>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> WE ALL REMEMBER THE ATTACK ON
THE U.S. CAPITOL BUT ONE YEAR
ON, UNITY AMONG AMERICANS,
INCLUDING IN OUR OWN STATE, IS
VERY FAR FROM REALIZED.
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN MARKED THE
ANNIVERSARY IN A FIERY ADDRESS.
>> THOSE WHO STORMED THIS
CAPITOL AND THOSE THAT
INSTIGATED AND INCITED AND THOSE
WHO CALLED ON THEM TO DO SO HELD
A DAGGER AT THE THROAT OF
AMERICA.
>> DEMOCRACY ITSELF UNDER
CONTINUED ATTACK, HE SAID, WITH
UNRELENTING INVESTIGATIONS IN
THE 2020 ELECTION.
ON THE PANDEMIC FRONT, WISCONSIN
HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE CALLING THE
RAPIDLY RISING CASE NUMBERS
ASTONISHING AND SAY OVERLOADED
HOSPITALS MAKE IT UNSAFE FOR
PEOPLE WHO NEED MEDICAL CARE.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON HERE & NOW, EXPLODING
COVID 19 INFECTIONS IN
WISCONSIN, THE ANNIVERSARY OF
THE VIOLENT ATTACK ON THE U.S.
CAPITOL AND THE WISCONSIN
RESPONSE FROM CONGRESS.
AN INTERVIEW WITH REPUBLICAN
ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS AS HE
EXPANDS THE ELECTION
INVESTIGATION AND POWERFUL
REPORTING FROM JOURNALIST MURV
SEYMOUR ON CALLS TO ACTION FOR
TRANSGENDER PEOPLE.
IT'S HERE & NOW FOR JANUARY 7.
>> FUNDING FOR HERE & NOW IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> COVID 19 INFECTIONS ARE
EXPLODING IN WISCONSIN WITH
RECORD HIGH DAILY CASE NUMBERS
TOPPING 12,000.
THE MOST SINCE THE START OF THE
PANDEIC.
THE HIGHLY INFECTIOUS OMICRON
VARIANT IS BLAMED FOR THE
EXPLOSIVE INFECTION RATE.
IT'S REPORTED TO CAUSE LESS
SEVERE SYMPTOMS BUT THE SHEER
CASE COUNT IS STARTING TO HOBBLE
SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS.
WHAT IS THE LATEST IN WISCONSIN
ON COVID 19?
FOR THAT WE TURN TO DR. JEFFREY
POTHOF, THE CHIEF QUALITY AND
SAFETY OFFICER FOR UNV WEALTH,
ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE STATE.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> WHAT IS THE CURRENT SITUATION
WITH YOUR HOSPITAL?
>> YOU KNOW, I WISH I COULD
PAINT YOU A NICE PICTURE BUT
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE IN A REALLY
ROUGH SPOT.
OUR NUMBER OF COVID 19
ADMISSIONS HAS INCREASED
DRAMATICALLY OVER THE LAST WEEK
AND A HALF TO TWO WEEKS.
WE'RE TEETERING WITH THOSE
RECORD VOLUMES WE HAD LAST
THANKSGIVING.
TO MAKE FURTHER -- OR TO MAKE
MATTERS FURTHER WORSE, OUR
HOSPITAL WAS ALREADY MORE FULL
TO START WITH.
AND OUR STAFF, ALTHOUGH THAIK
THANKFULLY VACCINATED, ARE
HAVING BREAKTHROUGH CASES MAKING
OUR STAFFING PROBLEMS EVEN
WORSE.
SO WE'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE
THERE ARE FOLKS AROUND THE STATE
CALLING US AND SAYING, CAN YOU
TAKE MY PATIENT?
THEY'RE COMPLEX.
YOU HAVE THE EXPERTISE TO DO
WITH THEIR PROBLEM.
AND WE CANNOT SAFELY TAKE THEM.
THEY HAVE TO WAIT WHERE THEY'RE
AT OR FIND A DIFFERENT HOSPITAL
TO TAKE THEM.
WE CANNOT TAKE THAT NEXT PATIENT
>> THAT IS EXTREMELY SCARY, OF
COURSE, FOR THE PEOPLE WHO NEED
THE SERVICES OF THE HOSPITAL FOR
THINGS LIKE STROKE OR HEART
ATTACK.
TELL US WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH
THAT.
>> YEAH.
SO YOU KNOW, WHAT WE TRY TO DO
WHEN WE CAN'T TAKE PATIENTS
PHYSICALLY TO OUR LOCATION IS WE
PROVIDE AS MANY RESOURCES AS WE
CAN TO THOSE PATIENTS WHERE THEY
ARE, WHETHER THAT'S OUR EXPERTS
AVAILABLE BY TELE HEALTH,
WHETHER THAT'S COORDINATING WITH
OTHER HEALTH SYSTEMS ACROSS THE
STATE, EVEN OUTSIDE THE STATE TO
HELP FIND THAT NEXT BED,
PROVIDING OUR HELICOPTERS TO
PROMOTE TRANSPORTS TO FAR AWAY
HOSPITALS THAT MIGHT HAVE A
ROOM.
WE'RE DOING THINGS LIKE THAT BUT
ULTIMATELY WHAT THAT MEANS IS
THAT FOLKS WHO OTHERWISE WOULD
GET A DIFFERENT STANDARD OF CARE
ARE GETTING A LITTLE BIT LESS
THAN THAT.
FOLKS DOING THE BEST THAT THEY
CAN BUT UNLESS WE CAN REDUCE
HOSPITALIZATIONS IN THE STATE,
THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THE BEST WE
CAN DO RIGHT NOW.
>> YOU KNOW, WE UNDERSTAND THAT
THESE SYMPTOMS OF THE OMICRON
VARIANT, COVID 19 ARE LESS
SEVERE AND YET, YOUR
HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE UP
DRAMATICALLY, YOU SAY.
IS THAT JUST AS A RESULT OF THE
SHEER NUMBER OF INFECTIONS?
>> IT IS.
AND I THINK THERE'S A BIT OF A
MISUNDERSTANDING.
WHEN FOLKS HEAR THAT OMICRON IS
LESS SEVERE, I THINK THEY THINK
IT'S MORE LIKE A COLD.
IT DOESN'T MAKE PEOPLE SICK.
WHY ARE HOSPITALS WORRIED?
THAT'S NOT WHAT WE MEAN WHEN WE
SAY LESS SEVERE.
WHEN WE SAY LESS SEVERE, WE MEAN
IF YOU TAKE 100 PEOPLE AND YOU
GIVE THEM OMICRON, A LOWER% ENTS
OF THOSE PEOPLE WILL NEED A
HOSPITAL BED BUT IT'S NOT TO SAY
OMICRON CANNOT CAUSE SEVERE
DISEASE.
WHEN YOU TAKE THE EXTRA CASES
WE'RE SEEING, OMICRON IS SO MUCH
MORE CONTAGIOUS, WE'RE ACTUALLY
SEEING AN INCREASE IN
HOSPITALIZATIONS DESPITE OMICRON
BEING LESS SEVERE IN GENERAL.
>> WHAT IS THIS LIKE FOR THE
STAFF THERE ON THE FRONT LINES?
>> IT'S DIFFICULT.
YOU CAN IMAGINE, YOU KNOW, WE
HAVE A LOT OF STAFF THAT ARE OUT
EITHER GETTING TESTED OR THEY'VE
TESTED POSITIVE.
THEY WANT TO GET BACK TO WORK.
WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM ON THAT.
THEY'RE TYPICALLY NOT OVERLY
SICK, THEY'RE ALL VACCINATED BUT
THAT MEANS THOSE HEALTH CARE
WORKERS WHO ARE LEFT ARE WORKING
MORE SHIFTS AND COMING BACK
QUICKER TO DO ANOTHER SHIFT AND
STRETCHING THEMSELVES A LITTLE
MORE THIN.
AND YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THIS
PANDEMIC, THESE HEALTH CARE
WORKERS HAVE BEEN HEROS AND THEY
CONTINUE TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE
BUT IT'S HARD AND WE'VE LOST A
LOT OF PEOPLE TO BURNOUT BECAUSE
THERE'S JUST ONLY SO MUCH YOU
CAN EXPECT OF A HUMAN BEING.
THIS PANDEMIC HAS CERTAINLY NOT
BEEN SHORT.
>> HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ANYTHING
LIKE THIS IN YOUR CAREER?
>> NOT ONLY HAVE I NEVER SEEN
ANYTHING LIKE THIS, THIS WASN'T
EVEN ON MY RADAR GOING THROUGH
MEDICAL TRAINING.
WE HAVE ONE OF THE MOST WELL
RESOURCED HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS IN
THE ENTIRE WORLD, AND TO THINK
WE'RE AT THE POINT WHERE PEOPLE
WHO NEED CARE FOR THINGS LIKE
HEART ATTACKS, STROKES, MIGHT
NOT BE ABLE TO GET IT, THAT
NEVER CROSSED MY MIND WHEN I WAS
GOING THROUGH MEDICAL TRAINING
THAT THAT WOULD BE THE SCENARIO
WHERE I WORK.
>> YOU KNOW, WE HAVE READ THAT
IT IS THE UNVACCINATED THAT ARE
TAKING UP THE BULK OF THE
HOSPITALIZATIONS FOR COVID 19.
IS THAT ACCURATE?
>> IT'S DEFINITELY ACCURATE.
YOU KNOW, WE DO SEE MORE
BREAKTHROUGH CASES WITH OMICRON.
THEY OFTEN DON'T GET ADMITTED.
WHEN THEY GET ADMITTED, IT'S
OFTEN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, A
DAY, TO DAYS.
BUT
BUT THE UNVACCINATED MAKE UP
THE MAJORITY OF CASES IN THE
HOSPITAL AND THEY DON'T STAY FOR
ONE DAY OR TWO DAY.
SOMETIMES IT'S MONTHS ON HIGH
END THERAPIES THAT TAKE A LOT OF
OUR ROOM UP AND A LOT OF OUR
STAFF RESOURCES UP AND IF WE
COULD REDUCE THAT, WE WOULD MAKE
THESE OTHER THINGS FIT.
FOLKS IN THE STATE WOULDN'T HAVE
TO WORRY ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT A
HOSPITAL IS GOING TO BE READY
FOR THEM WHEN THEY SUFFER THEIR
MEDICAL EMERGENCY.
>> IS IT YOUR EXPECTATION THAT
THIS OMICRON WILL BURN QUICKLY
THROUGH THE POPULATION AND WE
COULD COME OUT ON THE OTHER SIDE
TO QUIETER DAYS?
>> I HOPE THAT IS THE SILVER
LINING.
THAT IS THE EXPERIENCE THEY HAD
IN SOUTH AFRICA.
I'M HOPEFUL THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS
GOES ON FOR A FEW MORE WEEKS AND
THEN THINGS START TO TAPER DOWN
AND GET A LITTLE MORE BACK TO
NORMAL.
OR MAYBE LIKE WE WERE THIS
SUMMER.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO BE
A ROUGH COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE
WE GET THERE.
I'M NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT
PERIOD OF TIME.
>> GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND ALL OF
YOU THERE PROVIDING CARE,
DR. JEFFREY POTHOF.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SEVERAL LARGE SCHOOL
DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE
DELAYED THE RETURN TO THE
CLASSROOM IS AS THEY FACED
RISING INFECTION NUMBERS AND
STOF SHART JOINLS, INCLUDING THE
MADISON AND MILWAUKEE DISTRICTS.
HAD SON ANNOUNCED SCHOOL WOULD
BE IN PERSON AS OF MONDAY AFTER
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT,
TESTING AND BOOSTER CLINICS.
IN A VOTE LATE THURSDAY,
MILWAUKEE DECIDED TO REMAIN OUT
OF THE CLASSROOM UNTIL JANUARY
18 BUT WILL STAY WITH VIRTUAL
INSTRUCTION IN THE MEANTIME.
TURNING TO AN ANNIVERSARY MARK
THIS WEEK, JANUARY 6, 2021
SHOCKING SCENES AS DONALD TRUMP
SUPPORTERS STORMED THE U.S.
CAPITOL LOOKING TO OVERTURN THE
ELECTION.
HUNDREDS HAVE BEEN CHARGED IN
CONNECTION WITH THE BREACH,
INCLUDING SIX FROM WISCONSIN.
DEMOCRATIC U.S. SENATOR TAMMY
BALDWIN SPOKE FROM THE SENATE
FLOOR NOW A YEAR LATER.
>> FAR TOO MANY WOULD LIKE TO
WHITEWASH THE VIOLENT DAY AND
PRETEND THE INSURRECTION WAS NOT
AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT TO
DEMOCRACY.
WE HAVE COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE
INEXPLICABLY SAID THE VIOLENT
MOB WAS A GROUP OF MERE
TOURISTS.
MY REPUBLICAN COUNTERPART FROM
THE GREAT STATE OF WISCONSIN
EVEN CALLED JANUARY 6 A PEACEFUL
PROTEST.
THESE FLY IN THE FACE OF THE
TRUTH.
THIS IS NOT RIGHT AND WE CANNOT
ALLOW THE TRUTH TO BE BURIED.
WE MUST ALL CONDEMN THIS
INSURRECTION IN NO UNCERTAIN
TERMS AS WELL AS THE BIG LIE
ABOUT THE 2020 ELECTION THAT
DROVE THE MOB TO DESECRATE THIS
HALLOWED CHAMBER.
AND WE MUST HONOR AND STRENGTHEN
OUR DEMOCRACY BY PASSING
LEGISLATION THAT PUTS AN END TO
THESE CEASELESS ATTACKS ON
VOTERS AND THE INTEGRITY OF OUR
ELECTIONS.
>> FOR HIS PART, REPUBLICAN
SENATOR RON JOHNSON'S OFFICE
SENT OUT A STATEMENT THAT SAID
SENATOR JOHNSON IMMEDIATELY AND
REPEATEDLY CONDEMNED THE
VIOLENCE THAT OCCURRED ON
JANUARY 6MENT ENLZ THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE DESERVE A FULL AND
ACCURATE ACCOUNT OF WHAT
HAPPENED AND HE ALSO DETAILED
THE QUESTIONS HE'S RAISED ABOUT
JUST WHO WAS INVOLVED CITING
AGENT PROVOCATEURS AND FAKE
TRUMP SUPPORTERS.
SCOTT FITZGERALD ALSO REACTED TO
THE ANNIVERSARY AND THE
PRESIDENT'S SPEECH MARKING THE
OCCASION.
HE TWEETED OUT, QUOTE, THE
PRESIDENT CREATED MORE DIVISION,
NOT UNITY, IN HIS SPEECH TODAY.
THE V.P. SHAMELESSLY LIKENED
JANUARY 6 TO SEPTEMBER 11 AND
PEARL HARBOR, BOTH ATTACKS THAT
LEFT THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS
MURDERED.
THIS ISN'T LEADERSHIP, HE SAID.
THIS IS THEATER TO DISTRACT FROM
THIS ADMINISTRATON'S FAILURES.
THE MINDSET OF MANY TRUMP
SUPPORTERS THAT INDEED HE WON
THE ELECTION BECAUSE OF ELECTION
FRAUD IN PLACES LIKE WISCONSIN,
ROYALS, DEMOCRATS AS FALSELY
UNDERMINING FAITH IN ELECTIONS
AND AS AN ATTACK ON DEMOCRACY.
THOSE INCLUDE GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS WHO, IN AN INTERVIEW WITH
ZAC SCHULTZ, CRITICIZED
REPUBLICANS FOR CONTINUING
INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE 2020
ELECTION, CALLING IT A CLOWN
SHOW.
>> IT'S A SELF FULFILLING
PROPH
PROPHECY.
THERE'S GOING TO BE PEOPLE
SAYING, YOU KNOW, IS THIS SYSTEM
BROKEN OR NOT?
SO I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT THE
LEADERSHIP AND THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY HAS DECIDED TO TAKE THIS
TACTIC BECAUSE IT'S SELF
FULFILLING AND FOR THEM TO SAY
AS MORE PEOPLE DON'T TRUST THE
SYSTEM, HE'S TOLD THEM THAT.
HE'S TOLD THEM THAT WITH NO
DATA.
HE'S TOLD THEM THAT WITH FRANKLY
LIES.
AND SO IT'S A CLOWN SHOW,
FRANKLY, THAT NEEDS TO END.
WE HAVE A GOOD SYSTEM, IT'S
SECURE AND WE WILL -- I WILL
MAKE SURE THAT WE'LL DO WHATEVER
WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE
OF WISCONSIN CAN FEEL
COMFORTABLE THAT THE SYSTEM
WORKS AND FRANKLY, ENCOURAGE
PEOPLE TO VOTE INSTEAD OF
DISCOURAGING PEOPLE TO VOTE.
>> DEMOCRATS ACROSS COUNTRY ARE
ACCUSING REPUBLICANS OF ACCUSING
DEMOCRACY ITSELF.
DO YOU THINK REPUBLICANS IN
WISCONSIN ARE ATTACKING THE
DEMOCRATIC PROCESS?
>> OF COURSE THEY ARE.
VOTING IS THE MOST TRUE PART OF
DEMOCRACY, WHETHER IT'S
WISCONSIN OR THE COUNTRY.
AND IF PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE
SPEWING LIES AND MISTRUTHS AND
FULFILLING THEIR OWN PROPHECY
THAT THINGS AREN'T RIGHT, THAT
IS AN ATTACK ON DEMOCRACY.
>> FOR HIS REACTION, REPUBLICAN
SPEAKER ROBIN VOS SAT DOWN WITH
SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER ZAC
SCHULTZ AND HE STARTED BY ASKING
THE SPEAKER HIS RESPONSE TO THE
GOVERNOR'S CLOWN SHOW CLAIMS.
>> I THINK GOVERNOR TONY EVERS
IS OBVIOUSLY IN CAMPAIGN MODE.
HE'S FOCUSED ON MORE HYPERBOLE
THAN FACT.
WE KNOW CLEARLY A MAJORITY OF
WISCONSINITES, ACCORDING TO
OLDER POLLING BUT I'LL STILL
BELIEVE IT'S TRUE, A MAJORITY OF
REPUBLICANS AND HUGE NUMBER OF
INDEPENDENTS BELIEVE THERE'S A
PROBLEM WITH THE 2020 ELECTION.
I'VE SAID OVER AND OVER THAT JOE
BIDEN IS THE PRESIDENT.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT OVERTURNING
THE ELECTION OR RUINING
DEMOCRACY BUT IT IS ABOUT MAKING
SURE WE HAVE FAITH IN THE
RESULTS, WHOEVER WINS, WHOEVER
LOSES.
AND I THINK WE CLEARLY KNOW, NOW
WE'VE HAD THE LEGISLATIVE AUDIT
BUREAU, INVESTIGATION BY WILL
AND THE FINAL INVESTIGATION
BEING DONE BY JUSTICE GABLEMAN.
ALL ARE GOING TO SHOW WE HAD
ISSUES.
FIRST TWO CLEARLY DID.
I'M CERTAIN THE LAST ONE WILL AS
WELL.
FOR GOVERNOR TONY EVERS TO IMPLY
THE WELL RESPECTED, NON PARTISAN
BUREAU WAS ATTACKING DEMOCRACY
AND ON A WITCH HUNT, THAT'S NOT
ACCURATE, MUCH LESS IT'S JUST A
BOLD FACED LIE.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AND
SAY, LET'S FOCUS ON THE FACTS,
NOT ON HYPERBOLE.
WE KNOW THERE WERE PROBLEMS.
WE KNOW THAT THERE WERE THINGS
THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE
DIFFERENTLY.
I THINK HISTORY IS GOING TO
JUDGE THAT THINGS WERE NOT DONE
CORRECTLY IN 2020 AND ALL WE CAN
DO IS TRY TO MAKE IT BETTER.
>> WITH THE GABLEMAN
INVESTIGATION, THERE HAVE BEEN
SOME PROCESS ERRORS, SOME ERRORS
THAT SEEM LIKE THEY SHOULD BE
HAPPENING WITH AN INVESTIGATION
THAT'S WELL FUNDED, THIS WELL
PURPOSED.
WE'VE HAD CRITICISM FROM BOTH
REPUBLICANS, OBVIOUSLY
DEMOCRATS, IN THE END, DO YOU
THINK THAT YOU'RE GOING TO
CONVINCE THE PUBLIC WITH THE
RESULTS OF THAT INVESTIGATION?
>> WELL, THERE'S BEEN AN AWFUL
LOT OF MONEY SPENT BY LIBERALS
TO TRY TO DISCREDIT THE
INVESTIGATION.
YOU'RE RIGHT, NOT EVERYTHING
GOES PERFECT.
WE HAVE HUMANS, THEY'RE DOING
THEIR VERY BEST BUT I THINK WHEN
YOU HAVE GROUPS COMING IN AND
ATTACKING FROM THE VERY
BEGINNING, GOING AFTER THE
LEGISLATIVE AUDIT BUREAU, A WELL
RESPECTED INSTITUTION IN THE
STATE CAPITOL AS ANY, TO TRY TO
DISCREDIT THEM, IT'S NO SURPRISE
THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THAT
ALL THE WAY UNTIL THE END.
WE NOW KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN
LAWSUITS FILED, PEOPLE HAVE
TRIED TO SAY THE LEGISLATURE
DOESN'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO ISSUE
SUBPOENAS.
OF COURSE WE DO.
IT'S A POWER WE'VE HAD SINCE
STATEHOOD.
THESE BASIC IDEAS BEING ARGUED
IN COURT, IF YOU WOULD HAVE TOLD
ME THE VERY FUNDAMENTAL IDEA
THAT WE DIDN'T ISSUE SUBPOENAS,
WE WOULD BE IN COURT, I WOULD
THINK YOU'RE CRAZY.
NOW WE HAVE GROUPS ON THE
LIBERAL SIDE TRYING TO UPSET
WHAT'S BEEN STANDARD IN
WISCONSIN.
I THOUGHT WE WOULD BE DONE BY
THE END OF THE YEAR BUT THEEN
THROWN UP EVERY POSSIBLE ROAD
BLOCK THEY COULD TO TRY TO STOP
WHAT SHOULD BE A SIMPLE, EASY,
WELL UNDERSTOOD IDEA WHICH IS AT
THE END, LET'S SEE WHAT WAS DONE
RIGHT, WHAT WAS DONE WRONG AND
THEN TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT
THINGS THAT WERE DONE WRONG ARE
CREDITED.
>> YOU'VE ACCOUNT THAT JOE BIDEN
IS LEGITIMATELY THE PRESIDENT
BUT THERE ARE MEMBERS OF THE
CAUCUS AND THE PUBLIC THAT DON'T
BELIEVE THAT, THEY AREN'T
CONVINCED.
IT'S BEEN SHOWN THEY HAVE BEEN
LIED TO BOTH BY REPUBLICANS AND
BY OPERATIVES AND BY CON MEN AND
OTHER PEOPLE TRYING TO MAKE A
BUCK ON THEM.
SO AT WHAT POINT IS IT UP TO
LEGISLATORS TO MAKE MORE OF A
SAY, NO, THIS IS LEGITIMATE.
WE'RE LOOKING AT MINOR PROCESS
ISSUES IN WISCONSIN ELECTIONS
OPPOSED TO OVERTHROWING IT WHICH
SOME OF YOUR OWN MEMBERS HAVE
INTRODUCED BILLS THAT WOULD
CHANGE SOME OF THE OUTCOMES IN
FUTURE ELECTIONS.
>> I DON'T THINK THERE WERE
MINOR PROCESS ISSUES.
LET'S START WITH THAT.
WE HAVE A SINGLE MEMBER WHO HAS
SAID WE SHOULD DECERTIFY THE
ELECTION SO LET'S NOT CAST A
WIDE NET THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF
PEOPLE OVERTURNING THE ELECTION
BECAUSE THERE'S ONE.
I DON'T SPEAK FOR EVERY SINGLE
REPUBLICAN IN THE STATE NOR IN
THE STATE LEGISLATURE BUT I KNOW
THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE
I SPEAK WITH UNDERSTAND THAT
THIS IS FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE.
IT'S NOT FOCUSED ON THE PAST.
DO I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD
ALLOW OUT OF STATE BILLIONAIRES
TO COME IN AND COMINGLE PRIVATE
DOLLARS OF PUBLIC FUNDS TO ONLY
TURN OUT PEOPLE IN CERTAIN ZIP
CODES OF A CERTAIN DEMOGRAPHIC
BECAUSE THEY TEND TO VOTE ONE
WAY?
I THINK IT WOULD BE WRONG IF WE
DID IT FROM THE KOCH PROBLEMS TO
TURN OUT THE MOST REPUBLICANS TO
VOTE JUST LIKE IT WOULD BE WRONG
IF WE SAID WE'RE GOING TO GO
INTO MINORITY AREAS IN MILWAUKEE
BECAUSE THEY TEND TO VOTE
DEMOCRAT.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED IN 2020.
PEOPLE SHOULD BE OUTRAGED THAT
WE USED PUBLIC RESOURCES MIXED
WITH PRIVATE DOLLARS TO REALLY,
IN ESSENCE, TRY TO RUN AN
ELECTION.
THIS WASN'T DONE WHERE YOU BUY
COMMERCIALS OR YOU HIRE PEOPLE
TO GO DOOR TO DOOR.
THAT'S CAMPAIGNING.
THAT'S WHAT DEMOCRACY IS ABOUT.
BUT THE IDEA WE'RE GOING TO USE
PUBLIC RESOURCES IN A WAY THAT
INFLUENCES THE ELECTION, THAT
SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE ARE
ALL OUTRAGED BY AND THE FACT
THAT DEMOCRATS AREN'T OUTRAGED
IS DISAPPOINTING TO ME.
IF REPUBLICANS DID THAT, WITH
BILLIONAIRE DOLLARS TO TRY TO
INFLUENCE THE PROCESS BY HAVING
PEOPLE LITERALLY WORK THE
POLLING PLACE, PAID FOR BY THESE
PARTISAN GROUPS, I THINK THEY
WOULD BE OUTRAGED.
AND THEY SHOULD BE THIS WAY,
TOO.
>> WE'VE ONLY GOT A FEW MONTHS
OF THE SESSION LEFT.
DO YOU THINK THE LEGISLATURE
STILL HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN
ADDRESSING THE PANDEMIC AT THIS
POINT?
>> I THINK THAT THE BIGGEST PART
OF WHAT WE'RE DOING IS TO MAKE
SURE WE FOCUS ON THE PRIORITIES
THAT WE CAN CONTROL.
WE NOW SEE GOVERNOR TONY EVERS
SAYING IT'S THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO FIX IT AND JOE
BIDEN SAYING IT'S STATE
GOVERNMENT WHO SHOULD FIX IT.
UNFORTUNATELY WE SEE AT THE
NATIONAL AND STATE LEVEL, WE
HAVE A LOT OF FINGER POINTING
GOING AROUND.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS I'M
VACCINATED.
I HOPE THE VAST MAJORITY OF
PEOPLE WATCHING THIS CHOOSE TO
BE VACCINATED.
IT SHOULDN'T BE MANDATED.
WE DON'T NEED VACCINE PASSPORTS,
REQUIREMENT TO GO TO A
RESTAURANT OR THAT KIND OF THING
BUT SHOULD WE FOCUS ON THE IDEA
OF KEEPING EACH OTHER SAFE AND
TRYING TO BE VACCINATE SND YES.
THAT'S A COMMON SENSE THING WE
CAN ALL FOCUS ON.
>> OBVIOUSLY LAST SUMMER THE
GOVERNOR SIGNED A REPUBLICAN
STATE BUDGET AND HE'S BEEN OUT
CAMPAIGNING AND PROMOTING SOME
ITEMS IN THE BUDGET AND I'VE
SEEN A LOT OF NEGATIVE REACTION
FROM REPUBLICANS, ALMOST ANGRY
THE GOVERNOR IS TAKING CREDIT
FOR A BUDGET HE DIDN'T SIGN.
WHY IS THAT?
>> GOVERNOR TONY EVERS PROPOSED
A MASSIVE EXPANSION OF WELFARE,
ALMOST A 10% SPENDING OF
INCREASE, OVER A BILLION DOLLARS
OF NEW TAXES, ALL THEN HE WAS
FRUSTRATED WHEN WE TOOK THOSE
THINGS OUT OF THE BUDGET.
WE PASSED WITHOUT A SINGLE IOTA
OF INPUT FROM GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS WHERE ALL HE DID WAS SIGN
IT WITH A PEN.
HE DESERVES THE CREDIT FOR THE
TEN SECONDS IT TOOK TO SIGN IT
BUT FOR THE ABILITY TO CRAFT IT
AND PUT IT TOGETHER, THAT'S A
REPUBLICAN BUDGET.
I THINK WITH GOVERNOR TONY EVERS
GIVING CREDIT TO REPUBLICANS FOR
THE BUDGET THAT HE SPENT TEN
SECONDS SIGNING, WE WOULD BE
LESS FRUSTRATED BUT HE'S A
POLITICIAN.
HE CAN SAY WHATEVER HE WANTS
WHETHER IT'S TRUE OR NOT.
>> SPEAKER ROBIN VOS, THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
TAKE CARE OF THE
>> THIS NEWS OUT OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN, FORM
ARE GOVERNOR TOMMY THOMPSON
ANNOUNCED HE WILL STEP DOWN FROM
HIS POST IN MARCH.
HE WAS BROUGHT IN DURING THE
PANDEMIC.
IN HIS ANNOUNCEMENT, THOMPSON
SAID THE U.W. BOARD OF REGENTS
WILL SOON BE ANNOUNCING A FINAL
CANDIDATE TO REPLACE HIM AND AS
A DISCLOSURE, PBS WISCONSIN IS A
SERVICE OF U.W. MADISON.
TURNING TO LONG FORM REPORTING,
REPORTING THAT BRINGS
UNDERSTANDING AND AWARENESS OF
TRANSGENDER PEOPLE IN WISCONSIN.
THEIR HOPES AND FEARS, STRUGGLES
AND TRIUMPHS, EVEN IN THE FACE
OF RECORD VIOLENCE AGAINST THEM.
THIS EXCERPT OF A STORY FROM
HERE & NOW REPORTER MURV SEYMOUR
STARTS THE TRANS DAY OF
REMEMBRANCE AT THE STATE CAPITOL
WITH THOSE IN ATTENDANCE SEEKING
JUSTICE AND EQUALITY FROM
LAWMAKERS.
>> TRANS DAY OF REMEMBRANCE IS
NOT ONLY A DAY TO MOURN BUT IT'S
A DAY FOR ALLIES TO TAKE ACTION,
CALL FOR JUSTICE, MAKE SURE THAT
THEIR WORKPLACES ARE TRANS
INCLUSIVE, THAT WE'RE CALLING
OUT FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS
WHO WILL CONTINUE TO BE TRANS.
THERE ARE SO MANY BLACK TRANS
WOMEN AND GIRLS WHO HAVE BEEN
ASSAULTED.
>> AFTER THE EMOTIONAL RALLY AT
THE STATE CAPITOL --
>> I WOULD DESCRIBE THIS AS A
PRE-TRADITIONAL SPACE IN WHICH
WE WORSHIP.
>> ABOUT THREE MILES AWAY INSIDE
THE WALLS OF FIRST BAPTIST
CHURCH OF MADISON --
>> THAT WE SOMETIMES USE IN A
PRETTY UNTRADITIONAL WAY.
>> THE EFFORTS TO RAISE
TRANSGENDER AWARENESS CONTINUES
AS HISTORY IS BEING MADE HERE.
>> MY SEXUALITY IS A BIG DEAL
AND ISN'T A BIG DEAL.
YOU DON'T FIND OPENLY GAY
PASTORS IN A LOT OF CHURCHES.
>> PASTOR TIM SCHAEFER WHO
PREFERS YOU CALL HIM TIM, SPEAKS
TO HIS CONGREGATION AND HIS
COMMUNITY.
>> I WAS IN A WAY CALLED TO THIS
CHURCH DESPITE MY SEXUALITY.
>> HE'S THE FIRST OPENLY GAY
PASTOR OF THIS CHURCH IN THE
ALMOST 175-YEAR HISTORY.
>> I HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE
TO DO ON A YEARLY BASIS WITH THE
TRANS DAY OF REMEMBRANCE --
>> THE WAY WE RAISE AWARENESS IS
BY SHARING STORIES.
>> HE HELPS SHARE THE STORIES
AND STRUGGLES OF TRANSGENDER
PEOPLE.
>> WHETHER IT'S MY OWN STORY OR
SOMEONE ELSE'S STORY.
JESUS TEACHES IN PARABLES, IN
STORIES.
THESE ARE HUMAN BEINGS JUST LIKE
YOU AND ME.
THEY'RE OVERLOOKED,
MISUNDERSTOOD AND TARGETED.
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE
POLITICAL.
WE ARE HERE IN THIS
NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE
CONCERNS OF THE CITY.
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THINGS
LIKE RACISM AND XENOPHOBIA AND
TRANS PHOBIA.
IF WE JUST STAY SILENT ON THE
ISSUES, THEN WE'RE IRRELEVANT.
>> WE WILL HEAR THE NAMES OF
THOSE WHO HAVE DIED IN VIOLENCE
>> DAY ONE, FIRST BAPTIST HOSTS
THE FIRST EVER TRANSGENDER
REMEMBRANCE INSIDE THE SANCTUARY
WHILE OUTSIDE THE DOORS,
PROVIDING ACCESS TO COMMUNITY
RESOURCES FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT.
>> TRANSGENDER MEANS SOMEONE
WHOSE GENDER IDENTITY IS
DIFFEREN THAN THE ONE THEY WERE
ASSIGNED AT BIRTH.
>> ON THE VERY FIRST DAY --
>> GROWING UP I HATED MYSELF.
>> BEING TRANSGENDER IN AND OF
ITSELF IS NOT A MENTAL ILLNESS.
>> A PANEL DISCUSSION TO
EDUCATE.
>> THE FIRST KIND OF FEELINGS
THAT I HAD WHEN I WAS FIVE WERE
JUST THAT I'M UNCOMFORTABLE WITH
MY NAME.
>> ON ALL THINGS TRANSGENDER.
>> SUPPRESSING MY TRUE SELF, MY
TRUE NATURE WAS MAKING ME
DEPRESSED AND MAKING ME
MISERABLE.
>> IT BEGAN TO DAWN ON ME THAT I
WAS SELF DESTRUCTING.
I'M VERY HAPPY THAT I WAS NOT
SUCCESSFUL IN TAKING MY OWN
LIFE.
>> WHEN YOU ARE TRANS, YOU'RE
OPENING YOURSELF UP FOR
POTENTIAL VIOLENCE.
>> THERE IS AN ESTIMATED 1.4 TO
TWO MILLION TRANSGENDER PEOPLE
IN THE UNITED STATES.
>> WE HAVE TRANS PEOPLE.
WE HAVE LGBTQ PEOPLE IN OUR
PEWS.
EVEN THOSE CONGREGATIONS WHO
THINK THEY DON'T, THEY DO.
>> I GUARANTEE YOU THAT AT LEAST
ONE OF THE PEOPLE YOU'VE BEEN
ATTRACTED TO IN YOUR LIFE WAS
NOT BORN THE BIOLOGICAL SEX THAT
YOU MAYBE ASSUMED THEY WERE.
>> WE'RE A PART OF THIS WORLD
LIKE ANYONE ELSE.
WE'RE NOT ALIENS.
WE'RE NOT VISITORS FROM ANOTHER
PLANET, YOU KNOW.
WE'RE, YOU KNOW, YOUR BROTHERS
AND SISTERS AND YOUR MOMS AND
DADS AND YOUR KIDS.
WE'RE NOT REALLY ASKING FOR A
SEAT AT THE TABLE.
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO TAKE UP
SPACE AT A TABLE WE'VE ALREADY
BEEN AT.
WE WERE JUST TRYING TO SAY, HEY,
WE'RE HERE.
WE'VE BEEN HERE AND WE DESERVE A
VOICE.
>> WHEN PEOPLE SEE ME, THEY
DECIDE THAT I'M A WOMAN THAT I
USE SHE/HER PRONOUNS.
>> NOW I'M ABLE TO DRESS AS I
WANT AND EXPRESS MYSELF THE WAY
I WANT TO, I'M A WHOLE LOT
HAPPIER THAN I EVER WAS.
>> I KNEW I WAS TRANS BUT I WAS
PRETENDING TO BE SOMEBODY I
WASN'T.
I WAS PRETENDING TO BE A
STRAIGHT DUDE.
>> WHEN YOU COME OUT, IT'S -- TO
PEOPLE ON THE OUTSIDE, IT CAN
APPEAR VERY, VERY SUDDEN BECAUSE
TO THEM, IT'S ALL NEW.
BUT FOR MOST OF US, WE'VE BEEN
THINKING ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS,
IF NOT OUR WHOLE LIFE.
I STRUGGLED TO FIT IN AS A
CHILD.
I WASN'T SAYING, YOU KNOW, I'M
TRANSGENDER AS A BABY.
I KNEW SOMETHING WAS UP BUT I
REALLY REALIZED WHAT IT MEANT
WHEN I WAS ABOUT TEN YEARS OLD.
COMING TO FACE WITH MY OWN
MORTALITY MADE ME RECONSIDER MY
IDENTITY TO ANYONE WATCHING WHO
IS TRANS, I UNDERSTAND THE
REASONS TO STAY IN THE CLOSET.
I DO.
BUT I PROMISE ANYONE WATCHING
THAT WHEN YOU FEEL SAFE TO COME
OUT, IF YOU CAN, YOUR LIFE WILL
GET INFINITELY BETTER.
INFINITELY BETTER.
AND EVERY DAY AFTER COMING OUT
WILL BE EASIER BECAUSE THAT IS
THE HARDEST THING THAT YOU WILL
EVER DO.
I DON'T HAVE ANY DELUSIONS THAT
I'M GOING TO REALLY SEE THE
WORLD I WANT WITHIN MY LIFETIME.
MY DREAM IS FOR CALM AND
NORMALITY.
I JUST WANT THE SAME THINGS THAT
EVERYONE ELSE WANTS.
AND IT'S THE FACT THAT BASIC
THINGS FEEL IMPOSSIBLE.
I'M TIRED OF BEING DEPRESSED
ABOUT BEING TRANS.
I WANT TO BE DEPRESSED ABOUT
PAYING BILLS.
I WANT TO BE DEPRESSED ABOUT
AGING.
PEOPLE OUT THERE TRANS PHOBIC,
YOU KNOW, LIKE TO SAY THINGS
LIKE GOD DOESN'T MAKE MISTAKES.
I AGREE GOD DOESN'T MAKE
MISTAKES.
I FEEL LIKE I'M LIVING EXACTLY
THE WAY I WAS CREATED.
>> HOPEFULLY ONE DAY WE WON'T
NEED A TRANS DAY OF REMEMBRANCE.
>> I'M MURV SEYMOUR.
>> YOU CAN SEE THE FULL LENGTH
STORY AND ITS VERY POWERFUL
REPORTING ON THIS FROM MURV
SEYMOUR BY GOING TO
PBSWisconsin.org AND THEN
CLICKING ON THE NEWS TAB.
THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
FUNDING FOR HERE & NOW IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.