>>> THE THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS
A PBS ORIGINAL.
>> HOSPITALS ARE FULL UP AS
DELTAA REEKS HAVOC AND OFFICIALS
LOOK FOR WAYS TO ALLEVIATE
ELECTION STATUSES.
PHYSICALS CLAIMS AND CONFUSION.
AND NEW SHELTERS BRING WARMTH
FOR PEOPLE WITHOUT HOMES.
I'M FREDERICA FREIBURG TONIGHT
ON "HERE & NOW", DR. RYAN
WESTERGAARD GIVES UPDATES ON THE
STATUS OF COVID-19 AHEAD OF THE
HOLIDAYS.
AND SENATOR ANDRE JACQUE SHARES
ONE SOLUTION TO ALLEVIATE THE
BURDEN ON HEALTHCARE WORKERS.
WE HEAR FROM THE MADISON MAYOR
ON THE ELECTION DISPUTE AS WELL
AS ANALYSIS FROM POLITICAL
SCIENTIST BARRY BURDEN AND A NEW
SUPER INITIATIVE COULD SERVE AS
A MODEL TO PROTECT PEOPLE
AGAINST WISCONSIN WINTERS.
IT'S "HERE & NOW" FOR DECEMBER .
>>> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
? [ MUSIC ] ?
>>> DESPITE OMICRON EMERGING AS
THE NEWEST VARIANT OF CONCERN,
WISCONSIN IS DEALING WITH
DELTA.
THE STATE HAS BEEN AVERAGING
MORE THAN 3,000 NEW CASES OF
COVID-19 EVERYDAY, AND THE
NUMBER OF COVID RELATED
HOSPITALIZATION HAS INCREASED BY
MORE THAN 200 IN THE LAST WEEK.
FOR THE LATEST ON HOW THE STATE
IS MANAGING THE GROWING CRISIS
WE TURN TO STATE EPIDEMIOLOGIST
FROM THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH SERVICES, DR. RYAN
WESTERGAARD.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE
AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME
BACK.
>> HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE
SITUATION WITH THE AVAILABILITY
OF ICU AND OTHER HOSPITAL BEDS
IN WISCONSIN RIGHT NOW?
>> WE'RE IN A DANGEROUS
SITUATION.
IT'S NOT STRICTLY ICU BEDS, IT
IS ALL HOSPITAL BEDS, IT'S
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS AND IT IS
THE MOST GENERAL AVAILABILITY
FOR BANDWIDTH OF HEALTHCARE
PROFESSIONALS AROUND THE STATE
THAT IS VERY STRAINED.
WE HA VER HAVE VERY FULL
HOSPITALS THAT MAKES IT VERY
HARD TO GIVE PEOPLE THE HIGHEST
CARE THEY NEED WHEN THEY NEED
IT.
>>> WOULD IT BE TRUE THAT THE
HOSPITAL CRISIS OR NEARING
CRISIS AS PRESCRIBED IS
PREDOMINANTLY A STAFFING
SHORTAGE BECAUSE OF COVID
PATIENTS TAKING EXTRA CARE?
>> COVID PATIENTS CAN BE QUITE
SICK AS EVERYONE KNOWS IT CAN
TAKE A LOT OF RESOURCES AND THE
PHYSICAL SPACE ISN'T GENERALLY
THE LIMITING STEP.
WE NEED TO HAVE HEALTHCARE
PROFESSIONALS WHO CAN ADMINISTER
THE CARE, MANAGE VENTILATORS,
PROVIDE MEDICATIONS AND MONITOR
PEOPLE CLOSELY.
SO YES, GENERALLY IT'S NOT
PHYSICAL SPACE IT'S ITS CAPACITY
FOR OUR PROVIDERS, OUR NURSES,
PHYSICIANS AND THERAPISTS TO DO
THE WORK THAT THEY NEED TO DO.
>> GOVERNOR EVERS SEEKS 100
HOSPITAL WORKERS FROM FEMA AND
NATIONAL GUARD MEDICS ARE
ALREADY HELPING STAFF STATE
MENTAL HEALTH HOSPITALS, IS THIS
ENOUGH?
>> WE CERTAINLY HOPE SO.
YOU KNOW, WE -- WE WILL NEVER
STOP IF WE DON'T TURN PEOPLE
AWAY WHO NEED CARE.
WE WILL ALWAYS DO WHAT WE CAN TO
PROVIDE THE BEST LIFE-SAVING
CARE THAT WE CAN.
THE ADDITIONAL HELP THAT IS
NEEDED OF COURSE IS FOR
WISCONSIN RESIDENTS.
THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN DO TO
RELIEVE THIS STRAIN THAT IS TO
PREVENT DISEASE AND DO THE
THINGS WE KNOW PREVENT COVID-19
PREDOMINANTLY VACCINATION,
MASKS, GETTING TESTED, SOCIAL
DISTANCING STAYING HOME WHEN YOU
ARE SICK.
I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT
GOALING INFLUENZA VACCINE.
WE'RE LAGGING A BIT.
OUR GOAL IS FOR 70% TO GET A FLU
VACCINE WE'RE ONLY AT A THIRD
RIGHT NOW.
THESE ARE THINGS EVERYONE CAN DO
TO PREVENT OUR HOSPITALS FROM
BEING FULL TO PREVENT YOURSELF
FROM GETTING SIX AND NEEDING
MORE CARE.
>> WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THE
FACT THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT
TAKING THOSE STEPS?
>> WOMAN IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE
BECAUSE EVERYONE IS TIRED OF
LIVE THROUGH A PANDEMIC,
EVERYONE IS TIRED OF HAVING
THEIR LIFE BE DIFFERENT THAN IT
WAS IN THE PAST.
SO I HAVE A LOT OF COMPASSION
FOR PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT I'M
REALLY SICK OF THIS AND I WANT
LIFE TO BE BACK TO NORMAL.
BUT WHAT I WANT PEOPLE TO
UNDERSTAND IS THAT WE HAVE
OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE IMPORTANT
THING WHICH IS TO SAVE LIVES.
OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS IT'S
GOING TO BE REALLY STRESSFU
STRESS IN OFUL IN OUR
HOSPITALS AND WE HAVE THE
ABILITY BY TAKING SMALL STEPS TO
BE PART OF THE SOLUTION WHICH IS
TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF
DISEASE, AND SAVE LIVES OF
PEOPLE EXAMINE IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
>> IN TERMS OF THE HOSPITAL
CAPACITY, WAS IT EVER THIS BAD
IN THE FIRST WAVE OF COVID?
>> IT'S GETTING CLOSE.
THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE
HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID IS ON
PAR WITH WHERE WE WERE IN
NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER OF 2020.
WHAT WE HEAR IS THAT PEOPLE ARE
GENERALLY YOUNGER AND STAYING IN
THE HOSPITAL FOR LONGER.
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON
VENTILATORS, MECHANICAL
VENTILATION BECAUSE OF
RESPIRATORY FAILURE IS HIGHER
THAN ITS EVER BEEN SINCE WE'VE
BEEN COLLECTING DATA.
SO THIS IS UNFORTUNATELY THE
VIRUS HASN'T LET UP AND WE NEED
TO CONTINUE TO DO THE THINGS TO
TRY TO MITIGATE THE CASES FROM
NUMBERS FROM GETTING WORSE.
>> MEANWHILE, IF DELTA IS WHAT
IS CRUSHING WISCONSIN RIGHT NOW,
WHAT ARE YOU LEARNING ABOUT THE
OMICRON IN THE STATE?
>> THERE IS STILL A LOT TO
LEARN.
WE'VE DETECTED A FEW CASES
THROUGH SEQUENCING, FEWER THAN
TEN AT THIS POINT.
SO YOU'RE RIGHT WITH GREATER
THAN 99% VIRUS POPULATING IS THE
DELTA VARIANT.
WE'RE IN A PERIOD WHERE WE'RE
GOING TO LEARN A LOT OVER THE
NEXT FEW WEEKS.
THE EARLY EVIDENCE IS THAT IT
SPREADS EVEN EASIER SO STANDING
ACROSS THE ROOM A PERSON CAN BE
INFECTED IF SOMEONE IS INFECTED
IN THE ROOM.
THE ENCOURAGING NEWS IS THAT WE
HAVEN'T SEEN EVIDENCE THAT IT
CAUSES MORE SEVERE DISEASE.
IN MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE
BEEN DETECTED OF HAVING THE
OMICRON VARIANT, WHO HAVE BEEN
VACCINATED HAVE MILD SYMPTOMS
AND HAVE NOT REQUIRED
HOSPITALIZATIONS.
SO STILL A LOT TO LEARN, BUT
ANYTIME WE HAVE A VARIANT THAT
IS MORE TRANSMISSIBLE THAN WHAT
IS ALREADY AROUND IT'S ANOTHER
REASON FOR CONCERN AND WE REALLY
CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE A LOT MORE
CASES THAN WE ALREADY HAVE.
>> INDEED.
DR. RYAN WESTERGAARD, THANKS
VERY MUCH AND THANKS FOR YOUR
WORK.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> IN A BRIEFING WEDNESDAY WITH
THE GOVERNOR, DHS SECRETARY
DESIGNEE KAREN TIMBERLAKE SAID,
MORE THAN 270 HOSPITALS AND
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES HAVE
REQUESTED STAFFING BY THE
STATE.
THEY ARE LOOKING AT ALLOWING
VETERANS WITH MEDICAL
BACKGROUNDS TO TEMPORARILY
PERFORM CERTAIN DUTIES IN THE
HEALTHCARE SETTING WITHOUT FIRST
OBTAINING A LICENSE.
DE PERE SENATOR ANDRE JACQUE
COAUTHORED AND JOINS ME NOW.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON
THE PROGRAM.
>> THE FIRST THING I WANT TO ASK
IS HOW YOU'RE FEELING AFTER YOUR
OWN VERY SERIOUS BOUGHT WITH
COVID?
>> I'M FEELING GREAT.
FEELING GREAT.
GREAT TO BE WORKING ON
LEGISLATION AND YOU YOU BEEN A
VERY PRODUCTIVE SEASON.
AND OF COURSE THE MAGIC OF THE
SEASON.
>> THERE IS THAT AS WELL.
YOU HAVE FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE
WITH HOW MUCH CARE AND STAFFING
SOMEONE VENTILATED AND
CRITICALLY ILL TAKES.
DID THAT FACTOR IN AT ALL TO 2
IN LEGISLATURE THAT YOU'VE
INTRODUCED TO GET MILITARY
MEDICAL PERSONNEL INTO THE
HOSPITALS TO EASE THE CRUSH.
>> WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS
LEGISLATION GOING BACK TO BEFORE
THE SESSION STARTED.
FOR OVER A YEAR NOW WE'VE BEEN
PARTICIPATING STAKEHOLDERS AND
CERTAINLY YOU LOOK AT THE
WORKFORCE CHALLENGES AND I SERVE
ON THE COUNCIL AND WORKFORCE
INVESTMENT, BUT WE HAVE SERIOUS
CHALLENGES THROUGHOUT THE
ECONOMY IN TERMS OF WORKERS
LEAVING THE WORKFORCE QUICKER
THAN THEY ARE ENTERING IF.
THIS IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING I
HAVE WORKED ON IN THE
LONG-TERM.
SOMETHING I HAVE WORKED ON
CLOSELY WITH VETERAN GROUPS FOR
A LONG TIME.
FOR THE VFW AND AMERICAN
LEGION.
WAS PLEASED TO WORK WITH THOSE
GROUPS THAT ARE VERY MUCH IN
SUPPORT OF THIS LEGISLATION, BUT
CERTAINLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT
HEALTHCARE NEEDS, THAT CERTAINLY
IS NOTHING NEW.
AND IN IS, THIS IS CERTAINLY
SOMETHING I THINK IS AN
INNOVATIVE PROGRAM.
CERTAINLY IS GOING TO HELP WITH
A CRITICAL NEED.
>> SO THE LEGISLATION WOULD
ALLOW THESE MILITARY MEDICS TO
TREAT PEOPLE UNDER SUPERVISION
WITHOUT A LICENSE.
WHO WOULD ASCERTAIN THEIR SKILLS
AND ABILITY?
>> WELL, YOU WOULD BASICALLY
HAVE TO HAVE A THE MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING THAT IS PROVIDED
BOTH TO THE EMPLOYER AS WELL AS
THERE IS OVERSIGHT BY THE
APPROPRIATE EXAMINING BOARD.
THERE HAS TO BE WORKING TOWARDS
A CREDENTIAL.
SO WE HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE
POST SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS THAT
HAVE ALREADY REGISTERED IN
SUPPORT OF THE BILL.
THEY'VE BEEN PART OF IF REALLY
THROUGHOUT.
BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU
KNOW WE WORK WITHIN THE EXISTING
STRUCTURE.
WE'VE TALKED TO THE
PROFESSIONALS AS WELL AS THE
SYSTEMS LIKE THE HOSPITAL
ASSOCIATION, PRIMARY HEALTHCARE
ASSOCIATION, RURAL WISCONSIN,
HEALTH COOPERATIVE.
SO WE'RE CERTAINLY WORKING WITH
INDIVIDUALS THAT ALREADY HAVE A
VALUABLE SKILL SET THAT ARE ABLE
TO DO CERTAIN PROCEDURES THAT
MAY TIMES THROUGH MILITARY
MEDICS AND CORPSMAN TRAINING.
WE'RE 23409 TALKING ABOUT
SURGERY OR PRESCRIBING DRUGS
THAT SORT OF THING.
>> AS YOU SAY THE BILL WOULD
ALLOW FOR EVENTUAL LICENSE UR
WITH THE HELP FROM EMPLOYING
HOSPITALS, BUT WHY NOT LICENSE
THEM RIGHT OUT OF THE GATES?
>> WELL WE CURRENTLY HAVE CR
CREDENTIALS THAT MIGHT SPEAK TO
WHERE A INDIVIDUAL IS AT IN
TERMS OF THEIR SKILL LEVEL.
AND CERTAINLY JUST TO GO BACK
FOR A SECOND, ONE OF THE
FOCUSES WE REALLY HAVE HAD IS
HOW DO WE GET MORE OF OUR
MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN TO COME
BACK TO WISCONSIN?
WE HAVE AN ISSUE IN WISCONSIN
WHERE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE
ENTERING THE SERVICE AND NOT
COMING BACK PER CAPITA WE WERE
BEHIND.
ONE OF THE THINGS I'M MOST PROUD
OF FROM THIS MOST RECENT BUDGET,
BASICALLY ELIMINATING THE TAX ON
ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY PAY WHICH
MANY TIMES FORCED OUR MILITARY
MEN AND WOMEN TO SWITCH THEIR
RESIDENCY OUT OF STATE AS SOON
AS THEY WERE DEPLOYED OR WENT
OUT FOR TRAINING.
AND SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
BASICALLY SAY, YOU HAVE A SKILL
SET, A WORK ETHIC AND WE WANT TO
KEEP YOU IN THE HEALTHCARE
PROFESSION.
WE HAVE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO
YOU KNOW, SHORTLY AFTER YOU END
YOUR TIME IN THE SERVICE BEING
ABLE TO CONTINUE SERVING HERE ON
CIVILIAN BASES.
>> HOW MANY MEDICNESS COS
COULD THIS LEGISLATION PROVIDE
TO WISCONSIN?
ANY ESTIMATES?
>> IF YOU LOOK AT VIRGINIA STILL
A RECENT PROGRAM, THEY'VE HAD
OVER 350.
I'M SURE THEY ARE PROBABLY
PUSHING OVER 400.
I KNOW THAT WE'RE SOMEWHERE IN
THE AROUND 50 TO 60 PLUS WITHIN
THE FIRST YEAR.
SO IT CERTAINLY I THINK IS STILL
SUBSTANTIAL AND I CERTAINLY
THINK THAT IT CAN BE YOU KNOW
MUCH HIGHER THAN THAT DEPENDING
ON YOU KNOW AGAIN, WE HAVE
THINGS LIKE OUTREACH
HISTORICALLY THAT WE'VE DONE ON
MILITARY BASES THAT WE'VE
STEPPED BACK FROM A LITTLE BIT
AS A STATE.
HOPEFULLY WE'RE GOING TO GET
BACK INTO THAT.
I KNOW THERE IS LEGISLATIVE
PROPOSALS TO THAT.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR
INFORMATION ON THIS.
WE ARE GLAD YOU ARE FEELING WELL
SENATOR ANDRE JACQUE.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> WAUKESHA JUDGE THIS
AFTERNOON HELD A HEARING RELATED
TO THE COMPELLING OF TESTIMONY
FROM THE MAYORS OF MADISON AND
GREEN BAY UNDER THREAT OF JAIL
TIME.
THE CASE STEMS FROM FORMER
JUSTICE MICHAEL GABLEMAN INTO
THE 2020 ELECTION.
>> WHY ARE WE HERE?
WE'RE HERE BECAUSE THE MAYORS
-R7 SUBPOENAED.
THEY FAILED TO APPEAR FOR THE
DEPOSITIONS.
THIS IS JUST A OUTRAGEOUS ABUSE
OF PROCESS AND VIOLATION OF THE
LAW.
>> THE MAYOR OF MADISON, SATYA
RHODES-CONWAY, ALONG WITH THE
MAYOR OF GREEN BAY, ARE IN THE
CROSSHAIRS OF THE GABLEMAN
INVESTIGATION. IT'S BEEN A BUMP
RIDE. MAYOR RHODES-CONWAY JOINS
US NOW WITH HER REACTION, AND
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US
>> IT'S MY PLEASURE, FREDERICA.
>> SO, WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO
BEING SUBPOENAED TO APPEAR AND
TESTIFY BEFORE FORMER JUSTICE G
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK I'M
ALWAYS HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT WHAT
A GOOD JOB OUR CLERK'S OFFICE
HAS DONE IN OUR ELECTIONS, BUT
THINK IT'S REALLY INAPPROPRIATE
FOR THIS INVESTIGATION TO BE
TAKING PLACE BEHIND CLOSED
DOORS, AND IT'S BEING PAID FOR
WITH TAXPAYER DOLLARS. THE
SUBPOENA THAT THEY USED IS ONE
THAT YOU USE TO COMPEL PEOPLE T
TESTIFY BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE.
AND I THINK THAT THIS NEEDS TO
BE OUT IN PUBLIC. I AM HAPPY TO
GO TALK TO A LEGISLATIVE
COMMITTEE ABOUT THE ELECTIONS
PROCESS HERE IN MADISON. AND
REALLY, YOU KNOW, IT'S A BLOCK
AWAY. I'M HAPPY TO WALK UP THE
STREET. ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS
INVITE ME. BUT I THINK THAT WHA
WE CAN SEE HERE IS THAT IT'S NO
ACTUALLY ABOUT HOW OUR ELECTION
WERE RUN. ALL THE EVIDENCE WE
HAVE, ALL THE COURT CASES, ALL
THE INVESTIGATIONS ARE, YOU
KNOW, HAVE SHOWN THAT WE DID A
REALLY GOOD JOB HERE IN MADISON
THIS IS ABOUT TRYING TO
INTIMIDATE US. THIS IS ABOUT
TRYING TO INTIMIDATE VOTERS AND
TO CAST DOUBT ON FUTURE ELECTIO
>> DID YOU FAIL TO COMPLY WITH
SAID SUBPOENA? >> NO, ABSOLUTELY
NOT. AND OUR LAWYERS HAVE BEEN
TALKING TO ATTORNEY GABLEMAN AND
HIS STAFF AT THIS ENTIRE TIME.
WE PRODUCED REAMS OF DOCUMENTS
FOR THEM. AND AT THAT TIME, THEY
TOLD US THAT IT WAS NOT
NECESSARY FOR US TO COME AND TE
>> SO, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE
THIS PROCESS OF THIS
INVESTIGATION AS IT PERTAINS TO
>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IT'S
BEEN JUST ONE THING AFTER
ANOTHER SHOWING THAT THEY REALL
ARE NOT INTERESTED IN RUNNING A
AN ACTUAL FAIR INVESTIGATION,
BUT RATHER THEY ARE INTERESTED
IN TRYING TO CREATE A LOT OF
DRAMA AND A LOT OF DOUBT IN THE
PUBLIC REALM. AND YOU KNOW,
EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE DONE, YOU
KNOW, ON OUR SIDE HAS BEEN
COOPERATIVE AND TRYING TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY WANT FROM
US. AND, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HEA
BACK FROM THEM. WE HEAR FROM TH
PRESS WHAT THEY'RE SAYING RATHE
THAN DIRECT COMMUNICATION BACK
TO OUR OFFICE. >> DO YOU KNOW
WHAT HE WANTS TO ASK YOU? >> I
HAVE NO IDEA. >> WHAT WOULD YOU
SAY ABOUT THE 2020 ELECTION IN
>> I WOULD SAY THAT OUR CLERKS
AND OUR POLL WORKERS DID A
REMARKABLY GOOD JOB RUNNING A
SAFE, FAIR, AND TRANSPARENT
ELECTION IN THE MIDDLE OF A
GLOBAL PANDEMIC. >> AND WHAT
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY TO VIEWERS
OR VOTERS ACROSS THE STATE AND
FRANKLY ACROSS THE NATION ABOUT
THIS INVESTIGATION INTO THE
ELECTION AND YOU? >> I THINK
THAT THIS INVESTIGATION IS YET
EFFORT BY PEOPLE WHO ARE UNHAPP
WITH THE OUTCOME OF THE NOVEMBE
2020 ELECTION AND WANT TO MAKE
IT EASIER TO QUESTION FUTURE
ELECTIONS. THE TRUTH IS THAT
ELECTIONS IN MADISON, ACROSS TH
STATE OF WISCONSIN, AND I
BELIEVE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, ARE
VERY WELL RUN BY OUR MUNICIPAL
CLERKS AND BY POLL WORKERS WHO
ARE YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS.
AND SO, I WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE
CONFIDENCE IN OUR ELECTORAL
SYSTEM AND TO UNDERSTAND THAT
WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE IN
MADISON IS TO MAKE IT EASIER FO
EVERYONE WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO CAS
A BALLOT. >> MAYOR SATYA RHODES
THANKS VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU.
>>> EARLIER THIS WEEK IN A BLOW
TO REPUBLICAN ATTEMPTS TO FIND
WRONGDOING IN THE 2020 ELECTIONS
WISCONSIN ELECTIONS COMMISSION
UNANIMOUSLY THROUGH OUT A CLAIM
ALLEGING ILLEGAL FUNDING WAS
DISTRIBUTING TO
? [ MUSIC ] ?
TYES INCLUDING THE FIVE LARGEST
IN THE CITY OF WISCONSIN.
HOLD THE PHONE JUST AFTER THAT
TWO REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF THE
COMMISSION CHANGED THEIR MINDS
SAYING THEY DO IN FACT WANT TO
CONSIDER THE COMPLAINT.
AND THERE IS MORE, WEDNESDAY, AN
ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS COMMITTEE
CALLED A NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO
TESTIFY WHOSE CREDENTIALS AS
EXPERTS WERE QUESTIONED
INCLUDING BY OUR NEXT GUEST
PROFESSOR BARRY BURDEN.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> WHAT IS GOING ON HERE.
IT REALLY FEELS LIKE THESE
ELECTION PROBES ARE KIND OF
SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL.
>> IT IS A BIT OF A THREE RING
CIRCUS.
WE ARE MORE THAN A YEAR FROM THE
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND STILL
THERE ARE PROBE ITS,
INVESTIGATIONS AND AUDITS
UNDERWAY IN ONE FORM OR
ANOTHER.
ALL SEEM TO BE OPEN ENDED WITH
NO CLEAR GOALS, UNCLEAR WHO WAS
INVOLVED, WHAT DEADLINES ARE SET
FOR PRODUCING SOME KIND OF
REPORT OR CONCLUSION.
SO MY FEAR IS THAT THEY ARE
UNFORTUNATELY DOING THE OPPOSITE
OF WHAT THE PROPONENTS SAY THEY
ARE DOING.
INSTEAD OF BUILDING CONFIDENCE
IN THE ELECTION SYSTEM THEY ARE
CONTINUING TO RAISE SUSPICIONS,
MAKE ALLEGATIONS AND LEAVE
QUESTIONS ON THE TABLE THAT ARE
LIKELY TO LOWER PUBLIC TRUST IN
ELECTIONS.
>> HOWEVER DO YOU BELIEVE THAT'S
BY DESIGN AND IF SO, WHAT WOULD
BE THE MOTIVATION FOR THAT?
>> I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BY
DESIGN.
IT COULD BE BY INCOMPETENCE,
LACK OF EXPERIENCE, MICHAEL
GABLEMAN HAS SAID HE DOESN'T
KNOW HOW WISCONSIN ELECTIONS
OPERATE SO THERE IS A LEARNING
CURVE FOR SOME OF THE
LEGISLATURES AND INVESTIGATORS
WHO ARE INVOLVED.
I THINK THERE IS ALSO KIND OF
SYMPATHY FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP AND
THE CONCERNS HE HAS RAISED FOR
THE INTEGRITY OF THE ELECTION IN
WISCONSIN SPECIFICALLY.
SPEAKER VOSS INTRODUCED MICHAEL
GABLEMAN AFTER MEETING PRESIDENT
TRUMP IN A RALLY IN ALABAMA.
SO THERE IS CLEARLY EXTERNAL
PRESSURE TO KEEP THESE ISSUES
ALIVE.
>> WOULD YOU REGARD IT AS MORE
THAN SIMPLY AND POTENTIAL
POLITICAL NECESSITY?
>> WELL, IT'S TRUE THE BASE OF
THE PARTY, THE COURSE OF
QUARTERS THAT PRESIDENT ARE
STILL SKEPTICAL OF THE
ELECTION.
WHAT IF UNCOVERED AND
INVESTIGATED.
THAT'S DESPITE THE FACT DOZENS
OF LAWSUITS INCLUDING I THINK
SEVEN OR EIGHT IN WISCONSIN HAVE
CONFIRMED THE RESULTS.
IN WISCONSIN WE HAVE DONE A FULL
RECOUNT OF DANE COUNTY AND
MILWAUKEE COUNTY AT PRESIDENT
TRUMP'S REQUEST.
THAT VALIDATED THE RESULT.
THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER.
IT DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE AN
INVESTIGATION LOOKING FOR FACTS,
IT SEEMS TO BE AN INVESTIGATION
TRYING OR INVESTIGATIONS,
PLURAL, TRYING TO FIND AN
ASSUMPTIONING OR CONCLUSION
THAT'S ALREADY BEEN REACHED.
>> IN THE LATEST INFORMATIONAL
HEARING HELD AT THE CAPITOL FOR
REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS
INVESTIGATING THE 2020 ELECTION
IT HAD YOU TWEETING "I DON'T
HAVE THE TIME TO LIVE TWEET
CORRECT THE NONSENSE THAT
SO-CALLED ELECTION EXPERTS ARE
GIVING STATE LEGISLATURES."
WHY DID YOU CHARACTERIZE THOSE
WHO TESTIFIED IN FRONT OF THE
REPRESENTATIVE BRANCH ON
WEDNESDAY AS EXPERTS IN
QUOTATION MARKS?
>> WELL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
INVITED THIS WEEK AND IN A PRIOR
HEARING, THAT COULDN'T BE HELD,
ARE MOSTLY ELECTION DOUBTERS
EITHER CONSPIRACY THEORISTS OR
PEOPLE WHO HAVE FILED LAWSUITS.
THEY ALREADY HAVE A CONCLUSION
TO WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT THE
VALIDITY OF THE ELECTION AND
THEY ARE PRESENTING TO THE
COMMITTEE WHAT LOOK LIKE
AUTHORITATIVE ANALYSIS WITH
STATISTICS AND CHARTS, BUT THEY
ARE ALL AMATEURS WHO ARE DONALD
TRUMP SUPPORTERS AND PART OF THE
PEOPLE WORKING IN THE GABLEMAN
INVESTIGATION.
IT'S NOT THE KIND OF BIPARTISAN
SERIOUS LOOK THAT THE I WOULD
HOPE THE LEGISLATURE WOULD DO
AFTER EVERY ELECTION TO DO
TWEAKS, BUT INSTEAD IT'S FEEDING
INTO THIS NARRATIVE OF THE
QUESTIONS OF THE HA VALIDITY
OF THE ELECTION ITSELF.
>> WHEN YOU ARE ASKED YOUR
OPINION HOW SHOULD VOTERS TAKE
THIS?
WHAT SHOULD THEY DO WITH ALL OF
THIS INFORMATION BEING GENERATED
FROM ALL OF THESE
INVESTIGATIONS?
>> YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE TO TRUST
ARE THOSE WHO ARE IN POSITIONS
OF AUTHORITY WHO ACTUALLY
ADMINISTER ELECTIONS AND
UNDERSTAND HOW THEY ARE RUN.
THOSE ARE MAINLY THE COUNTY AND
MUNICIPAL CLERKS ACROSS THE
STATE.
EVERY CITY, TOWN AND VILLAGE HAS
ITS OWN CLERK.
THEY ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER YOUR
QUESTIONS AND TELL YOU THEY ARE
CONFIDENT IN THE ELECTION.
THEY WON'T SAY IT'S PERFECT.
IT'S A COMPLICATED HUMAN PROCESS
THAT HAS SOME ERRORS AND SOME
INCONSISTENCIES, BUT THEY ARE
PEOPLE WHO KNOW FROM FIRST
PANNED EXPERIENCE HOW THESE
THINGS OPERATE AS OPPOSED TO
OUTSIDE OBSERVER WHO IS ARE
FLOWN IN TO OFFER OUTLANDISH
SPECULATION.
>> ALL RIGHT PROFESSOR BARRY
BURDEN THANK YOU FOR JOINING
US.
>> GLAD TO BE WITH YOU.
>>> IN OTHER NEWS, AS YOU TURN
UP YOUR THERMOSTAT OR THROW LOGS
ON THE FIRE, IMAGINE LIVING AND
SLEEPING OUTSIDE.
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS IN WISCONSIN ARE
DOING JUST THAT TONIGHT.
IN MADISON ALONE, LAST YEAR,
THEIR NUMBERS SWELL TO AROUND
600 BY SOME COUNTS, BUT THIS
WINTER ABOUT 30 PEOPLE ARE NEWLY
SHELTERED FROM THE COLD IN A NEW
WAY.
THEY ARE RESIDING IN AN
ENCAMPMENT OF SMALL, BUT PRIVATE
DWELLINGS THE CITY ERECTED FOR
PEOPLE WHO UNTIL JUST RECENTLY
WERE LIVING IN TENTS.
>> YOU KNOW YOU JUST FEEL HUMAN
AGAIN.
>> JAY WELCOMED US INTO HIS NEW
PLACE.
>> THIS IS MY BED WHICH IS,
[LAUGHTER]
>> IT'S COMFORTABLE.
>> HE HAS BEEN LIVING IN THE 8
BY 8 SHELTER NOR LESS THAN A
MONTH.
>> HERE'S MY KEYS.
WHEN THEY HANDED THEM TO ME THE
DAY I GOT HERE I THINK THAT'S
WHAT KIND OF -- YOU KNOW -- PUT
ME OVER THE EDGE A LITTLE BIT.
>> WHY?
>> BECAUSE I KNEW I WAS GOING TO
BE SAFE.
>> BEFORE BEING GIVEN THE KEYS
TO HIS FRESH START, HE HAD LIVED
IN A TENT IN THIS CITY PARK
ALONGSIDE NEARLY 100 OTHERS.
>> IT WAS MORE SURVIVAL MODE.
YOU KNOW, YOU HAD A FULL-TIME
SURVIVING MORE THAN LIVING AND
YOU KNOW GETTING BACK ON TRACK.
>> THE CITY HELPED MOVE 35
PEOPLE OUT OF THE DEPARTME
TENTS TO A HOTEL NEAR THE PARK.
30 MORE CAME HERE WHERE THERE
ARE BATHROOMS AND HOT SHOWERS
AND ROWS OF TINY HEATED
TEMPORARY HOMES.
>> YOU DON'T REALLY REALIZE A
WARM BATHROOM, HOT SHOWER, HEAT,
ELECTRICITY THOSE ARE ACTUALLY
NECESSITIES.
[LAUGHTER]
>> IT'S REALLY, REALLY, REALLY
BENEFICIAL TO FOLKS TO BE ABLE
TO THINK ABOUT WHAT THEIR NE
NEXT STEPS ARE GOING TO BE.
>> BRENDA KUNKLE RECRUITED ON
SIGHT RECOVERY SERVICES FOR
RESIDENCE.
>> THIS IS THE FIRST TIME FOR A
LOT OF PEOPLE THAT SOMEBODY HAS
BEEN ABLE TO JUST LISTEN WITHOUT
INTERRUPTION AND PEOPLE CAN TELL
THEIR STORY.
SO THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT
JUST WANT TO COME IN AND BE
HEARD AND JUST TALK.
>> SOME ADVOCATES SAY THE
SHELTER IS NECESSARY, BUT THEY
ARE STILL CRITICAL.
>> IT'S BETTER THAN A TENT, BUT
CERTAINLY A GOVERNMENT CAN DO
BETTER THAN TRYING TO HOUSE
PEOPLE FOR THE WINTER IN 8 BY 8
SHANTIES.
>> MYSELF I WAS PROBABLY A
LITTLE SKEPTICAL OF THE PROJECT
THINKING IT WAS JUST A BAND
AID.
>> BUT SEEING RESIDENTS FACES
LIGHT UP AND SMILE, KUNKLE SAYS
IT CAN SERVE AS A MODEL, ANOTHER
OPTION FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS.
A PEOPLE THAT HE FOUND HIMSELF
AFTER BAD CHOICES, BAD LUCK, AND
BAD CREDIT.
>> I DIDN'T ASK FOR THIS.
YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T ASK FOR
THIS.
HOMELESSNESS.
I DIDN'T ASK FOR IT.
>> WHEN OUTREACH WORKERS ASKED
HIM TO MOVE FROM THE TENT, HE
SAYS THE FEAR, THE PAIN AND THE
STRESS MELTED AWAY.
>> YOU KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO BE
WARM.
YOU KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO BE
SAFE HERE.
>> DONATIONS POURING TO THE SITE
AND THIS DAY, ONE WAS MARKED FOR
DELIVERY TO JAY.
>> TOWELS, SILVERWARE.
>> A DIFFERENT MEASURE OF WARMTH
FROM STRANGERS HE NEVER KNEW
CARED.
>> A SIGN THAT WILL BE HUNG UP.
[LAUGHTER]
>> THE CITY OF MADISON WILL
SPEND ABOUT $2 MILLION FROM
FEDERAL COVID RELIEF FUNDS FOR
THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION
OF THE SHELTERS INCLUDING ON
SITE SERVICES.
AS FOR JAY, HE IS LOOKING FOR
WORK AND THEN A PERMANENT HOME.
>>> FOR THE LATEST ON COVID-19
VISIT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG AND THEN
CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
THAT IS OUR PROGRAM, I'M
FREDERICA FREIBURG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
? [ MUSIC ] ?
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND OF
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS FROM PBS
WISCONSIN.