>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> WISCONSIN BATTLES DELTA AS
THE NEW OMICRON VARIANT OF
CONCERN IS OFFICIALLY IN THE
U.S.
AND THE CORONAVIRUS IS RUNNING
RAMPANT IN DEER.
AN EXPERT EPIDEMIOLOGIST GIVES
THEIR TAKE.
THE LATEST ON THE CONTINUING
SAGA OF ELECTION INVESTIGATIONS,
INCLUDING A COMPLAINT AGAINST
ONE OF THE STATE ELECTIONS
COMMISSIONERS AND WHAT MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS COULD MEAN FOR
WISCONSIN COMMUNITIES STRUGGLING
WITH OPIOID ADDICTION.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," WE
SPEAK WITH DR. MICHAEL OSTERHOLM
ABOUT OMICRON.
AND UW PROFESSOR TONY GOLDBERG
EXPLAINS CONCERN OVER
CORONAVIRUS IN DEER.
ATTORNEY JEFF MANDELL WEIGHS IN
ON ELECTION INFIGHTING.
AND FINALLY TONIGHT, WE HEAR
FROM A PARAMEDIC FIGHTING OPIOID
OVERDOSES.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> IN A SINGLE DAY HERE IN GREEN
BAY ONE OF OUR HOSPITALS HAD TO
SAY NO TO 28 PATIENTS WHO
TRANSFERRED IN THAT IMMEDIATED
THEM, INCLUDING THREE STROKES.
AND THOSE FAMILIES UNFORTUNATELY
HAD TO HAVE THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS
TRANSFERRED OVER 200 MILES AWAY
JUST TO GET BASIC CARE THAT THEY
NEEDED.
THIS WOULDN'T HAPPEN IF WE HAD
THOSE BEDS AND STAFF AVAILABLE
TO TAKE CARE OF THEM WHICH ARE
NOW OCCUPIED BY COVID PATIENTS.
>> AS THE DELTA VARIANT CAUSES
CASE NUMBERS TO SURGE IN
WISCONSIN, WITH POSITIVE CASES
NOW SURPASSING 5,000 A DAY AND
ICU BEDS NEARLY FULL UP, ANOTHER
THREAT: THE OMICRON VARIANT.
HOW BIG A THREAT IS IT?
WE TURN TO DR. MICHAEL
OSTERHOLM, DIRECTOR OF
INFECTIOUS DISEASE RESEE RESEARD
POLICY.
HE JOINS US FROM MINNEAPOLIS.
WHAT IS YOUR THREAT ASSESSMENT
ON THE OMICRON VARIANT?
>> IT'S A REAL CONCERN.
IT IS A 210-MILE CURVE BALL
THROWN INTO THIS WHOLE MIX OF
COVID.
THIS VIRUS COMBINES BOTH THE
ABILITY TO BE MUCH MORE
INFECTIOUS AND I THINK ALL THE
EVIDENCE WE SEE IN THIS FIRST
WEEK OF DATA COLLECTION IS THAT
IT IS MORE INFECTIOUS THAN DELTA
AND IT ALSO HAS THE ABILITY TO
EVADE IMMUNE PROTECTION FROM
HAVING PREVIOUSLY BEEN IN INFECD
OR FROM THE VACCINES.
MANY, MANY INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE
PREVIOUSLY I INFECTED IN SOUTH
AFRICA ARE GETTING INFECTED
AGAIN.
THE ONE REAL QUESTION WE STILL
HAVE IS WHAT PROPORTION OF THESE
PEOPLE WHO DO GET INFECTED, HOW
MANY OF THEM HAVE SERIOUS
ILLNESS.
AND WE ARE STARTING TO SEE
HOSPITALIZATIONS GROW QUITE
DRAMATICALLY IN SOUTH AFRICA AND
IN PARTICULAR IN KIDS UNDER THE
AGE OF FIVE.
>> WE KNOW THAT IT HAS BEEN
DETECTED IN SEVERAL STATES,
INCLUDING MINNESOTA NOW.
FROM WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT ITS
TRANSMISSION, IS IT JUST A
MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THERE ARE
WIDESPREAD OUTBREAKS, INCLUDING
WHERE WE ARE?
>> YOU KNOW, IT'S A HARD THING
TO BE TALKING ABOUT WHEN HERE WE
SIT HERE TODAY WITH 95,000 NEW
CASES OF DELTA BEING REPORTED
TODAY NATIONWIDE AND THE
SEVEN-DAY AVERAGE GOING UP EVERY
DAY.
SO THAT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT,
WELL, COULD IT GET WORSE, THIS
UNFORTUNATELY IS JUST THAT.
I THINK THAT WITHIN THE NEXT
THREE OR FOUR WEEKS, IN MANY
LOCATIONS OMICRON WILL BECOME
THE DOMINANT VARIANT THAT WE
SEE.
LAST WEEKEND, ABOUT ONE WEEK
AGO, I SAID IT WOULDN'T SURPRISE
ME IF WE FOUND IT IN AT LEAST 50
COUNTRIES AND A NUMBER OF THE
STATES BY THE END OF THIS WEEK.
WELL, HERE WE ARE ON FRIDAY AND
IT'S RIGHT ON TRACK FOR THOSE
NUMBERS.
SO I THINK THAT WE SURELY CAN
EXPECT TO SEE GLOBAL
DISTRIBUTION AND WHERE IT'S AT
IT WILL SPREAD READILY.
>> YOU SPOKE A MOMENT AGO ABOUT
THE SEVERITY OF THE DISEASE
THAT'S BEING SEEN.
INITIAL REPORTS IT SEEMED WERE
THAT IT WASN'T AS SEVERE, BUT
THAT IS LOOKING DIFFERENTLY AT
THIS POINT?
>> WELL, WE CAUTIONED PEOPLE ALL
ALONG FOR TWO REASONS, TO COME
UP WITH ANY CONCLUSIONS ABOUT
THAT.
THE FIRST CASES BEING REPORTED
OUT OF SOUTH AFRICA WERE LARGELY
IN YOUNG, HEALTHY ADULTS WHERE
WE EXPECT TO SEE THE LEAST OF
SERIOUS ILLNESS.
IN ADDITION, AS WE TALKED ABOUT
TIME AND TIME AGAIN WITH THIS
ENTIRE PANDEMIC, WE HAVE TO BE
CONCERNED ABOUT LAGGING
INDICATORS.
BASICALLY SEVERE ILLNESS,
HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS
OFTEN OCCUR TWO TO THREE WEEKS
OR MORE AFTER INDIVIDUALS BECOME
INFECTED AND WE ARE IN THE VERY
EARLIEST DAYS OF WIDESPREAD
TRANSMISSION IN AFRICA.
IT WILL TAKE WELL INTO MID
DECEMBER BEFORE WE HAVE A BETTER
HANDLE ON THAT.
WHAT WE'VE SEEN WITH
HOSPITALIZATIONS IN THE LAST 24
TO 36 HOURS IN THE JOHANNESBURG
AND PRETORIA AREAS IS THIS IS
CAUSING SEVERE ILL ILLNESS IN A
NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS.
WE'RE STILL TRYING TO UNDERSTAND
T. >> FOR NOW, AGAIN, IT'S THE
DELTA VARIANT CAUSING CASE
SURGES IN WISCONSIN AND UPPER
MIDWEST.
WHEN VACCINATIONS WERE MADE
WIDELY AVAILABLE DID YOU EVER
SEE US IN THIS PLACE AND
SOMEWHERE PO PO WORSE?
>> THE FACT THAT WE HAVE BETA
AND GAMMA, TWO VARIANTS THAT
COULD EVADE IMMUNE PROTECTION
BUT DIDN'T SURVIVE BECAUSE THEY
WERE NOT THAT INFECTIOUS, AT
THAT TIME I SAID I WAS CONCERNED
THAT I THOUGHT THAT SOME OF THE
DARKEST DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC
MIGHT BE AHEAD OF US YET.
IT WAS NOT WELL RECEIVED,
DISCOUNTED BY MANY.
I THINK BASED ON WHAT WE'VE SEEN
THE LAST SIX MONTHS AND NOW WITH
THIS 210 MANY MILE AN HOUR CURVE
BALL, PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO
UNDERSTAND THIS ISN'T LIKE THE
FLU AND IT JUST BECOMES
SEASONAL.
THIS ONE KEEPS THROWING
SURPRISES AT US.
AS WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW WITH
THE BURDEN OF ILLNESS EVEN WITH
DELTA, WHAT WE ARE LIKELY TO SEE
WITH OMICRON, I THINK PEOPLE CAN
UNDERSTAND EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY
BE DONE WITH THE PANDEMIC, THE
VIRUS IS NOT DONE WITH US.
AND THAT'S THE CHALLENGE WE HAVE
RIGHT NOW IN TRYING TO CONTROL
THE TRANSMISSION OF THIS VIRUS
IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE LEAVE IT THERE.
WE HOPE TO CHECK BACK IN WITH
YOU IN FUTURE WEEKS.
DR. MICHAEL OSTERHOLM, THANKS
VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, FREDERICA.
>> MORE THAN 175,000
WHITE-TAILED DEER WERE HARVESTED
DURING WISCONSIN'S NINE-DAY GUN
SEASON WHICH ENDED SUNDAY.
BEFORE THE SEASON OPENED, THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES
ISSUED GUIDANCE THAT HUNTERS
SHOULD TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS
AFTER RECENT STUDIES FOUND THE
VIRUS THAT CAUSES COVID-19
SURGING THROUGH DEER
POPULATIONS.
THERE'S NO EVIDENCE YET THAT THE
VIRUS CAN TRAVEL BACK TO HUMANS
FROM DEER BUT IT'S OBVIOUSLY A
SERIOUS CONCERN.
"HERE AND NOW" REPORTER MARISA
WOJCIK ASKED TONY GOLDBERG, AN
EPIDEMIOLOGIST AT THE UW SCHOOL
OF VETERINARY MEDICINE ABOUT THE
TRANSMISSION OF COVID IN DEER.
>> YOU CHARACTERIZED THIS AS A
GAME-CHANGER.
WHY?
>> THIS FINDING OF SARS
CORONAVIRUS 2 IN DEER IS POE
POTENTIALLY A GAME-CHANGER
BECAUSE UP TO THAT POINT WE
REALLY DIDN'T THINK THAT THE
VIRUS WAS GOING TO TAKE OFF IN
OTHER ANIMAL SPECIES.
WE KNEW IT COULD INFECT THEM.
WE HEARD STORIES OF TIGERS AND
LIONS AND GREAT APES IN ZOOS
GETTING SICK, BUT THAT SEEMED TO
BE A DEAD-END.
THE GAME-CHANGER PART OF THIS IS
IF A VIRUS GETS INTO A WILDLIFE
SPECIES AND SPREADS AND IF IT
CAN GET BACK INTO HUMANS, THEN
IT'S VERY HARD TO CONTROL.
WE HAVE OTHER EXAMPLES OF THIS
LIKE WEST NILE VIRUS, FOR
EXAMPLE, WHICH IS STILL
CIRCULATING IN BIRDS AND
MOSQUITOES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED
STATES AND THROUGHOUT NORTH
AMERICA AND WE'RE NEVER GOING TO
GET RID OF IT BECAUSE YOU CAN'T
CATCH ALL THE BIRDS AND
VACCINATE THEM OR KILL OFF ALL
THE MOSQUITOES.
SO IF IT TURNS OUT THAT DEER ARE
A RESERVOIR FOR SARS CORONAVIRUS
2, THAT WILL MAKE CONTROLLING
THIS VIRUS EVEN MORE DIFFICULT
THAN IT ALREADY IS.
>> AND SO HOW DO VARIANTS FACTOR
INTO THIS?
ARE THE DEER CARRYING ANY
VARIANTS THAT ARE CIRCULATING IN
HUMANS?
OR ARE THEY CARRYING SOMETHING
THAT'S SPECIFIC TO THE DEER HERD
AND MUTATIONS THAT HAVE
DEVELOPED IN DEER?
>> THE AMAZING THING IS THAT
DEER HAVE I THINK IT WAS 12
HUMAN VARIANTS IN THEM, WHICH
MEANS THAT IT WASN'T JUST ONE
UNLUCKILY EVENT WHERE ONE SICK
PERSON SNEEZED ON A DEER
SOMEWHERE.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S HAPPENING
MULTIPLE TIMES.
SO RIGHT NOW, ALL WE'VE EVER
FOUND IN DEER ARE VARIANTS THAT
WE KNOW ARE CIRCULATING IN
PEOPLE.
THAT BEING SAID, ONE OF THE BIG
FEARS IS THAT WHAT WENT INTO
DEER MIGHT NOT BE THE SAME AS
WHAT COMES OUT OF DEER OR WHAT
SUSTAINS ITSELF IN DEER.
BECAUSE AS WE ALL KNOW NOW FROM
NOW WITH THE OMICRON VARIANT,
THIS CONSTANT CHANGING OF THE
GUARD WITH SARS CORONAVIRUS 2
VARIANT, THIS IS EVOLVED TO
CHANGE ITS GENETICS AND
DISEASE-CAUSING ABILITY.
IT'S TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING AND
EVADE IM M IMMUNITY.
WHEN A VIRUS FINDS ITSELF IN A
NEW ENVIRONMENT, DEER, THE FEAR
IS THAT IT'S GOING TO EVOLVE IN
A NEW DIRECTION.
AND IF IT CAN BE TRANSMITTED OUT
OF DEER, THEN THE WORST CASE
SCENARIO IS THAT DEER COULD BE
SPEWING OUT VARIANTS OF THE
VIRUS THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN IN
HUMANS BUT THAT COULD POSE A
PROBLEM FOR HUMANS.
>> IN OTHER NEWS, A NOT
UNEXPECTED WIN FOR REPUBLICANS
FROM THE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT
IN A RULING ON HOW TO DRAW NEW
VOTING MAPS.
THE CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY ON THE
HIGH COURT RULED THIS WEEK THAT
IT WILL MAKE THE MINIMUM CHANGES
NECESSARY TO THE CURRENT
DISTRICT MAPS AND THAT THE COURT
WILL NOT CONSIDER PARTISAN
BALANCE.
THE RULING INFORMS HOW PARTIES
MUST DRAW MAPS THEY SUBMIT TO
JUSTICES FOR THEIR
CONSIDERATION.
A TRIAL TO SET LINES COULD
HAPPEN AS SOON AS JANUARY.
AT THE STATE CAPITOL THIS WEEK,
TEMPERS FLARED AS FORMER SUPREME
COURT JUSTICE MICHAEL GABLEMAN
PROVIDED ANOTHER UPDATE ON HIS
ELECTION INVESTIGATION.
>> I NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT
OVERTURNING ANY ELECTION.
STOP MAKING THINGS UP, MARK.
>> DEMOCRATS CRITICIZED GABLEMAN
FOR NEW HIRES ON HIS STAFF WHICH
INCLUDE A LAWYER WHO WORKED TO
OVERTURN THE STATE ELECTION
RESULTS.
>> IF YOU ARE SERIOUS ABOUT
THIS, COULDN'T WE BRING IN
SOMEBODY WHO IS ABOVE
PARTISANSHIP AND REPROACH?
>> GABLEMAN ALSO ANNOUNCED HE IS
SEEKING A COURT ORDER TO COMPEL
TESTIMONY FROM THE MAYORS OF
MADISON AND GREEN BAY.
>> OF ALL THE CLERKS AND MAJORS,
THOSE TWO SIMPLY FAILED WITHOUT
REASON OR EXCUSE TO APPEAR FOR
THEIR DEPOSITIONS.
>> MADISON CITY ATTORNEY SAID
THE CITY HAS BEEN WORKING SINCE
OCTOBER UNDER AN AGREEMENT THAT
WOULD PREVENT OFFICIALS FROM
TESTIFYING.
THE CITY HAS NOT RECEIVED AN
UPDATED FORMAL REQUEST FOR
ANYONE TO TESTIFY.
A COURT WILL HEAR THE ISSUE
DECEMBER 22.
>> FORMER JUSTICE GABLEMAN'S
LATEST FILINGS THREATENED TO
JAIL THE MAYORS OF MADISON AND
GREEN BAY IF THEY DON'T APPEAR
TO TESTIFY.
FIRST, AS THE GABLEMAN
INVESTIGATION WAS GETTING A
HEARING IN THE CAPITOL, THE
STATE ELECTIONS COMMISSION WAS
MEETING TO REVIEW THE
LEGISLATIVE AUDIT BUREAU REPORT
ON THE 2020 ELECTION.
COMMISSIONERS UNANIMOUSLILY
APPROVED SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS
MADE FOR CONDUCTING ELECTIONS,
INCLUDING PROMULGATING RULES ON
BALLOT DROP BOXES AND WHAT
INFORMATION CLERKS CAN FILL IN
ON ABSENTEE BALLOT ENVELOPES.
BUT THE COMMISSION EXPRESSED
ANGER THAT THE AUDIT BUREAU WENT
PUBLIC BEFORE INACCURACIES IN
ITS REPORT COULD BE CORRECTED
>.
>> I THINK THEY FELL INTO THE
TRAP OF SUCCUMBING TO POLITICAL
PRESSURE THAT THEY WOULD NOT
ALLOW A REVIEW AND A SIMPLE
REVIEW LIKE THEY ALWAYS DO HELPS
PREVENT THIS KIND OF INACCURACY
SEEPING INTO THE FINAL REPORT.
>> REPUBLICAN COMMISSIONER DEAN
KNUDSON SAID THE BUREAU ACTED IN
AN UNPROFESSIONAL MANNER.
ALSO RELATED TO THE 2020
ELECTION, THERE'S A LONGSTANDING
COMPLAINT ALLEGING CRIMINAL
WRONGDOING ON THE PART OF TEN
REPUBLICANS IN WISCONSIN WHO,
FOLLOWING JOE BIDEN'S VICTORY,
CONVENED AS PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTORS FOR DONALD TRUMP.
FRAUDULENT ELECTORS CAST THEIR
VOTES FOR TRUMP FOR WISCONSIN'S
ELECTORAL VOTES TO BE COUNTED ON
JANUARY 6 FOR THE LOSING
CANDIDATE.
THE COMPLAINT IS SITTING WITH
THE WISCONSIN ELECTIONS ELECTIOS
COMMISSION.
ATTORNEY JEFF MANDELL IS LEAD
COUNSEL AT LAW FORWARD AND
BROUGHT THIS COMPLAINT.
HE'S ALSO REPRESENTING THE CITY
OF GREEN BAY IN THE GABLEMANúPR.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE START.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO FORMER JUSTICE GABLEMAN'S
INVESTIGATION INTO THE WISCONSIN
2020 ELECTION HAS A KEY FOCUS ON
THE NEARLY $9 MILLION IN GRANTS
THE CENTER FOR TECH AND CIVIC
LIFE GAVE TO THE STATE'S LARGEST
AND DEMOCRATIC-LEANING CITIES,
INCLUDING GREEN BAY AND MADISON.
YOU REPRESENT GREEN BAY AS
OUTSIDE COUNSEL.
NOW JUSTICE GABLEMAN IS GOING TO
COURT AND THREATENING JAIL TO
COMPEL TESTIMONY FROM THOSE
MAYORS AS HE ALLEGES A COVER-UP.
WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THIS?
>> THE LATEST GAMBIT IS THAT
MR. GABLEMAN HAS FILED PAPERS IN
WAUKESHA COUNTY TRYING TO HAVE
THE MAYORS OF GREEN BAY AND
MADISON ARRESTED FOR FAILING TO
PROVIDE TESTIMONY.
BUT THIS IS COMPLETELY CRAZY.
THIS IS THE LATEST EXAMPLE OF
MR. GABLEMAN THROWING AROUND BIG
LEGAL WORDS BUT NOT FOLLOWING
WISCONSIN LAW.
THIS IS NOT A REMEDY THAT IS
AVAILABLE, AND THE FACTS ARE
SIMPLY NOT WITH HIM.
NO ONE HAS REFUSED TO GIVE
TESTIMONY.
THE CITY OF GREEN BAY PROVIDED
20,000 PAGES OF DOCUMENTS TO THE
SPECIAL COUNSEL'S OFFICE, AND
THE SPECIAL COUNSEL'S OFFICE
EXPRESSLY AGREED THAT BECAUSE WE
PROVIDED THOSE DOCUMENTS, THERE
WAS NO NEED FOR TESTIMONY AT
THIS POINT AND THEY WOULD LET
THE CITY KNOW IF THERE WAS GOING
TO BE A REQUEST LATER.
WE NEVER HEARD FROM THEM UNTIL
ON WEDNESDAY MR. GABLEMAN, IN A
PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON CAMPAIGNS
AND ELECTIONS, SAID THAT HE WAS
HAVING THESE PEOPLE ARRESTED AND
THAT HE HAD FILED COURT PAPERS
TO DO SO.
HE NEVER EVEN NOTIFIED THE CITY
OR HAD US SERVED WITH THOSE
COURT PAPERS.
>> THERE'S A LOT TO UNPACK THERE
AND THE REPORTING ON THAT
CONTINUES, INCLUDING BY US.
BUT I WANT TO GET BACK TO THE
REPUBLICAN ELECTORS.
WHY ADDRESS THIS SO LONG AFTER
THE CERTIFICATION OF THE
ELECTION WITH PARENTHETICALLY
THE INSURRECTION THAT IT CAUSED
ON JANUARY 6?
>> WELL, TO BE FAIR, THE DELAY
HERE IS ENTIRELY ON THE PART OF
THE ELECTIONS COMMISSION.
WE FILED OUR COMPLAINT IN
FEBRUARY.
IT'S BEEN PENDING FOR NEARLY TEN
MONTHS.
WE FILED IT IN MID FEBRUARY ON
PRESIDENT'S DAY.
BUT REGARDLESS, WHAT IS SO
IMPORTANT IS THAT THIS DOES GET
RESOLVED.
WE CAN'T ALLOW THE DELAY IN
ADJUDICATING THIS TO MAKE PEOPLE
DISMISS IT AS ANCIENT HISTORY.
BECAUSE AS YOU HAVE EXPLAINED,
WHAT HAPPENED HERE WAS A
DELIBERATE EFFORT TO DEFRAUD THE
PEOPLE OF THE CHOICE THAT THEY
MADE THROUGH THEIR VOTE HERE IN
WISCONSIN AND TO DEFRAUD THE
CONGRESS BY FOOLING THEM.
AND THAT -- IT IS EXACTLY THAT
EFFORT, THESE FRAUDULENT PAPERS
THAT WERE SUBMITTED TO CONGRESS,
THAT FUELED THE JANUARY 6
INSURRECTION.
THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO
INSURRECTION IF PEOPLE DID NOT
BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A BASIS
FOR ASKING VICE PRESIDENT PENCE
TO CHOOSE ONE SLATE OF ELECTORS
OVER THE OTHER.
THESE PAPERS CREATED THAT
POSSIBILITY.
>> ONE OF THE REPUBLICANS ON THE
WISCONSIN ELECTIONS COMMISSION,
BOB SPINDELL, WAS AMONG THOSE
ELECTORS.
LAST MONTH HE DEFENDED HIMSELF
FOR HIS AND OTHERS' ACTIONS.
LET'S TAKE A LISTEN.
>> THIS WAS MANDATORY AND
NECESSARY ACCORDING TO THE LEGAL
OPINIONS TO PRESERVE THE RECORD
AND THE RPW POSITION AND THESE
MANY FEDERAL AND STATE CASES
THAT WERE SWIRLING AROUND
WISCONSIN AT THIS TIME.
SHOULD A CASE OR TWO BE FOUND IN
FAVOR OF TRUMP, IT WAS NECESSARY
TO HAVE NOT TO HAVE FORFEITED
HIS RIGHTS FOR AN APPEAL.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MALPRACTICE
NOT TO HAVE THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN
TAKE ALL STEPS TO PRESERVE ITS
RECORDS AND OPTIONS.
>> COMMISSIONER SPINDELL SAID
THEY WERE ONLY TRYING TO PROTECT
THEIR OPTIONS SHOULD TRUMP
PREVAIL IN ANY CHALLENGE TO
ELECTION RESULTS.
WHAT ABOUT THAT?
>> THAT'S JUST NOT TRUE AND
THAT'S TRUE FOR SEVERAL REASONS,
FREDERICA.
FIRST, THERE WERE NOT AS HE SAYS
MANY FEDERAL AND STATE LAWSUITS
SWIRLING AROUND.
THE COURTS HAD TAKEN GREAT PAINS
TO ASSURE BEFORE THE COLLEGE MET
THAT THOSE CASES WERE RESOLVED.
THE PARTIAL RECOUNT HERE IN
WISCONSIN HAS BEEN RESOLVED ALL
THE WAY THROUGH THE WISCONSIN
SUPREME COURT.
THE CASES IN FEDERAL COURT HAD
BEEN RESOLVED.
THERE WAS NO FURTHER LITIGATION
THAT WAS NECESSARY.
NUMBER TWO, AND PERHAPS EVEN
MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHAT THE
FRAUDULENT ELECTORS HERE IN
WISCONSIN DID DIFFERS IN KIND
FROM WHAT HAPPENED IN OTHER
STATES.
IN SOME OTHER STATES, THE
ELECTORS MET AND THEY PUT AT THE
BEGINNING OF THEIR PAPERS WORDS
THAT SAID IN THE EVENT THAT A
COURT DECIDES THAT THERE WAS
SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE
ELECTION, THIS IS HOW OUR STATE
WOULD CAST ITS ELECTORAL VOTES.
BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENED
HERE IN WISCONSIN.
THERE WAS NO SUCH IN CASE OF
EMERGENCY BREAK GLASS CLAUSE AT
THE BEGINNING OF THESE PAPERS.
THESE PAPERS WERE DELIBERATELY
DESIGNED TO BE IDENTICAL IN
EVERY RESPECT TO THE ACTUAL
PAPERS CASTING THE ACTUAL
ELECTORAL VOTES THAT REFLECTED
THE WILL OF THE VOTERS IN
WISCONSIN.
THEY WERE DESIGNED TO DEFRAUD
THE PEOPLE, TO CONFUSE THE
CONGRESS AND TO CREATE EXACTLY
THE SITUATION THAT LED TO THE
JANUARY 6 INSURRECTION.
THAT'S WHAT'S WRONG WITH THEM.
>> WE WILL WATCH WHERE THIS
GOES.
WE APPRECIATE YOU DESCRIBING IT
FOR US.
JEFF MANDELL, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, FREDERICA.
>> 429 MILLION DOLLARS WILL GO
TO 87 DIFFERENT LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS THROUGHOUT WISCONSIN
AS PART OF A MULTISTATE LAWSUIT
AGAINST COMPANIES THAT
MANUFACTURE AND DISTRIBUTE
PRESCRIPTION OPIOIDS.
THE JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE
APPROVED THE AMOUNT TUESDAY AND
RELEASED A STATEMENT, SAYING THE
SETTLEMENT WE APPROVED TODAY
WILL ASSURE THAT AS MUCH FUNDING
AS POSSIBLE GOES TOWARD ABUSE
PREVENTION AND RECOVERY AS
OVERDOSE DEATHS INCREASED MORE
THAN 25% AND HID A RECORD HIGH
LAST YEAR.
DESPITE HOLDING BIG PHARMA
ACCOUNTABLE, COMMUNITIES WILL BE
STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION AND
OVERDOVERDOSES FOR YEARS TO COM.
ONE PARAMEDIC HAS SEEN FIRSTHAND
HOW THE PO PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WE
AND IN ASHLAND IT HITS CLOSE TO
HOME.
DAVID REKEMEYER JOINS US NOW
FROM ASHLAND AND THANKS VERY
MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU, FREDERICA.
HOW ARE YOU TODAY?
>> I'M VERY WELL.
THANK YOU.
BUT DESCRIBE WHAT YOUR DAYS ARE
LIKE AS A FIRST RESPONDER IN THE
MIDST OF A SURGE IN OVERDOSES.
>> WELL, LIKE EVERY OTHER
PROBLEM WITH HEALTH OR TRAUMA
THAT PARAMEDICS AND FIRE
DEPARTMENTS DEAL WITH, SOME DAYS
THERE ARE -- THERE'S NOTHING
GOING ON AND OTHER DAYS, YOU
KNOW, WE'LL RESPOND TO ONE OR
MORE OPIOID OVERDOSE CALLS.
OFTEN IT DEPENDS ON IF THERE'S A
NEW BATCH OF DRUGS THAT HAS COME
INTO THE COMMUNITY.
SOMETIMES THOSE DRUGS ARE
STRONGER THAN WHAT PEOPLE WITH
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER ARE USED
TO HAVING AND SO THEY'LL
OVERDOSE ON THOSE.
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS ONE DAY
WE GOT THREE CALLS RIGHT IN A
ROW.
>> WHAT YOU'RE SEEING TOO AS YOU
JUST DESCRIBED IS NOT JUST
OPIOIDS AND HEROIN BUT OTHER
DRUGS ARE IN INCREASING USE AS
WELL.
IS THAT RIGHT?
>> WELL, I THINK PROBABLY THE
LARGEST PROBLEM WE'RE HAVING NOW
IS WITH AN OPIOID ANALOG CALLED
FENT FENT NOL, A DRUG THAT IS CD
IN LABORATORY AND THERE'S LARGE
AMOUNTS OF IT THAT ARE COMING
INTO THE UNITED STATES FROM
MEXICO, MAKING ITS WAY
THROUGHOUT ALL OF OUR
COMMUNITIES.
AND A LOT OF THE DRUGS THAT, YOU
KNOW, WE SEE THAT PEOPLE ARE,
YOU KNOW, ABUSING ARE CUT WITH
FENTANOL.
IT'S VERY STRONG AND PEOPLE
DON'T ALWAYS KNOW THEY'RE
INGESTING IT.
THEY INGEST MORE THAN THEY
PLANNED ON TAKING AND THEY
OVERDOSE ON IT.
>> YEAH.
>> WE HAVE TO RESPOND TO THAT.
>> ASHLAND IS RANKED AS ONE OF
THE LEAST HEALTHY COUNTIES IN
WISCONSIN, WITH A HIGH CHILD
POVERTY RATE.
HOW DO THOSE CONDITIONS PLAY
INTO DRUG USE AND ABUSE AND
WHERE YOU FIND YOURSELF?
>> WELL, YOU HAVE TO, YOU KNOW,
THINK OF THINGS IN TERMS OF, YOU
KNOW, WHAT ARE THE SOCIAL
DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH?
YOU KNOW, SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF
HEALTH ARE THINGS LIKE ACCESS TO
EDUCATION, ACCESS TO FOOD
SECURITY, ACCESS TO GOOD HEALTH
CARE.
AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE A
CHALLENGE FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN
POVERTY.
AND IN THIS AREA OF WISCONSIN, A
LOT OF PEOPLE LIVE AT OR UNDER
THE POVERTY LINE.
AND I THINK BECAUSE OUR
COMMUNITIES, YOU KNOW, ARE --
YOU KNOW, DRUGS ARE EASY TO GET.
OUR COMMUNITIES ARE FLOODED WITH
THEM.
AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK PEOPLE,
ONCE THEY GET STARTED, YOU KNOW,
IN THE BEGINNING I THINK IT CAN
BE EASIER TO LOOK AT -- TO FACE
LIFE IN AN ALTERED STATE THAN TO
FACE LIFE, YOU KNOW, HEAD-ON
FROM A POSITION OF POVERTY AND
NO OPPORTUNITY.
AND SO I THINK THAT THEY'RE
RELATED IN THAT WAY.
>> HOW DO YOU THINK THE PANDEMIC
PLAYED INTO THIS PROBLEM?
>> WELL, I THINK THE PANDEMIC
PLAYED INTO IT BECAUSE THERE ARE
ALREADY THE CONDITIONS THAT HAVE
MADE THIS A BAD PROBLEM.
AND YOU ADD ON TO THAT THE FACT
THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE NOW,
YOU KNOW, -- THEY HAVE A GREATER
DEGREE OF ANXIETY ABOUT, YOU
KNOW, GOING OUT AND ABOUT.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE, YOU
KNOW, GETTING SICK.
WE'RE STUCK IN OUR HOMES.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS KIND OF
CREATE THE PERFECT STORM OF
PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS THAT
MAKE PEOPLE MORE ANXIOUS.
AND WHEN PEOPLE ARE MORE ANXIOUS
AND THEY HAVE A PREDILECTION
TOWARDS SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER,
BE IT ALCOHOL, BE IT HEROIN,
WHATEVER YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT,
THEY TEND TO DO MORE OF THAT AS
A MEANS TO MITIGATE THE STRESS
THEY'RE FEELING.
>> WELL, WE WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR JOINING US TO DESCRIBE WHAT
IT'S LIKE ON THE GROUND AND ALSO
FOR YOUR WORK.
SO DAVID REKEMEYER, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> FOR MORE ON ALL THE WEEK'S
BIGGEST NEWS, YOU CAN VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT pbswisconsin.org
AND THEN CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
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