>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> RELIEF HAS ARRIVED FOR
PARENTS OF FIVE TO 11-YEAR-OLDS,
AS THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE
CONTROL RECOMMENDS THE PEDIATRIC
COVID-19 VACCINE.
THE LATEST MARQUETTE POLL SHOWS
A CHALLENGING POLITICAL
LANDSCAPE AHEAD.
2020 REMAIN FRONT AND CENTER AS
THE RACINE COUNTY SHERIFF'S
OFFICE PURSUES FELONY CHARGES
AGAINST WISCONSIN ELECTION
COMMISSIONERS.
AND KENOSHA IS PUT BACK INTO THE
NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT AS THE TRIAL
OF KYLE RITTENHOUSE GETS
UNDERWAY.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," THE
LATEST ON COVID-19 WITH THE
WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
SERVICES SECRETARY-DESIGNEE,
KAREN TIMBERLAKE.
THEN WE TAKE THE POLITICAL
TEMPERATURE WITH CHARLES
FRANKLIN AND HIS LATEST
MARQUETTE LAW SCHOOL POLL.
CONCERNS OF ELECTION INTEGRITY
ARE RESPONDED TO WITH ALARM.
WE HEAR FROM DISABILITY RIGHTS
WISCONSIN.
AND THE SCENE AT THE TRIAL OF
KYLE RITTENHOUSE FROM A REPORTER
IN KENOSHA.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
NOVEMBER 5.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIEND OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> MORE COVID-19 VACCINE NEWS
THIS WEEK.
THE CDC GAVE FINAL APPROVAL FOR
CHILDREN AGES FIVE TO 11 TO GET
THE TWO-DOZE PFIZER VACCINE
SERIES.
HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY NEARLY
500,000 CHILDREN IN THAT AGE
GROUP IN WISCONSIN ARE ELIGIBLE
AND THAT THE STATE'S FIRST-WEEK
ALLOTMENT IS 175,000 DOSES.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE NEW
ROLL OWTROLL-OUT WE TURN TO KARN
TIMBERLAKE, SECRETARY DESIGNEE
OF THE WISCONSIN DEPARTM DEPARTF
HEALTH SERVICES AND THANKS VERY
MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> YOU ARE VERY WELCOME.
>> SO WITH THE FIRST ALLOTMENT
OF THE VACCINE FOR YOUNGER
CHILDREN ARRIVING, WE'VE ALREADY
SEEN SOME PICTURES OF CHILDREN
GETTING THESE SHOTS, BUT IS IT
WIDESPREAD?
WHEN CAN MOST CHILDREN GET IT?
>> WE'RE BEING TOLD THERE WILL
BE PLENTY OF VACCINE FOR KIDS
AGES FIVE TO 11.
IT JUST IS GOING TO TAKE A FEW
WEEKS AS WE'VE GOTTEN USED TO
WITH THESE ROLL-OUTS FOR ALL OF
THE DOSES THAT WISCONSIN WILL BE
ELIGIBLE FOR TO ARRIVE IN OUR
STATE.
SO THE BEST THING PARENTS CAN DO
AND GUARDIANS AND CARETAKERS
WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THOSE
FIRST SHOTS IS START WITH YOUR
CHILD'S REGULAR PEDIATRICIAN OR
PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER OR CHECK
vaccines.gov, A GREAT RESOURCE
FOR ALL OF THE LOCATIONS WHERE
VACCINE IS AVAILABLE ACROSS OUR
STATE.
>> THIS IS THE PFIZER VACCINE, A
SERIES OF TWO IN SMALLER KIND OF
MINI DOSES?
IS THAT RIGHT?
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
AS THE SAYING GOES, CHILDREN ARE
NOT JUST LITTLE ADULTS, AND SO
THERE WAS CAREFUL RESEARCH DONE,
CAREFUL CLINICAL TRIALS WERE
CONDUCTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS
VACCINE IS BOTH SAFE AND
EFFECTIVE FOR KIDS AGES FIVE TO
11.
SO IT'S ABOUT ONE-THIRD THE DOSE
THAT ANY OF US WHO GOT THE
PFIZER VACCINE AS OLDER KIDS OR
AS ADULTS GOT.
>> WILL THERE BE SOME OF THESE
KIND OF COMMUNITY MASK CLINICS
SET UP ACROSS THE STATE AS THERE
HAD BEEN?
>> YES.
WE HAVE MAINTAINED A NETWORK OF
VACCINATION CLINICS ACROSS THE
STATE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ONE OF
OUR VENDORS, AMI, WHICH IS DOING
A GREAT JOB WITH THE COMMUNITY
CLINICS.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT A NUMBER OF
BOTH PUBLIC HEALTH BUT ALSO
HEALTH SYSTEMS ARE PARTNERING
WITH SCHOOLS JUST TO MAKE IT
THAT MUCH MORE CONVENIENT FOR
KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO MAKE
SURE THEY CAN ACCESS THIS
IMPORTANT VACCINE.
>> ALL OF THAT WORK AND EFFORT
TO MAKE THAT AVAILABLE, BUT
SURVEYS SHOW ONLY A THIRD OF
PARENTS DEFINITELY PLAN TO
VACCINATE THEIR YOUNGER
CHILDREN.
WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO THE
OTHER TWO-THIRDS WHO ARE MAYBE
ON THE FENCE OR EVEN OPPOSED TO
IT?
>> SO I THINK THE PLACE TO START
IS CERTAINLY BY HAVING A
CONVERSATION WITH YOUR CHILD'S
HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NEW
AND THAT PARENTS AND CARETAKERS
HAVE QUESTIONS.
SO PLEASE DO CONNECT WITH YOUR
CHILD'S CARE PROVIDER AND ASK
YOUR QUESTIONS.
THE OTHER THING WE WOULD REALLY
EMPHASIZE IS THAT THE VACCINES
HAVE BEEN THOROUGHLY TESTED.
THEY REALLY HAVE BEEN FOUND TO
BE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE, FOLLOWING
ALL THE STEPS THAT THE FDA AND
THE CDC FOLLOW BEFORE THEY MAKE
ANY VACCINE AVAILABLE.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR FAMILIES
TO KNOW THAT COVID HAS RISKS
EVEN FOR CHILDREN.
I KNOW WE THINK OF IT AS BEING
RISKIER FOR OLDER PEOPLE AND
THAT IS CERTAINLY TRUE, BUT KIDS
CAN END UP IN THE HOSPITAL,
WHICH IS VERY SCARY FOR THEM AND
FOR THEIR FAMILIES, AND PERHAPS
ALMOST AS IMPORTANTLY, KIDS CAN
ALSO MISS UP ENDING OUT ON
SCHOOLS AND ACTIVITIES, ALL THE
THINGS THAT I KNOW I AS A PARENT
REALLY WANT FOR MY KIDS, THAT
THEY BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE
UNINTERRUPTED.
AND THE VACCINE IS A GREAT WAY
TO PROTECT OUR KIDS, PROTECT
THEIR FAMILIES AND PROTECT OUR
WHOLE STATE.
>> BECAUSE HOW WILL VACCINATING
THIS YOUNGER POPULATION HELP
OLDER PEOPLE AS WE COME INTO THE
HOLIDAY SEASON AND BEYOND?
>> RIGHT.
THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT AS WE
LIKE TO SAY, KIDS LIVE IN
FAMILIES AND FAMILIES LIKE TO
GATHER WITH EACH OTHER, WITH
FRIENDS, AND WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE JUST TAKE EVERY
OPPORTUNITY TO VACCINATE NOT
JUST KIDS, BUT ALSO THOSE AROUND
THEM, PARTICULARLY FOR BOTH
THOSE YOUNGER CHILDREN YOUNGER
THAN FIVE WHO STILL CANNOT BE
VACCINATED AND FOR THE OLDER
RELATIVES AND ADULTS WHO MAY
WANT TO BE GETTING TOGETHER OVER
THE HOLIDAY SEASON.
THERE'S NO REASON THAT WE CAN'T
GET EVERYBODY VACCINATED AND
MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE CAN BE
AS SAFE AND HEALTHY HEADING INTO
THE HOLIDAYS AS POSSIBLE.
>> HOW IS WISCONSIN DOING ON ITS
OVERALL VACCINATION RATE EVEN AS
PACKER FANS ARE CRESTFALLEN THAT
AARON RODGERS WILL BE OUT AT
LEAST A GAME AFTER TESTING
POSITIVE AFTER NOT BEING
VACCINATED?
>> THE OVERALL PROGRESS FOR OUR
STATE IS STRONG.
OUR OLDER ADULTS, WE HAVE
VACCINATED MORE THAN 85% OF
PEOPLE 65 AND OLDER WHICH IS
JUST REMARKABLE.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT PEOPLE 18 AND
UP, SO THAT WORKING AGE
POPULATION, WE'RE AT ABOUT 69%
HAVE GOTTEN AT LEAST ONE SHOT,
ALMOST 70%, SO THAT'S REALLY
POSITIVE.
VULS OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A WAYS TO
YET WITH KIDS.
THERE'S STILL A WAYS TO GO, BUT
WE'RE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS.
>> I NOTICE YOU DIDN'T COMMENT
ON AARON RODGERS, BUT THANKS
VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WORK.
>> YOU ARE VERY WELCOME.
>> RESULTS IN THE LATEST
MARQUETTE LAW SCHOOL POLL
SUGGEST A GRUMPY ELECTORATE,
ACCORDING TO ITS DIRECTOR.
CHARLES FRANKLIN POINTS OUT THAT
ALL SEVEN OF THE POLITICIANS THE
SURVEY ASKED ABOUT RANKED MORE
NEGATIVE THAN POSITIVE.
WE CHECK IN NOW ON THE POLLING.
CHARLES FRANKLIN JOINS US FROM
MADISON.
NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
>> THANKS.
GOOD TO BE HERE.
>> YOU SAY THIS OVERRIDING
NEGATIVE MOOD IS A FIRST FOR
YOUR POLLING?
>> WELL, THE EXTENT OF IT.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS OUR 67TH
WISCONSIN STATEWIDE SURVEY, AND
IT'S THE FIRST TIME THAT ALL OF
THE POLITICIANS WE'VE ASKED
ABOUT IN BOTH PARTIES HAVE HAD
NET NEGATIVE FAVORABILITY
RATINGS.
SOME ARE BARELY NEGATIVE, SOME
ARE VERY NEGATIVE.
IT'S INTERESTING THAT WE DID 66
OF THESE THINGS AND NEVER HAD
EVERYBODY IN NEGATIVE TERRITORY.
AND WE DO THIS TIME.
THAT NEGATIVITY IS ALSO SEEN IN
THE RIGHT DIRECTION, WRONG TRACK
NUMBER WHERE 41% SAY WE'RE
HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION,
BUT 51% SAY OFF ON THE WRONG
TRACK.
IT'S A SHADE BETTER THAN TWO
MONTHS AGO, BUT STILL PRETTY
NEGATIVE.
>> SO WHAT IS MAKING THE
ELECTORATE SO GRUMPY, IN YOUR
WORDS?
>> I THINK IT'S A VARIETY OF
THINGS.
THERE'S ISSUES LIKE INFLATION
WHERE 69% SAY THEY'RE VERY
CONCERNED ABOUT INFLATION.
THAT'S UP FROM THE 40s TWO
MONTHS AGO.
SO THIS IS AN ISSUE TO BE TAKEN
SERIOUSLY.
REALLY THE ONLY POSITIVE NUMBERS
WE'VE SEEN ARE SOME DECLINING
CONCERN OVER COVID.
I THINK THAT'S CONNECTED TO THE
DECLINE IN CASES THAT WE'VE SEEN
IN THE STATE AND NATIONALLY OVER
THE LAST MONTH OR SO.
AND THEN FINALLY, WHEN YOU ASK
PEOPLE OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS,
FEELINGS ABOUT GOVERNMENT BEING
BROKEN AND NOT WORKING IS NOT
THE TOP CONCERN, BUT IT USUALLY
MAKES THE TOP FIVE OR SIX.
SO I THINK THIS COMBINATION OF
THINGS COUPLED WITH, YOU KNOW,
NOT ESPECIALLY GREAT ECONOMIC
NEWS, NOT GREAT VIRUS NEWS, ALL
OF THAT IS PART OF THE
GRUMPINESS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, LET'S SPIN THROUGH SOME OF
THE TELLING RESULTS THEN.
THE POLL FROM LATE OCTOBER FINDS
THAT WHEN YOU ASKED WHETHER THEY
WOULD VOTE TO REELECT TELECT TOS
OR RON JOHNSON, 53% SAID NO TO
EVERS AND 52% SAID NO TO
JOHNSON.
IT'S KIND OF EQUAL PARTISAN
OPPORTUNITY FOR THESE NEGATIVE
FEELINGS.
ARE THESE NUMBERS A SURPRISE TO
YOU AT ALL?
>> THEY ARE A LITTLE BIT, AND
ESPECIALLY IN THIS WAY.
IF I TOLD YOU THAT A DEMOCRATIC
POLITICIAN WAS AT 40%, WHAT
WOULD YOU THINK THE REPUBLICAN
POLITICIAN ON THE SAME SURVEY
WOULD BE?
I THINK YOU WOULD THINK THEY'D
BE AT 60% BECAUSE WE'RE SO
POLARIZED.
SO TO FIND BOTH OF THEM
SUFFERING EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
GRUMPINESS IS I THINK A KIND OF
TELLING THING.
PEOPLE WITHIN EACH OF THEIR
PARTIES ARE STILL STRONGLY
SUPPORTIVE OF BOTH EVERS AND OF
JOHNSON, AND THE OPPOSITE PARTY
IS JUST BITTERLY NEGATIVE, BUT
IT'S INDEPENDENTS WHO ARE NOT
HAPPY WITH EITHER OF THEM AND
SAY THEY WOULD VOTE FOR SOMEONE
ELSE.
LET ME HURRY TO SAY THAT WE
ASKED THIS QUESTION TO GET THE
BASELINE SUPPORT OF THESE FOLKS.
SOMEONE ELSE IS ALWAYS LEFT TO
YOUR IMAGINATION OF HOW
WONDERFUL THEY CAN BE.
>> RIGHT.
>> BY NO MEANS DO I THINK EITHER
OF THESE WOULD GET 40% OF THE
VOTE IN AN ELECTION IF WE
ACTUALLY HAD ONE.
BUT THAT 40% DOES SET THE
BASELINE OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE
PRETTY HAPPY WITH BOTH OF THESE
AND THE 52% OR 53% SAYS THERE'S
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A CHALLENGER
TO BREAK THROUGH.
WE HAVE 12 MONTHS FOR THAT
CHALLENGER TO EMERGE.
>> SPEAKING OF WHICH, LET'S TAKE
A LOOK AT OUR NEXT SLIDE, WHICH
HAS TO DO WITH JOE BIDEN, HIS
JOB APPROVAL.
HIS RATING SITS AT 43%.
53% DISAPPROVAL.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE BIGGEST
FACTOR IS HERE AND DID IT FACTOR
SAY IN THE VIRGINIA GOVERNOR'S
RACE?
>> OH, I THINK IT DOES FACTOR IN
THE VIRGINIA RACE AND IN OTHER
POLITICAL SITUATIONS.
THE PRESIDENT DOES ALWAYS
INFLUENCE MIDTERM AND OFF-YEAR
ELECTIONS.
BIDEN'S APPROVAL HAS FALLEN.
IT WAS AT ABOUT 49% IN AUGUST, A
LITTLE BIT POSITIVE IN AUGUST.
BUT, REMEMBER, AUGUST WAS THE
MONTH OF THE AFGHAN WITHDRAWAL,
WHICH SAW HIS NUMBERS FALL
PRETTY SHARPLY NATIONALLY.
ALSO SEPTEMBER WITH THE SURGE IN
THE VIRUS, WAS AN IMPORTANT
TIME.
AND FINALLY, WE HAVE THE
CONGRESS WHICH HAS AS OF THIS
MOMENT, HAS NOT PASSED EITHER OF
THE INFRASTRUCTURE OR THE
RECONCILIATION BILLS.
SO THERE'S ALSO A SENSE THAT
WASHINGTON'S NOT WORKING EVEN IF
IT ACTUALLY IS WORKING.
IT'S JUST REALLY SLOW.
>> RIGHT.
WELL, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THIS
NEXT ONE.
IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S A PRIZE GIVEN
ALL THE OXYGEN BEING GIVEN TO
INVESTIGATIONS AND ALLEGATIONS
IN WISCONSIN AROUND THE 2020
ELECTION.
A FULL 65% OF RESPONDENTS SAY
THEY HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE 2020
ELECTION, WITH 32% SAYING THAT
THEY DON'T.
WHAT STANDS OUT IN THAT KIND OF
RESPONSE FOR YOU?
>> HERE'S WHERE THE PARTISAN
SPLIT IS JUST OVERWHELMING.
64% OF REPUBLICANS SAY THEY
DON'T HAVE CONFIDENCE, BUT 99%
OF DEMOCRATS SAY THEY DO.
BOTH OF THOSE LINE UP WITH
WHETHER YOUR PARTY WON OR DIDN'T
WIN THE ELECTION PRETTY CLEARLY.
BUT AMONG INDEPENDENTS, WHICH
CAN BE AN IMPORTANT GROUP IN A
CLOSELY-DIVIDED STATE LIKE THIS,
TWO-THIRDS, 67%, SAY THEY'RE
CONFIDENT IN THE ELECTION
OUTCOME.
JUST 30% ARE NOT.
AND THAT I THINK IS REALLY AN
IMPORTANT POLITICAL ISSUE
BECAUSE IT SAYS THIS ISSUE IS
BURNING WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY, BUT IT'S REALLY NOT
BURNING WITH THE GENERAL
ELECTORATE.
INTERESTINGLY, WE FOUND THAT
TWO-THIRDS HAD NOT HEARD ENOUGH
ABOUT THE GABLEMAN INVESTIGATION
TO HAVE AN OPINION LOOKING INTO
THE ELECTION, BUT THAT DON'T
KNOW RATE WAS ACTUALLY HIGHER.
72% OF REPUBLICANS HAD NOT HEARD
OF THAT INVESTIGATION.
SO YOU HAVE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE
MOST CONCERNED ACTUALLY PAYING
THE LEAST ATTENTION TO THE
INVESTIGATION THAT'S ONGOING.
>> THAT IS ACTUALLY A REALLY
STUNNING NUMBER, BUT MAYBE IT IS
JOURNALISTS AND OTHERS THAT PAY
MORE ATTENTION TO THAT THAN THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED AND
SPER HEADING IT THEMSELVES.
CHARLES, WE NEED TO LEAVE IT
THERE.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
WE'LL SEE YOU FOR YOUR NEXT
POLL.
>> THANK YOU.
TAKE CARE.
>> AS TO ELECTION INVESTIGATIONS
AND ALLEGATIONS, THE RACINE
COUNTY SHERIFF THIS WEEK IS
RECOMMENDING FELONY CHARGES
AGAINST FIVE MEMBERS OF THE
WISCONSIN ELECTIONS COMMISSION.
LAST WEEK SHERIFF CHRIS
SCHMALING CALLED ON JOSH KAUL TO
INVESTIGATE ELECTION GUIDANCE
THAT ALLOWED NURSING HOME STAFF
TO HELP RESIDENTS VOTE.
KAUL SAID THE SHERIFF IS
ENGAGING IN A DISGRACEFUL PUB DL
PUBLICITY STUNT.
ALSO THIS WEEK, THE ELECTIONS
COMMISSION ADMINISTRATOR
RESPONDED TO REPUBLICAN CALLS
FOR HER RESIGNATION IN THE WAKE
OF THE SHERIFF'S ALLEGATIONS OF
ELECTION FRAUD.
>> IN TERMS OF THE CALLS FOR MY
RESIGNATION, YOU KNOW,
ULTIMATELY I THINK THAT IT'S NOT
PRODUCTIVE.
I THINK IT'S BASELESS.
AND I THINK IT'S JUST PARTISAN
POLITICS.
YOU KNOW, I ALSO THINK THAT IT
MISREPRESENTS MY ROLE AND THE
ROLE OF THE COMMISSION.
I THINK THAT THE CLAIMS ABOUT
THE COMMISSION, I THINK IT
REALLY HIGHLIGHTS A LACK OF
UNDERSTANDING ABOUT HOW SPECIAL
VOTING DEPUTIES WORK IN NORMAL
CIRCUMSTANCES, YET ALONE HOW
THAT PROCESS WORKS DURING A
PANDEMIC.
I THINK IT OVERLOOKS THE FACT
THAT SPECIAL VOTING DEPUTIES
WERE NOT BEING ALLOWED INTO
FACILITIES LAST YEAR.
THEY WERE NOT BEING ALLOWED INTO
FACILITIES AS RECENTLY AS THIS
SPRING.
AND I ALSO THINK IT OVERLOOKS
THE FACT THAT ONLY A COURT CAN
DECIDE THAT SOMEBODY IS
INCOMPETENT TO VOTE.
I MEAN, THE COMMISSION CANNOT
FORCE FACILITIES, PRIVATE
FACILITIES, TO ALLOW SPECIAL
VOTING DEPUTIES OR ANYONE INTO A
PRIVATE CARE FACILITY.
THE COMMISSION'S DECISION
ALLOWED VOTERS IN THOSE CARE
FACILITIES TO BE ABLE TO
PARTICIPATE.
IF WE ALL THINK BACK TO THE
APRIL ELECTION, THE PANDEMIC
STARTED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN
ACTIVE ELECTION.
THE ELECTION HAD ALREADY
STARTED.
BALLOTS HAD ALREADY GONE OUT.
IF CLERKS HAD CONTINUED TO TRY
TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR VISITS TO
FACILITIES THAT THEY KNEW WERE
NOT GOING TO ALLOW THEM IN, WHAT
THAT WOULD HAVE MEANT IS THOSE
VOTERS IN THOSE CARE FACILITIES
WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
VOTE.
THAT'S NOT FAIR.
>> SPECULATION ABOUT VOTER FRAUD
OCCURRING IN LONG-TERM CARE
FACILITIES HAS CONCERNED
DISABILITY RIGHTS ADVOCATES.
THEY FEAR OVERARCHING CLAIMS OF
FRAUD COULD LEAD TO GREATER
VOTING BARRIERS FOR PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES, PEOPLE WHO ALREADY
FACE ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES
CASTING A BALLOT.
"HERE AND NOW" REPORTER MARISA
WOJCIK SPOKE WITH BARBARA
BECKERT OF DISRIGHTS WISCONSIN
IN THIS WEEK'S "NOON WEDNESDAY."
WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO THE
PRESS CONFERENCE FROM THE RACINE
COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE LAST
WEEK?
>> MY REACTION WAS TWOFOLD.
FIRST OF ALL, IF ANY TYPE OF
INAPPROPRIATE COERCION OR
PRESSURE ON INDIVIDUALS IN CARE
FACILITIES OR IN THE COMMUNITY
ON HOW TO VOTE HAS OCCURRED,
THAT'S CERTAINLY A CONCERN AND
THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND
IF IT OCCURRED, THOSE
INDIVIDUALS SHOULD BE
PROSECUTED.
HOWEVER, WE ALSO WERE VERY
CONCERNED THAT BASED ON THE
INFORMATION THAT WAS
COMMUNICATED, THAT THERE SEEMS
TO BE A LOT OF CONFUSION ABOUT
THE RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS IN
CARE FACILITIES TO VOTE, AS WELL
AS THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH
COGNITIVE DISABILITIES.
SO PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN A NURSING
HOME OR A GROUP HOME AND PEOPLE
WITH COGNITIVE DISABILITIES HAVE
THE RIGHT TO VOTE UNLESS THEY
HAVE LOST THAT RIGHT BECAUSE OF
A DECISION BY A JUDGE.
AND THAT DIDN'T APPEAR TO BE THE
CASE EXCEPT FOR ONE INDIVIDUAL
WHO HAD BEEN FOUND INCOMPETENT.
AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THAT
MAY HAVE BEEN AN ERROR ON THE
PART OF THE CLERK THAT THAT
INDIVIDUAL WAS SENT AN ABSENTEE
BALLOT.
>> WHO ARE THE SPECIAL VOTING
DEPUTIES?
WHAT ARE THEY REQUIRED TO DO BY
LAW?
AND WAS IT HARMFUL TO VOTERS
THAT ARE IN LONG-TERM CARE
FACILITIES TO NOT ALLOW THESE
SVDs TO ASSIST IN THE VOTING
PROCESS IN 2020?
>> IN TERMS OF WHETHER HARM WAS
DONE, I THINK POLICYMAKERS HAD
AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT CHOICE TO
MAKE HERE.
THEY WERE BALANCING THE RIGHT TO
VOTE AND HONESTLY THE RIGHT TO
LIFE, BECAUSE INDIVIDUALS IN
CARE FACILITIES WERE THE MOST
VULNERABLE POPULATION AT HIGH
RISK OF CONTRACTING COVID AND OF
DYING FROM IT OR SUFFERING
SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES.
SO THAT'S WHY FACILITIES WERE
LOCKED DOWN.
SO EVEN IF SPECIAL VOTING
DEPUTIES HAD BEEN DISPATCHED,
IT'S UNLIKELY IN MOST CASES THAT
THEY WOULD HAVE ALLOWED TO ENTER
THE FACILITY.
SO THE CONCERN WAS IF WE WENT
THROUGH THIS PROCESS AS A STATE,
SVDs WERE SENT OUT TWICE AND
NOT ALLOWED TO ENTER, WE WOULD
HAVE LOST TIME, TIME THAT WAS
NEEDED TO GET THE BALLOTS OUT TO
THE CARE FACILITY RESIDENTS FOR
THEM TO COMPLETE THEM AND RETURN
THEM.
AND, AS YOU KNOW, THE SLOW
PERFORMANCE OF THE U.S. MAIL WAS
ANOTHER FACTOR DURING THE 2020
ELECTIONS.
SO AFTER MANY HOURS OF PUBLIC
MEETINGS, A LOT OF AGONIZING
INPUT FROM HEALTH OFFICIALS AND
INPUT FROM ADVOCACY GROUPS SUCH
AS DISABILITY RIGHTS WISCONSIN,
THERE WAS ALMOST COMPLETE
CONSENSUS THAT THE SAFE THING TO
DO AND THAT THE RIGHT THING TO
DO FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF
UPHOLDING THE VOTING RIGHTS OF
RESIDENTS WAS TO NOT SEND IN THE
SPECIAL VOTING DEPUTIES, BUT
INSTEAD TO FOLLOW THE STATUTORY
PROCESS FOR HAVING INDIVIDUALS
VOTE USING THEIR ABSENTEE BALLOT
APPLICATIONS.
>> THE TRIAL OF A TEENAGER WHO
SHOT THREE PEOPLE, KILLING TWO
AND INJURING A THIRD DURING A
RIOT IN DOWNTOWN KENOSHA IN 2020
GOT UNDERWAY THIS WEEK.
KYLE RITTENHOUSE IS CHARGED WITH
SIX COUNTS, INCLUDING
FIRST-DEGREE INTENTIONAL
HOMICIDE AND FIRST DEGREE
RECKLESS HOMICIDE.
RITTENHOUSE WAS 17 AT THE TIME
OF THE SHOOTING.
HE PLEADED NOT GUILTY AND IS
CLAIMING SELF-DEFENSE.
WE TURN TO WISCONSIN PUBLIC
RADIO REPORTER CORRI HESS, WHO
HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE TRIAL
THIS WEEK.
SHE JOINS US NOW AFTER COVERING
THE TRIAL FROM THE KENOSHA
COUNTY COURTHOUSE.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WHY DOES THIS TRIAL HAVE THE
EYES OF THE NATION ON IT?
>> I THINK THAT THERE'S SO MUCH
INTEREST IN THIS TRIAL
NATIONALLY BECAUSE SO MUCH OF IT
PLAYED OUT ON VIDEO.
THERE'S SO MUCH VIDEO AND REALLY
ALL OF THAT HAS BEEN THE STAR
WITNESS THIS WHOLE WEEK.
JURORS HAVE WATCHED JUST HOURS
OF THIS VIDEO THAT WAS TAKEN BY
PROTESTORS AND JOURNALISTS.
I MEAN, IT'S GRAY AND SOMETIMES
IT'S REALLY GRAPHIC VIDEO OF
KYLE RITTENHOUSE THROUGHOUT THE
NIGHT ON AUGUST 25, 2020,
SHOOTING AND KILLING JOSEPH
ROSENBAUM AND ANTHONY SHOU SCHUB
BE BER.
OVER THE LAST 24 MONTHS THE
NATION HAS SEEN THESE VIDEOS ON
SOCIAL MEDIA.
>> AS YOU SAY, THE TESTIMONY AND
PRESENTATION OF THIS VIDEO
FOOTAGE FROM THE NIGHT OF THE
SHOOTINGS ARE HAPPENING INSIDE
THE COURTHOUSE FOR THE JURY.
WHAT'S HAPPENING OUTSIDE THE
COURTHOUSE?
>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE WAS
AN EXPECTATION THAT THERE COULD
HAVE BEEN ARMED MILITIA COMING
TO KENOSHA OR TROUBLE OUTSIDE OF
THE COURTHOUSE, BUT THAT REALLY
HASN'T BEEN THE CASE.
ON MONDAY MORNING THERE WERE,
BUT THERE ISN'T TOO MUCH GOING
ON OUTSIDE THE COURTHOUSE.
JUSTIN BLAKE, THE UNCLE OF THE
MAN WHO KENOSHA POLICE SHOT
SEVEN TIMES AND IS NOW
PARALYZED, HE'S BEEN OUT THERE,
BUT OTHERWISE IT'S BEEN PRETTY
QUIET OUTSIDE THE COURTHOUSE.
>> DESCRIBE WHAT KYLE
RITTENHOUSE'S DEFENSE IS.
>> THE DEFENSE IS THAT KYLE WAS
THERE TO PROTECT THE CITY AFTER
LOOTING HAD HAPPENED IN THE DAYS
BEFORE AND THAT HE CAME AND
WANTED TO JUST BE THIS PROTECTOR
AND THAT HE WAS DEFENDING
HIMSELF WHEN HE KILLED TWO
PEOPLE AND WOUNDED ANOTHER.
>> AND ALTERNATIVELY WHAT IS THE
PROSECUTION TRYING TO PROVE
HAPPENED HERE?
>> THE PROSECUTION IS TRYING TO
PROVE THAT HE WAS THIS
MASSIVELY-ARMED TEEN WHO WAS,
YOU KNOW, IN OVER HIS HEAD.
HE CAME AND JUST LIKE THIS
TRIGGER-HAPPY KID WHO STARTED
KILLING.
>> NOW, THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT
HAPPENED THIS WEEK DURING THE
TRIAL AND THAT WAS THAT A JUROR
WAS REMOVED.
WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT?
>> YES.
THAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY MORNING.
WELL, HE WAS REMOVED YESTERDAY
MORNING.
I BELIEVE IT HAPPENED THE
EVENING BEFORE.
SO THIS JUROR, WHO WAS AN OLDER
WHITE GENTLEMAN, WAS TELLING A
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER A
TASTELESS JOKE WHICH WAS
BASICALLY -- HE WAS SAYING, YOU
KNOW, WHY HADN'T JACOB BLAKE
BEEN SHOT MORE AND THE ANSWER TO
HIS JOKE IS THE POLICE RAN OUT
OF BULLETS, SO HE WAS REMOVED.
>> VERY DIFFICULT, I IMAGINE, TO
TRY TO KEEP BIAS OUT OF THIS
TRIAL SO THAT IT IS A FAIR
TRIAL.
WHAT IS THE RACIAL MAKEUP OF THE
JURY?
>> SO THE RACIAL MAKEUP, THEY
STARTED WITH A JURY POOL OF 20,
AND 12 JURORS WILL VOTE.
AND SO ONLY ONE PERSON ON THE
JURY IS A PERSON OF COLOR.
OF COURSE, KENOSHA IS VERY
WHITE.
IT'S ABOUT 75% TO 80% WHITE.
SO IT'S NOT THAT UNUSUAL THAT
THERE'S ONLY ONE PERSON OF
COLOR, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT IS
WORTH NOTING BECAUSE OF WHAT
THIS WHOLE CASE S. AND WHEN THE
GENTLEMAN WAS REMOVED YESTERDAY,
YOU KNOW, HE WAS LEAVING THE
COURTROOM AND SAYING THAT HIS
JOKE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE
CASE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE IT DID.
>> YEAH.
AND YOU'LL BE COVERING THIS
TRIAL FOR ITS DURATION?
>> YES.
THE PROSECUTOR SAYS THAT HE
PLANS TO WRAP UP HIS SIDE ON
TUESDAY, AND THEY'RE
ANTICIPATING ANOTHER WEEK AND A
FEW MORE DAYS.
SO POSSIBLY LIKE MAYBE THE 16TH
OR SO THIS COULD WRAP UP BY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> THAT'S JUST A GUESS.
>> OF COURSE.
CORRI HESS, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR
COVERING IT AND FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> FOLLOWING UP TONIGHT ON A
STORY WE BROUGHT YOU LAST WEEK,
VOTERS IN MEQUON AND THIENSVILLE
HEADED TO THE POLLS THIS WEEK IN
A HOTLY-CONTESTED SCHOOL BOARD
RECALL THAT DREW NATIONAL
ATTENTION.
ALL FOUR INCUMBENTS ON THE BOARD
BEAT REPUBLICAN-BACKED
CHALLENGERS BY LARGE,
DOUBLE-DIGIT WINS.
WE SPOKE TO CHRIS SCHULTZ
SHORTLY BEFORE THE ELECTION.
>> I DON'T ENJOY ALL THE
INTERVIEWS AND THE PUBLICITY.
THAT IS NOT WHO I AM.
I WILL BE HAPPY TO GO BACK TO
WORK QUIETLY.
>> FOR MORE NEWS COVERAGE,
INCLUDING THE SCHOOL BOARD RACE
AND COVID INFORMATION, VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT pbswisconsin.org.
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.