTY CONFIDENT ABOUT
THE FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS I HAD
FROM ACROSS THE STATE TO RUN A
COMPETITIVE CAMPAIGN.
BUT THE REALITY I RAN OUT OF
TIME.
THERE'S 417 DAYS UNTIL THE
GENERAL ELECTION, BUT THERE'S
ONLY 326 DAYS UNTIL THE PRIMARY
NEXT AUGUST 9.
AND REBECCA HAS A VERY BIG
HEADSTART IN THAT FRONT, HAS
BEEN ON THE STATEWIDE BALLOT
FIVE TIMES WITH SCOTT WALKER AND
SHE WON A PRIMARY IN 2010 TO GET
ON THAT TICKET AND SHE'S BEEN
WORKING THE CIRCUIT FOR TEN
YEARS.
SO I NEEDED MORE TIME.
THE SALE OF MY BUSINESS THROUGH
NO FAULT OF ANYONE TOOK LONGER
THAN I EXPECTED, BUT I'M EXCITED
TO JOIN STRATEGIES ON OCTOBER 1.
>> DO YOU THINK ALSO THAT
REBECCA KLEEFISCH NEEDS SOME
COMPETITION HERE?
>> I THINK REBECCA KLEEFISCH IS
RADICALLY WRONG FOR WISCONSIN.
SHE WAS SCOTT WALKER'S
LIEUTENANT, AND SHE CHAMPIONED A
FAR RIGHT AGENDA THAT ATTACKED
THE ABILITY OF YOU TO GET
AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE, THE
RIGHT OF WOMEN, THE RIGHTS OF
WORKERS AND BLACK AND BROWN
PEOPLE AND OF KIDS TO GET A
QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION.
IN ORDER TO TRY TO WIN THIS
PRIMARY, SHE HAS COME UP WITH
THE ANTI- ANTIVACCINE COVID DENS
AND VICTORY DENIERS.
THIS IS THE WRONG WAY FOR
WISCONSIN.
GOVERNOR EVERS HAS DONE WHAT HE
NEEDED TO DO.
HE HAS PUT WISCONSIN BACK ON
TRACK.
CONTINUES TO DELIVER FOR THE
PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN.
HIS INVESTMENTS HE MADE IN
PUBLIC EDUCATION AND
INFRASTRUCTURE AND IN HEALTH
CARE ARE ALL PAYING DIVIDENDS
FOR WISCONSIN.
WE ARE AMONGST THE LOWEST
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AFTER COVID
AND WE HAVE LOST FAR LESS JOBS
THAN OUR NEIGHBORS.
>> I WANT TO JUMP IN AND ASK
BILL, DOES SCOTT WALKER CAMPAIGN
FOR HIS FORMER LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR IN THIS RACE?
>> HE ENDORSED HER ON DAY ONE
AND HIS SON ALEX IS GOING TO BE
THE CAMPAIGN MANAGER.
THIS IS A RISKY MOVE, I THINK,
BY THE KLEEFISCH TEAM.
I THINK SHE NEEDED A LITTLE BIT
OF DAYLIGHT BETWEEN SHE AND
FORMER GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER.
SHE NEEDED TO BE HER OWN PERSON.
AND TYING HERSELF COMPLETELY TO
WALKER IF THERE IS NO PRIMARY
MEANS SHE OWNS EVERYTHING HE DID
WHILE HE WAS GOVERNOR.
WHILE THOSE OF US ON THE RIGHT
THINK HE DID A LOT OF GOOD
THINGS, A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE
LEFT DIDN'T THINK HE DID A LOT
OF GOOD INKS THIS.
-- THINGS.
IT FIRES UP THE LEFT.
SHE SHOULD HAVE HAD DISTANCE SO
SHE COULD BE HER OWN PERSON.
<!32768> BILL, YOU YOURSELF ARE
CAST AS A MODERATE REPUBLICAN.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE WISCONSIN
ELECTORATE IS LOOKING FOR?
>> I'M NOT SURE THAT'S A FAIR
CHARACTERIZATION.
I CONSIDER MYSELF A
CONSERVATIVE.
TO SOME I'M CLOSER TO THE MIDDLE
OF THE SPECTRUM THAN THE FAR
RIGHT.
I THINK REPUBLICANS WANT
SOMEBODY WHO CAN WIN, NUMBER
ONE.
AND NUMBER TWO, I THINK THEY
WANT SOMEBODY WHO CAN DO THE JOB
IF THEY DO WIN THE ELECTION.
THAT WAS THE LANE I WAS GOING TO
TRY AND RUN UP, IS I HAD BEEN IN
THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE FOR SIX
YEARS, SERVED IN ALL THE TOP
POSITION.
I'D BEEN COMMERCE SECRETARY FOR
SIX YEARS.
BEEN ON THE INSIDE FOR TEN YEARS
IN THE TOP POSITIONS AND I KNOW
HOW TO RUN A GOVERNOR.
>> SCOT, I'M SORRY, I JUST WANT
TO GET SCOT IN AND ASK HIM WHAT
HE THINKS THE WISCONSIN
ELECTORATE IS LOOKING FOR.
>> PEOPLE WHO MAKE GOOD ON THEIR
PROMISES.
WITH ALL THE NOISE ON THE RIGHT,
WITH REPUBLICANS STANDING IN THE
WAY OF THE COMMON SENSE,
SCIENCE-BASED SOLUTIONS THAT
GOVERNOR EVERS HAS WORKED TO PUT
FORTH TO MAKE US GET THROUGH
THIS PANDEMIC WITH OUR
LIVELIHOODS STILL INTACT AND
WITH OUR HEALTH STILL INTACT.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE
LOOKING FOR.
REBECCA KLEEFISCH -- IF SCOTT
WALKER DOESN'T CAMPAIGN WITH
HER, DEMOCRATS WILL MAKE SURE
THAT THOSE TWO ARE TIED TOGETHER
BECAUSE SCOTT WALKER IS
INCREDIBLY POLARIZING AND
DEMOCRATS WILL RUN OUT TO
UNELECT HIM AGAIN WITH HIS
LIEUTENANT ON THE TICKET,
ABSOLUTELY WITHOUT A DOUBT.
BUT, AGAIN, REBECCA KLEEFISCH
HAS LEARNED FROM SCOTT WALKER.
SHE LEARNED FROM THE MASTER.
SHE HAS BEEN CAMPAIGNING
ILLEGALLY USING A TAX EXEMPT
NONPROFIT TO CAMPAIGN FOR
GOVERNOR, WHICH IS AGAINST THE
LAWS OF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN
WHEN IT COMES TO CAMPAIGNS AND
AGAINST THE IRS LAWS WHEN IT
COMES TO NONPROFITS.
>> WE HAVE OUT OF TIME.
WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
WE ARE SO THRILLED THAT YOU ARE
BACK ON THIS PANEL FOR US ON
THIS PROGRAM.
SCOT ROSS, BILL MCCOSHEN, THANKS
VERY MUCH.
>> GOOD TO BE BACK.
>> THANK YOU.
>> FOR MORE COVERAGE, INCLUDING
ON WISCONSIN'S COVID CONDITION,
GO TO pbswisconsin.org AND
THEN CLICK ON THE NEWS PAGE.
THAT IS ALL FOR TONIGHT'S
PROGRAM.
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.