>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> THE EYES OF THE WORLD TURN TO
KENOSHA ONCE AGAIN.
>> JURY IN THE U.S. OF
WISCONSIN.
>> AS THE FATE OF KYLE
RITTENHOUSE LANDS IN THE HANDS
OF A KENOSHA JURY, A JURY WHICH
DELIBERATED FOR DAYS, WEIGHING
CHARGES OF MURDER.
DEMONSTRATORS MADE THEIR
PRESENCE KNOWN WHILE AWAITING
THE VERDICT.
AND PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS WARN
OF INCREASING STRAIN ON THE
STATE'S HOSPITAL SYSTEM AS
COVID-19 CASES TICK UP.
>> WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO SOUND
THE ALARM THAT COVID-19 EPIDEMIC
IS HEATING UP.
>> FIRST TONIGHT, KYLE
RITTENHOUSE FOUND NOT GUILTY ON
ALL COUNTS.
>> THE FIRST COUNT OF THE
INFORMATION, JOSEPH ROSENBAUM,
WE, THE JURY, FIND THE
DEFENDANT, KYLE H. RITTENHOUSE,
NOT GUILTY.
AS TO THE SECOND COUNT OF THE
INFORMATION, RICHARD MCGI MCGIN,
WE, THE JURY, FIND THE
DEFENDANT, KYLE RITTENHOUSE NOT
GUILTY.
>> WE HEAR THE LATEST FROM
REPORTER MARISA WOJCIK.
WHAT TO EXPECT WITH COVID-19
NUMBERS HEADING INTO THE
HOLIDAYS.
AND ANOTHER DEMOCRAT ENTERS THE
RACE TO REPLACE RON KIND.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
NOVEMBER 19.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> THE VERDICT IN THE MURDER
TRIAL OF KYLE RITTENHOUSE IN
KENOSHA, NOT GUILTY ON ALL
COUNTS.
THE WORLD WAS WATCHING THE CASE
OF A TEENAGER ARMED WITH AN
AR-15 WHO INSERTED HIMSELF INTO
A CHAOTIC RACIAL JUSTICE PROTEST
AS A SELF-DESCRIBED MEDIC.
HE ADMITTED HE SHOT THREE MEN,
KILLING TWO OF THEM.
BUT HE TESTIFIED IT WAS
SELF-DEFENSE.
WE GO TO KENOSHA AND TO "HERE
AND NOW" REPORTER MARISA WOJCIK.
MARISA, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR
BEING HERE.
>> AFTER 26 HOURS OF
DELIBERATING, THE JURY FOUND
RITTENHOUSE NOT GUILTY ON ALL
FIVE COUNTS.
>> WE NEED TO BE IN THE PROCESS
OF REBUILDING THE SYSTEM THAT
CONTINUALLY AFRICAN-AMERICANS
GOING TO JAIL WHILE WHITE
COUNTERPARTS COMMIT HEINOUS
CRIMES AND GO HOME TO THEIR
FAMILIES.
>> AS HE SAID WHEN HE TESTIFIED,
HE DID NOT START THIS AND WE'RE
THANKFUL IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE
THAT THE JURY FINALLY GOT TO
HEAR THE TRUE STORY.
>> SO THIS IS THE END OF THE
STORY, BUT WHERE DID IT ALL
BEGIN?
>> ALL WEEK LONG, TENSIONS ROSE
OVER THE CASE OF KYLE
RITTENHOUSE.
RITTENHOUSE STOOD TRIAL ON
CHARGES INCLUDING FIRST-DEGREE
MURDER AFTER SHOOTING THREE
PEOPLE, KILLING TWO OF THEM,
DURING BLACK LIVES MATTER
PROTESTS IN KENOSHA IN AUGUST OF
LAST YEAR.
PROSECUTORS DEPICTED RITTENHOUSE
AS AN OUT-OF-TOWN AGENT OF CHAOS
WHO IN AT THAT GATED THE
CONFLICT WHILE DEFENDING A
BUSINESS BRANDISHING AN AR-15
RIFLE AND THAT HE WAS THE ONLY
REAL THREAT THAT NIGHT.
>> THESE GUYS WITH THE AR-15s
ARE JUST WANNA BE SOLDIERS,
TRYING TO MANUFACTURE SUCH
PERSONAL CONNECTION TO THIS
EVENT, FURTHERING THEIR OWN
PERSONAL AGENDA, JUST A SMALL
PART OF THE DELUGE OF TOURISTS
WE SAW.
>> THEY PORTRAYED THE TEENAGER
AS SOMEONE WITH TIES TO THE
KENOSHA COMMUNITY GUARDING LOCAL
BUSINESSES AND THEY SAID HE WAS
PREVENTING AN IRRATIONAL AND
CRAZY PROTESTOR FROM STEALING
HIS AR-15 AND USING IT AGAINST
HIM AND OTHERS.
>> KYLE SHOT JOSEPH ROSENBAUM TO
STOP A THREAT TO HIS PERSONMENT
AND I'M GLAD HE SHOT HIM BECAUSE
IF JOSEPH ROSENBAUM HAD GOT THAT
GUN I DON'T BELIEVE FOR A MINUTE
BELIEVE HE WOULDN'T HAVE USED IT
AGAINST SOMEBODY ELSE.
HE WAS IRRATIONAL AND CRAZY.
>> DURING PROCEEDINGS THE
DEFENSE MADE MOTIONS FOR A
MISTRIAL, INCLUDING AN ARGUMENT
THAT VIDEO EVIDENCE SHOWN
REPEATEDLY TO THE JURY WAS
MISHANDLED.
THE TRIAL HAS FOCUSED
INTERNATIONAL INTENTION ON
KENOSHA, WISCONSIN.
WITH THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
VERDICT SPANNING BEYOND KYLE
RITTENHOUSE AS A STATEMENT ON
GUN RIGHTS, RACIAL JUSTICE AND
WHITE VIGILANTISM.
>> AS THIS TRIAL CULMINATED IN
THE READING OF THE VERDICT, WHAT
WAS THAT LIKE WHEN IT CAME IN AS
NOT GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS?
>> IT WAS DRAMATIC INSIDE THE
COURTROOM.
KYLE RITTENHOUSE WAS CRYING AND
HE COLLAPSED.
OUTSIDE THE COURTHOUSE ACTIVISTS
WERE CLEARLY DISAPPOINTED BUT
THEY SAID THEY ARE GOING TO
CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR GI --
JUSTICE.
RITTENHOUSE'S ATTORNEY SAID HE
REPRESENTS CLIENTS, NOT CAUSES,
BUT PROTESTORS DO THINK THAT
THIS IS A MATTER OF A CAUSE FOR
RACIAL JUSTICE.
>> SO THERE HAS BEEN RESPONSE
FROM ALL CORNERS OF ELECTED
OFFICIALS, RIGHT?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
SO DEMOCRATS LIKE GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS SAY THAT WISCONSIN HAS A
LONG WAY TO GO TOWARDS EQUITY.
REPUBLICANS LIKE ASSEMBLY
SPEAKER ROBIN VOS SAYS THIS
PROVES THAT THE JUSTICE SYSTEM
WORKS.
EVEN PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN WEIGHED
IN SAYING THAT WE SHOULD TRUST
THE JURY SYSTEM AND ABIDE BY
THEIR VERDICTS.
>> SO WE KNOW THAT TENSIONS WERE
HIGH JUST AHEAD OF THE VERDICT
AND THERE WERE PREDICTIONS OF
TROUBLE, BUT BEHIND YOU NOW IT
LOOKS QUIET, WHICH IS A GOOD
THING.
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT WHAT RR
PLANS TO DO NOW?
>> HIS ATTORNEY SAID THAT KYLE
AND HIS FAMILY PLAN TO MOVE OUT
OF THE AREA AND HIS ATTORNEY
SAYS HE HOPES THAT HE WILL KEEP
A LOW PROFILE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
MARISA WOJCIK, THANKS VERY MUCH.
THANKS FOR YOUR COVERAGE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE WEEKS OF REPLAYING THE
EVENTS OF AUGUST OF 2020 DURING
THE RITTENHOUSE TRIAL HAS
RETRAUMATIZED PEOPLE IN THE
COMMUNITY AND BEYOND.
IT'S BEEN A RELIVING OF THE
ANGER AND ANGST THAT FOLLOWED
THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD AND
POLICE SHOOTING OF JACOB BLAKE
IN KENOSHA.
NOW THE YOUNG ARMED VIGILANTE
HAS BEEN EXONERATED OF MURDER.
IT'S A LOT.
ANGELA LANG OF BLACK LEADERS
ORGANIZING FOR COMMUNITIES IS
HERE TO TALK ABOUT IT.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE ONCE
AGAIN.
>> YEAH.
THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO FIRST, WHAT IS YOUR
REACTION TO THIS VERDICT?
>> IT'S HARD.
IT'S HARD TO PROCESS.
IT'S HARD TO HEAR.
AS I'M PROCESSING AND REFLEC
REFLECTING, I DON'T THINK I'M
SURPRISED BY ANY MEANS.
WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS BEFORE.
BUT IT DOESN'T MAKE IT ANY LESS
HEARTBREAKING AND IT DOESN'T
MAKE IT HURT LESS EVEN THOUGH WE
KNOW HOW OUR SYSTEM WORKS OR
DOESN'T WORK FOR US.
>> NOW, YOU WROTE A SEARING
ESSAY PUBLISHED THIS WEEK SAYING
THAT THERE IS NO GOOD OUTCOME
FROM THIS TRIAL.
WHY NOT?
>> YOU KNOW, THE WAY I'VE BEEN
THINKING ABOUT IT IS THAT IF WE
GOT THE VERDICT LIKE WE DID
TODAY, IT'S A GIANT INJUSTICE IN
THAT THIS CHILD, HE WAS 17 AT
THE TIME, WAS ABLE TO CROSS
STATE LINES, MURDER TWO PEOPLE,
INJURE ANOTHER AND BE A FREE
PERSON.
THAT'S A HUGE INJUSTICE.
BUT TO ALSO KNOW THAT HAVE HE
BEEN CONVICTED, WE KNOW THAT
THERE WERE CREDIBLE THREATS OF
THE FAR RIGHT AND PROUD BOYS AND
MILITIA FOLKS THAT WERE READY TO
PICK UP WHERE KYLE HAD LEFT OFF
HAD HE HAD BEEN CONVICTED.
AND SO KNOWING THAT, KNOWING
THAT WHATEVER THE OUTCOME WAS,
IT'S SUCH A HYPER POLARIZED TIME
AND AN INCREDIBLY TENSE
RACIALIZED TIME IT'S HARD TO
BELIEVE THAT KENOSHA ISN'T SMACK
DAB IN THE MIDDLE AND THERE'S NO
GOOD OUTCOME.
>> DESCRIBE THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN RACIAL JUSTICE MOVEMENTS
AND THIS CASE, BECAUSE THE
PEOPLE WHO WERE KILLED WERE
WHITE.
>> YEAH.
AND I'M REALLY GLAD THAT YOU
BROUGHT THAT UP, BECAUSE SOME
PEOPLE DON'T NECESSARILY
UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE THAT ARE
IN SUPPORT OF BLACK LIVES WERE
UPSET WHEN THE VICTIMS WERE
INDEED WHITE.
BUT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHY
EVERYONE WAS OUT THERE IN THE
FIRST PLACE.
THEY WERE ACTUALLY PROTESTING
THE SHOOTING OF JACOB BLAKE.
THEY WERE STANDING WITH THE
BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTESTORS
AND MEMBERS OF THE KENOSHA
COMMUNITY.
AND SO WHETHER IT WAS A BLACK
PERSON THAT WAS KILLED OR IF
THEY WERE WHITE, AT THE END OF
THE DAY THESE WERE PEOPLE, PART
OF OUR MOVEMENT DEFENDING THE
FUTURE AND LIVES OF BLACK
PEOPLE.
>> ONE THING I SAW THIS WEEK WAS
THAT SUPPORTERS OF KYLE
RITTENHOUSE SHOWED UP OUTSIDE
THE COURTHOUSE DURING JURY
DELIBERATIONS INCLUDING A
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR U.S.
SENATOR POSING WITH TWO PEOPLE
HOLDING A SIGN OF WHITE
SUPREMACISTS.
>> A DOG WHISTLE IS SOMETHING
THAT YOU COULD BARELY HEAR AND
WAS KIND OF OVER THE RADAR.
THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE USING
THESE WHITE SUPREMACIST SYMBOLS
GOES TO SHOW THAT THESE PEOPLE
ARE EMBOLDENS AND THEY FEAR
NOTHING BECAUSE THEY SEE THAT
THERE'S NO CONSEQUENCES FOR
THEIR ACTIONS.
AND SO WE'RE MAKING AN OPENING
FOR THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR AND
THESE SHOOTINGS AND THIS
VIOLENCE TO CONTINUE BECAUSE
THERE ISN'T A STRONG ENOUGH
BACKLASH.
AND SO AT TIMES WHERE PEOPLE MAY
HAVE HID UNDER A WHITE HOOD OR
HID SOMEWHERE ELSE AND MAY NOT
HAVE KNOWN -- AND MADE KNOWN
THEIR TRUE VALUES, THEY'VE BEEN
EMBOLDENED BY THE FORMER
PRESIDENT AND SO MANY PEOPLE AND
SITUATIONS IN THIS COUNTRY THAT
THEY'RE OKAY OPENLY FLASHING
THESE WHITE SUPREMACIST SYMBOLS
AS THEY'RE RUNNING FOR OFFICE.
AND I THINK IT'S INCREDIBLY
DISTURBING AND I THINK IT'S ALSO
A TERRIBLE SIGN FOR OUR
DEMOCRACY AND EVERYONE SHOULD BE
CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
>> IN YOUR ESSAY YOU ALSO SAID
THAT THE FAILURE TO MOVE OUR
COUNTRY FORWARD IS POURING
GASOLINE ON A FIRE AND THAT
COUNTERING RACISM CAN'T SOLELY
REST ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE
TRAUMATIZED AND BREATHING.
WHO ELSE SHOULD STEP IN AND WHAT
SHOULD THEY DO?
>> YEAH.
THIS IS A POINT WHERE EVERYONE
THAT IS UNEQUIVOCALLY AGAINST
RACISM AND WHITE SUPREMACY NEEDS
TO STEP IN AND THAT'S WHAT
ANTHONY AND JO JO DID AND WHY WE
ARE RALLYING AND WHY THIS CASE
MEANS SO MUCH TO US, IS EVERYONE
HAS A ROLE TO PLAY,
UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS NOT
JUST AT THE HANDS OF BLACK AND
BROWN PEOPLE THAT ARE
EXPERIENCING THE TRAUMA AND THE
COLLECTIVE RACISM AND WHITE
SUPREMACY ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.
BUT OUR WHOLE COUNTRY NEEDS TO
TAKE A STRONG STANCE AND REJECT
WHITE SUPREMACY.
THE FACT THAT WE AREN'T JUST
ALLOWS FOR CONTINUING AND
OPENINGS FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE AND TO CONTINUE THIS
BEHAVIOR AND CONTINUE, QUITE
FRANKLY, THE DESTRUCTION AND
EROSION OF OUR DEMOCRACY AND
QUITE FRANKLY OF THIS COUNTRY.
>> ANGELA LANG, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR JOINING US ON THIS DAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> IN THE WAKE OF THE PROTESTS
IN THE SUMMER OF 2020, THE
MADISON POLICE DEPARTMENT
COMMISSIONED A REPORT FROM A
CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH CENTER
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
PENNSYLVANIA LAW SCHOOL.
THE REPORT LOOKED AT HOW MADISON
POLICE HANDLED USE OF FORCE
DURING THE PROTESTS.
>> THE REPORT MAKES 69
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE
DEPARTMENT FOR HOW TO BETTER
HANDLE PROTESTS THAT TURN
VIOLENT, LARGELY FOCUSING ON A
LESS IS MORE APPROACH.
THE RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE
USING SMALL, MOBILE POLICE
FORCES INSTEAD OF LARGE POLICE
LINES.
COMMUNICATING MORE WITH
PROTESTORS BEFORE AND DURING
DEMONSTRATIONS.
HAVING MORE TRAINING FOR POLICE
OFFICERS.
HAVING THEM WEAR BODY CAMERAS
AND LIMITING USE OF TEAR GAS FOR
ONLY WHEN THERE IS A RISK OF
IMMINENT PHYSICAL DANGER TO
PEOPLE OR PROPERTY.
>> EVERYONE SHOULD AVOID CS GAS
WHENEVER POSSIBLE.
THAT IS -- I AGREE WITH THAT
STATEMENT 110%.
BUT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT
THAT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT WE
HAVE TO WEIGH AND THAT IS THE
HARM TO HUMAN BEINGS, THE HARM
TO LIFE.
>> MADISON POLICE CHIEF SAYS HE
PLANS TO ADOPT ALL 69 OF THE
REPORT'S RECOMMENDATIONS.
AT THE STATE CAPITOL THIS WEEK,
A LEGISLATIVE TASK FORCE LOOKING
AT EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC RACIAL
DISPARITIES RELEASED ITS FINAL
REPORT.
THIS GROUP IS PART OF THE TASK
FORCE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS
CONVENED IN THE WAKE OF THE
GEORGE FLOYD PROTESTS.
>> THERE'S BEEN A GREAT
ENDEAVOR.
WE'VE COVERED EDUCATIONAL STUFF,
INCREASING DIVERSITY IN THE
TEACHER WORKFORCE, GETTING AND
MAINTAINING MORE TEACHERS OF
COLOR, BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS TO
THAT AND BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS
IN EDUCATION AND INCREASING
READING LITERACY.
>> IN PANDEMIC NEWS, AS FOUL --L
ROUNDS INTO WINTER, HEALTH
OFFICIALS ARE SOUNDING THE ALARM
ON THE COVID-19 SURGE SAYING
DAILY CASE COUNTS NEARING 4,000
HAVEN'T BEEN SEEN SINCE THE END
OF 2020.
WISCONSIN HOSPITALS ARE NOW
NEARLY FULL, WITH 96% OF ICU
BEDS TAKEN.
THAT LEADING HEALTH OFFICIALS TO
BESEECH PEOPLE TO HELP FLATTEN
THE CURVE.
<!32768>
>> IT'S GETTING HARD TO FIND
BEDS FOR PATIENTS, PEOPLE WHO
NEED A HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE.
IT'S BECOMING MORE DIFFICULT TO
FIND A BED TO TRANSFER THEM.
>> MINNESOTA AND MICHIGAN HAVE
THE WORST RATE OF NEW COVID
INFECTIONS IN THE COUNTRY.
FOR THE LATEST ON WHAT'S GOING
ON REGIONALLY, WE TURN TO MAYO
CLINIC AND DR. MELANIE SWIFT WHO
JOINS US FROM ROCHESTER,
MINNESOTA.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO WHY IS THIS HAPPENING
AGAIN AND WHY IN THE UPPER
MIDWEST?
>> IT'S BOTH A BLESSING AND A
CURSE THAT WE'VE HAD HIGHER
UPTICK OF VACCINATION IN THIS
PART OF THE COUNTRY THAN SOME
OTHER REGIONS.
IT HAS HELPED TO SLOW THE CURVE
OF THIS RECENT SURGE.
SO WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE HUGE,
DRAMATIC PEAKS OF CASES THAT
SOME PARTS OF THE COUNTRY
EXPERIENCED LAST SUMMER WITH THE
DELTA VARIANT.
INSTEAD, WE HAVE HAD MORE MODEST
CASES, BUT THEY HAVE NOT
EXTINGUISHED OVER TIME AS YOU DO
WHEN YOU HAVE A MORE AGGRESSIVE
SURGE.
SO WE CONTINUE TO HAVE WHAT WE
KIND OF CALL FUEL FOR THE FIRE:
UNVACCINATED PEOPLE AT JUST
ENOUGH LEVEL THAT THEY CONTINUE
TO CONTRACT AND SPREAD COVID.
>> SO IF THE ANSWER TO HELP
FLATTEN THIS CURVE EVEN THOUGH
IT'S NOT THAT DRAMATIC SURGE
THAT YOU DESCRIBED, IF THE
ANSWER IS TO GET VACCINATED,
WHAT MORE CAN BE DONE,
ESPECIALLY IN COUNTIES ACROSS
THE STATES THAT HAVE LOWER
VACCINATION RATES?
>> I THINK THAT WE ARE GOING TO
SEE SOME SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN
TERMS OF WORKPLACE REQUIREMENTS.
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S RATHER
CONTENTIOUS.
BUT IT APPEARS TO BE LIKELY
NECESSARY TO GET THE LEVELS OF
VACCINATION THAT WE NEED.
WE ARE FORTUNATELY ABLE TO NOW
VACCINATE CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS
FIVE NOW THAT SCHOOLS ARE BACK
TRYING TO MEET IN PERSON,
FAMILIES ARE GOING TO TRY TO
GATHER OVER THE HOLIDAYS AND
INTO NEXT YEAR.
VACCINATING CHILDREN COULD HELP
US STOP THIS SURGE THAT'S GOING
ON RIGHT NOW.
>> AS THE MONTHS TICK BY,
PROTECTION FROM TWO-DOSE
VACCINES EVEN AND NATURAL
IMMUNITY FROM INFECTION WANE, I
UNDERSTAND, SO ARE THE
UNVACCINATED AND WANING
COMMUNITY GROUPS COLLIDING WITH
THE DELTA VARIANT AND NOW INDOOR
WEATHER?
>> ALL OF THOSE FACTORS ARE
PLAYING A ROLE.
WE ARE SEEING IN OUR OWN
INTERNAL DATA THAT UNVACCINATED
PEOPLE ARE BEING INFECTED AT
MUCH HIGHER THE RATE THAN
VACCINATED PEOPLE WHO EVEN
HAVEN'T HAD A BOOSTER YET WHO
ARE STILL BEING INFECTED AT A
HIGHER RATE THAN THOSE WHO HAVE
HAD THEIR BOOSTER.
WE DO EXPECT RECOMMENDATIONS
FROM CDC SOON FOR BOOSTERS FOR
ALL AND ENCOURAGE ANYONE
ELIGIBLE TO GO AHEAD AND GET IT
WHERE WE HEAD INTO THE SEASON
THAT COULD MAKE IT A BAD WINTER
FOR COVID.
>> ARE WE TALKING ABOUT ONLY THE
FULLY-VACCINATED PEOPLE ARE
THOSE WITH BOOSTERS?
>> FULLY VACCINATED CONTINUES TO
MEAN THAT YOU'VE HAD YOUR
INITIAL SERIES PLUS TWO WEEKS OF
TIME.
HOWEVER, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO
NEED A NEW TERM FOR FULLY
VACCINATED AND UP-TO-DATE WITH
ALL RECOMMENDED BOOSTERS.
>> IS IT REALLY SAFE AT THIS
POINT WITH WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN
THESE KIND OF CASE COUNTS IN
WISCONSIN AND MINNESOTA, IS IT
REALLY SAFE FOR PEOPLE TO GATHER
FOR THANKSGIVING OR TRAVEL?
>> I THINK THAT WE UNFORTUNATELY
NEED TO BE EXERCISING CAUTION
LIKE WE DID LAST YEAR.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THANKSGIVING
COMING UP.
CHILDREN ARE NOT YET FULLY
VACCINATED AND WON'T BE UNTIL
MID TO LATE DECEMBER.
AND FAMILIES CANNOT TAKE A FALSE
SENSE OF SECURITY FROM THAT
FIRST SHOT OF VACCINE.
AND UNVACCINATED PEOPLE CONTINUE
TO BE AT HIGH RISK.
INITIALLY VACCINATED PEOPLE
WITHOUT A BOOSTER VACCINATED
MORE THAN SIX MONTHS AGO, THEY
ARE AT HIGHER RISK THAN THEIR
BOOSTED COUNTERPARTS.
SO WE DO HAVE TO CONTINUE TAKING
PRECAUTIONS.
>> YEAH.
BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE JUST
OVERHEARING THAT, RIGHT?
BUT I WANT TO ASK THIS QUESTION.
WISCONSIN'S GUN DEER SEASON
OPENS SATURDAY AND OUR HEALTH
DEPARTMENT IN WISCONSIN HAS
OFFERED GUIDANCE THAT HUNTERS
SHOULD MASK WHILE FIELD DRESSING
DEER.
HOW CONCERNING IS THE RESEARCH
SHOWING THE DEER POPULATION
INFECTED WITH COVID?
>> I THINK THAT'S AN ABUNDANCE
OF CAUTION.
THERE CERTAINLY IS EVIDENCE THAT
WHITETAIL DEER HAVE ANTIBODIES
TO COVID AND HAVE BEEN INFECTED.
THERE'S REALLY NO EVIDENCE OF A
SIGNIFICANT SPREAD TO HUMANS.
HOWEVER, YOU CAN GET MANY THINGS
FROM DEER AND OTHER WILDLIFE.
SO PRECAUTIONS LIKE WEARING
GLOVES ARE VERY IMPORTANT, NOT
LETTING YOUR HUNTING DOGS OR
OTHER ANIMALS COME IN DIRECT
CONTACT WITH WILD ANIMALS, NOT
EATING, DRINKING, SMOKING WHILE
YOU'RE DRESSING DEER.
WE DON'T SEE ANYTHING THAT USDA
OR CDC HAS SEEN IN TERMS OF
WILDLIFE LIKE DEER TRANSMITTING
COVID DIRECTLY TO HUMANS.
SO THAT'S AN EXTRA MEASURE OF
CAUTION, BUT I DON'T HAVE
CONCERN THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
SIGNIFICANT TRANSMISSION FROM
DEER TO HUNTERS.
>> VERY, VERY GOOD NEWS.
DR. MELANIE SWIFT, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> BACK AT THE STATE CAPITOL,
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS DID AS
PROMISED AND VETOED THE MAPS
REPUBLICANS PASSED IN THE LATEST
ROUND OF REDISTRICTING.
IN HIS VETO MESSAGE, HE CALLED
THE MAPS, "GERRYMANDERING 2.0."
THEY WOULD MAINTAIN BOUNDARIES
WHICH SAW REPUBLICAN MAJORITIES
FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS.
THE MAPS WILL HAVE TO BE SORTED
OUT IN COURT AHEAD OF THE 2022
ELECTIONS.
WE LEARN THIS WEEK THAT THE
STATE SUPREME COURT PLANS TO
WEIGH IN ON THE DISPUTE OVER THE
MAPS.
THTHEY HAVE SET ASIDE A TENTATIE
HEARING DATE IN JANUARY.
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR
GOVERNOR REBECCA KLEEFISCH IS
ASKING THE HIGH COURT TO TAKE UP
HER LAWSUIT AGAINST WISCONSIN
ELECTION COMMISSIONERS.
THE SUIT ASKS THE COURT TO
DECLARE ILLEGAL THE WISCONSIN
ELECTIONS COMMISSION GUIDANCE
ALLOWING BALLOT DROP BOXES,
NURSING HOME POLL WORKERS AND
CONSOLIDATED POLLING PLACES.
THE JUSTICES LAST YEAR SAID
CHALLENGES TO VOTING PRACTICES
SHOULD BE MADE BEFORE ELECTIONS,
NOT AFTER.
THE COURT HAS NOT YET RULED
WHETHER TO TAKE THE CASE.
LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT YEAR'S
ELECTIONS, THE OPEN SEAT IN THE
3rd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IN
WESTERN WISCONSIN IS EXPECTED TO
BE A NAIL-BITER.
IT'S A DISTRICT THAT INCUMBENT
AND RETIRING DEMOCRATIC RON KIND
NARROWLY WON.
THE FIELD IS FILLING UP FOR
DEMOCRATS LOOKING TO REPLACE
KIND.
LAST MONTH WE INTERVIEWED BRAD
PFAFF.
TONIGHT WE HEAR FROM REBECCA
COOKE, A BOARD MEMBER OF WEDC.
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS APPOINTED
COOKE TO THAT POSITION IN 2019.
SHE ALSO OWNS A HOME GOODS STORE
IN EAU CLAIRE AND FOUNDED A
NONPROFIT GRANT PROGRAM FOR
WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN WESTERN
WISCONSIN.
REBECCA COOKE JOINS US NOW FROM
EAU CLAIRE.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO WHY DO YOU WANT TO
REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF THE
3rd IN WASHINGTON?
>> YEAH.
YOU KNOW, I'M A DOER.
I'VE PROVEN THAT TIME AND AGAIN
AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL IN MY
HOMETOWN THROUGH SUPPORTING
WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS AND
ADVOCATING FOR FOLKS I MET
ACROSS THE KITCHEN TABLE AND THE
BOARDROOM.
CAREER POLITICIANS HAVE LEFT US
BEHIND.
WASHINGTON CAN'T SOLVE
EVERYTHING.
I THINK WE HERE IN WEST CENTRAL
WISCONSIN HAVE THE SMARTS AND
COMMON SENSE TO SOLVE A LOT OF
THESE CHALLENGES.
I'LL TAKE THE VALUES I LEARNED
GROWING UP ON A DAIRY FARM NOT
TO GIVE UP WHEN TIMES ARE TOUGH
AND FIGHT FOR OUR VALUES IN THE
HALLS OF CONGRESS.
>> SO YOU'VE JUST TOUCHED ON
THIS, BUT YOU WILL HAVE TO FIND
YOUR SEAT AT THE TABLE AS A
POLITICAL NEWCOMER.
>> RIGHT.
>> THIS STRIKES YOU AS A
POSITIVE.
>> YEAH.
I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE
DUE FOR FRESH LEADERSHIP AND I
THINK FRESH FACES.
I MIGHT BE NEW TO RUNNING FOR
POLITICAL OFFICE, BUT I'M NOT
NEW TO SERVING MY COMMUNITY.
I'VE BEEN DOING THAT IN THE WORK
THAT I'VE BEEN DOING AT THE
GRASSROOTS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
LEVEL FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
AND SO I THINK -- I THINK THAT
WE'RE TIRED OF KIND OF THE SAME
OLD CAREER POLITICIAN POLITICS
THAT WE'VE SEEN AND WANT TO SEE
A CONGRESS THAT'S MORE
REFLECTIVE OF EVERYDAY AMERICA
AND FOLKS STEPPING OFF THE
SIDELINES TO SERVE THEIR
COMMUNITY.
>> WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT
ISSUES YOU'D LIKE TO ADDRESS IN
YOUR DISTRICT?
>> SURE.
YOU KNOW, THIS CAMPAIGN IS GOING
TO BE RUN ON A LOT OF KITCHEN
TABLE ISSUES, THINGS THAT
EVERYDAY WISCONSINITES CARE
ABOUT, HAVING ACCESS TO
AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE, ENSURING
OUR STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO THE
RESOURCE NORESOURCES IN THE CLAY
NEED TO THRIVE.
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS EARLIER.
BROADBAND, HAVING CONNECTIVITY
TO MARKETPLACES AND FROM A
TELEHEALTH PERSPECTIVE.
SO KIDS AREN'T DOING THEIR
HOMEWORK IN A McDONALDS
PARKING LOT.
THERE'S A LOT OF PROMISE IN THE
INFRASTRUCTURE BILL TO BE ABLE
TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I THINK THE OTHER PIECE IS JOB
CREATION AND HAVING -- BUILDING
A SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY IN THE
DISTRICT AND HAVING EMPLOYERS
THAT WANT TO INVEST IN THE
QUALITY OF LIFE OF WORKERS HERE.
>> THE ANNOUNCED AND
TRUMP-ENDORSED REPUBLICAN IN
THIS RACE CAME CLOSE TO BEATING
THE INCUMBENT IN THE LAST
ELECTION.
WHAT KIND OF HEADWINDS DOES THAT
POSE FOR YOU IN A DISTRICT
TRENDING RIGHT?
>> WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS BRING
IT BACK HOME IN TERMS OF
CONNECTING WITH FOLKS IN RURAL
COMMUNITIES.
YOU SAW MORE FOLKS COMING OUT
FOR TRUMP BECAUSE TRUMP WAS
SHOWING UP IN THOSE COMMUNITIES.
I THINK AS DEMOCRATS WE NEED TO
BE CONNECTING WITH FOLKS NOT
JUST WHEN IT'S AN ELECTION YEAR
AND WHEN IT'S CONVENIENT, BUT
ALL THE TIME.
IT'S A DISTRICT THAT IS STARTING
TO STEER MORE RIGHT AND WE NEED
TO BRING IT BACK TO VALUES THAT
ARE CENTRAL TO THE WAY WE LIVE
OUR EVERYDAY LIVES HERE IN
WISCONSIN.
SO I THINK RUNNING A CAMPAIGN
THAT'S VERY VALUE-CENTRIC IN A
BIG TENT THAT OPENS EVERYBODY
FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE IS
WHAT I INTEND TO DO.
>> THE PRESIDENT JUST SIGNED THE
INFRASTRUCTURE BILL AND NOW THE
SOCIAL PART IS MAKING ITS WAY
THROUGH CONGRESS.
WHAT IS YOUR LEVEL OF SUPPORT
FOR THESE TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS
OF SPENDING?
>> YOU KNOW, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF
ANYTHING THAT, YOU KNOW, HELPS
WORKING FAMILIES IN OUR REGION
OUT, YOU KNOW, FROM MEDICARE
EXPANSION TO PAID LEAVE, EASING
THE BURDEN OF CHILD CARE AND
PRE-K FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR ANYTHING
THAT EASES THE BURDEN OF WHAT
THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE
BEEN LIKE FOR WORKING FAMILIES
IN OUR REGION.
>> ALL RIGHT.
REBECCA COOKE, WE LEAVE IT
THERE.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
>> YEAH.
THANK YOU.
>> THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR
TONIGHT.
AS WE CONTINUE TO COVER THE
EVENTS IN KENOSHA, VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT
PBSWISCONSIN.ORG/NEWS FOR THE
LATEST.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.