>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> AS THE WINTER HOLIDAYS
APPROACH, WISCONSIN REMAINS IN
THE GRIP OF COVID.
FIRST LADY JILL BIDEN VISITS THE
STATE, MOURNING THE LOSS IN
WAUKESHA AND PROMOTING VACCINES.
>> THE HOLIDAYS ARE JUST AROUND
THE CORNER, AND I KNOW YOU ALL
ARE BUSY, BUT AS YOU STOP OR
YOU'RE RUNNING ERRANDS, I HOPE
THAT YOU'LL GET VACCINATED AND
ADD THAT TO YOUR LIST.
>> AND THE NEW YEAR STARTS THE
CLOCK ON THE RACE TO THE 2022
ELECTIONS.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," WE GO
TO WAUSAU AND THE COUNTY PUBLIC
HEALTH OFFICER TO FIND OUT
WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE COVID
FRONT IN THAT PART OF THE STATE.
FIRST LADY JILL BIDEN VISITS THE
STATE WITH CONDOLENCES.
A CHECK-IN WITH THE POLITICAL
PARTY CHAIRS AS THEY FACEDOWN
MIDTERM ELECTIONS.
AND RAAS ROSS AND MCCOSHEN LOOK
AHEAD.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM OF FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> IN THE MIDST OF THE HOLIDAY
SEASON, COVID CONTINUES TO POUND
WISCONSIN, WITH DELTA STILL
BEING THE DOMINANT VARIANT AND
OMICRON MOVING IN.
40 COUNTIES ARE IN THE
CRITICALLY HIGH CATEGORY.
DAILY NUMBERS SHOW 3,965
POSITIVE CASES ACROSS THE STATE
TODAY.
AND THE RATE OF THE STATE
POPULATION WHO HAVE RECEIVED TWO
VACCINES SITS AT 57.7%.
MARATHON COUNTY IS ONE OF THOSE
IN THE CRITICALLY HIGH CATEGORY.
53.5% OF THE POPULATION HAS
COMPLETED THE VACCINE SERIES.
WE TURN NOW TO LAURA SCUDIERE,
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER OF
MARATHON COUNTY.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING
ME.
>> SO WHAT ARE THE TRENDS FOR
COVID POSITIVITY LOOKING LIKE IN
YOUR COUNTY?
>> YEAH.
WELL, CURRENTLY MARATHON COUNTY
HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF
DISEASE, HOSPITALIZATIONS AND
DEATHS IN THE STATE.
WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS WE'RE AT A
CRITICALLY HIGH LEVEL ACCORDING
TO DHS.
THAT MEANS OUR CASE NUMBERS ARE
CLIMBING AND HOSPITALS IN OUR
AREAS ARE EITHER AT CAPACITY OR
NEARING CAPACITY AND THEY'RE
HAVING STAFFING SHORTAGES.
>> WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS
HEADING INTO THE HOLIDAYS, THE
HOLIDAY WEEKS AHEAD?
>> YEAH.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT FURTHER
SPREAD, PARTICULARLY THIS FAMILY
GATHERINGS BETWEEN UNVACCINATED
INDIVIDUALS AND INDIVIDUALS THAT
ARE TAKING NO PRECAUTIONARY
MEASURES WHATSOEVER.
I THINK THAT THERE IS A FEELING
WITHIN OUR COUNTY THAT PEOPLE
JUST WANT TO BE DONE.
THEY JUST WANT TO BE DONE WITH
THE PANDEMIC.
AND I WISH I COULD SAY THAT WE
ARE DONE.
WE ARE NOT DONE WITH IT.
WE NEED PEOPLE TO CONSIDER
VACCINATION, SEEK OUT
VACCINATION SITES.
AND ALL THE SAME PRECAUTIONARY
MEASURES WE WERE TAKING THIS
TIME LAST YEAR SHOULD STILL
APPLY.
>> SO MARATHON COUNTY'S VACCINE
RATE FOR TWO SHOTS IS 53.5%.
WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THAT
LEVEL OF VACCINATION LEVEL IN
YOUR COMMUNITY?
>> I WOULD LOVE IT TO BE HIGHER.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING HARD FOR IT
TO BE HIGHER.
I'VE DONE A GREAT DEAL OF
RESEARCH ON WHAT WOULD IN EFFECT
HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND MORE
ABOUT VACCINATION AND ENCOURAGE
THEM TO TAKE THAT OPTION.
AND WHAT I FOUND IS THAT
GENERALLY AT THIS POINT PEOPLE
HAVE BEEN SATURATED WITH
MESSAGES ABOUT VACCINATION.
SO REALLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT
IS IN ORDER TO MOVE PEOPLE
TOWARDS VACCINATION, IT WOULD BE
EXTREMELY TIME-INTENSIVE
RESOURCE, LIKE LOTS OF
DISCUSSION ONE-ON-ONE WITH
INDIVIDUALS.
SO I THINK THE BETTER -- THE
BETTER MEASURE THAT WE'VE BEEN
TAKING IS ACTUALLY TO WORK WITH
INDIVIDUALS THROUGH LISTENING,
EMPATHY, TALKING WITH PEOPLE AND
ACTUALLY SHARING INFORMATION
RATHER THAN JUST FORCING
INFORMATION ABOUT VACCINE DOWN
PEOPLE'S THROATS.
>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GETTING
VACCINATED AT ALL, BUT WHAT IS
THE UPTAKE IN YOUR COUNTY FOR
BOOSTERS?
>> ACTUALLY, WE'VE BEEN SEEING A
GOOD DEAL OF BOOSTERS GET -- GO
THROUGH.
WE HAVE A VACCINATION SITE WITH
THE STATE HERE IN MARATHON
COUNTY IN ADDITION TO THE
HOSPITAL SYSTEM.
AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING IS
THAT THERE WAS A DRAMATIC
INCREASE THE WEEK THAT BOOSTERS
WERE OFFERED.
AND WE'VE ALSO SEEN AN INCREASE
IN CHILDREN GETTING VACCINATED.
WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE PEOPLE
TAKE THAT OPTION.
>> AT THIS POINT, HAVE YOU
ISOLATED ANY OF THE OMICRON
VARIANT?
>> SO WE ARE NOT AWARE OF
OMICRON BEING IN MARATHON COUNTY
YET, BUT WE ANTICIPATE IT ANY
DAY NOW.
WE HAVE NOTICED THAT OMICRON IS
IN WISCONSIN.
BUT IN OUR AREA, DELTA REMAINS
THE DOMINANT VARIANT.
AND TO THAT, OUR STRATEGIES
HAVEN'T CHANGED.
AGAIN, THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT
YOURSELF AGAINST THIS VARIANT
AND ALL VARIANTS IS TO GET
VACCINATED.
>> AND YET OMICRON COMING INTO
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN, I MEAN,
I HAVE READ THAT IT IS MORE
TRANSMISSIBLE AND THEN IF YOU
HAVE THAT HIGHER RATE OF
UNVACCINATED PEOPLE, THAT'S GOT
TO BE A CONCERN.
>> YES.
SO THAT IS ACTUALLY A BIG
CONCERN OF OURS.
WE EXPECT THAT EVEN IF YOU ARE
FULLY VACCINATED AND BOOSTED,
WITH OMICRON WE ARE EXPECTING
BREAKTHROUGH INFECTIONS TO OCCUR
AND WE ARE LOOKING AT THE
TRANSMISSION RATE OF OMICRON
BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IT IS HIGHER.
WE'RE NOT SURE YET WHETHER OR
NOT OMICRON WILL ACTUALLY CAUSE
MORE SEVERE DISEASE AND CAUSE
MORE HOSPITALIZATIONS AT THIS
RATE.
WE'RE HOPING IT WON'T.
>> HOPING IT WON'T BECAUSE
YOU'VE ALREADY DESCRIBED HOW THE
HOSPITALS ARE AT CAPACITY OR
VERY NEAR.
ARE YOU LOOKING INTO ALTERNATIVE
PLACES TO CARE FOR PATIENTS?
>> WELL, CURRENTLY WE'RE
ACTUALLY TRYING TO TALK ABOUT
HOW TO BE MORE CREATIVE WITH THE
HOSPITAL SYSTEMS THAT WE HAVE.
SO HOSPITAL SYSTEMS, IN THE PAST
IF YOU HAD TO GO TO A HOSPITAL,
YOU WOULD BE ADMITTED TO THAT
HOSPITAL AND BE THERE FOR YOUR
ENTIRE STAY.
AT THIS POINT, THAT SEEMS LIKE
THAT'S NOT EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING
TO HAPPEN GOING FORWARD BECAUSE,
AGAIN, THEY'RE THINKING
CREATIVELY ABOUT HOW TO USE
STAFF AND RESOURCES EFFECTIVELY.
IF SOMEONE GOES INTO A HOSPITAL
SYSTEM RIGHT NOW, THEY MAY BE
TRANSFERRED TO A DIFFERENT
HOSPITAL BASED UPON WHETHER OR
NOT THEY GET BETTER OR WORSE.
WE'RE TRYING TO HELP PATIENTS IN
OUR AREA UNDERSTAND THAT THAT
COULD HAPPEN TO THEM.
>> WE WISH YOU LUCK AS YOU
BATTLE THIS GOING FORWARD.
LAURA SCUDIERE, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> IN WAUKESHA THIS WEEK, FIRST
LADY JILL BIDEN MET WITH
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AFFECTED BY
THE CHRISTMAS PARADE TRAGEDY.
THE FIRST LADY HONORED
WAUKESHA'S LOSS AND RECOGNIZED
HOW THE COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER
IN THE AFTERMATH.
>> WE LOVE WITH EVERY PIECE OF
OUR HEART, EVEN IF THEY MIGHT BE
BROKEN.
AND KNOW WE HAVE BEEN CHANGED BY
THIS TRAGEDY, WE ARE NOT
DIMINISHED.
INSTEAD, WE GROW TOGETHER TO
HOLD BOTH OUR SORROW AND JOY.
THE GRANNIES KEEP DANCING.
THE HIGH SCHOOL BAND KEEPS
MARCHING.
>> WHAT HAPPENED IN WAUKESHA
GARNERED NATIONAL ATTENTION, AS
DID WHAT HAPPENED IN KENOSHA IN
2021.
IN JANUARY, THE LOCAL DA DECIDED
THAT NO CHARGES WOULD BE FILED
AGAINST THE OFFICER WHO SHOT
JACOB BLAKE.
AND LAST MONTH THE JURY
ACQUITTED KYLE RITTENHOUSE FOR
SHOOTING THREE PEOPLE, KILLING
TWO IN THE MIDST OF STREET
PROTESTS OVER THE BLAKE
SHOOTING.
TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT THIS
HAD HAD ON KENOSHA, MARISA
WOJCIK HAT S SAT DOWN WITH JAMEL
OF THE URBAN LEAGUE OF RACINE
AND KENOSHA.
THEY STARTED WITH HALL'S
REACTION TO THE ACQUITTAL OF
KYLE RITTENHOUSE.
>> IF WE DON'T STOP THIS NOW,
WHAT ARE WE TEACHING THE YOUNG
WHITE MALES THAT ARE 15 YEARS
OLD THAT'S WATCHING THIS STUFF
ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND TV?
WE'RE LITERALLY TELLING THEM YOU
CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT AND NOTHING
IS EVER GOING TO HAPPEN TO YOU.
>> IS THERE EXHAUSTION FROM
FIGHTING THIS SAME FIGHT OVER
AND OVER?
>> YEAH.
YEAH.
THERE'S CASES AROUND THE
COUNTRY.
AND, YOU KNOW, KENOSHA,
WISCONSIN JUST PUT ON DISPLAY
WHEN THE JACOB BLAKE SITUATION
AND KYLE RITTENHOUSE, A
SENTIMENT THAT RIPPLED
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
AND THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE
BLACK AND BROWN POPULATION IS
JUST GROWN USED TO IT.
WE DON'T EXPECT ANY JUSTICE
ANYMORE IN THIS COUNTRY.
WE HAVE NO EXPECTATIONS TO BE
TREATED FAIRLY.
BUT WE'LL STILL FIGURE OUT A WAY
TO CONTINUE.
>> WHAT ARE YOU ASKING FOR FROM
THE PEOPLE OF KENOSHA
SPECIFICALLY?
>> THE LEADERSHIP IN KENOSHA
NEEDS TO BEGIN TO INVEST IN THE
BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY.
SERIOUS INVESTMENT.
WHEN I'M SAYING THAT, I'M SAYING
INVEST IN THE SCHOOLS IN THE
BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY, THE
PARKS IN THE BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITY, THE LOCAL POLICE THAT
ARE LOCATED IN THE BLACK AND
BROWN COMMUNITY AND LITERALLY WE
REALLY NEED TO PHYSICALLY INVEST
IN THIS COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
BECAUSE I BELIEVE A RISING TIDE
RAISES ALL SHIPS.
>> PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SEEING AND
READING ABOUT KENOSHA EVEN IN
INTERNATIONAL NEWS, LIKE WE'VE
SAID, FOR MORE THAN A YEAR.
WHAT DO YOU WANT THOSE WHO HAVE
BEEN ON THE OUTSIDE GAZING IN TO
KNOW AND UNDERSTAND ABOUT YOUR
COMMUNITY?
>> I BELIEVE KENOSHA IS FAIR,
RESILIENT AND RESPECTFUL PEOPLE
THAT HELP EACH OTHER OUT.
OFTEN TIMES WHEN WE HAVE LOTS OF
SNOW THAT FALLS HERE AND YOU'LL
SEE NEIGHBORS HELPING ONE
ANOTHER DIG OUT OF DITCHES AND
BE A PART OF EACH OTHER.
THE CORONAVIRUS, EXCUSE ME, WE
HAVE PEOPLE GROCERY SHOPPING FOR
ONE ANOTHER.
IT WAS A STRONG COMMUNITY HERE.
THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE HERE.
BUT WE DO HAVE PROBLEMS.
AND THE PROBLEMS THAT EXIST IN
KENOSHA ARE LONG-TERM,
INSTITUTIONAL PROBLEMS.
IT'S NOT PERSONAL.
IT'S INSTITUTIONAL PROBLEMS THAT
NEED TO BE FIXED.
BUT I BELIEVE KENOSHA COULD BE
THE EXAMPLE.
IF WE DID THIS RIGHT, IF WE GET
THIS RIGHT, KENOSHA HAS THE
POTENTIAL TO BE AN EXAMPLE FOR
THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.
WE'RE A SMALL MICROCOSM OF WHAT
EXISTS IN AMERICA, HOW AMERICA
EXISTS TODAY.
>> YOU CAN WATCH THE FULL
INTERVIEW BY GOING TO
pbswisconsin.org AND THEN
CLICKING ON THE NEWS TAB.
TURNING NOW TO ELECTIONS,
SENATOR KATHY BERNIER CHAIRED
THE STATE SENATE ELECTIONS
COMMITTEE, CRITICIZED HER OWN
PARTY'S INVESTIGATION INTO THE
2020 ELECTION LED BY FORMER
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE MICHAEL
GABLEMAN.
>> SO WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS WITH
MY COLLEAGUES FROM THE PRESSURE
OF DONALD TRUMP IS TO ONLY LOOK
AT POLITICS AND NOT AT POLICY.
AND SO THEIR ACTIONS THAT
THEY'VE TAKEN IS A REACTION TO
POLITICS.
AND SO I THINK MY ADVICE WOULD
BE TO HAVE MR. GABLEMAN WRAP UP
SOONER RATHER THAN LATER,
BECAUSE THE LONGER WE KEEP THIS
UP, THE MORE HARM, AS MY FRIEND
HERE POINTED OUT, THAT -- THE
MORE HARM WE'RE GOING TO DO FOR
REPUBLICANS.
>> BERNIER CAME UNDER FIRE FOR
HER COMMENTS, TWEETING I'VE BEEN
CONTEMPLATING RETIREMENT, BUT I
MAY RETHINK IT.
RIGHT-WINGERS CALLING FOR MY
RESIGNATION IS MOTIVATION.
GABLEMAN'S ELECTION
INVESTIGATION WAS SUPPOSED TO
WRAP UP BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
ROBIN VOS, WHO HIRED GABLEMAN,
SAID THE INVESTIGATION WILL
EXTEND INTO NEXT YEAR.
ALSO THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR EVERS
SUBMITTED NEW MAPS TO THE STATE
SUPREME COURT AS IT DECIDES THE
NEW VOTING LINES.
>> THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WAS THE
SUPREME COURT SAYING THAT HAS TO
BE A MINIMALIST APPROACH.
THAT KIND OF ELIMINATED A LOT OF
THINGS.
SO THERE WASN'T MUCH LEFT ON THE
TABLE FOR US TO PUT FORWARD.
I BELIEVE WE PUT FORWARD THE
BEST MAPS POSSIBLE, CREATING
MANY MORE COMPETITIVE RACES THAN
WE'VE EVER SEEN IN RECENT YEARS
IN WISCONSIN.
>> THE CURRENT MAPS WERE DRAWN A
DECADE AGO AND HAVE BROUGHT
SIGNIFICANT REPUBLICAN
MAJORITIES IN THE LEGISLATURE.
THE HIGH COURT COULD HEAR ORAL
ARGUMENTS IN THE CASE NEXT
MONTH.
BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS
ARE GEARING UP FOR THE CAMPAIGN
SEASON THAT WILL CULMINATE NEXT
FALL IN THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS.
WE WILL HEAR FROM OUR POLITICAL
PANEL IN A MOMENT.
BUT FIRST, "HERE AND NOW"
REPORTER WILL KENNEALLY CHECKED
IN WITH THE STATE PARTY CHAIRS
TO HEAR THEIR PERSPECTIVE ON THE
MIDTERMS.
>> YOU KNOW, WHEN I LOOK AT IT,
THE LAST FOUR MONTHS AS I'VE
BEEN RUNNING AROUND THE AIR CHAN
OF THE STATE, THERE IS PASSION.
>> HE WAS BROUGHT ON IN
AUGUST AND SEES ENERGY AROUND
THE 2022 ELECTION.
>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT PEOPLE IN
WISCONSIN AND I LOOK AT THE
REPUBLICANS, THEY WANT CHANGE.
>> AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET IN
WISCONSIN WILL BE THE RACE FOR
GOVERNOR EVERS, TONY EVERS'
FIRST BID FOR REELECTION.
PARTY CHAIR BEN WIKLER.
>> 2022 IS A CHOICE BETWEEN
GOVERNOR EVERS, WHO WAKES UP
EVERY MORNING, WAKING UP FOCUSED
ON DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR THE
PEOPLE OF OUR STATE, VERSUS
REBECCA KLEEFISCH, WHO IS
RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR ON A
PLATFORM THAT IS REALLY QUITE
RADICAL.
>> KLEEFISCH CARRIES THE WALKER
LEGACY AS HIS FORMER LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR.
WIKLER SAYS HER POLICIES HAVE
SHIFTED FURTHER TO THE RIGHT.
>> SHE THINKS ELECTIONS SHOULD
BE TURNED OVER TO OUR STATE
LEGISLATURE, ONE OF THE MOST
EXTREME AND DO-NOTHING
LEGISLATURES IN THE COUNTRY.
>> THE WALKER LEGACY COULD BE AN
ASSET FOR KLEEFISCH.
>> WHAT THEY DID TO SET UP THE
STATE AS IT WENT FORWARD.
WE SAW A ROBUST ECONOMY.
BECAUSE OF THE SYSTEMS THAT WE
PUT IN PLACE UNDER THE WALKER
ADMINISTRATION AND WITH
KLEEFISCH THERE, I THINK THAT'S
WHAT SHE'LL BE ABLE TO USE
MOVING FORWARD.
>> THE WINNING ISSUES FOR BOTH
SIDES?
FOR DEMOCRATS, WIKLER SAYS IT
WILL BE HEALTH CARE, SCHOOLS AND
ROADS.
>> WE SHOULD BE COMING TOGETHER
AND CELEBRATING THESE BREAD AND
BUTTER SUCCESSES ON COMMON SENSE
ISSUES.
THAT'S THE RECORD DEMOCRATS CAN
RUN ON SUCCESSFULLY.
>> FARROW BELIEVES REPUBLICANS
WILL WIN ON EDUCATION, THE
ECONOMY AND PUBLIC SAFETY
EXPWHRVMENT WE HAVE TO SUPPORT
OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO MAKE SURE
WE HAVE OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE FOR
INDIVIDUALS TO RAISE THEIR
FAMILIES.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO
CONTINUE TO STRIVE FOR.
>> AT THE END OF THE DAY?
>> THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT
WISCONSIN IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL
IN 2022 AND THAT IT WILL BE A
HARD-FOUGHT ELECTION.
>> THAT WAS WILL KENNEALLY
REPORTING.
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S POLL
NUMBERS ARE UPSIDE DOWN AND
MEMBERS OF FORMER PRESIDENT
TRUMP'S STAFF ARE BEING HELD IN
CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS.
MEANWHILE, COVID-19 KEEPS ON
KEEPING ON.
WHAT IS GOING TO MOVE VOTERS IN
THE 2022 MIDTERMS?
WE TURN TO POLITICAL PANELIST
DEMOCRAT SCOT ROSS AND
REPUBLICAN BILL MCCOSHEN.
HEY, GUYS.
>> GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.
>> NICE TO SEE YOU IN THE STUDIO
FOR THE FIRST TIME.
SO, AGAIN, THANKS FOR BEING
HERE.
BUT SO IT IS OFF TO THE RACES AS
THE CALENDAR TURNS TO 2022, AND
IF HISTORY IS A GUIDE, IT COULD
BE A BUM ELECTION FOR DEMOCRATS.
WHAT ABOUT THAT, SCOT?
>> WELL, I THINK ANYTIME YOU'RE
THE PARTY IN POWER, YOU HAVE TO
ANSWER FOR THE THINGS YOU HAVE
DONE AND THE THINGS YOU HAVEN'T
DONE.
I THINK IN THE CASE OF THE
DEMOCRATS, THEY HAVE A GREAT
RECORD TO RUN ON NATIONALLY AND
IN WISCONSIN.
GOVERNOR EVERS IS LEADING US.
HE CUT MIDDLE CLASS TAXES BY
15%.
HE RESTORED TWO-THIRDS FUNDING
FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SOMETHING
THAT HASN'T HAPPENED IN 20
YEARS.
HE'S INCREASING ACCESS TO
AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE.
IN THE MIDST OF COVID, HE'S
RELIED ON SCIENCE TO TRY AND
KEEP US SAFE AND SECURE,
SOMETHING THE REPUBLICANS SEEM
TO THINK IS AN ANATHEMA TO
MOVING FORWARD.
THEY WANT TO WIN BY HURTING AS
MANY WISCONSINITES AND KEEP
COVID GOING AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.
THAT IS A DISASTER.
>> BILL, WHAT SAY YOU?
>> THERE'S A DISASTER COMING FOR
DEMOCRATS.
SADLY FOR SCOT, TONY EVERS ISN'T
GOING TO BE THE TOP OF THE
TICKET.
IT'S GOING TO BE JOE BIDEN.
THE WHITE HOUSE ALWAYS LOSES
SEATS DURING A MIDTERM ELECTION.
THE FIRST TERM OF THE PRESIDENT.
I EXPECT THE SAME THING TO
HAPPEN IN A VERY BIG WAY.
GOVERNOR EVERS IS RUNNING FOR
REELECTION.
HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO SWIM
AGAINST THE CURRENT BECAUSE JOE
BIDEN IS PULLING DOWN DEMOCRATS
NATIONALLY, FROM 38% ON THE LOW
END TO 42% FOR JOB APPROVAL IN
WISCONSIN.
JOE BIDEN IS GOING TO BE A
SIGNIFICANT DRAG ON DEMOCRATS IN
2022.
>> BILL, IS SENATOR JOHNSON
GOING TO RUN AGAIN?
>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW THAT
HE'S MADE A FINAL DECISION YET,
BUT IF I HAD TO BET, I WOULD BET
THAT HE IS LIKELY TO RUN FOR
REELECTION.
YOU KNOW, FRANKLY, HE'S GOT SOME
WAVES IN 20 2010 AND 2016.
2022 IS GOING TO BE A BIG RED
WAVE AS WELL.
I THINK RON IS GOING TO GET OUT
HIS SURFBOARD AND RIDE THAT WAVE
AGAIN.
>> THAT IS THE BEST NEWS I'VE
HEARD ALL WEEK.
THAT'S TERRIFIC FOR DEMOCRATS.
HE ENRICHED HIMSELF AND DENURESE
-- DONORS.
>> DO EITHER OF YOU THINK THAT
ALL THESE INVESTIGATIONS INTO
THE 2020 ELECTION HERE IN
WISCONSIN WILL KEEP PEOPLE HOME?
>> NO.
REPUBLICANS ARE MORE FIRED UP
THAN EVER.
I THINK WE HAVE THE ROADMAP WE
NEED TO CHANGE THE LAWS OR THE
RULES THAT ARE NECESSARY.
WEC, THE WISCONSIN ELECTION
COMMISSION, IS FOLLOWING
THOSE,E, THE GUIDANCE LAID OUT.
THAT IS THE PRIMARY TOOL WE'LL
USE GOING FORWARD.
THE GABLEMAN THING IS STILL
HANGING OUT THERE.
THAT OUGHT TO WRAP UP SOON.
THERE'S MORE ENERGY SINCE 1994.
>> IF I CAN RESPOND, LISTEN,
THIS IS A SHAM INVESTIGATION
COSTING REAL TAXPAYER MONEY.
THE FACT IS EVEN REPUBLICANS ARE
CALLING FOR THIS SHAM
INVESTIGATION TO END.
AND LASTLY, THE HYPOCRISY IS OFF
THE CHART.
LET'S REMEMBER THAT ROBIN VOS
AND THE REPUBLICANS CREATED THE
COMMISSION BECAUSE THEY WERE
ANGRY THAT THE GOVERNMENT
ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD WAS
INVESTIGATING REPUBLICANS FOR
WRONGDOING, INCLUDING ROBIN VOS
FOR COLLUSION WITH INDEPENDENT
GROUPS.
HE CREATED THE WISCONSIN
ELECTION COMMISSION NOW BECAUSE
THE VOTES HAVE BEEN COST AND JOE
BIDEN WON, THEY WANT TO GET RID
OF IT.
>> WHAT'S THE PARTISAN POINT OF
THESE INVESTIGATIONS?
>> IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE IDEAS
AND POLICIES AND STOOD IN THE
WAY OF PROGRESS LIKE REPUBLICANS
HAVE, YOU'VE ONLY GOT THREE
THINGS YOU CAN DO: RACISM,
VOTER SUPPRESSION AND RACIST
VOTER SUPPRESSION.
THAT'S WHY IT'S HAPPENING.
>> HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW.
THE WISCONSIN INSTITUTE FOR LAW
AND LIBERTY DID DETAILED
ANALYSES OF THE 2020 ELECTIONS,
FOUND NO WIDESPREAD FRAUD.
BUT THEY DID FIND A LOT OF
PROBLEMS WITH HOW LOCAL
COMMISSIONERS CARRIED OUT THE
ELECTION, HOW COMMISSION ES WERE
ADVISED.
THERE'S A LIST OF 38 THINGS THEY
RECOMMENDED THAT NEEDS TO GET
FIXED HEADING INTO 2022.
THAT'S THE HOPE, THAT WE CAN GET
THOSE DONE BEFORE THE
LEGISLATURE GOES HOME.
>> I GOT TO RUN TO SOMETHING
ELSE AND I WANT TO DO THIS,
BECAUSE YOU GUYS PROVIDED THIS.
WE ASKED YOU TO BRING YOUR
FAVORITE HEADLINE FROM THE YEAR
2021 AND THE HEADLINE YOU THINK
WILL RUN IN 2022.
SO, BILL, YOUR REAL HEADLINE WAS
INFLATION HITS 40-YEAR HIGH.
WHY DID YOU WANT US TO SEE THAT?
>> BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT'S GOING
TO DRIVE TU TURNOUT ON THE
REPUBLICAN SIDE IN NOVEMBER OF
NEXT YEAR.
THE REALITY IS PEOPLE ARE
FEELING INFLATION NOT ONLY AT
THE PUMP, THEY'RE FEELING IT AT
THE GROCERY STORE AND EVERY
MONTH WHEN THEY SEND IN THEIR
HEATING BILL.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION, THE DEMOCRATS
WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET AROUND.
INFLATION IS UP 6.8%.
THAT'S USING A NEW FORMULA.
IT'S PROBABLY CLOSER TO 15% THAT
INFLATION IS UP.
THAT IS WHAT IS GOING TO DRIVE
VOTERS MORE THAN ANYTHING NEXT
NOVEMBER.
AND THE REALITY IS IT'S NOW
CUTTING INTO WAGES.
WAGES ARE UP 4%.
PEOPLE ARE GETTING A PAY CUT.
>> SCOT, WHAT ABOUT THAT, THE
FED COOLING DOWN INFLATION WOULD
BE A GOOD THING?
>> I THINK PEOPLE ARE GOING TO
THE STORE TO PURCHASE THINGS
THEY CAN AFFORD BECAUSE THEY
HAVE JOBS.
THEY CAN THANK DEMOCRATS LIKE
THAT.
THEY HAVE MORE MONEY BECAUSE OF
TAX CUTS.
THEY CAN THANK TONY EVERS FOR
THAT.
THEY'RE GOING TO REMEMBER WHO
WAS WITH THEM AND WITH COVID.
THE REPUBLICANS WERE WITH COVID.
>> LET ME GET TO YOUR HEADLINE,
SCOT.
IT IS BIDEN WON, TRUMP LOST.
YOU LIKE THAT ONE.
>> YEAH, EXACTLY.
THE FACT IS THAT THIS INSANE BIG
LIE THAT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE
ALLOWED TO BECOME MAINSTREAM IN
THEIR PARTY IS THE FUNCTIONAL
EQUIVALENT OF SURRENDER TO
FASCISM.
YOU HEARD PEOPLE LIKE ROBIN VOS
SAY THE ELECTION WAS FINE.
IT WORKED.
AS SOON AS TRUMP SHRIEKS AT HIM,
HE CHANGES COURSE AND DOES THIS
SHAM INVESTIGATION MIKE
GABLEMAN.
THEY'RE IN SOMETIME DATING
OFFICIALS TO TRIAL TO GET THEIR
PEOPLE INSTALLED.
THE FACT IS THAT IF REPUBLICANS
COULD WIN ELECTIONS ON THEIR
IDEALS, THEY WOULDN'T BE TRYING
TO SUBVERT THE VOTE.
>> REALLY QUICK.
>> JOE BIDEN DID WIN LAST
NOVEMBER.
WE KNOW THE LEGISLATIVE AUDIT
BUREAU SAID THAT CORNERS WERE
CUT, MISTAKES WERE MADE.
THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT ON
THE 2020 ELECTION.
WE NEED TO LOOK FORWARD.
IF WE WANT TO WIN IN 2022, WE
GOT TO FOCUS ON THAT.
>> MEANWHILE, BILL, YOUR
PROJECTED HEADLINE FOR 2022 IS
RED WAVE BIGGER THAN 1994 OR
2010.
>> IN '94 THEY PICKED UP 50
SEATS IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
IN 2010 THEY PICKED UP 63 SEATS,
SIX OR SEVEN SEATS IN THE
SENATE.
I'M PROJECTING THAT THE RED WAVE
WILL BE EVEN BIGGER IN 2022.
JOE BIDEN IS JIMMY CHARTER 2.0
AND VOTERS ARE GOING TO REJECT
IT.
>> DEMS ARE GOING TO WIN U.S.
SENATE SEAT, TONY EVERS IS GOING
TO GET REELECTED AND JOSH KAUL
IS GOING TO FINISH AHEAD OF BOTH
OF THOSE RACES.
>> YOUR PROJECTED HEADLINE IN
2022 IS STILL BIDEN WON, TRUMP
LOST.
>> ROBIN VOS IS GOING TO
CONTINUE THIS SHAM INVESTIGATION
THAT'S COSTING TAXPAYERS REAL
MONEY, REAL MONEY THAT COULD BE
GOING TOWARDS THINGS THAT THE
TAXPAYERS NEED.
THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP DOING THIS
BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE
IDEAS, KEEP PUSHING NONSENSE
LIKE CRITICAL RACE THEORY, PRESS
WITH THESE RACIST PANDERING
OPERATIONS.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE GETTING
MORE TEACHERS.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE GETTING
MORE JOBS AND MORE HELP TO THE
PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN.
>> WE WILL TALK WITH YOU BOTH IN
THE NEW YEAR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> HAPPY NEW YEAR.
>> HAPPY HOLIDAY.
>> FINALLY TONIGHT, CLEAN-UP
WILL LIKELY CONTINUE INTO THE
HOLIDAYS FOR COMMUNITIES ACROSS
WISCONSIN AFTER THIS WEEK'S
HIGH-WIND STORMS BLEW THROUGH
THE STATE.
NORTHERN PARTS OF THE STATE SAW
THE HIGHEST WIND GUSTS AT MORE
THAN 75 MILES PER HOUR.
THE WIND KNOCKED OUT POWER TO
THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS AND IN
ADDITION TO THE DAMAGE CLOSED
SCHOOLS IN SOME DISTRICTS.
AND WE WISH LUCK TO THOSE FOLKS
CLEANING UP.
THAT IS ALL FOR TONIGHT'S
PROGRAM.
A PROGRAM NOTE.
"HERE AND NOW" WILL BE PREEMPTED
THE TWO NEXT FRIDAYS.
IN THE MEANTIME VISIT OUR NEWS
PAGE AT pbswisconsin.org FOR
ORIGINAL REPORTING AND UPDATES.
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.